Unfortunately, he noticed that the characters and adventures in his head started disappearing. It was getting lonely in Nick’s head! So he started writing again. Gradually, the characters came back, telling him about their new adventures. Now he writes books about people with big dreams–whether its Dani and her dream of being a blues guitarist in The Ballad of Dani and Eli; Alva and his dream of designing the next important invention in The Love Machine; or J.T. and Rache and their dream of bringing powerful lawbreakers to justice in Jesus Bugs. Learn more: nicholasbruner.com

About Winter Murderland: Saint Nick and Mrs. Claus are ready for a holiday away from, well, the holiday! Their destination? Las Vegas! But you know what they say about best laid plans, heh.

See, some genius came up with a great idea… a new casino hotel shaped like, of course, a Christmas tree. Santa’s escaped the North Pole, only to get stuck viewing this eyesore called Christmasland from his hotel window. Can’t a guy catch a break?

And to make matters worse, the whole thing is just an offensive caricature of the holiday he’s in charge of. How dare these greedy people exploit Christmas for purely commercial ends?

But when Saint Nick learns who is operating the place… well, things get downright hilarious as he and the missus try to save the day.

Nick is the president of the Writers of Chantilly. Be sure to listen to his podcast interview with club member Chris Heyl that was recorded at the 2025 annual holiday event at Elaine’s Literary Salon. Learn more about the writing group here: writersofchantilly.blogspot.com • Check out the Salon here: ElainesLiterarySalon.com

Corinne loves singing well-loved classics such as the National Anthem at military and sporting events (including her Alma Mater’s (JMU) 2012 Homecoming game and at military ceremonies at Fort Belvoir, and the National Guard Bureau.  Corinne has performed with critically acclaimed pianist, Brian Ganz and performed original pieces written by music composer, Laura Hamersly for the Songwriters Association of Washington D.C.  Corinne was featured in the U.S. News & World Report for her singing as well as in a 2013 book titled “The Economy of You.”

Corinne Delaney

About From Prima Donna to Pop Rock: Learn the Ancient Secrets Modern Singers Forgot and Discover the Relevance of Opera in the Modern Era: From stadium tours to opera halls—protect your voice, master your range, and discover the ancient secrets modern singers forgot. Why do some voices stir the soul while others struggle to entertain? In From Prima Donna to Pop Rock, a powerful blend of science, story, and song, readers are invited to discover what makes singing not just possible—but beneficial.

With insights from music experts, opera singers, scientists, and performers, this engaging book unveils the secrets behind healthy singing and explores why operatic techniques have stood the test of time. From pop and rock to Puccini, you’ll explore the myths and mechanics of the human voice, the cultural evolution of singing, and how modern music can damage—or elevate—the vocal instrument. Whether you’re a singer, teacher, or simply someone who loves music, From Prima Donna to Pop Rock will change how you hear the world—and yourself. It’s part memoir, part masterclass, and all heart.

Robert is a member of the Writers of Chantilly. Be sure to listen to her podcast interview with the club’s president Nick Bruner that was recorded at the 2025 annual holiday event at Elaine’s Literary Salon. Learn more about the writing group here: writersofchantilly.blogspot.com • Check out the Salon here: ElainesLiterarySalon.com

She is a member of the Writers of Chantilly. Learn more here: writersofchantilly.blogspot.com

About More Mighty Than Cancer: In her book, which she initially titled F*CK Cancer, Anita shares stories and tips from a breast cancer survivor’s journey through chemo, surgery, and radiation. Anita talks about day-to-day life while undergoing treatment and offers practical advice, like “Drink the Water!” She also shares insights about things that maybe the doctors didn’t fully explain, such as “You’ll probably lose your taste for chicken.” She recounts personal stories on both the right and wrong ways to offer help to loved ones undergoing cancer treatment.

My book, Locksmith at the End of the World: A Dead Silence Novella is about a zombie apocalypse primarily from a dog’s point of view; however, shortly after I published it I realized that the book represents the personal apocalypse my family and I experienced after we lost my sister to suicide.

When I examined my little zombie book as if it were assigned to me for a literature class, I realized the underlying themes and subjects represented more than what I’d written: zombies (shamblers or WrongHumans) are the loss, the guilt, the anger. My two female characters (Emma and Lucy) represent strength and perseverance: survive all the loss and keep going, regardless of all the nasty stuff floating around in your head. Chester, the dog—the character I most relate to—finds himself thrust into a situation where his person is gone, and his world is a shambles.

I’m currently working on the sequel to Locksmith, tentatively titled Foothills and Hollers.

I have a blog (who doesn’t?) called Biggest, Brightest Star in the Sky: Mostly True Tales. Here I post some of my creative non-fiction pieces, editorials, and essays. My blog is a mix of entertaining (I hope) and seriousness. You’ll find stories I’ve collected from my dad about growing up in northern Virginia and all the shenanigans and things you couldn’t get away with today. There are also essays about life after losing my sister to suicide.

