Category: Books

Ken Stark, Award-Winning Horror Writer, Talks About What Makes a Good Scary Story

by Billy Dees, posted in Books, Podcast
Ken Stark

Our guest on this episode is award-winning horror writer, Ken Stark.

According to Ken’s Twitter bio he is a questionable painter, unapologetic nerd, and committed beer enthusiast.

During this episode Ken shares many of his insights into writing, the importance of relatable characters, and what makes a good scary story.

Ken Stark’s books are available on Amazon including, “Arcadia Falls.”

You can find more about Ken Stark on his website and on Twitter.

You can find the Billy Dees Podcast on nearly all of the major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.

For your convenience the episode is right here, just hit play.

You can watch the webcam version of the podcast episode here on YouTube.

Samuel Moore-Sobel “Can You See My Scars?”

by Billy Dees, posted in Books, Podcast
Samuel Moore-Sobel

Billy’s guest on this podcast episode is Samuel Moore-Sobel, an author, speaker, and columnist. His debut memoir, “Can You See My Scars?” is the story of a harrowing encounter with sulfuric acid, trauma, and severe burns.

Samuel writes about his experience as a burn and trauma survivor. Samuel has a degree in government and international politics and currently lives with his wife in Northern Virginia.

You can find Samuel’s website here www.samuelmoore-sobel.com and his Twitter account here @smoore_sobel.

This episode may contain triggers for survivors.

You can find the Billy Dees Podcast on nearly all of the major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.

For your convenience the episode is right here, just hit play.

The webcam version is here on YouTube.

HumorOutcasts Interview with Deborah Fezelle Author of “Full Circle”

by Billy Dees, posted in Books, Podcast, Uncategorized

On this episode, we are talking to Canton, Oh native and Juilliard alumni, Deborah Fezelle who recently released her new book, “Full Circle.” This is her third installment of the Nick McDeare suspense book series; the previous books being, “The Evil That Men Do” and “A Walking Shadow.”

During this discussion Deborah talks about her childhood, her career as an artistic creative, and her writing style.

For your convenience you can listen to the interview at the bottom of this post. You can also find it under the Billy Dees Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most other major podcast platforms.

Be sure to visit HumorOutcasts.com

The episode is listed on these platforms as, HumorOutcasts Interview with Deborah Fezelle Author of “Full Circle.”

Kevin Barhydt Author of “Dear Stephen Michael’s Mother: A Memoir”

by Billy Dees, posted in Books, Podcast, Uncategorized

Kevin Barhydt is the author of, “Dear Stephen Michael’s Mother: A Memoir.”

The book is a memoir of how a young boy who was abandoned, abused, and addicted; transformed into a man with the hope, courage, and resilience to seek his biological mother.

At 45 and after many years of recovery, Kevin began a painful journey to uncover his origins and search for his mother. A quote Kevin often uses is,

“When the bird falls out of the tree, the bird is traumatized.

So is the mother.”

Kevin now leads a happy and fulfilling life. He does interviews to help fight stigmas that plague survivors of various hardships and conditions.

You can Find Kevin Barhydt on YouTube.

For your convenience the podcast interview is available below on Spotify. Just hit play.

The webcam version of the podcast is also available here.

Underprivileged Overachiever – A Crenshaw Story

by Billy Dees, posted in Books, Podcast, Uncategorized

Our guest on this podcast is Yohance Salimu who is the author of, “Underprivileged Overachiever – A Crenshaw Story.”

The book is his memoir chronicling Yohance’s journey from youth at Crenshaw Senior High School in California to his study of Geospatial Science at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Yohance speaks openly and candidly about his experiences and hardships on his way to success as a fighter and a survivor.

“If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same… you’ll be a Man, my son!” – Joseph Rudyard Kipling

For your convenience the interview is available below at the bottom of this post. Just hit play. The podcast episode is also available on most of the major podcasting platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and many others under the Billy Dees Podcast.

The episode is titled on these services as:

Yohance Salimu – Underprivileged Overachiever – A Crenshaw Story

The webcam version of the interview is available here on YouTube.

