From Learning Disability to Author

From Learning Disability to Author

Today's guest proves that our greatest challenges can become the very foundation of our greatest gifts. Ava Wood grew up with a learning disability and often found herself escaping into worlds of her own imagination. What began as a way to quiet loneliness and make sense of life's challenges eventually became a lifelong passion for storytelling. Today, she describes herself as "an insomniacwho writes to calm the voices," reminding us that creativity often blooms from the places where we least expect it. Originally from the wide-open landscapes of Texas and now calling Florida home, Ava has built a life filled with family, imagination, and artistry. Alongside writing compelling stories, she designs book covers and logos, creates intricate 3-D prints, and isn't afraid to sing whenever inspiration strikes. In today's conversation, we'll explore how growing up with a learning disability shaped her creative mind, why imagination became her refuge, how sleepless nights fuel her storytelling, and what she's learned about resilience, family, and finding purpose through writing. Whether you're a writer, an entrepreneur, a creative, or someone who's ever wondered if your differences could become your greatest strength, this conversation is for you. https://www.instagram.com/btfl7/ https://www.facebook.com/authoravawood

From Broken to Brave

We're turning the microphone around. Authors Shelley Malicote-Stutchman [https://www.facebook.com/shelley.malicotestutchman?__cft__[0]=AZbkS3GXF3iZbTbSzWXY0xquh4Kz3B-E8XJHGj_WUKcpBbtqzap-OeiPk3xN-QdesPcq9xVx0SFP66tCG7_8g-EOwgF3z70AQihzldpOy30LPCqqS7mKsxo-t9DnOF21DgEQl9tAKK3Uo6pOLshhfoCab3pcKKVcyrNy0yGyr6c8NyN4efQql62b45SA-w3KouEGXuJTCQZHCMEfJxstWDxs&__tn__=-]K-R] and Jennifer Mangini [https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.mangini.33?__cft__[0]=AZbkS3GXF3iZbTbSzWXY0xquh4Kz3B-E8XJHGj_WUKcpBbtqzap-OeiPk3xN-QdesPcq9xVx0SFP66tCG7_8g-EOwgF3z70AQihzldpOy30LPCqqS7mKsxo-t9DnOF21DgEQl9tAKK3Uo6pOLshhfoCab3pcKKVcyrNy0yGyr6c8NyN4efQql62b45SA-w3KouEGXuJTCQZHCMEfJxstWDxs&__tn__=-]K-R] take the cohost chair and interview Amy M. Le [https://www.instagram.com/_u/amy_m_le?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExZTNra0Zia0tQdkRKazBQVXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6iVbz4q_WWz9XHHxKKIyp2cajJ0_G9F60UQWuxZDjDWgpiDKioiwbEVQOxnA_aem_YkniP214fXXnXwaXlRNkJA] —award-winning author of The Snow Trilogy, Founder and CEO of Quill Hawk Publishing (Amy M. Le) [https://www.instagram.com/_u/quillhawkpublishing?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExZTNra0Zia0tQdkRKazBQVXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7OtXYl0RQ6Pkau7GllsRDOhwG3secS7_GMMz07ixaNbmegTUkXfB_bLJokHg_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw] , and a passionate advocate for preserving diverse voices and untold stories. Amy's journey spans traditional, self, and hybrid publishing, giving her a unique perspective on the ever-changing publishing landscape. With fifteen books to her name and a highly anticipated memoir, From Broken to Brave: Memoir of a Heart Warrior, releasing July 30, 2026, Amy has dedicated her life to transforming adversity into purpose. Beyond her work as an author and publisher, Amy serves as a Board Emeritus member of the Vietnamese Boat People Podcast [https://www.instagram.com/_u/vietnameseboatpeople?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExZTNra0Zia0tQdkRKazBQVXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5Kdu8gpJ_jDEWfGfrWGCGkG94g4nqiLb-t4q0JufW4aTRHzIXFkuY63jh26g_aem_wmIu1VOC6KntVvlWx8HhDQ] , helping preserve the stories and legacy of Vietnamese refugees. She is also co-founder of The Heart Community Collection [https://www.instagram.com/_u/theheartcommunitycollection?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExZTNra0Zia0tQdkRKazBQVXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5mSNwkcc_y0CQgouDPe7JsJoBLbmzFypsYqxUxqlxWroFS4setTv4lTbhW4Q_aem_QForbJktb1tTjNpDiXGG-w] , a collaborative initiative that empowers heart warriors and their families to share their experiences through storytelling. We'll explore Amy's publishing journey, the lessons she's learned as an entrepreneur, the inspiration behind her upcoming memoir, and the impact she hopes to leave on future generations of writers and readers. https://quillhawkpublishing.com/ This episode is sponsored by Dee Britt Studios! Dee Britt, creator of the course, "Running On Empty," has been a licensed physical therapist for 39 years. https://www.deebritt.com/ [https://www.facebook.com/dee.britt1?__cft__[0]=AZbkS3GXF3iZbTbSzWXY0xquh4Kz3B-E8XJHGj_WUKcpBbtqzap-OeiPk3xN-QdesPcq9xVx0SFP66tCG7_8g-EOwgF3z70AQihzldpOy30LPCqqS7mKsxo-t9DnOF21DgEQl9tAKK3Uo6pOLshhfoCab3pcKKVcyrNy0yGyr6c8NyN4efQql62b45SA-w3KouEGXuJTCQZHCMEfJxstWDxs&__tn__=-]K-R] Jennifer Mangini is a U.S. ARMY female veteran, artist, animal lover (especially dogs!), and RN. She has been a nature lover, gardener, and beach and water lover since the day she was born. This awesome Gen Xer grew up on an acreage surrounded by walnut trees and small creeks. This was the time she explored the landscape of tadpoles, pollywogs, and her own imagination. Also, during this period, she experienced love and affection from her adoptive family—the same people who became part of her incredible support system later in life. Jenn is a 50-year-old (ish) woman who is in a category that most people don’t make it—a survivor. Shelley Malicote Stutchman, a survivor of breast cancer, has emerged as a dedicated patient advocate. Her journey, from being a retired nurse and former community liaison for home health and hospice, has endowed her with invaluable firsthand experience in the medical field. Her passion for research is not just a mere sentiment but a commitment she demonstrated by becoming a test subject for Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine. Shelley has made significant contributions in the healthcare field. She has owned a mental health program for low-income women, founded a support group for women over forty, and received recognition from the governor for her work with Workforce Oklahoma. Shelley is a featured writer for CAREGIVER MAGAZINE. Her expertise is further recognized through her status as an award-winning speaker and author.https://bookshop.org/a/55972/9798990074941

