What treasure can you find in West Yellowstone, Montana? Scientist-turned-writer Vijaya Bodach found a copy of her favorite tale in a used bookstore there. Science, wonder, and faith were central to our conversation, and she even reveals what stories do to our brains on an MRI. Stick around to the end where she shares her recipe for Mango Lassi! This author of the Young Adult Novel "Bound", set in Pullman, Washington is a fellow graduate of Washington State University. Go Cougs! Visit: https://vijayabodach.blogspot.com/ or https://bodachbooks.blogspot.com/

The intersection of harpsichord, writing code, and care of the poor highlighted this episode. Carmela and I had a great conversation about how fiction changes us and the world we live in. We discuss her book, "Playing by Heart" at length. Emilia Salvini dreams of marrying a man who loves music as she does. But in 18th-century Milan, being the “second sister” means she’ll likely be sent to a convent instead. Emilia’s only hope is to prove her musical talents crucial to her father’s quest for nobility. First, though, she must win over her music tutor, who disdains her simply for being a girl. Too late, Emilia realizes that her success could threaten not only her dreams for her future but her sister’s very life. Playing by Heart is inspired by two amazing sisters who were far ahead of their time: composer Maria Teresa Agnesi and mathematician Maria Gaetana Agnesi. Website: www.carmelamartino.com Newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/cmartino Facebook: www.facebook.com/carmelamartinoauthor Twitter: www.twitter.com/carmelamartino Instagram: www.instagram.com/cmartinoauthor More about the Angesi sisters: http://www.mgagnesi.com/

Where do James Baldwin, Exodus, and St Augustine meet? In this amazing conversation with Claude Atcho about his work, Reading Black Books: How African American Literature Can Make Our Faith More Whole and Just, we discuss all of the above. You'll even get an answer to the riddle of what is the 4th most important virtue! http://www.bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/reading-black-books/408390 #ReadingBlackBooks #BlackLiterature #ChristianLiteraryCriticism #BlackPoetry #AfricanAmericanStories

These novels pack a storytelling punch! Threads of history, faith, and romance weave a thought-provoking tapestry. You leave reading Camille's books a changed person. We discuss her contemporary novel "The Secret Place" as well as "Wings Like a Dove" which takes place in the 1930s. Website:              www.camilleeide.com Book bub             https://www.bookbub.com/authors/camille-eide Goodreads          https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5356695.Camille_Eide Amazon                https://www.amazon.com/Camille-Eide/e/B006GHY1JM/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1 FB page                https://www.facebook.com/CamilleEide.Author/ Twitter                 https://twitter.com/CamilleEide Instagram            https://www.instagram.com/camille.eide/ Along the Banks (Faith Blog) https://camilleeide.wordpress.com/ Extreme Keyboarding (Fiction Blog) http://camilleeide.blogspot.com/ Sign up for my newsletter & download a free book: https://gmail.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=57ce33a35eb3ec42509a14a25&id=1c78068cc0

What does it mean to love someone as they are? Is authenticity possible in a social media driven society? Are creative pursuits self-indulgence or a radical gift of self? How can literature help form identity and virtue? This discussion with Katy Carl was wide ranging and yet precise in its treatment of human dignity and generosity with our God-given gifts.

Angels and demons and robots, oh my! I had a great time chatting with Jane Lebak about her new spiritual warfare fantasy, Perdition's Heirs. She shared her experience about how her father cracked the code for her as to why literature matters. We discuss how books can either bring freedom or self fulfilling imprisonment in the mind. Social media and contact: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1239755.Jane_Lebak https://www.amazon.com/Jane-Lebak/e/B004FRUOLY/r https://www.facebook.com/JaneLebakAuthor http://twitter.com/JaneLebak https://www.ravelry.com/people/Tabris02

Roseanna is committed to writing books with impact. As the editor of @WhitefirePublishing, she helps bring those stories that matter to readers. We had a great conversation about how Christians can put on a new lens to see others' (and their own) identity in Christ. Her latest novel Shadowed Loyalty, is available from @ChrismPress. https://www.roseannamwhite.com/ #HistoricalRomance #MomsWhoWrite #PBJ #WildKrattsAndTheology

Dragons and dice and Slavic folklore, oh my! Andrew and I covered everything from P.G. Wodehouse to Brian Sanderson in this great conversation. We discover why folk tales touch the intellect in a unique way. Despite our best intentions, us writers can't help but pen ourselves into the story a bit, to include his debut work Thrice: Needle and Leaf Book 1. https://andrewdmeredith.com/ Twitter: @AndrewDMth  Instagram: @AndrewDMth  Goodreads: @Andrew D Meredith

What does it mean to anoint the imagination? How can vampires point us to holiness? These are hot topics of discussion as we dig into fairy tales and monsters with Karen Ullo. Karen Ullo is the author of two award-winning novels, Jennifer the Damned and Cinder Allia, which is now in development as a motion picture with Believe Entertainment. She holds a MFA in screenwriting from the University of Southern California and is a founding editor of Chrism Press. Prior to that, she served for more than three years as managing editor of the Catholic literary journal Dappled Things. She has been featured as a speaker at venues across the country including The Louisiana Book Festival, The Catholic Writers Guild Conferences, the Trying to Say God conference at Notre Dame University, and Doxacon in Washington, D.C. She lives in Louisiana with her husband and two sons, where she works full-time as the music director of a Catholic parish. You can find her on the web at www.karenullo.com.

Mara Faro is the author of "The Grace Crasher." We discuss the nature of love in a broken world as well as friendship among Christians of different types. Our open, honest conversation also covers what is at the heart of many writers; an obsession with office supplies. Website: marafaro.com https://marafaro.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marafaroauthor/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaraFaroAuthor/