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From Military Service To Alternative School Principal To Author · The Elsa Kurt Show

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Every conversation tells a story, and the best ones begin with honesty, courage, and a little curiosity.
• 0:07
  SPEAKER_00: That's where Elsa Kurt comes in.
• 0:09
  SPEAKER_00: She's an author, podcaster, and independent media personality, and this is where she brings real life to the table.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_00: Authors, thinkers, creators, leaders, everyday folks with extraordinary journeys.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_00: We sit down, we dig in, and we talk about what matters, what's messy, what's beautiful, and what just might inspire you to look at the world a little differently.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_00: So pour a cup of something good.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_00: Settle back and join me.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_00: This is Elsa Kurt Interviews, where truth has a stake, and everyone's welcome.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_02: Oh, well, hello, friends.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_02: Welcome back for another episode of Elsa Kurt Interviews.
• 0:47
  SPEAKER_02: Today I have a fabulous guest.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_02: Um, she is coming on the show for a thoughtful conversation about creativity, discipline, storytelling.
• 0:55
  SPEAKER_02: Oh, and of course, her book series and so much more.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_02: Welcome to the show.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_04: Oh, thank you for inviting me.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_02: Absolutely.
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_02: So um to start us off a little bit, could you tell us uh just a little bit about yourself and your journey, um, particularly your journey to becoming an author?
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_04: Well, um, I was one of those type of girls that wanted to try everything.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_04: Um, so I've all I kind of bounced around quite a bit.
• 1:23
  SPEAKER_04: Uh I did go to, you know, I went to college, but my brother went to college out of state, and eventually my dad couldn't pay for both of us.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_04: So I ended up joining the military um to get the GI bill.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_04: And I ended up in Germany, um, got my kill college bill, my GI bill, and then after Desert Storm, I was in Desert Storm, but not in Iraq.
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_04: I was in Germany because we were on a military intelligence base.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_04: Uh, I got out, went to AM, went on my GI bill, and then I ended up in San Antonio, Texas, because I'm not a big fan of snow, and home was Buffalo, New York.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_04: And uh from there, uh I started, I married, I met my husband, married my husband, and I got into teaching because that's just more cooperative with having children.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_04: I mean, I he came with a ready-made family with three kids.
• 2:15
  SPEAKER_04: Um, now we've been made, we've been married 30 years.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_04: We do have a 22-year-old son.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_04: And from teaching, I went to be a principal.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_04: And about 10 years ago, 10 years, seven years ago, maybe, I wrote a proposal.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_04: Uh, we I live in a small country town, and I do see a need, especially in the last 10 years, a need for some a different pathway for students who have trouble for whatever reason.
• 2:45
  SPEAKER_04: And I think during COVID, I there really has been a shift with students.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_04: There's a large increase in anxiety and those kind of things.
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_04: And so I created a I put in a proposal for an alternate school for kids who fell behind in credits so they could still get their diploma in maybe a non-traditional way.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_04: So I am a principal of that now.
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_04: We've been in in business for seven years and I have waiting lists.
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_04: Um because it's not a a shortcut for kids to get out of school early, it's a way for kids to catch up and graduate, especially if they have extenuating circumstances.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_04: Some of our kids have medical issues, uh could be anxiety.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_04: We had a student with really severe diabetes.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_04: Um and she had to wear an alarm on her whenever her blood sugar went low.
• 3:36
  SPEAKER_04: Uh, we had one with cancer, things like that.
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_04: Other kids who end up having kids, and of course they gotta work to support them.
• 3:43
  SPEAKER_04: There's all everyone has a different story.
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_04: But we have over a 90% graduation rate.
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_04: So I'm very happy, and a pretty good record of what they do afterwards.
• 3:53
  SPEAKER_04: You know, that you become productive members of society.
• 3:57
  SPEAKER_02: That sounds so incredibly rewarding, and and I I have so much admiration for that specific journey.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_02: Uh multiple parts, as we talked about before, when you're telling me a little bit uh about what you do.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_02: Um, you know, my first thought was, wow, I was a kid that really could have used somebody like you in my learning um journey.
• 4:22
  SPEAKER_02: And uh I would imagine, and the other side of that is I I have spoken to people who have wanted to or tried to or in the process of starting a school.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_02: And um I there's a lot, there's a lot to do with that.
• 4:36
  SPEAKER_02: It's very, very involved.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_02: So um you I you were gracious to downplay, I'm sure, how much work went into making this happen.
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_02: So it's a it's a real beautiful testament to your dedication to bettering the lives of uh of kids that just need a different approach.
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_02: So I love that you do that.
• 4:58
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_04: They do need a different approach.
