Tag: Storytelling

Audiobook Review: Surviving Doodahville by Ashley Fontainne

About the Audiobook

 

Authors: Ashley Fontainne & Lillian Hansen

Narrator: Rebecca Roberts

Length: 11 hours 45 minutes

Publisher: RMSW Press⎮2019

Genre: Contemporary Romance; Family Saga

Release date: May 24, 2019

 

Synopsis: “Filled with powerful scenes and great characters! Brings the ’83 Old South to vivid life. One of my all-time favorite reads! Loved it”! (Janelle Taylor, NY Times best-selling author)

The summer of 1983 – the era of big debt, big hair, and big dreams. Seventeen-year-old Kassandra Lawson is excited about starting her senior year of high school. She has a crush on a local hunk, and her best friend, valley girl extraordinaire Liz Hendricks, insists on helping her snag the hot guy – for sure!

July starts out uneventful for Kee and her parents. Her father, Kevin, is a partner at a CPA firm, and her mother, Gail, works as a secretary at the police department. The small family lives an idyllic life in sunny Hacienda Heights, California.

1983 also brings upheaval and strife for the Lawson clan. A death in the family forces Kevin and Gail to make the painful decision to pack up and move to Kevin’s hometown of Daltville, Arkansas.

Each faces daunting challenges adapting to their new life. Gail and Kee aren’t quite sure they can handle the culture shock. They encounter social and racial issues they never faced on the West Coast, strange food, weird dialects, odd customs, and wicked secrets that have the potential to destroy their family.

More than just a coming-of-age story, Surviving Doodahville explores family bonds, racial barriers, and just how much a person is willing to sacrifice for others. The tale is full of humor, action and a touch of mystery, making it a fun romp into the past.

 

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This was an excellent story filled with great characters, subplots, and practically bleeding with themes. I thoroughly enjoy stories that totally surprise me. Surviving Doodahville was much better than I expected. I’m not sure what my expectation was, but it definitely exceeded it. Narrator Rebecca Roberts was nothing less than exceptional on every level. The variation of southern accents, males and female, including Californian valley girl were spot on. 

 

 

About the Author: Ashley Fontainne

 

Award-winning and International bestselling author, Ashley Fontainne, is an avid reader, becoming a fan of the written word in her youth, starting with the Nancy Drew mystery series. Stories that immerse the reader deep into the human psyche and the monsters lurking within us are her favorite reads.

Her muse for penning the Eviscerating the Snake series was The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Ashley’s love for this book is what sparked her desire to write her debut novel, Accountable to None, the first book in the trilogy. With a modern setting to the tale, Ashley delves into just what lengths a person is willing to go to when seeking personal justice for heinous acts perpetrated against them. The second novel in the series, Zero Balance, focuses on the cost and reciprocal cycle that obtaining revenge has on the seeker. Once the cycle starts, where does it end? How far will the tendrils of revenge expand? Adjusting Journal Entries answers that question—far and wide.

 

The short thriller entitled Number Seventy-Five touches upon the dangerous world of online dating. Number Seventy-Five took home the BRONZE medal in fiction/suspense at the 2013 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards.

The paranormal thriller entitled The Lie won the GOLD medal in the 2013 Illumination Book Awards for fiction/suspense. A movie based on this book, entitled Foreseen, is currently a feature film available on video-on-demand from Amazon.

Ashley delved into the paranormal with a Southern Gothic horror/suspense novel, Growl, which released in January of 2015. The suspenseful mystery Empty Shell released in September of 2014. Ashley teamed up with Lillian Hansen (Ashley calls her Mom!) and penned a three-part murder mystery/suspense series entitled The Magnolia Series. The first book, Blood Ties, released in 2015 and was voted one of the Top 50 Self-Published Books You Should Be Reading in 2015 at http://www.readfree.ly.

