On this episode of The Milford House Mysteries, co-hosts Sherry Knowlton and J.M. West share their “Tips on Editing Your Manuscript.” Although this  podcast is primarily targeted to authors, these tips could be useful to anyone who does a lot of writing, whether for publication or for their job. Most of these tips are geared to authors preparing to submit a manuscript to an agent, a publisher, or to the self-publishing process. Sherry and Joan discuss topics like: ideal word count; the basics of grammar, spelling and punctuation; style manuals; hidden pitfalls like wordiness, repetition, unnecessary words; and techniques to help the writers with the editing process. Please tune in. Milford House Mysteries Hosts - Sherry Knowlton is the author of the Alexa Williams series of murder mysteries including Dead of Autumn, Dead of Summer, Dead of Spring, and Dead of Winter. Joan West is the author of the Carlisle Crime Cases series including Dying for Vengeance, Courting Doubt and Darkness, Darkness at First Light, Had a Dying Fall and Things Strangled.

"Bountiful Calling" is the third book by Fred Burton, who paints a tale of environmental fiction, based in his hometown of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Joe is an assistant to a powerful senator, as the question of natural gas drilling and "fracking" are a hot topic. While assured of his call to public service is a noble one, he begins to have second thoughts, as he meets Nicole, whose father owns pristine land wanted by the gas companies for exploration. The worlds of industry and activism collide in "Bountiful Calling."

Joseph A. Rosen is a freelance photogapher, who has taken pictures all over the world. His work has appeared in the pages of The New York Times, Newsweek, Time, Sports Illustrated and many other pubications. Among his clients are the biggest names in the world of music, but many would not be known to mainstream fans. Rosen's love of music, particularly blues has led him to festivals and events all over the world, and some of his finest work has made to "Blues Hands." Joseph A. Rosen joins Tory Gates on the Brown Posey Press Show to talk about his career, his love of music, and why the hands of those who make it are so important, and also, so fascinating.

Timothy Jay Smith makes a return visit to the Milford House Mysteries to talk with co-hosts Sherry Knowlton and J.M. West about his new book, Fire on the Island. The novel is a playful, romantic thriller set in contemporary Greece, featuring Nick Damigos, a gay Greek-American undercover FBI agent, who is on the island to investigate a series of mysterious fires. Set against the real refugee crisis on the sun-drenched Greek islands, this novel portrays a community in crisis. Fire on the Island won the Gold Medal in the 2017 Faulkner-Wisdom Competition for the Novel, and his screenplay adaptation of it was named Best Indie Script by WriteMovies. Join us to hear more about this latest Timothy Jay Smith thriller as well as his fascinating life, much of it spent traveling the world.   Milford House Mysteries Hosts - Sherry Knowlton is the author of the Alexa Williams series of murder mysteries including Dead of Autumn, Dead of Summer, Dead of Spring, and Dead of Winter. Joan West is the author of the Carlisle Crime Cases series including Dying for Vengeance, Courting Doubt and Darkness, Darkness at First Light, Had a Dying Fall and Things Strangled.

San Cicaro is a coastal California town that's fallen on hard times. Those who dare to come here find themselves wrapped up in its past, with experiences of the paranormal, the macabre, and the downright terrifying. "Welcome to San Cicaro" is a creation of Thunderbird Studios, from numerous authors, each of whom add a dimension to a strange land. Thunderbird co-founder James Fadeley and contributing authors Ichabod Ebenezer and Ali Habashi join Tory Gates, to discuss a town that captures imaginations, and much more. The studio's vision, and the work of the authors will also be examined, on the Brown Posey Press Show.

John B. Kachuba is the award-winning author of over a dozen books. Many are nonfiction about paranormal and metaphysical topics. With Sunbury Press, he has two novels: The Savage Apostle and Dark Entry, both set in New England. He also is a contributor to the new Hellbender Books short story compilation: Hellbent Volume 1. John is a regular speaker at universities, libraries, and conferences, and has made numerous appearances on TV, radio, and podcasts.

On this episode of Milford House Mysteries, Sherry and Joan interview fellow Milford House Press author about his debut novel Chestnut Street.  This suspense novel involves a dangerous plot spanning five decades which looms over Philadelphia. Powerful men are willing to do anything to keep the truth from coming out. But when they make the mistake of framing Sam Brighton for a crime he didn’t commit and take away everything he holds dear, they unknowingly unleash a dangerous enemy who will do anything to bring them down. Readers' Favorite says, "Simon Landry's first novel, a fiction thriller, and it ticks the boxes when it comes to a unique plot, an engaging main character,good use of dialogue throughout, reasonable pace, unexpectedtwists and a satisfying ending...if ever there was a story that exemplifies how a person's life can suddenly spiral out of controlwhen bad things happen to a good person, Chestnut Street is it." Join us for a conversation with Landry about this book, his other work, and his journey to become an author. Milford House Mysteries Hosts - Sherry Knowlton is the author of the Alexa Williams series of murder mysteries including Dead of Autumn, Dead of Summer, Dead of Spring, and Dead of Winter. Joan West is the author of the Carlisle Crime Cases series including Dying for Vengeance, Courting Doubt and Darkness, Darkness at First Light, Had a Dying Fall and Things Strangled.  

