Best BookSpeak Network Podcasts (2025)

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The History Stacks: Steven Richard Smith talks about "The Boys of Rubber City" 31:49

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4d ago31:49

31:49

Steven Richard Smith has lived through several "careers," all which have led to literature, both as an author and a teacher. A former Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent in the 1990's in California, Smith returned to Ohio to seek his twin passions. Smith earned his Master of Arts in English from the University of Akron. He created the gam…

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"The Way We Used to Walk" Authors Megan Engelhardt & Mark Beall on The Brown Posey Press Show! 55:15

12d ago55:15

55:15

"What happens when the saviors of the world are falling apart at the seams?" Fifteen years ago, six college housemates unwittingly opened a portal which unleashed monsters upon the world. Of the six, only Charlie touched this portal, and has paid the price, in the loss of his family. In addition, his friends' memories of the incident were erased. N…

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The History Stacks: Michael L. Hawley talks of Jack the Ripper 28:09

18d ago28:09

28:09

Michael L. Hawley has become an authority on the mass murderer known as Jack the Ripper, and his contributions have brought us closer to finding out his true identity. He is the author of several books on the subject and related matters, which you may find at his author page. His titles include Jack the Ripper Suspect Dr. Francis Tumblety, and The …

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"Into the Red Realm" Author Joseph Mazerac on the Sunbury Press Books Show 24:35

25d ago24:35

24:35

The second volume of The Castatine Chronicles, Into the Red Realm carries on Joseph Mazerac's series that effortlessly combines young adult fiction, coming of age, adventure and fantasy on Sunbury's Milford House Press imprint. In book one, Into the Attic of the World, Charles Miller and his friends join the ageless Captain Kid on an adventure thro…

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"Whiz Kid" Author Joel Burcat on the Brown Posey Press Show 56:22

1M ago56:22

56:22

Philadelphia, 1950. Ben Green, a war veteran, soon to be college graduate, aspiring author and a husband with a child on the way finds himself at a crossroads in his 25th year. Ben finds himself pulled in different directions, with a need to find a job to support his family, an old-school Jewish culture that he finds himself both at odds with and r…

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The History Stacks: J.B. Manheim, on History, Baseball, and Politics 27:18

1M ago27:18

27:18

The roots of baseball and the avenues the national pastime has taken are not only a part of American history, but also politics. J. B. Manheim is the author of several books on the "Deadball Era," uncovering tales of names who left those footprints for superstars to follow, which you can find out about here. Manheim speaks with Dr. Lawrence Knorr a…

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The History Stacks: Wylie McLallen, from Hemingway to Hendrix 31:14

2M ago31:14

31:14

Author and historian Wylie McLallen returns to the BookSpeak Network to discuss his life, career, and biographies, which have left a lasting impression when considering the subject matter. Growing up in Memphis, McLallen earned a degree in History and English. He studied under Professor Robert Drake, a close friend of Flannery O'Connor, who exposed…

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The History Stacks: Carol Schultz Vento, "The Longest Day," and the Untold Stories of World War II 28:03

2M ago28:03

28:03

In this episode of The History Stacks, we hear from Carol Schultz Vento, political science professor, attorney, and chronicler of the life of a father whose real-life exploits were immortalized in film. Vento is the daughter of World War II veteran Arthur "Dutch" Schultz, a member of the 82nd Airborne Division and a paratrooper whose experience in …

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The History Stacks: Eugene Procknow, the American Revolution, and the Founding of Our Nation 30:06

2M ago30:06

30:06

A foremost authority on the American Revolution, Eugene Procknow is the author of a series of scholarly articles for the peer-reviewed Journal of the American Revolution. Speaking with Sunbury Press Books founder and program host, Dr. Lawrence Knorr, Procknow discusses how his career as a management consultant with one of the largest global firms a…

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"The Flip Side of Greatness" Author Chris Williams Talks Baseball & Bozos on the Sunbury Press Books Show 28:20

2M ago28:20

28:20

A love of baseball, its players, characters, and quirks has sparked numerous books over the decades, including a series by Chris Williams. In an avowed tongue-in-cheek manner, Williams bestows "honors" on players who were members of some of Major League Baseball's greatest teams but didn't necessarily stand out in terms of stats. The Flip Side of G…

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Debut: The History Stacks Welcomes Historian & Author Mark Carlson 28:52

