“That’s what’s important about poetry; you have to wager something you can lose.”

Award-winning author Michael Loderstedt reveals the key to impactful poetry

Welcome to another episode of RedPubPod, where poetry, art, and a little bit of Southern charm collide in the most unexpected ways. Hosted by Acquisitions Editor Patty Thompson, this episode features a dynamic duo: poets Tim Peeler and Michael Loderstedt.

Tim, a writer since his college days at East Carolina University, kicks things off by introducing Michael, who he brought to the podcast. Michael, a creative soul from the Southern Outer Banks, shares how growing up on a quiet island (think salty air, vast skies, and lots of time to think) shaped Why We Fished. They bond over their love of art in all its forms—whether it’s the sound of a ukulele or a freshly written poem. Michael reveals the deeply personal inspiration behind the poem “Calling My Stepfather One Year After Mom Died,” and Tim gets into why good poetry isn’t about shock value.

It's not just Michael who has stories to tell. Tim, the son of a preacher and a lifelong lover of literature, shares how his upbringing in a book-filled house influenced his poetic voice and the inspiration behind Life and Times of Gudger.

Lastly, things take a fun turn when Patty asks the big question: What do these two poets think of Kendrick Lamar? Spoiler alert: Tim’s been a fan for years.

So, please grab a coffee (or something stronger; we don’t judge) and tune in to this lighthearted yet insightful conversation about poetry, art, family, and why these things come back to a good story. Trust us, it’s more than just words.

Check out Michael’s book Why We Fished

If you would like a copy of their new limited edition of Life and Times of Gudger, Tim or Joe can be reached at tpeeler4382@gmail.com

HEY! RedPubPod is thrilled to have Taste Full Beans as our premier sponsor in Downtown

Hickory, North Carolina. If you’re ever in town, swing by for fantastic coffee, food, and

Redhawk Publications books. Be sure to tell the awesome folks there that RedPubPod sent you!

Taste Full Beans Coffee, Tea & Café

29 2nd Street NW, Hickory, NC

(828) 325-0108

Don’t forget to FOLLOW, SHARE, LIKE, & SUBSCRIBE to RedPubPod! Show some love for poetry because carefully chosen words in the proper order really do matter.

Check out our Facebook page for our latest releases and featured events

Go to our commerce site to see our entire list of titles available for sale here

#RedPubPod, #RedhawkPublications, #TimPeeler, #MichaelLoderstedt, #WhyWeFished, #LifeandTimesofGudger, #Poetry, #Publishing, #Authors, #Writers #NCPoets

“Having a passionate acquisitions editor encourages you, but it’s also accountability. Someone knows you are writing a book, so you have to write a book. And you know you’ll be disappointed if you don’t.”

• Chrissie Dixon, Author

In this episode of RedPubPod, co-hosts Robert Canipe and Patty Thompson welcome author Chrissie Dixon to discuss her new inspiring book, No Jump in My Trunk. Chrissie shares the journey behind her uplifting parable about a little elephant who learns to discover and embrace her strengths rather than focusing on what she lacks. Written during the COVID-19 lockdown, the book draws from Chrissie’s experiences as a mother, speaker, and believer in the power of personal growth.

Through engaging storytelling and African village proverbs, No Jump in My Trunk offers a fresh take on self-help, making it accessible to readers of all ages. Chrissie talks about the lessons she hopes to impart—honoring one's unique gifts, overcoming self-doubt, and finding authentic empowerment.

During the book's creation, Chrissie impressed Robert and Patty with her innovative use of AI to illustrate No Jump in My Trunk. While some view AI as a threat to traditional artistry, Chrissie approached it as a creative tool—using her own vision, specificity, and critical thinking to direct AI in bringing her illustrations to life. In doing so, she became both the author and the illustrator of her book, proving that technology can enhance artistic expression rather than replace it. And it was a graphic artist, Ben Precup, who encouraged Chrissie to embrace AI, reinforcing the idea that it can complement traditional art rather than take opportunities away. (Shout out to Ben, a book cover designer for a few Redhawk books!)

