My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Tim Weed, author of the book The Afterlife Project. Tim Weed is the author of four books of fiction. His recent novel, The Afterlife Project, was named a best book of 2025 by Library Journal and the Toronto Star. He’s won multiple Writer’s Digest Annual Fiction Awards and his work has been shortlisted for the Eric Hoffer Book Award, the Tobias Wolff Award for Fiction, the Prism Prize for Climate Literature, the Fish International Short Story Award, the William Faulkner-William Wisdom Award for a Novel-in-Progress, the New Rivers Many Voices Project, and many others. His essays and articles have appeared in Writers Digest, Literary Hub, The Revelator, The Millions, The Writer’s Chronicle, Talking Points Memo, The Good Men Project, and elsewhere.

Tim serves on the core faculty of the Newport MFA in Creative Writing and is the co-founder of the Cuba Writers Program. A former featured expert for National Geographic Expeditions, he spent the first part of his career directing international educational programs throughout Latin America and in Spain, Portugal, Australia, Iceland, and other locations around the globe.

He holds a BA in Spanish from Middlebury College, a master’s in international affairs from the University of California, and an MFA in Creative Writing from Warren Wilson College. He occasionally leads international travel programs and appears often at writing conferences and other events in the U.S. and abroad.

In my book review, I stated The Afterlife Project is a dystopian science fiction by Tim Weed. I can honestly say I am shocked by how much I enjoyed this book. I tend not to like science fiction or dystopian literature. However, this one had me from moment one. Why? The characters! We get into the head of Nick, a microbiologist, who is now 10,000 years into the future due to the cataclysmic climate issues caused by humans. We also follow the last remaining members of the Centauri crew in 2068 - tasked with trying to save the species through a journal kept by Alejandra. We skip back and forth between the two time periods, always wondering if the human race survives.

Tim did an amazing job describing a world 10,000 years after it's destruction by humans - as well as what it would be like to live in a climate crisis - all without being preachy. He manages this by letting us see the world through the imperfect eyes of the characters. They make mistakes. They trust the wrong people. They believe in miracles that aren't likely to happen. They do the wrong thing for the right reasons. Just like you and just like me.

I couldn't put this book down and have already recommended it to several friends. It's a must-read!

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You can follow Author Tim Weed

Website: https://timweed.net/

IG: @timweedwriter

FB: @timweedauthor

LinkedIn: @Tim Weed

Purchase The Afterlife Project on Amazon:

Paperback: https://amzn.to/3OehfPL

Ebook: https://amzn.to/49POn91

Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com

FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor

IG: @terimbrown_author

X: @terimbrown1

Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors

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My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Tony Stewart, author of the book Carrying the Tiger. Tony Stewart has made award-winning films for colleges and universities (“A Union of People,” “Skidmore: Concurrence of Ideas”), written software that received rave reviews in The New York Times and the New York Daily News (“Tony Stewart’s Home Office”), designed a grants-management application that was used by three of the five largest charities in the world (“Riverside Grants”), and led the development of an international standard for the messages involved in buying and selling advertisements (“AdsML”) for which he spoke at conferences across Europe and North America. His memoir Carrying the Tiger won two Gold Medals at the 2025 Global Book Awards.

In her book review, Carole O’Neill stated:

His first line – “Lynn is leaving us faster than I expected,” stayed with me for days.

This heart wrenching memoir tells the story of Tony Stewart and his wife, Lynn, who spent years navigating through the promising and devastating times of their final days together. They went through several storms and spent many days in the shadow of death. Yet, their determination to find the right doctors with the correct treatments for Lynn’s terminal cancer kept them treasuring their nights together throughout the journey, even when their days were full of pain.

Carrying the Tiger documents the days, weeks, and years that Tony and Lynn followed the advice, suffered the setbacks, and eventually found a way to accept how Lynn lived while trying to make peace with what she was experiencing.

Lynn was a New York City artist who exhibited still life paintings and felt that art brought beauty and meaning to a chaotic world. She spent months in the fall of 2014 suffering from indigestion, acid reflux and diarrhea. That’s when she stopped enjoying meals and started losing a lot of weight. The doctors gave her every possible test without finding the cause. Eventually an MRI showed signs of something in her spine that brought her to her first oncologist.

Lynn and Tony set up a private web page on CaringBridge where they could post information in one place and their friends could respond at their convenience. That’s how her journal was born. Friends liked reading the posts and learning about the setbacks and side effects. The numbers reached over 200 friends reading and sending comments. She felt it was like having her own cheerleading squad. And it was those same friends who made her smile during her final days.