 

Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Goodreads

 

 

About the Author: Lillian Hansen

 

Lillian Hansen is the proud mother of Ashley Fontainne and a grateful daughter of parents who raised her to love and respect the principles upon which America was founded. Lillian is the granddaughter of a brave young woman who immigrated to the United States from Denmark at the age of 18 without speaking any English, who built a career, a family, and became a proud U.S. Citizen.

Lillian values the diverse, life-enriching experiences squirreled away in her memory banks and is fond of all four-legged critters, especially cats. Lillian lives in Arkansas and Surviving Doodahville is her third novel.

 

About the Narrator: Rebecca Roberts

 

After a career in finance, Rebecca Roberts became inspired to pursue her childhood dream of becoming an actress. Her ingenuity and ardent desire brought her to voice-acting which has rapidly grown into her thriving audiobook narration and production company, Atlantis Audio Productions. She has narrated and produced over seventy audiobooks for indie authors and major publishing houses. Rebecca delivers her stories with a mature and intelligent style characterized by a believable tone, and versatility in creating memorable and individual characters with her various accents and vocal qualities. In short, she narrates with her whole heart. Rebecca is a native Floridian, proud mother to three sparkling children, and wife to the man of her dreams.

 

Website⎮Twitter⎮Instagram

 

 

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DIY MFA Radio: Perfecting Your Plot Twists with Steven James

Microphone

 

Episode 216: Perfect Your Plot Twists — Gabriela Pereira Interviews Steven James

This podcast originally appears on www.diymfa.com Sept. 5, 2018. Duration: 46 min.

 

 

Steven James author

 

Steven James is a national bestselling novelist whose award-winning, pulse-pounding thrillers continue to gain wide critical acclaim and a growing fan base.

After consulting with a former undercover FBI agent and doing extensive research on cybercrimes, Steven wrote his latest thriller, EVERY CROOKED PATH–a taut, twist-filled page turner that is available now wherever books are sold.

If you’ve never met environmental criminologist and geospatial investigator Patrick Bowers, EVERY CROOKED PATH is the perfect chance to dive into the series and find out what fans and critics everywhere are raving about.

Suspense Magazine, who named Steven’s book THE BISHOP their Book of the Year, says that he “sets the new standard in suspense writing.” Publishers Weekly calls him a “master storyteller at the peak of his game.” And RT Book Reviews promises, “the nail-biting suspense will rivet you.”

Respected by some of the top thriller writers in the world, Steven deftly weaves intense stories of psychological suspense with deep philosophical insights. As critically-acclaimed novelist Ann Tatlock put it, “Steven James gives us a captivating look at the fine line between good and evil in the human heart.”

 

Amazon | Goodreads | Website | thestoryblender.com

 

 

Lautsprecher mit Schall

 

 

 

 

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Peter & Steven James Discuss Three Aspects of Emotionally Engaging Fiction

on stage

 

 

Internationally Bestselling author Steven James hosts Crime writer Steven James on the Story Blender

 

 

This podcast originally appears on thestoryblender.com June 25, 2018. Duration 58 min.

 

Topics of discussion:

  • Elements of Crime fiction
  • Psychopaths
  • Three Aspects of Emotionally Engaging Fiction
  • Character, Research, Plot
  • Peter Jame’s writing process

 

 

Peter James image

 

 

About Peter James

Peter James is an international bestselling thriller writer. He is a New York Times bestseller, as well as having 11 consecutive Sunday Times No 1s, and he is published in 37 languages. His DS Roy Grace crime novels have sold 18 million copies worldwide. Prior to becoming a full-time author, he was responsible for 25 movies. In 1994 Penguin published his novel, ‘Host’, on two floppy discs as the world’s first electronic novel. His novels have won numerous awards, most recently the coveted 2016 CWA Diamond Dagger for sustained excellence, and he was publicly voted by WH Smith – Britain’s biggest book selling chain – The Best Crime Author Of All Time. Visit him on YouTube: http://www.peterjames.com/youtube
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Host Steven James Discusses Storytelling with actor, director, and screenwriter Paul Leyden

Doodle blender. Kitchenware for smoothie. Cooking illustration on the white background

 

Host Steven James Discusses Storytelling with actor, director, and screenwriter Paul Leyden

This podcast originally appears on thestoryblender.com May 7, 2018. Duration: 60 min.