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_04: And I always tell them, well, you'll be taking care of me when I'm in the nursing home.
• 5:05
  SPEAKER_04: So I want you uh a little bit better educated.
• 5:08
  SPEAKER_02: I I bet they will do it too.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_02: I bet they will.
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_02: I suspect they just adore the daylights out of you, don't they?
• 5:15
  SPEAKER_04: They're pretty good.
• 5:18
  SPEAKER_02: I bet they're over in the corner nodding, yes.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_02: We could sit here and have a really fun just conversation, could we?
• 5:25
  SPEAKER_02: But I I will get back on track.
• 5:29
  SPEAKER_02: Um, so tell me what first inspired you to start writing?
• 5:34
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, and I'm always interested in that as a fellow writer.
• 5:36
  SPEAKER_02: I always love hearing other people's journeys, but um, what inspired you to start writing and how did you know this was the right time to release, or I should say when you first released your first book?
• 5:47
  SPEAKER_02: How did you know it was the right time?
• 5:49
  SPEAKER_04: Well, you know, I tried many times and I never could get started.
• 5:53
  SPEAKER_04: You know what I'm saying?
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_04: I couldn't come down with how do I even start?
• 5:56
  SPEAKER_04: And so then you just give up.
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_04: And so uh it's kind of an emotional story, so bear with me.
• 6:03
  SPEAKER_04: Um, a second cousin of mine uh ended up killing herself as a young girl.
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_04: And her mother, my cousin, shared her diary with me because with this school, you know, then these kids all with their stories, it's not that uncommon.
• 6:19
  SPEAKER_04: It's not uncommon for any regular school, and it certainly is not uncommon in my school.
• 6:24
  SPEAKER_04: And uh I've had kids with issues with cutting themselves or attempting to hurt themselves seriously, and then the year that year, the past year before I started writing the book, I had two friends lose their children to suicide.
• 6:43
  SPEAKER_04: Uh, one, I consider myself friends with the mom, but he was the best friend of my son.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_04: And I mean, I feel like I helped raise him because he was around for so many years, and I took him everywhere, you know, with DJ, if DJ wanted him to go.
• 6:59
  SPEAKER_04: And that is the his mother was I used the parents' name as the author to that book.
• 7:05
  SPEAKER_04: Um it's actually this one.
• 7:07
  SPEAKER_04: Lisa was his mother, yeah, and then the other Clark was one of my good friends from high school, his son committed suicide.
• 7:15
  SPEAKER_04: Wow, and it was devastating.
• 7:18
  SPEAKER_04: And so that's where the last thing it was my tribute to them.
• 7:21
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, beautiful tribute.
• 7:23
  SPEAKER_04: And um, but I mean I wanted the book to be about the book.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_04: I haven't advertised it, like my the publishers will send out Facebook notices or whatever and Twitter in them and X.
• 7:34
  SPEAKER_04: I don't do that.
• 7:36
  SPEAKER_04: Um, and I told them not this one, and I don't really I don't really make any money on it, so it's not because it's not about that.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_04: And like I didn't put my picture or anything on there.
• 7:46
  SPEAKER_04: I wanted to be completely about that topic, that topic.
• 7:50
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, yeah, I guess it would be one for kids to read because the ending, of course, isn't that happy.
• 7:57
  SPEAKER_04: Um, but it's good for because all these years working with students and in this, I I don't understand.
• 8:05
  SPEAKER_04: I I don't understand what goes through these kids' heads, you know what I'm saying?
• 8:09
  SPEAKER_04: Um my own granddaughter struggled with uh uh suicidal tendencies or thoughts or whatever.
• 8:16
  SPEAKER_04: And so and she has a good life, you know.
• 8:19
  SPEAKER_04: I don't understand it.
• 8:20
  SPEAKER_04: And so I read her journal, and it's like, oh my god, that's what they think.
• 8:25
  SPEAKER_04: Oh my god, it's constantly in their head.
• 8:27
  SPEAKER_04: And I thought, you know what, I can incorporate the story of all these different students and kids I've known into this one character.
• 8:35
  SPEAKER_04: Of course, it's gonna resemble the the girl, my cousin, because it's her diary, it's gonna resemble somewhat mostly to her, but I put characteristics to each student that I knew in there, and uh maybe it would help parents understand.
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
• 8:53
  SPEAKER_04: Um that's where it all started.
• 8:56
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, wow.
• 8:57
  SPEAKER_02: Well, that's that is a very intense start to it.
• 9:01
  SPEAKER_02: And I, you know, part of me wonders like that had to be also kind of draining too, like once you pour so much of that out.
• 9:09
  SPEAKER_02: Did you need time um before you started writing the the next work or the next manuscript um just to uh I don't know, take a break from that, or was that like a catalyst for you to write more?
