Authors Between the Covers: What It Takes to Write Your Heart Out

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December 28 2025

Authors Between the Covers: What It Takes to Write Your Heart Out
Authors Between the Covers: What It Takes to Write Your Heart Out
Check out "Winter Murderland," one of the newest novels by Nicholas Bruner, president of the Writers of Chantilly
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About Nicholas Bruner: Nick has been writing books since the age of eight, when he wrote his first novel on notebook paper, providing illustrations himself with magic marker. His brain was always full of unusual characters speaking to him about their exotic adventures. After college, he put away childish things like writing and took a corporate job that paid well and provided benefits.

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

Your Host: Journalist, author, and wine appreciator Hope Katz Gibbs

About the show: In “Authors Between The Covers,” we get the skinny from the professional writers who have made their dreams come true of publishing their books. Is it the fantasy they hoped it would be? For some, yes. For others, the reality of book publishing is an eye-opener that can be downright depressing. Always, it’s fascinating to hear their stories. Don’t miss it!

Learn more: To read about the dozens of authors we’ve profiled in BeInkandescent magazine, check out our Books of the Month.

Tune in every Thursday, for another episode of “Authors Between the Covers.”

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MEET THE INKANDESCENT® RADIO TEAM

Hope Katz Gibbs, Founder & Executive Producer, InkandescentRadio.com

Brandi Wilsker-Merritt, Director of Podcasting

Nelson Benavides, Director of Videography

Max Kukoy, Inkandescent Website Developer

Michael Gibbs, Inkandescent Art Director

 

All Episodes
Sunday, December 28th, 2025

Check out “Winter Murderland,” one of the newest novels by Nicholas Bruner, president of the Writers of Chantilly

About Nicholas Bruner: Nick has been writing books since the age of eight, when he wrote his first novel on notebook paper, providing illustrations himself with magic marker. His brain was always full of unusual characters speaking to him about their exotic adventures. After college, he put away childish things like writing and took a corporate job that paid well and provided benefits.

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 read more...

Click here to listen to the podcast!

Sunday, December 28th, 2025

Soprano Corinne Delaney shares her insights about being an opera singer in her new book

About Corinne Delaney: A classically trained full-lyric soprano and freelance vocalist in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, Corinne has studied with some of the best vocal coaches in the D.C./Virginia region including Laurie Nelson and the Director of Vocal Studies at George Mason University, Dr. Patricia Miller. Although Corinne's forte is classical singing and she generally performs operatic pieces nationally (for such events as the Embassy of France's Fete de Musique as well as at events at government agencies such as the Central intelligence Agency (CIA)), Corinne prides herself on her versatility as an artist and enjoys all genres of music. read more...

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Sunday, December 28th, 2025

Robert L. Cantrell give us a deep dive in “Understanding Sun Tzu On The Art Of War”

About Understanding Sun Tzu On The Art Of War: Understanding Sun Tzu on the Art of War is both a source and an interpretation of Sun Tzu's Art of War written to clarify Sun Tzu's philosophies on war without compromising the subtlety of thought needed to master them. Readers of this book, from across professional disciplines, will find key advice on leadership, advantage, and how to proficiently overcome adversaries.

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 read more...

Click here to listen to the podcast!

Sunday, December 28th, 2025

Anita Klein takes us on a journey of courage and healing in “More Mighty Than Cancer”

About Anita Klein: A mom, wife, artist, and breast cancer survivor, Anita says she enjoys writing as a means to document and celebrate life’s journeys and adventures, both simple and complex. She writes about her breast cancer journey, treatment, and "after" on her blog. Anita also likes to have fun with art and fill her space with color.

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. read more...

Click here to listen to the podcast!

Sunday, December 28th, 2025

Angela D. Glascock gives us, “Locksmith at the End of the World: A Dead Silence Novella: Dead Silence, Part One”

About Angela D. Glascock: Let's be honest: I'm writing this bio. Me. Angela D. Glascock. The author of the book you stumbled upon (Locksmith at the End of the World). So, I'm not going to write about myself in third person because that’s awkward.

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. read more...

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Saturday, December 27th, 2025

You will love “Rosa’s Shell, Simply a Smile, A Bowl of Rice,” by Joan Leotta

About Joan Leotta — A Pittsburgh native, Joan is an author and story performer. Her books include, Giulia Goes to War, Book One of the Legacy of Honor Series, Tales Through Time: Women of the South, The Complete Guide to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, Massachusetts, and others for chldren and adults.

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 read more...

Click here to listen to the podcast!

Wednesday, January 1st, 2025

Welcome to our new podcast/video show, Elaine’s Literary Salon, hosted by bestselling author Jeffrey James Higgins

March 1, 2025: If you are a bibliophile, author, or have always dreamed of penning a book, you will love to meet Jeffrey James Higgins, host of Elaine's Literary Salon.

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.” read more...

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Sunday, August 18th, 2024

This month on the Authors Between the Covers show: Gregory Maguire, author, “Wicked”

A Note from Hope Katz Gibbs, founder and producer, Inkandescent Radio — Odds are good that you have read Gregory Macguire's bestseller, "Wicked," seen the Broadway show (millions around the world have), and/or are anticipating the release of the film version this month.

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). read more...

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Friday, March 1st, 2024

Romance is Redefined in Rebecca Serle’s newest book “Expiration Dates” — available this month!

March 2024: A Note from Hope Katz Gibbs, publisher, Inkandescent Women magazine — “Being single is like playing the lottery — always the chance that with one piece of paper, you could win it all,” says New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Serle about the theme of her newest novel, Expiration Dates, available this month. Promoted as a romance that will define a generation, this is Rebecca’s 8th book — and after reading it, and crying during my 9-hour plane trip from Frankfurt to JFT, I can tell you that is certainly true. read more...

Click here to listen to the podcast!