Books That Make You Podcast

Books That Make You Uncover the Reach and Power of Influencers

Most of us know of influencers, and have some understanding of how the entertainment world, celebrities, and philanthropical institutions and brands all intersect. If you’re in one of these realms, this knowledge can help you and your company get ahead by generating influencer‐based, cause campaigns that tap into the Influencer Effect’s exponential power.

And even if you’re not connected to these realms, aren’t you even a little interested to peel back the curtain and get a peek at how it works?

Chock full of case studies, entertaining stories, and professional insights, Good Influence by Paul M. Katz is based on his five-part D.R.E.A.M. method.

The CEO of Entertain Impact, Katz has spent over three decades as a leader in both the entertainment industry and philanthropic worlds, bringing a unique perspective to more than 100 cause marketing campaigns he’s created with celebrities and cultural influencers like Usher, Kevin Bacon, Ziggy Marley, Desmond Tutu and more.

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Books That Make You Elevate Your Mental and Physical Health with an Innovative Approach

For those tired of one-size-fits-all solutions to mental health, Dr. Paul D. Corona, a California-based physician with over 30 years of medical experience, has constructed a revolutionary approach that treats mental health not with quick fixes but a carefully calibrated, holistic method, one that includes off-label medications, amalgamated treatment methods, and aggressive strategies that have seen marked results.

Beginning his career in family medicine, Dr. Corona then transitioned into psychiatry, ultimately pioneering his own method which he’s referred to as "Mind and Body Healing."

Thus far, he’s authored three books in the series, “My Mind & Body Healing”. The Corona Protocol, the latest volume, addresses these comprehensive and innovative insights into mental health treatment, challenging conventional methods that have been stagnant for decades.

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Books That Make You Find the Spark for Your True Story

Writing a memoir involves far more than just listing your life experiences in order. It requires addressing a significant and poignant section of life, and delivering a story that caters more to the reader than to you.

At times, writers—from the aspiring to veterans—need to find a spark to pursue the complicated work of self-exploration. Sue William Silverman’s Acetylene Torch Songs: Writing True Stories to Ignite the Soul offers that spark for memoirists seeking mentor-based instruction and inspiration.

An award-winning author of eight works of nonfiction and poetry, Sue’s previous book, How to Survive Death and Other Inconveniences, won the Clara Johnson Award for Women’s Literature, and a gold star in Foreword Reviews Indie Book of the Year Award.

Sue’s other works include Love Sick: One Woman’s Journey through Sexual Addiction, adapted into a Lifetime TV movie; Because I Remember Terror, Father, I Remember You, winner of the AWP Award; and The Pat Boone Fan Club: My Life as a White Anglo-Saxon Jew. She is faculty co-chair at Vermont College of Fine Arts, in the MFA writing program.

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Ways Humans Can Write Better, in the Era of Artificial Intelligence

This episode is a follow-up to the one where we discussed how AI—or artificial intelligence—is affecting the writing and reading community.

That first episode came out just a few months ago, eons ago in terms of this technology. Yet there is something very timeless about the act of writing that we believe will never be surpassed by machines, and that is indeed the very important topic we’ll dive into deeper today: ways humans can write better.

Dave Duffy serves as the Head of The BookFest®, a free, biannual online literary event that captivates readers and writers alike.

The BookFest, in turn, is part of the Black Château Enterprises family, where Dave also helms operations for Black Château, a marketing firm specializing in authors and personality brands, as well as Books That Make You. And in case you’ve ever wondered about these brands, Dave is part of the reason they all work together so seamlessly. A data expert at heart, he uses quantitative analysis to inform strategy and promotional campaigns, and facilitates cross-functional literary experiences and event productions.

His unique skill set positions him at the intersection of technology and operations, enabling him to deliver stimulating and memorable experiences for our literary audiences. It also gives him a front-seat view of the ways large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, and image-creating software like Bing and Midjourney or Dall-E, are disrupting things at an alarming rate.

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Books That Make You adventure Through Fifties-Era of Rock and Roll, and Get Hound Dogged

The coming-of-age story is universal, enjoyed by every generation. The main reason: we older folks remember it fondly—or not so fondly—and younger folks are in the throes of experiencing it.

