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Show notesAmani Roberts, author of 'The Quiet Storm', discusses the untold stories of R&B groups and the impact of media on their disappearance. He shares insights on the decline of black-owned media, the digital divide, and the challenges faced by artists in the music industry. Amani's book is a cultural manifesto that aims to correct the record on R&B groups and their forgotten stories. The conversation covers Amani Roberts' book, which includes personal stories, opinions, and historical facts about R&B groups. It also delves into the challenges of traditional publishing, the impact of R&B music, and the future of R&B groups. Takeaways
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Connect with Amani RobertsAmani Roberts, M.A. spent years behind the turntables before he spent years in the archives — and both taught him the same lesson: someone always decides which stories get remembered. His book, The Quiet Storm, is his attempt to correct the record on R&B groups — The Isley Brothers, The Temptations, TLC, Destiny’s Child, Boyz II Men — acts that dominated the charts for six decades and then vanished almost overnight once the industry, the media, and the algorithms moved on. Amani holds a master’s in Music Business from Berklee College of Music and a degree from Howard University, and his writing on music, culture, and creativity has appeared in Forbes, People, and The LA Times. His other books, DJs Mean Business and Resilient & Brilliant, circle a version of the same idea: that creativity and history live in places the mainstream doesn’t always think to look. He co-hosts the podcast Adventures in Business and has spoken to audiences at Marriott, Meeting Professionals International, and beyond about music, memory, and reinvention. Website: https://www.amaniexperience.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amaniexperience
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I just realised something exciting. My novel Ghosts Among the Gumtrees has 143 reviews on Amazon and averages a 4.1 rating, and on Goodreads it has 104 ratings and averages 4.2. This feels like such an amazing achievement considering I did all this myself as an author-publisher. I've been applying for BookBub deals and doing Written Media promos and they work. The third novel in my series, Mad Dawn Winter, has just had a BookBub deal and I had 9000 downloads and 2000 downloads from Written Media. It is currently free for another few days so get a copy if you want. https://www.amrapajalic.com/dawn.html   Show notesElizabeth Stores, a former lawyer and acclaimed historical fiction writer, discusses her transition from law to writing, the challenges of balancing writing with family responsibilities, and the persistence and passion that kept her project alive for a decade. She also explores the challenges of publishing World War II fiction and the impact of Nazi research ideology. The conversation delves into the psychology of eugenics and genocide, highlighting the modern-day relevance of understanding historical atrocities. It also explores the challenges in publishing historical fiction and the power of digital books. Additionally, it discusses the Historical Novel Society, the judging criteria for historical fiction prizes, and the importance of community in writing. Takeaways
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Connect with Elizabeth StorrsElisabeth Storrs former lawyer who spent over fifteen years researching and writing her acclaimed A Tale of Ancient Rome trilogy. Her latest novel, Fables & Lies: A World War II Novelis set in 1940s Berlin, follows Freyja Bremer, a museum assistant who marries an SS scholar to protect her family, only to fall for an archaeologist who exposes the lies underpinning the Nazi regime. Inspired by the true, little-known story of the curators who risked their lives to save Priam's Treasure and the Aryan myth manufactured by Himmler's Ahnenerbe institute. Beyond her own novels, Elisabeth is a driving force in Australian historical fiction: she co-founded the Historical Novel Society Australasia and established the ARA Historical Novel Prize, the richest literary prize of its kind in Australia and New Zealand, and is a longtime contributor to the History Girls blog. She lives in Sydney with her husband. Website: https://elisabethstorrs.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisabethstorrsauthor/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elisabeth.storrs/ new episode:Â 37-Persistence, Patience, Practice, Passion: Elisabeth Storrs on the Writer's Life14/9/2026 Show notes
Elizabeth Storrs, a former lawyer and acclaimed historical fiction writer, discusses her transition from law to writing, the challenges of balancing writing with family responsibilities, and the persistence and passion that kept her project alive for a decade. She also explores the challenges of publishing World War II fiction and the impact of Nazi research ideology. The conversation delves into the psychology of eugenics and genocide, highlighting the modern-day relevance of understanding historical atrocities. It also explores the challenges in publishing historical fiction and the power of digital books. Additionally, it discusses the Historical Novel Society, the judging criteria for historical fiction prizes, and the importance of community in writing. Takeaways
Chapters
Connect with Elizabeth Storrs Elisabeth Storrs former lawyer who spent over fifteen years researching and writing her acclaimed A Tale of Ancient Rome trilogy. Her latest novel, Fables & Lies: A World War II Novelis set in 1940s Berlin, follows Freyja Bremer, a museum assistant who marries an SS scholar to protect her family, only to fall for an archaeologist who exposes the lies underpinning the Nazi regime. Inspired by the true, little-known story of the curators who risked their lives to save Priam’s Treasure and the Aryan myth manufactured by Himmler’s Ahnenerbe institute. Beyond her own novels, Elisabeth is a driving force in Australian historical fiction: she co-founded the Historical Novel Society Australasia and established the ARA Historical Novel Prize, the richest literary prize of its kind in Australia and New Zealand, and is a longtime contributor to the History Girls blog. She lives in Sydney with her husband. Website: https://elisabethstorrs.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisabethstorrsauthor/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elisabeth.storrs/ Very happy today. Finalised edits for book 5-Whispers Behind the Wire and have formatted the manuscript, created the cover, and uploaded to Ingram Spark. Now I just need to wait for the file to be processed, and I can order the physical print copy and do a final read. Blurb: In a detention centre shadowed by corruption and silence, Seka shines a light on the abuses buried behind locked gates… Seka Torlak, an investigative journalist, is at an Australian immigration detention centre in 2001, to write a feel-good piece about a model asylum seeker. Instead, she uncovers the story of Afsana — a young Hazara detainee whose quiet defiance made her a thorn in the side of the authorities. The official story is Afsana voluntarily “returned” home, but the paperwork doesn’t add up. Determined to find the truth, she has herself locked inside as a refugee, undercover among the very people she has come to save. Behind the wire, Seka finds a system designed to break asylum seekers until they surrender their bid for freedom. In a place shadowed by corruption and silence, shining a light on the abuses behind locked gates can get you silenced for good. Will Seka win her freedom and her story, or will she become another silent victim of corruption? Coming 1 November 2026 https://www.amrapajalic.com/whispers.html  He built the world's first TV/web/mobile interactive series in 2005. He also spent 25 years rewriting the same screenplay before he let it become his debut novel. New on the Substack: my conversation with screenwriter-turned-indie-novelist Jim Shomos — on the COVID lockdown decision that finally pushed him to self-publish, the Picasso quote taped above his desk, why he thinks AI can't write an original story, and the mentor's line that's stuck with him for decades: "real writing is rewriting." Discipline over talent. Every time. Link in bio 📖 https://amrasarmchairanecdotes.substack.com/p/forget-the-rules-keep-the-discipline?r=i0jxk&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true  I just finished revising and formatting book 5: Whispers Behind the Wire. So happy. I was nervous I wouldn't make my pre-order launch date of 1 November 2026, and now I know that I definitely will. Bum glue definitely works. To celebrate, I'm doing a giveaway for book 3: Mad Dawn Winter to try and get it more love and reviews. You can download a copy from any retail platform or from my shop. https://pishukinpress.com/b/l5zSk  |
AuthorAmra Pajalić is an award-winning author, an editor and teacher who draws on her Bosnian cultural heritage to write own voices stories for young people, who like her, are searching to mediate their identity and take pride in their diverse culture. She writes memoir, young adult and romance under the pen name Mae Archer. newsletterSign up and receive free books.
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