Keeping up appearances is paramount in Vintage Woods. In his fiction debut, Josh Penzone tells eleven tales of the dysfunctional, the strange, and the outragous in the characters of a suburban housing development.  People struggling with their past, those seeking some kind of future, and others who realize the life they thought they wanted is not all they hoped for.  A Pushcart Prize nominee, Josh Penzone's stories have appeared in Eunoia Review, Junto Magazine, Five on the Fifth, Blue Lake Review, and other publications. A public educator for two decades, he lives in Ohio with his family.

Dead Letters: Delivering Unopened Mail from a Pennsylvania Ghost Town On assignment for a small-town newspaper in rural Pennsylvania, rookie reporter, Jessica Weible, meets Joan Swigart, a creative fireball and “pioneer in print.” As the two women forge a relationship based on their passion for storytelling, Joan reveals a mystery that she had discovered years ago, but had never solved—a pile of dead letters found in an abandoned general store, just before it was torn down. Joan gives Jessica the letters, each stamped and dated over a hundred years ago, and encourages Jessica to investigate the untold stories of the people and places contained in each one. What begins as yet another assignment for the reporter, a young millennial who relies happily on email and texting as the primary means of communication, develops into a heartfelt mission to tell the story of the people and places in the letters. The young reporter’s journey takes unexpected twists and turns through the quiet lumber towns of Pennsylvania, the early American settlements in Massachusetts, the bustling crowds at Ellis Island, the violent strikes at the Passaic textile mills, and beyond. Dead Letters is an intimate portrait of small town America and the people who, at times, risked everything in pursuit of economic prosperity, religious freedom, and social equity. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jess Weible is a freelance writer and reporter. She is also a founding editor for The Watershed Journal, an inclusive, regional literary magazine for the western Pennsylvania wilds. Jess leads two writing groups, the Writer’s Block Party and the Rebecca M. Arthur’s Young Writers. She lives with her husband and two boys in Brookville, Pennsylvania.

A special Milford House Mysteries for authors. During this COVID-19 crisis, many of us have been quarantined at home. For some authors, it's been a great opportunity to buckle down and finish that short story or novel they've been working on. Others might be working their day jobs from home, helping their kids with schoolwork, or dealing with the illness for themselves or family. As a result, finding the time or will to write might be a struggle. Especially when you add the stress caused by the pandemic and the precautions we must take to protect ourselves. In this episode, co-hosts Sherry Knowlton and J.M. West offer some thoughts on how to deal with the challenge of writing in this new environment. Milford House Mysteries Co-hosts - Sherry Knowlton is the author of the Alexa Williams series of murder mysteries including Dead of Autumn, Dead of Summer, Dead of Spring and Dead of Winter Joan West (JM West) is the author of the Carlisle Crime Cases series including Dying for Vengeance, Courting Doubt and Darkness, Darkness at First Light, Had a Dying Fall, and Things Strangled.

Performance comes easily for Megan O'Russell--an author, playwright, actress and singer, Megan is most prolific with the former. Her string of Young Adult series delve into adventure, vampires, magic and dystopia, including "The Tethering," "When Worlds Began," and "Girl of Glass." She has also written "How I Magically Messed Up My Life in Four Freakin' Days." A native of Upstate New York, Megan hosts the podcast, "A Book and a Dream," and can be found touring and traveling the world, as well as trodding the boards onstage alongside her husband, Christopher. 

The storied career of Janiva Magness is ongoing. The award-winning singer has a string of blues and like-influenced recordings behind her. Now, Magness tells her life story in "Weeds Like Us." Not for the faint of heart, Magness pulls no punches about growing up in an abusive, dysfunctional family, marked by physical and sexual abuse, suicide and drug use. Magness spares no words of criticism, especially on herself as she tells of a wild, dissolute life, but one which turns to the thing that becomes her saving grace: music. Names, many names are familiar here--Magness sang, played and toured with legends in both the blues and rock worlds. Her own journey as a recording artist is detailed here, and Magness turns aside critics and her own personal demons in an empowering story. 