HumorOutcasts Interview with Concha Alborg – Author of “My Mother, That Stranger, Letters from the Spanish Civil War”

by Billy Dees, posted in Books, Podcast

Concha Alborg CoverThis episode is an interview with Concha Alborg who is the author of “My Mother, That Stranger, Letters from the Spanish Civil War.”

This interview was done with our partners at HumorOutcasts.com.

Concha Resize1This book is a memoir about Concha’s mother based on the letters her mother wrote to her fiancé who was fighting against Franco’s forces during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939).

During this fascinating interview Concha talks about the scope of the Spanish Civil War, the plight of immigrants, and how she rediscovered her mother by researching and writing this book. We also discuss how certain historical elements and past political ideologies have relevance in today’s world.

You can find out more about Concha Alborg at ConchaAlborg.com.

Concha Resize2For your convenience the interview is available below at the bottom of this post. Just hit play. The podcast episode is also available on most of the major podcasting platforms including Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, and many others under the “Billy Dees Podcast.”

The episode is titled on these services as:

HumorOutcasts Interview with Concha Alborg Author of “My Mother, That Stranger, Letters from the Spanish Civil War”

HumorOutcasts Interview – Patricia H. McLoud author of “The Green Goddess of Gardening”

by Billy Dees, posted in Books, Podcast

Pat McLoud CoverOn this episode we talk with Patricia H. McLoud who is the author of “The Green Goddess of Gardening.”

This interview was done with our partners at HumorOutcasts.com.

This book describes exactly how and what to do to develop gardens and then care for them. It is a concise resource regarding the most important steps to achieve a beautiful garden in easy to understand terms. The book teaches the reader how and when to water, fertilize, prevent bugs, prune, and many other topics of interest to the aspiring gardener.

The book is written in dark print, good sized lettering, and is easy to read and understand. During our interview Pat addresses topics such as how the book is different from other gardening books and the proper containers for container gardening.

For your convenience the interview is available below at the bottom of this post. Just hit play. The podcast episode is also available on most of the major podcasting platforms including Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, and many others under the Billy Dees Podcast.

The episode is titled on these services as:

HumorOutcasts Interview with Patricia H McLoud “The Green Goddess of Gardening.”

HumorOutcasts Radio Interview Cathy Sikorski “Who Moved My Teeth?”

by Billy Dees, posted in Books, Podcast

Who Moved My Teeth CoverWhat is a caregiver? If you help someone else you may be a caregiver and not realize it. As time goes on in a given situation your role as such may well become a major responsibility. Many of us should also be aware of the looming risk that we ourselves will someday be in a situation where we require assistance in our daily lives.

These are daunting possibilities to ponder. I happen to feel, however, that choosing to be a caregiver for a loved one when it is possible is a noble and rewarding act. Moreover, it does not have to be the nightmare that it often turns out to be when we wait for a crisis to develop before we take action to become informed.

This is the subject of the book, “Who Moved My Teeth? Preparing for Self, Loved Ones and Caregiving” by Cathy Sikorski.

Cathy is an attorney who specializes in elder care. I found Cathy to be a skilled speaker who infuses the right amount of humor and lightheartedness into such topics as powers of attorney, advanced directives, managing medical bills and many other subjects. The book provides an excellent background into these matters and provides a feel for what you may need to research.

As stated in the book:

“And this is where a good Elder Lawyer comes in. Find her or him and talk to them. Know what you can and cannot do and when you can and cannot do it. Knowledge is Power.”

Billy Dees and Cathy Sikorski
Billy Dees and Cathy Sikorski

Follow Cathy on Twitter at @Cathy_Sikorski. Also please visit the publisher’s humor site HumorOutcasts.com and book publishing site HOPress.

This is a highly informative podcast with a strong functional value and is available below at the bottom of this post.

For your convenience the interview is also available on most of the major podcasting platforms including iTunes Apple Podcasts and Stitcher under “Billy Dees.” It can also be accessed on TuneIn through your Amazon Alexa streaming device.