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_04: It was more of a catalyst.
• 9:26
  SPEAKER_04: Um that first book was like a calling, like I couldn't get it out of my head.
• 9:31
  SPEAKER_04: When I went to the funeral for my son's friend, it just completely destroyed me.
• 9:35
  SPEAKER_04: Because you know, you see your son laying there, you know what I'm saying?
• 9:38
  SPEAKER_04: Of course, I just empathize with the mom.
• 9:41
  SPEAKER_04: Oh my god, how could you I'm how could you live through something like that, you know?
• 9:46
  SPEAKER_04: And uh it was it was it really affected me and uh emotionally, and so then when I was done with that, it was very therapeutic because my mom died last year, just a few months before that.
• 9:58
  SPEAKER_04: And uh it was very therapeutic because I can say I've gone through most of my life without having to deal with too much death, you know, and uh for me to understand and to adapt, I guess.
• 10:11
  SPEAKER_04: And I thought, well, that's gonna help maybe other parents.
• 10:14
  SPEAKER_04: Um maybe, hopefully, that's my hope.
• 10:17
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, yeah.
• 10:18
  SPEAKER_04: I've had a few people, I've had a few people, uh, what do you call it, rate it on Amazon and they it was very encouraging.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_02: Nice.
• 10:28
  SPEAKER_04: If it helps somebody, then I'm happy.
• 10:30
  SPEAKER_02: I love that.
• 10:31
  SPEAKER_02: I love the the spirit that you wrote that in.
• 10:33
  SPEAKER_02: That's beautiful.
• 10:34
  SPEAKER_02: Um your your book series is quite uh a different lane than that one, right?
• 10:42
  SPEAKER_02: Like like totally different day and night.
• 10:45
  SPEAKER_02: Let's uh let's talk a little bit about that.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_02: The the name of the series is it's the the witch series, correct?
• 10:51
  SPEAKER_02: Is that right?
• 10:52
  SPEAKER_04: We just call it the witch series.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_02: The witch series.
• 10:54
  SPEAKER_04: So uh since my mom passed last year, I go with my dad on vacation, you know, or I do the things he used to do with my mom.
• 11:04
  SPEAKER_04: Um, he has these little annual things he used to take her to all the time.
• 11:07
  SPEAKER_04: I fly up there sometimes for the weekend just so I can go with him so he's not alone to go to these things he took my mom to.
• 11:13
  SPEAKER_04: And one of the things was um vacation.
• 11:17
  SPEAKER_04: And so I picked it and uh I it wasn't originally in my mind to go here, but I was gonna we will he want to do a train ride, so I booked a train ride to Boston, which was fantastic.
• 11:27
  SPEAKER_04: And then I real found out that Salem was only like 15 minutes from Boston, and I'm like, oh dad, we gotta go to Salem, you know, and uh because any anything which I like it, and so we did, and I just found it so fascinating.
• 11:42
  SPEAKER_04: I just loved it.
• 11:43
  SPEAKER_04: Now it was the summer.
• 11:44
  SPEAKER_04: If you go or anybody else goes, I would recommend October, but of course it's gonna be much more busy and much more colder.
• 11:52
  SPEAKER_04: Oh, yeah, but it was fantastic, and I went and uh I'm a I was a former biology teacher, um, both in high school and uh junior college, and so I believe in the sciences, you know what I'm saying?
• 12:05
  SPEAKER_04: But I also believe in a lot of the herbal medicines because uh, you know, the medicines came from somewhere, and uh so like willow bark tea, that's has the same component as aspirin, and so it does work as a pain reliever, and that's what they used to use.
• 12:22
  SPEAKER_04: Um, and so I do believe in a lot of these natural remedies, and then you you probably know as you get older, you try to get away from so many chemical pills or manufactured pills, and you want to use more natural stuff.
• 12:34
  SPEAKER_04: So, doing the research that I was doing on the witches, I learned a lot more of that kind of thing, you know, and I find that fascinating.
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_04: I love history, any kind of history, really.
• 12:45
  SPEAKER_04: Um, and so I get to look into a lot of the history there, and it just uh I but I I'm not necessarily a believer in all the supernatural stuff.
• 12:54
  SPEAKER_04: I mean, I think it's interesting and and and entertaining, but not necessarily true, if that makes sense, right?
• 13:01
  SPEAKER_04: Um, but I went to the one witch store in Salem, and it was uh that I really, really loved.
• 13:07
  SPEAKER_04: It was uh called I'm trying to look for the name, Crow Haven Corner.
• 13:12
  SPEAKER_04: Can you see that?
• 13:13
  SPEAKER_04: Oh, yeah, yeah.
