Novelist Spotlight

In the spotlight is multi-award-winning Canadian author Douglas Smith. He writes novels, short stories and nonfiction, having published his work in more than 200 short fiction publications in 36 countries and 27 languages — writing about fantasy, science fiction and the indefinable. Among his nonfiction books is one titled Playing the Short Game: How to Market & Sell Short Fiction.  Learn more about Douglas Smith here: https://www.smithwriter.com/ Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no Write to Mike Consol at [email protected]

Lisa Endo Cooper and Bremond Berry MacDougall met on the first day of seventh grade and quickly discovered their shared love for books. Decades later, they founded Quite Literally Books, a women-owned small heritage press reprinting forgotten books by American women authors to share with new generations of lit lovers. As publishers, they are dedicated to creating new editions of ought-to-be in print books and, in doing so, hope to be a part of ongoing conversations about essential questions. Learn more about Quite Literally Books here: https://quiteliterallybooks.comNovelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18noWrite to Mike Consol at [email protected]

In the spotlight is Nick Berg, an Iranian American author whose life and writing has been marked by cultural conflict and the search for purpose. Born in Tehran to an Iranian mother and an American father, he grew up amid Iran’s rich cultural heritage and the intense political upheavals of the region. Those formative experiences influenced Nick Berg’s worldview in profound ways, inspiring him to tell stories that resonate with both struggle and redemption. His novel, Shadows of Tehran, is based on a true story and reflects his journey through themes of identity, survival and transformation.  Learn more about Nick Berg and his work here: https://www.pnberg.com Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no Write to Mike Consol at [email protected]

In the spotlight is Bob Johnson, award-winning short story writer, a graduate of the lowa Writers’ Workshop, and author of the new short story collection titled “The Continental Divide,” for which he has received immense praise. His short stories have been published by literary journals including The Common, Philadelphia Stories, The Barcelona Review and elsewhere. His story “The Continental Divide” was named Short Story of the Year by The Hudson Review, and he subsequently wrote a short story collection of the same name.  Bob Johnson lives in South Bend, Indiana.  Learn more about Bob Johnson and buy a copy of “The Continental Divide” here: https://www.bobjohnsonwriter.com/  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no         Write to Mike Consol at [email protected] 

In the spotlight is Judith Valente and her new book The Italian Soul: How to Savor the Full Joys of Life. Valente — a journalist, poet and the author of six spirituality titles and three poetry collections — worked previously as an on-air correspondent covering faith and values for PBS and was also a staff writer at The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal and was twice a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in journalism. Valente grew up in Bayonne, N.J., where she was surrounded by a large, boisterous Italian American family.  We discuss: >> The contemplative life >> How Italians make an art of conversation >> The sanctity of the dinner table>> “Slow tourism” >> The life expectancy of Italians >> Why procreation among Italians has slumped >> The Catholic Church >> Italy’s reverence for its art and architecture >> Elena Ferrante and her Italy-based Neapolitan novels >> Etc.  Learn more about Judith Valente here: https://www.judithvalente.com/ Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no       Write to Mike Consol at [email protected]