2M ago28:52

28:52

The BookSpeak Network debuts a new podcast, dedicated to history and those who have devoted their time and lives to keeping the world's past alive. Dr. Lawrence Knorr, founder and CEO of Sunbury Press Books, invites a familiar voice to be his inaugural guest. Mark Carlson is a lifelong student of military history. For the past two decades, Carlson …

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Brown Posey Press Special--From the Book Bar: Authors A.E. Faulkner, Lindsay K. Bandy and L.E. DeLano in a Young Adult Fiction Roundtable! 43:40

3M ago43:40

43:40

The term "Summer Reading" is often tossed about, and on June 21st, 2025, the season was welcomed in during an event that highlighted independent Young Adult Fiction and the value to communities of not only public libraries but also the local bookstore. The Book Bar in downtown Palmyra, Pennsylvania, offers the best of two worlds: fine books curated…

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"Through a Dark Valley" Author Sherye Green on The Sunbury Press Books Show 27:41

3M ago27:41

27:41

Sherye Green returns to the Sunbury Press Books Show to discuss her latest work, Through a Dark Valley: The Timothy House Chronicles Book Two, on Scriptoria Press. Green's protagonists, Abbie Richardson and Keith Haliday, who we first met in Book One, Abandon Not My Soul, are doing their best to recover from personal losses. As their romance develo…

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"The Haunting of Sterben House," Shawn McLain on the Sunbury Press Books Show 33:07

3M ago33:07

33:07

Chloe Miller is dead, missing since 1932, with no body to be found. Her ghost, however, remains in Sterben House, and she is not alone. Despite her whispered warnings, people have come to live here, only to flee in terror from the evil that dwells within. Still another family moves into Sterben House. Alex knows of Chloe's death and decides to solv…

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"Saving Krakow: A Novel" ... K.R. Kiehl's Debut Work of Historical Fiction on the Brown Posey Press Show 45:45

3M ago45:45

45:45

Poland, 1939. Sergei Bravo wants nothing more than to teach the young and leave his brief military stint behind. Driven by the love of his wife, Marta, and his faith, the native Belorussian finds himself once more cast into the cauldron of World War II, but this time, as an officer, a spy, and a witness to the upheavals in Poland and across Eastern…

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"Man Made" Author Fred Burton on the Brown Posey Press Show! 36:47

3M ago36:47

36:47

Mere terms such as "dystopian" or "post-apocalyptic" do not do justice to Man Made, the third novel by Fred Burton. In an age where many feel there is no longer a center, and no source of truth is upon us, only a few seem willing to ask questions and demand real answers. A highly technological society has created The New Machine, designed to clear …

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"In the Twist of the Dial" Author Joe Taylor on the Sunbury Press Books Show! 57:06

4M ago57:06

57:06

Radio history is one of change, reflecting not only the times of this country but also the forces upon it. In this episode of the Sunbury Press Books Show, Joe Taylor looks back on 60 years in the business. A deejay, a newscaster, a talk show host, and more, Joe viewed from behind the board, the microphone, and the boss' desk how radio has changed.…

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"The Tiger and the Bear" -- Philip Lazar's Debut Spy Novel on the Sunbury Press Books Show! 27:06

4M ago27:06

27:06

The discovery of an explosive Russian document in 2014 sends a journalist, a rival, and security services searching for its elusive writer. Philip Lazar takes the reader on a thrilling, danger-filled adventure across Europe and Southeast Asia. A potential separatist movement is alluded to in this paper, which could shatter empires and change the fa…

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"The Amazing Life and Loves of Lady Marjorie Fetter Goossens" -- Authors Glenn & Barbara Long Holliman on the Sunbury Press Books Show 28:10

5M ago28:10

28:10

Lady Marjorie Fetter Goossens would likely agree she lived a varied life, but that would be putting it mildly. Through her writings, the historical records, photographs and memories, authors Glenn and Barbara Long Holliman have traced The Amazing Life and Loves of Lady Marjorie Fetter Goossens: and the Scandal that Destroyed the Magnificent Career …

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"Whispers of War" Author Sarah Peachey appears on the Sunbury Press Books Show 27:22

5M ago27:22

27:22

The "Whispers of War" series examines the subject from the standpoint of soldiers and especially the families they must at times leave behind. Book One, "The Scars of War," comes from the hand of Sarah Peachey, who draws on her experience as an Army wife to craft the first of this series. Annalise is an Army brat who secretly wishes for freedom and…

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"The Forgotten Marlins" Author Sam Zygner on the Sunbury Press Books Show 27:28

5M ago27:28

27:28

The history of professional baseball in Florida is a rich one, and Sam Zygner continues with his captivating series of books, this time delving into the history of a team whose name would be familiar. "The Forgotten Marlins: A Tribute to the 1956-1960 Original Miami Marlins" tells of how a club moved from Syracuse, New York, and was envisioned as a…

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"Beyond the Green Widow" Author Juanita Green Hollinghead on the Sunbury Press Books Show 26:14

5M ago26:14

26:14

Prohibition was referred to as, "the great social and economic experiment," by former President Herbert Hoover, but the 20th-century temperance movement did not stop people from consuming alcohol or manufacturing it. In much of the US, the making of home-brewed "moonshine" was an industry, and often was the difference between putting food on famili…

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"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness" Author Thomas K. Clancy on the Sunbury Press Books Show 27:59

6M ago27:59

27:59

The Fourth of July is the day we honor America's independence, but on successive fourths from 1776 onward, there have been some fascinating moments in US History. Thomas K. Clancy offers some of these in his new book, "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." Clancy discusses with host and Sunbury Press founder Lawrence Knorr how the Declaratio…

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Brown Posey Press Special--The Voices of Cleveland ConCoction 2025 51:21

6M ago51:21

51:21

March of every year brings about spring, but it is also a unique time in a certain place south of Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland ConCoction, or CleCon, completed its 2025 event recently at the Bertram Hotel & Conference Center in Aurora. Your host, Tory Gates, once again took part in this annual event of authors, board and video game enthusiasts, Star …

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"The Elders Sequence" Author S.A. Ferguson appears on The Brown Posey Press Show 42:54

6M ago42:54

42:54

“In a Power Couple, one may rise. The other may fall.” In the first of the Aluzamoak Series, “The Elder’s Sequence” (on Compassionate Alien Press) sets a deep aesthetic for a universe that recalls the heaviest of science fiction and fantasy. Author S. A. Ferguson tells of worlds that show advancement, but can also fall to frailties, such as ambitio…

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"The Journey of the Snake" Author Adam Smith on The Sunbury Press Books Show 28:03

6M ago28:03

28:03

Twenty-year-old Charlotte Savatier returns to Charleston during the American Revolution, on a mission to avenge the wrongful execution of her affluent parents. While assigned by Lord Balfour to make this investigation, Charlotte takes on Heathcliff, a ruthless young Brit to assist her. Soon, Charlotte realizes not only being a woman (mixed race at …

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"Deadball Mayhem: Scoundrels, Scandalous Behavior, and Tragic Events" Author Ronald T. Waldo returns to The Sunbury Press Books Show 28:28

6M ago28:28

28:28

Ronald T. Waldo has written widely about baseball and its history, with ten books to his credit. In this latest work, Waldo looks at the "Deadball Era" of professional baseball, in Deadball Mayhem: Scoundrels, Scandalous Behavior, and Tragic Events. Waldo joins Sunbury Press Books founder and podcast host Lawrence Knorr to discuss a few of the era'…

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"Sowing Dragon Teeth" Author Dana R. Dillon on the Sunbury Press Books Show 27:45

7M ago27:45

27:45

In this work of historical fiction on the Milford House Press imprint, Dana R. Dillon brings the Revolutionary War to life in a tale of unlikely heroes, soldiers, spies, and intrigue in Sowing Dragon Teeth: A Novel of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. It is April 1775. Quock is an enslaved African-American militiaman. He is joined by tavern own…

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"That Day and What Came After" -- Author Rebecca Daniels discusses loss and grief on the Sunbury Press Books Show 30:34

7M ago30:34

30:34

What if you came home and found your husband dead in his favorite chair? Rebecca Daniels takes us through her experiences in this memoir, That Day and What Came After: Finding and Losing the Love of My Life in Six Short Years. Daniels tells of meeting her husband, Harold "Skip" Stoughton III later in their lives, how their friendship and relationsh…

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"A Ghost Comes Along" Author Rebecca Titchner on the Sunbury Press Books Show 30:37

7M ago30:37

30:37

Is it possible to know someone from only the words they have left behind? In this fascinating account, Rebecca Titchner pieces together the life of a sister she never knew through two decades of detailed journals the woman left behind. This adoption memoir touches on Titchner being given up at birth, the sister who walked away from the family, only…

