Rendezvous With A Writer Podcast

#98 Guest Author Katy McQuaid

Hosts Jim Bell and Bobbi Jean Bell welcome KATY MCQUAID!
HUMBLE YET FIERCE: MY LIFE BEHIND THE CURTAIN OF THE CIA is an inspiring memoir by Katy McQuaid. We couldn't put it down! Katy's personal stories of her years with the CIA reminds us of this saying "A Lion Doesn't Need To Roar."
About The Book:
Often, we want to speak up, but we don’t, gripped by fear and the need to get along. The reality is, it’s hard to find our voice; and then one day we do.
Katy McQuaid, former deputy director of logistics in the CIA, brings her true-life stories of courage, faith, and adventure related to that journey. From the life-changing events in her first year of college to her remarkable career in the CIA, McQuaid shares that you don’t have to be loud to be strong.
She shares her challenges as a woman working in a male-dominated industry. She was inspired by good leaders who helped her succeed and go further than she thought possible. Tune in for an engaging conversation!Hosts - Jim and Bobbi Jean Bell Opening and Closing Music - Hot Texas courtesy of Hot Texas Swing Band Sponsored by Blue Cottage Agency and  OutWest Shop  Shop ALL Rendezvous With A Writer book titles HERE Aired August 15, 2024

#97 Guest Author Howard Kaplan

WE READ A POLITICAL THRILLER! JOIN US!KAPLAN IS UP THERE WITH THE BEST - CLIVE CUSSLER Hosts Jim Bell and Bobbi Jean Bell are eager to introduce to you HOWARD KAPLAN, the author of THE SYRIAN SUNSET.  A sweeping novel of international intrigue about the Syrian Civil War, the failure of the West to save the Syrian people, and how that inaction against the Russian incursion of Syria emboldened Vladmir Putin to attack Ukraine. Based on true events, THE SYRIAN SUNSET tells the tale of a fictional Syrian Military Intelligence general who wants a better Syria, and the events that led to the death of 500,000 civilians, 5 million people fleeing Syria, another 15 million being displaced internally. From Howard Kaplan, author of THE DAMASCUS COVER, is a major motion picture starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Sir John Hurt in his final film.  Hosts - Jim and Bobbi Jean Bell Opening and Closing Music - Hot Texas courtesy of Hot Texas Swing Band Sponsored by Blue Cottage Agency and  OutWest Shop  Shop ALL Rendezvous With A Writer book titles HERE Aired August 8, 2024

#96 Guests Author Chris Enss and Western Film Editor Henry C. Parke

THE DOCTOR WAS A WOMAN Hosts Bobbi Jean and Jim Bell rendezvous with multi-award winning author and historian Chris Enss and True West Magazine Film Editor Henry C. Parke. So much to talk about! This broadcast marks our Second Anniversary and the beginning of our third year. Henry catches us up with the latest news from the Western Film and TV front with his monthly "Henry's Western Round-up Report." Executive Director of the Will Rogers Medallion Awards, Chris Enss,  joins us with news of the organization's upcoming Awards event in October and their exciting plans for 2025 and 2026. Then we enjoy an in-depth discussion about her latest title, The Doctor Was A Woman: Stories Of The First Female Physicians On The Frontier. It is enlightening - entertaining - and educational - a fascinating read. And, later, we learn about her next book available now to pre-order and publishing in October -Tilghman: The Legendary Lawman And The Woman Who Inspired Him. Hosts - Jim and Bobbi Jean Bell Opening and Closing Music - Hot Texas courtesy of Hot Texas Swing Band Sponsored by Blue Cottage Agency and  OutWest Shop  Shop ALL Rendezvous With A Writer book titles HERE Aired August 1, 2024

#95 Guest Author Mark L. Redmond

THE BOX M GANG Hosts Bobbi Jean and Jim Bell rendezvous with author Mark L. Redmond about his passion for the West and his success creating three series for middle grade readers. We'll be taking an in-depth at the first book of his new series, The Box M Gang. 
ABOUT THE BOOKThe year is 1875. The Arizona Territory is a wild, sparsely settled place. The Martin family's Box M Ranch is ten miles from their nearest neighbor and twenty miles from Tucson. Fifteen-year-old Ruth, fourteen-year-old Thad, twelve-year-old Sarah, ten-year-old Bart, and eight-year-old Billy have been doing most of the work to keep the Box M running. Consequently, when Pa passes away, the Martin siblings face little change in their daily routine as far as their chores go. They do, however, face an ominous threat.
Ruth, Thad, and Sarah know they can continue to run the Box M without Pa. Ruth is confident she, Thad, and Sarah can protect their secret from the occasional travelers who visit the Box M, but she's concerned about little brothers Bart and Billy.
During the next few months, visitors to the Box M include the sheriff, a bounty hunter, cattle rustlers, and a family with five small children. All of them pose a threat to the Martins. Can they keep their secret and remain on the Box M? Saddle up, and let's find out!Hosts - Jim and Bobbi Jean Bell Opening and Closing Music - Hot Texas courtesy of Hot Texas Swing Band Sponsored by Blue Cottage Agency and  OutWest Shop  Shop ALL Rendezvous With A Writer book titles HERE Aired July 25, 2024

#94 Guest Author Gina L. Carroll

GARDENS, GRANDMOTHERS, AND GREAT STORYTELLING!Hosts Bobbi Jean and Jim Bell rendezvous with author Gina L. Carroll.  Once we read page one, we couldn't put down this wonderful newly released title, The Grandest Garden. The storyline, the characters, the gardens, and the relationships captured my full attention and wouldn't let me go. What's Bella going to do next? Will she have her first art photography exhibition at the Herman Gallery, as promised, in Midtown Manhattan? And what about the amazing men she meets...Dorian, Drip, Brad and more? What a story!!
We are excited to be joined by GINA L. CARROLL, the author of The Grandest Garden published by SparkPress.ABOUT THE BOOKBella Fontaine is on her own. Fresh out of college and with the winnings from her first international photography competition, she decides to leave Los Angeles to forge a new life in New York City. But will she be able to overcome the trauma of her childhood and her break from home to make it as a successful artist and professional photographer in a new city? Or will her secrets catch up with her and keep her from developing the relationships she needs to make her dreams come true? JOIN US! Hosts - Jim and Bobbi Jean Bell Opening and Closing Music - Hot Texas courtesy of Hot Texas Swing Band Sponsored by Blue Cottage Agency and  OutWest Shop  Shop ALL Rendezvous With A Writer book titles HERE Aired July 18, 2024

#93 Guests Western Film Editor Henry Parke and Author Michael F. Blake

THE MAKING OF THREE CLASSIC WESTERN FILMSHosts Bobbi Jean and Jim Bell rendezvous with two Western film experts! Joining us are Michael F. Blake, author of The Cavalry Trilogy: John Ford, John Wayne and the Making of Three Classic Westerns, and Henry C. Parke, Film Editor for True West Magazine. This is a great discussion about the making of Western films including both Henry's and Michael's response to the new Kevin Costner film Horizon: An American Saga. Then we move into an in-depth look at Michael's recently published book -The Cavalry Trilogy: John Ford, John Wayne, and the Making of Three Classic Westerns. Michael takes us deep into the backstories and actual filming of Fort Apache, She Wore A Yellow Ribbon, and Rio Grande. Our recommendation? Do what we did. Read the book. Watch each film with the book at hand. Michael's research and riveting prose will allow you to enjoy these three films in a new, fresh way! Hosts - Jim and Bobbi Jean Bell Opening and Closing Music - Hot Texas courtesy of Hot Texas Swing Band Sponsored by Blue Cottage Agency and  OutWest Shop  Shop ALL Rendezvous With A Writer book titles HERE Aired July 11, 2024

#92 Guest Author Helen F. Wand

THE YEAR IS 1897Hosts Bobbi Jean and Jim Bell kick-off July with historical fiction author Helen F. Wand. Her most recent title. ECHOES OF FORGOTTEN PLACES is a Will Rogers Medallion Award Finalist! We found it an engaging read and a fun interview with Helen! The year is 1897. Julianna Lampert and her eight children depend on the family working the farm—recently cleared soil on land so rugged and windswept it defies their very existence. Join the family’s journey, from grieving their father’s passing and the death of their baby brother, to the arrival of Frank, who strikes a bargain with Julianna, a widow desperate to save her homestead. Follow the Lampert family and their neighbors into the twentieth century, amidst a tragic drowning, disastrous blizzard, and a fire that demolishes a town—devastations tempered with romance and marriage. All the while, their remote, isolated Pleasant View community is transformed: brought into the modern era by the horseless carriage, telephone, women’s right to vote—and the neighbor’s still. Hosts - Jim and Bobbi Jean Bell Opening and Closing Music - Hot Texas courtesy of Hot Texas Swing Band Sponsored by Blue Cottage Agency and  OutWest Shop  Shop ALL Rendezvous With A Writer book titles HERE Aired July 4, 2024

#91 Guest Author Mike Trigg

WHAT IF YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION JEOPARDIZED THE PERSON YOU LOVE?
Hosts Bobbi Jean and Jim Bell wrap up June with this riveting read by author Mike Trigg, BURNER. You won't want to miss this episode!
Inspired by the explosive events of our polarized political climate, BURNER is an all-too plausible contemporary thriller that examines the social and personal consequences of the lost sense of identity, trust, and truth itself that characterizes our technology-obsessed culture.
Shane Stoller has just been arrested for domestic terrorism, accused of being the mastermind behind the online profile Burner_911—the anonymous leader of a massive populist movement. Chloe Corbin has just been abducted by Burner_911’s followers in a lawless uprising on the streets of San Francisco, targeted as the socialite daughter of a tech billionaire. What nobody knows is that Shane and Chloe are secretly in love despite coming from opposite worlds.
 
Part tragic love story, part mind-bending psychological thriller, BURNER dives headfirst into the modern zeitgeist of politically motivated disinformation, toxic internet subcultures, and our continuing need for belonging, purpose, and love in an age of distorted online personas. The BIG Question is...CAN THIS REALLY HAPPEN?? We ask Mike Trigg, tune in for his answer!Hosts - Jim and Bobbi Jean Bell Opening and Closing Music - Hot Texas courtesy of Hot Texas Swing Band Sponsored by Blue Cottage Agency and  OutWest Shop  Shop ALL Rendezvous With A Writer book titles HERE Aired June 27, 2024

#90 Guest Host Tom Swearingen and Guest Author Rod Miller

TWO AWARD-WINNERS RENDEZVOUS! Award-winning poet Guest Host TOM SWEARINGEN and his Guest award-winning author ROD MILLER enjoy talking about Rod's writing career and his most recent titles. Rod entertains us with backstories of his three most recent books and an upcoming new series. Tune in for this engaging conversation between two award-winning writers! Hosts - Jim and Bobbi Jean Bell Guest Host - Tom SwearingenOpening and Closing Music - Hot Texas courtesy of Hot Texas Swing Band Sponsored by Blue Cottage Agency and  OutWest Shop  Shop ALL Rendezvous With A Writer book titles HERE Aired June 20, 2024

#89 Guest Author Kimberly Burns

Two Women Are Determined to Make It In A Man's WorldAward-winning author, Kimberly Burns, joins hosts Bobbi Jean and Jim Bell to chat about her two historical fiction books. THE MRS. TABOR and THE REDEMPTION OF MATTIE SILKS. Tune in for an informative and engaging conversation about these two Western women and the way they chose to "make it in a man's world" - 1890's Denver and beyond. Both books are based on true stories. Baby Doe (Mrs. Tabor) seeks her fortune the best way she knows how-marrying a rich man. Madam Mattie Silks makes her fortune catering to Colorado’s gold and silver millionaires. We talk in-depth about Kimberly's research, the lives of these two women, the similarities between "then and now," and why historical fiction is an important genre. Hosts - Jim and Bobbi Jean Bell Opening and Closing Music - Hot Texas courtesy of Hot Texas Swing Band Sponsored by Blue Cottage Agency and  OutWest Shop  Shop ALL Rendezvous With A Writer book titles HERE Aired June 13, 2024