• 13:14
  SPEAKER_04: Crow Haven Corner, and I guess it's the oldest witch shop in Salem.
• 13:19
  SPEAKER_04: Okay, it's a big purple house on the corner, and um I don't know, I found it inspiring.
• 13:26
  SPEAKER_04: So uh when I left Salem, actually, I think before I left Salem, I started working on it.
• 13:31
  SPEAKER_04: Wow, and just like with the diary, you know, the diary, because I had the um I had the journal, it kind of gave me an outline of events.
• 13:42
  SPEAKER_04: So that's what got me over.
• 13:44
  SPEAKER_04: How do I get started?
• 13:45
  SPEAKER_04: You know what I'm saying?
• 13:46
  SPEAKER_04: It got me over that initial hump that I could never get over before.
• 13:49
  SPEAKER_04: And then, of course, with the amulets for Salem, I had the outline of the real history.
• 13:56
  SPEAKER_04: So there's a lot of historical information that's accurate in the book, but the main characters that I weave around that story are fictional, so it's kind of like an outline there, too, you know what I'm saying?
• 14:08
  SPEAKER_02: Sure, yeah, absolutely.
• 14:10
  SPEAKER_04: So that's that's how it worked for me.
• 14:14
  SPEAKER_02: That's so great.
• 14:15
  SPEAKER_02: You have such a great uh marriage of uh analytical and creative mind, and so that had to be so beneficial.
• 14:24
  SPEAKER_02: And so, so I always say that there's two types of writers there's um plotters and there's panters, you know.
• 14:31
  SPEAKER_02: So the plotters, of course, they outline, they they have everything lined up and ready and they'd love to research and do all of those things.
• 14:38
  SPEAKER_02: And the phers, like me, just sit down and write.
• 14:41
  SPEAKER_02: And it's you know, a easier process in one way, a much more difficult process on the other end of it when you go to do the editing and stuff like that, because there's really so much more work to do because you're just you're just you know free, free writing forming reference writing, basically.
• 14:59
  SPEAKER_02: And uh so, but for you, you're you've got both like in like probably it sounds like a really perfect balance.
• 15:07
  SPEAKER_02: So, did it make the writing process for you um easier to just uh to have the kind of brain that you have?
• 15:15
  SPEAKER_04: You know, I I never thought of it the way you just explained it, but I would say that is a pretty accurate description because I do get the um what did you call the first one?
• 15:23
  SPEAKER_04: Plotter?
• 15:24
  SPEAKER_02: The plotter, yeah.
• 15:25
  SPEAKER_04: I do do that from the scientific background I have.
• 15:28
  SPEAKER_04: And but really uh my imagination took over with you know the story after I had the outline and like it it came out, you know.
• 15:39
  SPEAKER_04: Um, it's almost like sometimes I remember not can't wait till I sit down to start writing to see what comes out of my head next.
• 15:45
  SPEAKER_04: Just like when you are reading a book, you can't put it down because you want to see what happens next.
• 15:49
  SPEAKER_04: It was the same way.
• 15:50
  SPEAKER_02: Yes.
• 15:51
  SPEAKER_02: Did you know right from the beginning that it was gonna be a multi-book series?
• 15:55
  SPEAKER_04: No, no, but I didn't want the story to end because I was waiting to see what would happen next.
• 16:02
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, I totally get that.
• 16:03
  SPEAKER_02: Everyone, all the writers in the room are nodding their head yes, like we all get that completely.
• 16:09
  SPEAKER_02: Um, so there's three books right now, and are there's more coming, yes?
• 16:14
  SPEAKER_04: Yes, there's three on Amazon, and what it is is you know, this is her amulus was the main thing she used in Salem to save witches, and of course, that's where it is.
• 16:26
  SPEAKER_04: The second book she used more talisman, so it's talisman in Andover, and Andover did have witch trials, so of course there was a historical background in that book.
• 16:35
  SPEAKER_03: Wow.
• 16:35
  SPEAKER_04: The third one was potions in Norfolk, and of course, I mean, none of them are are were as large as Salem.
• 16:42
  SPEAKER_04: Salem is the most well-known because it was the most people, and of course, and I substituted three characters, uh, three people that were actually hung hung for my three fictional characters.
• 16:53
  SPEAKER_02: Oh wow.
• 16:54
  SPEAKER_04: So it's you know, I'm actually it was two that were hung.
• 16:57
  SPEAKER_04: So there were 18 true stories in there as far as what happened to them.
• 17:01
  SPEAKER_04: But I mean, that's not the main point of the book.
• 17:03
  SPEAKER_04: I don't focus on the death, sure.