Twenty-five Sunbury Press authors contributed twenty-seven chapters about the possible impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on society. Based on their experiences in a variety of fields, they provide their projections about the changes facing us, many of which have already been underway for some time. On this show: Cheryl Brooks -- How Museums and Galleries Will Adapt to the Coronavirus Marianne Bickett -- Coronavirus, Instrument of Change: How the Arts Will Usher in a New Era  Merrill Shaffer -- The Effects of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Sports

Twenty-five Sunbury Press authors contributed twenty-seven chapters about the possible impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on society. Based on their experiences in a variety of fields, they provide their projections about the changes facing us, many of which have already been underway for some time.  On this episode: Tory Gates -- Change and Embracing It Penny Fletcher -- Materialism vs. Spirituality Chris Fenwick -- Creativity—Necessity is a Mother

In this episode of Milford House Mysteries, co-hosts Sherry Knowlton and J.M. West interview Lawrence Knorr, Publisher of Sunbury Press, Inc. and editor of the new release, After the Pandemic: Visions of Life after COVID-19. The book, a collection of forward-looking essays by 25 Sunbury Press authors, just hit number one in it's category on Amazon. We ask Knorr to tell us about the evolution of the idea for the anthology, the collaborative process in getting such a timely collection of essays to press, and his own piece in the book about the Economic Impacts of COVID-19. Please join us. Milford House Mysteries Hosts - Sherry Knowlton is the author of the Alexa Williams series of murder mysteries including Dead of Autumn, Dead of Summer, Dead of Spring, and Dead of Winter. Joan West is the author of the Carlisle Crime Cases series including Dying for Vengeance, Courting Doubt and Darkness, Darkness at First Light, Had a Dying Fall and Things Strangled.  

Twenty-five Sunbury Press authors contributed twenty-seven chapters about the possible impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on society. Based on their experiences in a variety of fields, they provide their projections about the changes facing us, many of which have already been underway for some time. On this show: Scott Zuckerman MD - Public Health, Civil Liberties, and Life After the Pandemic                                    - Medicine in the Post-Coronapocalypse Era Will Delavan PhD - Looming Health Insurance Problem Pat LaMarche - Politics Makes No Bedfellows

Twenty-five Sunbury Press authors contributed twenty-seven chapters about the possible impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on society. Based on their experiences in a variety of fields, they provide their projections about the changes facing us, many of which have already been underway for some time. On this show: Maia Williamson -- Tourism in the Post-Pandemic World Jack Adler -- The Brave New World of Travel

Twenty-five Sunbury Press authors contributed twenty-seven chapters about the possible impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on society. Based on their experiences in a variety of fields, they provide their projections about the changes facing us, many of which have already been underway for some time. On this episode: Brook Lenker -- Conservation in the Midst Simon Landry -- On the Economic Front Lawrence Knorr -- The Various Economic Impacts of COVID-19

Twenty-five Sunbury Press authors contributed twenty-seven chapters about the possible impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on society. Based on their experiences in a variety of fields, they provide their projections about the changes facing us, many of which have already been underway for some time. On this show: Mark Carlson - The Role of Plagues in Human Enlightenment Wylie McLallen - The Pandemic of 1918 Thomas Malafarina - How Are Future Pandemics Likely to Be Different?

Twenty-five Sunbury Press authors contributed twenty-seven chapters about the possible impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on society. Based on their experiences in a variety of fields, they provide their projections about the changes facing us, many of which have already been underway for some time. On today's show: Barbara Matthews - COVID-19: Through the Eyes of a Grandmother Bridget Smith, Bridget - Dreams Deferred Iris Dorbian -  The Great Equalizer H.A.Callum - Fighting Solo: Covid-19 and the Single Parent Joseph Mazerac - An Essential Optimist

She is known by many names, but Little Alice is as an author, artist, model and performer. "Geisha Hands" is one of Alice's recent works, which follows a young woman's rise in that segment of Japanese society. Alice is also the author of the teen romance novel, "Freja's Baby." The Co-Editor and Chief Writer of Cloud Orchid Publishing, Alice is a blogger for High Level Games, and is a performer in the Harem of Oddities. She lives in Chicago.    

Two authors from different genres appear on the Brown Posey Press Show to talk about their varied, and unique works. Faryl is author of "Mothmaw," a fantasy novel set in a world where humans and insects forge an uneasy alliance, around the bethrohal of Eron, a childlike young prince, and the creature that will become his wife. Her husband, S.T. Hoover is the writer of "Siron: A Kaiju Thriller," set in a dystopian world at risk of destruction from three-story-tall monsters, and its creator. Only a YouTuber and a collection of characters stand in their way. Faryl and S.T. live in Canton, Ohio.  

Join co-hosts J.M. West and Sherry Knowlton in today’s Milford House Mysteries as we interview the talented Laury Egan about her latest novel, A Bittersweet Tale. We’ll also talk to Egan about her entire body of literary work, which includes a wide range of genre and literary fiction in novel and short story form. Egan is also a poet and fine art photographer. In addition to A Bittersweet Tale, Egan has written these books: The Ungodly Hour, the Outcast Oracle, Fog and Other Stories, Jenny Kidd, and Fabulous! An Opera Buffa; Beyond and many short stories. Her poetry has been published in four limited-edition collections: Snow, Shadows, a Stranger; Beneath the Lion’s Paw; The Sea & Beyond; and Presence & Absence. Her fiction and poetry have won a number of accolades, including nominations for two Pushcart Prizes. One of her books,The Outcast Oracle, was named a "Best of 2013" book by Kirkus Reviews. Milford House Mysteries Hosts - Sherry Knowlton is the author of the Alexa Williams series of murder mysteries including Dead of Autumn, Dead of Summer, Dead of Spring, and Dead of Winter. Joan (J.M.) West is the author of the Carlisle Crime Cases series including Dying for Vengeance, Courting Doubt and Darkness, Darkness at First Light, Had a Dying Fall and Things Strangled.

Brad is a sixth-grader with his head in the clouds, and his mind more on creating drawings than his studies. Banned from his favorite pasttime until his grades improve, Brad is visited by a mysterious raven...the raven gives him a magic pen, which Brad uses to create a monster...and you-know-what breaks loose! Jason Lady's debut novel "Monster Problems" takes us back to middle school, where uptight parents, nasty little brothers, slacker buddies and quirky classmates (not to mention crazy teachers!) abound. And then there's the monster...sorry, no spoilers. An Army brat, Jason now lives in Cleveland, Ohio. He works in Training and Talent Management, and is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Jason is also a fan of the Indians, Marvel Movies and music of the 80s.

On this episode of Milford House Mysteries, co-hosts Sherry Knowlton and J.M. West explore the importance of settings, especially in suspense fiction. For some books, setting is critical to the story. For, others, less so. When you read reviews, books that offer a distinct connection to the setting are often heralded as having a well-developed “sense of place.” We discuss some authors and books which fall into these two categories when it comes to setting -- those where sense of place is critical and those where it is less important to the story. And, then Joan and Sherry discuss their own use of a place that exists in the real world as a setting for fiction, offering some tips for consideration if authors go that route. Milford House Mysteries Hosts - Sherry Knowlton is the author of the Alexa Williams series of murder mysteries including Dead of Autumn, Dead of Summer, Dead of Spring, and Dead of Winter. Joan West is the author of the Carlisle Crime Cases series including Dying for Vengeance, Courting Doubt and Darkness, Darkness at First Light, Had a Dying Fall and Things Strangled.        

A work of historical fiction, "The Indigo Scarf" follows the lives of two slaves in a quest for freedom and identity. PJ Piccirillo brings the 18th and 19th Centuries to life, and looks at the "peculiar institution" of slavery in an at times harsh, gritty and unforgiving tone. He chronicles the lives of these men, the women who followed them, and those who attempted to free slaves and give some sense of dignity in the pre-Civil War years. An award-winning author, Piccirillo received his Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from St. Francis University, and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Southern Maine. He hosts residencies for writers, and conducts programs for the Pennsylvania Humanities Council.                                  

Mavericks, Mystics, and Misfits: Americans Against the Grain takes the reader on a journey across American history through the lives of exemplary men and women whose stories capture the spirit of their time and place and reveal the American character. Arthur Hoyle is a writer, educator, and independent filmmaker. His documentary films have won numerous awards and have aired on PBS, and he received a media grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Before becoming an author, he produced corporate communications materials in print and video for a broad array of clients. He received Bachelors and Masters Degrees in English from the University of California, Los Angeles, and taught English, coached tennis, and served as an administrator in independent schools. He currently volunteers as a naturalist in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, leading interpretive walks on Chumash Indian culture. His biography of Henry Miller, The Unknown Henry Miller: A Seeker in Big Sur, was published in March 2014 by Skyhorse/Arcade. He has also published essays in Huffington Post, Empty Mirror, Across the Margin, Counterpunch, and AIOTB: As It Ought To Be. He lives in Pacific Palisades, California.

Love Is the Seed       Three Supreme Gifts Lisa Hromada is the author of two books: Three Supreme Gifts: A Practical Approach to Self-Mastery and to Transforming Your Life Here and Now and LOVE IS THE SEED: TEACHINGS FROM THE SPIRIT WORLD: One Woman. One Man. Over 150 Sessions with Souls and Wise Ones LISA HROMADA is an author and speaker of timeless spiritual teachings. She shares a simple, yet profound message: You have all that you need to create a life of your choosing. She brings a practical approach to understanding the truth of love and how we can live a more fulfilling, purposeful life. www.LoveIsTheSeed.com     https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaBd5RZ0SAc_BQCkH-SuAqw  

On this episode of The Milford House Mysteries, cohosts JM West and Sherry Knowlton interview author Sharon Marchisello. We'll be talking to Marchisello about her latest novel, Secrets of theGalapagos, as well as her first novel Going Home and her other writing, including travel articles, short stories, corporate training manuals, screenplays, book reviews, a nonfiction book, and a personal financial blog. Secrets of theGalapagos is a suspense novel set in, you guessed it, the Galapagos and involves a luxury cruise, a missing passenger,and a heroine in danger. Susan Crawford, Bestselling author of The Pocket Wife and The Other Widow calls Secrets of the Galapagos: "A compelling mystery filled with intrigue, vivid scenery, and a kaleidoscope of quirky characters, as their cruise ship wends its way through troubled waters. I was on board from the first page to the last. Marchisello is a master storyteller!" Milford House Mysteries Hosts - Sherry Knowlton is the author of the Alexa Williams series of murder mysteries including Dead of Autumn, Dead of Summer, Dead of Spring, and Dead of Winter. Joan West is the author of the Carlisle Crime Cases series including Dying for Vengeance, Courting Doubt and Darkness, Darkness at First Light, Had a Dying Fall and Things Strangled.

