Episodes

In This Episode "Get ready to laugh, cry, and tap dance your way through this unmissable episode of Beyond the Pen! Join Maccabee and Chelsea as they don their best jazz hands and welcome the incredible Edward Minski, a true master of surviving both cancer and musical theater. Prepare for a wild ride as they dive into Edward's hilarious and heartwarming book, 'Cancer, Musical Theater, and Other Chronic Illnesses.' Discover how Edward's unique blend of humor and darkness takes cancer by surprise...

In This Bonus Episode: I sit down LIVE from VEECON with the Dog Whisperer and published author of Cesar's Way himself, César Millán. In this quick 5-minute interview, we talk about his journey into the publishing world, his principles of discipline and leadership, and his approach to overcoming writing obstacles. Caesar emphasizes the importance of self-knowledge, honesty, and loyalty in working with animals and in writing. He believes that being disciplined is not about being obsessed, but rath...

In this Episode In this podcast episode, the host interviews several authors about their upcoming books. The first guest, Annie Sullivan, discusses her book "A Touch of Gold," which explores the conflicts faced by the cursed daughter of King Midas. The conversation covers topics such as character relationships and the Island of the Lost Soul's atmosphere. The second guest, Charles Kelly, talks about his book "Crossroads," which follows an undercover federal agent in an outlaw motorcycle club. Th...

In This Episode... Join Beyond the Pen for their second episode in a three-part series, recorded live at HEPL Local Author's Book Fair 2023. Listen in as authors Ava Cuvay, Sutton Bishop, Anitha Sharma, Christopher Clouser, and M.B. Dabney share insights into their latest books, covering genres ranging from romance to sci-fi. Don't miss out on this exciting episode! Keynotes - Live recording of Beyond the Pen at HEPL Local Author's Book Fair 2023 - Featuring five More talented authors discussi...

In This First of Three Episodes: We explore the themes of guilt, forgiveness, and redemption. Look no further than our latest episode, featuring interviews with several authors at the Hamilton East Public Library Local Author's Book Fair 2023. Join our host, Maccabee Griffin, as he delves into the world of literature and speaks with Mr. David Marsh about his book "The Confessions of Adam." This thought-provoking novel explores the story of Adam and Eve and the complex emotions of guilt, forgiven...

In This Episode Join us in this episode of Beyond the Pen as Maccabee takes us through his recent experiences at the local book fair in Indianapolis, his completion of editing another non-fiction book for the MediaCasters, and his upcoming interviews with new authors and publishing experts. Along the way, he shares his journey dealing with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures and the therapeutic benefits of writing. Don't miss out on Maccabee's inspiring words and encouragement to start your writi...

In This Episode Dive into the world of book marketing with Maccabee Griffin and notable guest author and book marketer Judy M. Baker as they explore innovative strategies and share insider tips to help authors captivate their ideal readers. In this episode of Beyond the Pen, Judy reveals the secrets of building a powerful brand, harnessing the power of third-party verification, and mastering the art of email lists. Whether you're a seasoned author or just starting out, tune in to learn how to el...

Episode Description: Join us on Beyond the Pen as we sit down with retired Rear Admiral Garry Hall, author of Navigating Leadership, for an insightful and entertaining conversation about the importance of risk-taking, fostering diverse relationships, and the power of teamwork. From his journey as a Navy helicopter pilot to becoming a leadership expert, Garry shares his wit, wisdom, and personal anecdotes, revealing the secrets to maintaining a long-lasting marriage and the power of humor in diff...

In this captivating episode of Beyond the Pen, we sit down with Joseph Wooley, Acquisitions Director, and Danielle Acton, Adult Engagement Coordinator, at the Hamilton East Public Library in Indianapolis, Indiana. Join us as we uncover the ins and outs of getting your book on library shelves, the significance of adult engagement programs, and the evolving landscape of book fairs and genre diversity. Discover the importance of professional reviewers, the role of Amazon reviews, and successful str...

In this episode of Beyond the Pen, Host Maccabee Griffin sits down with BrandFace founder and author Tonya Eberhart about her father's memoir "The Raising of a Rebel: 12 Turning Points from a Child of Alcoholics. They discuss the impact of growing up in the 50s in a family of moonshiners and alcoholics and how this normalized life of swirling chaos impacted his viewpoints on parenting his children. Tonya's father, Gene Odom, shares his journey from drug and alcohol addiction to the triumphant re...

In this episode of Beyond the Pen, Matthew Witten talks about his book, Killer Story, and its inspiration. Join us as we dive into the world of true crime podcasts with the fictional story of Petra Kovach, a young journalist who risks everything to launch a podcast investigating an unsolved murder. We explore the themes of immigration, short-form storytelling, and identity and how they intersect with Petra's journey. We also discuss the moral and ethical implications of journalism and the justi...

Join us for a special episode of Beyond the Pen, where we update you on some exciting changes happening on the show. Our new format will include reading a page or two of a book and analyzing its plot, characters, and exposition, followed by some fun and creative improv. But that's not all! We'll also have some amazing guest authors joining us, including Tom Fowler, Tonya Eberhart, and Lee Schneider, who will share their insights and experiences with writing and publishing. We'll also be joined ...