• 17:05
  SPEAKER_04: Um, and the two that were hung fictional, they replaced two that were really hung, but the same number of ki people that died there at that time is the same.
• 17:16
  SPEAKER_04: So um it's it's really a story about like the girl is a witch, but they're more like herbalists, you know what I'm saying?
• 17:26
  SPEAKER_03: Right, right.
• 17:27
  SPEAKER_04: And um, I mean it gets a little bit more witchy as the series goes on because you know it just organically happens that way to keep the story going.
• 17:36
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, absolutely.
• 17:37
  SPEAKER_02: And it's fiction, you get to do whatever you want.
• 17:39
  SPEAKER_04: And it's fiction, yes, you can explain anything away.
• 17:43
  SPEAKER_04: So um it was and I got to research the history, which of course I love, and um I I will pick up stuff or buy stuff or whatever to, and I'm like, you know, that's pretty interesting.
• 17:54
  SPEAKER_04: Let me incorporate in that story.
• 17:56
  SPEAKER_04: So um all that stuff is uh interesting.
• 18:00
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I love all the aspects of this.
• 18:03
  SPEAKER_02: I uh particularly I love the the historical nods throughout it that it's very historical based.
• 18:10
  SPEAKER_02: Is the the um the setting of this story present day or is it set in the past?
• 18:16
  SPEAKER_02: In the past.
• 18:16
  SPEAKER_02: Or is it over trials?
• 18:18
  SPEAKER_02: Okay, it's set during then.
• 18:19
  SPEAKER_02: Okay, I wasn't sure if it was like a you know, like revisiting, you know, different points, or I get it.
• 18:24
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you.
• 18:26
  SPEAKER_02: Um so for you, what has been the most challenging part of your writing process?
• 18:33
  SPEAKER_04: Um, I have to learn patience.
• 18:35
  SPEAKER_04: Uh, I've never been really good with that.
• 18:37
  SPEAKER_04: Um, but I can't say it's really been challenging too much because it's been like a hobby.
• 18:42
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 18:43
  SPEAKER_04: Because I know I have my or maybe just finding the right time.
• 18:46
  SPEAKER_04: I live on a farm in Texas.
• 18:48
  SPEAKER_02: Nice.
• 18:49
  SPEAKER_04: So uh there's lots of there's animals and stuff I take care of.
• 18:52
  SPEAKER_04: Uh on the side, I do wildlife rehabilitator.
• 18:56
  SPEAKER_04: So people will bring injured animals and I care for them till they can survive on their own and then they I let them go.
• 19:03
  SPEAKER_02: So I'll be at your place in uh in about 24 hours.
• 19:08
  unknown: Right.
• 19:09
  SPEAKER_02: I'm going to come hang out with you.
• 19:11
  SPEAKER_02: So just it's you see some blonde lady knocking on your door.
• 19:14
  SPEAKER_02: Right.
• 19:15
  SPEAKER_04: It's just me.
• 19:16
  SPEAKER_04: So yeah, no.
• 19:17
  SPEAKER_04: Um, right now I I'm a little slim.
• 19:19
  SPEAKER_04: I don't do as much as I used to when my mom got sick.
• 19:22
  SPEAKER_04: She had dementia.
• 19:24
  SPEAKER_04: Um, I brought her down to Texas, her and my dad, and I helped take care of them.
• 19:29
  SPEAKER_04: Uh and uh I really backed off doing the wildlife.
• 19:34
  SPEAKER_04: I mean, I'm getting back into it, but I'm just not doing as much.
• 19:38
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, right now I have an owl.
• 19:40
  SPEAKER_02: Oh, that's so cool.
• 19:42
  SPEAKER_04: And owls are cool.
• 19:43
  SPEAKER_02: That is, oh my goodness.
• 19:45
  SPEAKER_02: I'm so envious.
• 19:46
  SPEAKER_02: You're living my dream life right now.
• 19:48
  SPEAKER_04: It is a dream life, it's just not, you know, as long as you are okay getting dirty.
• 19:53
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah, I love it.
• 19:54
  SPEAKER_02: I love it.
• 19:54
  SPEAKER_02: I'm totally good with that.
• 19:56
  SPEAKER_02: Tell me about your who influences you as a writer.
• 20:00
  SPEAKER_02: Do you have like a uh like a big influence?
• 20:03
  SPEAKER_04: Absolutely.
• 20:04
  SPEAKER_04: Um, I love Stephen King.
• 20:06
  SPEAKER_02: Oh, yeah.
• 20:06
  SPEAKER_04: Um, I love the way he connects his books.
• 20:10
  SPEAKER_04: Yes, you know what I'm saying?
