My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Kay Smith-Blum, author of the book Tangles. After selling her European fashion specialty store in 2016, Kay Smith-Blum began writing the novel she had been percolating on for two decades. Three manuscripts later, Smith-Blum’s debut novel, Tangles, depicts the human costs of the nuclear age and the dangerous legacy it leaves for future generations. “The Calf” is a companion piece, and the first in a series of short works and essays that accompanied the release in November 2024. Winner of the 2023 Black Fox Lit short story contest, Smith-Blum has been published in multiple literary journals.

In my book review, I stated Tangles is an amazing debut novel that pushes the genre boundaries. Is it historical fiction? A love story? A thriller/mystery/suspense? The answer is yes - and a whole lot more.

We meet Luke and learn that he is sure the nuclear power plant in his community poisoned the citizens, including his father. He also believes that those in charge, from plant officials to government leaders, knew of the safety issues and kept them a secret. Because of this, Luke sets off to prove these theories once and for all, making enemies along the way.

Luke is a likeable character, and Kay helps us get inside his head. Whether we see him as a young teen when he falls in love with his married neighbor or as an adult dealing with his own cancer diagnosis and befriending a fatherless child, it is easy to understand his motivations and cheer him on.

Will Luke be able to find the answers he seeks? Will he ever know what happened to his first love? Read the book and find out!

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You can follow Author Kay Smith-Blum

Website: www.kaysmith-blum.com

IG: @discerningKSB

FB: @kay.smithblum

LinkedIn: @Kay Smith-Blum Linkedin

X: @kaysmithblum

TikTok: @KSBwritesfiction

Purchase Tangles on Amazon:

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

Ebook: https://amzn.to/4h9L0Ln

Audible: https://amzn.to/40XiRBJ

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

FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor

IG: @terimbrown_author

X: @terimbrown1

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*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Judy Lannon, author of the book The Making of Genevieve. Judy’s award-winning contemporary women’s fiction resonates with readers through its honest and relatable depiction of women and their life experiences. In her debut novel, Nine Days, we meet the Austin family and their narcissistic mother, Genevieve. Inspired by reader requests for more about the mother’s character, Judy wrote “The Making of Genevieve.”

A conversation with a friend inspired Judy to write “Nine Days,” which won awards soon after publication, launching her writing career. Within two years, The Making of Genevieve was published. Her books have been recognized by The American Writers Association for Best New Debut Fiction and Best Women’s Fiction, The Firebird Book Awards, and The New York City Big Book Awards.

Judy lives and writes at her home on Cape Cod, MA near the Atlantic Ocean. Though she thinks it's a cliché to say the ocean inspires her, she happily accepts that label because it's a constant presence in her writing.

In my book review, I stated The Making of Genevieve is a fabulous women's fiction with a historical setting on the Cape. Genevieve grows up in an affluent area, and though very comfortable, aspires to be in the upper class. And, unlike her peers, she does not see a life that starts and ends with a husband and children. Instead, she wants to be a famous interior designer first - maybe a husband and maybe a family.

Unfortunately for Genevieve, a secret she only shares with one other person changes everything. Her marriage to an up and coming young man turns sour after WWII PTSD causes him to turn to alcohol to cope, while her one true love chooses a calling that excludes her. Through it all, she pushes, pulls, streamrolls, and demands her way through issue after issue, always sure that the world is hers for the taking.

The Making of Genevieve is a wonderful story of perseverance and resilience as a women tries to make it in a man's world. But just as importantly, it is a hard look at how secrets can lead us to make questionable choices and make life harder than it needs to be. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Subscribe to Online for Authors to learn about more great books! https://www.youtube.com/@onlineforauthors?sub_confirmation=1

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 Judy Lannon

Website: www.authorjudylannon.com/

IG: @judylannonofficial

FB: @judy lannon author

Purchase The Making of Genevieve on Amazon:

Paperback: https://amzn.to/3Ei57bF

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

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

FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor

IG: @terimbrown_author

X: @terimbrown1

#judylannon #themakingofgenevieve #womensfiction #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 Michael Pietrobon who is here to chat with me today about Book Design. Michael is a book designer from Toronto. As the founder of Foglio, he provides self-publishing consulting to a diverse array of authors.

A self-published author himself, Michael started Foglio with the intention of providing compelling, highly personalized book design and publishing services to all authors.

Subscribe to Online for Authors to learn about more great books! https://www.youtube.com/@onlineforauthors?sub_confirmation=1

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 Michael Pietrobon

Website: https://www.foglioprint.com/

Social media: FB: @FoglioBooks

IG: @foglio.studio

LinkedIn: @Foglio

X: @FoglioBooks

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

FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor

IG: @terimbrown_author

X: @terimbrown1

#michaelpietrobon #bookdesign #fogliobooks #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview