Category: Guests

Antoinette Truglio Martin is a speech therapist and special education teacher by training but really wants to be a writer when she grows up. She has been collecting, writing, and fashioning stories forever. Over the years Antoinette had been a regular columnist in local periodicals and had several essays featured in newsletters and literary reviews. Her children’s picture book, Famous Seaweed Soup was published in 1993 (Albert Whitman Co.). Antoinette’s memoir, Hug Everyone You Know: A Year of Community, Courage, and Cancer (She Writes Press 2017), chronicles her first year battling breast cancer as a wimpy patient. She proudly holds an MFA in Creative Writing and Literature from Stony Brook/Southampton University (2016).

“Daily Bread” is a wonderful story that takes place in the early 1900s. Following Lily Taglia, a young girl in a big family, the story focuses on how she navigates her world in Lower Manhattan’s Little Italy, from everyday life, to bullies, and to her time spent at the local bakery! The premise for this story comes from Antoinette’s grandmother. As a young girl, she would go to the local bakery where the baker and his wife would teach young children how to bake bread, which then they could take home at a discounted price for their family. This was a rewarding experience for children to help their families out.

Antoinette’s story is an inspirational one that was fun to write and interesting to research for accuracy. Writing historical fiction for children, especially with “Daily Bread” following an immigrant family’s experiences within their community, it is important for Antoinette to be able to teach about a time that showcased it in a genuine manner.

Learn more about Antoinette’s work on her website “Stories Served Around the Table”

https://antoinettetrugliomartin.com/

Find “Daily Bread” and Antoinette’s other wonderful works on Amazon!

Bernice Burgos is the author of “Trapped Inside Humanity” the first book of her new Angel Series. She has also written “Angel: The Memories of Eden and Earth” and “V Servi Dei,” which act as novellas surrounding the same story of “Trapped Inside Humanity.”

Bernice has known she was in the 5th grade that she wanted to become a writer. She loved to read and was passionate and determined that she could become the author of her destiny. Like any other, she has been through trials and tribulations with finding her niche, but once she found it, she excelled.

In this episode, we talk about her journey of writing, from 5th-grade edits to poetry and writing contests, to sticking papers in a drawer, and finally to working with Red Penguin to publish her works!

“Trapped Inside Humanity” follows the story and alliance of Master Anu Du’Shun and Angel Quinn Reynolds as they find a way to overcome boundaries and save the lives of the species they are obligated to protect or face their ultimate downfall. If you want to read a daring and sexy novel that centers around the supernatural, from angels to vampires, look no further!

Readers and fans are absolutely loving this book and can’t wait for the rest of the series!

Check out Bernice’s “Trapped Inside Humanity” on Amazon!

Author Danny Ingellis is a former Detective in the District Attorney’s Squad in NYC and has always had a penchant for discovering the truth. Ingellis has lived an incredibly full and brave life, whether as a combat veteran of both the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm, or in his professional career—when Ingellis became the personal bodyguard to Richmond County District Attorney William Murphy, where he donated his own kidney to save Murphy’s life. Now retired, Ingellis focuses on photography, which has also proved to be a successful field for Ingellis, with his own photos appearing in books and newspapers.

Ingellis conducted his research on the thirty-five Negro Leaguers inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame at the request of sportswriter Andy Mele, who planned on writing a book about them. Sadly, Mele unexpectedly passed away, so Ingellis knew what he had to do. He set out to fulfill his friend’s dream and complete this book on the inductees whose stories needed to be shared, now more than ever.

Ingellis currently lives on Staten Island and recently celebrated his fiftieth anniversary with his beautiful wife Marie. They have two beloved children, Michelle and Erica, and are the proud grandparents of Jack and Dakota

“Deferred Glory: Heroes of the Negro Baseball Leagues” is about the lives, struggles, and desires of negroes to one day become professional baseball players in the Major Leagues. During this period of their lives, these players while playing in the Negro League endured tough traveling to ballparks in cities both in the South and North in order to play baseball. They suffered through segregation mostly in the South both on and off the field. These men withstood horrible treatment because of their dreams to become Major League, baseball players. Eventually, these thirty-five players and executives were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Unfortunately many were inducted posthumously.

