Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers

This time on the Rocky Mountain Writer podcast, a chat with the co-editors of Bizarre Bazaar, the brand new short story anthology from Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers that will debut in a few short weeks.   Veronica R. Calisto is a massage therapist, an alto, a writer of speculative fiction, and a big nerd. One of those rare Colorado natives, she has a degree in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and is a two-time American Idol reject. Veronica is best described as a walking musical who might also be a figment of her own imagination. She is the author of several books including Diary of a Mad Black Witch and the first two in the SparkleTits Chronicles series. Amy Drayer grew up a free-range kid on a charming island in the Pacific Northwest, then migrated south to attend Scripps College in California. She later moved to Washington, D.C. where she worked in politics for far too long. Amy is a graduate of the inimitable Lighthouse Writers Workshop Book Project, an enthusiastic member of Rocky Mountain Fic

On Saturday, July 16 the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Mystery Writers of America and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers teamed up to host a vitual event--an interview of mystery writer James Lee Burke by fellow mystery writer (and RMMWA member) David Heska Wanbli Weiden.  This is the audio from that event.  To watch the interview on YouTube, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6FSMzELysg    

Ben Miller-Callihan joined Handspun Literary Agency as an agent in 2019, after working behind the scenes since the agency's founding in tech support and bookkeeping roles, following more than a decade teaching high school English. Ben's interests include humor, YA, fantasy and speculative fiction, crossover fiction a la William Gibson and Erin Morgenstern, the macabre (for all ages), off-the-beaten-path folklore, deaf culture and community, and anything food-related. Writers from marginalized communities are especially welcomed.  Ben will be one of the featured guest agents at the RMFW’s Colorado Gold conference in September.   More about Handspun Literary Agency here. For video versions of these podcasts, follow: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBP81nfbKnDRjs-Nar9LNe20138AiPyP8     Intro Music by Moby Gratis: https://mobygratis.com/ Outro Music by Dan-o-Songs: https://danosongs.com/

Angela Sylvaine is a self-proclaimed cheerful goth who still believes in monsters. She adores reading and is always looking for a great book recommendation. Angela writes primarily horror, science fiction, and dark fantasy. She has published one novella, Chopping Spree, and her short stories have appeared in over two dozen publications. Her debut novel, Frost BIte, will be available in October of 2023 from Dark Matter INK. Angela  grew up in North Dakota and holds degrees in psychology and philosophy from the University of North Dakota. After marrying her high school sweetheart, they moved to Colorado, and now live on the front range of the Rockies with their three creepy cats. Angela is a member of the Horror Writers Association, Pikes Peak Writers, and, of course, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. More about Angela Sylvaine here.  For video versions of these podcasts, follow: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBP81nfbKnDRjs-Nar9LNe20138AiPyP8 Intro Music by Moby Gratis: https://mobygratis.com/ Outro Mus

Amy Collins, Associate Agent with Talcott Notch Literary Services, has over 30 years’ experience matching books with readers. As a former book buyer, publisher, and sales director for one of the largest non-fiction publishers in the US, Amy has been focused on market and sales potential research for authors for over ten years. As an agent, she represents many authors who have signed deals with major publishers for non-fiction projects such as The Unseen Photos of Sesame Street, Sex and the City and America’s Forgotten Suffragists. She also works with authors who have successfully launched their non-fiction series such as the Eat Happy Series. Amy is the author of several non-fiction books ranging from self-help (It’s The Little Things,) to books on publishing and working toward becoming a successful author. She is currently traveling the country with her two dogs meeting with editors and authors and can be found on Twitter at @askamycollins.   Talcott Notch Literary Services For video versions of these podcas

Michael Neff is an award-winning author, Pushcart-nominated poet, widely published short fiction writer, literary agent, writer conference organizer, as well as an accomplished developmental editor. His first novel All The Dark We Will Not See was published by the distinguished academic press, Serving House Books. A few years later, an urban fantasy, Magicians Impossible, was created and co-edited by him, and later published by Macmillan Books. His science-fantasy novels, Piper Robbin and The American Oz Maker, and the prequel, World Maker, have both received multiple awards. Michael is also the founder and chief architect of Algonkian Writer Conferences including the famous and highly successful New York Pitch Conference, and has agented and developmentally edited many successful commercial novels. In his spare time, he publishes the quirky and popular literary journal Del Sol Review. Michael is one of the guest literary agents coming to Colorado Gold in September.    Algonkian Conferences: https://algonkian

