“Every Serious Writer Needs to be Reading Craft of Writing Books Every Day!”... Renowned Southern Author Rhonda Browning Puts All Writers on Notice

Get comfy for this jam-packed, fun episode with award-winning author Rhonda Browning White as she spills the inside scoop on her debut novel, Filling the Big Empty. Inspired by her earlier short stories, this story follows a young couple navigating life’s highs and lows, from the coal mines and vineyards of West Virginia to the North Carolina Piedmont. Rhonda and the hosts dive into the magic of storytelling—from Hemingway’s famous flash fiction to the art of giving readers just enough to set their imagination loose.

This episode is packed with references! We've done the work for you with shoutouts to fantastic authors—check out Lee Smith, Bonnie Jo Campbell, Robert Olmstead, Stewart O’Nan, Russell Banks, and North Carolina’s own Ron Rash. Rhonda also shares her admiration for legacy writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Flannery O’Connor.

Robert chimes in with an example of six-word storytelling, like Hemingway's famous short story Baby Shoes: “For Sale. Baby shoes. Never worn.” Rhonda drops some wisdom on authentic writing (hint: when adding research, think a sprinkle of salt, not a pound!). They explore the quirks of the craft, like the art of flash fiction and the intimacy of first-person narration.

Rhonda’s take on good writing? Make sure to include redemption, conflict, authenticity, suspense, and setting that lets readers discover new places. Keep growing your craft, put in the work, and who knows, you might just follow in Rhonda’s footsteps. That’s an admirable goal, folks!

BOOK LAUNCH PARTY: If you’re listening before mid-November, catch Rhonda’s big Book Launch Party (free and open to the public!) on Nov. 16th at 3 p.m. at Olde Hickory Station in Hickory, North Carolina. She’s also planning additional readings at vineyards and bookstores across WV, NC, SC, and FL. Keep an eye on her website for event details!

Find Rhonda’s website here

Find Rhonda on Facebook here

Hickory’s favorite coffee spot sponsors REDPUBPOD, Taste Full Beans. Look for Rhonda (and often Patty!) on Saturday mornings, coffee & bagel in hand. Swing by and say hi—they’re always up for a chat!

Taste Full Beans Coffee, Tea & Café 29 2nd Street NW, Hickory, North Carolina. (828) 325-0108

Your RedPubPod hosts in this episode are:

Robert Canipe, Publisher, RedHawk Publications

Patty Thompson, Acquisitions Editor, RedHawk Publications

Buy all your Redhawk Publications books here!

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Dr. Hinshaw Gets to the Root of Redhawk Publications...Its Humble Beginnings and Its Continued Mission that’s Growing Exponentially

Go ahead, laugh it up. Redhawk Publications might be the Isle of Misfit Toys, but guess what? We wear that title like a badge of honor—and we deliver! As we close in on our ninth anniversary (yeah, nine years!) and nearly 200 books published, our little pirate ship is crushing it, taking names, and making waves in the literary world.

In this episode, Catawba Valley Community College President Dr. Garrett Hinshaw takes the lead and tackles the big questions with the college’s Redhawk Publications staff that everyone’s been dying to ask. Whether you've been a champion of Redhawk Publications since Day One or just stumbled onto this crazy ride, this episode will fill in the gaps of how we started, what we do, and how we do it.

Here’s the deal: We collaborate, brainstorm, and add a solid dose of creativity and humor while respecting each other (mostly). That’s how this dream team keeps moving forward. Every year, we’re picking up more fans and readers—not just locally but all over the state, the country, and, yep, around the world.

This episode's a bit longer than usual, but hey, it’s packed with a killer story about how we blend intrapreneurship, literature, collaboration, creativity, and good ol’ return on investment. Tune in—you’ll be glad you listened!

REDHAWK PUBLICATIONS HOST:

Garrett Hinshaw, PhD - President, Catawba Valley Community College

GUESTS:

Richard Eller, Executive Director RedHawk Publications

Robert Canipe, Publisher, RedHawk Publications

Patty Thompson, Acquisitions Editor, RedHawk Publications

And buy all your Redhawk Publications books here!

HEY, Y’ALL (Once again!) ….RP has a sponsor!

Don’t forget to visit Taste Full Beans in Hickory whenever you are headed our way.

Great coffee, food, and Redhawk Publications books, too! Be sure to tell the fine folks at TFB that you heard about them from RedPubPod!

Taste Full Beans Coffee, Tea & Café, 29 2nd Street NW, Hickory, North Carolina. (828) 325-0108

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David Dickson’s short story collection, “Down to the Root", is an homage to a life richly lived. It makes sense: the author has spent a lifetime collecting people and developing stories. And the folks he meets along the way are incorporated into vibrant characters you can’t forget. The RedPubPod crew had a great time interviewing this clever North Carolina author in July to discuss the impetus of his writing as well as his writing process.

David's childhood in North Carolina and summers in Texas all come into play. His stories are universal but have a unique Southern and Appalachian vibe.

We know you will enjoy this collection, so just go and get “Down to the Root” here!

And buy all your Redhawk Publications books at: https://redhawkpublications.com

HEY – RedPubPod has a Podcast Sponsor! Please patronize Taste Full Beans in Hickory whenever you are headed our way. Great coffee, food, and Redhawk Publications books, too! Be sure to tell the fine folks you heard about TFB from RedPubPod!

Taste Full Beans Coffee, Tea & Café, 29 2nd Street NW, Hickory, North Carolina * (828) 325-0108

Please FOLLOW, SHARE, LIKE, & SUBSCRIBE to RedPubPod to show your love for poetry because select words in unique order placed by poets matter!

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Hosts:

Robert Canipe, Publisher, RedHawk Publications

Patty Thompson, Acquisitions Editor, RedHawk Publications

Tim Peeler, Chief Editor, Redhawk Publications

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