Tag Archives: Larry Davidson

Episode 30 – How Many Threads Connect Us to the Past, Present, and the Future? Dr.Simon Morden, author of The Red Planet



How many threads connect us to the past,the present, and the future? Larry steps into the unknown and speaks with Dr.Simon Morden, author of The Red Planet: A Natural History of Mars. Larry broaches the topics of The God Particle, TheBig Bang Theory and the significance of theJames Webb Telescope. Dr. Morton then discusses the history of Mars, the presence of Carbon-12, why Mars soil is red, the enormity of its topography and the potential effect of human colonization. Afterwards, they return to earth to discuss global warming and how the future of our own planet might unfold.


Episode 29 – How Many Threads Lead Us to the Conviction of an Innocent Man? Charlies Bosworth Jr. & Joel Schwartz



How many threads lead us to the conviction of an innocent man? This week Larry Davidson sits down with author Charles Bosworth Jr. and defense attorney Joel Schwartz to talk about their collaborative book Bone Deep: Untangling the Betsy Faria Murder Case. Bone Deep recounts the unjust conviction of Russell Faria and Joel’s fight to prove his innocence. Larry, Charles and Joel discuss the facts of the case, the danger of small-town politics and how media attention can affect a trial.  They also explore how confirmation bias can override logic in a court case and how you fight for justice when the police are more focused on being right than finding the truth. They also discuss the NBC mini-series The Thing About Pam, which is an adaptation of the case. In a society fascinated with true crime and murderers, Charles and Joel hope to bring more attention to Betsy Faria and other victims. Larry wraps up the episode with the question “what did I get wrong?”-a question that is more pertinent than ever in a world where facts need to be protected and truthful self-assessment is more important than ever.

Charles Bosworth, Jr.

Joel Schwartz, Esq.


Episode 28 – How Many Threads Connect Us to a Journey – S.J. Rozan & Tom Clavin



How many threads connect us to a journey?  S. J. Rozan joins the program along with her feline companion to speak about her latest work Family Business, a work nominated for the G.P Putnam’s Sons Sue Grafton Memorial Award.  Along with articulating the complexities of Chinatown, the Tong organized crime family, and the hierarchy of Chinese culture, S. J. and Larry draw a comparison between the film In the Heights comparing “abuela” in latin culture and “gao” in Tong culture.  S.J. also posited that there are 2 things a writer cannot do to a reader and how sidekicks are a must in crime fiction.

Returning to the podcast is Larry’s old friend Tom Clavin.  Tom has returned to speak with Larry about his old friend and collaborative co-author Phil Keith who recently passed, and to talk about his book Lightning Down, the story of Lt. Joe Moser, a P-38 Lightning pilot downed in World War II.  Tom speaks about his love of research in preparation for writing, his love of military aircraft and how it played into his love for the P-38.  In his research for the book, Tom learned of a chance encounter between Lt. Moser and a bomber crew member years after the war and their amazing connection.  Larry and Tom also reflect on how Moser may have interacted with the fellow who inspired the character 007, James Bond.  Please also check out Tom’s newest work To the Uttermost Ends of the Earth, which chronicles a US Civil War naval battle off the coast of Europe.


Episode 27 – How Many Threads Connect Us to a Changing Way of Life – Ed Davis and Manda Kalimian



How man threads connect us to a changing way of life?  A boxcar, a spiral notebook and a pencil, the root of the “origin story” of author Ed Davis who has penned The Last Professional.  Larry explores that “origin story” and how Ed’s early life riding boxcars inspired him to write about a yesteryear of “hobos, tramps and bums” and which are wonderers.  Are the characters running away from something or towards something else and what the power of freedom is to the mind.  Ed also talks about how the soundtrack of boxcar life is the rhythm of the rails and how it is juxtaposed against the rhythm of writing. Is wanderlust part of a persons DNA?

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Rory Vecsey joins the program and has a conversation with Manda Kalimian founder of the CANA Foundation, political action committee Saddle PAC and author of Born to Rewild.  Rory, being a horse person herself explores what it is like to fall in love with horses, the treatment of wild horses by the Federal Government (including roundups via helicopter and confinement using taxpayer dollars) so wild lands can be used for fracking, farming or grazing cattle, slaughterhouses in Mexico and Canada and how this all contributes to climate change.  Manda also discusses solutions and introduces us all to her concept of “rewilding”, re-introducing wild horses back to their habitat.

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Episode 26 – How Many Threads Connect Us from the Original Idea to the Time the Work Gets to the Reader – Jenny Rossberg Pegasus Books



How many threads connect us from the original idea to the time the work gets to the reader?  Larry pulls back the curtain of publishing with Jenny Rossberg, Senior Publicist at Pegasus Books.  Jenny and Larry broach subjects of crime fiction (and how you can learn about a town from those works), what a Novella is and why they can be as entertaining as a full novel, and the difference between commercial versus literary fiction.  Jenny also discloses the types of works she reads when she is not at work, and what the draw was for her to enter the publishing world.  Larry posits the question “how does an idea for a book develop to the point where the work is on the shelf in a bookstore” and what the “life” of a book looks like.

Jenny also speaks about authors S.J. Rozan, Paul Vitich, Heather Martin and Jennifer Murphy.

We also get a window into the new or upcoming books Europe’s Babylon, Learwife and On the Trail of the Jackalope.


