Claim OwnershipBooks Cubed: Interviews, Raves, & Reads
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Description
I’m Melissa Banczak, author of the June Nash Mysteries, and co-author of the Roll-A-Prompt Writing Jumpstarts Series with Lisa Mahoney. When I’m not writing, I’m reading. I started this show to rave about new discoveries, chat with indie and small publishing house authors, and occasionally share from my works in progress. This is Books Cubed: Interviews, Raves, & Reads.
136 Episodes
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Good Adventures,
This week, it’s murder and mayhem as we discuss the audio drama, Simply to Die for! My guests are writer CJ Corl and actress Kait McNeal. It’s a bump in the night goodtime! Comment over on our YouTube Channel.
Links:
CJ Corl: found (infrequently) on most social media websites at @cjcorl
Roving Rogue Pro: found on socials at @rovingroguepro https://rovingroguepro.weebly.com/#/ Simply to Die For
https://rovingroguepro.weebly.com/simply-to-die-for-podcast.html
PRIDE & PREJUDICE, DIRECTED BY JOE SORIANO (Mar. 6-8 and 13-15) https://ksutt.ludus.com/index.php
~~~
What do I write? Thanks for asking. You'll find my cozies, portal fantasy series, and Roll-A-Prompt Writing Jumpstarts here:
https://payhip.com/MelissaBanczak
Thanks for watching. Now go read a good book!
Melissa
Good Adventures,
The Winter Olympics are my favorite time to veg in front of the tv at all hours so I'm thrilled to chat with author Joe Battaglia about his new book, Beneath the Rings, a thriller about kidnapped athletes at the 2040 Olympics and the reporter who must figure out why it happened. Comment over on our Youtube channel.
Links:
For more about Joe and to book him - https://prbythebook.com/experts/joe-battaglia/
Buy the book on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/BENEATH-RINGS-Joe-Battaglia-ebook/dp/B0FTGJHVL4
He'll be appearing in the future at Raven Books in Bryan, TX, 1105 S Texas Ave Ste 100, Bryan, TX 77803 https://www.ravenbooksbcs.com
Visit Joe's website to read more about the characters. https://booksbybattaglia.com
~~~
What do I write? Thanks for asking. You'll find my cozies, portal fantasy series, and Roll-A-Prompt Writing Jumpstarts here: https://payhip.com/MelissaBanczak
Thanks for watching. Now go read a good book!
Melissa
Good Adventures,
I was so happy to chat with Jeremy this week. He's in the middle of an eight book fantasy series and promises more to come! We talked about writing styles, making worlds your own, and the very cool way he sells in person at Renaissance fairs. You won't want to miss this one. Comment over on our Youtube channel.
Links:
March 5-8, 2026 Jeremy will be at
https://www.emeraldcitycomiccon.com/en-us.html
Booth #11308
Summer 2026:
Washington Midsummer's Renaissance Faire:
https://www.washingtonmidsummer.com/
The booth is Harkentale's Bookpub
Jeremy James Smith on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D3J1ZZ1X
Or at
https://harkentale.com https://vellum.pub
~~~
What do I write? Thanks for asking. You'll find my cozies, portal fantasy series, and Roll-A-Prompt Writing Jumpstarts here:
https://payhip.com/MelissaBanczak
Thanks for listening. Now go read a good book!
Melissa
Good Adventures,
I'm excited to have book narrator, Rebecca Brokaw-Sands join me today. If you are an indie author, you'll want to check out her work. She's not just a narrator, she's a voice actor who will bring your book to life. Comment over on our Youtube channel.
Links:
https://www.quillandchord.com
https://rebeccabrokawsands.net
https://www.tiktok.com/@rebeccaasands
~~~
What do I write? Thanks for asking. You'll find my cozies, portal fantasy series, and Roll-A-Prompt Writing Jumpstarts here:
https://payhip.com/MelissaBanczak
Thanks for watching. Now go read a good book! Melissa
Good Adventures,
This week I'm inviting you to tagalong on my trip to the Hemingway house in Key West. Comment over on our YouTube page.
Links:
https://www.hemingwayhome.com
~~~
What do I write? Thanks for asking. You'll find my cozies, portal fantasy series, and Roll-A-Prompt Writing Jumpstarts here:
https://payhip.com/MelissaBanczak
Thanks for watching. Now go read a good book!
Melissa
Good Adventures,
This week, I'm chatting fantasy books, maps with author-illustrator H. Gorlitz Scott, who also offers advice on how authors can help their cover artists. Comment over on our Youtube channel.
