Free to Be Me: Supporting Teens Through Challenging Times with Tara Hubbard
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
Release Date: 03/24/2025
Led by His Past: Inside Katelyn Marie Peterson’s Romantic Suspense World
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
In this episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals podcast, host Jed Doherty welcomes romantic suspense author Katelyn Marie Peterson to talk about her gripping trilogy, focusing on the second book, Led by His Past. The story follows Lynn Callahan and her private investigator boyfriend, Jake Connolly, as they’re pulled into a tense new case when Jake’s ex-girlfriend shows up asking him to investigate her sister’s murder in Burlington, Vermont. Katelyn opens up about how real her characters feel to her, especially now that she’s living with them over the course of three books. She...
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Balancing Spice and Story: Crafting Dark Romance with CS Kelleher
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
On this episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast, Jed welcomes CS Kelleher, author of the dark contemporary romance novel Scorched Boundaries—the first in a planned four-book series. CS shares how the book began in an entirely different direction: a romantic suspense involving mistaken identity and South Korean gangs. After hitting a massive bout of writer’s block, inspiration struck one night while she was watching TV and typing on her phone. That spontaneous moment became the prologue to Scorched Boundaries and launched a brand‑new cast of characters and storyline. Listeners...
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Cat Carmichael on the Case: JP Ferris and the Cat Carmichael Detective Series
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
JP Ferris joins the Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast to talk about his long-running Cat Carmichael Detective Series and the latest installment, Catnap, book 13 in the saga. JP introduces Cat Carmichael, a tough, emotionally rich NYPD homicide detective shaped by the loss of her father, who was killed in the line of duty right in front of her. That trauma fuels Cat’s vow to become the best homicide detective New York has ever seen. JP shares that Cat is a blend of Olivia Benson, Kate Beckett, a touch of Jane Rizzoli, and quite a bit of JP himself—right down to having a law enforcement dad...
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Raising Confident Girls: Diana Sussman on The Neighbor’s Secret
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
In this engaging episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes Diana Sussman, author of the middle grade mystery The Neighbor’s Secret. Diana introduces us to Maddie, a curious and imaginative 12-year-old who becomes convinced her new neighbors are Russian spies after witnessing something very strange. Maddie’s big imagination sometimes gets her into trouble—like the time she thought a neighbor was being eaten by a Yeti—but she’s also sharp, determined, and usually onto something real. Diana shares how her own love of puzzles, mysteries, and strong female characters helped shape...
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Overprotected Offline, Underprotected Online: Veronica Sommers Tells Parents What They Need to Know
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
In this powerful episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast, host Jed Doherty welcomes Veronica Sommer, author of Sacred Stewardship: Restoring Moral Clarity in the Digital Age. Drawing on over two decades in cybersecurity recruiting and her experience raising two smartphone-era teens, Veronica offers a heartfelt, eye-opening look at what today’s kids are really facing online. Jed and Veronica begin by talking about that familiar parenting dilemma: giving kids phones “for safety” and connection, without fully understanding that those same devices give the entire world access to...
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Fire & Ice, Exploring Dragon Island Legends
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
In this episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast, host Jed Doherty welcomes back middle-grade fantasy author Greg Slomba to talk about his brand-new series, the Dragon Island Legend books, beginning with Fire and Ice. Greg explains that this new series grows out of the world of his earlier Deliverers books, particularly The Golden Dragon of Aang, which introduced the mystical Dragon Islands. Each of the five planned stories will focus on a different island, with Fire and Ice serving as a 95-page novella that opens the saga. Greg introduces listeners to Ben and May, two 15-year-old...
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Feathered And Famous
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
On this episode, Jed welcomes author and neuroscientist Gail Martino, whose new picture book “Feathered and Famous: Meet America’s All Star Birds” celebrates the national and state birds of the United States and the stories behind them. Gail explains how her book helps kids (and parents) discover the unique traits that made each bird worthy of representing a state—from the clever chickadee of Massachusetts, which actually grows part of its brain in the fall to help remember where it hid seeds, to the hopeful, homey robin of Connecticut, often seen as a harbinger of spring. She also...
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Physics, Pirates, and a Haunted Inn: Conversations with AJ Alanson
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
In this engaging episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast, Jed Doherty welcomes AJ Alanson, author of the Admiral Inn mystery and adventure series, to celebrate book ten, Wolf in the Cove. AJ introduces us to June Faust, a former Treasury Department “super accountant” who buys a derelict mansion on the coast of Maine through a government auction—sight unseen. The locals wish the place had been burned to the ground, but June spends a decade fixing it up, turning it into the Admiral Inn, and slowly (and awkwardly) mending fences with the small-town community. Each book in the...
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Telepathic Pop Star: Sarah Crowne’s ‘Tune In
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
In this episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast, host Jed Doherty sits down with Sarah Crowne to talk about her new YA thriller, Tune In. The novel follows Nikki Scott, a telepathic pop star who’s investigating her mother’s mysterious death. As Nikki uncovers her powers, she also discovers a shadowy organization that’s weaponizing her voice—blending high-stakes conspiracy with a glittering pop music world. Think Stephen King’s Carrie meets a modern pop icon, with a sci-fi twist. Sarah shares how her lifelong love of pop music—from Debbie Gibson, Tiffany, Madonna, and...
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Sitting Beside The Hurt
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
In this powerful episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast, host Jed Doherty sits down with author, advocate, and writing mentor Melissa B. Lombardo, creator of Hurt, Healing, and Hope: Thriving Beyond Sexual Assault. Melissa shares how, after being sexually assaulted in her 20s, she found her way to counseling at the New Britain YWCA and was encouraged to write about her experiences. What started as private journal entries slowly grew into a three-act interwoven monologue, complete with reflection questions and journaling space to support other survivors in their own healing journeys....
info_outlineEmpowering Children Through Positive Affirmations: A Conversation with Author Tara Hubbard
In this inspiring episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals podcast, host Jed Doherty sits down with pharmacist and author Tara Hubbard to discuss her transformative books that help children and teens build self-confidence and resilience through positive affirmations.
Hubbard's first book, "Let the Sun Shine In," targets elementary school children, offering a unique approach to transforming negative thoughts into powerful, uplifting statements. Illustrated by a local Daisy Troupe, the book provides interactive visual representations of positive affirmations, making the concept engaging and accessible for young readers.
Her second book, "Free to Be Me," addresses challenges faced by middle and high school students, focusing on critical issues like bullying and academic performance. Both books are designed to be read collaboratively between children and their caregivers, emphasizing the importance of guided support in developing a positive mindset.
Hubbard's journey into writing began after a transformative trip to South Africa, where she reflected on her personal experiences using positive affirmations during a challenging period in her life. Her approach stems from over 20 years of personal practice, now backed by scientific research demonstrating the power of thought control in improving outlook and life circumstances.
As a practicing pharmacist, Hubbard brings a unique perspective to mental wellness, believing in a holistic approach that combines traditional medicine with mental and emotional support tools. Her books offer practical strategies for parents and educators to help children develop resilience, self-esteem, and a positive internal dialogue.
The episode highlights the subtle yet profound impact of language, demonstrating how small shifts in perspective—like changing "I have to" to "I get to"—can significantly improve mental well-being. Hubbard's work serves as a beacon of hope, providing children with practical tools to navigate life's challenges with confidence and optimism.
Listeners can find "Let the Sun Shine In" and "Free to Be Me" on Amazon and through their respective publishers, offering a valuable resource for parents seeking to support their children's emotional growth