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"Carlisle's Molly Pitcher" Author J.M. West on the Sunbury Press Books Show 24:02

7M ago24:02

24:02

The American Revolution has brought us the tale of Molly Pitcher, a woman who took her husband's place in battle and manned the ramrod of a cannon. Based on the historical record, Pitcher is a more fictionalized character, but women did serve in battle. Author J.M. West provides a similar account of the Carlisle, Pennsylvania woman, who, based on t…

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Dr. Laura Palmer, Author of "Celebrating Sensitives" on the Sunbury Press Books Show 29:19

7M ago29:19

29:19

Sensitivity, or being "A Sensitive" is a difficult prospect. Rev. Dr. Laura Palmer examines the tools and techniques offered by historical figures in her book, Celebrating Sensitives: What Can We Learn From Historic Sensitive Persons About Being an Empowered Empath. By examining diverse historical characters, Palmer shows how these individuals beca…

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"Oil for Your Lantern" -- Author Elizabeth Brady on the Sunbury Press Books Show 25:05

7M ago25:05

25:05

The saying, "There are no words," often comes to mind at the time of the unthinkable, including the sudden death of a child. Elizabeth Brady, however, notes there are words, in this collection of essays, Oil for Your Lantern: Sharing Light After the Death of a Child on the Scriptoria Press imprint of Sunbury Press Books. Brady lost her young son Ma…

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"The Final Resting Place -- Calvary Cemetery" Author Edward Bonner appears on the Sunbury Press Books Show 35:22

8M ago35:22

35:22

More than 150-thousand interments and entombments have taken place at Calvary Cemetery in Pittsburgh. The 200-acre site dates back to the mid-19th century and was officially established by the Pittsburgh Diocese of the Catholic Church in 1886. Of the many, the lives and graves of some of these, the famous, the unknown, and the infamous, stand out. …

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"Vietnam, No Regrets" Author J. Richard Watkins on the Sunbury Press Books Show 25:15

8M ago25:15

25:15

While numerous films, TV shows, and books have been written about Vietnam, J. Richard Watkins offers a personal tale of his military experience, and how this shaped his life, in "Vietnam, No Regrets -- One Soldier's Tour of Duty." Watkins pulls no punches in this interview with Sunbury Press Founder Lawrence Knorr. He discusses growing up in Brockt…

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"The Arbiters" Author Brook Lenker on the Sunbury Press Books Show 20:47

8M ago20:47

20:47

Brook Lenker recalls his boyhood years in Central Pennsylvania for "The Arbiters," his second novel and debut on the Milford House imprint. Set in the 1970s, Reily Watters and his gang of teenage compadres prefer their time outdoors to being in school or sports practice. Their favorite spot is the near-sacred Mannequin Creek, where years of hiking …

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"Freedom Now" Author Patti Fields Discusses Her New Book on the Sunbury Press Books Show 26:04

8M ago26:04

26:04

In her second release for the Ars Metaphysica imprint of Sunbury Press Books, Pattie Fields discusses how you can navigate personal crises and challenges and find your way forward. “Freedom Now: Transform Your Life Experiences into Miraculous Moments” offers teachings provided through Fields’ spirit guide, Neshea, about the transformation of the pr…

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"Voices from Early America" Author T. N. Pollio on the Sunbury Press Books Show 24:33

8M ago24:33

24:33

What was life really like for most Americans in centuries past. T. N. Pollio brings to life the diaries, letters and personal memorabilia to paint that picture, in “Voices from Early America.” The writings and notes of our ancestors does not always portray what we think the early decades of the US was like. From these, we find that while our forebe…

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Brown Posey Press Show--"Embracing Paradox, Evolving Language" Author L.E. Maroski 32:09

8M ago32:09

32:09

Humanity is on the verge of a consciousness transformation. Author L.E. Maroski believes a change is required in the language we use. Through models, meditations, and the observations of deep thinkers, Maroski combines her background in philosophy, psychology, and science with the spiritual to present a possible vision. "Embracing Paradox, Evolving…

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Brown Posey Press Show--Steven R. James debuts with "A Soul's Final Journey" 57:51

9M ago57:51

57:51

The life of Andrew Paige Turner and his partner have ended, but Paige soon realizes his journey has only begun. In Steven R. James' debut novel, "A Soul's Final Journey: Everyone Calls Me Paige," the reader is taken back through a life Paige must view once more. The setting is a small college in Maine during the 1980s. We meet the usual suspects of…

