Living The Next Chapter: Candid Conversations with Authors and Writers for Readers Searching for a New Read

EPISODE 744 - Luna Westish - Meet Me at the Ruins - The Story of Margo, a Student and Story Set In Scotland

In this episode, author Luna Westish shares the unexpected path that led her to writing and publishing her debut novel, Meet Me at the Ruins. From relocating her family to Mexico City during the pandemic to navigating the realities of self-publishing, Luna reflects on creativity, personal growth, and the lessons she learned along the way.

Luna begins by discussing the major life decision that reshaped her family’s world. After years of talking about living abroad, she and her partner chose the uncertainty of the pandemic as the moment to take the leap. Selling nearly all their belongings and leaving Tacoma, Washington behind, they moved to Mexico City with their children. What began as an experiment quickly turned into a new home as they found community in the vibrant, international city. While Luna still misses the nature and coastline of the Pacific Northwest, the move created space for new experiences and creative exploration.

That sense of experimentation carries into Luna’s approach to writing. Contrary to common advice that writers must produce words daily or follow strict routines, Luna discovered that creativity works best when she allows flexibility. Writing for her happens in bursts of inspiration, often in quiet coffee shops in the morning. Instead of focusing on word counts or rigid goals, she treats writing as a process of curiosity and self-discovery, allowing stories to emerge naturally rather than forcing them.

Her journey into fiction was equally unplanned. Luna spent years writing nonfiction, including academic work, policy reports on climate change, and articles related to small business. Eventually she began writing deeply personal essays about her childhood growing up in a restrictive religious environment. That vulnerable work opened the door to fiction. Inspired by weekly coffee shop writing sessions with her teenager, she started drafting a story that eventually became her novel.

Meet Me at the Ruins follows Margot, a college student studying abroad in Edinburgh in the early 2000s. The novel explores anxiety, identity, relationships, and the search for purpose during a formative stage of life. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of Edinburgh, the story blends elements of coming-of-age, romance, and contemporary literary fiction while focusing on emotional growth rather than a traditional plot-driven arc.

Luna also offers candid insight into the publishing world. After partially releasing the story online, she queried agents and publishers but ultimately chose to self-publish when contracts lacked clarity around responsibilities and timelines. The experience revealed how complex book marketing can be, from building advance reader groups to securing reviews and interviews. Her biggest lesson for aspiring authors: allow far more time for marketing and outreach than you think you’ll need.

Despite the challenges, Luna views the entire process as a learning experience rather than a purely commercial pursuit. For her, writing is about exploration, connection, and sharing stories that resonate emotionally with readers. That same mindset shapes her parenting, encouraging her children to pursue creativity for joy rather than productivity.

https://lunawestish.wordpress.com/
___
Support the show

___
https://livingthenextchapter.com/
podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/

Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!
https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

BONUS - Austin Kleon's Book Series - Why These Books Matter to Authors and Creative People
Austin Kleon’s four books work best when read as one creative roadmap. They move from making original work, to shaping your voice, to sharing your process, to protecting your creative life when things get messy.
Steal, then make it yours
Steal Like an Artist is the spark. Kleon argues that no idea arrives from nowhere, so creators should study what they love, remix it, and turn influence into something personal. The book’s appeal comes from how practical it feels. Readers often praise it for making creativity feel accessible instead of mysterious.
Share the process
Show Your Work! takes the next step. Kleon shifts the focus from finished product to public process, encouraging readers to share small pieces of their work, teach what they know, and build trust over time. The message is clear. People do not only connect with polished results, they connect with the story of how the work gets made.
Keep the fire alive
Keep Going brings the series into real life. It focuses on staying creative through distraction, pressure, and chaos. Rather than chasing inspiration, Kleon emphasizes routine, limits, and steady habits that protect the work. This is the book for people who have started, shared, and now need a way to keep showing up.
(New!) Don’t Call It Art: 10 Ways to Create Like a Kid Again points readers back to play, curiosity, and freedom. It reminds creators to loosen perfectionism and return to the simple joy of making. That foundation matters because the rest of Kleon’s work builds on the idea that creativity starts with action, not permission.
Why read all four
Together, these books form a complete creative framework. Don’t Call It Art opens the door. Steal Like an Artist helps readers find their voice. Show Your Work! teaches them how to build an audience. Keep Going helps them sustain the practice long term.

