Category Archives: Uncategorized

Episode 19 – How Many Threads Connect us to a Series of Events – Author Amanda Fairbanks and Singer/Songwriter Stuart Markus



How many threads connect unto a series of events.  Joining the podcast is author Amanda Fairbanks, author of the book The Lost Boys of Montauk.  Amanda speaks to Larry about the process of writing this story and how it was a labor of love, being a resident of the South Fork of Long Island.  We learn about how the Montauk of1984 (a primarily fishing town) transitioned to a playground for the ultra wealthy along with the secrets that can haunt the families of the lost.

Photo Credit: Sharon Suh .

Also joining the podcast is singer/songwriter/seachanteyman Stuart Markus.  Stuart joined Larry in studio to play some tunes both popular and original, including The View from the Side of the Road and Gloucester Ladies.  Stuart spoke about growing up with music in Rochester, New York, his first experiences with music as a kid and what inspires him to write music and perform with his band Gathering Time.  You can get more information about where to find Stuart here.


Episode 18 – What is the Thread that Connects a Writer to a Reader – Authors Paul Vidich, Terry Simone Francis and a Commentary by Tom Clavin



What is the thread that connects a writer to a reader?

Larry was joined by Paul Vidich, author of The Mercenary.  Paul speaks about growing up during the Cold War with the USSR as the adversary to the United States along with the fall of the Soviet Union and the rise of modern day Russia.  Paul also explains how writers have building blocks to engage the reader with detailed descriptions of weather architecture or other examples to set the stage.  Larry also discusses the article “What You May Not Know About Your Father” including talk of what the business of spying is all about

Terry Simone Francis, Associate Professor and Director of the Black Film Archive at Indiana University has a lively discussion about her book The Audacious Josephine Baker: Josephine Baker’s Cinematic Prism and about writing.  If writing is a dance, who leads?  Terry talks about Josephine Baker, what made her a pioneer for African American women in the 1920’s and her migration to France.  Larry also had a fun chat about Ethel Waters and how she is not known for being a Blues artist.

With Just a Thought, Tom Clavin rejoins the podcast to eulogize his friend and co-author Phil Keith.  Phil and Tom were previous guests in Episode 8 and Tom tells the story of a quiet, complicated and talented veteran of the Vietnam Conflict turned writer.


Episode 17 – What Are the Threads that Connect Us to a Series of Events: Heather Martin, Jennifer Murphy and Danny Caine



What are the threads that connects to a series of events?

Joining Larry for a chat is Heather Martin, author of The Reacher Guy: A Biography of Lee Child.  Heather talks about meeting Lee Child and her inspiration for writing the book.  We learn what roles the Great War and World War II had in forming Lee’s perceptions of the world and what fiction stories say about the locations in which they are set.

Jennifer Murphy, the author of First Responder: A Memoir of Life, Death, and Love on New York City’s Frontlines discussing how words move us in relationships, connections and institutions.  Jennifer shares her early years, life as a first responder in Brooklyn, New York, a battle with malignant melanoma and dealing with the death of loved ones and colleagues in the wake of 9-11.

Finally, some thoughts an observations, an open letter to Jeff Bazos of Amazon by Danny Caine from Raven Books in Lawrence, Kansas.


Episode 16 – What is the Thread that Connects Us to the Story Behind the Story: Craig Unger, Ray Rickman & Darin Strauss



What is the thread that connect us to the story behind the story? In this episode, Larry speaks with author Craig Unger who discusses his latest work American Kompromat, which touches on Opus Dei, how it has penetrated American government especially in the Trump presidency and how Russia has manipulated Trump since the 1980’s.  There is also a lively discussion about Wiliam Barr’s controversial actions and departure as Trump’s former Attorney General.

https://www.facebook.com/craig.unger/

Also joining the podcast is Author Ray Rickman who speaks about being co-founder and Executive Director of Stages of Freedom, the powerful PBS program The Black Church, his personal history marching for civil rights with James Meredith in Sunflower County Mississippi and his Adopt a Doctor Program.  He and Larry also have a lively discussion about African American crime fiction writers.

With Just a Thought, Author and Professor Darin Strauss returns to the program with some observations about extremism in modern American politics, the fuel of social media and the product of the cancel culture.


Episode 15 – What is the Thread that Connects Human Behavior to a Range of Pathologies – Abigail Esman, Tom Clavin and Commentary by Peter Blauner



What is the Thread that Connects Human Behavior to a Range of Pathologies.  Joining Larry on this episode is Authors Abigail Esman and Tom Clavin along with a commentary by Peter Blauner.

Abigail Esman is the author  of Rage: Narcissism, Patriarchy and the Culture of Terrorism.  Abigail kicks off the episode with a short passage from her book and then explains why she needed to pen this work. She has a lively conversation about how personal experiences & the experience of the events of 9/11 inspired her to write about pathological narcissism and its roots in shame-honor cultures—both familial and sociopolitical—through portraits of terrorists and batterers.

