Online For Authors Podcast

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Aaron Ryan, author of the book Forecast. Award-winning and bestselling IMDb-listed multi-genre Christian author, speaker and voice actor Aaron Ryan lives in Washington with his wife and two sons, along with Macy the dog, Winston & Tibbles the cats, and a finch named Fry. He is the prolific author of over 50 books, including the bestselling Dissonance 6-book alien invasion saga, the dystopian Christian fiction trilogies Carbon and The End, the Talisman epic space opera, the sci-fi thrillers Forecast, The Slide, Blood Echoes, The Darkness Within and The Phoenix Experiment, the nonfiction books God Is Not Santa, You are my whole Earth: A Daddy’s love for his Sons, Reflections and You’re Going Straight To Helen (In A Handbasket), business guides, literary criticism, 6 kids picture books and more. When he was in 2nd grade, he was tasked with writing a fiction novella. And thus, The Electric Boy was born: a simple story full of intrigue, fantasy, and 7-year-old wits that electrified Aaron’s desire to write. From that point forward, Aaron evolved into a creative soul that desired to write. He enjoys church, movies, music, biking, books, and being a husband and daddy. In his lifetime he has been an author, voiceover artist, wedding videographer, actor, musician, producer, rock/pop artist, executive assistant, service manager, paperboy, CSR, poet, tech support, worship leader, and more. The diversity of his life experiences gives him a unique approach to business, life, ministry, faith, and entertainment. Aaron’s favorite author by far is J.R.R. Tolkien, but he also enjoys Suzanne Collins, James S.A. Corey, Michael Crichton, Marie Lu, Madeleine L’Engle, John Grisham, Tom Clancy, Shel Silverstein, C.S. Lewis, Stephen King and Dave Barry. Aaron has always had a passion for storytelling. In my book review, I stated Forecast is a speculative thriller by Aaron Ryan. This is a retelling of the fateful day of 9/11. The difference? Roland Bishop. Roland got struck by lightning and, ever since, he has been able to see the future. He is given visions of people he comes into contact with - and these people are about to die. He ignores the first visions but eventually finds himself trying to change the future based on what he knows. What he doesn't expect is to see airplanes crashing into the Twin Towers and people falling from the sky. Aaron does a great job with character development. We get to know Roland, but also his therapist, as well as FBI agents, NYC police officers, and even neighbors. And despite having lived through 9/11 as the reader, Roland's visions and what he tried to do about them kept me riveted. I read the book in two days - and I suspect you will, too. I've never read a speculative, historical fiction thriller before, but I'm glad Forecast was my first! Definitely give this one a try. Subscribe to Online for Authors to learn about more great books! https://www.youtube.com/@onlineforauthors?sub_confirmation=1 You can follow Author Aaron Ryan Website: https://www.authoraaronryan.com FB: @Author Aaron Ryan IG: @authoraaronryan X: @AuthorAaronRyan LinkedIn: @Aaron Ryan Purchase Forecast on Amazon: Paperback: https://amzn.to/4fQlVaf Ebook: https://amzn.to/4woAhnc Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor IG: @terimbrown_author X: @terimbrown1 Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors #aaronryan #forecast #thriller #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Shannon Symonds, author of the book Murder by the Book. Shannon Symonds writes in an old house by the sea and in the Utah desert. She is the proud mother of six children and Nana to 18. She loves her Savior, time with her family, laughter, a good mystery, walking the beach, clamming, and bonfires. Shannon began writing to share her lived experience and unique perspective as a witness of the strength of survivors of intimate partner and sexual violence. Shannon believes that if we could see the world through her eyes, we would share her deep love and respect for survivors and recognize their strength, resilience, and capacity. Shannon has been an author since 2014. She has 10 published books, written 263 articles for Deseret Digital Media (which were periodically syndicated), and blogged for Hilary Weeks’ Billion Clicks project. Shannon published her first book, “Safe House,” with Cedar Fort Publishing in 2017. In 2023, she was nominated for the Latter-day Saints in Publishing, Media & the Arts Praiseworthy Award. In 2021, she was awarded the Author to Watch Award for her “By the Sea” Cozy Mystery YA series. In addition, her debut novel was a Whitney Award nominee in 2017. Her first cozy mystery, “Murder Takes a Selfie,” was sold at Costco (who knew having one’s book in a big-box store would be the mark of success?). Her books continue to be available at Deseret Book, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Cedar For, Spotify, and her favorite beach town bookstores. Shannon received the Davis County Child Abuse Prevention Award, the Oregon Trial Lawyers Public Justice Award 2002 for the Tiffany Alvera case that changed housing for victims nationally, and the 2002 Star Advocate Commendation from the Oregon Department of Justice. In my book review, I stated Murder by the Book is a cozy mystery by Shannon Symonds. And although it is cozy, it certainly isn't quiet and orderly! Ivy, not so lovingly called Ms. Marple by the town's police chief, is a self-identified murder magnet. She can sniff out a murder even when others only see a coincidence or accident - and so far, she hasn't been wrong. She is headstrong and lovable and completely real with a backstory full of issues. This is book two in the series, and I read it without reading the first one without feeling like I missed out. However, I now want to go back and get her backstory in full - and I'm sure you will, too. There are several other amazing characters you won't want to miss. Her boss, Xander, and his mother Rhoda, Anderson, Aggie, Conner, Charlotte, Brett, and the list goes on and on. It's a whole town filled with people you'll want to get to know. Shannon did a great job creating believable characters while keeping the story moving quickly through the mystery. It's a fun read you won't want to miss. Subscribe to Online for Authors to learn about more great books! https://www.youtube.com/@onlineforauthors?sub_confirmation=1 You can follow Author Shannon Symonds Website: http://shannonsymonds.com/ FB: @Shannon Symonds Author IG: shannonsymondsauthor IG: cozymysteriesbythesea LinkedIn: Shannon Symonds Author X: shannonsymonds7 Purchase Murder by the Book on Amazon: Paperback: https://amzn.to/4h5esVx Ebook: https://amzn.to/4bAjQMM Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor IG: @terimbrown_author X: @terimbrown1 Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors #shannonsymonds #murderbythebook #mystery #cozymystery #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is X. Ho Yen, author of the book Custodians of the Future. X. Ho Yen writes realism-based sci fi because you’ll never meet a less magic-minded person, and he’s in his own autistic world anyway. An aerospace engineer and lifetime space nerd, he thinks on scales of time and space ranging from the quantum to the cosmological. As an autistic, mixed genetics CPTSD survivor and child of immigrants, he’s a feminist and has the widest definition of personhood, and a strong personal emphasis on human nature. His fiction is irreverent, inclusive, hopepunk, literary sci fi, and he’s happy to leave science fantasy and standard tropes to those better equipped for it. In my book review, I stated Custodians of the Future is a science fiction novel by X. Ho Yen. Although not usually a science fiction reader, I loved the sarcastic wit and great character development in this book. We quickly meet a crew whose job is to keep the water treatment system working correctly. They are a rag-tag bunch living in a time where the world is "perfect" according to the government, but people are starting to wonder otherwise. That's when they discover a virus in the water treatment plant and begin a quest to stop all of Stockholm from dying. Except - Irena is new to the group and wants everyone to like her, so she doesn't stop three of them from all their conspiracy theory ideas. And the fifth? He's wacky and talks to himself like a member of Star Trek. All of this leads them on some crazy adventures with the clock ticking down to midnight. This novel is fun, fast-paced, and will keep you guessing. I think you'll also enjoy the nods to pop culture and the snarky look at social engineering. Subscribe to Online for Authors to learn about more great books! https://www.youtube.com/@onlineforauthors?sub_confirmation=1 You can follow Author X. Ho Yen Website: https://xhoyenauthor.com/ XHoYenAuthor.substack.com Purchase Custodians of the Future: https://xhoyenauthor.com/books Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor IG: @terimbrown_author X: @terimbrown1 Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors #xhoyen #custodiansofthefuture #scifi #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Mindy Stein, founder of Inklet Press. She is going to chat with us today about indie publishing. Mindy Stein is the founder of Inklet Press, an independent publishing studio based in White Marsh, Maryland. Her journey began in Berlin, where she studied Illustration and Design before publishing her own books and discovering just how complicated the publishing process could be. Rather than accepting an industry that often leaves authors overwhelmed and disconnected, she created a different model—one that combines creative guidance, publishing expertise, and genuine collaboration. Today, Mindy works directly with authors from concept to finished book, helping them navigate editing, illustration, design, production, and publishing while preserving their unique voice throughout the process. Her passion extends beyond producing books. Through community events, creative gatherings, and educational workshops, she hopes to build a welcoming place where writers, illustrators, and readers can learn from one another and grow together. Whether she's illustrating, publishing, roasting coffee in the studio, or hosting conversations about creativity, Mindy believes that stories bring people together—and that everyone has one worth telling. Subscribe to Online for Authors to learn about more great books! https://www.youtube.com/@onlineforauthors?sub_confirmation=1 You can follow Author Mindy Stein Website: https://www.inkletpress.com/ FB: @Inkletpress IG: @inkletpress Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor IG: @terimbrown_author X: @terimbrown1 Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors #mindystein #Inkletpress #indiepublishing #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Sean Pauzauskie, author of the book Stage of Fools. Sean Pauzauskie, M.D., is a hospital neurologist in the University of Colorado system, where he conducts clinical research employing neurotechnology, primarily for the optimization of epilepsy management. He is an active member of the American Academy of Neurology and The American Medical Association, and his research experience includes time at The National Institute of Mental Health, The Energy and Commerce Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Kaufmann Foundation for entrepreneurship. He is also a member of the American Academy of Neurology’s Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum, a highly competitive program that selects 30 out of 40,000 members to develop and implement action plans on advocacy issues related to neuroscience. He is president-elect of the Colorado Medical Society. As a clinician who works daily with comatose patients, Sean brings scientific authenticity to his literary exploration of cognitive-motor dissociation—a condition where patients remain mentally aware while physically unresponsive. In my book review, I stated Stage of Fools is a literary fiction by Sean Pauzauskie. We quickly meet Thomas Mariner, a billionaire who appears to have it all - until an unfortunate fishing accident leaves him in a coma in a San Francisco ICU. The entire story is in the mind of Thomas while he is in a coma and flashbacks to his childhood and early adulthood. Despite his fortune and fame, Thomas has demons, and these demons have created problems in his family. His hope? To figure things out, make the needed changes, and save them from what he set in motion due to jealousy, his ego, and rash actions. I think what is most interesting is that the author is a neurologist. He offers a lot of information to help us understand what it might be like inside a brain during a coma. And for Thomas, his obsession with the play, King Lear, shows up throughout. I found the novel interesting and thought-provoking with an ending I didn't expect. Subscribe to Online for Authors to learn about more great books! https://www.youtube.com/@onlineforauthors?sub_confirmation=1 You can follow Author Sean Pauzauskie Website: https://seanpauzauskie.com/ Social media: IG: @seanpauzauskie LinkedIn: @sean-pauzauskie FB: @sean.pauzauskie Purchase Stage of Fools on Amazon: Paperback: Hardback: https://amzn.to/4pcLB3A Ebook: https://amzn.to/44WBcQe Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor IG: @terimbrown_author X: @terimbrown1 Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors #seanpauzauskie #stageoffools #literaryfiction #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.