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Meet DEBBIE BURKE:

Debbie Burke is a suspense novelist, journalist, and freelance editor from Montana. She blogs at The Kill Zone, an award-winning website that teaches the intricacies of how to write crime fiction. Her Tawny Lindholm Thriller series plunges the crime-solving heroine into fast-paced twisty plots with quirky characters and snappy dialogue.

As a conference speaker, Debbie’s interactive workshops are presented in a warm, approachable style. She is active in the Authors of the Flathead, Authors Guild, and International Thriller Writers.

When readers remark, “You look like such a nice lady but you’re always killing people,” Debbie reminds them that her murders only happen on the page.

About FRUIT OF THE POISONOUS TREE:

Jerome Kobayashi planted every cherry tree in his Flathead Lake orchard with his own hands. His wife’s ashes are buried there. His roots go deep in the land. For years, he’s turned down all offers to buy it.

But now someone won’t take no for an answer.

When Mr. K’s house is destroyed by arson, a body burned beyond recognition is found in the basement. Suspicion falls on Mr. K, who has secrets tracing back centuries to Japanese legend and lore.

His granddaughter begs for help from intrepid investigator Tawny Lindholm and her charismatic lawyer-husband Tillman Rosenbaum.

The truth is tangled in roots deeper and more twisted than the cherry tree.

Thanks for joining us!

Pamela

Join her with me, Pamela Fagan Hutchins, on Wine Women & Writing Radio, and do pick up her new novel, The Favorite Daughter. You'll be glad you did.About Patti: http://patticallahanhenry.comAbout Pamela (shows and books): http://pamelafaganhutchins.comThis is a solely owned and copyrighted production of Authors on the Air Global Radio Network.

The people and the land.

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free fiction downloads during onboarding and to receive new content (podcasts, serialized fiction, deals, and news) and support my work.

You’ll understand why when she talks to Kevin Christensen, whose leadership and bravery in combat are featured in the award winning documentary Apache Warrior.

Listen to learn about the real Wyoming, its values, and the culture.

Meet Kevin Christensen

Raised in Wyoming, strengthened by combat, resilient and ready to lead in Congress.

He is a Republican who is a fiscal conservative and a fierce advocate for individual liberty. Kevin values and protects the culture and traditions of Wyoming. He is a Republican for all Wyoming.

Kevin grew up in Casper Wyoming, attending grade school, middle school, and graduating from Kelly Walsh High School in 1984.

Kevin attended the University of Wyoming and graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1989. Kevin’s education also includes:

* Master of Science in Operations Research and Systems Analysis from the Florida Institute of Technology

* Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University in Washington DC.

He is a Distinguished Military Graduate of the University of Wyoming where he received a Regular Army commission in the Aviation Branch and immediately began his active duty career in May 1989.

Highlights of Kevin’s over 27 year distinguished military career include:

* AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter pilot with a Master Aviator Badge

* Commanded at Company, Battalion, and Brigade levels, culminating in the rank of Colonel

* Combat experience leading at the task force and battalion level in 2003 during major combat operations and again during surge operation in 2008.

* His command of Task Force Gunslinger in Iraq received the prestigious Valorous Unit Award for combat operations in Iraq.

* Senior Advisor and Division Chief on Joint Staff at the Pentagon where he provided military advice to our most senior military and civilian leaders, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Deputy Secretary of Defense.

​​Kevin is a highly decorated senior military officer:

* Army Combat Action Badge

* ​Legion of Merit

* Defense Superior Service Medal

* Bronze Star Medal X 2

* Air Medal X4

* Valorous Unit Citation as commanding officer of Task Force Gunslinger in Iraq

​Kevin’s leadership and bravery in combat are featured in the award winning documentary Apache Warrior

* You can watch the trailer here: Apache Warrior Trailer or the full documentary here: Apache Warrior Documentary

​​

Kevin worked in the private sector for the Lockheed Martin Corporation in Washington DC as a Senior Manager for Army Aviation and tactical missile systems

* Worked closely with senior Army and Defense Department officials in the development of next generation vertical lift platforms, avionics, missiles, and aircraft survivability equipment.