The episode is titled on these services as:

HOPress HumorOutcasts Cathy Sikorski – Who Moved My Teeth?

HumorOutcasts Radio “I am So Sick of White Guys” by Jim Corbett and Tim Jones

by Billy Dees, posted in Books, Media, Podcast

I am So Sick of White Guys Cover ArtHow many of us need more white guys? Probably not many of us right? So here’s a podcast with three more white dudes for your listening pleasure.

On behalf of HumorOutcasts Radio and HumorOutcasts.com, I recently had the chance to interview Jim Corbett and Tim Jones who are the authors of, “I am So Sick of White Guys – The Coloring Book Experience” available on Amazon. And we don’t mean the good “sick” either, but rest assured the book and the podcast are definitely “cool sick.”

Naturally to enjoy the content of this satirical and adult coloring book it would help for the reader to be progressively minded. Therefore, how “good” you may feel that the book may happen to be is rooted heavily in subjectivity.  However, even though I may not agree with all of the concepts on every single page, I can put on an objective hat. I have no issue stating that for me this book was a creative and witty isometric exercise into a fusion of political satire, humor, and social commentary.

The book’s illustrations were created by Steve Hartley, who in my opinion did a great job maintaining the recognition of the caricatures yet portrayed expressions that match the essence of the scenes and situations depicted.

Jim and Tim
Jim Corbett and Tim Jones

In this day and age it doesn’t take much to inflame a segment of the public. Jim and Tim have had their fair share of angry blowback from the right and from the land of social media. They sent me various links prior to the interview to show me this aspect of their experience and perhaps to give me fair warning of some of the grief that I could possibly catch as the interview migrates its way through the digital media cyberspace.

We touch on some of this negative feedback during the podcast but we really wanted to stay centered on the humorous aspects of this book as well as the societal messages conveyed in the content.

If you share an illustration with someone and it sparks a conversation, it has done its job.

During our pre-production meeting I suggested to Jim and Tim, that given the provocative title of the book, it may help to give the interview some depth if I threw them a few curve ball questions as opposed to producing what amounted to an audio infomercial.  They were very receptive to the idea and they both did a fantastic job making their points in this podcast which give it an intrinsic value of substantive content above what would otherwise be considered as just a digital media marketing tool.

I hope you enjoy the podcast. You can play the podcast from this site below or under Billy Dees on nearly all of the major podcasting platforms including iTunes Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, and iHeartRadio.

 

HumorOutcasts Radio Interview with Molly Stevens

by Billy Dees, posted in Books, Podcast

1BOTL coverI had a lot of fun interviewing Molly Stevens, who is the author of, “Boomer on the Ledge.”

Molly brought up some good points during the course of our podcast. One of the themes that seems central to her message is that it is never too late to discover new passions and ways to be creative as we mature. In fact, sometimes life experiences can enhance our ability to tackle original endeavors and challenges.

1Molly with book and doll no frame
Molly Stevens

Another concept that seems very dear to Molly is the idea that humor is a great way to deal with life challenges and can also be a way to inspire others to examine their own place in life in a more lighthearted and positive fashion.

Molly lives in Maine and still works as a registered nurse part-time after a long and fulfilling full-time career in the medical field. More recently Molly discovered the joys of writing and over the past number of years has been showcasing her work on her blog ShallowReflections.com.

1Molly Billy Pod
Billy Dees and Molly Stevens

“Boomer on the Ledge” is an interesting blend of musings and observations about the positive and negative aspects of being a Baby Boomer as well as an inspired pictorial of images photographed by Molly to illustrate the perceptions conveyed in the book.

Molly is a contributor to HumorOutcasts.com and can be found on Twitter @ShallRef and on her Facebook pages Shallow Reflections and Boomer on the Ledge. Her book, “Boomer on the Ledge,” can be found here on Amazon published by HumorOutcasts Press. You can follow @HOPress on Twitter.

Please take a moment to enjoy our podcast interview with Molly Stevens.

The playable audio program is right here:

HOPress HumorOutcasts Radio Molly Stevens