Author Rebecca Hendricks’s Hound Dogged is about growing up in a turbulent time—the 1950s—and has been compared to SE Hinton’s The Outsiders.

In Hound Dogged, we meet five friends: Patrick, Jerry, John, Stu and the talented newcomer Danny. As social and cultural upheaval takes center stage, these young musicians seek to find harmony amid chaos.

Though Rebecca has spent her career in accounting and Judicial Assistant work, her passion has always been writing. When not writing or spending time with her husband, dog and two cats, she enjoys restoring and giving new life to old dolls. She is a Colorado native.

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Books That Make You Romp with Hysterical Rhymes—and Introduce You to a Great Children’s Book Author

Rhyming can help immensely in the learning process, especially for children, who may also love a good scary story. And they certainly would have fun with the offerings of Whimsical World, an innovative children's brand seeking to entertain and educate children of all ages, all while planting seeds of self-esteem and high achievement.

Not only is he the author of The BookFest Award-Winner Hysterical Rhymes, Derek Taylor Kent is also known for his four-book middle-grade series Scary School, published by HarperCollins.

El Perro con Sombrero, his bilingual children’s book, was published by Holt-Macmillan. Other popular picture books include Dinosaur Derby, The Grossest Picture Book Ever, and his latest, Ka-Boom!

He and his wife, children's author Sheri Fink, are the founders of Whimsical World, and spread their joy of literacy and learning through live events, speaking appearances, school visits and pop-up shops all over the world.

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Books That Make You Understand Better How to Deal with Grief and Loss

Probably the cruelest aspect of getting older is losing loved ones. How can we understand our grief and help others, while in the throes of their own?

The award-winning author of Witnessing Grief; Inviting Trauma and Loss to Our Coaching Conversations, An Enneagram Perspective, Holly Margl is a name in the coaching realm. She's a beacon for those navigating the waters of grief, trauma, and the Enneagram.

With the prestigious titles of International Coaching Federation Master Certified Coach (MCC) and Advanced Certified Mentor Coach (ACMC) to her name, Holly's expertise is recognized globally.

Her adventure began at the University of Minnesota, where she studied Alcohol and Drug Counseling and Psychology. However, while teaching at a local college, a fateful intersection with coaching and the Enneagram in 2011 transformed her path. With an impressive array of coaching and Enneagram courses under her belt, Holly never stops growing.

Books That Make You Consciously Adventure with Your Child, or the Child In Your Life

Whimsical stories have a place in many a child’s—and, by extension, grown-up’s—heart, helping to inspire us and nurture a sense of wonder. Nowadays, however, that sense of wonder is compromised by the intensifying emphasis on screen-time, structured learning, timelines, and the chronic pressures of school and success.

Such things are intense for us adults. So what must they be like for kids growing up today?

Laura Leone’s new book, Conscious Kid-Adventures with Zane: Imagine & Create, features an author-led audio meditation and engaging coloring book activities, all designed to nurture children's well-being.

Motivated by a desire to provide a mindful activity for her young child during COVID lockdowns, Laura is passionate about bringing metaphysical awareness to our youth, and so established Starseed Metaphysical Shop Publishing™️ and authored the “Conscious Kid-Adventures with Zane” series.

Laura Leone, M.B.A., M.A. is the founder of Starseed Metaphysical Shop LLC, which covers the brands Starseed Metaphysical Shop Publishing™ and Starseed Cosmetics™. A mom, stepmom, and the daughter of a Mexican immigrant, Laura is also an Air Force veteran, and has been in public service for over twenty years as a certified fraud examiner.

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Books That Make You Go from a Blank Document to an Influential Author in 30 Days

Readers often get the call to write. When we have our creativity sparked, our imaginations expanded, we might realize that we, too, have something profound and powerful to say, and it’s perhaps one of the greatest moments in the life of a writer.

How can we make that happen, though? What if you don’t particularly like writing, or have all those fancy credentials that so many authors seem to have nowadays?

A proud military veteran, Jeremy C. Jones is also a family man and entrepreneur who lives in Paradise Valley, Arizona. His accomplishments include being a four-time #1 bestselling Author on Amazon, hosting the popular podcast “Ideas That Make an Impact,” and serving as CEO at Jones Media Publishing, the top-rated, veteran-led book publishing company in Arizona.