A New York native, Tom Wells graduated from Bates College in Maine in 1976, and landed a job teaching English in the Augusta School System the very same day. Forty-one years later, some of Wells' Cony High School students presented him with a handmade book: students, present and past, told him what a positive influence he'd been to them.  "Dear Mr. Wells" is an examination of his growing up in a small town, his education in Maine, and stories of the unique kids who passed through his classroom. Wells examines the changes in the teaching profession, and its vital role in shaping young people to become confident difference-makers in society. Tom Wells brings us "Dear Mr. Wells: His Students Speak," his first book, by Maine Authors Publishing.

Entering the growing genre of Climate Fiction is "Rainwalkers," a novel set in the near-distant future. With a failing environment, a deconstructed United States and endless war against indistinct enemies, a once-thiriving agricultural region is now "The Valley," a dying land overseen by dictators. A desperate attempt to bring back the rain has made it toxic to all but a handful of children, called Rainwalkers. A former soldier, Willie Taft is in a race to find his daughter, while staying one step ahead of a law that is discretionary. A scientist with a moral conscience considers what he has done, and others merely fight to stay alive. Matt Ritter is a professor of biology in San Luis Obispo, California. He writes of the state's natural history, including the award-winning "California Plants." 

A stolen guitar, an insurance investigator, her wisecracking tomboy driver and a lot of shady, sometimes dangerous characters make up "Special Risk," the first of a new series by author Sandy Nork. Set in the Philadelphia area, Valerie Sloan must track down a museum-piece axe, deal with her twisted family history and come face to face with foreign organized crime. Sandy is a former librarian, fabric inspector and clerk, among many careers. Her musician husband Bill inspired the heroine of the series. A member of Pennwriters, Sandy was published in the Sunbury Press Books collection of short stories, "Strange Magic."  Sandy considers herself a musical tourist, coffee drinking, baking devotee, a lover of tiny toys and "most dogs." You can find Sandy posting #todayscoffee on social media, as well as exploits with her various gadgets!

IN THE COMPANY OF PATRIOTS Virginia Brackett seeks the truth about patriotism and loss as embodied by her father, WWII and Korean Conflict veteran Captain Edmund C. Roberts, from many historic sources – journalism, history texts, and military communiques, as well as personal documents. Her memoir details her journey to come to know a father lost to an ideal of service. Over ten years of research, she learns about her family’s slave-owning history and attempts to escape personal tragedy by moving from Kentucky to Missouri and into Illinois, of her parents’ romance through aging scrapbooks, discovers a letter written by her father among a rare documents collection, and hears her mother’s words read on a national broadcast. However, she discovers the real truth exists in the personal stories of those on the front, including her father, their lives permanently changed through service. Their voices educate her about Captain Roberts, an inspiration to troops, a war prisoner and an escapee, a decorated hero who met with General Patton, a ferocious infantryman. Killed by a sniper in the Korean Conflict, he would come to symbolize the shared values of his military community that became lifelong bonds for those who survived. As Brackett will learn, memories of her father run deep, and the extraordinary loyalty and devotion of those who remember Captain Roberts move her beyond feelings of betrayal that haunted her for decades. The crucial truth she discovers is that we must keep alive those lost by telling their stories. That is because their stories belong to everyone. Virginia Brackett, Professor Emeritus of English, retired in 2016 from Park University where she received varied teaching and service awards, including Faculty of the Year, 2013, Exceptional Services to Student Veterans.

Denis Akinmolasire is the author of "Love, War and Glory," a series of poems and short pieces about these emotional subjects, and more. In 2019, Denis released "The Mission to End Slavery: What if Slavery Never Existed?" The first of a time travel series, racism and prejudice are examined in a cautionary tale. Both are available on Akinster Books. Denis is a native of London, England. A graduate of Loughborough University, Denis describes himself as "friendly, likeable, nuts at times." A keen football fan, Denis is a supporter of Manchester United, and says there are four cardinal sins of football...Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City.

CRUEL DEATH, HEARTLESS AFTERMATH: My Family's End-of-Life Nightmare and How To Avoid It Ninety-three-year-old Joseph Yourshaw knew his end was near and had carefully planned so that he would have a peaceful and dignified death. He completed an advance directive, appointed his daughter, Barbara Mancini, as his health care proxy, and enrolled in home hospice care. He made it clear -- he wanted to die at home, not at a hospital. But it was not to be. A simple act of compassion on Barbara’s part led her father to a medically intensive, horribly painful death in the hospital – and left her an accused felon, facing 10 years in prison for allegedly assisting a suicide. Barbara fought back, in a case that consumed a year, cost over $100,000, and drew national media attention. Cruel Death, Heartless Aftermath is a compelling memoir about this injustice. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Barbara Mancini graduated from Penn State University and Widener University with degrees in nursing. She has worked in emergency nursing for over three decades. In 2013, she was arrested and prosecuted in Pennsylvania on the charge of aiding the attempted suicide of her dying 93-year old father after handing him his prescribed morphine five days before his death. A hospice nurse and police ignored his written advanced directives, and he was then hospitalized and treated in defiance of his end-of-life wishes. Barbara’s prosecution lasted a year, during which time it garnered national and global attention, and it was roundly criticized throughout the media. Barbara is now an advocate for end-of-life care and works as a paralegal in the Montgomery County Public Defender’s Office. She lives in Philadelphia.

