Novelist Spotlight is a gathering place for people interested in reading and writing great fiction and literature. This is where you will hear from the authors who write the novels and learn of their motivations, writing process, characters, struggles and successes. Novelist Spotlight is hosted by Mike Consol, a lifelong journalist and author of four novels.
In the spotlight is novelist Tanaz Bhathena, an award-winning Zoroastrian author of contemporary and fantasy fiction. Her young adult books include Hunted by the Sky and The Beauty of the Moment, both of which won literary awards. Her acclaimed debut, A Girl Like That, was named a Best Book of the Year by numerous outlets including The Globe and Mail, Seventeen and The Times of India. Her debut adult fantasy novel is titled Witch Daughter and was published this fall. Born in India and raised in Saudi Arabia and Canada, Tanaz Bhathena lives in Southern Ontario with her family. Learn more about Tanaz Bhathena here: https://tanazbhathena.comNovelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18noWrite to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com
17 Sept 2026
Episode 207: Novelist Spotlight #207: A look back at the life and writing of Charles Bukowski
In the spotlight in the late novelist and poet Charles Bukowski, as remembered by with David Calonne and Howard Sounes. Calonne is a lecturer with the Department of English Language and Literature at Eastern Michigan University. Sounes is an author, and his books include the title Charles Bukowski: Locked in the Arms of a Crazy Life.Charles Bukowski was a German American poet, novelist, and short story writer. His writing was influenced by the social, cultural and economic ambience of his adopted city of Los Angeles. Bukowski’s work addresses the ordinary lives of poor Americans, the act of writing, as well as his relationships with alcohol, women, and the drudgery of work. Learn more about Charles Bukowski here:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bukowski Learn more about David Calonne here:https://www.emich.edu/english/faculty/d-calonne.php Learn more about Howard Sounes here:https://www.howardsounes.com/ Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18noWrite to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com
19 Aug 2026
Episode 206: Novelist Spotlight #206: Writing lessons from longtime Johns Hopkins professor Mark Farrington
In the spotlight is Mark Farrington, who recently retired after nearly 40 years of teaching writing, the past 25 of them teaching writing programs at Johns Hopkins University. Consider his accolades:His short fiction has won the Editor’s Choice Award in the Raymond Carver Fiction Contest He was awarded an Individual Artists Grant from the Virginia Commission on the Arts Four times he was awarded the Outstanding Faculty Award in the Johns Hopkins MA in Writing Program He won the Outstanding Service Award from the Northern Virginia Writing Project And the Outstanding Alumni Award from the English department at George Mason University Farrington has just published his first novel, titled Loss of Life. The novel tells the story of 41-year-old Matthew Winton who awakens in a Virginia hospital after a car accident and has no memory of his life after the age of thirteen. Learn more about Mark Farrington and his writing instruction here: https://www.markfarrington.netNovelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18noWrite to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com
Who has been a guest on Novelist Spotlight
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Tracy Clark
Christine Estima
Hank Quense
Melissa Edwards
Ran Walker
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.9 / 5
11 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 54 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
72
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
90
Contact Novelist Spotlight
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about Novelist Spotlight
Who hosts Novelist Spotlight?
Mike Consol host the show. Published by Mike Consol.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes bi-weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Novelist Spotlight take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
Host of Novelist Spotlight?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
