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Living The Next Chapter: Candid Conversations with Authors and Writers for Readers Searching for a New Read — Books
Living The Next Chapter: Candid Conversations with Authors and Writers for Readers Searching for a New Read

Living The Next Chapter: Inspiring Conversations with Amazing Authors and Writers – Better Questions, Better Conversations, Better Connections

Are you an avid reader or an aspiring writer seeking inspiration to embark on your own literary journey? Look no further! Welcome to “Living The Next Chapter,” the podcast that celebrates the world of books and writing. Join us as we connect you with captivating authors who have mastered the art of storytelling.

Living The Next Chapter is more than just a podcast. It is a platform built for meaningful conversations, authentic storytelling, and real connection within the literary world. Each episode highlights inspiring authors who openly share their journeys, including the struggles they have overcome, the triumphs they have achieved, and the lessons they have learned along the way.

This is a space where better questions lead to better conversations, and ultimately, stronger connections. Whether you are an experienced author or continuing to grow your voice, this platform offers a unique opportunity to expand your reach, elevate your message, and connect with a global audience that is passionate about books and writing.

This show is always ad free, if you love what you hear, please refill our coffee cup here! https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

https://livingthenextchapter.com/

Author Podcast, Podcast for Authors, Book Podcast, Authors, Writing, Books, Literature, Storytelling, Creative Writing, Bestselling Authors, Interviews with Authors, Writing Tips, Publishing Insights, Book Recommendations, Author Experiences, Literary Discussions, Writing Process, Inspiring Conversations with Authors, How to Write a Book, Tips for Aspiring Writers, Behind the Scenes of Writing, Exploring Author Journeys

Latest Episodes:

E673 - Mary Alice Stephens - UNCORKED - Getting sober is one thing, staying sober another Feb 11, 2026

Show notes

EPISODE 673 - Mary Alice Stephens - UNCORKED - Getting sober is one thing, staying sober another
Mary Alice Stephens is a creative nonfiction storyteller. As a television writer-producer for HGTV, Food Network, and other media outlets, she shared others’ stories on everything from outdoor adventures to home improvement. Now, in her debut book, Uncorked -- an Amazon #1 New Release in both Alcoholism Recovery and Midlife Self-Help -- Mary shares her own powerful story of alcoholism, recovery, and starting life anew at 45. She earned her Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Dominican University of California and resides in Northern California. When not writing, she can often be found cyber-stalking her teens, planning her family’s next adventure, or searching for her elusive phone.
Book: Uncorked: A Memoir of Letting Go and Starting Over
Getting sober is one thing, staying sober another…
With a glorious bang, alcohol freed Mary Stephens from her lonely, self-critical teenage shell and fueled Fun Mary. For three decades, booze had been her best friend, the reliable spark igniting good times and (she thought) good friendships. But Fun Mary had a dark side: debilitating hangovers, blackouts, and perilous behavior. Not even a three-story fall that left her in a body cast could stop her from drinking. But finally, after putting her young son in danger and her marriage in jeopardy, Fun Mary had to go.
Now sober at age 45, everything Mary once cherished becomes a trigger—date nights with her husband, friendships centered around wine, and a father who expresses his love through alcohol. This new Sober Mary is lonely and vulnerable—feelings she drank to escape. Now what?
Told with heart and humor, Uncorked: A Memoir of Letting Go and Starting Over is the inspiring and relatable story of a woman's pursuit of a better life through sobriety.
About the Author
Mary Alice Stephens is a creative nonfiction storyteller. As a television writer-producer for HGTV, Food Network, and other media outlets, she has shared others’ stories on everything from outdoor adventures to home improvement. In her debut book, Uncorked, Mary shares her own powerful story of alcoholism, recovery, and starting life anew at 45. She earned her Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Dominican University of California and resides in Northern California.
Praise for Uncorked: A Memoir of Letting Go and Starting Over
“Stephens’ insights into her alcoholism as she worked on the 12 steps are illuminating and feature wisdom that may be helpful to others in a similar situation. A valuable, enlightening window into one woman’s decision to quit drinking.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Her journey from the death of ‘Fun Mary’ to the birth of ‘Sober Mary’ is at turns deeply moving and amusing, and many readers will see themselves in her story. I was rooting for her the entire way.” —Kirsten Mickelwait, author of the novel, The Ashtrays Are Full and the Glasses Are Empty, and the memoir, The Ghost Marriage
https://www.maryalicestephens.com/