Trusting the Vision Before Anyone Else Does

Welcome to Quixotic Heights, where we explore extraordinary stories of resilience, creativity, and the pursuit of bold dreams. Today's Quixote is Debbie Bishop—a creative director, author, founder, screenwriter, producer, podcast host, and visionary entrepreneur whose career spans more than three decades in Hollywood. Debbie has helped shape campaigns for some of the biggest studios in the world, including Disney, Warner Bros., Universal, Paramount, and Lionsgate. But after years of helping bring other people's stories to life, she realized she had stories of her own to tell. That realization led to Black Tide, an unexpected creative leap that grew into a successful comic book series, followed by War Eagles, an alternate-history World War II adventure, and the epic fantasy duology Pillywiggin, with the highly anticipated second installment, Pillywiggin: Awakening, releasing June 26, 2026. As if that weren't enough, Debbie hosts the By.Storytellers podcast and founded CreatorStage, an innovative platform designed to give every creative professional—from writers and artists to editors, designers, and production crews—a place to showcase their talents, build an audience, and thrive. We'll also dive into her perspective on artificial intelligence and what creators need to know to succeed in the future of entertainment. https://www.debbiebishop.com/ [https://www.debbiebishop.com/] https://www.instagram.com/debbiebishop_ https://www.facebook.com/DebbieBishopbooks/ https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/485346.Debbie_Bishop https://x.com/debbiebishop https://www.tiktok.com/@debbie.bishop_ https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbiebishop/ https://www.youtube.com/@debbie-bishop_author https://www.youtube.com/@by.storytellers Bio: Debbie Bishop is not your typical fantasy author. In her award-winning novel *PILLYWIGGIN Awakening*, fae hide among humans, boys are on the verge of becoming dragon food, and survival depends on one powerful truth: no one iscoming to save you — you must become your own hero.  With a background in entertainment, technology, and entrepreneurship, Debbie delivers compelling conversations on resilience, reinvention, metaphysics, AI, and the real-world truths hidden inside fantasy storytelling.

