Today I sit down with my friend and fellow writer, who's also apparently a musician, and truly just all around great person who's a joy to talk with: Traci Lambrecht. She chose the book we both read--The Partisan--and we sit down to talk about the book, writing, literature in general, her stint as a lead singer for a 90s indie/punk band, and why she chose this particular book for us to chat about.

Here's her bio:Traci Lambrecht spent most of her childhood riding and showing horses. She graduated with a Russian Studies major from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, where she also studied voice. Her aspirations of becoming a spy were dashed when the Cold War ended, so she began writing to finance her annoying habits of travel and singing in rock bands. Much to her mother’s relief, she finally realized that the written word was her true calling. Together, they had a long, prolific career writing together in many genres until PJ’s passing in December 2016. Traci continues to write like a maniac, with PJ’s spirit sitting on her shoulder, cracking wise.

You can preorder copies of Traci's latest book (Deepest Cut) which comes out 9/9/2025 at her home-base bookstore Once Upon A Crime: https://onceuponacrimebooks.com/book/9781639108770We name-check a number of books along the way:

First and foremost, Patrick Worrall's The Partisan (2022): https://amzn.to/3YVVV4l

But also his follow-up The Exile (2024)

and The Aristocracy (2026): https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/288057/patrick-worral

Robin White's Siberian Light (1997): https://amzn.to/45l0jOa

My book, The Life and Times of SKAborough Fair (2022): https://amzn.to/3SKedBX

Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina (1878): https://amzn.to/44HtLh7

Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov (1880): https://amzn.to/4kq1Syz

Fyodor Dostoevsky's Notes From Underground (1864): https://amzn.to/4mHGDKT

Thanks for listening and/or watching!

Your friendly intensely curious author, researcher, and indie publisher!

http://www.michaelmacbride.com

#unsolicitedreview #bookreview #unsolicitedbookreview #macbride #books #booktok #bookstagram #fiction #tracilambrecht #PJtracy #patrickworrall #ThePartisan #Monkeewrench #TheDeepestCut #Poke

Unsolicited book review Tuesday... except it's not on a Tuesday.

Today's installment: Conversation with Colin Scharf about Bret Eason Ellis' Less Than Zero Unlike most episodes, this time I sit down with my friend, fellow writer, musician, cinematographer, music producer, and all around great guy, Colin Scharf. He chose the book we both read--Less Than Zero--and we sit down to talk about the book, teaching, the 80s, being a musician, and why he chose this particular book for us to chat about. You can catch Colin at the Holiday Classic (December 20 and 21), buy tickets now: ⁠https://www.simpletix.com/e/the-holiday-classic-2024-tickets-190495⁠ Enjoy some footage from last year's Holiday Classic: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-jmAbp1dpw⁠ Or, his bands: Silver Summer: ⁠https://silversummerlovers.bandcamp.com/⁠ Good Night Gold Dust: ⁠https://goodnightgolddust.bandcamp.com/⁠ His recording studio: Gold Mine Studios: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/goldmine.studios/⁠ His record label: Precious Metals Records: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/preciousmetalsrecords/⁠ His wife's band: Given Names: ⁠https://givennamesmn.bandcamp.com/⁠ And, of course, grab a copy of the book so you can see what you think: ⁠https://amzn.to/4fGL5W2⁠ Thanks for listening and/or watching! Your friendly intensely curious author and indie publisher! ⁠http://www.michaelmacbride.com⁠

Hey hey! Quick mailbag episode to answer a couple questions!

Thanks for listening and/or watching! Your friendly intensely curious author and indie publisher! http://www.michaelmacbride.com