• 20:11
  SPEAKER_04: Um oh yeah, and he doesn't, at least the books that I read, he doesn't focus necessarily on the gore, and that was what I was getting to.
• 20:18
  SPEAKER_04: It doesn't focus on the death of the gore.
• 20:20
  SPEAKER_04: It focuses, um, it's about a girl whose parents were mother and grandmother were brought into that.
• 20:28
  SPEAKER_04: They actually tried to escape the witch trials from Europe and go to Salem to get away to get away that choice.
• 20:35
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 20:36
  SPEAKER_04: And um, so I don't focus on the deaths, but it's more about and she saves girls who are accused, not girls, but girls and men who are accused of witchcraft who are not witches.
• 20:46
  SPEAKER_04: So it's really a different take.
• 20:47
  SPEAKER_04: It's about um a witch who basically saves non-witches from the witch prowess.
• 20:52
  SPEAKER_04: I would say and writes is my other one.
• 20:53
  SPEAKER_04: I love those series and how they connect them.
• 20:55
  SPEAKER_04: So um, wherever I go with this, I'm gonna try to be like Beth.
• 20:59
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I love that.
• 21:00
  SPEAKER_02: I love that.
• 21:00
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I I grew up being such an avid reader, and I feel like I subconsciously like dog eared so many different writers that I was like, that's my favorite, that's my favorite.
• 21:12
  SPEAKER_02: And I kept them in mind as I wrote.
• 21:15
  SPEAKER_02: And of course, certain styles of writing, you know, if not necessarily a specific author, but a certain style of writing.
• 21:21
  SPEAKER_02: Um tell me a little bit about who, if you had a particular bit of advice to uh give to someone who wants to start writing, no matter what their age is.
• 21:33
  SPEAKER_02: I know you're you're you know what I would even say, particularly a younger generation, since that is kind of who you speak to now in your day to day work life.
• 21:42
  SPEAKER_02: Um, what advice would you give them to write?
• 21:48
  SPEAKER_04: I don't think it would be anything unusual.
• 21:50
  SPEAKER_04: I think it would be something that everyone would advise like, don't give up.
• 21:54
  SPEAKER_04: Um, if they're having trouble getting started, really what helped me was finding something that had a basic outline to It already and then it's easier to create a story around it.
• 22:03
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 22:03
  SPEAKER_04: I admire Stephen Queen because I think everything comes out of his head and I can't take that credit.
• 22:08
  SPEAKER_04: Uh I needed something to start with.
• 22:10
  SPEAKER_02: There's always something that sparks it though.
• 22:12
  SPEAKER_02: There's always a spark, and a lot of times it's something odd, right?
• 22:15
  SPEAKER_02: And I probably the the catch is to just go ahead and go with it instead of dismissing it, right?
• 22:21
  SPEAKER_04: Right.
• 22:21
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 22:22
  SPEAKER_04: Um the spark I guess was wanting to help parents get through tragedy, I suppose.
• 22:26
  SPEAKER_04: I don't even know how God, I I hope I never have to live through something like that.
• 22:31
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 22:32
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 22:32
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 22:32
  SPEAKER_02: Awful, awful experience.
• 22:34
  SPEAKER_02: And I and I have no doubt that that is a book that will bring some comfort and understanding, probably.
• 22:39
  SPEAKER_02: Um, a lot of understanding.
• 22:41
  SPEAKER_02: Because I uh, you know, you touched on something earlier that you couldn't fathom, you couldn't imagine um what could be going through their heads to make them feel that that's the only answer, right?
• 22:51
  SPEAKER_02: And um, and you know, and I fall into that same category that, you know, I can't fathom.
• 22:56
  SPEAKER_02: And I think particularly our generation, um, we do have a harder time understanding the pressures that that they face and that they deal with because they're so different than what ours were, and it's a different mindset.
• 23:10
  SPEAKER_02: It's just simply different.
• 23:12
  SPEAKER_02: So it's like impossible for us to understand, you know.
• 23:17
  SPEAKER_02: And I and I think getting the kind of insight, you know, what a tragic way, of course, to get this kind of insight.
• 23:23
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but again, you took it and used it for good.
• 23:26
  SPEAKER_02: And I and I think that's such a a a treasure and a gift to be able to do.
• 23:30
  SPEAKER_02: Um, and it makes, you know, something tragic happen not for nothing, right?
• 23:36
  SPEAKER_02: Right, right.
• 23:36
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.
• 23:37
  SPEAKER_04: So I I hope so.
• 23:38
  SPEAKER_04: If it helps somebody, then it was definitely, you know, definitely worth it.
• 23:42
  SPEAKER_04: I I really, I really hope so, because it's just such an awful thing.
• 23:47
  SPEAKER_04: I the kids are just different.
• 23:48
  SPEAKER_04: They're just different.
• 23:49
  SPEAKER_04: And nowadays, um the way we were raised and even how we talked teachers and the type of relationship between a teacher and a student back then is not what works today.
• 24:00
  SPEAKER_02: Right, right.
• 24:01
  SPEAKER_02: That's so true.
• 24:02
  SPEAKER_02: So, so true.
• 24:03
  SPEAKER_02: Well, I I'm so excited to see all of the things you're gonna be doing.
• 24:06
  SPEAKER_02: I know you're not nearly done writing, so you have uh books four and five in the works, or are they already done?
• 24:13
  SPEAKER_04: Well, I finished book four of the witch series, which is okay, but the publishers are you know going through it and doing the editing process, and then I'm not quite halfway through the next book after that.
• 24:25
  SPEAKER_02: That's so exciting.
• 24:26
  SPEAKER_02: Do you um do you have ideas for other books or other books kind of like started in the background?
• 24:32
  SPEAKER_04: I do.
• 24:33
  SPEAKER_04: Um I always was thinking for a long time to do like a prequel of their ancestors in Europe in the 1600s, and then man, the a couple weeks ago I had this vivid dream.
• 24:45
  SPEAKER_04: And I remember waking up, that would make an incredible story.
• 24:49
  SPEAKER_04: But I didn't sit down and write it down right away like Mary Shelley did.
• 24:52
  SPEAKER_04: My dad was visiting from New York, and so I put everything off to spend time with him.
• 24:59
  SPEAKER_04: And uh then the other part of my head was thinking maybe I should write something like I did with voices in my head.
• 25:07
  SPEAKER_04: I came to my mom and dementia.
• 25:10
  SPEAKER_04: Um, I gotta, you know, these people can surprise you.
• 25:16
  SPEAKER_04: Uh I remember, you know, my mom ended up falling and my dad calling at night, telling me, worrying that this was it, this was it.
• 25:26
  SPEAKER_04: And I would flew up there and I was there in 24 hours, and we took her, she got taken to the hospital.
• 25:31
  SPEAKER_04: And uh she was in the hospital for like 10 days, I think.
• 25:36
  SPEAKER_04: I think 10 days.
• 25:37
  SPEAKER_04: And I flew up there and I helped him with everything because he just was unfunctional.
• 25:41
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 25:42
  SPEAKER_04: He he's he was 85 at the time, or 84, I don't remember.
• 25:46
  SPEAKER_04: 84, I think he's 85 now.
• 25:48
  SPEAKER_04: And so he just didn't know how to deal with anything.
• 25:50
  SPEAKER_04: My mom took care of it, they were the traditional parents.
• 25:54
  SPEAKER_04: Um then she went into uh rehabilitation because she couldn't walk because she was in bed school.
• 26:00
  SPEAKER_04: And I flew back up then to bring them both down to Texas so I could help my dad, he couldn't handle her by himself.
• 26:08
  SPEAKER_04: And actually, one of my former students who graduated took care of my mom for five hours a day.
• 26:13
  SPEAKER_04: I paid her and she did a wonderful job.
• 26:15
  SPEAKER_04: And and my mom was with us for an additional five months, and um, but on my plane ride down here, uh uh she did not do well on the plane.
• 26:25
  SPEAKER_04: She was pretty far along with the dementia.
• 26:27
  SPEAKER_04: So sitting there that long, she doesn't understand, she doesn't know where she's going.
• 26:31
  SPEAKER_04: She got a little difficult, and I'm sure we were a bit disruptive, although between me and my dad, we could handle her and calm her down pretty good.
• 26:38
  SPEAKER_04: And I asked the stewardess, um, do you mind if you hold everyone and let me get her off the plane first?
• 26:44
  SPEAKER_04: Because she's you know, the medicine isn't working anymore.
• 26:47
  SPEAKER_04: We got her sleeping medicine.
• 26:49
  SPEAKER_04: And uh she goes, Well, all I can do is ask the the people if they're okay with that.
• 26:52
  SPEAKER_04: I'm like, Well, okay.
• 26:54
  SPEAKER_04: And uh I I was not sure everything was gonna go okay.
• 26:58
  SPEAKER_04: And she got on the thing and just says, We have a passenger who is ran out of her medicine and wants to see if we can get her off first.
• 27:05
  SPEAKER_04: And every single person on that plane was patient and cooperative, supportive.
• 27:11
  SPEAKER_04: I even had one want to help us all the way.
• 27:14
  SPEAKER_04: He says, like my mom had to go to the bathroom.
• 27:16
  SPEAKER_04: I'll wait, I need to go to the next uh and I'm like, No, I'm fine, but thank you so much for helping me get her off.
• 27:21
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, it wasn't easy.
• 27:22
  SPEAKER_04: She she couldn't walk partly too.
• 27:26
  SPEAKER_02: So it was one of those faith and humanity moments.
• 27:29
  SPEAKER_04: One of those things that almost make you cry.
• 27:30
  SPEAKER_04: That's how wonderful people can actually be.
• 27:33
  SPEAKER_02: They can be.
• 27:33
  SPEAKER_02: We we tend to forget that in this day and age, that there is so much good and kindness uh all around us all the time, and and that's what we try and focus on, right?
• 27:43
  SPEAKER_04: Exactly, absolutely.
• 27:44
  SPEAKER_04: And I think dementia has touched so many lives nowadays.
• 27:48
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, absolutely.
• 27:49
  SPEAKER_04: I don't understand.
• 27:50
  SPEAKER_04: Well, we're living longer, that's probably part of it.
• 27:52
  SPEAKER_02: Right, sure.
• 27:53
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, oh yeah, we could I bet we could sit and theorize about that quite quite a bit for sure.
• 27:59
  SPEAKER_02: Um, I well, if you write that, I I know that there are so many people that will um find a a lot of value in that.
• 28:08
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that you do.
• 28:10
  SPEAKER_02: But I know I know there's a there's a lot on the list.
• 28:13
  SPEAKER_02: I and I I totally get that.
• 28:15
  SPEAKER_02: Um if you could, could you tell everybody where they can find your books?
• 28:19
  SPEAKER_02: If you're doing, I don't know if you're doing any book events in person anywhere, but if you are, you are more than free to share that if you'd like.
• 28:25
  SPEAKER_02: But wherever they can find you.
• 28:26
  SPEAKER_04: I know I'm gonna have a book event coming up.
• 28:28
  SPEAKER_04: I just don't know when because um Kevin, who is part of the publishers, is gonna set that up for me.
• 28:34
  SPEAKER_04: But right now the books are on Amazon, and the big thing is uh like voices in my head is a pretty common title.
• 28:42
  SPEAKER_04: You have to put Lisa Clark after it to find this book.
• 28:45
  SPEAKER_04: And then it's Amulets, amulets for Salem.
• 28:51
  SPEAKER_04: You gotta actually put the title in there, but the the last name is kind of complicated.
• 28:55
  SPEAKER_02: But no worries, books.
• 28:57
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and I will make sure, guys, as always, I will put the links to the books in the show notes.
• 29:02
  SPEAKER_02: You guys will be able to click right on it.
• 29:03
  SPEAKER_02: It'll take you right to the exact books in Amazon.
• 29:05
  SPEAKER_02: So nobody panic.
• 29:07
  SPEAKER_02: I know I didn't put the name up on there for you, the last name for you to spell it out or or you know, destroy it like I did right at the back of the show.
• 29:13
  SPEAKER_04: And actually, that's my middle name now because it was my daddy's name.
• 29:17
  SPEAKER_04: And I just I wanted to keep my daddy's name.
• 29:20
  SPEAKER_02: I love that.
• 29:20
  SPEAKER_02: I love I I love all of the the sentimental nods, the quiet little nods that you do.
• 29:26
  SPEAKER_02: They're so sweet.
• 29:27
  SPEAKER_02: I love that.
• 29:28
  SPEAKER_04: And then I had my current to marry another Polish man.
• 29:31
  SPEAKER_04: My last name is actually longer than this name.
• 29:34
  SPEAKER_02: You was it was like a competition for you.
• 29:36
  SPEAKER_04: You just wanted to see if you could I have four Zs in my la in my name.
• 29:41
  SPEAKER_02: That is uh more Zs than most people have any.
• 29:46
  SPEAKER_02: Oh, I love it.
• 29:48
  SPEAKER_02: I love it.
• 29:48
  SPEAKER_02: Oh my goodness.
• 29:49
  SPEAKER_02: Jodian, thank you so, so much for coming on today and sharing your story and and your books and everything.
• 29:55
  SPEAKER_02: And um, they sound phenomenal and phenomenal and so so interesting.
• 29:59
  SPEAKER_02: So thank you again for joining me.
• 30:00
  SPEAKER_02: I appreciate it.
• 30:01
  SPEAKER_04: You're welcome.
• 30:02
  SPEAKER_02: All right, my friends.
• 30:03
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you all so much for watching.
• 30:05
  SPEAKER_02: We will catch you in the next episode.
• 30:07
  SPEAKER_02: You've got a story worth sharing.
• 30:09
  SPEAKER_01: Now it's time to tell it well.
• 30:10
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• 30:19
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• 30:25
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• 30:34
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