If you are recommending all four books to listeners, the strongest theme is this: creativity is a practice, not a moment. Play, borrow wisely, share generously, and keep going. That simple arc makes the set worth reading as a collection.
https://austinkleon.com/
Support the show

___
https://livingthenextchapter.com/
podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/

Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!
https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 743 - Luke K Wilson -  Science Fiction Author - Icewind and Falcata

Falcata
Author: Luke K. Wilson
Release Date: February  2026

Description:
Falcata is a science fiction epic from Luke K. Wilson

The Maran Ark contains the last of a shattered civilization. These last remaining bands of humans are all that survived the destruction of Mara, their beloved home world, and they’ve been on the run from their enigmatic, unsympathetic enemies ever since. Now, they wander through a devastated, desolate galaxy filled with the ruins and remnants of long-dead empires, as well as pirates and marauders out to prey on anything still living. Only one thing keeps the Marans going: the promise of a new world to call their own and the hope that one day their children will be born beneath and open sky, with soil beneath their feet.

Leanette-14810 is a young girl born into the Ark long after Mara’s destruction. She is raised listening to the horrors of their home world’s fall, as well as the haunting rumors of what lurks outside the Ark’s hull. Now, she must walk a rigid path which prioritizes the collective good, and society’s survival against all odds. She approaches adulthood and a predetermined life as a Maran woman, to never leave the confines and relative safety of the Ark.

But when Leanette is banished from the Ark’s rigid caste system dictated by gender and aptitude, she is thrust into a terrifying world she never knew existed. She eventually realizes the greatest threats facing the Ark’s survival are not outside its hull, but deep within them.

Facebook Author Page:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576851991360

My Listing on the Publisher's website:
Falcata - Golden Storyline Books
https://goldenstorylinebooks.com/falcata/

Amazon.com: Falcata eBook : K. Wilson, Luke: Kindle Store
https://a.co/d/0erRobxF
Support the show

___
https://livingthenextchapter.com/
podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/

Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!
https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 742 - Eric Clark - The Beekman Affair - The perfect couple, the perfect life, the perfect lie

In this conversation, Eric Clark reflects on his journey as a writer and the deeper themes behind his work. Speaking from San Diego after growing up in New York City, he shares how perspective and lived experience shape both storytelling and personal identity.

Eric emphasizes that writing must begin with love for the craft rather than a focus on publishing or marketability. For him, creativity should remain untainted by the pressures of agents, sales, or audience targeting. The work has to come from an internal need to express something true. Inspiration often arrives unexpectedly, and reading other authors can spark new ideas without becoming plagiarism. Every story ultimately filters through the writer’s unique experiences.

At the heart of his latest novel is an exploration of perspective, change, and the discomfort that comes when deeply held values are challenged. The story follows Claire and Peter, a married couple whose backgrounds shaped them in very different ways. Claire is driven, accomplished, and structured. Peter is reflective, conflict averse, and open. When new neighbors move in and tension rises, existing marital strain surfaces and forces both characters to confront their assumptions.

The novel examines how people evolve over years, not months. Change is gradual and often painful, especially when it challenges identity or stability. Eric draws from his own background as the child of immigrants to portray characters who understand both the inside and the outside of belonging. His writing consistently returns to themes of outsiders navigating systems that may accept them conditionally.

