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Jan 31
Love10

Jonathan Maberry

By Author, Film, Movies, Sci-Fi No Comments

This week on the Here’s What We Know Podcast, join us for a riveting episode as our host, Gary Scott Thomas, sits down with none other than the master of thrills and chills, Jonathan Maberry! They dive deep into his fascinating life and work as a prolific author whose career spans across novels, short stories, comic books, the big screen, and more. Jonathan’s life reads like one of his novels—from martial arts expert to bestselling author. Our host couldn’t get enough of his Joe Ledger series and Pine Deep trilogy. And neither will you once you dive into those heart-pounding action scenes!

So tune in to this incredible episode and discover the passion and stories behind your favorite Maberry books! Also, brace yourself for spoilers!

This episode is sponsored by:

(Be sure to use code “Gary20” to get 20% off your order!)

In this Episode:

  • A Life Full of Stories: Jonathan shares his wildly varied bio, proving that his life is just as captivating as the worlds he creates.
  • The Joe Ledger Series: Get ready to dive into the mind of a master storyteller as Jonathan discusses the completion of the 13th book and his preparations for the 14th. 
  • Crafting Fight Scenes: Find out how Jonathan’s martial arts expertise translates into gripping combat sequences that are packed with physiological and psychological layers. It’s like watching a high-octane fight scene on the page!
  • Character Depth and Evolution: Hear Jonathan’s insights on the development of his book protagonists and how they evolve throughout his captivating stories. 
  • Hollywood Adaptations and Casting Challenges: Get the inside scoop on past discussions about adapting the Joe Ledger series into TV shows or movies. And let’s not forget the all-important casting choices.
  • The Future of Joe Ledger: Join in on the excitement as they talk about possible future adaptations and Jonathan’s appearances in other book series. The possibilities are endless!
  • Narrative Technique Discussion: Discover how Jonathan’s ideas are born from current events or scientific advancements, weaving impactful storylines that center around character experiences. It’s like a masterclass in storytelling!
  • The Story of Our Fathers: Take a nostalgic trip down memory lane as Jonathan shares stories from his upbringing. A glimpse into his past that adds an extra layer of depth to his work.
  • Comic Book Morality: Explore the intricate world of comic books, including the beloved Marvel and DC comics, as Jonathan delves into the moral complexities they tackle. 

Quotations:

“It’s always annoyed me when I watch movies or TV shows where the hero, you know, gets in a gun battle or fist fight and, you know, either brutalizes someone or kills someone. And then in the next scene, there’s no emotional resonance to it. It’s like, it’s like, that’s just another day. And I know a lot of guys in law enforcement and the military, including a lot of guys in the special forces. And even, you know, even though a lot of them keep good game faiths, you know, there’s a reason why PTSD is such a big thing. Because, you know, you are crossing that barrier of, you know, that taboo barrier of ending human life in a combat situation.” ~ Jonathan Maberry

“Even though you may have 100 percent justification, there is still a part of you that’s always going to be the moral, empathetic human being who just killed someone, and if you don’t have that moment, then there is; that’s the real cry for help. When you can pull a trigger and not have it affect you at all, that’s symptomatic of a pathology that is very frightening.” ~ Jonathan Maberry

“Fact that violence always, always leaves a mark.” ~ Jonathan Maberry

“That humanism matters far more to me in an action hero than any kind of politics ever would.” ~ Jonathan Maberry

“Our job as writers is not to give a bunch of good characters a nice bed. So we think of, like, whose lives would be most dramatically impacted.” ~ Jonathan Maberry

“It’s all about character experience,  picking different people and seeing how their lives will be impacted by something, and then building the story around that rather than just focusing on the big, central conceit of whatever the theme is going to be.” ~ Jonathan Maberry

“Having had a horrible father, I know what not to do; you know, I know what I don’t want as part of my life.” ~ Jonathan Maberry

“A father’s, a blood father, can be the family we’re born into, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s the family, um, that we want to have, especially since that person has to be the father where a stepfather chooses to be the father.” ~ Jonathan Maberry

“Professional daydream is what I should put on my business card because it is the best job in the world.” ~ Jonathan Maberry

Guest’s Bio:

Jonathan Maberry is a New York Times best-seller, five-time Bram Stoker Award-winner, anthology editor, comic book writer, executive producer, magazine feature writer, playwright, and writing teacher/lecturer. He is the editor of Weird Tales Magazine and president of the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers. He is the recipient of the Inkpot Award, three Scribe Awards, and was named one of the Today’s Top Ten Horror Writers. His books have been sold in more than thirty countries. He writes in several genres, including thriller, horror, science fiction, epic fantasy, and mystery, and he writes for adults, middle grade, and young adults.