 

 

Paul Leyden image

 

 

Steven James author

 

Website | Amazon | Goodreads

 

About Steven James

Steven James is a national bestselling novelist whose award-winning, pulse-pounding thrillers continue to gain wide critical acclaim and a growing fan base.

Suspense Magazine, who named Steven’s book THE BISHOP their Book of the Year, says that he “sets the new standard in suspense writing.” Publishers Weekly calls him a “master storyteller at the peak of his game.” And RT Book Reviews promises, “the nail-biting suspense will rivet you.”

Equipped with a unique Master’s Degree in Storytelling, Steven has taught writing and storytelling on four continents over the past two decades, speaking more than two thousand times at events spanning the globe.

Steven’s groundbreaking book on the art of fiction writing, STORY TRUMPS STRUCTURE, won a Storytelling World award. Widely-recognized for his story crafting expertise, he has twice served as a Master CraftFest instructor at ThrillerFest, North America’s premier training event for suspense writers.

Respected by some of the top thriller writers in the world, Steven deftly weaves intense stories of psychological suspense with deep philosophical insights. As critically-acclaimed novelist Ann Tatlock put it, “Steven James gives us a captivating look at the fine line between good and evil in the human heart.”

After consulting with a former undercover FBI agent and doing extensive research on cybercrimes, Steven wrote his latest thriller, EVERY DEADLY KISS–a taut, twist-filled page turner that is available now wherever books are sold.

If you’ve never met environmental criminologist and geospatial investigator Patrick Bowers, EVERY DEADLY KISS is the perfect chance to dive into the series and find out what fans and critics everywhere are raving about.

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Steven James Hosts Michael Hauge on the Storyblender Podcast

Realistic metal loudspeakers with volume knob

 

Author Steven James hosts Michael Hauge Hollywood Script consultant and guru.

This post originally appears on Blogtalkradiocom and on thestoryblender.com.

March 29, 2018 Duration: 57 min.

 

 

Storytelling made easy by Michael Hauge

 

HARNESS THE POWER OF HOLLYWOOD STORYTELLING MAGIC 

Renowned Hollywood story expert Michael Hauge’s Six Step Success Story formula gives your potential clients and buyers the emotional experience of success—and will move them to take action.

 

Amazon | Goodreads

 

 

Micahel Hauge image

 

MICHAEL HAUGE is a script consultant, story expert, author and lecturer who works with writers, filmmakers, marketers, business leaders, attorneys and public speakers, both in Hollywood and around the world. He has consulted on projects starring Morgan Freeman, Julia Roberts, Tom Cruise and Reese Witherspoon, and for Overbrook Entertainment, where he consulted on the scripts for (among many others) I AM LEGEND, HANCOCK, THE KARATE KID, SUICIDE SQUAD and BRIGHT, which is currently in production.

Michael is the best selling author of Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds: The Guaranteed Way to Get Your Screenplay or Novel Read, as well as the 20th Anniversary Edition of his classic book Writing Screenplays That Sell.

Michael has presented seminars, lectures and keynotes in person and online to more than 80,000 participants worldwide. According to Will Smith, “No one is better than Michael Hauge at finding what is most authentic in every moment of a story.”

 

 

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Steven James Hosts Bestselling Author Carter Wilson

Story blender image

 

 

The Story Blender with Special Guest Carter Wilson

This podcast originally appears on The Story Blender Feb. 22nd, 2018.

Length 52 min.

