by Betsy Fasbinder | Apr 22, 2020 | Podcasts
Having experienced gun violence in her own family, Hollye Dexter is a dedicated activist for gun reform, using her voice and her writing to advocate for change. With Women Against Gun Violence, she has lobbied for stronger gun laws both locally and in DC, meeting with members of Congress, speaking at City Hall as well as at rallies, in schools, churches and temples. Her work as an activist has been covered on NPR, PBS, The BBC, Al Jazeera. L.A. Times and Rolling Stone. Hollye is the author of the memoir, Fire Season: My Journey from Ruin to Redemption and co-edited the anthology Dancing At the Shame Prom. She has written extensively about gun violence and feminism, her essays being featured in anthologies, and her articles at Maria Shriver’s Architects of Change, Writer’s Digest, The Feminist Wire, Scary Mommy and others.
by Betsy Fasbinder | Apr 15, 2020 | Podcasts
Happily retired from he 35-year career in the dynamic and fascinating world of organ transplantation, Amy believed her retirement years would be devoted to family life and writing the next books in her murder mystery series. In an unexpected turn, called by the crucial issues of the country, the planet, and her community she found herself running for, and winning a seat on her local City Council. It’s a steep learning curve, but she’s climbing it.
by Betsy Fasbinder | Apr 8, 2020 | Podcasts
Amy Ferris is an author, screenwriter, and playwright and co-founder of Women of Our Words. Amy has become a widely-regarded maven of what she calls “Gracebook”, with her Post Coffee/Pre Wine posts in which she can as easily excoriate politicians for acts of despicable cruelty as she can wax adoringly about one or another fellow human for an act of kindness and generosity.
She is the author of a memoir, Marrying George Clooney: Confessions of a Midlife Crisis, and has edited and co-edited the anthologies: Dancing at the Shame Prom, with Hollye Dexter, and Shades of Blue: Writers on Depression, Suicide, and the Blues, a collection inspired after the death of Robin Williams. Her latest book, co-written with Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons and Justice Simmons, Old School Love: And Why it Works, is story of enduring love in all its forms and in all its messiness.
by Betsy Fasbinder | Apr 1, 2020 | Podcasts
Grant Faulkner is a champion for writers of all ages and all things storytelling. He is the Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and the co-founder of 100 Word Story. He has published two books on writing, Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo, and Brave the Page, a teen writing guide, in addition to a collection of 100-word stories, Fissures, and Nothing Short of 100: Selected Tales from 100 Word Story. His short story collection, All the Comfort Sin Can Provide is forthcoming from Black Lawrence Press in 2021. Grant is also the co-host of the podcast Write-minded. Follow him on Twitter at @grantfaulkner and on Instagram at @grantfaulkner.
by Betsy Fasbinder | Mar 25, 2020 | Podcasts
In her spellbinding, bestselling memoir, Not By Accident: Reconstructing a Careless Life, Samantha Dunn tells of her horrific injury when her horse inadvertently trampled her, nearly cutting off her leg, severing bones, vital muscles, and veins. Her physical recovery was not the only healing she required. The accident illuminated that Sam had long been leading a life full of risk-taking and injury to both her body and her heart. Here’s the story about how Samantha got back on the horse, literally and figuratively, healing her psychic wounds and broken relationships along with her body.
by Betsy Fasbinder | Mar 18, 2020 | Podcasts
Lucinda Jackson is the author of Just a Girl: Growing Up Female and Ambitious. As a scientist and business executive, Lucinda spent almost fifty years at three universities and four Fortune 500 companies where she experienced and witnessed the unequal treatment of women. This spurred her to write about how to change that dynamic and how to help women find their power.
After growing up in California, Oregon, and Washington, she received her Ph.D. in science in Illinois and continued speaking and serving on boards of academic, nonprofit, and industry organizations worldwide. After Peace Corps volunteerism in Palau and teaching science in Mexico, Jackson and her husband returned recently to their home near San Francisco where she enjoys her fantastic women friends, reading, exercise, and helping others. They are immensely proud of their three liberated sons who are scattered around the globe.