Jonathan is the creator, editor, and co-author of V-WARS, a shared-world vampire anthology from IDW Publishing that was adapted into a Netflix series.

He is the editor of many anthologies, including The X-Files, Aliens: Bug Hunt, Don’t Turn Out the Lights, Nights of the Living Dead, and others. His comics include Black Panther: DoomWar, Captain America, Pandemica, Highway to Hell, The Punisher, and Bad Blood.

Jonathan and his wife, Sara Jo, to whom he dedicates all of his published works, and their dog, Rosie, live in San Diego, California.

Guest’s Contact Info:

Website: https://www.jonathanmaberry.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JonathanMaberry5555

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathanmaberry/

X: https://twitter.com/JonathanMaberry/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmaberry/

Dec 27
Love10

Dan Levitt

By Author, Education, Science No Comments

This week on the Here’s What We Know Podcast, host Gary Scott Thomas had a mind-bending conversation with Dan Levitt, the author of What’s Gotten Into You: The Story of Your Body’s Atoms, from the Big Bang Through Last Night’s Dinner. From contemplating his daughter’s vegetarian diet to delving deep into the history of scientific discovery, Dan took us on a ride from the Big Bang to modern biology. He also shares something enthralling about Robert Oppenheimer, Georges Lemaître, Fred Hoyle, Martin Kamen, Sam Ruben, Einstein, and all things geeky.  So, join us to hear more discussions about extensive research filled with fascinating stories that may blow your mind!

This episode is sponsored by:

(Use code “GST” to enjoy an exclusive 10% discount on your favorite shoes!)

(Be sure to tell them Gary sent you so you can save 20%!)

In this Episode:

  • How questioning Dan’s daughter’s vegetarian diet led to an intriguing path of scientific discovery.
  • The eye-opening revelation that every particle in our bodies originated from the Big Bang.
  • Hear stories and tales about science history, controversies, DNA discovery, tragedies, triumphs, and many more!
  • Discussion about the human complexity, mitochondria story, and challenges faced by scientific pioneers.
  • Reflections on life’s wonders and geological disagreements regarding evolution due to limited evidence but constant reinterpretation lead us closer to truth over time.

Quotations:

“History of science. I love it.” ~ Dan Levitt

“We are puzzle-solving creatures and the satisfaction of puzzle-solving drives us forward.” ~ Dan Levitt

“Many times the scientific breakthroughs don’t come with Eureka. They come with, oh, that’s weird.” ~ Dan Levitt

“No one had any idea how life could have evolved, and no one thought that you could even study it.” ~ Dan Levitt

“One of the things that is incredible that scientists have been able to do is reconstructing how we got here from the Big Bang—from this crazy, just random explosion of these tiny sub-subatomic particles and an energy package. Uh, it doesn’t necessarily explain why we’re here, right? Cause, you know, who knows what went before? Uh, but it certainly does explain why we’re here and it’s incredible—just incredible that we can do that.” ~ Dan Levitt

“One of the interesting things that I found when I was writing my book because I traced so many different kinds of discoveries is, you know, a lot of discoveries were brilliant insights like Einstein and relativity and Lemaître and the Big Bang.” ~ Dan Levitt

“It’s interesting because, you know, you have to also come up with new ideas and then defend it when people say you’re nuts.” ~ Dan Levitt

“That’s a large part of the scientific process, is, you know, coming up with an idea, and if you find the evidence and you believe in it, you know, you’re going to have a lot of skeptics, because scientists are trained to be skeptical, and that’s why science works because people are constantly saying, well, yeah, that sounds nice, but couldn’t it be this, or couldn’t it be this, or couldn’t it be that, right?” ~ Dan Levitt

“As our instruments get more powerful, we’re going to learn all kinds of things that we had no idea about.”  ~ Dan Levitt

Guest’s Bio:

Dan Levitt is the author of What’s Gotten Into You: The Story of Your Body’s Atoms, from the Big Bang Through Last Night’s Dinner. The book brings together a lifetime of discovery and research that led to a sweet spot where history meets science. He fondly recalls a chemistry kit his parents gave him when he was seven; he had a great time recording his results in a small notebook. He still misses those musty cards that he used to browse as he researched assignments as a student in Philadelphia’s public schools. In high school, his favorite class was chemistry, and that’s what he thought he would study, but then he found cognitive psychology at Swarthmore College.