* Met with and testified before Congressional staff on procurement and funding status of key defense systems and programs.

​Kevin returned to Wyoming in 2019 to lead the High Plains District of BLM Wyoming through 2025​

* Worked closely with County and State leaders to manage public lands in 10 Wyoming counties (Natrona, Johnson, Sheridan, Campbell, Converse, Crook, Weston, Niobrara, and Goshen) as well as public lands in Nebraska.

* Significantly increased and improved access to public lands.

* Authorized the development of 5,000 new oil and gas wells in the Converse County project area.

* Served as an Agency Administrator in the wildland fire program.

* An advocate for increased access to Wyoming coal.

* Responsible for the Casper Interagency Dispatch Center for Wyoming fire program and the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center.

* Fought hard to limit federal overreach during the Biden Administration and retain Wyoming lands for the use and enjoyment of Wyoming residents.

Kevin is married to the former Amber Lee of Cheyenne Wyoming. They recently celebrated their 36 year anniversary together. Amber is the Chairman of the Casper Celtic Irish Festival.

​Kevin and Amber have two adult children, Trevor and Heather. Trevor works as a facility manager in Denver while Heather is a PhD candidate at the University of Virginia.​

Kevin is the proud dog dad for two Golden Retrievers, Roscoe and Waffle.

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free fiction during onboarding and to receive new content (podcasts, serialized fiction, news, and deals) and support my work.

Dawn Before Darkness

Dawn Smith, a veterinarian tech living in rural South Carolina, catches her boyfriend

in a series of lies and abruptly ends the relationship. Rather than accepting the

break-up, he begins to stalk and harass her, forcing Dawn to seek a restraining

order. Undeterred, he launches a deeply personal attack—suing for guardianship

and conservatorship of Dawn’s infirm mother. In court, he manipulates the truth

using evidence that he planted while the couple were still dating. And just when

Dawn thinks things can’t get any worse, she is faced with an impossible choice:

rekindle the relationship or lose her mother forever.

DAWN BEFORE DARKNESS, Lazarus’ sharpest and most surprising work yet, is

a satisfying yet unsettling thrill ride that reveals the dark side of the legal system

we all live in—and often struggle under—while blending the worlds of veterinary

medicine, guardianships, conservatorships, probate court, and the dangers and

risks of loving someone.

“Dawn Before Darkness is a thought-provoking suspense novel that balances emotional

depth with high-stakes drama. The major plot twist is nothing short of stunning,

powerful, and unexpected, pulling the rug out from under the reader in the best possible

way. This psychological thriller is compelling and will linger long after the final page has been read.”

—Feathered Quill Book Reviews

About Liz:

LIZ LAZARUS is known for her gripping, fast-paced legal and psychological thrillers that keep readers on edge until the final page. Her novels are praised for their killer twist endings and emotionally charged storytelling, often centering on sympathetic heroines navigating life-changing and high-stakes situations.

With a sharp eye for detail and thorough research, Lazarus weaves complex narratives that go beyond suspense. Her stories frequently explore meaningful social causes, shedding light on real-world issues while still delivering compelling, page-turning entertainment. Through her work, she strikes a powerful balance—educating readers while immersing them in unforgettable, suspense-filled journeys.

Interestingly, Lazarus initially ignored the calling to become a novelist—instead, she tackled other ambitions on her bucket list: living in Paris and learning to speak French, getting her pilot’s license and producing a music CD. But, as she explains, her first book “wouldn’t leave me alone—it kept nudging me to write to the point that I could no longer ignore the calling.”

Lazarus graduated from The Georgia Institute of Technology with an engineering degree and Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management with an MBA. She went on to a successful career as an executive at General Electric’s Healthcare division. Later, she joined a leading consulting firm as a Managing Director and is currently head of Operations for a healthcare start-up in addition to being a best-selling author. She splits her time between Atlanta, Georgia, and Bozeman, Montana.

