Life often appears darkest just before the dawn of a new day.In Menagerie in the Dark, Chris Kauzlarich immerses us in a speculative journey that explores the darker aspects of the human condition before bringing us back to the surface with the light of a new day. Through fourteen stories, this menagerie of characters faces trials of sorrow, death, loneliness, regret, deception, murder, delight, wonderment, and bliss, revealing what will either strengthen them enough to survive or plunge them to their demise. A boy’s home burns down, forcing him to confront a terrifying new world. A man enters a door where he witnesses his wife’s death, leaving him devastated; yet, he cannot stop returning to the scene, convinced he can save her. A nurse’s patients continue to perish under her care, but she harbors a dark secret—an administered cocktail for nefarious purposes. These and other stories will stretch the limits of your emotions, from heartbreak to horror, leaving you yearning for more.

Chris is the author of the short story collection, Menagerie in the Dark, and the suspense horror novella, LAZARUS. He is also a member of The Authors Guild, AWP, and the Chicago Writers Association. In addition to writing and reading extensively, he enjoys hiking, playing video games, binge-watching a good show with his husband and daughter, and simply being a dad. He graduated from Purdue University and lives between Chicago, IL, and Naples, FL, or on the open road in their RV.#ChrisKauzlarich #shortstories #podcast #authorpodcast #authors #speakingofwriters #books

WILLING PREY is the perfect mix of spicy and sweet, making it the ultimate dark romance that’s easy to dive into for newcomers to the genre. Allie expertly balances intense, kinky chase scenes with clear, consistent consent and boundaries. The heroine knows exactly what she wants, and her love for primal play creates a sizzling, erotic dynamic. Allie Oleander writes spicy contemporary, dark, and monster romances with kink exploration and characters ages thirty-five and up. She loves anything with chase scenes, the marriage-in-trouble trope, and monsters (of both the spicy and un-spicy variety). When she's not writing, she's in the woods, trying to arrange a meet-cute with Bigfoot.#allieoleander #willingprey #authors #novels #romance #romancebooks #podcast #authorpodcast

Between May 21 and June 16, 1791, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison went on a trip together through Upstate New York and parts of New England on horseback. This "northern journey" came at a moment of tension for the new nation, one in whose founding these Virginians and political allies had played key roles. The Constitution was ratified, and President Washington was in his first term of office. Whether the country could overcome regional and political differences and remain unified, however, was still very much in question. Hence why some observers at the time wondered whether this excursion into Federalist New England by the two most prominent southern Democratic-Republicans, both future presidents, had an ulterior motive.In A Journey North: Jefferson, Madison, and the Forging of a Friendship, Louis Masur writes that Madison maintained that the journey was for "health, recreation, and curiosity." That he and Jefferson needed a break from their public responsibilities, so off they set. #thomasjefferson #jamesmadison

Bogart and Huston: Their Lives, Their Adventures, and the Classic Movies They Made Together Between 1941 and 1953 director John Huston and actor Humphrey Bogart made one classic film after another: The Maltese Falcon, Across the Pacific, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Key Largo, The African Queen, and Beat the Devil. All of them would be at home on any list of the best movies ever made. They were the result of a close but often combative friendship between the two disparate men: the actor and his best director. Bogart was a homebody who acted tough but wasn’t; Huston was a quiet presence who masterminded storms. This book reveals how they worked with each other and how they took on the world. It covers nine marriages, three wars, the blacklist, one cult, and explains why their collaborations stand the test of time. The text includes biographical information, the histories of making their films, and appendices that enrich the narrative.Nat Segaloff is a writer, broadcaster, teacher, film historian, and raconteur with a varied background in motion picture publicity, journalism, producing, and covering up other people's mistakes. Having begun his career during the exciting transition between the old studios and the film generation of the New Hollywood, he provides both perspective and commentary on a wide range of subjects, many of them having to do with movies. He also tries to return phone calls. Ever since Covid he has been holed up in his secret fortress writing books and recording audiobooks in the companionship of his faithful Italian greyhound, Louie the Wonder Dog. #humphreybogart #johnhuston #natsegaloff #themaltesefalcon

Desi Arnaz is a name that resonates with fans of classic television, but few understand the depth of his contributionsto the entertainment industry. In Desi Arnaz, Todd S. Purdum offers a captivating biography that dives into the groundbreaking Latino artist and businessman known to millions as Ricky Ricardo from I Love Lucy.Beyond his iconic role, Arnaz was a pioneering entrepreneur who fundamentally transformed the television landscape.
His journey from Cuban aristocracy to world-class entertainer is remarkable. After losing everything during the 1933 Cuban revolution, Arnaz reinvented himself in pre-World War II Miami, tapping into the rising demand for Latin music. By twenty, he had formed his own band and sparked the conga dance craze in America. Behind the scenes, he revolutionized television production by filming I Love Lucy before a live studio audience with synchronized cameras, a model that remains a sitcom gold standard today.
About the author:

Todd S. Purdum is a veteran journalist and author. Ina career of more than forty years, he has written widely about politics and culture, starting at The New York Times, where he spent twenty-three years, covering politics from city hall to the White House, later serving as diplomatic correspondent and Los Angeles bureau chief. He has also been a staff writer at Vanity Fair, Politico, and The Atlantic. He is the author of Something Wonderful: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Broadway Revolution and An Idea Whose Time HasCome: Two Presidents, Two Parties, and the Battle for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, the former White House press secretary Dee Dee Myers, with whom he has two grown children.