In this episode of “The Author Corner” we discuss with Danny about how he came to write his book, along with the history, relationships, perseverance, and struggles of the important baseball players he researched.

Check out “Deferred Glory: Heroes of the Negro Baseball Leagues” on Amazon!

William Roston is a very accomplished and successful author from Queens, NY who joins us on “The Author Corner” to delve into why he became an author and discuss his trilogy.

He has been internationally successful with his newest trilogy featuring “Band in the Wind,” “Sound of Redemption,” and “Brotherhood of Forever.” “Band in the Wind” is about a band in the 1960s that is on the cusp of success. It follows this band and grabs readers’ attention with its perfect blend of nostalgia, emotions, entertainment, and culture!

Whether he is staying in his Long Island home or traveling in his Tiffin Allegro motorhome, William always finds time to write. In his last career, William was a teacher of all ages, inspiring everyone he met during it all.

Some of his most notable achievements as a writer have been that he has published over two dozen non-fiction articles in newspapers and magazines, been presented an award by Nelson DeMille for his historical fiction short story, “The Last Artifact,” and, his short pieces have in published in four consecutive Red Penguin anthologies: “Someday We’ll Laugh About This” in A Trip for the Books, “Crossroads” in I Can’t Find My Flashlight, “When the Music’s Over” in Memories, and “In the Garden of Eden” in The Beauty Within. Another one of his short pieces “Pretty Flamingo” was given the prestige of being read and performed in 2018 on stage in NYC after being accepted into the Visible Ink Anthologies. As an encore, “In the Garden of Eden” was performed in 2019.

Most recently, his short work “Ava’s Bubble” was read by Tony and Emmy nominee Victor Garber on a nationally televised streaming show. He is also in the process of working on a novel, “Lost in the Wind,” and an anthology, “A Flamingo Under the Carousel.”

Be sure to check out William Rostron’s website for the most up-to-date info on his newest publications!

https://www.williamjohnrostron.com/

Find “Band in the Wind” and the rest of the trilogy on Amazon!

The ever-successful columnist and author Paul DiSclafani, and friend Bruce Oehler, “Mr. B,” joins us on a lovely episode of The Author Corner to discuss his first novel! Paul has won awards for his writing for the Anton News Group and the Massapequa Observer’s “Long Island Living.”

Although he has been living in Massapequa since 1967, Paul had his roots in the East New York section of Brooklyn, growing up surrounded by a large and loving Italian family. Many of his columns and reflections tell of family gatherings and touch on all aspects of life today. Paul and his wife Barbara have also been blessed with two great kids, James and Kevin.

“Burning Through the West Coast”, which was released in October 2020, was his first novel. The lively novel features a real account of, the author, Paul (Disco) DiSclafani, his cousin, Sal (The Catman) and their friend, Bruce (Mr. B), as he brings you back to those carefree days in the late ‘70’s, as they venture on trip through Southern California and Arizona with 6,000 Miles to go, 576 Beers, 4 states, 3 Guys from the East Coast, and a bag of weed!

Learn more about Paul on his website!

https://pauldisclafani.com/

Check out Paul’s high-spirited novel, “Burning Through the West Coast” on Amazon!

Captain Sean P. Tortora, MS, USMS, is a Master Mariner with 25 years at sea, who commanded underway replenishment vessels, amongst other classes, and conducted over 2,000 UNREPs. He is a native of Long Island, New York, attended Chaminade High School, holds a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Masters Degree from SUNY Maritime College, served in Desert Storm/Sortie, Operation Noble Eagle – the response to 9/11, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Captain Toortora authored the textbook, study guide for Marine Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Fire Safety, and is currently an Associate Professor at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point.