In Carrying the Tiger, Tony was able to expertly weave scenes of real-life along with photographs, emails, and internet posts into an intimate narrative. I held my breath when she would stop eating and he would stop encouraging her, certain she wouldn’t make it through the night. Yet, she would wake the next day to fight the battle again. And, certainly there were quiet moments of joy, like the time they sat in their kitchen looking out at the river as he read her emails from her journal that made her smile.

By February of 2021, after treatments, three major spinal surgeries and experimental drugs, Lynn seemed to be at peace. Hospice was in place as she developed a form of dementia from her brain tumors. Her inability to swallow any foods or liquids told them she is in her final stage.

On February 24, 2021, Lynn died at 8:00p.m.

This tale of love and loss is one you should add to your TBR list.

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You can follow Author Tony Stewart

Website: https://www.tonystewartauthor.com/

IG: @tonystewartny

FB: @Tony Stewart, Author

LinkedIn: @Tony Stewart

Purchase Carrying the Tiger on Amazon:

Paperback: https://amzn.to/4aAjbe9

​Kindle: https://amzn.to/4ksXMHs

Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com

FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor

IG: @terimbrown_author

X: @terimbrown1

Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors

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*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Paul Trammell, author of the book Until They Bury Me. Paul Trammell lives on a sailboat, currently at anchor in Bocas del Toro, Panama. He is the author of ten books and co-author of three more. His latest, Identity Crisis, is a nautical thriller inspired by his taking on a sailing hitchhiker and his mother’s resulting fear for his safety. This follows his psychological thriller Until They Bury Me, which explores the dangers of falling in love too fast and assuming your college sweetheart is still the person you loved years ago.

Paul has also written many nonfiction books, his latest being Sailing to Newfoundland. He is also the author of two self-help books about alcoholism (he is ten-years sober), the latest of which is The Joy of Living Clean and Sober. And he writes short stories (most of which are sci-fi) and poetry. These can be found on his Substack page.

Paul writes and podcasts full time, but also finds time to surf, spearfish, and sail. His two podcasts are Offshore Sailing and Cruising with Paul Trammell and Dream Chasers and Eccentrics. His website is paultrammell.com

In her book review, Carole O’Neill wrote: While there are moments of debauchery, madness and sensuality, this psychological thriller, written by Paul Trammell, takes you on quite an interesting ride. We meet Chris, an ex-con, who has just discovered his high school sweetheart, Azalea is divorced from her first husband and available. Their reunion goes so well they get married a few days later. Then his problems begin.

She sees things and talks to people who are not really there. He tries to understand what is happening to her, and even attempts to convince her he also sees the man in the grey suit. Soon he feels the need to rent an apartment across the street so he can watch her in action. When he realizes he will be responsible for covering all of her expenses, as well as the monthly rent, he gets involved with organized crime to pay the bills.

It’s not very often that I’m unable to guess the ending of a story. Trammell keeps shifting the clues so that alternating layers of reality kept me guessing until the very end. I was caught by surprise with this one. This story has a great ending. See if you can guess what the twist will reveal.

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You can follow Author Paul Trammell

Website: https://www.paultrammell.com/

IG: @trammell.paul

FB: @Paul Willis Trammell

LinkedIn: @Paul Trammell

Purchase Until They Bury Me on Amazon:

Paperback: https://amzn.to/48GJKfQ

Ebook: https://amzn.to/4iNUMo4

Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com

FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor

IG: @terimbrown_author

X: @terimbrown1

Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors

#paultrammell #untiltheyburyme #thriller #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Rebecca Wolf, author of the book Alive and Beating. Rebecca is a former journalist whose fiction and essays have appeared in many publications, including Apricity and Tablet. She is a volunteer writing tutor for PEN America’s Prison Writing Program, and she lived in Jerusalem as a foreign student before attending Barnard College. She lives in New Jersey with her family.

In my book review, I stated Alive and Beating is a beautiful literary fiction novel. Loosely based on the true story of Rebecca's friend, Alisa, this story looks at six individuals linked only by the need for an organ donation to survive. Set in Israel, the six main characters span across the different religions and nationalities. Although this area of the world is steeped in conflict, Rebecca shows us something more - humanity. In fact, when hope for a healthy body is the top priority, we see that so many other things just don't matter.

I was immediately drawn into the characters' lives and hoped they would find their miracle. From the young Hasidic woman to the young teenage boys, I went willingly along on their journeys of both despair and hope. And of course, the thought never left me that for these six to survive, someone had to die. Offering life from tragedy is a noble gift.