In this episode, we delve into the art of creating well-rounded characters that can captivate any audience, whether it's through writing, film, or theater. Mark W. Travis, a seasoned author and director, shares his insights on bringing characters to life and why it's important to let them drive the story. Join us as we explore the three phases of writing that can help develop realistic and relatable characters that will resonate with readers or viewers. Discover the techniques that Mark uses to...

Step into the dark and twisted world of C.R. Rice's Denial with Beyond the Pen - the must-listen podcast for fans of thought-provoking, genre-defying stories. Dive deep into the dying towns of America and explore the cultural funeral rituals and views on death that shape our world. From the depths of honor and glory in war to the reality of what lies beyond, join us as we delve into the depths of Rice's visionary novel, unlocking its hidden meanings and unearthing its most powerful themes. With ...

In this episode of Beyond the Pen, we delve into the heart-wrenching story of a Jewish musical family's escape from Nazi-occupied Vienna to Bolivia in the book "Exile Music." Discover the musical structure and themes that weave throughout the narrative. We explore the deeper topics of antisemitism, shell shock, woman empowerment, and being a lesbian in the 30s. Finally, join us as we travel down the rabbit holes of this captivating story, showcasing the resilience and strength of the human spiri...

Get ready to take your book to the next level with this captivating episode of Beyond the Pen! Join Maccabee as he sits down with Publishing PR Expert Jessica Dalby to explore the ins and outs of successful book PR. Learn how to find the right PR fit for your book, discover the key ingredients for a successful book roadmap, and steer clear of common PR pitfalls. In addition, Jessica will give you valuable insights on getting authentic reviews, using social media to your advantage, and so much mo...

In This Episode of Beyond the Pen Unleash the Power Within Exploring the World of Rise of the Ravenisha with P. Grace Lawson. Join us as we delve into the fantastical world of werepanthers, warrior women, and revenge in P. Grace Lawson's debut novel, Rise of the Ravenisha. Discover how the author's anthropological background influenced the creation of her characters and the intricate world-building. Learn about the themes of freeing oneself from bondage and coming into one's power as we delve in...

In This Episode Join us as we delve into the dystopian world of Harper Glenn's newest release, Monarch Rising. Set in a chilling near-future America, we'll explore the struggles of protagonist Jo Monarch as she fights to escape poverty and rise to power in the borderlands of New Georgia. But her journey is not without obstacles, as she faces off against a boy trained to manipulate and deceive. Listen as we unpack the themes of interracial relationships, class divide and the power struggle, and d...

In This Episode We speak to the Queen of Hearts, Kaitlyn Legaspi, about her Young Adult book series, Red Blood - Card Holders. She tells us how a deck of cards and anime inspired her to write a book in high school, and after graduating from the University of Florida, she published said books and is currently working on book three of six. She talks to us about how her pantser style of writing allowed her to create over 52 domains within her world. A tournament to the death for people bound (have ...

In This Episode Human nature, good vs. evil, and the justification of destruction; these are just a few examples of philosophies and ideals that authors use as inspiration for their novels. This successful formula has been used repeatedly in the publishing world for generations. But this week's guest author, Douglas Robbins, has created a narrative that blends fantasy, sci-fi, philosophy, mysticism, and more in Narican - The Cloaked Deception. We discuss everything from Oppenheimer's justificati...

In This Episode Have you ever considered creating fan fiction for your favorite book series? Or maybe experiment with a well-known character's backstory to answer the question, what if? Well, this week's guest author, Alice McVeigh, did just that to one of Jane Austen's most infamous villainous characters, Lady Susan. In Susan - A Jane Austen Prequel, Alice shows us that not all villains start evil initially but are gradually changed over time. Her love of Jane Austen is so overwhelming and unp...

In This Episode Teaching our children about empathy in their early stages of life is very important to any parent. However, it takes talented and passionate people to create these feelings in those around them at any age. This week's guest, Aruna M. Lepore, is a shining example of this with her children's book, Peanut the Penguin. The origin of Peanut has been inspired by the penguins of Cape Town, South Africa, to her roots in Trinidad, located in the Caribbean Islands. Follow us as we discover...

In This Episode Dinners are a time to catch up on the goings on in our family and friends' lives. It's also a time when parents ask their single-adult children all those questions no one wants to hear. Are you dating anyone yet? When are you going to settle down and have children? Have you even tried looking for the right guy/girl? This can drive many of us crazy, especially if you're not into the opposite sex. And to make things worse, your best friend blurts out, "Oh, we've been dating for a w...

In this Episode Coming from a generation of mental health and trauma can rain on anyone's parade. However, our guest author, Sandy Joy Weston, has always found some way to keep thinking positively no matter the storm has come her way. Physically, mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually. This allowed her to rise from the projects to owning and training her more well-known clients over the years. So, come with us as we go beyond the G.A.M.E. changing system in her book, Train Your Head & The B...