RABBIT STEW FOR YOUR SOUL: 20 Recipes with a Dash of Storytelling Bob Ford has been hunting rabbits since he was a kid and has traveled the country with hunting beagles. Over the years, Ford has developed many recipes for rabbit, and you will find just a few of them here. He developed these recipes over more than three decades. Some go back to meals that the author’s mother made. Visits to restaurants inspired others. An abundance of harvested rabbits inspired some of the recipes, while others were created for those hunts where just one rabbit is brought to the game vest. Rabbit meat (domesticated) is now very popular, and while Bob created these recipes with wild game, they certainly would work well with domesticated rabbits as well, making adjustments for the increased size of domesticated rabbits. Rabbits are a sustainable source of protein and very low in fat. The contents of this book are recipes developed by a good hunter, who is a good home cook. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Bob Ford is a United Methodist pastor who has lived most of his life in the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania, except three years at seminary in Ohio. He has spent 23 years in the pulpit and 34 years following beagles in the same Alleghenies where he was born, raised, and worked. Ford is an award-winning magazine columnist, blogger, and author. His work has appeared in The American Beagler, Better Beagling, Hounds & Hunting, HARK-N, Sporting Classics Daily, and Fur-Fish-Game. He is also the author of the Beagle Tales series of books. He lives in the hills with his wife, Renee, and a pack of hunting house beagles, where he serves as a pastor. 

GODS, PHILOSOPHERS, AND SCIENTISTS: Religion and Science in the West According to Pew Research studies, most Americans think religion always conflicts with science. The popular writings of scientists such as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Lawrence Krauss reinforce this idea, as do books by writers such as Christopher Hitchens and Daniel Dennet. Furthermore, the two versions of the enormously popular television show Cosmos, hosted by Carl Sagan in 1980 and Neil deGrasse Tyson in 2014, present a history of science in which religion has always acted as a barrier to scientific development. Gods, Philosophers, and Scientists shows that just because an idea is popular, doesn’t mean it’s correct. By examining the historical record from the time of the Ancient Greeks to today, readers are able to see that religion and science have been allies more often than enemies, and when conflict does occur it’s too simplistic to view it as coming from something inherent to either science or religion. Anyone interested in the history of science or religion, who is curious about how science works, or who wants to have a better understanding of the world should read this book. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Scott E. Hendrix earned his Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee in 2007, specializing in the history of science. Scott started teaching at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin, upon graduation, and over the years has taught classes about world, medieval, and early modern history, as well as the history and philosophy of science. Scott has maintained an active research agenda, publishing numerous books, articles, book chapters, and even an encyclopedia on The World’s Greatest Religious Leaders.

WHERE THE TREE FROGS TOOK ME: How encounters with strangers shaped a life of travel and beyond We are all looking for ways to make our lives meaningful and often turn to those in our inner circles and communities for the direction. But what if that sense of meaning and perspective comes from complete strangers? And what if those random encounters were not so random after all? This book shows us how to embrace the messages and subsequent lessons we receive from the different people – often complete strangers – that we meet while out there in the world. This collection of stories from over twenty years of travel shows what we can learn about the world we live in through greater empathy and understanding of the people we share it with. Each encounter we have, however, sad, humorous, strange or seemingly insignificant is part of the journey we are all on. Where the Tree Frogs Took Me is for anyone who appreciates the diversity of the human experience and our reaction to it in all of its different forms. This book will resonate with people who are open to the notion of synchronicity and the significance of each encounter as meant to happen in order to create a change or shift in our lives. About the Author: Maia has been an avid solo traveller for over twenty years and is interested in people as much as the places they inhabit. She prefers a backpack for all her adventures and loves to climb mountains, despite a crippling fear of heights. She teaches ESL in Ontario, Canada where she lives with her young son. She is hoping he will inherit the same passion for adventure so that travelling the globe becomes a family affair. Her writing and contact information can be found at maiawilliamson.ca