Links:
The River Cleanup club:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/reconcentralflorida/
heather@dragonmun.com
https://dragonira.wixsite.com/sivoa
https://www.dragonmun.com/
https://ltd.onlysocial.io
https://amzn.to/4qYWp5c
~~~
What do I write? Thanks for asking. You'll find my cozies, portal fantasy series, and Roll-A-Prompt Writing Jumpstarts here: https://payhip.com/MelissaBanczak Thanks for watching. Now go read a good book! Melissa
Good Adventures,
This week, I'm talking freak shows, book awards, and music festivals with award-winning Author, Mark Mustian. Comment over on our YouTube channel.
Links:
https://markmustian.com/
https://wordofsouthfestival.com/
https://www.yasminwilliamsmusic.com/
~~~
What do I write? Thanks for asking. You'll find my cozies, portal fantasy series, and Roll-A-Prompt Writing Jumpstarts here: https://payhip.com/MelissaBanczak Thanks for watching. Now go read a good book!
Melissa
Good Adventures,
This week, Leokadia George joins me to talk wolves, howling, and writing a children's book series about Trumpet the miracle Wolf pup. Comment over on our YouTube page.
Links:
https://nywolf.org/
https://www.amazon.com/Trumpet-Miracle-Wolf-Leokadia-George/dp/1954819595/
~~~
What do I write? Thanks for asking. You'll find my cozies, portal fantasy series, and Roll-A-Prompt Writing Jumpstarts here: https://payhip.com/MelissaBanczak
Thanks for watching. Now go read a good book!
Melissa
Good adventures,
If you celebrate, Merry Christmas 2025. I wanted to share some favorite books with you. You'll find links to them below. Happy reading! Comment over on our Youtube channel.
Links: Salem Anthology - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09XRBYGDM https://www.tiktok.com/@jprindfleisch AE McKenna - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D67ZZ6Z4 KJ Gillenwater - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BXTBQSPT https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FCTWQXG ~~~ What do I write? Thanks for asking. My cozy mysteries, fantasy, and Roll-A-Prompt Writing Jumpstarts are available at melissabanczak.com Go read a good book! Melissa
Good Adventures,
This week, I am chatting with science fiction author Christian Hurst about his award-winning novel, Lily Starling and the Voyage of the Salamander. We talk books, marketing, and beagles. Comment over on YouTube channel.
Links:
https://www.churstpublishing.com/
https://christianhurst.link/
~~~~ What do I write? Thanks for asking. You'll find my cozies, portal fantasy series, and Roll-A-Prompt Writing Jumpstarts here: https://payhip.com/MelissaBanczak
Thanks for joining me today. Now go read a good book!
Melissa
Good Adventures,
I had a great time chatting with Nancy Christie about her Midlife Moxie Books Series with characters over 50! And you can read them in any order. Each is a standalone. Comment over on our Youtube page.
Links:
https://www.nancychristie.com
https://www.gotprint.com/home.html
~~~~
What do I write? Thanks for asking. You'll find my cozies, portal fantasy series, and Roll-A-Prompt Writing Jumpstarts here:
https://payhip.com/MelissaBanczak
Thanks for watching. Now go read a good book!
Melissa
Good Adventures,
This week I’m chatting with Neil Christiansen about his you tube audio book series. He reads one chapter a week from his new book followed by behind the scenes commentary in the form of an interview. It’s a really cool project. Comment over on our YouTube channel.
Links we discussed:
Find Neil at: gavingayle.com
The novel is Malcolm Karma: Cold Turkey
Writer’s Ink Podcast (anywhere you find podcasts)
~~~~
What do I write? Thanks for asking. My cozy mysteries, fantasy, and Roll-A-Prompt Writing Jumpstarts are available at melissabanczak.com
Go read a good book!
Melissa
Good Adventures,
This week, I'm chatting with the owner of a new bookstore in Lutz, Florida, Small Town Stories. She specializes in Indie authors! The grand opening is Nov 22, 2025. If you're an indie author who'd like to apply to be carried in her store, check out the links below. To comment on show, visit our youtube page.
Links:
https://www.smalltownstoriesllc.com
Contact Elizabeth: smalltownstoriesllc@gmail.com
~~~~
What do I write? Thanks for asking. You'll find my cozies, portal fantasy, and Roll-A-Prompt Writing Jumpstarts here: https://payhip.com/MelissaBanczak Thanks for watching.
Now go read a good book!