Fleur Bradley grew up in the Netherlands where she spent her childhood riding a bike, catching tadpoles, and reading Pippi Longstocking and Roald Dahl books. Her very favorite book was The BFG by Roald Dahl. She would read under the covers well past bedtime, secretly hoping for the BFG to knock on her window. Today, she is the author of several middle grade and young adult books, including Midnight at the Barclay Hotel, which was the winner of 2021 Colorado Book Awards for Juvenile Fiction. The book was also a finalist for the Agatha Awards, Reading the West Book Awards, the Anthony Awards, and others. Fleur's new title, launching in August 2022, is Daybreak on Raven Island. More about Fleur: http://www.ftbradley.com/home.html Intro Music by Moby Gratis: https://mobygratis.com/ Outro Music by Dan-o-Songs: https://danosongs.com/

LS Hawker is the author of USA TODAY bestseller and ITW Thriller Awards finalist The Drowning Game, End of the Road, and The Throwaways. Starting July 1, she is teaching an online class for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers — Writing a Thriller That Readers Can’t Put Down.  Visit LSHawker.com to read about her adventures as cocktail waitress, traveling Kmart portrait photographer, and witness to basement exorcisms. For video versions of these podcasts, follow: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBP81nfbKnDRjs-Nar9LNe20138AiPyP8 More about Lisa Hawker: https://lshawker.com/ A few tune suggestions from LS Hawker - songs she found from movies and television ads: Chanel No 5 ad - "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" - The Inkspots Volkswagen ad - "Pink Moon" - Nick Drake My Favorite Year - "How High the Moon" - Les Paul & Mary Ford Kissing Jessica Stein - "I Wish You Love" - Blossom Dearie American Hustle - "Jeep's Blues" - Count Basie American Graffiti - "Green Onions" - Booker t and the mgs Star Trek (

This time on the Rocky Mountain Writer, a conversation with the three Writer of the Year Nominees.  Karla M. Jay is the award-winning author of When We Were Brave, It Happened in Silence, and The Puppet Maker's Daughter.  She makes her home in Salt Lake City. Over the years she has written in several different genres, ranging from humor to noir, but currently is focused on historical fiction. When she's not writing, she's reading, gardening, playing with her dog, or traveling to new places to try to find a story that has never been told. Pamela Nowak writes in two genres. Her historical women’s fiction tells the stories of real women whose stories have been forgotten and her historical romance novels weave fictional relationship stories into historical settings and events. A member of RMFW since 1993, Pam resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Amy Rivers is an award-winning novelist, as well as the Director of Northern Colorado Writers. She was recently named 2021 Indie Author of the Year by the Indie Author Pro

Hadley Ramsay is the co-head of the TV/Film department at Maria B. Campbell Associates, which is a literary scouting company that advises clients about American and international books for translation and publication in their markets, as well as adaptation into television and film. She's been in scouting for the entirety of her career, and has had the unique opportunity to work for both film/tv and international publishing. She's scouted for some incredible clients, including Netflix,  Mondadori, Tor Germany, Companhia das Letras, and PRH Spain, among others. Born and raised in New Hampshire, it was a big leap for her to attend the University of St Andrews in Scotland, where she studied English and Management and learned that a good story transcends borders. Hadley is one of the visiting agents and editors who will be attending - and taking pitches - at Colorado Gold in September.  For video versions of these podcasts, follow: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBP81nfbKnDRjs-Nar9LNe20138AiPyP8     Intro

Emily grew up loving to read and escape into stories. She began writing her own stories at the age of twelve. In college she focused on science and graduated with a degree in Environmental Biology. After college she began writing again but quickly realized she had failed to take a single writing or grammar class. Luckily, she’s a quick learner.   Emily now lives in Colorado with her wonderful husband, three amazing children, and way too many animals. She still enjoys making up stories and can’t seem to leave out the paranormal elements because they are just too much fun. Her latest novel, just out, is Droplets of Magic. More about Emily: https://www.emilybybeebooks.com/ For video versions of these podcasts, follow: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBP81nfbKnDRjs-Nar9LNe20138AiPyP8 Intro Music by Moby Gratis: https://mobygratis.com/ Outro Music by Dan-o-Songs: https://danosongs.com/

Chuck Greaves spent 25 years as an L.A. trial lawyer before turning his talents to fiction. He’s been a finalist for most of the major awards in crime writing including the Shamus, Macavity, Lefty, and Audie, as well as the New Mexico-Arizona, Oklahoma, and Colorado Book Awards, the CAL Award for Fiction, and the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction. The Chimera Club is his seventh novel is the fourth installment in his Jack MacTaggart series of legal mysteries. It launches on Tuesday, May 17.  You can visit him, and Jack, at www.chuckgreaves.com. For video versions of these podcasts, follow: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBP81nfbKnDRjs-Nar9LNe20138AiPyP8 Intro Music by Moby Gratis: https://mobygratis.com/ Outro Music by Dan-o-Songs: https://danosongs.com/

Cynthia Swanson writes literary suspense, often using historical settings. Her debut novel, The Bookseller, was a New York Times best seller, an Indie Next selection, and the winner of the 2016 WILLA Literary Award for Historical Fiction. Swanson’s second novel, the USA Today best seller The Glass Forest, was noted in Forbes as being one of “Five Novels with a Remarkably Strong Sense of Place.” She is the editor of the anthology Denver Noir, publishing May 3, 2022 from Akashic Books. Cynthia lives with her family in Denver. Connect with her on Instagram (cynswanauthor), Twitter (@cynswanauthor), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/CynthiaSwanson), and at cynthiaswansonauthor.com. More about Akashic Books: http://www.akashicbooks.com/ For video versions of these podcasts, follow: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBP81nfbKnDRjs-Nar9LNe20138AiPyP8 Intro Music by Moby Gratis: https://mobygratis.com/ Outro Music by Dan-o-Songs: https://danosongs.com/

Aimie K. Runyan writes to celebrate history’s unsung heroines. She has been honored as a Historical Novel Society Editors’ Choice selection, as a three-time finalist for the Colorado Book Awards, and as a nominee for the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer of the Year. Aimie is active as an educator and speaker in the writing community and beyond. Her next book, A School for German Brides, is being published next week (Tuesday, April 26) from William Morrow. Aimie lives in Colorado with her amazing husband, two (usually) adorable children, and two (always) adorable kitties. To learn more about Aimie visit https://aimiekrunyan.com/   For video versions of these podcasts, follow: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBP81nfbKnDRjs-Nar9LNe20138AiPyP8 Intro Music by Moby Gratis: https://mobygratis.com/ Outro Music by Dan-o-Songs: https://danosongs.com/

Claire L. Fishback is an author, book coach, project manager, amazing wife, dog mom, and your guide to doing more in less time, project managing your writing life, being your own best cheerleader, and ultimately discovering your path to the writing career of your dreams. Her latest book, just out, is You Can, Toucan! - Do More In Less Time. For video versions of these podcasts, follow: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBP81nfbKnDRjs-Nar9LNe20138AiPyP8   You Can, Toucan! Website: https://youcantoucan.com/   Free Course Information: https://youcantoucan.com/emailcourselp/ Intro Music by Moby Gratis: https://mobygratis.com/ Outro Music by Dan-o-Songs: https://danosongs.com/

Ralph Beckett is a science fiction author who publishes under the pen name R. C. Beckett. He was born in Los Alamos, New Mexico, home of the National Lab that invented the atomic bomb. As a teenager, a friend’s father gave him a huge collection of Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine, thus started his love of the SciFi genre.  After a career in health care, he started his medical blog, Quality Health Care Please and began to write science fiction novels and started a website consulting business.  He has self-published two books, Exit Earth and Exit Mars.  He was the editor of Second Law, a SciFi anthology, released in December 2021 by the RMFW Speculative Fiction Critique Group. And he has contributed short stories to all three of the group’s books, including First Encounters and Joy to the Worlds.  On the podcast, Ralph talks about his experience as an editor of Second Law and the unique approach to publishing that Spec Fic Writers has followed.  For video versions of these podcasts, follow: https://www.y

This time on the Rocky Mountain Writer, an orientation to the 2022 Colorado Gold Rush Literary Award contest, hosted by Mindy McIntyre and Sue Hinkin. This is the audio from the webinar held Sunday, March 27.  Mindy and Sue  review the contest and the procedures and they also, discuss tips, and answer a few questions.   For video versions of these podcasts, follow: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBP81nfbKnDRjs-Nar9LNe20138AiPyP8 Intro Music by Moby Gratis: https://mobygratis.com/ Outro Music by Dan-o-Songs: https://danosongs.com/

Susan Spann is the award-winning, bestselling author of the Hiro Hattori Novels featuring master ninja Hiro Hattori and Portuguese Jesuit Father Mateo, as well as Climb, a nonfiction chronicle of her quest to overcome cancer, break free from fear, and climb 100 Japanese mountains in a single year. Susan's first novel, Claws of the Cat, was a Library Journal Mystery Debut of the Month and a finalist for the Silver Falchion Award for Best First Novel.  The eighth novel in the series, just released last month, is Fires of Edo.   When not writing, Susan travels across Japan, climbing mountains and sharing photographs of her adventures on her blog and social media. She also has a YouTube channel, where she shares videos about life, nature, and culture in Japan. Susan was the 2015 Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers' Writer of the Year and is a former president of the Northern California chapter of Mystery Writers of America.  Find Susan online at her website (http://www.susanspann.com), on Facebook (http://www.facebook