In “Steaming To Djibouti,” join a motivated young merchant marine officer on his first journey onboard a venerable navy auxiliary steamship. Accompany him through the convoluted reporting for duty process through his truly surreal first tour onboard. Meet the oddball characters in the crew and follow their outlandish daily routine. Listen in to the truly jaw-dropping crew interactions. Follow along through the myriad of hilarious adventures and astonishing experiences that can only be described as unbelievable. Along the way, you will find yourself alternating between shock and chuckles as you can’t wait to see what happens next!

Find “Steaming to Djibouti: My First Hitch on an Underway Replenishment Ship” on Amazon!

Originally from Hampshire, England, Nicola Harrison moved to California when she was 14. She studied Literature at UCLA and received an MFA in creative writing at Stony Brook University. She is a member of The Writers Room and has short stories published in The Southampton Review and Glimmer Train as well as articles in Los Angeles Magazine and Orange Coast Magazine. She was the fashion and style staff writer for Forbes and had a weekly column at Lucky Magazine. Nicola is also the founder of a personal styling business, Harrison Style. She has spent many summers in Montauk and currently lives in Manhattan with her husband, two sons, and two chihuahuas.

“Montauk” is Harrison’s first novel and it takes place in the 1930s. The story follows Beatrice Bordeaux, a woman who ends up having to spend her summer among the high-society wives of Montauk while her husband does business. She begins to feel out of place as she does not fit in with these women and longs for more. During her stay, she finally befriends a laundress and a man who reminds her of who she was and who she wanted to be. Desperate to embrace moments of happiness, no matter how fleeting, she soon discovers that such moments may be all she has when fates conspire to tear her world apart…

Learn more about Nicola Harrison on her website!

https://www.nicolaharrison.com/

Find “Montauk” on Amazon!

For more information on Author Michael O”Keefe, check out his website at https://www.michaelokeefeauthor.com/

Find “A Reckoning in Brooklyn” and many more novels and collaborations on Amazon!

Jan Alexander is a fiction and non-fiction author, who focuses heavily on how globalism and technology are forever changing our world. Jan is highly successful as a business writer and editor who expounds on culture, society, business strategy, economics, the rise of China, and so much more. She has written for countless notable publications, such as the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Newsweek, Money, Worth, Robb Report, Institutional Investor, and Strategy+Business.

In this episode of the Author Corner, we discuss Jan Alexander’s newest book, “Ms. Ming’s Guide to Civilization.” Her book follows Ming, a young and determined girl born in a small village in China, who meets a supernatural talking monkey, the Immortal Monkey King. After this chance encounter, it is certain that they will meet again. Ming grows up and makes her way to America, where she finds herself in some trouble. To escape her woes, Ming travels back to China with her friend Zoe to find her old immortal friend and change China forever. They work together to rid capitalism and spur creativity and ingenuity.

“Ms. Ming’s Guide to Civilization,” a Leapfrog Press Fiction Prize semi-finalist, tells a fascinating story about magic, capitalism, politics, happiness, human nature, and more through detailed and tenacious characters and an interesting story. It is through her book that Jan proves that every action does in fact have an equal and opposite reaction.

Jan Alexander is also the author of “Getting to Lamma” and the co-author of “Bad Girls of the Silver Screen,” while also publishing book reviews, short fiction, and author interviews of her own.

Learn more about Jan Alexander and her wonderful works on her website:

https://www.janalexander.com

Check out “Ms. Ming’s Guide to Civilization” and Jan’s other works on Amazon!

Linda Trott Dickman, an accomplished, impassioned, and insightful poet joins us on “The Author Corner” to discuss with us how she got her to start writing poetry, her books “Road Trip,” “Robes: The Art Of Being Covered,” and “The Air That I Breathe,” and much more. Linda has been writing for many years and eventually moved to the beautiful art form of poetry. Since she was little, Linda knew that she wanted to be a teacher and teach the young minds of this generation. Afterward, she became a school librarian to really get the best of both worlds, surrounded by teaching and books every day. After retiring, one day Linda looked at an AOL chatroom and from there she became a published writer! Linda proves that you are never too old to pursue your dreams. She received a lot of well-deserved encouragement to continue writing, learning and submitting poetry and books and it led her to great success!

Check out Linda’s Poetry on Amazon!