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 Karen Engstrom, whose latest novel Shadowland continues her evocative trilogy set in 1950s northern Minnesota. Karen’s work blends historical fiction with mystery, weaving in atmospheric settings, quiet emotional truths, and characters navigating family secrets and personal transformation.

Her short fiction has appeared in Minnesota Stories, Minnesota Not So Nice, WINK Magazine, and the Star Tribune, and she brings that same careful attention to craft into her long-form work. Karen’s creative life is wonderfully eclectic—she’s currently translating her father’s journals from Swedish to English, developing a cookie cookbook, and crafting a yearless family keepsake calendar. She also makes handcrafted fountain pen ink for a family company, Anderillium Inks.

You can learn more about Karen at: https://karenengstrom.com/

Her books—including Shadowland and The Fox—are available wherever books are sold, including Once Upon a Crime: https://onceuponacrimebooks.com/

In this episode, Karen reads from Shadowland and shares insights about memory, heritage, and her love for northern Minnesota.

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

Bell Cow StoryLab is our monthly author panel series, hosted by authors Rob Jung and Michael MacBride. Each episode brings multiple writers into one craft-focused conversation, spotlighting how books actually get built. Scene by scene, choice by choice.

This is a StoryLab Podcast Special, airing April, and no, we are not joking: publishing scams are getting smarter, faster, and more convincing.

Victoria Strauss of Writer Beware joins cohosts Michael MacBride and Rob Jung, plus a panel of authors, to break down what’s actually happening right now, what the red flags look like in real emails and contracts, and what to do next when your gut says “something’s off.”

We dig into:

• The one habit that prevents the most harm

• The earliest red flags writers talk themselves out of noticing

• A practical, under-30-minute due-diligence sequence for vetting opportunities

• Money flow, rights grabs, termination clauses, and the “services bundle” trap

• AI-adjacent contract language to watch for (training data, audio, translation, derivatives)

• What to do if you already said yes, and how to document and report safely

About Writer Beware:

https://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/writer-beware/ https://writerbeware.blog/about/

Guest:

Victoria Strauss: Co-founder of Writer Beware (founded in 1998) and long-running watchdog for publishing scams and predatory practices.

Panelists (bios + links)

Mike Faricy: Award-winning crime fiction author of multiple series, known for fast, funny mysteries and oddball characters you can’t quite look away from. https://www.mikefaricybooks.com/

John Rogers: Thriller writer whose stories draw on experience in finance and biotech, with plots that lean into modern systems and real-world leverage. https://johnbairdrogers.com/author/fretlessjohn/

William J. Anderson (A.W. Powers): Writes paranormal, mystery, and horror, and is the creator of the Psychic Guardian Angel series as A.W. Powers. https://wmjanderson.com/a-w-powers/

Betty Brandt-Passick: Historical crime novelist and speaker whose fact-rooted gangster series builds fiction from real history and community memory. https://bettybrandtpassick.com/

Alan Miller: Founder of Access to Democracy, longtime civic-media host and interviewer focused on public life and accountability. http://www.accesstodemocracy.com/?page_id=2

Connect with the hosts

Rob Jung: https://robjungwriter.com/

Michael MacBride: https://www.michaelmacbride.com/

Everything Bell Cow: https://www.bellcowproductions.com/

#BellCow #BellCowProductions #BellCowStoryLab #StoryLab #WriterBeware #WritingScams #PublishingScams #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #AuthorLife

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 thriller author M. Stone Mayer, whose novel Ashes to Ashes delivers high-stakes suspense rooted in deep emotional undercurrents. Stone’s writing is sharp, cinematic, and full of rich psychological detail—perfect for readers who love thrillers that explore not only danger but the internal struggles that propel his characters toward it.

A lawyer turned novelist, Stone brings a deep understanding of justice, conflict, and moral ambiguity to his work. His fiction often grapples with power dynamics, personal reckoning, and the fine line between vengeance and truth. He’s also a generous literary citizen, active in writing communities and known for his thoughtful, articulate conversations about storytelling.

You can learn more about him at: https://mstonemayer.com/

His books—including Ashes to Ashes—are available wherever books are sold, including Minnesota’s renowned Once Upon a Crime: https://onceuponacrimebooks.com/

In this episode, Stone talks about writing morally complex thrillers, blending legal insight with narrative tension, and building characters shaped by consequence.

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

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 crime novelist S.L. Smith, whose latest book Malice adds a new chapter to her gripping procedural series featuring St. Paul investigators Pete Culhane and Martin Tierney. Smith’s novels are beloved for their meticulous police detail, layered character relationships, and strong sense of place—all grounded in her deep knowledge of Minnesota’s law-enforcement landscape.