His book is called Your Book BluePrint, and he is here to share his unique process for how you can answer the call to write, publish and promote your book.

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Books That Make You Step into the Shoes of a PTSD Soldier

After over half a decade of military service that’s left him traumatized, Christian returns home and struggles with civilian life, and to readjust to the normalcy of his family ranch. Such is the premise of 48 Hours to Home, by CJ Ives Lopez.

Men and women in the armed forces often face incredible burdens when returning from service. We’ve heard about the impact of PTSD, the shock of segueing from a regimented life to one of relative freedom, and how difficult it can be for these brave men and women to find the support they need as they readjust.

A best-selling, multiple award-winning author across various genres—including heartwarming children's stories under her pen name Auntie Nann—CJ Ives is also a decorated Air Force veteran. With a loyal canine companion by her side, CJ's journey represents the transformative power of pursuing dreams.

Real personal experiences inspired the co-authored 48 Hours to Home.

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Books That Make You Understand Poverty, Abuse and Addiction

The value of memoirs is their empathetic deep-dive into another’s life. Events that often come to us in data or statistics, or vague references to unfamiliar circumstances, tend not to penetrate our hearts until we confront them through the power of narrative.

Brittany Means, a Chicana writer and editor out Albuquerque, New Mexico, has released her memoir, Hell If We Don’t Change Our Ways, through Zibby Books.

Brittany’s childhood was nomadic, filled with instability, as well as abuse, neglect and violence. Poverty, sexual assault, and an ostensibly evangelical Christian culture didn’t help.

Spending her childhood in the passenger’s seat as her mother struggled to escape abusive relationships, Brittany’s life was a terrible haze of roads and traumas. With no money and a slew of burned bridges behind her, she managed to still care for her younger brother, managed the chaos of her home life, and attempted to make sense of the disturbing world around her.

She earned an MFA from the Nonfiction Writing Program at the University of Iowa, and, before that, a Bachelor's in English from Ball State University.

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Books That Make You Adventure Across a Mythical, Tolkien-Level World

Nothing juices up our imaginations like immersing ourselves in fantasy worlds that feel so real, you can so clearly see the characters, the flora, the fauna, the communities, cultures and countryside.

And so we have author C.D. McKenna’s award-winning The Vorelian Saga, a world of a dark epic fantasy, full of anti-heroes and ethically gray characters, the first book of which is The Blood of the Lion and which has readers all over the globe praising its Tolkien-level world-building. There’ve also been mentions of Game of Thrones and Eragon.

Living and working in the mountains of Colorado, C.D. McKenna is also a coffee lover who, when not writing with a dog on her lap, enjoys the fresh air and hikes to distant worlds right in her backyard. While McKenna explores various genres in her writing, she is published in fantasy and horror.

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Books That Make You Join With Aliens to Face a Common Threat

How about genre-bending today?

Beth Freely, award-winning author and BookFest Bellwether, is also a businesswoman and publishing industry professional. Raised in upstate New York and a temporary ex-pat in Great Britain, today she’s settled and writing in New Mexico.

Her novel, Beyond the Steps of Stone, illustrates in detail a future Earth in which humans and aliens from the distant past must band together to face down a mutual enemy.

Combining action, twists, great worldsmithing and world-shaking prophecies, the book launches readers on an unforgettable, literary sci-fi ride that will keep them hanging on for dear life.

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Books That Make You Mix Historical Cultures, Artifacts and, indeed, Aliens

KG Maw is back with us to discuss his book The Lazarus Project, the latest in his rich and stimulating “KV 66” series. Certainly a lot has happened since his previous visit, in both his fictional world and the real one.

Ancient Egypt, the land of the Pharaohs, and the mysteries surrounding the pyramids, tombs, and more all continue to fascinate us. And KG is no exception—his stories are inspired directly from that wonderfully vivid and enigmatic history.

A successful businessman who partnered with the Government of Dubai in an insurance brokerage venture, KG sold the business, took on an advisory role, and started writing his “KV66” stories. His ties to Egypt stem from extensive travels to the country with his wife, who comes from an Egyptian family.

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Books That Make You Tuck In With a Great Mystery

We all love a book that makes you want to pour a cup of joe and cozy up by the crackling fireplace. And that’s what Donalee Moulton delivers in her debut novel, Hung Out to Die.

