Dive into the hidden stories behind storytellers and their tales. Celebrate the power of human consciousness and original thought, rather than calculations by artificial intelligence. Each podcast episode shares conversations and live readings that only your imagination can bring to life. https://herschelsterling.com
commercialherschel.substack.com (https://commercialherschel.substack.com/s/the-arc-of-the-bard?utm_medium=podcast)
Nora Gaskin (https://www.noragaskin.com/books) is from Durham–Chapel Hill. Her writing career draws on her esperiences with her Dad, decades of professional experience, and an interest in the human questions behind crime and mystery. She had a 24-year career in the financial world, and in 2005, she turned her attention to writing fiction and nonfiction.
* Nora earned a bachelor’s degree in English, with Honors in Creative Writing, from the University of North Carolina and a master’s degree in English from the University of Washington in Seattle.
* Until Proven: A Mystery in 2 Parts (https://www.noragaskin.com/books), was published in October 2012 and was inspired by a real Chapel Hill murder on Christmas Eve 1963, though the novel itself is fictional.
* Time of Death (https://www.noragaskin.com/books), from 2013, is a nonfiction exploration of the actual 1963 murder and its lingering questions. Her father was deeply involved in supporting the wrongly convicted man.
* The Worst Thing (https://www.noragaskin.com/books), a suspense novel, was released in May 2018.
* Her third novel, Lammie Loves Cubby (https://www.amazon.com/Lammie-Loves-Cubby-Nora-Gaskin-ebook/dp/B0GP9N9ZPV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=354FSDKNVVVD9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4Fn0tlNbBHQ3rs1q0yKNyw.UD0QS8RwvBPxZ7vkPehIynY5dBePqTA5TDhA_zatQTQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=lammie+loves+cubby&qid=1782147774&sprefix=lammie+loves+cubby%2Caps%2C174&sr=8-1), was released on April 7, 2026. She reads two exerpts from this book, and touches briefly all of the above titles. Nora has a grasp on the various personality types involved around a crime scene, for sure.
We had a great talk, where she suggests three writing prompts. One of which I’ve never heard of and it’s rather unique. She tells us about her Mentor, a professor she had in College. We get into the importance of drawing on the unknown parts of the mind where stories come from, the universality of storytelling, and writing discipline.
https://twitter.com/LystraBooks (https://twitter.com/LystraBooks)
https://www.facebook.com/Nora-Gaskin-Tells-Stories-106880717633647/ (https://www.facebook.com/Nora-Gaskin-Tells-Stories-106880717633647/)
https://www.instagram.com/noratellsstories/ (https://www.instagram.com/noratellsstories/)
Mentioned: James Winter (https://substack.com/profile/145264283-james-winter)
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14 Jun 2026
CHERIL CLARKE — 024
Cheril reads time travel psychedelia, Trip (https://cherilnclarke.com/sensual-speculative/) and (https://cherilnclarke.com/sensual-speculative/)Rift (https://cherilnclarke.com/sensual-speculative/). Stories come from within us, and sometimes seemingly from elsewhere. AI is simply unable to do what humans can. She nails that whole thing.
I’m so glad we finally got into this conversation in this show. Cheril does some cool stuff in these books. She broaches relationships, healing, history and even inventing a new language… a new language as far as we know that is.
She’s written plays also (https://cherilnclarke.com/theatre/). Cheril confirms how writing plays is a great way to tighten dialogue. That has come up on several shows. Something else she noticed while reading copious memoirs, which are her favorite, as that it refines her ability to write First Person. Good to know. I’m on it.
It seems like her books Trip (https://cherilnclarke.com/sensual-speculative/) and (https://cherilnclarke.com/sensual-speculative/)Rift (https://cherilnclarke.com/sensual-speculative/) are most on her mind right now. Even so, she likes to write, and has written three Women’s Fiction (https://cherilnclarke.com/) Books.
Note how Cheril is also a musician and Business Writer. I can’t believe the amazing guests I have. Here are her links.
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054336025592) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/cheril_nicole_/) YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOhdfrDLJwGeVg-0ba9FygA) TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@cheril.n.clarke) SoundCloud (https://soundcloud.com/user-677135731) Phenominal Writing (https://www.phenomenalwriting.com/)
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7 Jun 2026
Amin Amat | 023
Amin (https://aminamatart.com/) Amat disrupts the OZ Universe. He has a unique take on Post-Dorothy dynamics. This illustrators foray into writing is a formidable storm. Listen Right Now
While I learned a great deal about the world of illustrating from an accomplished one, I was pleased to hear Amin’s description of storytelling, and particularly writing characters. He’s learned how the characters take over the process. Now he knows how it is for a writer. I LOVE IT.
Amin Amat describes storytelling as a “Conscious dream state that is constantly working whether you’re sleeping or not.”
I couldn’t agree more.
Amin read from Chapter One of The Road to OZ, which you can find on Kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/theroadto/the-road-to-oz-chapter-three). Here are his socials: X (http://www.twitter.com/aminamat), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/aminamatart), LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/in/aminamat).
I read Part Three of my Uncle Plasma Series (https://commercialherschel.substack.com/p/uncle-plasma-part-3-the-ride).
A fine way to be supportive of the efforts here is to get a shirt, or a hat, or some thing with my anti post-human messaging.
https://easytopia.printify.me/products (https://easytopia.printify.me/products)
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