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E672 - Karin K Jensen - The Strength of Water - An Asian American Coming of Age Memoir Feb 09, 2026

Show notes

EPISODE 672 - Karin K Jensen - The Strength of Water - An Asian American Coming of Age Memoir
The Sibylline Press edition of The Strength of Water, An Asian American Coming of Age Memoir, is scheduled for release on November 7, 2025! It is available for review on NetGalley and Booksprout. Pre-order on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and wherever books are sold.
In 1920s Detroit, King Ying stands on a box to iron clothes in her parents’ laundry business, endures taunts of Ching-Ching Chinaman on the playground, and tries to reconcile what passes for normal in Jazz-Age America with her father’s vastly different cultural values.
She dreams of a home, the elegance of her Jane Arden paper dolls, and winning her stern father’s affection. But when Ba incurs steep debts during the Great Depression, he sends her far from hope to his ancestral village.
In remote Tai Ting Pong, in the Guangdong Province of China, she feels as foreign in the land of her heritage as in the country of her birth. She must survive hunger, dangerous superstitions, and Japanese invasion as the Sino-Japanese War begins.
When guardian angels help her return to the U.S., it’s a chance to seize her American dream.
In this inspiring and heartfelt memoir, Karin K. Jensen records her mother’s transpacific quest for identity, survival, and new world dreams. The Strength of Water received a coveted starred Kirkus review and was included on Kirkus’s annual list of Top 100 Indie Books.
Book club discussion questions are included at the end of the book. Invite the author to your book club discussion!
From the Author
The Strength of Water is my mother’s memoir, as told to me, starting in the 1920s and spanning nearly a century. It offers exquisite period details of immigrant life in the U.S. and village life in China.
One woman’s epic odyssey, one family’s story of striving in a foreign country, one generation’s unique memory. An amazing memoir where the “strength of water,” the power of resilience and adapting to any circumstance, is the common thread that flows through the whole family, connecting everyone’s lives. Touching, inspiring, and brilliantly written.
Shen Yang, Author of More Than One Child
Throughout my childhood, my mother told stories of growing up in her father’s Detroit laundry business during the infancy of the automobile industry and later in a Cantonese village on the eve of the Sino-Japanese war. She also spoke of what it was like to survive as a live-in domestic worker and teen waitress in mid-century California.
The Strength of Water is a daughter’s careful excavation of her mother’s story; it is a mother’s disclosure of history, of trauma, of realities that mark not only her life but the legacy of her daughters’. This is a book written with tremendous love and authenticity. It is an important document of the Asian American experience.
Kao Kalia Yang, Award winning author of The Song Poet and The Latehomecomer
These stories felt like mythology, far removed from my experiences growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, yet vital to preserve as history. When I decided to set them down, I could hear my mother’s voice so clearly that I wrote in the first person. Thank you for taking a look.
A classic, vividly written immigrant saga - Kirkus Reviews
https://karinkjensen.blog/

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E671 - David Wolfson - The underbelly of Wall Street - The story of a young idealistic college graduate starting out on Wall Street Feb 06, 2026

Show notes

EPISODE 671 - David Wolfson - The underbelly of Wall Street - The story of a young idealistic college graduate starting out on Wall Street
What is the name of your book or books and where can it/they be found or purchased?
Financial Syndicate: Some Job Opportunities Go Too Far; Found on Amazon
What do you want readers to know about your book/s?
The reader will see a likable character with whom he or she can identify, along with identifying on how a small-town kid gets caught up in corporate intrigue.
What does being an author mean to you?
The ability to create my own characters and story, along with sharing it with the whole world.
How did your journey as an author begin?
Over a long weekend, I had a job interview in Chicago. On the trip home, my flight had a six-hour delay due to inclement weather. With a crowded airport terminal full of unhappy people in a similar situation, I plugged in my laptop and started typing. Through long commutes and long weekends, along with some late nights, the Financial Syndicate was born.
Who or what motivated you to write?
A college lit teacher, and from the above answer, the idea existed in my mind. However, during the long wait at O’Hare, I decided to put my idea to action.
What is your mission and or vision as an author?
To entertain, including making my reader chuckle or shed a tear, I also want to highlight an awareness of an issue not in the front pages of a newspaper or top of a newscast.
Do you only write in one genre or multiple? Please explain why or why not.
As of now, I am currently writing in mystery-suspense. However, in the future, I am looking at other genres such as historical fiction. Also, given that I am a diehard romantic, I would like to test the limits as a male romance fiction writer
Are there certain themes or topics that you cover as an author? What are they? Why these?
In the Financial Syndicate, I am looking at the issuance of toxic securities and fees earned from them. In my second book, I am covering contract employment. Also, I would like to write a book about the current political environment, specifically a short-sighted and attention-seeking President, hating institutional norms.
What do you want readers to know about you?
I am accessible, easy-going, and I will sit for hours talking to any reader and answering any question. I am really looking forward to bookstore tours, with readers talking to the person behind the book.
Instagram - @wolfsonauthor