Episode 25 – How Many Threads Connect Us to the Movies – Author Kevin Goetz and Commentary by Rev. Gayle Fisher Stewart



How many threads connect us to the movies?  Joining the podcast is Kevin Goetz, author and film researcher/audience tester with his firm Screen Engine/ASI.  Kevin speaks to Larry about his latest work Audience-ology: How Moviegoers Shape the Films We Loveand how the audience matters and shapes film.  Kevin de-constructs the subtitle of his book, discusses the difference between writing a book and film making (even when the movie comes from the book).  Kevin shares his journey as a young actor to his role in entertainment today.  Larry posits the question “does a mega star influence a movie or does the character they play steer the actor”.

Returning to the podcast with commentary is Reverend Gayle Fisher Stewart, the author of the new book Black and Episcopalian: The Struggle for Inclusion.  Gayle discusses how the narratives of history tend to devaluate other races or genders, how the African American heritage has been whitewashed and minimized.  She speaks about how the seeds of Black History Month started as Negro History Week and has evolved in spite of whitewashing.  Now Black History Month tasks people to recognize the achievements of people of color and recognize the sins of the pas. It also challenges us all to remember and not allow those injustices to be repeated today in a world that is so fractured.

 


Episode 24 – How Many Threads Connect Us to History and Heritage – Author Buki Papillon and Charles Lichtman



How many threads connect us to history and heritage.  Joining the podcast in this installment is Buki Papillon and Charles Lichtman.

Buki Papillion, author of her premier novel An Ordinary Wonder, takes Larry on a trip to her childhood growing up in Nigeria, her friendship and mentor Lori Foos, the uniqueness of the Yoruba people and the rate of having twin children, how the Native American concept of “two spirits” is linked to the culture of Nigera, and we even get a reading from Buki’s book!  Larry discusses what the thought process is in creating a title for a book and what the promise of America means to new immigrants.

Buki on Twitter

Buki on Facebook

Charles Lichtman, author of The Sword of David jumps into the conversation to talk about writing and when a writer writes, there are always two stories; the story that is in the book and essence of the writer himself.  Chuck also talks about growing up as a Jewish American in the midwest and the challenges he faced along the way.  He also talks about his book which has been described as a meshing of The DaVinci Code  and Raiders of the Lost Ark.   He also talks about the research for the book and being moved by the Whaling Wall and Temple Mount.  He even discusses his attempts at conducting an interview with Carlos the Jackal.

Charles on Twitter

Charles on Facebook

Charles on Instagram


Episode 23 – How Many Threads Connect Us to Complicated Family Secrets – Author John Copenhaver & Singer/Songwriter Rorie Kelly



How many threads connect us to complicated family secrets?  In this installment, Larry, along with contributor Rory Vecsey chat with author John Copenhaver about his new book Savage Kind.  Larry explores how crafting a purposeful prologue can set the table to manipulate the readers perspective to then make it easier for the author to create plot twists.  John discusses 2 characters Phillippa and Judy, 2 teens and the perception of the stereotypical young person in the 1940’s.  Not all is what it seems.  One of Larry’s favorite topics is discussing “femme fatale” characters and he explores with John the concept of a male in that role.  Rory inquires about the power of foreshadowing, along with the use of poetry and mythology in the book.

Joining Larry is singer/songwriter Rorie Kelly.  Rory plays 4 original songs, talks about being a “Lady Beast”, how the female voice effects people, and how the guitar is an extension of her body.  Rorie talks about her beginnings with her family, the influences in her songwriting. Rosie also does a Facebook Live called “Monday Night Muses“.

Rorie’s setlist:

Magick Comin

Full Moon Charm Bracelet

This Girl

Liminal Spaces


Episode 22 – How Many Threads Lead Us to Survival – Author Erika Hecht & Rory Vecsey



How many threads lead us to survival?  Larry is joined by Erika Hecht, author of the book Don’t Ask my Name: A Hidden Child’s Tale of Survival a story of her life surviving German occupation during World War II and in post war Europe as a Jewish person who converted to Catholicism.  Erika discusses mixed traditions and how it saved her and her family’s life.

Joining the Podcast for the new feature Rory’s Island is Rory Vecsey.  Rory explores the plight of women in Afghanistan after the Taliban regained control.  She also discusses their hopes of a full life an education before the fall of the nation and the fear and courage that they muster in the shadow of Taliban rule.


Episode 21 – How Many Brush Strokes or Guitar Strings are the Threads of Creativity – Jonathan Santlofer & Karen Bella



How Many Brush Strokes or Guitar Strings are the Threads of Creativity?  Larry is joined by two amazing artists in Jonathan Santlofer and Karen Bella.

Jonathan Santlofer is the author of the book The Last Mona Lisa, a story based on the true events surrounding the iconic painting’s theft in 1912.  Jonathan shares his thoughts on the time period the book is set in, along with his life as an artist.  He also talks about personal events that have effected his writing and artwork. Larry also shares how his book touched him personally and makes a connection to his own grandmother.

Karen Bella, a talented singer/songwriter joined Larry in studio.  She spoke about her connection to her guitars, the differences between performing in a studio vs. a live crowd and where she draws inspiration for her songwriting.  Larry explores the concept of the universality of music that transcends generations, from Larry’s love of Jackson Brown to Karen’s love of John Mayer.  Karen performs the songs Landslide by Fleetwood Mac, Needle in the HayGood Morning and Jack Honey.