This is a story that will stick with you long after you close the pages. The only thing I wish I knew is what the characters did with the great gift bestowed upon them.

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You can follow Author Rebecca Wolf

Website: https://www.rebeccawolfauthor.com/

IG: @aliveandbeating

Purchase Alive and Beating on Amazon:

Paperback: https://amzn.to/4bDGV2f

Ebook: https://amzn.to/4rCkn6B

Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com

FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor

IG: @terimbrown_author

X: @terimbrown1

Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors

#rebeccawolf #aliveandbeating #literaryfiction #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Kim Gottlieb-Walker, author of the book Lenswoman in Love. Kim Gottlieb-Walker’s career as a photographer covered a wide range of subjects, from classic rock and roll, reggae, and politics in the ‘60s and ‘70s to major motion pictures and television shows.

While still at UCLA (where she received a BA in Motion Picture production) and shortly thereafter, she shot for underground LA newspapers and magazines including Crawdaddy, the Staff, and Music World. She also shot the stills for John Carpenter’s Halloween, The Fog, Christine and Escape from New York and worked at Paramount Pictures for nine years as the production photographer for Cheers, and five years for Family Ties. For three decades she was an elected representative for still photographers on the National Executive Board of IATSE Local 600, the International Cinematographers Guild.

Her coffee-table photo books Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae and On Set with John Carpenter were published by Titan Press (UK) distributed by Random House (USA) and both are now in multiple printing. They have editions in Japanese, Russian and French. She’s had gallery shows in London, Los Angeles and New York.

Her debut novel, LENSWOMAN IN LOVE - a novel of the 1960s & ‘70s has won over a dozen literary awards. Her not-yet published historical novel CATERINA BY MOONLIGHT, is about a girl growing up in Renaissance Florence in the late 15th century. Her short story “Summer of Love – 1967” appears in the multi-award-winning anthology FEISTY DEEDS.

In my book review, I stated Lenswoman in Love is a historical romance by ​Kim Gottlieb-Walker​. We are introduced to Maddy Garfield as a teenager at some point after her father dies. Her mother owns a bar where folk musicians play and hires a college kid working arely ifor a degree in film for the summer to help out. Maddy, known as Garfield to the new hire, Jake, falls madly and deeply in love. But the age different is too great, and Jake heads back to school early. Maddy never forgets him and spends her days comparing others to him. And they always come up short. In the meantime, she becomes a photographer and scrabbles her way up the ladder, slowly capturing stories and people - occasionally finding her way into Jake's circle.

This story is filled to the brim with musical and film references, as well as the unrest of the 60s and 70s. Vietnam? It's in there. Nuclear plants? Yep. Bob Marley? The Beatles? Hippes? College protests? And so much more. These references land the book squarely in historical fiction, though it pains me that these decades are considered historical. However, Maddy's deep and abiding love for a man she barely knows puts the book into the romantic realm. And Kim balances the two with ease.

I enjoyed the book thoroughly, and think you will, too!

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Join the Novels N Latte Book Club community to discuss this and other books with like-minded readers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3576519880426290

You can follow Author Kim Gottlieb-Walker

Website: http://www.lenswoman.com/

Website: https://www.caterinabymoonlight.com/

FB: @KimGottliebWalker

LinkedIn: @Lenswoman

IG: @kimbgottliebwalker

Purchase Lenswoman in Love on Amazon:

Paperback: https://amzn.to/4qbwKWb

Ebook: https://amzn.to/4k9mRGU

Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com

FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor

IG: @terimbrown_author

X: @terimbrown1

Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors

#kimgottliebwalker #lenswomaninlove #historicalfiction #romance #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Elyse Seal, a fiction book coach. Elyse helps authors get unstuck and finish their novels without spending years rewriting the same draft. With five years of experience and training from Author Accelerator, she specializes in sci-fi and fantasy authors. She helps writers build solid story foundations before they write and coaches them through editing in layers, big picture first, then scenes, then language. Her approach is candid and collaborative. She challenges authors to go deeper into character development and examine whether each scene is doing the heavy lifting it needs to do. Because every word matters. Authors hire her for clarity, accountability, and expert guidance toward the finish line.

According to Elyse’s website, “you’ll stop second-guessing and start writing with purpose, direction, and the confidence that your story matters. Whether you’re just starting with an idea, deep in your first draft, or stuck after many revisions, I’ve got you.

“Writing is hard, but it’s not because you’re doing it wrong. You just need a plan, support, and someone who gets it.”