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E670 - Barbara Viniar - Little bird is the story of a girl who finds the courage to forge her own path to womanhood in 1910 Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

EPISODE 670 - Barbara Viniar - Little bird is the story of a girl who finds the courage to forge her own path to womanhood in 1910
I was born and raised in the Bronx, NY, but once I left for college at 17, I never went back. With the benefit of having lived in many other places in the U.S. and abroad, I now look back fondly on my neighborhood, a place where people knew and cared about each other. But as a teenager I couldn’t wait to escape. I wanted to meet new people and explore New York City, which I was able to do at the H.S. of Music and Art, one the city’s selective high schools at that time. Being immersed in the arts was one of the defining experiences of my life.
Writing brings me joy. It will be the cornerstone of this chapter of my life.
“With meticulous historical research and heartfelt storytelling, Viniar introduces an unforgettable heroine - not because Fannie is extraordinary, but because she feels so real. She’s the kind of character who becomes a friend, someone you’ll root for as she navigates the trials of youth, immigration and identity as a Jewish woman. ”
— Robyn Rosen, Ph.D. Professor of history, Marist College
Book - Little Bird - “Like the heroine of her timeless novel, Barbara Viniar has meticulously embroidered this story of a talented young woman torn between the tradition she respects and the dreams she can’t deny.”
— Elyce Wakerman, author of A Tale of Two citizens and Father Loss
After an old photograph and newspaper article revealed that my grandmother, Fannie, was married to a cousin at 17 and later divorced, I felt compelled to tell her story. But with only a few dates and names to go on, I had to create the story from my imagination.
It took three years of writing and rewriting, not to mention researching the life of a Jewish immigrant in New York City from 1910 – 1917 to finish Little Bird.
I only hope that my Fannie captures what might have been true about my grandmother. I often feel that telling her story has been a way of discovering my own.
They say writers are either compulsive plotters or “pantsers,” happy to let their stories evolve without a plan. I am somewhere in between. I had a detailed outline when I started, but then characters surprised me. Their voices changed the story.
I am often asked if I have written fiction before. Have I always dreamed of writing a novel? Absolutely not! This passion, this commitment of time and emotional energy to writing a novel has all been new to me. I would sit down at my desk and lose track of time. It still fills me with terror and joy.
https://barbaraviniar.com/

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E669 - Leonard D. Hilley II - epic fantasy series, sci-fi suspense, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and young adult novels Feb 02, 2026

Show notes

EPISODE 669 - Leonard D. Hilley II - epic fantasy series, sci-fi suspense, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and young adult novels
Leonard D. Hilley II grew up in Fort Payne, AL, where his never-ending curiosity introduced him to the world of biology and books. During his youth he was an avid insect collector and reared butterflies and moths. His love for science eventually merged with his writing. He currently resides in Marietta, Ohio, where he writes science fiction thrillers, epic high fantasy, and YA mysteries.
Education: B.S. Biology; MFA in Creative Writing
Leonard D. Hilley II is the author of Predators of Darkness Series, The Chronicles of Aetheaon, The Forrest Wollinsky Vampire Hunter Series, and The Nocturnal Trinity Series.
Leonard D. Hilley II also writes short stories for YA. Two books were inspired by his early love of biology: Rearing Dragons in My Backyard and Fiddling Worms. He also writes a mystery series for YA: Dee’s Mystery Solvers.
https://leonarddhilleyii.com/

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E668 - Jan Kotouč - Czech Republic Author, science fiction, alternate history and space operas Jan 30, 2026

Show notes

EPISODE 668 - Jan Kotouč - Czech Republic Author, science fiction, alternate history and space operas
My name is Jan Kotouč, I write science fiction, alternate history and good old action adventure. I’m based in Czech Republic and my books have come out in English and Czech. Apart from writing, I also teach at a university and I’m a frequent guests at many conventions.
Here you’ll find some samples of my work, my complete biography, bibliography, information about English translations and also a free book for you!
https://jan-kotouc.cz/en/english/

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E667 - Leslie R Schover - Fission - A Novel of Atomic Heartbreak, Oak Ridge and the Manhattan Project Jan 28, 2026

Show notes

EPISODE 667 - Leslie R Schover - Fission - A Novel of Atomic Heartbreak, Oak Ridge and the Manhattan Project
After retiring from her academic and clinical career as a psychologist, Leslie Schover has returned to her early love of writing fiction. She brings her knowledge of people, relationships, and sexuality to her novels. She grew up in Highland Park, in the suburbs of Chicago, and minored in creative writing at Brown University before receiving her PhD in clinical psychology at UCLA. Her mother did not want her to choose writing as a profession and told her that only someone as single-minded as Truman Capote, who had published a novel at age twenty-three, could be a successful author. Leslie spent most of her psychology career at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.
She was one of a few pioneers in advocating for reproductive health in people dealing with chronic illness, especially cancer. She published three self-help books in the Jurassic age: Prime Time: Sexual Health for Men over Fifty (Holt, Rinehart, & Winston, 1984); Sexuality and Fertility after Cancer (John Wiley & Sons, 1997); and Overcoming Male Infertility: Understanding its Causes and Treatments (John Wiley & Sons, 2000).
She was also coerced by colleagues, who wielded the powers of promotion and tenure, into writing thirty-five book chapters on sex and/or fertility after cancer, with the daunting task of avoiding self-plagiarization. She created all content for a digital health company, Will2Love.com, which received an Innovations Prize in the 2019 Astellas C3 competition for cancer care. Unfortunately, Will2Love, with its mission of helping people with cancer to solve sexual and fertility problems, did not survive the pandemic. Her first novel, Fission: A Novel of Atomic Heartbreak, is based in part on her parents’ stories of life during the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. It will be published by SheWrites Press in January, 2026.
https://www.leslieschoverauthor.com/

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E666 - Darlene Oakley - Canadian freelance writer, editor, and transcriptionist - Inner Sanctum - Remnant Jan 26, 2026

Show notes

EPISODE 666 - Darlene Oakley - Canadian freelance writer, editor, and transcriptionist - Inner Sanctum - Remnant
About the author
Darlene Oakley is a freelance writer, editor, and transcriptionist based in Canada’s Niagara Region. She has written for the dental, healthcare, and parenting audiences and now specializes in scientific research and experimental development (SR&ED). She has over 200 articles published online to date. She has held various roles within the publishing industry for the past 25 years.
Darlene has been writing short stories and books since she first learned how to put pen to paper. This book is a culmination of a life’s pursuit and comes out of a love for words and writing, relatable characters, a little bit of sci-fi, love and suspense.
Inner Sanctum was written primarily in the NCR, particularly at Brewed Awakenings in Kemptville, Ontario -- lattes, books, and great atmosphere just seem to go hand in hand.
Inner Sanctum: Remnant - The last-known remnants of life from Upper World Earth is dying.
The underground city of Egerton’s population – saved from almost certain death on the surface 400 years ago – is shrinking.
Family Control Officer Aurora Cassle and Mayor’s Assistant Den Maron must find out why. Their investigation reveals Egerton’s long-forgotten history and long-buried secrets which generations of mayors have hidden from the public.
Den and Aurora’s research leads them to one conclusion; the only way to save their city – their people – is to return to the surface.
To do so presents great risk to everyone. No one can really predict what awaits them on the surface after four centuries – wars, disease, predators. Most are willing to take the risk, but some don’t want life in Egerton to change at all and do what they can to ensure no one leaves.
The fight to return to the surface comes at a cost no one expects.
https://www.facebook.com/DarleneOakleyAuthor
https://nextleveleditingandtranscription.com/