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free fiction downloads during onboarding and to receive new content (podcasts, serialized fiction, news, and deals) and support my work.

David Bruns knows submarines and he knows book. The result? A new series—The Third Option.

Weapons Free (1) —A submarine cat-and-mouse hunt in the South China Sea between a US Navy Virginia-class sub and a Chinese submarine as the Chinese Navy tests a devastating new weapon.

Alpha Strike (2) releasing July 21 —A brutal jihadi raid on a medical camp in Africa takes a high-value American hostage, turning a regional strike into a national security emergency.

Written with J.R. Olson. https://www.bruns-olson.com/

About David Bruns:

David earned a Bachelor of Science in Honors English from the United States Naval Academy. (That’s not a typo. He’s probably the only English major you’ll ever meet who took multiple semesters of calculus, physics, chemistry, electrical engineering, naval architecture, and weapons systems just so he could read some Shakespeare. It was totally worth it.)

After meeting Tom Clancy and reading The Hunt for Red October as a midshipman at the Naval Academy, he served six years as a commissioned officer in the nuclear-powered submarine force chasing the Russians in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic. When the Soviet Union collapsed, David left the Navy for corporate life. For two decades, he schlepped his way around the globe as an itinerant executive in the high-tech sector, and did a stint with a Silicon Valley startup.

David is the author of more than twenty novels, including the six-book SynCorp Saga series about a corporate takeover of the solar system with co-creator Chris Pourteau. His short fiction has appeared in dozens of magazines and anthologies.

With retired naval intel officer JR Olson, he writes contemporary national security thrillers that look less like fiction every time he checks the news.

Thanks for listening to the Next Chapter with Pamela Fagan Hutchins!

The people and the land.

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free fiction downloads during onboarding and to receive new content (podcasts, serialized fiction, deals, and news) and support my work.

You’ll understand why when she talks to Kevin Christensen, whose leadership and bravery in combat are featured in the award winning documentary Apache Warrior.

Listen to learn about the real Wyoming, its values, and the culture.

Meet Kevin Christensen

Raised in Wyoming, strengthened by combat, resilient and ready to lead in Congress.

He is a Republican who is a fiscal conservative and a fierce advocate for individual liberty. Kevin values and protects the culture and traditions of Wyoming. He is a Republican for all Wyoming.

Kevin grew up in Casper Wyoming, attending grade school, middle school, and graduating from Kelly Walsh High School in 1984.

Kevin attended the University of Wyoming and graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1989. Kevin’s education also includes:

* Master of Science in Operations Research and Systems Analysis from the Florida Institute of Technology

* Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University in Washington DC.

He is a Distinguished Military Graduate of the University of Wyoming where he received a Regular Army commission in the Aviation Branch and immediately began his active duty career in May 1989.

Highlights of Kevin’s over 27 year distinguished military career include:

* AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter pilot with a Master Aviator Badge

* Commanded at Company, Battalion, and Brigade levels, culminating in the rank of Colonel

* Combat experience leading at the task force and battalion level in 2003 during major combat operations and again during surge operation in 2008.

* His command of Task Force Gunslinger in Iraq received the prestigious Valorous Unit Award for combat operations in Iraq.

* Senior Advisor and Division Chief on Joint Staff at the Pentagon where he provided military advice to our most senior military and civilian leaders, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Deputy Secretary of Defense.

​​Kevin is a highly decorated senior military officer:

* Army Combat Action Badge

* ​Legion of Merit

* Defense Superior Service Medal

* Bronze Star Medal X 2

* Air Medal X4

* Valorous Unit Citation as commanding officer of Task Force Gunslinger in Iraq

​Kevin’s leadership and bravery in combat are featured in the award winning documentary Apache Warrior

* You can watch the trailer here: Apache Warrior Trailer or the full documentary here: Apache Warrior Documentary

​​

Kevin worked in the private sector for the Lockheed Martin Corporation in Washington DC as a Senior Manager for Army Aviation and tactical missile systems

* Worked closely with senior Army and Defense Department officials in the development of next generation vertical lift platforms, avionics, missiles, and aircraft survivability equipment.

* Met with and testified before Congressional staff on procurement and funding status of key defense systems and programs.

​Kevin returned to Wyoming in 2019 to lead the High Plains District of BLM Wyoming through 2025​

* Worked closely with County and State leaders to manage public lands in 10 Wyoming counties (Natrona, Johnson, Sheridan, Campbell, Converse, Crook, Weston, Niobrara, and Goshen) as well as public lands in Nebraska.

* Significantly increased and improved access to public lands.

* Authorized the development of 5,000 new oil and gas wells in the Converse County project area.

* Served as an Agency Administrator in the wildland fire program.

* An advocate for increased access to Wyoming coal.

* Responsible for the Casper Interagency Dispatch Center for Wyoming fire program and the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center.

* Fought hard to limit federal overreach during the Biden Administration and retain Wyoming lands for the use and enjoyment of Wyoming residents.

Kevin is married to the former Amber Lee of Cheyenne Wyoming. They recently celebrated their 36 year anniversary together. Amber is the Chairman of the Casper Celtic Irish Festival.

​Kevin and Amber have two adult children, Trevor and Heather. Trevor works as a facility manager in Denver while Heather is a PhD candidate at the University of Virginia.​

Kevin is the proud dog dad for two Golden Retrievers, Roscoe and Waffle.

Look no further than today’s episode for the answers as I chat with Jimmy Skovgard, a great character himself, who is running for the US Senate in Wyoming. Expect your normal dose of “it’s real people, having a real conversation,” without (insert eye-roll here) influencer-production-values. ;-)

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free fiction downloads during onboarding and to receive new content (podcasts, serialized fiction, news, and deals) and support my work.

He is also the host of a Grass Roots Rising here on Substack, a podcast of homespun wisdom and political activism.

About Jimmy Skovgard

Fifth-generation immigrant. Fourth-generation Wyomingite. Husband, father, veteran, and now a candidate for the U.S. Senate. https://www.skovgard2026.org/

I grew up in the Big Horn Basin: grade school in Greybull, high school in Basin, and college at the University of Wyoming. My great-grandfather, Simon Skovgard, homesteaded near Basin in 1909. Like many of us, I was raised to work hard, speak the truth, and take responsibility for my actions.

I served 12 years in the Wyoming Army National Guard and was honorably discharged as a captain. I have worked in the private sector, run my own business, and spent my life grounded in Wyoming values.

I never planned to run for office.

I got off the couch in 2024 because the path of division, distraction, and fearmongering is wrong. Fear can sharpen the mind in a crisis, but right now it is being used to keep us angry and apart. Nothing is being built.

I have seen this in my own family. A brother who forwards link after link filled with half-truths. A sister who lives in the Big Horn Basin and worries that “illegals” will invade her home. These are not natural divisions. This is deliberate manipulation for control, and it cuts deep.

Why I Am Running

If manipulation can divide a family, it can divide a nation. That is why I am running. This is not about party politics or career ambition. It is about principle: about us, the people of Wyoming, being seen, heard, and respected again.

Our budget is a moral document. Every line tells a story about who is protected, who is forgotten, and who pays the bill. Right now that bill is drifting toward our children.

Wrap-up:

* Snow Ghost release date all formats: June 2nd! Patrick Flint #9!

* Dead Water is in developmental edits and will be ready for serialization in 1 month.

* All of our worldly (French) possessions are stuck in boxes and haven’t shipped yet… 2 months after they were packed up and picked up, so I have to buy all new catamaran bathing suits and clothes. Not happy.

* 1st 4 podcast guests booked!

Corrections:

* Catamaran trip is for Eric’s 63rd birthday, not anniversary.

* Serialization of DEAD WATER starts soon (I said Snow Ghost which has already started and will publish in full soon).

Join me for my next live video in the app.