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"Sanctuary" Author Ginny Fite on the Sunbury Press Books Show 26:05

10M ago26:05

26:05

Sometimes losing your children is the only way to save them... It is 2039, and Joan Bennett's sheltered world as a wife and mother has fallen apart. Her husband and sister have died of a mysterious illness, and Joan herself is infected. On the run from government hitmen, Joan must take her five children on a desperate road trip to reach Canada. As …

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"A Book of Plays" featured on the Brown Posey Press Show 43:25

10M ago43:25

43:25

A collection of short works make up the Brown Posey release, "A Book of Plays," and highlights the talents of the Playwrights Alliance of Pennsylvania, also known as PAPA. Incorporated in 2008 and led by the late Marjorie Bicknell, the group provided a space for playwrights to read their works, and gain feedback and insights. Brown Posey Press Show…

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Douglas Brode, Author of "Meet Me in Manhattan," on the Sunbury Press Books Show 29:06

10M ago29:06

29:06

The romanticized history of Old West desperados Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid cannot be examined without including the woman who figured prominently in their histories, Etta Place. Author Douglas Brode examines a brief two-and-one-half weeks in the life of Butch, Sundance, and Etta--their trip to New York City, as they leave the West behind fo…

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"A Susquehanna Tale" Author Robert John Andrews on the Sunbury Press Books Show 28:22

10M ago28:22

28:22

Author Robert John Andrews brings the 18th-century Susquehanna Valley to life in this Catamount Press novella, A Susquehanna Tale. This period of early American history is hard, where the rifle, tomahawk, and knife rule. It is a time of hope and loss, land-hungry settlers and the Iroquois; here, two men, frontier scout Alexander Tennant and pioneer…

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"The Carousel Man" Author Stephen Paul Sayers on the Sunbury Press Books Show! 25:37

10M ago25:37

25:37

Horror author Stephen Paul Sayers comes to Hellbender Books with a new tale of suspense in The Carousel Man. Haunted by nightmares and visions, a desperate man returns to their source: a childhood carousel ride. There, he uncovers a shocking truth—and a long-forgotten promise that he is condemned to fulfill.Sayers is the author of the bestselling C…

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"How the Story Ends" Author Tory Gates Appears on The Sunbury Press Books Show! 29:48

11M ago29:48

29:48

"We are vessels...and sometimes we have to empty them."For years, Jhana has traveled the country as a National Public Radio reporter, looking for the stories of interesting people to tell. Now she has returned to her hometown of Sorel, to empty her vessel and tell listeners her own tale. As she navigates a hometown that has changed but still retain…

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Garrett Stack and "The Duke of Ash Avenue" on the Sunbury Press Books Show! 23:19

11M ago23:19

23:19

Elbridge Corvallis finds himself in an unenviable position. About to start his professional hockey career, "Elby" is called home to Lowland, Pennsylvania, due to his mother's death. A car accident then keeps him home, and Elby has to somehow heal, and figure out how to get out of a gritty, dying steel town.Elby must also contend with his father's s…

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"Arcane Assassin" Co-Author R.A. Fischer on the Sunbury Press Show 25:57

1y ago25:57

25:57

Arcane Assassin: Path of Annihilation is the first of the Raven Naelo series, now available on the Hellbender Books imprint of Sunbury Press. The daughter of an elven king and human mother, Raven is a would-be rogue seeking to follow her father's path and become a realm guardian. After proving her worth against a gang of half-orcs, her father sends…

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R. Kane Maurer & "The Forbidden Powers" Series on the Sunbury Press Books Show 24:56

1y ago24:56

24:56

R. Kane Maurer brings his love of fantasy and adventure tales to a trilogy of his own design, The Forbidden Powers. After agreeing to explore a local cave, Jonny is thrust into another world of magic, trolls, dragons, and legendary heroes only read about. Jonny quickly finds this is all too real and must learn to not only save himself but to defend…

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"The Deceived Ones" Author Judith Krummeck on the Brown Posey Press Show 54:23

1y ago54:23

54:23

The Deceived Ones is a tale of displacement, a stranger in a strange land, music, and a tale most familiar to fans of a certain bard. In her debut novel, Judith Krummeck brings real places, war, music, and identity to life. Vira is a talented, but introverted Ukrainian woman who is forced to flee her homeland as Russia invades. She lands in Baltimo…