THE RELUCTANT RV WIFE Follow a reluctant wife and her excited husband through two humorously-conflicted years of RV travel. He wanted to go; she wanted to stay. They both learn, grow, and change as a new level of freedom evolves. This book is light-hearted and humorous but at the same time serious. While not a How-To book, it gives lots of basic information about RVing. And while not a travelogue, it touches upon many travel destinations in the United States and Canada. On deeper levels, the book is about marital relationships, retiring and getting old, and finding a new kind of freedom through a minimalistic lifestyle. After reading this book, you’ll never again look at one of those huge monstrosities driving down the road in quite the same way. The book answers questions for non-RVers and triggers chuckles of recognition from experienced RVers. What Others Are Saying: When his RV dream rear-ends her perfectly mapped-out retirement, navigating through their travails and travels - in life and on the road - spins a romantic and humorous adventure. - Doreen Orion, author of Queen of the Road  About the Author: Gerri is a retired social worker turned writer, storyteller, and speaker. Her husband’s retirement crisis, which included buying an RV and declaring they should see the world, has given her untold ammunition for writing material. With a permanent home address in Tampa, Florida, Gerri and her husband Michael Hamlin now switch off their reluctancies. She continues to feel quasi-reluctant on the road and he feels acutely-reluctant during their periods at home.

Sunbury Press Founder Lawrence Knorr joins Tory Gates to discuss the history of Sunbury Press, and the future of its varied imprints, and a look at independent publishing...

On this episode of The Milford House Mysteries, cohosts JM West and Sherry Knowlton interview author Pat LaMarche. LaMarche, who was a guest on a previous podcast, is back to talk about her first novel, Magic Diary, and her soon-to-be-released children's book, Princess of the Park. An award-winning broadcaster and journalist, LaMarche has spent a lifetime traveling around the world and across the nation telling the tales of ordinary folks living through unimaginable hardship. Her two non-fiction books, Left Out in America andDaddy, What's the Middle Class?, exposed the harsh realities of life for the impoverished American and their ongoing struggle to survive. Frustrated by a lack of change, this social justice warrior stepped out in front of the pen and microphone to run for office and change things herself. In 2004, LaMarche took on both Dick Cheney and John Edwards as the Green Party's vice-presidential candidate. Now, she's a novelist. Milford House Mysteries Hosts - Sherry Knowlton is the author of the Alexa Williams series of murder mysteries including Dead of Autumn, Dead of Summer, Dead of Spring, and Dead of Winter. Joan West is the author of the Carlisle Crime Cases series including Dying for Vengeance, Courting Doubt and Darkness, Darkness at First Light, Had a Dying Fall and Things Strangled.

The book's title is derived from an episode that occurred during George Washington's visit to the region in 1770. While attending a frontier social event at a locale in the upper Youghiogheny, he was challenged by a local rowdy to a wrestling match. Upon enduring this verbal abuse for over an hour, Washington finally obliged him. with devastating results. This story is among Washington's various adventures around the Monongahela and Youghiogheny Rivers. that are recounted in this book.Those two rivers are among the few natural waterways in the world which flow northward. Washington, though, was not the only notable figure to visit this area during the period between 1700 to 1900. For instance, Nicholas Roosevelt was the first scion of that notable family who became well-known in western Pennsylvania when steering one of the earliest steamboats upon the Monongahela. Moreover, the first British settlements west of the Allegheny Mountains were located along these rivers. Various of the essays within the work trace the evolution of the economy of these valleys from being an agricultural "breadbasket" to a heavy industrial powerhouse, specializing in basic steel production.The list of notable local personages appearing in these pages range from the legendary "Queen"Allaquippa of the Seneca to Philander Knox, a Brownsville native, who had become a prominent corporate attorney, as well as a prominent national Republican politician by 1900. https://www.sunburypressstore.com/Wrestling-with-George-and-Other-Tales-of-Western-Pennsylvania-9781620063026.htm ABOUT THE AUTHOR Miles S. RIchards is a retired history educator currently  residing in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. 

Whether it’s to finish college or muster up the courage to talk to the cute girl in his class, Jonathan Barnes wants nothing more than to make something of himself. To be a man and make it on his own. That is, if his constantly questioning and racing mind lets him. After a sudden, bloodied brawl on campus that leaves over half of White Haven College dead, Jon finds himself thrust into a world turned completely upside down by violence. The news is overwhelmed with reports of rioting across the country, plane crashes, and countless innocent lives lost. They say it is going global. With no explanation as to the cause of the nationwide catastrophes and a cryptic phone message from his parents, Jon has no choice but to traverse into the horror to find his loved ones. His family may be dead or worse, turned into rage-filled maniacs that pay no mercy to anyone or anything when night falls. Nothing is certain except for one thing: Jon wants to be inside when the sky goes dark. About the Author: Oliver C. Seneca was born and raised in the suburbs of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. His first foray into storytelling came in high school when he was accepted to attend the Capital Area School for the Arts where he focused on filmmaking. Oliver became passionate about writing after reading The Long Walk by Stephen King. Oliver is a graduate of Penn State and, in addition to writing, he works at his family’s law practice.  www.olivercseneca.com https://www.sunburypressstore.com/When-the-Sky-Goes-Dark-9781620062241.htm

