#Travel – Brightside Story Studio

August 6, 2025October 5, 2025

Elizabeth Worley on life in Panama and Chasing Tropical Ice

After growing up in the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina, getting married young, having kids, and generally checking all the boxes, at 50, Elizabeth rescripted her life: moved to Panama, bought a coffee farm, came out as gay, and became an author. She’s entertaining, forthright, and an all-round delight. Join me in chatting with Elizabeth about turning her life upside-down and her dramatic debut novel Chasing Tropical Ice. Continue reading Elizabeth Worley on life in Panama and Chasing Tropical Ice

July 1, 2025August 6, 2025

Sandra Lording on the Dogs of Mansfield Book Project

Innovative photographer Sandra Lording has spent the past year taking portraits of dogs of Mansfield. It has proved a popular project, with over 80 dogs taking part, and Sandra has shared the results in a book. Read on to hear about the inspiration and challenges of project. Continue reading Sandra Lording on the Dogs of Mansfield Book Project

October 22, 2024October 25, 2024

The Ningaloo Coast

Our recent trip to the Ningaloo Coast was so memorable that I’ve jotted down the key points in case anyone is considering a visit and wants to know where we stayed and what we did. If that’s you, or you just want to hear more about our adventures while visiting this unique place, read on. Continue reading The Ningaloo Coast

December 2, 2023December 5, 2024

Christmas Book List 2023

This year’s Christmas list features 17 incredible books from the authors I’ve interviewed throughout the year representing a wide range of genres. From historical romance to science fiction, from an IT thriller to true crime, there’s something here for everyone! Continue reading Christmas Book List 2023

June 28, 2023July 7, 2023

Mariam Ottimofiore on being an eternal expat

Mariam was born into expat life and has since lived in ten countries and four continents. She married a man of German/Italian heritage, and they have three multicultural and multilingual kids. An economist by training and an expert on expat life through experience, she penned This Messy Mobile Life to help fellow expats. Has this eternal expat ever thought of settling down? Read on to find out. Continue reading Mariam Ottimofiore on being an eternal expat

February 2, 2023March 15, 2023

Elizabeth Shick on The Golden Land and writing about expat life

Long-term expat, Elizabeth Shick, has just released a novel inspired by her six years living in Myanmar. In The Golden Land, which won the 2021 AWP Prize for the Novel, Liz explores how we define our identity in relation to culture and country. Continue reading Elizabeth Shick on The Golden Land and writing about expat life

September 5, 2022October 3, 2025

Sarah Hawthorn on The Dilemma

Sarah’s successful debut thriller A Voice in the Night (see our previous interview here) is being followed by an historical fiction manuscript, The Dilemma. Clearly she’s a versatile author. We discuss the differences between the genres, especially the level of research required to write a period piece. Join us to find out more about her writing process. Continue reading Sarah Hawthorn on The Dilemma

March 2, 2022February 20, 2023

The Winding Narrative Turns Four

In a world of war, pandemic, floods, fire and earthquake, it’s hard to stay positive. Anything else feels trite, but we have to keep putting one step in front of the other. So as the Winding Narrative reached its fourth anniversary last month, it’s time to review progress. Continue reading The Winding Narrative Turns Four

January 7, 2022April 17, 2022

Bob Van Laerhoven on Alejandro’s Lie

Bob is a Belgian/Flemish author with over 40 books published in various languages, including French, German, Spanish, Swedish, Slovenian, Italian, Polish, (Brazilian) Portuguese, Russian, and – fortunately for us – English. Continue reading Bob Van Laerhoven on Alejandro’s Lie

December 21, 2021January 7, 2022

Happy Holidays 2021

I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you a wonderful Christmas and New Year! It’s been another year of challenges so we all deserve a glass of champagne. Continue reading Happy Holidays 2021