Melissa
Good Adventures,
Fantasy author AE McKenna returns for a Roll-A-Prompt Writing Jumpstarts session. Today, we used the fantasy edition and rolled for an enchanted wolf, a mound of ash, and a corset. We set the timer for 30 minutes, wrote, and then read! It was a good time. Wanna play too? Try our prompt on your own and let us know how it went, or give us a video reply on Youtube. As always, we invite you to join us in a future session. Just leave an I-wanna-play-too comment.
~~~~~
Links:
The Roll-A-Prompt Writing Jumpstarts Series is available directly from us or retailers. If you write by hand, get the paperbacks. If you write electronically, get the ebooks.
You'll find fantasy author AE McKenna here.
Thanks for watching, and go write a good book!
Melissa
Good Adventures,
This week, I'm talking cats, pizza, and magic with urban fantasy author AE McKenna. Comment over on our YouTube page so I see it!
Links: Join her newsletter and buy books at https://aemckenna.com/
Donate to the kitties at https://ankenytnr.org/
~~~~
What do I write? Thanks for asking. Cozy misadventure, portal fantasy, and dice games for authors. You'll find my novels at https://payhip.com/MelissaBanczak
Thanks for listening. Go read a good book.
Melissa
Good Adventures,
I'm back from another hiatus with thriller author W.A. Pepper. We dive deep into icy storms and the fight for survival in his latest novel, One Icy Night. Comment over on our YouTube page so I see it!
Links: DoGoodR: A Tanto Technothriller [A FREE ebook for your readers to see if they like my writing style or stories (link expires in 2026)] https://dl.bookfunnel.com/qbsg22i83g
One Icy Night: A Rook Thriller [The link to the book we discussed] https://www.amazon.com/One-Icy-Night-Rook-Thriller/dp/B0D9WNT4G3/
How to Write a Mystery: A Handbook from Mystery Writers of America by Lee Child et al. [A Fantastic handbook comprising tips and stories from some of the best writers around] https://www.amazon.com/How-Write-Mystery-Handbook-Writers/dp/B08RP89FLJ/
~~~~
What do I write? Thanks for asking. Cozy misadventure, portal fantasy, and dice games for authors. You'll find my novels at https://payhip.com/MelissaBanczak
Thanks for listening. Go read a good book.
Melissa
Good Adventures,
Recently, I got to chat about one of my favorite subjects with romantasy author Nicole LaBrocca - libraries! Are you a fan? Leave us a comment on my youtube page (so I see it) and tell us about your local library.
Links:
https://nicolelabrocca.com/
https://ci.mount-dora.fl.us/calendar.aspx?CID=22
https://www.dclibrary.org/using-the-library/maker-space-and-machinery-fabrication-lab
What do I write? Thanks for asking. Cozy misadventure, portal fantasy, and dice games for authors.
Thanks for listening. Go read a good book.
Melissa
Good Adventures,
In this episode, it's horror! Lisa and I are joined by author Lacey Gordon. Lisa picked a random page in our Horror Writing Jumpstarts edition and Lacie rolled for:
A Kleptomaniac, a canoe, and a window washer.
As usual, we wrote for 30 minutes and I begged for another ten. And I still wrote a tiny story! Comment over on our YouTube channel!
Links:
Roll-A-Prompt Writing Jumpstarts - 13 editions and counting!
Lacey Gordon's Blog - Crazdwriter
Lacey's Publisher Rocky Road Publishing
Thanks for watching. Go write a good book,
Melissa
Good Adventures,
Today I'm chatting with a new favorite author, Gigi Lain. I thoroughly enjoyed her debut novel, Little but Fierce, and highly recommend it! Comment over on my Youtube channel.
Purchase Links:
Amazon
Google Books
Kobo
Gigi Lain Website
~~~~~~
What do I write? Thanks for asking. You can listen to some of my audiobooks for free on my YouTube channel and find ebooks, audio, and paperbacks over on my website.
Thanks for watching. Go read a good book!
Melissa
Good Adventures,
I found the funniest, weirdest, oddest, Vella serial story and you have to read it! Victoria Rocus, the author joins me for the chat. When you're done listening, drop down to the show notes and go read this story!
Comment over on our Youtube channel.
Links:
Neil the Squeal on Kindle Vella
Victoria's Website
Victoria's Linktree
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What do I write? Thanks for asking. You can listen to my June Nash Misadventure audiobooks for free right here on this channel and find ebooks, audio, and paperbacks at my online store.
Thanks for listening. Go read a good book!
Melissa
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