Anika Pavel

ANIKA PAVEL was born in Czechoslovakia. What was intended as a one-year stay in England turned her into a refugee when the Soviet Union invaded her homeland. She received a crash course in life that took her from sleeping in a telephone booth at the Victoria railway station in London to waitressing, to the lights of the fashion runway, and on to magazine covers, even a James Bond appearance. When the lights had dimmed, she returned to her first love, writing. Her work has been published in print, online and nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She shares insights on her stories and encouragement for anyone who has a story of their own to tell. Check it out!

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Liz Weir

This week we celebrate the art of oral storytelling with one of the world’s leading voices on folk tales, the celebrated Irish storyteller, Liz Weir. She has told her stories to people of all ages on five continents. She has performed in pubs and prisons and hospital rooms. She worked on stages in the mighty Vanderbilt Hall of New York’s Grand Central Station and in London's Royal Albert Hall. Listen as she shares her passion for using stories to bring healing, and to build bridges. Liz shares one of the powerful stories that got her through the pandemic—a message of hope for anyone in need of encouragement. Check it out!

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linda Poland

This week I catch up with award-winning storyteller and folklore expert Linda Poland. She has traveled the world telling stories and was the Resident Storyteller for the town of Jonesborough, Tennessee, the unofficial capital of storytelling in the United States. Listen to her folksy wisdom on storytelling, how a report card inspired her 40 years later, and the one sentence that made all the difference to her as a storyteller.

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J.T. Ellison

Exciting news! Bestselling author J.T. Ellison is joining Steven James on The Story Blender podcast! 🎙️✨ Dive deep into the craft of storytelling as they discuss the art of writing thrillers, character development, and the twists that keep readers on the edge of their seats. Don't miss this chance to hear from one of the masters of suspense! #Storytelling #ThrillerWriter #JT Ellison #TheStoryBlender #StevenJames

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Iain Thomas

This week’s guest, Iain S. Thomas, is an international bestselling author, artist and technologist whose work focuses on the intersection of technology, culture and spirituality. His words appear everywhere, from fridge magnets to monuments and as tattoos on his millions of readers. He’s words have been quoted by everyone from Steven Spielberg and Harry Styles to Kim Kardashian and Arianna Huffington. He has dozens of local and international awards for his creativity, including the Columbian University’s Breakthroughs In Storytelling Award. Listen in as we chat about poetry, life, and everything in between. Check it out!

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John Raad

This week on the story blender I catch up with John Raab, publisher, podcaster, and suspense expert. We talk about some of our favorite types of stories, the difference between suspense and other genres, what makes a thriller really work, and how to pitch your idea to a publisher or editor. You’ll love John’s practical advice, his humor and his down-to-earth personality. Check it out and subscribe so you never miss and episode!

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Andrew Welsh-Huggins

This week I catch up with Andrew Welsh-Huggins, an acclaimed author of numerous private eye and thriller novels. He is the Shamus, Derringer, and International Thriller Writers award-nominated author of many books and short stories. Andrew has two releases coming up just around the corner and we chat about those, about what makes a good short story, plot twists and pivots, what a “noir” story is (and isn’t). Check it out and subscribe to catch next week’s episode as well!

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John Copenhaven

This week I catch up with award-winning crime writer John Copenhaver who pens historical mysteries that celebrate minorities and those whose stories aren’t often told. We explore what a story needs at the very start, whether or not to plan out your crime novel before writing it, and the drawbacks of workshopping stories. We also talk about his latest novel, HALL OF MIRRORS. Check it out and subscribe!

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MP Woodward

If you’ve ever read an action or military thriller you’re probably familiar with the name “Tom Clancy.” And, while he unfortunately passed away in 2013, other gifted authors are still carrying on his legacy and I’m thrilled today to have one of them joining on The Story Blender to talk about his writing process and his latest book TOM CLANCY: SHADOW STATE.

M.P. Woodward, a former U.S. Naval intelligence officer, shares his thoughts on leaving no danglers, the importance of an ironic ending, writing action-packed thrillers with heart, when to break the rules to improve your story, and how to weave in believability and surprise. Give it a listen and subscribe so you don’t miss any upcoming episodes.

Transcription available on request.

Jeffery Deaver & Isabella Maldonado

Listen in as I pick the brains of co-authors Isabella Maldonado and Jeffery Deaver on the process of writing a crime thriller that will keep readers turning pages. We discuss how to keep your characters intriguing, inside information on writing, and the importance of getting the facts right. We also talk about outlining, their latest thriller, FATAL INTRUSION, and how many drafts and rewrites Jeffery does for his novels (it will probably surprise you!) Give it a listen!

Transcription available on request.