My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is JD Rasch, author of the book Quasi-Crystal. Jody “J.D.” Rasch is a writer, artist, social activist, and author. His debut fantasy series, The Wanderer, incorporates social issues including politics, religion and how we are influenced in our lives.

Jody is also a painter, whose art explores the mysteries of our world. Jody worked in finance for many years but managed to use it for good by helping banks that gave loans to the poor. Jody now serves on not-for-profit boards that seek to make the world a better place.

A native New Yorker who was forced to move to the burbs, Jody now lives just outside New York City.

In my book review, I stated The Quasi-Crystal is part 3 of a fantasy series, The Wanderer. Despite being the third book of which I didn't read the first two, I found this fantasy quite fascinating. I particularly liked Pom, an ex-thief who soon realizes she has immense powers of empathy and calm, as well as Theb, a gemstone cutter who insists the rock he has found is more than a rock. Both find themselves drawn into a quest despite having no real appetite for one.

JD does a great job getting readers to think about politics and religion, asking questions like what do you want? And why? In one instance, he shows two groups who worship differently, and face in opposite directions to pray. The question is asked - does the direction matter? And it made me think about ways people worship and whether the differences are significant or superficial.

Throughout the book, readers learn tidbits of JDs beliefs - humans are humans, people can create excuses for anything they do, we always have a choice, and more. Throw these in with great characters and a fantasy world complete with a quest to save humankind - and you have a great story. As someone who isn't usually interested in fantasy, I still enjoyed this story.

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You can follow Author JD Rasch

Website: https://jdrasch.com/

LinkedIn: @jodyrasch

IG: @jodyrasch

FB: @jody.rasch.35

Purchase The Quasi-Crystal on Amazon:

Paperback: https://amzn.to/4hUtLin

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

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

FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor

IG: @terimbrown_author

X: @terimbrown1

Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors

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*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Maryka Biaggio, author of the book Gun Girl and the Tall Guy. Maryka Biaggio is a psychology professor turned novelist who specializes in historical fiction based on real people. She loves unearthing the stories of people overlooked by history and bringing them back to life—portraying their challenges and foibles and rekindling their emotional world. Previous novels include The Model Spy, The Point of Vanishing, Eden Waits, and Parlor Games. Her fiction has won several accolades, including Willamette Writers Award, Oregon Writers Colony Award, Historical Novel Society Review Editors’ Choice, La Belle Lettre Award, an Upper Peninsula of Michigan Notable Books Award, and a Regional Arts & Council grant. She served on the Board of the Historical Novel Society North America Conference from 2015-2025. She has mentored other writers in AWP's Writer-to-Writer Mentorship Program since 2020. She’s an avid opera fan and enjoys gardening, art films, and, of course, great fiction. She lives in Portland, Oregon.

In my book review, I stated Gun Girl and the Tall Guy is a historical fiction by Maryka Biaggio. It is based on a true story of a crime duo, Celia and Ed Cooney, in 1920s Brooklyn. And quite frankly, I loved everything about this book! The characters are vivid. I could see the Brooklyn from 100 years ago. And the story is amazing.

Celia grew up in a tough environment. She escapes her family and marries Ed, a young man just home from the war. He is kind, gentle, and loves her completely. But, like most young couples, they are broke. When she learns she is pregnant, she doesn't want to raise her child with nothing. So, they hatch a plan to rob a store - just to get enough to start them on their way. But the thrill and the fame, as well as an ever-increasing need for more things, keeps them in the game long after it makes sense.

Although it makes no sense, I was routing for Celia and Ed to evade the police! Maryka did a great job getting me to pull for the bad guy rather than the Brooklyn police, which is what started happening as the pair became more infamous. I won't spoil it for you - it's a must read.

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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 Maryka Biaggio

Website: https://marykabiaggio.com/

IG: @authormaryka

FB: @maryka.biaggio

Purchase a copy of Gun Girl and the Tall Guy on Amazon:

Paperback: ​https://amzn.to/3N7slpa​

Kindle: ​https://amzn.to/49fR43f

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

FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor

IG: @terimbrown_author

X: @terimbrown1

Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors

#marykabiaggio #gungirlandthetallguy #historicalfiction #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 Susie Black, author of the book The Case of the Croaked Coach. Named Best US Author of the Year by N. N. Lights Book Heaven, award-winning cozy mystery author Susie Black was born in the Big Apple but now calls sunny Southern California home.

She reads, writes, and speaks Spanish, albeit with an accent that sounds like Mildred from Michigan went on a Mexican vacation and is trying to fit in with the locals. Since life without pizza and ice cream as her core food groups wouldn’t be worth living, she’s a dedicated walker to keep her girlish figure. A voracious reader, she’s also an avid stamp collector. Susie lives with a highly intelligent man and has one incredibly brainy but smart-aleck adult son who inexplicably blames his sarcasm on an inherited genetic defect.

In my book review, I stated The Case of the Croaked Coach is the first in the Hannah White mysteries. If you love a good cozy mystery, especially one with a teenage sleuth, you are going to love Hannah White. She wants to be a journalist, and she asks a lot of questions. This time, though, will her questions lead to answers or get her killed?

We learn quickly that the football coach isn't the best character. By the time of his death, there are over half a dozen potential suspects - each with ample reason to want him dead. Of course, Hannah should leave this to the police, but she can't. Why? Because they have arrested her friend and aren't looking for other suspects. But Hannah is sure Dean didn't do it.

Hannah relies on her friends, her attorney uncle, and a private investigator to help her find the truth. But will she find the truth and get others to believe her in time?

This is a fun read - and a great introduction to Susie Black!

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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 Susie Black

Website: www.authorsusieblack.com

FB: @Susie Black, author of The Holly Swimsuit Mystery

FB: @TheHollySwimsuitMysterySeries

IG:@hollyswimsuit

LinkedIn: @authorsusieblack-61941011

X: @hollyswimsuit

Purchase The Case of the Croaked Coach on Amazon:

Paperback: https://amzn.to/47uRd28

Ebook: https://amzn.to/3JVewZT

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

FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor

IG: @terimbrown_author

X: @terimbrown1

Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors

#susieblack #thecaseofthecroakedcoach #cozymystery #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.