In the spotlight is Jim Gregory, who publishes under the byline Dr. James R. Gregory and has 40 years of experience in advertising and branding, and he is an expert on corporate brand management. After successfully exiting the business, he embarked on a new direction — writing fiction. He soon discovered his favorite strategy was writing short reads in the form of novellas, stories that can be enjoyed in just one sitting — such as an evening at home or a cross-country flight.

Jim Gregory has written four works of fiction. They are titled "Small Fortunes," "Stones in a Glass House," "Fortune Teller," and "Zephyr’s War." 

We discuss:

>> Branding and marketing

>> The top brands among novelists

>> Short versus long writing

>> Padding novels

>> Organic writing

>> Etc.

Learn more about Jim Gregory here: https://jamesrgregory-books.com

Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no

Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

In the spotlight is Janice Deal, the author of two novels titled THE BLUE DOOR and THE SOUND OF RABBITS, and two short story collections titled THE DECLINE OF PIGEONS, and a linked collection titled STRANGE ATTRACTORS.

THE DECLINE OF PIGEONS was a was a Flannery O’Connor Award finalist, and THE SOUND OF RABBITS was a finalist for both the Many Voices Project annual competition, and the Black Lawrence Press Big Moose Prize.

We discuss:

>> Short stories versus novels
>> Open versus closed story endings

>> George Saunders
>> Stephen King

>> Movies

>> Gesture drawings

>> Honing copy

>> Etc.

Learn more about Janice Deal here: https://www.janicedeal.com

Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no

Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

In the spotlight is Tracy Clark, a Chicago native and the author of the award-winning Cass Raines Chicago Mystery series, featuring ex-cop turned private investigator Cassandra Raines, and the detective Harriet Foster series, featuring Harriet Foster, a homicide detective with the Chicago Police Department. Two tough, smart, African American female characters working the mean streets of the Windy City.

We discuss:

>> Creating characters

>> Cassandra Raines

>> Harriet Foster

>> Chicago

>> Deep-dish pizza

>> Organic versus outlined writing

>> Key writing advice

>> Literary influences

>> Etc.

Learn more about Tracy Clark here: https://tracyclarkbooks.com

Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no

Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

In the spotlight is Christine Estima — playwright, novelist, a performer. Her debut novel, “Letters to Kafka” is scheduled for release in September, and was preceded by her debut book, “The Syrian Ladies Benevolent Society,” named one of the best books of 2023 by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.

We discuss:

>> Milena Jesenská, the Czech writer and translator of Franz Kafka novels

>> Short stories versus novels

>> How to respect one’s readers

>> The Arab immigrant experience

>> Finding literary agents

>> Shut Up & Write! The free global writing community

>> Etc.

Learn more about Christine Estima here: https://www.christineestima.com/home/

Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no

Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

In the spotlight is Hank Quense, whose latest book is titled “The Author’s AI Tool Kit: From Concept to Publication.” Quense’s fiction works include the Gundarland series, the Princess Moxie series, and the soon-to-be-published Zaftan series. His non-fiction books include titles such as “How to Self-Publish and Market a Book, “Book Marketing Fundamentals, “Business Basics for Authors,” and “Creating Your First Novel.”

Quense has been strongly influenced by two authors in particular: Douglas Adams and his novel “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy,” and the Joseph Heller classic “Catch-22.”

Learn more about Hank Quense here: https://hankquense.com

Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no

Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

In the spotlight is Melissa Edwards, literary agent and executive vice president at Stonesong, the New York-based literary agency. She also acts as a contract consultant for authors and agents under the business MLE Consulting.

We discuss:

>> Traditional versus self-publishing

>> Handling incoming manuscripts

>> Importance of the query letter

>> Standard agent/author agreements

>> Expectation of the author/agent relationship

>> Etc.

Learn more about Melissa Edwards here: https://www.stonesong.com/melissa-edwards

To learn more about Melissa Edwards work as a contract consultant for authors and agents, go here: https://www.melissaedwardsesq.com/

Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no

Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

In the spotlight is Ruby Peru who, studied under Kurt Vonnegut during the 1980s, and David Foster Wallace during the 1990s, and today ghostwrites memoirs, as well as offering developmental editing services. She has also written a novel titled “Bits of String too Small to Save,” among other books.

We discuss:

>> The distinction between memoirs and autobiographies

>> Ruby Peru’s ghostwriting methodology

>> The keys to writing a successful memoir

>> Development book editing

>> The psychology of readers

>> Etc.

Learn more about Ruby Peru’s books and writing services here: https://rubyperu.com

Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no

Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

In the spotlight is Kevin Moore, author of “The Book of Souls,” a mystical ghost story and the first in a series of books featuring protagonist Jack Kelly and his paranormal abilities. The sequel to that book is “The Book of Demons” (think Harry Potter meets The Exorcist). Moore will continue the Jack Kelly paranormal saga with a third book released later this year. His play, “Conversations from the Sports Arena,” was performed at the HBO Theater in Hollywood, and his children’s picture book, “Me and My Shadow,” was published in 2021.

We discuss:

>> Lucid dreaming

>> Paranormal abilities

>> Spirituality

>> Ghosts

>> Zen Catholicism

>> The power of love

>> Yoga

>> Reiki

>> Etc.

Learn more about Kevin Moore here: https://kevinmoorepublishing.com

Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no

Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com