Like most writers, I read A LOT. My favorite genres are memoir and thrillers, but I often indulge in post-apocalyptic and zombie literature.

In 1998, my personal essay “Pictures” was chosen for publication in 25 Best Virginia Community College Student Essays: 1998: the Personal Essay.

I also have pieces in the Writers of Chantilly anthologies (2016) Rewrite the Ending to… (“Hemorrhage”), (2017) Soundtracks of Our Lives (“Mental Souvenirs” and “River Music”) and (2018) Islands (“Love’s Crimson Caress”).

Currently, I am an editorial writer for our neighborhood newspaper, I’m working on a book about my sister, and a book about my grandfather.

Angela is a member of the Writers of Chantilly. Learn more here: writersofchantilly.blogspot.com

“Locksmith at the End of the World,” by Angela Glascock

About Locksmith at the End of the World: A Dead Silence Novella: Dead Silence, Part One: The zombie apocalypse from a dog’s point of view. When his person has a heart attack and dies, Chester the dog is thrust into a world where wronghumans stalk in silence and humans become deadly in an instant.

He’s hungry. He’s hurt. He’s alone. Wounded while fleeing her burning town, Lucy seeks medical care in an abandoned animal clinic. A locksmith in the Before, she uses her skills to stay quiet and unseen as she loots nearby homes for food as she heals. What she finds in one of the houses gives her hope…and friend, if she can save him.

Emma calls them shamblers. The media called them zombies. But in the After, the media is long gone, just like Emma’s companions. She’s alone in her refuge when shamblers finally break down the barriers and death pours in. Forced into a lonely world where she might be the only one left alive, she moves through the silence, learning survival on the fly while searching for life.

Buy the book.

Version 1.0.0

She writes fiction, non-fiction (food, travel, profiles) and poetry and enjoys life with her husband in Calabash , NC, with occasional forays to her home of more than 40 years, the Northern VA area,where her daughter still lives. Common threads in all of her writing are food and love of family. Her performances include one woman shows of women in the Civil War and colonial times and folktale stagings that stress understanding among diverse cultures. She loves to teach writing and performing. More: joanleotta.wordpress.com

Joan is a member of the Writers of Chantilly. Be sure to listen to her podcast interview with the club’s president Nick Bruner that was recorded at the 2025 annual holiday event at Elaine’s Literary Salon. Learn more about the writing group here: writersofchantilly.blogspot.com • Check out the Salon here: ElainesLiterarySalon.com

This new show — live from the popular bistro Elaine’s in Old Town, Alexandria VA. Our host is the restaurant’s owner, Jeffrey James Higgins, a #1 Amazon bestselling author on a mission to help fellow writers share their stories.

The author of The Forever Game, Furious and Unseen, Jeff has a reputation for high-stakes, no-frills drama with this taut thrillers that reviewers say do not contain an ounce of fat. Fans know every line of dialogue is a gut punch, and yet he can make a landscape come alive with a single high-impact sentence. Consider this one: “The pier was a mishmash of pulleys and taught metal lines, and it smelled of diesel fumes and saltwater.”

Jeff’s 2024 novel, The Forever Game, gives us characters that are so likable, and so on the ropes, that their day-to-day fight for survival is what makes this a page-turner. There’s no indication yet that Higgins is planning a series, but we would love to see one centered around this book’s main character, DEA Special Agent Adam Locke. As it stands, what separates Locke from the Jack Reachers of the literary landscape is his hearty, seemingly natural exploration of deeper themes. In this case, it’s nothing less than the future of immortality.

Jeff is a former reporter and retired supervisory special agent who has wrestled a suicide bomber, fought the Taliban in combat, and chased terrorists across five continents. He received both the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism and the DEA Award of Valor.

Jeffrey has been interviewed by CNN, New York Times, Fox News, Investigation Discovery, Declassified, and USA Today, and has won numerous literary awards, including the PenCraft Book Awards Fiction Book of the Year and a Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal.

Today, Inkandescent Radio + TV producer and founder Hope Katz Gibbs, turns the mike to Jeff. We learn about his background, inspiration, and why he and his wife Cynthia (pictured above) opened a restaurant in the heart of Old Town. Don’t miss it!

Check out the live Literary Salon events here. And check back for new episodes of Elaine’s Literary Salon on Inkandescent.tv and listen to all the podcasts on InkandescentRadio.com.

Elaine’s Literary Salon

About Elaine’s: Elaine’s modern Mediterranean cuisine is based on exquisite food found in Alexandria, Egypt. The unique style is best described as Middle Eastern with French, Greek, and Italian influences. Elaine’s is located at 208 Queen Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. The 1880 building, the previous home of Bilbo Baggins for 38 years, has been completely renovated with a new look and feel. The restaurant is located in the heart of Old Town’s Historic District within sight of the Potomac River. Founders Park, The Torpedo Factory Art Center, and Old Town Alexandria Waterfront are only blocks away. Elaine’s is named after the owner’s grandmother. When the owner was twelve years old in Cairo, Egypt, she promised her grandmother that one day she would own a restaurant and name it after her. The owner is proud to share her family’s recipes with the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Make a reservation today: elaines-restaurant.com.