A retired investigator herself, Smith writes with authenticity and insight, exploring not just the procedural mechanics of solving a crime but the emotional and moral weight carried by those who do the work. Her Minnesota settings are richly textured, her characters flawed and compelling, and her mysteries elegantly constructed.

You can learn more about Smith at: https://www.slsmithbooks.com.

Her books—including Malice—are available wherever books are sold, and readers can also find her procedural series at Once Upon a Crime: https://onceuponacrimebooks.com/

In this episode, she discusses the craft of procedural storytelling, writing authentic law-enforcement characters, and building long-running series with heart and precision.

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

Bell Cow StoryLab is our monthly author panel series, hosted by authors Rob Jung and Michael David MacBride. Each episode brings multiple writers into one craft-focused conversation, spotlighting how books actually get built. Scene by scene, choice by choice.

In The Villain You Secretly Love: Crafting Compelling Bad Guys, we head straight into the pasture where the trouble lives.

🐮😈 What makes an antagonist unforgettable, and what keeps them from feeling like a cardboard cutout with a knife? We dig into villains as mirrors and wrecking balls, the internal logic that almost convinces the reader, and the craft choices that turn “bad” into “can’t look away.”

Along the way, we get into questions like:

Do your villains know they’re villains?

What’s the most sympathetic thing you’ve given an antagonist?

Ever had a villain take over the plot?

We also talk through villain function (catalyst, tempter, moral test), competence that raises stakes, charm as a weapon, humanizing without excusing, boundary lines on the page, villain POV, and what a satisfying ending actually looks like when the bad guy is the best part.

Today’s panelists (bios + links)

Aliah Wright: Thriller author who leans into psychological tension, sharp reversals, and the kind of trouble that escalates fast.

https://www.aliahwright.com/

Brian Lutterman: Mystery and suspense author with a lawyer’s eye for leverage, motive, and the moment a situation turns.

https://brianlutterman.com/

David Housewright: Crime novelist known for bringing smart, relentless pressure to the page and building adversaries who can really play.

https://www.davidhousewright.com/

Frank Weber: Minnesota author writing true-crime driven fiction, where real-world darkness meets page-turning momentum.

https://www.frankweberauthor.com/

Tracy Clark: Crime fiction author whose work delivers street-level stakes, sharp character work, and villains who do not politely stay in the background.

https://tracyclarkbooks.com/

Connect with the hosts

Rob Jung: https://robjungwriter.com/

Michael David MacBride: https://www.michaelmacbride.com/

Everything Bell Cow: https://www.bellcowproductions.com/

#BellCow #BellCowProductions #BellCowStoryLab #StoryLab #Villains #Antagonists #WritingCraft #AmWriting #FictionWriting #MysteryWriters #CrimeFiction #ThrillerWriters #CharacterDevelopment #PageTurners

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

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 novelist Evelyn Ann Casey, whose newest work, Candlewood, blends romance, women’s fiction, and historical storytelling into a warm, atmospheric narrative. Evelyn’s prose is lyrical and immersive, and she’s known for crafting emotionally rich stories rooted in memory, place, and relationships.

Her work often explores the quiet spaces where love, regret, and second chances meet—stories full of compassion and the delicate complexities of human connection. Evelyn brings a historian’s rigor to her fiction, but her stories never feel weighed down by research; instead, her details breathe life into her worlds. She’s also a passionate advocate for stories about strong, complex women whose journeys reflect resilience and hope.

You can learn more about Evelyn at: https://evelynanncasey.com/

Her books—including Candlewood—are available wherever books are sold.

In this episode, Evelyn talks about building emotional landscapes, weaving research into narrative, and writing stories that feel both timeless and deeply intimate.

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

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 James W. Bennetts, whose psychological thriller Catechisms takes readers deep into questions of belief, identity, and the darker corners of the human psyche. James’s writing blends literary sensibility with high-tension storytelling, weaving introspective character work into narratives that grip from the first chapter.

Known for his reflective style and philosophical depth, James writes thrillers that linger long after the final page—stories that entertain but also challenge readers to confront uncomfortable truths. He’s a longtime creative writing teacher and mentor, and his approach to craft emphasizes emotional honesty, character complexity, and the power of subtext.

You can learn more about James at: https://www.jameswbennettsbooks.com/

His books—including Catechisms—are available wherever books are sold, including Minnesota’s celebrated mystery bookstore Once Upon a Crime: https://onceuponacrimebooks.com/

In this episode, James talks with us about writing psychological tension, building flawed but compelling characters, and using fiction to explore the questions we can’t shake.

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