 

Carter Wilson Author pic

 

USA Today bestselling author Carter Wilson explores the depths of psychological tension and paranoia in his dark, domestic thrillers. Carter is a two-time winner of both the Colorado Book Award and the International Book Award, and his novels have received multiple starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Library Journal. Carter lives in Erie, Colorado in a spooky Victorian house. Visit him at www.carterwilson.com.

 

Amazon | Goodreads

 

 

 

Steven James author

 

Steven James is a national bestselling novelist whose award-winning, pulse-pounding thrillers continue to gain wide critical acclaim and a growing fan base.

Suspense Magazine, who named Steven’s book THE BISHOP their Book of the Year, says that he “sets the new standard in suspense writing.” Publishers Weekly calls him a “master storyteller at the peak of his game.” And RT Book Reviews promises, “the nail-biting suspense will rivet you.”

Equipped with a unique Master’s Degree in Storytelling, Steven has taught writing and storytelling on four continents over the past two decades, speaking more than two thousand times at events spanning the globe.

Steven’s groundbreaking book on the art of fiction writing, STORY TRUMPS STRUCTURE, won a Storytelling World award. Widely-recognized for his story crafting expertise, he has twice served as a Master CraftFest instructor at ThrillerFest, North America’s premier training event for suspense writers.

 

Amazon | Goodreads

 

 

 

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Steven James hosts author Katia Lief on the Story Blender

Story blender Preston

 

 

The Story Blender with special guest Katia Leaf

Original air date March 5, 2018 Length 55 min.

Please see The Story Blender for details or Suspense Radio

 

 

Katia Lief pic

 

Katia Lief (aka Karen Ellis) is the USA Today and internationally bestselling author of several novels, including THE MONEY KILL, book 4 in the acclaimed Karin Schaeffer thriller series published by HarperCollins. Her work has been nominated for the Mary Higgins Clark Award, Derringer Award, and RT Reviewers Choice Award. Her next novel, A MAP OF THE DARK, will be published pseudonymously as Karen Ellis in January 2018 by Mulholland Books. Katia teaches fiction writing at The New School for Social Research. She lives in Brooklyn with her family.

 

 

A Map of the Dark Katia Lief

 

Amazon | Goodreads

 

 

 

Steven James author

 

Steven James is a national bestselling novelist whose award-winning, pulse-pounding thrillers continue to gain wide critical acclaim and a growing fan base.

Suspense Magazine, who named Steven’s book THE BISHOP their Book of the Year, says that he “sets the new standard in suspense writing.” Publishers Weekly calls him a “master storyteller at the peak of his game.” And RT Book Reviews promises, “the nail-biting suspense will rivet you.”

Equipped with a unique Master’s Degree in Storytelling, Steven has taught writing and storytelling on four continents over the past two decades, speaking more than two thousand times at events spanning the globe.

Steven’s groundbreaking book on the art of fiction writing, STORY TRUMPS STRUCTURE, won a Storytelling World award. Widely-recognized for his story crafting expertise, he has twice served as a Master CraftFest instructor at ThrillerFest, North America’s premier training event for suspense writers.

 

 

Every Deadly Kiss Steven James

 

Amazon | Goodreads

 

 

 

Vintage cassetes two

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Author Steven James hosts special guest Mark Greaney on the Story Blender

Mixeur rouge

 

 

Author Steven James hosts special guest Mark Greaney on the Story Blender

 

 

Mark Greaney

 

Mark Greaney is the #1 NYT bestselling author of TOM CLANCY TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE. He has written or cowritten seven Tom Clancy novels, and is also the bestselling author of the Gray Man series, including GUNMETAL GRAY, BACK BLAST, DEAD EYE, BALLISTIC, ON TARGET, and THE GRAY MAN.

Mark lives in Memphis, Tennessee

 

The Gray Man is back in another nonstop international thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan novel

 

Agent in Place Audiobook

 

Learn more at MARKGREANEYBOOKS.COM

 

Original air date Jan. 22, 2018 Length 50 min. Audio Link

 

 

Girl on headphones

 

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