So, it is a great pleasure to share the interview I had the privilege of doing with him for The Costco Connection. Gregory allowed me to record and produce our conversation for our Authors Between the Covers Show on InkandescentRadio and Inkandescent.tv).

On our PR & Publishing Co. site, Inkandescent.us, you can also read our Q&A. Stay tuned for the article in the Costco Connection in November.

Best of all, you’ll get to see Part One of Wicked in November! Scroll down to learn more about the film!

About the movie: Wicked (also known as Wicked: Part One) is an upcoming American musical fantasy film directed by Jon M. Chu and written by Winnie Holzman.

It is the first of a two-part film adaptation of the stage musical of the same name by Stephen Schwartz and Holzman, which was based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel of the same name and characters from L. Frank Baum‘s 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

The film stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, with Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode (in her film debut), Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Keala Settle, and Peter Dinklage in supporting roles.

Set in the Land of Oz, largely before Dorothy Gale‘s arrival from Kansas, the plot follows green-skinned Elphaba and her path to ultimately becoming the Wicked Witch of the West, alongside an unlikely friendship and later rivalry with a classmate who later becomes Glinda the Good.

Theatrical release in the United States is scheduled for November 22, 2024, with Wicked: Part Two slated for November 26, 2025.

Universal Pictures announced the adaptation in 2012 with Marc Platt as a producer. After a long development and multiple delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chu was hired to direct, with Erivo and Grande cast in their respective roles in 2021. Principal photography began in December 2022 in England, paused in July due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, eventually resuming then concluding in January 2024.

Here’s the story: Daphne Bell believes the universe has a plan for her. Every time she meets a new man, she receives a slip of paper with his name and a number on it—the exact amount of time they will be together. The papers told her she’d spend three days with Martin in Paris; five weeks with Noah in San Francisco; and three months with Hugo, her ex-boyfriend turned best friend. Daphne has been receiving the numbered papers for over twenty years, always wondering when there might be one without an expiration. Finally, the night of a blind date at her favorite Los Angeles restaurant, there’s only a name: Jake. But as Jake and Daphne’s story unfolds, Daphne finds herself doubting the paper’s prediction and wrestling with what it means to be both committed and truthful. Because Daphne knows things Jake doesn’t, information that—if he found out—would break his heart.

What critics are saying: Told with her signature warmth and insight into matters of the heart, Rebecca Serle has finally set her sights on romantic love. The result is a gripping, emotional, passionate, and (yes) heartbreaking novel about what it means to be single, what it means to find love, and ultimately how we define each of them for ourselves. Expiration Dates is the one fans have been waiting for.

Click here to read our Q&A: An article based on our interview will be published in the March 2024 issue of Costco’s magazine The Connection. This isn’t my first time writing about Rebecca and her books for Costco. I had the privilege of interviewing the author — who also developed the hit TV adaptation Famous in Love, based on her YA series of the same name — in 2018 when she published The Dinner List — an enchanting story about who you’d invite to that one magical dinner when anyone, from any time, could attend. This book strikes a similar cord, linking magic to reality.

Buy the new book here!

Click here to learn more about this Truly Amazing Woman: rebeccaserle.com.

Authors Between the Covers: Click here to read our Q&A on Inkandescent Women magazine. Don’t miss our podcast here on InkandescentRadio.com.

Click here to watch our video interview on Inkandescent.tv.

In this title, we learn the dragons of Pyrrhia and Pantala are on a mission to develop a definitive guide to the lives and history of each tribe told by the dragons themselves.

“It’s sort of hilarious because I was thinking of this book as the nonfiction one,” laughs Sutherland, talking to the Costco Connection from her home near Boston. “Clearly, it’s still fiction, like a little map with letters, interviews, and journal entries that expose old myths and reveal dark secrets.”

Having sold more than 14 million copies and been translated into a dozen languages, Scholastic’s 15-book series has been on the New York Times bestseller list for years. There are also two standalone titles, four short stories, two companion books, and six graphic novel adaptations — all studded with brilliant illustrations.

How has the woman, named after a noisy New Zealand bird thanks to her Mom who grew up there, dreamed up this alternative universe?

“When I was a little kid, we lived in Caracas, Paraguay, Miami, and Santa Domingo before moving to New Jersey for high school, and everywhere I went, I’d make up stories, read stories, and imagine myself in new worlds. After graduating from college, I went into publishing because I wanted to know how books are made. By then, I had written several books of my own, but it was fantasy that captured my heart.”

When her first son was born in 2010, Sutherland wanted to take him on a hero’s quest. “So, I created a series about destiny and what’s written for you versus what you choose for yourself. You can save the world no matter what kind of dragon you are — the fierce bossy one or the tiny optimistic one with no powers. They all have their way of making their world a better place.”

This article was written for the October issue of Costco’s magazine: costco.com/connection

Click here to read our extended Inkandescent Q&A with Tui.