Abigail R. Esman - Pen & Sword

Guest and friend of the program Tom Clavin, New York Times Bestselling author, returns to the podcast to discuss his new book Tombstone: The Earp Brothers, Doc Holliday and the Vendetta Ride from Hell.  Always a fun guest, Larry talks about his love for the old west stemming from the movies of his childhood.  This passion for the old west and storytelling drove him to turn his book Dodge City, Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, and the Wickedest Town in the American West into the first in a Trilogy which also includes Wild Bill: The True Story of the American Frontiers First Gunfighter.

Peter Blauner, author, journalist and friend to the podcast joins with commentary on the year we lost writing giants Journalist Pete Hamill, his brother and writer in his own right John Hamill and Pulitzer Prize winning Journalist Jim Dwyer.  Peter reflects on how 2020 took these important journalists how they shaped and influenced him and the profound effect of their loss is because their brand of writing will never be seen again.

Peter Blauner


Episode 14 – Is There a Thread that Connects Us to Our Own Sense of Well-being – Author S. J. Rozan, Gayle Fisher Stewart, Judith Finlayson & Pete Mancini



Is there a thread that connects us to our own sense of well-being.  Larry has a jam packed episode with author S. J. Rozan speaking about her new book The Art of Violence, her thought process in creating a character’s point of view, writer’s self doubt, the process of writing which is never smooth and a deep dive into the art and character development of The Art of Violence.

S.J.’sTwitter

S.J’s Instagram

S.J’sFacebook

Gayle Fisher Stewart author of Preaching Black Lives Matter re-joins the podcast with thoughts and observations about the January 6th insurrection along with her reflections and observations of the event.  She voices her perspective about law enforcement’s treatment of the participants of that day and how the event could have played out differently if black and brown participants had attempted the same actions and how there needs to be a meaningful discussion about race, racism and systematic racism.

Gayle’s Facebook

Judith Finlayson, author of You are What you Grandparent’s Ate talks about lifecycle and links among all kinds of disease and what happens to you before you were born, epigenetic  modifications, eating healthy and how climate change can effect your health along with how your genes effect the development of diseases.

Judtih’sTwitter

Judith’sInstagram

Judith’sFacebook

Pete Mancini plays out the podcast with his original song Millions More


Episode 13 – Is There a Thread That Connects Us to an Unusual Path – Lee Matthew Goldberg & The Ancestor



Is There a Thread That Connects Us to an Unusual Path?  Joining Larry is Lee Mathew Goldberg, author of Ancestor, and the Editor and co-founder of Fringe a company that publishes works that are “outside the box”.  Lee speaks about his influences and  inspirations, challenging yourself as an author and how to translate that challenge to the reader, writing as a novelist vs writing for screenplays or pilots.

Larry also shares some thoughts and observations on the zeitgeist of 2020 politics, what supporting a politician looks like in 2020, the rise and fall of both politicians and public figures and the power of Twitter.

You can find the Podcast on Twitter and you can follow Larry on as well


Episode 12 – Is There a Thread that Connects Us to Those that Matter – Rev. Gayle Fisher Stewart & Author Darin Strauss



Is there a thread that connects us to those that matter?  Joining Larry is former Washington DC police officer and Episcopal Reverend Gayle Fisher Stewart, the editor of Preaching Black Lives Matter.  Reverend Fisher-Stewart speaks about her experiences with segregation, the American caste system (and how the Nazi’s studied that system), empathy, Black Lives Matter as a movement vs. an organization and Harry Belafonte hosting the Tonight Show.

Also joining Larry is NYU Professor and New York Times bestselling author Darin Strauss.  Darin discusses his new work The Queen of Tuesday: A Lucille Ball Story.  Darin explores the craft of writing fiction based in factual events and his approach, weaving non fiction events into his family history to create a tapestry which includes his grandfather’s fictional love affair with Ms. Ball.  Speaking further, they discuss his earlier work Chang & Eng and the story behind his memoir Half a Life.

Larry also laments the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.


Episode 11 – Should There be a Thread That Connects Fact to Fiction – Burt Weissbourd



Should there be a thread that connects fact to fiction?  Novelist, screenwriter, producer Renaissance Man Burt Weissbourd, author or many books including his new work Danger in Plain Sight, discusses his times with Willie Nelson, Al Pacino, working in Hollywood and his approach to writing not only Danger but how his technique is to write as though the work is already a screenplay.  There is also talk of cherry knishes (belly bombs) and being in Paris in the late 1960’s.

Larry also has some random thoughts and observations including is the United States truly united, Lenny Bruce’s prophetic prediction after the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia’s involvement in the 2016 election, the development of Black Lives Matters during the pandemic along with shedding light on America’s Caste System.

 


Episode 10 – How Many Threads Do You Need to Tell a Story – Librarian Bev Wowak & Peter Blauner on Pete Hamill



How many threads do you need to tell a story?  Librarian Bev Wowak from the Mattituck Laurel Library speaks with Larry about Kent State and the new and interesting book releases for September and October 2020.  Peter Blauner makes a return appearance reflecting on his time working with the great writer and journalist Pete Hamill.  Peter passed in August of 2020 and was a huge influence on Peter Blauner and Larry.

We apologize for the quality of the audio for this episode.  There was a series of technological issues that necessitated the audio to be of a lesser quality than our standard permits, but because of the important nature of this episode, we decided to publish it in spite of the audio quality.