The Florida Writer Podcast

Fear of getting "it" wrong forced new author David Rabin to research and connect with subject matter experts to make sure he gets it right in his first published novel. In this episode of the Florida Writer Podcast with host Alison Nissen, David reveals the lessons learned during his pivot from fact-based trial law to creative writing.

David Rabin’s debut novel, IN DANGER OF JUDGMENT, is a crime thriller set in 1980s Chicago, and will be published by Black Rose Writing in August of this year. David was born in Chicago and raised in its Lakeview neighborhood, where much of his novel is set. He later moved to Atlanta, where he worked as a trial lawyer for thirty-three years. Now retired, he writes crime fiction, runs a competitive shooting program, and competes in rifle sports. He can be contacted through his Facebook page: @DavidRabinAuthor.

When author Susan Sands sits down to write her romance novels, she doesn’t just bring characters to life, she uses PLACE as a catalyst to shape character motivation and in the process allows the setting to have a mind of its own.

In this edition of the Florida Writer Podcast, host Alison Nissen interviews self-described late bloomer, Susan Sands who began writing her first novel at age forty. She compares her challenging journey to publication as “raising another child—a difficult one.”

Susan has published five southern, contemporary women’s fiction novels, with another four coming in 2022. She describes her humorous small-town stories as fun, romantic, and filled with big family love. Susan also writes authentic place-as-a-character southern fiction with a humorous voice in addition to her Alabama series.

Susan has three grown children and lives with her dentist husband in Roswell, GA. She has a degree in elementary education, is a member of the Atlanta Writer’s Club, Womens Fiction Writers of America (WFWA), and the Broadleaf Writers Association. She participates in book festivals, book clubs, and writer’s conferences around the South. Susan is the recipient of the 2017 Georgia Author of the Year award for romance.

Imagine building a world in a place that history forgot to bring to life that which would otherwise not be remembered. In this edition of the Florida Writer Podcast with host Alison Nissen, Alison talks about worldbuilding with George Weinstein. George begins with place, then layers, one at a time, the setting, dialogue, senses, to build a topography that is vivid and lush. 

George Weinstein is the author of the suspense thriller Watch What You Say; the Southern historical novel Hardscrabble Road; the Southern mystery Aftermath; the novel of forgotten U.S. history The Five Destinies of Carlos Moreno; and the contemporary romance The Caretaker. His work also has been published in Writer’s Digest and in regional and national anthologies, including A Cup of Comfort for Writers. George is also the Executive Director and twice-former President of the Atlanta Writers Club and has managed the Atlanta Writers Conference for more than a decade, helping more than three thousand writers on their quest for publication.

Using few words to say a lot is how suspense/thriller novelist Liz Lazarus writes her kill-scenes. In one novel, it's only 5 words. Enjoy this edition of the Florida Writer Podcast as host Alison Nissen and Liz chat about leaving more to the imagination to build tension, finding mentors to help your writing journey, and using real-life stories to create villains. 

Liz Lazarus graduated from The Georgia Institute of Technology with an engineering degree and Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management with an MBA. Liz initially ignored the calling to become a novelist until her first book wouldn’t leave her alone. She has since published 3 novels, Free of Malice, drawn from Liz’s own experience; Plea for Justice; and Shades of Silence.

For more information about liz, visit her website at lizlazarus.com

Before you write your book, ask yourself 2questions: 

1. Who is the ONE person who needs to read this book?
2. Why do they need to read it NOW? 

Dr. Cindy Childress and Florida Writer Podcast host Alison Nissen discuss the important questions of audience, book type, and first chapters when writing non-fiction. Using her years of experience, Dr. Cindy helps clients find their voice and rhythm and superpower as authors. Unsure if you have an author superpower? Check out her simple quiz @ CindyChildress.com

Dr. Cindy, The Expert’s Ghostwriter, is a ghostwriter and book editor for entrepreneurs that want to write books that make money and make an impact. Her business, Childress Business Communication, took gold in two categories with the International Business Awards 2021: Company of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year in Business or Professional Services. Her clients go on to achieve bestseller status, give TEDx Talks, win book awards, and more. She holds a Ph. D. in English from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and is a foster mom for dogs and cats with Citizens for Animal Protection in Houston.

The secret to writing self-help books? Life Experience! Helping people get in touch with their emotions is song-writer turned best-selling course creator and author Mary Joye's passion. On this Florida Writer Podcast, host Alison Nissen and Mary chat about how you can't fake your emotions, but you can avoid burnout by checking your motives. If you are doing too much for too many, you'll risk becoming overwhelmed.

Mary Joye, a solution-focused therapist who works most often with trauma, grief, and life-changing events to help those in need process change. Discover more at https://www.winterhavencounseling.com/

Want to give a gift to a writer in your life? Give the gift of a book review. Sweet romance and non-fiction author Kerry Evelyn shares how book reviews and a journal help keep her going when she's struggling to finish that Work-in-Progress in this Florida Writer Podcast conversation with host Alison Nissen. 

Kerry Evelyn is the author of the Crane’s Cove series, #sweetresortromance set in Coastal Maine, a Guest Author for the Cat’s Paw Cove series, and several short stories that span multiple genres. Kerry received a Bachelor of Science in Education and Sociology from Bridgewater State University in 2000. A native of the Massachusetts SouthCoast, she changed her latitude and now calls the Orlando area home. Kerry loves God, books, cats, traveling, taking selfies, sweet drinks, and escaping into her imagination. You can find her on Amazon,  Goodreads,  BookBub,  Facebook @KerryEvelynAuthor, Instagram @KerryEvelynAuthor, and Twitter @theKerryEvelyn. Visit KerryEvelyn.com to subscribe to her newsletter and learn more!

What happens when someone who is addicted to books decides to write a memoir? He gets naked. In this Florida Writer Podcast, host Alison Nissen and bestselling author Mark Scarbrough discuss how to make a story compelling for the audience by getting nakedly honest.

Mark Scarbrough is the author of more than 30 cookbooks, has made countless national television appearances cooking up a storm and laughs, and hosts three successful podcasts. But behind all the food, spotlights, and fun lies a deeper story told in his new memoir Bookmarked: How the Great Works of Western Literature F*ucked Up My Life. Mark has been searching for something his entire life. Whether it’s his birth mother, true love, his purpose, or his sexual identity, Mark has been on a constant quest to find out who he really is, with the great Western texts as his steadfast companions. As a boy with his head constantly in a book, desperate to discover new worlds, he can hardly distinguish between their plots and his own reality.

John Chaplick's fundamental writing principle is that each story should take the reader on an intriguing journey to a new and different place with unique characters facing unexpected obstacles. In this Florida Writer Podcast, host Alison Nissen and John chat about learning to climb the metaphorical writing mountain and mastering the character arc through perseverance.

John Chaplick, BA, MBA CPA, CBA is a member of the Florida Writers Association and leader of two Tampa, Florida writing groups. John Chaplick has written four award-winning fiction adventure novels in mystery, women’s fiction, and thriller/suspense genres. 

Publicist turned author Katie Schnack stops by the Florida Writer Podcast to chat with host Alison Nissen about giving birth to a book and raising it from idea to market. 

Katie Schnack is the author of The Gap Decade: When You're Technically An Adult But Really Don't Feel Like it Yet, a quirky and honest chronicle about the awkward realities of living in that gap between adolescence and adulthood. Katie writes because she loves making people laugh and feel less alone. KatieSchnack.com

Does each of your characters have enough motivation to be the antagonist? Take a tip of mystery novelist Shannon Work, and make sure all the characters can be found guilty...then work backward from there. In this conversation with Florida Writer Podcast host Alison Nissen, Shannon shares her techniques to ensure the audience remains guessing whodunit throughout the entire novel. 

Shannon Work grew up in Del Rio, Texas. She graduated from Texas A&M University, earning an undergraduate degree in Journalism and a master’s degree in Land Economics and Real Estate.
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Most of her working life has been spent developing real estate, earning a national Best in America Living Award for one of her developments. Shannon and her husband split their time between Houston, Texas, and Telluride, Colorado. shannonwork.com

After reaching 350 Amazon Reviews for his Devil's Bookkeeper series, Florida Writer Podcast host Alison Nissen chats with Literary Fiction and Children's author Mark Newhouse about writing about hard things, self-promotion, social media, and the Florida Writers Association Youth group. 

Mark Newhouse's journey begins when he was born in Germany after his parents were freed from Auschwitz and Buchenwald. Their nightmare inspired THE DEVIL'S BOOKKEEPERS, a gripping story of love and survival in the ghetto his parents miraculously survived. Visit Mark at NewhouseCreativeGroup.com

Writing Non-Fiction is HARD! You are writing your book to share something with the world. Start with what is easy then build that muscle. You can't run a marathon on the first day of training. In this edition of The Florida Writer Podcast with host Alison Nissen and non-fiction ghostwriter & book coach Chrissy Das, Alison and Chrissy chat about non-fiction blogging, ghostwriting, and flexing a "writer's muscle." 

Chrissy Das is the lead ghostwriter and founder of (i)nvisible writer, a content marketing company that services creative professionals who want to find their voice and use their words to increase their revenue to positively impact their local and global community. Chrissy brings 10 years in the publishing industry, working with indie publishers and self-published authors who have a clear message to share with the business world. Clients count on Chrissy and her team to help them create short-form content like blog posts and branded newsletters and long-form content like white papers and books.

Writers often dive into research. In this edition of the Florida Writer Podcast, host Alison Nissen chats with Wendy Samford, author of the upcoming book The First Wrinkle about adults who were raised in the foster care system in the United States. Wendy believes there's a whole lot more good than bad in the world and we can find a way to be a part of the change in the hidden epidemic we call abuse. 

Wendy Samford's book "The First Wrinkle" is the follow-up book to "Bloom Where Planted” showcasing stories of individuals who were raised in foster care and the experiences of those who work diligently to repair this broken system. Discover more at WSamford.com

How do you become immortal? Be a student in Ann Brooks's 3rd-grade class. Psychological Thriller author Ann Brooks has branched into the territory of Young Adult Fantasy inspired by her students. When they discovered she was an author, they wanted in--of course, they aren't quite YA readers yet, but in a few short years, they will discover themselves on the page. Listen to the whole story in this edition of the Florida Writer Podcast with host Alison Nissen.

Ann Brooks grew up in a small town off the Gulf Coast of Florida, where she cultivated a passion for the water. She completed her Bachelors in Psychology at the University of Florida. She worked in social work for a few years, before making a career change to early elementary education. She has taught for over thirteen years.

#FloridaWriters #AlisonNissen #AnnBrooksAuthor

Mystery writers think differently. When they walk to the beach, they consider multiple ways a body or two might wash up on a beach. In this edition of the Florida Writer Podcast, host Alison Nissen chats with 2019 RPLA Mystery and Suspense Writer of the Year JC Gatlin. Discover his process for plotting and avoiding writer's block and some lessons on creating your own book tour, the 2021 edition.

Award-winning author JC Gatlin lives in Tampa, Florida and has written six mystery-suspense novels set in the Sunshine State. His novel H_NGM_N: Murder is the Word was honored by the Florida Writers Association with its coveted Royal Palm Literary Award for Best Mystery / Crime Fiction in 2019. A year before that, 21 Dares went to Number One on Amazon’s Mystery Suspense and Top Young Adult charts. The novel was also a semi-finalist in the Royal Palm Literary Awards. #FloridaWriters #Writers Life

What do you do when you look at the bookshelves and don't see any books that "speak to you?" You write them! In this episode of the Florida Writer Podcast, host Alison Nissen chats with MJ Fievre about her self-empowerment books for black girls and young adults: The Badass Black Girl series.

MJ Fievre is the bestselling author of the Badass Black Girl series which addresses issues of concern for Black girls and young women. The seminal title, Badass Black Girl, released in 2020, has reached the top-ten bestselling spot in three categories on Amazon’s rankings for the U.S. and the U.K. Empowered Black Girl (2021) raises awareness and provides insight on issues Black girls and women encounter in society while empowering them to take action through self-discovery and activism.

https://www.badassblackgirl.com/

Hear an interesting lyric? Have an earworm stuck in your head? Try using CJ Juliao's technique of crafting a story around music. In this edition of the Florida Writer Podcast, host Alison Nissen chats with CJ about how his characters evolve as he has in both his writing and personal life. 

CJ Juliao has always been someone lost in his imagination. Where others around him are usually grounded in reality, his mind constantly wanders to various worlds and universes that live within his mind. Visit @Fallen_Chaos_Writing on Instagram to discover more.

E.J. Wenstrom, author of FWA's 2016 Florida Writer Published Book of the Year for MUD is at it again with a new Young Adult dystopian world. In this Florida Writer Podcast episode, host Alison Nissen and E.J. discuss the messiness of world-building and the satisfaction of getting it right by sticking with it, using Beta readers, multiple revisions, and encouraging rejections.