Storytelling Legacies from Courtrooms to Capes

Welcome to Quixotic Heights—where stories transcend boundaries, ideas ignite transformation, and the human spiritdares to reach beyond the ordinary. Today's Quixote is William Bernhardt—an award-winning author of more than sixty books, a master of legal thrillers, and a passionate advocate for writers around the world. From bestselling novels to shaping the next generation of storytellers through WriterCon, his impact on the literary landscape is both profound and far-reaching. We’ll be diving into his latest work, The Superman Wars: A Battle for Truth, Justice, and an American Icon, and dissectinghis career. William Bernhardt is the award-winning author of more than sixty books, including the bestselling Ben Kincaid novels and the Daniel Pike legal thriller series. His latest release, “The Superman Wars,” continues his tradition of captivating storytelling that blends sharp legal insight with deeply human stakes. Bernhardt’s body of work also includes historical fiction, poetry, young adult novels, and the Red Sneaker series for writers, which has inspired and instructed a new generation of authors. A passionate advocate for writers, Bernhardt is the founder of WriterCon—a renowned writers conference—and leads writing retreats, a podcast, a digital magazine, and afree newsletter, all under the WriterCon brand. His influence is far-reaching: more than thirty of his students have gone on to publish with major houses. He is also the president of Bernhardt Books, further extending his commitment tonurturing literary talent. Bernhardt’s accolades include the Southern Writers Guild’s Gold Medal Award, the Royden B. Davis DistinguishedAuthor Award, and the Arrell Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award. He has twice won the Oklahoma Book Award and has been nominated twenty times in three categories. Beyond writing, his adventurous spirit has led him to activities like paragliding, surfing, and even becoming a Jeopardy! Champion. Hailed by Oklahoma State University as “Oklahoma’s Renaissance Man,” Bernhardt’s creativity, intellect, and passion for storytelling continue to shape the literary landscape. Learn more at www.williambernhardt.com. instagram.com/willbern11 facebook.com/WGBernhardt2 goodreads.com/author/show/85988.William_Bernhardt x.com/wbernhardt tiktok.com/@williambernhardt04 linkedin.com/in/william-bernhardt-95807a15 https://www.youtube.com/@willbern100 bookbub.com/profile/william-bernhardt threads.com/@wbernhardtbooks https://bsky.app/profile/wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social

Faith, Fiction, and the Courage to Face Reality

Today’s guest is a man who has lived at the intersection of faith, service, and storytelling. Keith Madsen is a semi-retired minister, an AmeriCorps worker, a mentor to young minds through chess, and an author whose work dares to confront life’s hardest realities while still holding onto hope. From building schools in Haiti to educating communities about the opioid epidemic, Keith has seen firsthand thebrokenness in the world—and yet, through his writing, he invites us to believe in something more. His stories don’t shy away from loss or suffering. Instead, they transform those moments into seeds of renewal, redemption, and resurrection. With four published novels through Quill Hawk Publishing—The Sons and Daughters of Toussaint, Searching for Eden, The Bridles of Armageddon, and Fallen Angels—Keith challenges us to ask: What if the world can be better than it is? And what role do we play in that transformation? This is a conversation about truth, faith, loss, and the quiet, powerful ways hope refuses to die. https://www.keithmadsen.net/ Keith Madsen writes fiction that combines adventure and romance with stories that dare to think the world can be better than it is. In his writing, the characters are real, but at the same time, they dare to transcend their reality. Keith believes that fiction, to be truly inspirational, must first acknowledge the hard realities of life. The inspirational aspect comes not from such cold realities, but as they become seeds which lead to the renewal of life and resurrection. Keith writes fiction which combines some of the lyrical description of literary fiction with the plot-driven tensions of a thriller. While the central character in his novels is generally male, strong women also play important roles. You will find yourself really liking the people you meet on the journey!