The Along Came A Writer Show

Chat Noir Mystery & Suspense with Rachael O. Phillips

Rachael O. Phillips, a church music director, began her unplanned writing career during midlife when the church secretary demanded newsletter articles at gunpoint. At Bethel College, Mishawaka, Indiana, she obtained degrees in Professional Writing and English. There, she made connections that resulted in her first biography, Frederick Douglass, followed by three others. A 2007 American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Genesis winner and 2012 finalist for an ACFW Carol Award, Rachael has written six novels and recently signed contracts for four cozy mysteries. She also has coauthored a reference guide, Women of the Bible,and three novella collections. An Erma Bombeck Global Award winner, she enjoys writing humor and has published more than 700 articles, newspaper columns, devotions, and stories for newspapers, magazines and various collections. She enjoys speaking to diverse audiences, sharing laughs and inspiration. She and Steve, her high school sweetheart and husband of 40 years, live in Indiana, where he serves as a family doctor and also as an adjunct professor at Taylor University. Their three grown children and six perfect grandchildren all live in Indiana and Michigan.

Along Came A Writer with Sharon K. Connell

Sharon K. Connell is the author of four Christian Romance Suspense novel. She writes from her home in Houston, Texas. Her stories are about people who discover that God is able and willing to help, if they ask...and trust in Him and His timing

 

Chat Noir Mystery & Suspense with Author Carla Hoch

Moments before the destruction of her home planet, Carla's parents jettisoned her and her twin brother to earth. He was taken in by a kindly farmer in Kansas while she was embraced by a rather liberal clowder of feral cats in Houston, Texas.

While still a toddler, she bid farewell to her feline family and headed to Pace, Florida, a small hamlet just outside Pensacola. There she raised herself in a hollowed out tree trunk and taught herself to speak fluent Southern, ride out a hurricane like a pro and tell the difference between Coke and Pepsi by fizz alone.

As an adult, she fulfilled the dream of all feral cats and became a Spanish teacher and track coach. After nearly a decade in the classroom, she met a military cyborg who promptly married her and whisked her away to such exotic locations as Virginia and New Mexico. Now, a mother of twins herself, she and her husband have returned to the People's Holy Republic of Texas and reside not far from where her pod originally landed. 

Along Came A Writer with Kathleen & Robert Turner, A Love Story

When award-winning historical romance author Kathleen Y'Barbo and military man, Robert Turner reconnected years after they first met in high school, sparks flew! But Kathleen's friends crossed their arms and insisted on meeting this prospective man in her life to make sure he was right for her. Oh, the stories begging to be told! Our guests on the show include KATHLEEN Y'BARBO TURNER, JANICE THOMPSON, DANNELLE WOODY, SHAREN WATSON, LINDA KOZAR AND—ROBERT TURNER! We can't promise Robert will get a word in edgewise with five women on the show, but he's a guest. OH, and we'll take callers who want to ask questions or comment as well!

Chat Noir Mystery & Suspense with Mystery Author Janet McHenry

After Janet McHenry graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a degree in journalism, she married her high school sweetheart Craig and worked as a newspaper reporter and editor.  They eventually settled down in the Sierra Valley in northern California, where Craig is a rancher and where there is not a single stoplight in the entire county. In their town of 700+ folks, she says they have raised four pretty good children – all done with college and married – and are now enjoying the grandkids, all of whom are perfect. 

Chat Noir Mystery & Suspense with Casket Designer Trey Ganem

Trey Ganem has been designing unique, custom caskets for almost a quarter of a century in Edna, Texas. He's designed thousands of caskets since then, for adults and children, for sports stars, celebrities, and recently for victims of the tragedy in Sutherland Springs. He had just returned from delivering custom caskets to families of victims of the shootings in Las Vegas when this second tragedy occured. He immediately offered to donate free services and custom caskets to help the twenty-six bury their loved ones and help those families in the healing process.

 

 

Chat Noir Mystery & Suspense with Suspense Author Brandilyn Collins

Brandilyn Collins: "When I was a kid I never thought I'd grow up to kill people for a living. Neither did my lovely mother, who often wondered where she went wrong. Fortunately for my victims, the killing is only in my books. I’m best known for my trademarked Seatbelt Suspense®. These novels come with a four-point brand promise: fast-paced, character-driven suspense with myriad twists and an interwoven thread of faith. My contemporary novels delve into deep issues, some with humor. Now and then I venture from behind my computer and teach fiction at writers’ conferences. I’m also an inspirational keynote speaker. I love to interact with readers. The best place to find me on a daily basis is at my Facebook page , where I post Today's Word, crazy "Creative Captioneer" pictures, book sale news (mine and other authors'), topics of interest, and who knows what else."

Along CameA Writer with Nonfiction Author/Publisher/Speaker Athena Dean Holtz

Author, publisher, pastor’s wife and Always Faithful radio host, Athena Dean Holtz, has been speaking to groups, large and small, for over 30 years. Her passion is to see believers come to a place ofunderstanding the undeniable faithfulness of God, no matter how difficult our circumstances might be. Her background of coming out of the deception involved in a spiritually abusive church environment, combined with her years of ministry to wives of Vietnam veterans and other trauma survivors who’ve suffered with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, gives Athena a unique perspective. Her own struggles and quest to heal in an authentic way has equipped her with an enormous capacity for compassion and empathy, along with scriptural answers to the struggles we face when we’ve been hurt by others. Early in 2014, she was asked to return to publishing in the Seattle area and co-founded Redemption Press, where she leads a team of industry professionals to empower Christian authors to find their voice and connect with their audience. Her 35 years founding and developing four successful companies (including one of the most successful Christian publishing companies) also gives her additional resources to offer different groups.

Chat Noir Mystery & Suspense with Mystery Author Kathleen Y'Barbo Turner

Kathleen Y'Barbo Turner has written over 80 books and won a ton of awards, though there’s still way too much room on her award shelf in my humble opinion. She’s won a RITA and been a Carol award nominee. Over one million copies of her books are currently in print in the US and abroad and translated into Dutch, German and Spanish. She graduated from Texas A&M and holds a BBA from the University’s Mays Business School and a certification in Paralegal Studies. And if that wasn’t enough, she’s a 10th generation Texan with four grown children and seven bonus kids she inherited when she married her hero in combat boots. More on that story. (I was in on that! Linda Kozar)

Chat Noir Mystery & Suspense with Mystery Author Sandra Orchard

Sandra Orchard is the award-winning author of numerous romantic suspense and mysteries, including A Fool and His Monet, Another Day Another Dali and the Port Aster Secrets series. The winner of six Canadian “The Word” awards and a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, Sandra has also received a HOLT Medallion Award of Merit, a National Readers’ Choice Award, and a Daphne du Maurier Award. When not plotting crimes, Sandra enjoys playing make-believe with her grandchildren, hiking with her husband of thirty years, teaching/speaking, crafting or renovating. She lives in Ontario, Canada.