#Ilovelucy #desiarnaz #toddspurdum #lucilleball #desiarnazjr

In THE GRAVE ARTIST, a wedding reception is coming to a close in the Hollywood Hills when the blissful day is shattered by the death of the groom. Though the incident appears to be an accident, Carmen Sanchez and Jake Heron discover that the tragedy is the third in a series of similar deaths and conclude something far more sinister is at play. The two uncover chilling evidence pointing to a serial killer who has taken evil to the next level. Dubbed the Honeymoon Killer, he isn’t interested solely in his victims but in creating a macabre masterpiece focused on the survivors and reveling in their grief. And now his dark obsession has turned to Carmen and Jake themselves. The Honeymoon Killer has decided they are the perfect next target. Time is running out as a deadly game between predator and prey begins.ABOUT THE AUTHORSJeffery Deaver is the award-winning #1 international and New York Times bestselling author of the Lincoln Rhyme, Colter Shaw and Kathryn Dance series, among many others. Deaver’s work includes fifty novels, more than one hundred short stories, and a nonfiction law book. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into twenty-five languages. A former journalist, folk singer, and attorney, he was born outside Chicago and has a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri and a law degree from Fordham University. He was recently named a Grand Master of Mystery Writers of America, whose ranks include Agatha Christie, Elmore Leonard and Mickey Spillane. Jeffery Deaver lives in North Carolina and the D.C. area.www.jefferydeaver.com

Isabella Maldonado is the award-winning international and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Nina Guerrera, Daniela Vega and Veranda Cruz series. She was recently nominated for an Edgar Award and an International Thriller Award. Her books are published in twenty-four languages. Maldonado wore a gun and badge in real life before turning to crime writing. A graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico and the first Latina to attain the rank of captain in her police department, she retired as the Commander of Special Investigations and Forensics. During more than two decades on the force, her assignments included hostage negotiator, department spokesperson, and precinct commander. She uses her law enforcement background to bring a realistic edge to her writing. Isabella Maldonado lives in Phoenix and Lakeside, both in Arizona. www.isabellamaldonado.com#jeffreydeaver #isabellamaldonando Instagram: @officialjefferydeaver & @authorisabellaFacebook: @jefferydeaver & @authorisabellaThreads: @officialjefferydeaver & @authorisabellaX: @JefferyDeaver & @isabellambooksTikTok: @authorisabellamaldonado

In TOMLINSON’S WAKE, Doc’s best friend Tomlinson has had a near death experience—actually, he claims he died when a hurricane sank his sailboat off the coast of Honduras and was resurrected by a mysterious runaway orphan, a direct descendant of a Mayan king. Now, Tomlinson is protecting the boy, on the run from corrupt politicians who fear an Indigenous revolution. Doc joins Tomlinson in Mesoamerica to battle the most dangerous traffickers and killers in the country, but what he isn’t prepared for is a cataclysmic earthquake that will threaten all of their lives. Readers of White’s Doc Ford thrillers will love this new addition to the series, and the Florida backdrop makes this and every Doc Ford novel a perfect gritty beach read. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Randy Wayne White is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of the Doc Ford series. In 2011, White was named a Florida Literary Legend by the Florida Heritage Society. A fishing and nature enthusiast, he has also written extensively for National Geographic Adventure, Men's Journal, Playboy and Men's Health. He lives on Sanibel Island, Florida, where he was a light-tackle fishing guide for many years, and spends much of his free time windsurfing, playing baseball, and hanging out at Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille. Sharks Incorporated is his middle grade series, including Fins and Stingers. #randywaynewhite #docford #bookpodcast #novels #podcast

Wall Street Journal bestselling author Joe Hart has a knack for telling propulsive stories centering on highly relatable characters whose vulnerabilities often become a source of strength. His critically acclaimed work includes the 2023 Edgar Award Winner for Best Paperback Original Or Else, as well as The River Is Dark and Obscura, which Publishers Weekly called “outstanding,” and the Los Angeles Times praised as “excellent from beginning to end.” Joe Hart is the Edgar Award–winning and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of twenty novels, including Now We Run, Or Else, The River Is Dark, Obscura, and The Last Girl, as well as many novellas and short stories. His work has been translated into eight languages and has been optioned for film. #joehart