Kaleo Griffith & Bethany Jett & BROKER OF LIES

On this special episode of The Story Blender, Steven James, your host, is interviewed by Bethany Jett about his newest novel, BROKER OF LIES. Together, Steven and Bethany interview Kaleo Griffith, the award-winning narrator for the BROKER OF LIES audiobook. This is a unique take on story, and storytelling, while these three voices discuss developing characters that resonate with listeners and even some of Steven’s hints and tips for writing!

Kaleo Griffith has been been performing since the age of 15. Griffith graduated cum laude from Franklin Pierce University with a B.A. in Theatre, holds an M.F.A. in Acting from Rutgers University, and is a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He has also lived, and trained classically in the United Kingdom through Roger Williams University. Recently Kaleo has been nominated for his second Audie for Tools of Titans written by Tim Ferriss. Griffith's voice work encompasses many TV/ Radio commercial campaigns and over 250 audiobooks. Griffith won an Audie for Lincoln In The Bardo (multicast) and has been honored by The Library Journal, and AudioFile Magazine with six "Earphone" Awards.

Bethany Jett is an author, as well as a literary agent and a book marketing expert. She co-founded Serious Writer, Inc. and recently completed an MFA in Communication. When she’s not writing or speaking at events nationwide, she reads suspense novels, manages a busy household with three boys and consults on the business of writing.

Steven James’ newest novel, BROKER OF LIES, releases April 11 featuring a new cast of characters! Don’t miss it! stevenjames.net

Transcription available on request.

Leopoldo Gout

Leopoldo Gout is a Mexican immigrant, award-winning producer and filmmaker, visual artist and author, who has written, packaged, published and developed books for more than a decade, both under his own name with several major publishers, and with other writers under his own imprint at Simon & Schuster: Leopoldo & Co. He was co-president of the James Patterson Entertainment company for many years; and he is currently producing award-winning author Marlon James’ original debut for television: GET MILLIE BLACK (Channel 4 & HBO). 

He and his brother, award-winning writer-director Everado Gout (Netflix's Kaleidoscope) are show-runners of AMERICAN JESUS, a Netflix / Mark Millar series. Leopoldo along with Radical Media won the Critics Choice Award for FILTHY RICH (Netflix), a documentary series on Netflix. He is the creator and writer of NO MAN’S LAND (Starz), and SPYMASTERS (Madison Welles Media). Gout is also developing a Pulitzer Prize finalist book IN THE DISTANCE into a film with the Larrain Brothers and he was the originating producer on the Oscar-nominated, MOLLY’S GAME, a project that he worked from book to screen.

Other producer credits include INSTINCT (CBS), ZOO (CBS), MIDDLE SCHOOL: The Worst Years of My (Participant Media and LIONSGATE) and Everardo Gout’s directorial debut DAYS OF GRACE which debuted at the Cannes Film Festival and won over 20 awards internationally. He has a thriving art studio in NYC and lives there with his wife and two kids: a cat called Lola and a dog called Lupe. 

Transcription available on request.

Michael Sears

Michael Sears' first novel, the best-seller BLACK FRIDAYS, a financial thriller with heart, took the Shamus award and was short-listed for the Edgar and three other major awards. MORTAL BONDS, the critically-acclaimed second novel in the Jason Stafford series, won the Silver Falchion at Killer Nashville. Continuing the series, LONG WAY DOWN, was described as "one of the best thrillers of 2015." SAVING JASON is the fourth in the series.

Tower of Babel begins a brand new series, exploring the world of Queens, NY -- its denizens, their tormentors, and their heroes.

Until 2005, Mr. Sears was a Managing Director for two different Wall Street firms, where he worked in the bond market for twenty years and, earlier, in foreign exchange and derivatives. Prior to returning to Columbia University for his MBA, he was, for eight years, a professional actor appearing at the Shakespeare Theatre of Washington (Folger Theatre), Playwright's Theater of Washington, New Jersey Shakespeare Festival, The Comedy Stage Co., and, in the course of a single year, every soap opera shot in New York City.  

He is married to the artist and poet, Barbara Segal.  Together with the not-altogether-domesticated cat, Penelope, they live in Sea Cliff, NY, within sight of the towers of New York.

Transcription available on request.

Stephanie Landsem

Stephanie Landsem writes historical fiction because she loves adventure in far-off times and places. In real life, she’s explored ancient ruins, medieval castles, and majestic cathedrals around the world. Stephanie is equally happy at home in Minnesota with her husband, four children, and three fat cats. When she’s not writing, she’s feeding the ravenous horde, avoiding housework, and dreaming about her next adventure—whether it be in person or on the page.

Transcription available on request.

Fonda Lee

Fonda Lee is the World Fantasy Award-winning author of the epic fantasy Green Bone Saga, consisting of Jade City, Jade War, and Jade Legacy. She is also the author of the acclaimed young adult science fiction novels Zeroboxer, Exo, and Cross Fire.  Fonda is a winner of the Locus Award, a four-time winner of the Aurora Award, and a finalist for the Nebula Award and Hugo Award. The Green Bone Saga has been translated into a dozen languages and named to TIME Magazine’s Top 100 Fantasy Books of All Time. A black belt martial artist and former corporate strategist, she resides in the Pacific Northwest.

Transcription available on request.

Alaina Urquhart

Alaina Urquhart is the science-loving co-host of the podcast Morbid. As an autopsy technician by trade, paired with her degrees in Criminal Justice, Psychology and Biology, she offers a unique perspective from deep inside the morgue.  Alaina hails from Boston where she lives with her wonderful husband, John, their three amazing daughters, and a ghost puggle named “Bailey.” She is about 75% coffee and truly believes she and Agent Clarice Starling could be friends. In September 2022, Urquhart published her first ever novel, the psychological thriller, The Butcher and The Wren.

Transcription available on request.

Carolyn Korsmeyer

Carolyn Korsmeyer is both a novelist and a philosopher. She is especially interested in how the senses and emotions are engaged by works of art, themes prominent in three of her philosophy books: Things: In Touch with the Past, Savoring Disgust: The Foul and the Fair in Aesthetics, and Making Sense of Taste: Food and Philosophy. She is keen to explore the ways that fiction can revive lives from long ago by engaging the reader in the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the past. Her first novel, Charlotte's Story, imagines the life that Charlotte Lucas (of Pride and Prejudice) might have had after her hasty marriage. Little Follies is her second novel.

Transcription available on request.

Dolores Hydock

Dolores Hydock is an actress and story performer whose work has been featured at a variety of concerts, festivals, and special events throughout the U.S. She has been a featured storyteller at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee, has been Teller-in-Residence at Jonesborough’s International Storytelling Center, and her twelve CDs of original stories have all received Resource Awards from Storytelling World Magazine. Dolores studied for her master’s degree in storytelling back in the 90s… with me. And I knew even then that she was destined to be an acclaimed storytelling performer in the years to come.

Transcription available on request.

Maureen Johnson

Maureen Johnson is the New York Times bestselling author of the Stevie Bell YA mystery, Nine Liars, as well as more than a dozen young adult novels, including the Truly Devious series, the Shades of London series, Suite Scarlett, and 13 Little Blue Envelopes. Her books have sold more than three million copies worldwide and have been published in more than thirty countries. She grew up in Philadelphia, graduated from the University of Delaware and has an MFA in Writing from Columbia University. She lives in New York City.   

Transcription available on request.