In this episode of Book Talk the host discusses Kathleen Klein's memoir My Life in the Dark: A Marriage Built on Lies, exploring themes of deception, emotional abuse, and survival. This episode highlights the book's raw honesty, its appeal to survivors and professionals, and the author’s courageous journey toward reclaiming identity and safety.

Host Samuel sends Thanksgiving greetings and remembers his mother before diving into how literature has inspired music across genres.

He traces examples from Tolkien and Poe to Metallica, Rush, Kate Bush, and more, describing moments when songs distilled stories and how music can reveal new interpretations of books.

The episode blends personal memoir, musical analysis, and an invitation for listeners to share other literary-to-musical connections.

Step into the smoky alleys of post-war Hollywood with this episode of BookTalk, where we explore Dan Bronson’s gripping noir novels Someone to Watch Over Me and Shout at the Devil. Follow studio fixer Jack Shannon—a scarred, cynical insider navigating scandals, starlets, and the machinery of fame—as he uncovers secrets that echo through the golden age of Tinseltown. Blending hard-boiled mystery with emotional depth and historical texture, these books are a must-read for fans of classic detective fiction, Hollywood history, and morally complex storytelling. If you love noir that bleeds truth and style, this commentary is your invitation to dive in.

If you've ever asked yourself why you write—or why anyone does—this episode is for you. In “Why Do We Write?”, we dive into the messy, beautiful motivations behind putting words to page: the craving to be read, the catharsis of journaling, the thrill of creation, and the quiet search for self-understanding. Whether you're a seasoned author, a secret poet, or someone who scribbles thoughts in the margins of life, this episode will resonate, challenge, and maybe even inspire you to pick up the pen again. Tune in and explore the paradoxes, pleasures, and power of writing.

In celebration of Halloween, I thought I would put together a fun little piece talking about some of my favorite books for the season, as well as a little history and some movies.

This month I discuss Travelling the Alphabet Geographically, by Sylvia Clare. A journey across the world and through her own growth as she visits the people and places along the way.

A Talk about how we create our characters for our stories.

Today I am talking about Mulberry Seeds.

Set in the sweltering Texas summer of 1968, Mulberry Seeds by Lisa-Behrens Smith is a poignant novella that follows sisters Jolene and Corrine as they navigate poverty, displacement, and the fragile bonds of family. Through heartbreak and hardship, they discover resilience in each other and fleeting joy in the small adventures that shape their coming-of-age. It's a tender, evocative tribute to innocence lost and the quiet strength of sisterhood.