In this episode of Bookable Space, we’re joined by Maura Casey. Maura reads to us from Saving Ellen: A Memoir of Hope and Recovery and answers three questions about writing, research, and more.

Over a 35-year journalism career, Maura Casey worked as a reporter and opinion writer for four newspapers, including as a member of The New York Times editorial board. She has won 45 national and regional journalism awards. She writes a weekly Substack column called Casey’s Catch with 3,900 subscribers.

Maura began to keep journals at the age of 12 and never stopped. She also never re-read them. When she did, during the Covid-19 lockdown, she was surprised to see they contained pages of scenes at home about her big Irish family, her alcoholic father, wise-cracking mother and her sister Ellen struggling with kidney disease and its aftermath. The result is her first book, “Saving Ellen: A Memoir of Hope and Recovery.” It was published last year by Skyhorse Publishing. She welcomes reader comments at authormcasey@gmail.com.

Luanne Rice, author of “Last Day” and “The Shadow Box”

“Saving Ellen” is a shimmering memoir of childhood, tender and honest, full of tumult and complicated love. It's a stunning portrait of an Irish Catholic family, but the heart of the story, and the beauty of how the Caseys love each other through it all, is universal. It's a brilliant book.”

About the Host:

Yvonne Battle-Felton is an author, academic, and podcaster. Her debut, Remembered, was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction and the Not the Booker, and shortlisted for the Jhalak Prize. Winner of The Shirley Jackson Award, Curdle Creek is her second novel. Yvonne was a finalist in the Hurston Wright Foundation Legacy Zora Award for Fiction, has been awarded the RSL Scriptorium Award, and lives in West Yorkshire. She is the Academic Director of Creative Writing at Cambridge University.

For information about Yvonne's books, events, and more vist https://www.yvonnebattlefelton.com/ or sign up to Yvonne's Substack https://yvonnebattlefelton.substack.com/

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In this episode of Bookable Space, Robbie Bach reads from The Block Chain Syndicate and talks to us about writing places that inspire story, writing what you want to read, and more.

About the Book:

When a dead man begins blackmailing Senator Tamika Smith, it sets off a chain of chilling events. Her boyfriend is kidnapped. A school shooting leaves his daughter wounded. A shadowy digital syndicate unleashes a string of crimes, from fraud and identity theft to assassination, all choreographed with military precision. As the country teeters on the edge of economic collapse, Tamika races against time to rescue her family and uncover the truth behind a global conspiracy built on blockchain and buried secrets.

Bach’s insider knowledge of the tech world and his deep involvement in civic and policy circles lends a chilling authenticity to this thriller. With themes ripped from current headlines, AI, disinformation, political extremism, and digital vulnerability, The Blockchain Syndicate is not just a suspenseful read; it’s a wake-up

call.

About the Author:

Robbie Bach joined Microsoft in 1988. Over the next twenty-two years, he worked in various marketing, general management, and business leadership roles,

including supporting the successful launch and expansion of Microsoft Office. As Chief Xbox Officer, he led the creation and development of the Xbox business,

including the launch of the Xbox and its highly popular successor, the Xbox 360. He retired from Microsoft as the president of the Entertainment and Devices

Division in 2010.

In his new role as a civic engineer, Robbie works with corporate, philanthropic, and civic organizations that are driving positive change in our communities.

He was an Arjay Miller Scholar at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he earned his MBA, and a Morehead Scholar at the University of North Carolina,

where he earned his degree in economics.

He and his wife, Pauline, reside in Washington State, with their yellow lab, Roscoe. They have three grown children and two grandchildren.

For information about Yvonne's books, events, and more vist https://www.yvonnebattlefelton.com/ or sign up to Yvonne's Substack https://yvonnebattlefelton.substack.com/

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In this episode of Bookable Space, we’re joined by Bear. Bear reads from Becoming Raven Bear, An Alaskan Magical Memoir, and talks to us about who we are when we change our surroundings, building a home, and building ourselves. Its one of my favorite episodes. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

About the Author:

From 1968-1971, Bear traveled around the United States with his partner Jessica. They ultimately ended up in Alaska where they delivered their daughter in a remote cabin on the Yukon River in January of 1973. They split up in 1975 but still built another cabin in the Alaskan wilderness. Upon leaving that cabin alone on November 1st Bear froze his feet hiking on the river and almost died. He was stuck in an abandoned mining camp for 9 days waiting to be rescued.

Summary

Becoming Ravenbear is set in the late 1960s through 1975. Follow Efrem/Bear/Ravenbear through his adventures and struggles as he travels around Europe, the United States and in the wildness of Alaska and the Yukon Territory. Join him as he searches for his spiritual connections and comes to trust the spirits of the deep wilderness.

To contact Bear directly, please email razumnys@mac.com or visit the website to view hundreds of color photos here www.ravenbearstories.com

For information about Yvonne's books, events, and more vist https://www.yvonnebattlefelton.com/ or sign up to Yvonne's Substack https://yvonnebattlefelton.substack.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.