From Jam Bands to Thrillers: A Conversation with Author L.M. Pampuro
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
Release Date: 12/30/2024
Timothy Koppe on Writing, Revising, and Facing the Dark
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
On this episode, host Jed Doherty welcomes Connecticut author Timothy Koppe to discuss his debut horror novel, I Have Been Here. The conversation begins with the book’s scope: its story reaches from 15,000 years ago to the present, bringing together characters from different eras, including an ancient hunter, pirates, a scientist, and a president. Koppe explains that the idea first came to him while daydreaming in a French history class more than two decades ago. What began as a question about why people fear the dark grew into a writing project. He describes weaving together historical...
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Living in the Present: Theron Simmons on Horses, Habits, and Change
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
On this episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals podcast, host Jed Doherty welcomes author Theron Simmons to talk about his book, Get Serious Level One: Stop Negotiating with Yourself. Simmons shares an unusual path to writing a practical self-help guide. He began restoring his family’s farm in Naugatuck, Connecticut, and patiently and steadily spent 35 years piecing its original 81-acre property back together. He and his wife, Mary, also ran Hidden Acres Therapeutic Riding Center, while Simmons built a career as an entrepreneur, construction business owner, mechanic, and heavy equipment...
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It’s Me, Lily McKee’: Dance, Discipline, and Big Feelings with Nancy Paris
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
In this episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals podcast, host Jed Doherty sits down with author and former professional dancer Nancy Paris to talk about her charming new middle grade novel, It’s Me, Lily McKee. Nancy introduces listeners to Lily, an energetic eight-year-old ballet student with a huge imagination, big feelings, and a very literal way of seeing the world. Those traits often land her in trouble—Nancy jokes that Lily has a “frequent flyer pass” to the timeout chair. Lily’s adventures, like making a “mush pie” out of wet toilet paper or hanging upside down from the...
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Sea Glass Kids: Ocean Pollution Solutions with Leslee Flanagan
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
In this warm and inspiring episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals podcast, host Jed Doherty sits down with picture book author Leslee Flanagan to talk about her latest book, Sea Glass Kids: Ocean Pollution Solutions and her lifelong love of the ocean. Leslee shares how the Sea Glass Kids characters first came to life in her earlier book, Problems in the Ocean. In the series, kids team up with sea animals and each other to tackle ocean pollution through simple, practical actions like beach cleanups and reducing plastic use. Leslee emphasizes that while the problem can seem overwhelming,...
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From Undervalued to Unstoppable: Talking Money with Linda Hunt
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
On this episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals podcast, Jed welcomes Linda Hunt, author of The Money Conversation, for a heartfelt, practical look at what it really takes to charge what you’re worth—especially if you’re a service-based entrepreneur, creative, or author. Linda breaks down her core idea that there are actually three money conversations happening at once: The one between you and you—your beliefs, fears, and stories about money and worth. The one between you and your client—how you talk about value, pricing, and results. The one between you and your business—what...
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Indiana Bamboo and the Not Missing Mummy: Meira Rosenberg on Adventure & Empathy
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
In this warm and lively episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast, host Jed Doherty welcomes back middle grade author Meira Rosenberg to celebrate her new mystery, Indiana Bamboo and the Not Missing Mummy. Meira shares how Indiana Bamboo was first born in an MFA writing class, when she challenged herself to move from short stories and essays into a full-length novel. Indiana, she explains, is a composite of adventurous friends and half-remembered childhood moments, with a little bit of Meira woven in, too. The conversation dives into why Meira loves writing for 10–11-year-olds—that...
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If You’re Lucky Enough to Know a Unicorn: Grief, Joy, and Resilience with Haley Bresnan
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
On this episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast, Jed welcomes Haleigh Bresnan, second grade teacher and debut picture book author of If You’re Lucky Enough to Know a Unicorn. The conversation explores how a deeply personal loss blossomed into a gentle, hopeful story for children and families. Haleigh shares that the book was inspired by Kennedy, a baby girl born with heterotaxy, a rare condition where organs may be reversed or malformed. Kennedy passed away just shy of four months. In the quiet moments of rocking her own newborn son, while grieving alongside Kennedy’s family,...
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Grandpas, Grandkids & Great Stories: Inside Dina Hardt's Catch Of The Day
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
On this episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast, Jed welcomes debut picture book author and longtime teacher, Dina Hardt, to celebrate her new book, Catch of the Day. Dina shares the deeply personal origin of the story, which she first wrote over 20 years ago, inspired by a cherished family photo of her brother fishing. After her brother Anthony passed away two years ago, Dina revisited the manuscript as part of her healing journey, revising it with fresh eyes, richer memories, and a deeper sense of purpose. The book follows Anthony’s first time fishing on his own, guided by his...
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Celebrating Hanukkah and Childhood Play with Adina Oberman
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
In this warm and thoughtful episode, Jed welcomes back Adina Oberman to celebrate her new board book, H Is for Hanukkah: A Festival of Lights, an ABC primer that introduces little ones to Hanukkah traditions and diverse Jewish cultures from around the world. Adina shares how she first joined the show as a blogger with Big Books for Little Hands and later became part of the Familius publishing team, where her passion for early childhood and representation shines through. Adina explains how H Is for Hanukkah highlights not only familiar Ashkenazic traditions, but also Sephardic and other Jewish...
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Breaking Free from a Malignant Manager: Cathy Alfandre’s Guide to Taking Back Your Career
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
On this episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast, host Jed Doherty welcomes career coach and author Cathy Alfandre, whose new book is “Breaking Free from a Malignant Manager: Strategies to Reclaim Your Confidence and Career.” Cathy explains that the book grew out of years of coaching mid‑career professionals who were stuck with truly harmful bosses—managers who stole credit, created gossip-filled, suspicious workplaces, or pushed people so hard they became physically ill and started doubting their own competence. She realized how common these experiences are, and wanted...
info_outlineOn this episode of Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast, we get to meet L.M. Pampuro, the author of the thrilling "Harlots" series.
L.M. credits the state's natural beauty, creative community, and even the colleges for fostering so many amazing writers. She should know, since her own household is brimming with creativity, with her musician husband and son.
L.M. gave us the scoop on her "Harlots" books, which follow the badass FBI agent Alia Price as she takes on a web of corruption and drug labs. Alia is quite the opposite of the self-proclaimed "total wimp" that is L.M. - but the author admits she may have channeled a bit of her own inner-superhero when crafting this character.
What really got L.M.'s creative juices flowing, though, was live music. She shared a story about being at a music festival, watching the band on stage, when she spotted some suspicious-looking guys in the crowd. That moment sparked the idea for "Harlots Fire" - proof that inspiration can strike anywhere, anytime. Jed could relate, recalling his own lightbulb moment during a U2 concert that led to a successful screenplay.
As for the future of the "Harlots" series, L.M. kept us on our toes, hinting that she always leaves the door open for more adventures. And her current work-in-progress sounds like a real mind-bender, with the villain and heroine being the same person. Guess we'll have to stay tuned to see what other thrills L.M. has up her sleeve!