We hope you will join us to hear about Chrissie’s four-year journey from reader to writer and how she hopes to uplift others along the way.

Check out Chrissie’s book No Junp in my Trunk here

Visit Chrissie's website here

HEY! RedPubPod is thrilled to have Taste Full Beans as our premier sponsor in Downtown Hickory, North Carolina. If you’re ever in our neck of the woods, swing by for fantastic coffee, food, and Redhawk Publications books. Be sure to tell the awesome folks there that RedPubPod sent you!

Taste Full Beans Coffee, Tea & Café 29 2nd Street NW, Hickory, NC (828) 325-0108

Don’t forget to FOLLOW, SHARE, LIKE, & SUBSCRIBE to RedPubPod! Show some love for literature because carefully chosen words in just the correct order do matter.

Check out our Facebook page for our latest releases and featured events

Go to our commerce site to see our entire list of titles

REDHAWK PUBLICATIONS HOSTS:

Robert Canipe, Publisher

Patty Thompson, Acquisitions Editor

Richard Eller, Executive Director & House Engineer

#RedPubPod, #RedhawkPublications, #NorthCarolina, #SelfHelp, #Inspirational, #Parables, #fable, #PersonalDevelopment, #Books, #Writing, #Authors, #AspiringAuthors, #Writers

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Famed Vermont Author Joseph Citro Tells it Like it Is Regarding 21st Century Publishing

Whoa! Patty gets her secret wish. It doesn’t happen often, but our acquisitions editor becomes the solo host and takes the crown as “Queen of the Pod” with guest veteran storyteller and Vermont’s own Joseph Citro.

Joseph isn’t new to publishing—back in the day, he was an author with one of the largest publishers in the U.S. But his novel The Gore ended up as an orphan. What’s an orphan book? In this episode, you’ll discover how Redhawk Publications’ publisher, Robert Canipe, hunts them down online.

Joseph is a proud fan of his home state, Vermont. All his novels and short stories are set in the Green Mountain State, and much of his later nonfiction work explores Vermont’s folklore and mysteries.

Patty and Joseph also go knee-deep into the state of publishing. Spoiler alert: it’s bleak now, yet it was pretty grim then, too. But here’s the silver lining—they agree that some of the best writing today comes from mid-sized and small publishers, where collaboration feels more personal. Joseph even shares his admiration for fame editor Max Perkins, a Windsor, Vermont native, and dreams of the days when editors had genuine give-and-take relationships with authors.

Joseph’s advice for aspiring writers? Finish what you write. It sounds simple, but new writers often get distracted and leave manuscripts unfinished. If nothing else, Joseph wants his students to feel the satisfaction of completing a first draft and seeing it through the editing process. Oh, and watch your point of view—it’s essential!

There’s always something inspiring about informal interviews with seasoned authors who’ve been around the block. Redhawk Publications was lucky not only to bring The Gore back to life but also to build a fantastic collaborative relationship with Joseph.

Check out Joseph’s book The Gore here

RedPubPod host for this episode is Patty Thompson, Acquisitions Editor for Redhawk Publications

HEY! RedPubPod is thrilled to have Taste Full Beans as our premier sponsor in Downtown Hickory, North Carolina. If you’re ever in town, swing by for fantastic coffee, food, and Redhawk Publications books. Be sure to tell the awesome folks there that RedPubPod sent you!

Taste Full Beans Coffee, Tea & Café 29 2nd Street NW, Hickory, NC (828) 325-0108

Don’t forget to FOLLOW, SHARE, LIKE, & SUBSCRIBE to RedPubPod! Show some love for poetry because carefully chosen words in just the right order really do matter.

Check out our Facebook page for our latest releases and featured events

Head to our commerce site to see our entire list of titles available for sale

#RedPubPod, #RedhawkPublications, #Vermont, #JoeCitro, #JosephCitro, #Novels, #Books, #Writing, #Authors, #Fiction, #TheGore, #Folklore, #Mysteries, #Publishing, #AspiringWriters,

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.