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E665 - Jennifer D Torseth - Author of ADELE WOLF THE PACK, THE EMERGENCE SAM and THE EMERGENCE SERA Jan 23, 2026

Show notes

EPISODE 665 - Jennifer D Torseth - Author of ADELE WOLF THE PACK, THE EMERGENCE SAM and THE EMERGENCE SERA
THE EMERGENCE SAM is almost fully published! I submitted my story to KDP and am awaiting approval for release!
I am looking for ARCs! If you would like to be an ARC I have an application out that will run until June 3rd!
Also in Writing news!
I jumped back on my next book ADELE WOLF THE PACK!!! It is the sequel to ADELE WOLF! Right now I’m in the first edit stage but I hope to have it ready to go by the end of the year.
www.tiktok.com/@jennifer_d_torseth
https://jenniferdtorseth.com/

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E664 - Susan Sloate - The Power of Music Captured in Story - Scenes From a Song Jan 21, 2026

Show notes

EPISODE 664 - Susan Sloate - The Power of Music Captured in Story - Scenes From a Song

Susan Sloate is the best-selling, award-winning multi-genre author of more than 25 books. She’s also a publisher, former podcast host and ghostwriter, and never met a good story she didn't love!

Major Works

Susan's latest novel is Scenes From a Song, the emotional saga of a 1960's band that achieves monstrous success, and a special song from their catalogue that changes the lives of its listeners. It went live as a Kindle book on Amazon in August 2025 and in its first 24 hours became the #1 New Release in TWO of its book categories, the fastest-launching book she's ever had!

Susan also co-authored (with Kevin Finn) Forward to Camelot: The Final Edition (2024), atime-travel thriller about the JFK assassination, which was re-published in 2013 as the 50th Anniversary Edition before its current 2024 edition. Recently declassified JFK assassination documents confirm that Susan and Kevin's original theory about the identity of the assassination planner--who appears as a major fictional character in the novel--was, in fact, actually true.

Stealing Fire isa passionate May-December romance set against the backdrop of Broadway musical theater. The audiobook version, narrated by actress Mapuana Makia, is also available on Audible and Amazon

Susan also co-wrote (with Ron Doades) Realizing You, a 2013 release that pioneered a genre: the self-help novel. Blending a fictional story with exercises designed to teach you more about yourself and your dreams and goals, the book received glowing reviews from both critics and readers and continues to inspire those on personal-growth journeys.

Publishing and Podcasting

For two years, pre- and post-pandemic, with her author friend Kelly Fitzgerald Fowler, Susan co-hosted Talk Jam, a podcast potpourri exploring topics from the Bible to pop culture, history and conspiracy. With nearly 100 episodes recorded, the show was an international fan favorite and further showcased Susan’s gift for lively storytelling.

She is the founder/owner of Covfefe Press, her independent publishing imprint, and also serves as editor/project manager for the Kyle & Corey middle-grade mystery series by author Joe Stephens. Susan has also been featured in a 2009 MysteryQuest special on The History Channel, exploring the mysteries of Alcatraz, based on her children’s nonfiction book Mysteries Unwrapped: The Secrets of Alcatraz. She is the author of 17 published young-adult books. She's also ghostwritten projects for a number of prominent historians and businesspeople.

Creative Work and Coaching

Susan has also written two produced stage plays, both of which she co-directed in their world-premiere runs. Two of her original screenplays have also been optioned for film development. She is currently adapting a long-forgotten novel into a musical play, writing both book and lyrics, which is a whole new adventure for her!

In 2007, Susan founded a local authors festival to promote literacy in local schools, reaching over 10,000 students in a single day. In 2014 she launched The Writers Workshop, which brought together playwrights, actors, and directors to develop new works through staged readings and collaborative feedback.

She speaks regularly at writers' conferences across the country on both the craft of writing and the strategies of book marketing. She also provides one-on-one author coaching, helping them bring their work to life through writing, publishing, and promotion (see the Additional Services page).

Recognition

Susan's books have earned accolades from both readers and professional reviewers:

FORWARD TO CAMELOT in its original 2003 edition hit #6 on the Amazon bestseller list, earned accolades i

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