The mystery follows Riel, a California-born transplant to Nova Scotia, where he is CEO of the Canadian Cannabis Corporation. Things seem to work out—until Riel finds his world hanging by a thread as a killer emerges. It doesn’t take the police long to determine all is not as it appears … and that includes Riel himself, now pulled into a world not of his making.

A freelance journalist based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Donalee’s byline has appeared in more than 100 publications, including Canadian Business, The National Post, Chatelaine, Maclean’s, and The Lawyers Weekly.

In addition, Donalee is the author of The Thong Principle: Saying What You Mean and Meaning What You Say, as well as the co-author of Celebrity Court Cases: Trials of the Rich and Famous. Her short story, Swan Song, was one of 21 selected for Cold Canadian Crime, an anthology published by the Crime Writers of Canada.

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Books That Make You Think About Your Own Humanness as a Writer

As with any art, writing is both a natural talent and a developed skill. Many folks erroneously believe it’s all natural, or that storytelling is so ingrained in us that anyone can do it well. So far as we know, no other creature writes. Using the written word to relate stories is a very human endeavor.

Until now.

As everyone has heard by now, large language models like Chat GPT can indeed craft stories. They can help writers with editing. They can help with research and planning like never before.

What does all this mean for writers? For readers? Would you yourself read a book written by AI? Have you already? Can you tell the difference?

In this special edition of The Books That Make You Show, Desiree Duffy discusses the impact of AI on the writing community, and how it has—and will—impact readers, as well as the publishing industry at large.

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Books That Make You Enter A Dark, Political Fantasy Realm

We all love villains we can relish hating, and new realms we can escape into. Mix all this with a dark fantasy world, and political satire, and you might just get The Amber Menhir, the first book in “The Shadows of the Monolith” series.

Debut author Jonathan N. Pruitt is a lifelong educator turned fantasy writer. His redemption arc took him from being a musical child prodigy in a low-income rural county in Florida, to getting his PhD at the age of 24, to an international scandal in 2020 that set its sights on his research methods in behavioral ecology.

But he soldiered on, and has been teaching and traveling the world and, as of late, writing. With his impressive and varied background, and his experience and expertise as a scientist, he brings a unique and insightful eye to his fictional world.

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Books That Make You Try New Things and be…Brave-ish

What happens when you’re almost fifty, undergoing divorced and moving back into your parent’s home to start from the beginning? If you’re like Lisa Niver, you start by taking one “braveish” step at a time. For Lisa, each step took her away from her old world and into a bold new adventurous one.

In her new memoir, Brave-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty, she chronicles her attempt at trying fifty new things before turning fifty: diving into shipwrecks, swimming with sharks, bobsledding and more. All throughout, Lisa found herself traversing the world on a journey of reinvention and personal growth.

Brave-ish inspires readers to take risks and embrace the unknown, and even the frightening, in order to live a life filled with wonder and excitement.

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Books That Make You Uncover—and Celebrate—Your Cranky Superpowers

Yeah, everyone gets cranky. We all get on one another’s nerves, indulge in moments where we grumble, snap or lash out at the ones we love, or whoever’s in the unfortunate position of having to put up with us.

But imagine if you could harness that crankiness, use it, even, like a superpower?

With his latest book, Steven Joseph Cranky Superpowers: Life Lessons Learned from the Common CrankaTsuris Chronicles, explores the strange, quirky, unexpected, and utterly normal aspects of life that get under our skin. Hear his advice for breaking repetitive cranky cycles, and learn why he’s cautious about forming habits, or where life coaches and therapists go wrong, and more.

With wit as quick as his marathon pace, Steven whips up life wisdom as funny as it is profound. He invites you to embrace the power of your inner ‘CrankaTsuris’ …

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Books That Make You Rich—Then Send You Walking New York Streets with Madwomen

As with all creatives, authors have many angles and interests. They can cross genre boundaries, producing books that, while superficially different from one another, harbor a thematic through-line—if you look hard enough.  

A bestselling author, and founder of the Thought Leader Academy, Sara Connell helps coaches, writers and entrepreneurs become successful, published authors and TEDx/ in-demand speakers.

In addition, she is the author of several books, two of which—The Science of Getting Rich for Women and Ghost House—were released last year. Both were honored with BookFest Awards.

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