In the Peace Corps in Kenya, Dan taught high school physics, biology, and world history in a remote village. Living close to Mount Kilimanjaro, walking by anthills as tall as people, and seeing snakes, hippos, and other wildlife gave him an intense curiosity about the natural world. He returned to Philadelphia to take a job developing exhibits and videos at the Franklin Institute Science Museum. That led to an interest in documentary filmmaking. After getting an MFA, Dan moved to Boston and started his career writing, producing, and directing documentaries for Discovery, Science, National Geographic, History, HHMI (Howard Hughes Medical Institute), and others. His productions include films on dinosaurs; how Galileo, Newton, Einstein, and Hawking made their greatest discoveries; the archeology of Custer’s Last Stand; and scientists’ efforts to uncover the cause of Malaysia’s Nipah virus. His work has received numerous awards, including two Cine-Golden Eagles, Emmy Award nominations, and the coveted Spur Award for scriptwriting from the Western Writers of America.

While dreaming up films, Dan was seized by an idea for a book and decided to go for it. What’s Gotten Into You: The Story of Your Body’s Atoms, from the Big Bang Through Last Night’s Dinner, published by HarperCollins, is his first book.

He considers himself lucky that his career combines science, history, and writing, all of which he loves. He lives in Cambridge with his other loves: his wife, two kids, and their dog, Maxwell Smart.

Guest’s Contact Info:

Website: https://danlevitt.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dan_levitt_author/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-levitt-a3a7085/

X: https://twitter.com/dan_levitt

Dec 13
Love14

Shawn Inmon

By Author, Personal Growth No Comments

This week on the Here’s What We Know Podcast, host Gary Scott Thomas had an exciting episode featuring Shawn Inmon, the renowned talented full-time author behind the captivating book series “The Middle Falls Time Travel.” This incredible conversation is filled with intriguing insights on work ethics as they dive into a shared history in radio and the exciting world of storytelling. But the most interesting part? Their in-depth discussion about Shawn’s books and a sneak peek into his unique writing process.

Join us to hear more of his brilliant stories, and be ready to immerse yourself in the world of Shawn Inmon’s books!

This episode is sponsored by:

(Use code “Gary” to get $89 off any Mike Counsil Plumbing and Rooter service!)

In this Episode:

  • Shawn’s Career History
  • Las Vegas Trip Down Memory Lane
  • Insight into Shawn’s Creative Process
  • Diving into Shawn’s captivating Book Series
  • Reminiscing Early Days on the Radio
  • The Story of How I Got Fired

Quotations:

“I have just never been afraid of just opening a mic and speaking. That’s never been my problem. You put me in front of a microphone and I’ll tell you a story or I’ll think of an anecdote or I’ll tell you a horrible joke or something.”  ~ Shawn Inmon

“I’m one of those people who needs to be doing something. I don’t like to just take days off and sit around the house. I like to work.”  ~ Shawn Inmon

“I hear this voice in my head, which I’m a typical writer, I hear voices,  and the voice said, I have a story.”  ~ Shawn Inmon

“Everybody’s needs are different, and I want to kind of focus on all the different ways we can find healing and we can find family.”  ~ Shawn Inmon

“I think the day I die, there will probably be a half-finished Middle Falls story on my computer.”  ~ Shawn Inmon

“I’ll tell you the hardest thing, the hardest thing is faith and trust in yourself. Uh, a lot of writers suffer from what’s called imposter syndrome, thinking I’m not really good enough.”  ~ Shawn Inmon

“So I gotta continue to have faith to stop listening to that voice that says, Sean, you’re a crappy writer; you’re never going to write another good sentence.” ~ Shawn Inmon

Guest’s Bio:

Shawn Inmon is a small-town kid who dreamed of being a writer. Today, he is now a full-time author who lives in Tumwater, Washington, USA. He worked several dozen jobs—retail, real estate, traveling with the Unlimited Hydroplanes, crabbing in Alaska, morning disc jockey and station manager, and many others he can’t remember to list. These jobs gave him a wonderful base to write what he knows because he knows a little about a lot. He achieved his dream of becoming a full-time writer in 2016 and has never looked back. One reviewer called him “The King of Redemption stories.” Shawn says he doesn’t feel like a king of anything, but he does love a good tale of second chances.

He is the author of the ever-growing The Middle Falls Time Travel series, 18 books and counting, and The Alex Hawk Time Travel Adventure series. He is also the author of Feels Like the First Time, a bestselling memoir of growing up in a small town in the seventies, falling in love, and messing everything up.

He lives with his high school sweetheart—now wife—Dawn, two happy-go-lucky Chocolate Labs, and a slightly schizo cat named Georgie.

Guest’s Contact Info:

Website: https://www.shawn-inmon.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShawnInmonWriter/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawninmon/

X: https://twitter.com/ShawnInmon

Nov 15
Love10

Stephanie Clifford

By Author No Comments

This week on the Here’s What We Know Podcast, host Gary Scott Thomas had a wonderful conversation with an award-winning investigative journalist and a best-selling novelist, Stephanie Clifford. In this episode, they dive deep into the world of her latest novel, “The Farewell Tour,” inspired by the American West. It is a story about Lilian Waters, a strong-willed woman navigating her way through 1920s Washington State and stepping into the music industry in the ’50s. Listen in to hear more of Stephanie’s journey about how writing this novel has been a labor of love filled with challenges and discoveries along the way.

This episode is sponsored by:

(Use code “GST” to enjoy an exclusive 10% off on your favorite shoes!)

In This Episode:

  • Consider keeping your initial ideas for a project private to allow creativity to flow without outside interference.
  • Research the historical context of your story’s setting and time, as this can provide unique plot points and deepen the storyline.
  • Draw inspiration from unexpected sources, such as obituaries or historical documents.
  • Accurately portray significant figures in your work to respect their influence and impact on history.
  • Reflect on how societal norms have changed, particularly regarding gender roles within specific industries like music.
  • Incorporate personal growth and development into character arcs, showing that they learn valuable lessons throughout their journey.
  • Persist with developing skills even when faced with setbacks or discouragement due to societal expectations.
  • Recognize the emotional intensity that can be conveyed through voice.
  • Be open to changes in industry standards over time.
  • Respect fans’ support because it’s essential for success; never insult them under any circumstance
  • Remain true to yourself despite what industry pressures might push you towards; authenticity is key to maintaining integrity both professionally and personally.

Quotations:

“Struggles with alcohol and struggles with pills. I think that’s what happens when people don’t deal with this when they’re not allowed to talk about it, face it, or acknowledge it. And I think you saw that in a lot of people from that generation where, as you said, the idea was like, Nope, don’t talk about it, move on. But your body knows what happened. Your brain knows what happened, and it holds onto that and it comes out in some way.” ~ Stephanie Clifford

“You’ve got to respect all those musicians who are out there touring, like, their little hearts out.” ~ Stephanie Clifford

“ I don’t like to have endings that are so cut and dry. I want to leave a little bit of room for the reader to come. It’s almost like looking at a piece of art and they’re going to bring their perspective and their thoughts on what it should be.” ~ Stephanie Clifford

Guest’s Bio:

Stephanie Clifford is an award-winning investigative journalist and a bestselling novelist. As a New York Times reporter for almost a decade, she covered law and business. She now writes long-form investigations about criminal justice and business for the Times, The New Yorker, The Economist, The Atlantic, Wired, Elle, Marie Claire, Bloomberg Businessweek, and other publications. Her accolades include the Loeb Award in investigative reporting; the Deborah Howell Award for Writing Excellence from the News Leaders Association; the Society of American Business Editors and Writers in explanatory reporting; the Deadline Club Award in Magazine Profiles; and others. Her magazine articles are frequently adapted for film, TV, and streaming, including for Netflix, Lifetime, and other media companies. “Everybody Rise”, her first book, was a New York Times bestseller and New York Times Book Review editors’ choice. She grew up in Seattle and lives in Brooklyn with her family.

In March 2023, Stephanie Clifford released her latest novel, “The Farewell Tour,” published by Harper. This novel has received critical acclaim, with the New York Times calling it “Breathtaking” and describing it as a “shimmering paean to the deeply flawed American West.”

Guest’s Contact Info:

Website: http://www.stephanieclifford.net/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cliffordwrites/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-clifford-846b2933/