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You can follow Author Elyse Seal

Website: https://www.elysesealcoaching.com/

IG @elyse.j.seal

FB: @Elyse Seal

Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com

FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor

IG: @terimbrown_author

X: @terimbrown1

Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors

#elyseseal #bookcoach # #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Joseph M Lenard, author of the book The Book of Kennedy. Joseph Martin Lenard is a former IT (Information Technology) guy now turned American author, blogger, cancer survivor, podcaster, political activist, speaker, social media influencer, spokesperson / affiliate for American Hartford Gold IRA group, and vlogger known for writing and publishing the #1 Amazon bestseller historical fiction thriller Terror Strikes: Coming Soon to a City Near You. He also released in December 2022 a book called How To Write A Book And Get It Published: Hints, Tips & Techniques, to help writers fulfil their dream of becoming an internationally published author, and his third Internationally available fare dropped August 2023 titled ChristiTutionalist TM Politics as a companion (written piece) to his ChristiTutionalist TM Politics podcast of same name began airing in June 2023. In 2025 release of 6th International book "The Book Of Kennedy" (his first available in Hard-Cover, as well as Audio-Book, eBook, Softcopy) hit in August of 2025.

In my book review, I stated The Book of Kennedy is YA novelette. The book follows Kennedy, a young woman who is transitioning from one relationship to another. Written without any dialogue, the reader is put into Kennedy's head as she contemplates relationships, life, faith, hope, and kindness.

Joseph uses scriptures, song lyrics, and movie/book quotes to help the reader understand Kennedy's journey forward as she reflects on her past relationship and the new one.

Joseph states upfront that he is not trying to be Dickens, and that he uses today's way of speaking to write. Although I understand his reasoning, I often found it difficult to read, wanting to stop and correct the errors along the way or change fragments into full sentences. Nonetheless, the lessons learned are very valuable. Plus, he gives a long list of additional resources for those who want to learn more about the philosophy being mulled in Kennedy's head.

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Join the Novels N Latte Book Club community to discuss this and other books with like-minded readers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3576519880426290

You can follow Author Joseph M Lenard

Website: http://JosephMLenard.us

FB: @Martin.Edward.Kieler

IG: jlenarddetroit

LinkedIn: Joseph M Lenard

Purchase The Book of Kennedy on Amazon:

Paperback: https://amzn.to/3NKLEFp

Ebook: https://amzn.to/3ZCf379

Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com

FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor

IG: @terimbrown_author

X: @terimbrown1

Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors

#josephmlenard #thebookofkennedy #contemporaryfiction #YAfiction #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Kelly Keefe, author of the book She. Kelly Keefe is a bestselling author, speaker, and transformational guide helping women activate their voice, embody their truth, and become who they came here to be. She is the author of She, a soul-stirring novel of awakening, and Rise Above Fear, a powerful guide to releasing limitation and leading with purpose.

Kelly is the Founder of The Heartspace, a sanctuary for healing and energy mastery, and the creator of The Frequency Field, a transformational framework woven into her signature programs like Becoming365™ and The Writers Circle.

Her work spans from United Nations stages to retreats in Costa Rica, guiding leaders, creatives, and seekers through personal and spiritual evolution.

Whether through story, energy, or presence, her mission is clear: You're here with a divine purpose - let's tune in. To learn more or work with Kelly, follow on Instagram at @thekellykeefe

In my book review, I stated She is a contemporary fiction. The story follows a woman only known as 'she.' What is amazing is that I didn't realize 'she' was never formally introduced until I tried to remember the character's first name and couldn't! Although we don't know her name, we know plenty. She had a heartbreak. She decided to change up her life by moving to New York City despite having no job there. She is ready to be someone, something else.

I enjoyed going along with her as she found an apartment, began to gather friends and acquaintances, and discovered herself through different yoga practices. Plus, there's a bit of romance, and who can resist watching someone fall in love?

This book lands squarely in literary fiction, giving readers a front-row seat into the daily life of a woman trying to discover who she is and how she wants to show up in the world.

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Join the Novels N Latte Book Club community to discuss this and other books with like-minded readers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3576519880426290

You can follow Author Kelly Keefe

Website: www.thekellykeefe.com

IG: @thekellykeefe

LinkedIn: @kelly-keefe

FB: @kelly.keefe.10

Purchase She on Amazon:

Paperback: https://amzn.to/3Nxr1ML

Ebook: https://amzn.to/4q1bqmk

Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com

FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor

IG: @terimbrown_author

X: @terimbrown1

Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors

#kellykeefe #she #contemporaryfiction #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.