Ronald A. Mayer is the author of a number of baseball books: The 1932 Yankees, 1937 Newark Bears: A Baseball Legend, Perfect! 14 Pitchers of Perfect Games, Christy Mathewson: A Game-by-Game Profile of a Legendary Pitcher, The 1923 New York Yankees,  and The New Jersey Book of Lists.  His latest book, Baseball Memories, is a collection of 101 poems celebrating America’s national pastime - - baseball. It recalls a number of outstanding players and their achievements.  For example, Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak, Ted Williams .406 batting title in 1941 and the magical pitching of Orel Hershiser just to mention a few.  It also highlights some of the wild and zany events Major League Baseball would love to forget.  The night in Cleveland when the club ran a promotion selling 12 ounces of beer at the ridiculously low price of 10 cents or at Dodger Stadium when someone had the bright but eventual disastrous idea to hold Ball Night.  And then there are the classic games that are simply fun to recall and relive.  In 1993 when the Toronto Blue Jays won their second consecutive World Series in dramatic fashion or the more recent 2016 World Series when every baseball fan was watching two teams, the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians, both having failed to win a Fall Classic in many, many years.  The last World Series championship for Chicago was 1908 and for the Indians 1948. Entrance and exit music courtesy of Capital recording artists BANG. 

As the New Year begins, Sherry Knowlton and J.M. West devote this first podcast of 2020 to take a look back at 2019. In this episode of the Milford House Mysteries, they each pick five of the favorite books they read in 2019. Not all of these books were published in 2019. They are simply some of the top books that Sherry and Joan enjoyed reading during the past year. They include brand new books by well-known and not-so-well-known authors, some oldies but goodies that we reread during the year, and some books that have been out for a while but we finally got a chance to read them. Tune in to hear our lists and a little about each book. You may just find some books to add to your own To Read pile. Milford House Mysteries Co-hosts - Sherry Knowlton is the author of the Alexa Williams series of murder mysteries including Dead of Autumn, Dead of Summer, Dead of Spring and Dead of Winter Joan West (JW West) is the author of the Carlisle Crime Cases series including Dying for Vengeance, Courting Doubt and Darkness, Darkness at First Light, Had a Dying Fall, and Things Strangled.

On this episode of The Milford House Mysteries, cohosts JM West and Sherry Knowlton interview mystery-suspense author JC Gatlin. Gatlin is the author of the new  Amateur Sleuth murder mystery, H_NGM_N.  Set in Florida, the book features heroine, Tori Younger, a journalist who is investigating the death of her childhood friend. The book features elements of suspense, humor, and a touch of paranormal.  Gatlin's earlier mystery-suspense novels are also set in Florida. 21 Dares, the most recent book before H_NGM_N, went to Number One on Amazon’s Top Mystery Suspense and Top Young Adult charts and was a Semi-Finalist in the Royal Palm Awards.   Join us to discuss Gatlin's books, why Florida is such a great setting for mystery novels and more. Milford House Mysteries Hosts - Sherry Knowlton is the author of the Alexa Williams series of murder mysteries including Dead of Autumn, Dead of Summer, Dead of Spring, and Dead of Winter. Joan West is the author of the Carlisle Crime Cases series including Dying for Vengeance, Courting Doubt and Darkness, Darkness at First Light, Had a Dying Fall and Things Strangled.

On this episode of the Hellbender Radio Show, host Kyle Romines and cohosts Joe Mills and Jacob Romines interview author Travis Liebert about his new bestselling horror anthology, Things Undone. From John's bio:  Travis Liebert is a 20 year old Louisville native and member of the widely invasive species "Homo sapiens sapiens." His hobbies include reading, writing, and anything else that indicates he's intelligent and literate. He went to Trinity High School where he openly brandished his repertoire of useless knowledge as captain of the quiz bowl team. He is now a perpetually absent student at the University of Louisville. You can find him on instagram as @travisliebert. His email is [email protected]. Please refrain from sending him hate mail, as he would prefer to just meet you in person and get punched in the face. If you would like to kick his teeth in, please contact his agent to arrange a meeting.

Sherlock Holmes has Dr. Watson. Mulder has Scully. Spenser has Hawk. What your favorite mystery or suspense series in which the main character has a trusted sidekick? Join co-hosts Joan West and Sherry Knowlton for this episode of Milford House Mysteries on November 14th at 2:30 pm when they'll discuss role of Sidekicks in Detective Fiction and beyond? They'll talk about beloved detective-sidekick duos and some of the functions the role of sidekick fulfills in this genre, both from the perspective of literary device, enhancing character, and solving the fictional crime. In books, films, television, plays, comics and cartoons, we are drawn to a main character who has a close companion who helps solve the crime, take on the bad guys, or helps the protagonist be "smarter than the average bear."  Tune in to hear Joan and Sherry discuss the enduring concept of sidekicks in fiction. Milford House Mysteries Hosts - Sherry Knowlton is the author of the Alexa Williams suspense series, including Dead of Autumn, Dead of Summer, Dead of Spring and Dead of Winter. Joan West is the author of the Carlisle Crime Cases series, including Dying for Vengeance, Courting Doubt and Darkness, Darkness at First Light, Had a Dying Fall, and Things Strangled.