The weekly Bell Cow Herd Podcast, hosted by authors, Rob Jung and Michael David MacBride, rounds up the best voices from the Bell Cow Cattle-log and the wider publishing world—publishers, authors, editors and more—to shine a light on the people who compose the remarkable Midwestern literary community. With short, punchy chats, exclusive author readings, and deep dives into their background and craft, you’ll get to know, like never before, the people who embellish our lives via the written word.

The podcast rings the bell loud and clear, guiding you straight to your next favorite author, maybe even one who writes in your own backyard. Join the herd. Give the round-up a listen: subscribe, like, and follow!

Today we’re joined by Minnesota author and former newspaper illustrator Craig MacIntosh, whose newest novel Culling delivers a gripping mix of mystery, action-adventure, and procedural intrigue. Craig’s background as a visual storyteller gives his writing a cinematic immediacy—scenes unfold with striking clarity, and his pacing keeps readers firmly on the edge of their seat.

Craig is also the co-creator of the nationally syndicated comic strip Sally Forth and has spent decades shaping visual narratives. His fiction reflects that same precision and artistry: crisp dialogue, memorable characters, and locations rendered with an illustrator’s eye. His novels often explore moral tension, political undercurrents, and the psychology of justice, making them favorites among readers who crave intelligent, layered thrillers.

You can learn more about Craig at: https://www.cjmacintosh.com/

His books—including Culling—are available wherever books are sold, and Minnesota thriller fans will find his work at Once Upon a Crime: https://onceuponacrimebooks.com/

In this episode, Craig talks about transitioning from cartoonist to novelist, building action through detail, and crafting stories that feel both grounded and explosive.

You can find out more about your hosts: Rob and Michael at their webpages (https://robjungwriter.com/ and https://www.michaelmacbride.com).

And, of course, you can find everything about Bell Cow at the official webpage: https://www.bellcowproductions.com (🐮 -- moo!)

#bellcow #bellcowproductions #interviews #authors #roundup #bellcowroundup