Throughout the discussion, Eric highlights the complexity of social and political perspectives. He avoids caricatures, instead giving sincere voice to multiple viewpoints. The story challenges readers to recognize how easily we forget our own past struggles once we feel secure. It asks what happens when change arrives next door rather than at a distance, and whether we can extend empathy across differences.

Ultimately, Eric writes for readers who remain open to growth. His goal is not to divide but to invite reflection on how we handle change, identity, and community in a complicated world.

New Release: The Beekman Affair
Publication Date: Coming March 17th by Glass Spider Publishing

The perfect couple. The perfect life. The perfect lie.

Clare and Peter Davidson have always looked like they had it all—college sweethearts turned devoted partners, with two bright children and a picture-perfect home in the tight-knit community of Beekman. But behind the manicured lawn and warm smiles lies a marriage quietly unraveling under the weight of secrets, betrayals, and unspoken regrets.

When Beekman itself begins to fracture—factory closures, job losses, neighbors forced to choose sides in a bitter local conflict—Clare and Peter find themselves on opposite ends of a fight that hits closer to home than they ever imagined. As the town’s tensions mount, so do the cracks in Clare’s carefully constructed world.

The Beekman Affair is a gripping story of loss, betrayal, and the quiet courage it takes to reclaim your own life—no matter the cost.

https://ericclarkauthor.com/
Support the show

___
https://livingthenextchapter.com/
podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/

Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!
https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 741 - Anne Beall - The Compassionate Writer - Find Your Voice, Enhance Your Story and Touch Lives

In this episode, author and social psychologist Anne Beall invites listeners into a life shaped by curiosity, compassion, and a deep belief that every person has a story worth telling. She shares how her path from research psychology into the business world and, eventually, into full time writing and literary editing grew out of a desire to understand people more fully and communicate with them more effectively. That journey includes founding and running a market research company for over two decades, selling it, and then dedicating herself to writing books and leading the Chicago Story Press Literary Journal, which focuses on meaningful, insight rich creative nonfiction.

Anne describes how her lifelong love of animals led to exploring the emotional intelligence and depth of connection possible between humans and other species. From service llamas who intuitively comfort residents in assisted living to a pig that can identify English words on a soundboard, she recounts stories that challenge our assumptions about animal awareness and underline her conviction that many beings understand us in ways we barely recognize. Those experiences informed her book about heartfelt connections with animals and reinforced her broader commitment to writing about relationships, empathy, and unseen emotional bonds.

At the heart of the conversation is Anne’s book about compassionate writing and her belief that good storytelling requires a nuanced view of human nature. Instead of dividing people into heroes and villains, she argues that powerful writing reveals everyone as flawed, complex, and deeply human. She explores the difference and overlap between empathy and compassion, suggesting that compassion is not just a feeling but an action: the deliberate effort to understand why people behave as they do, including ourselves. By looking at life’s painful or confusing events through a compassionate lens, writers can find meaning in their experiences and translate that understanding onto the page in ways that help readers see themselves more clearly and judge themselves less harshly.

Drawing on her role as an editor, Anne talks about what makes a story a good fit for a literary journal, why certain themes become overrepresented, and how even strong work can be rejected for reasons beyond an author’s control. She emphasizes persistence, the value of revisiting and strengthening work after repeated rejections, and the reality that numbers and timing often shape publication outcomes as much as quality. Throughout, she returns to the idea that emotional resonance matters most: writers and readers are both seeking stories that illuminate life, particularly around loss, family, identity, and the moments that change us.

Anne also speaks directly to listeners who may not see themselves as writers. She encourages anyone who journals or reflects on their life to view those pages as meaningful work that can bring healing and clarity, especially when approached with self compassion. 

Key takeaway: You are worthy of your story. Approaching your life and your writing with compassion – for yourself, your characters, and your readers – can turn painful or confusing experiences into meaningful narratives that touch lives, including your own.

https://annebeall.com/
Support the show

___
https://livingthenextchapter.com/
podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/

Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!
https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca