Connor Reads Books

Episode 31: Life and Limb - Evan Baughfman

What if happiness could be guaranteed with a single bite? We read Evan Boffman’s Life and Limb, a desert horror tale where a determined runner named Rafe—rebuilding his life with a carbon fiber blade—meets a towering, talkative saguaro that offers permanent euphoria and relief from thirst. The Sonoran heat blurs into myth as rattlesnakes block the trail, cholla cling with wicked barbs, and coyotes circle with quiet precision. Through it all, the cactus speaks in a calm baritone, holding out a pink fruit that promises bliss without burden. Thank you To Evan Baughfman for the permission to share this story on Connor Reads Books Content Warnings:  Harsh language Mystical Cactus Animal Attacks Mauls of the Wild: * https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mauls-of-the-wild-evan-baughfman/1148791503 [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mauls-of-the-wild-evan-baughfman/1148791503] * https://www.amazon.in/Mauls-Wild-Collection-Animal-Fiction-ebook/dp/B0G1XB1XN3 [https://www.amazon.in/Mauls-Wild-Collection-Animal-Fiction-ebook/dp/B0G1XB1XN3] * https://thesummitbirmingham.com/buy/product/mauls-of-the-wild-a-collection-of-animal-attack-fiction-barnesnoble-32463c?model=0 [https://thesummitbirmingham.com/buy/product/mauls-of-the-wild-a-collection-of-animal-attack-fiction-barnesnoble-32463c?model=0] Evan Baughfman: * https://www.instagram.com/agent00evan_716/ [https://www.instagram.com/agent00evan_716/] * https://www.amazon.com/stores/Evan-Baughfman/author/B08BSQZ2X6?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=784d4a39-0061-4d3d-91fa-1d71c55fdd80 [https://www.amazon.com/stores/Evan-Baughfman/author/B08BSQZ2X6?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=784d4a39-0061-4d3d-91fa-1d71c55fdd80] * https://newplayexchange.org/users/1708/evan-baughfman [https://newplayexchange.org/users/1708/evan-baughfman] * https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-baughfman-62a1b4137/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-baughfman-62a1b4137/] Murderfish:  Murderfish on Audible  [https://www.audible.com/pd/Murderfish-Audiobook/B0GH2DL6KR?qid=1769444219&sr=1-1&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=DFNAFHB431M9ZP5NZZZZ&plink=G8t15v6phzMaqlkh&pageLoadId=yTkOiAvMPnKyUJaL&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1] Voice Over, Mixing and Mastering Credits: L. Connor Voice - Website [https://www.lconnorvoice.com/] https://www.instagram.com/l.connorvoice/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095473899665 Music Credits: Louie Sanders, https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/ [https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/]

Episode 30: Evan Baughfman - Author Interviews

We dive into the feral heart of his new collection, Mauls of the Wild, where animal-attack horror meets precise craft and real-world texture from deserts, mountains, and the open ocean. Evan unpacks how influences like Goosebumps, Michael Crichton, Peter Benchley, and The Twilight Zone shaped his eye for tension, morality, and twist endings, and why he believes horror offers a safe way to confront danger without harm.  If you’re a writer, you’ll love the nuts-and-bolts process: lock in the ending first, start amid action or conversation, and leave each session mid-scene so momentum never dies. Evan also lifts the curtain on drabbles—exactly 100-word stories that demand image, economy, and a satisfying turn. From killer penguins to shark phobias, constraints become sparks, and revision becomes a scalpel. We talk persistence through rejection, the power of a good writers’ group, and the difference between prose and playwriting when it comes to pacing and dialogue.  Along the way, Evan shares how he compiled the collection from reprints and fresh pieces, why he writes for both adults and younger readers, and how his own miles on desert trails and cautious steps at the beach seep into the work. Stick around for a playful creature mashup—Sharctus, anyone—and practical ways to find his books and connect online.  If this conversation made your creative gears turn, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves horror or short fiction, and leave a quick review. It helps more readers and writers find us, and it means the world. Mauls of the Wild: * https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mauls-of-the-wild-evan-baughfman/1148791503 [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mauls-of-the-wild-evan-baughfman/1148791503] * https://www.amazon.in/Mauls-Wild-Collection-Animal-Fiction-ebook/dp/B0G1XB1XN3 [https://www.amazon.in/Mauls-Wild-Collection-Animal-Fiction-ebook/dp/B0G1XB1XN3] * https://thesummitbirmingham.com/buy/product/mauls-of-the-wild-a-collection-of-animal-attack-fiction-barnesnoble-32463c?model=0 [https://thesummitbirmingham.com/buy/product/mauls-of-the-wild-a-collection-of-animal-attack-fiction-barnesnoble-32463c?model=0] Evan Baughfman: * https://www.instagram.com/agent00evan_716/ [https://www.instagram.com/agent00evan_716/] * https://www.amazon.com/stores/Evan-Baughfman/author/B08BSQZ2X6?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=784d4a39-0061-4d3d-91fa-1d71c55fdd80 [https://www.amazon.com/stores/Evan-Baughfman/author/B08BSQZ2X6?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=784d4a39-0061-4d3d-91fa-1d71c55fdd80] * https://newplayexchange.org/users/1708/evan-baughfman [https://newplayexchange.org/users/1708/evan-baughfman] * https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-baughfman-62a1b4137/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-baughfman-62a1b4137/] Thanks again for the interview Evan! Voice Over, Mixing and Mastering Credits: L. Connor Voice - Website [https://www.lconnorvoice.com/] https://www.instagram.com/l.connorvoice/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095473899665 Music Credits: Louie Sanders, https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/ [https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/]

Episode 29: “Uphill Both Ways” - Mike Jack Stoumbos - 2025 Holiday Special

Ever wonder what a snow day on a space station might look like?  For Angie Tzakis, it’s the first time she’s ever seen a snowflake. Living on New Detroit Station has always been complex, but the first snow is about to change everything. Pairing snowflurries with the recent shattering of childhood illusions reveals that life isn’t always clear cut, and secrets have a nature of their own.  It’s Time for another Connor Reads Books Christmas Special! This time we read “Uphill Both Ways” written by Mike Jack Stoumbous, a fantasy fiction writer, and producer of the Unhelpful Encyclopedia Series.  Mike’s Links:  Unhelpful Encyclopedia Amazon Links [https://www.amazon.com/Murderbirds-Avian-Anthology-Unhelpful-Encyclopedia-ebook/dp/B0C1MW3KDH/ref=sr_1_1?crid=11KIGSUVE0H49&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.cmmCOrd0NQQBytK5eEaH_JsMyModXncGYlvhfIJGdB1xZdMu1A0GDn-ajdf_shMkZW-vtv1fHx6nvdaAqgglQn9GP4hxO3wwPOrThE1GMzJEN-hXR9UtVccUnEd86XXRfUAleOe7For9GIaeExceFwdELpzxN0_HFQADseImODgrHWicxU34C0kEKwbfsQ3VHClTLzRkU6Gwi5rVULcgSdgrFNjTkfpdSONZ_rNG4JE.cvwqGMstDi7tMFFyZ7CEFh8cqE08ZVJwAdijSAtcbj0&dib_tag=se&keywords=murderbirds&qid=1766355595&sprefix=murderbird%2Caps%2C148&sr=8-1] Mike Jack Stoumbous Amazon Page [https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mike-Jack-Stoumbos/author/B01MXI8G2X?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true] Voice Over, Mixing and Mastering Credits: L. Connor Voice - Website [https://www.lconnorvoice.com/] https://www.instagram.com/l.connorvoice/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095473899665 Music Credits:  Louie Sanders, https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/ [https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/] 🎵Music By🎵 ✗ BRAUNFUFEL - Winter Vibes ✗ Song/Download -    • 【Future House/Deep House】BRAUNFUFEL - Wint...   [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fptf5LSwXek] ✗ Follow Magnified -   / magnifiedrecordings   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbU5PZVVFT3lrbUJEN0gtSDZ4S3hVUUhQUE5FUXxBQ3Jtc0ttOWlSS3Etdm04Tk1CNFFoM2VKeDZrOHBHa29JQnJWa1BPTlN0Q19rYXFnM0pSaVpkRVZwczhTZFlIRXN2c0QwWkpRYVFmMGhScTZCQVo1cFpEams4SUpmZEpzOE9PR2JkZWYwcW1HSW9LNkVKWVgtdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fmagnifiedrecordings&v=Fptf5LSwXek] ✗ Released by Magnified Recordings ✗ Subscribe to Bandit Tunes for new music: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbV9pQlJ0Q29zS2JSWWlRSDhwek8ybmZvV3VfZ3xBQ3Jtc0trN1J1c0l1cWVBRzZURmdWM1NqcU9xMEg0Y1lLbVB6OFJKNXVmV1VJTGE0aV9TdGVxeE1WY0xfMUlaS2R6eGRjS1QxcEltcnlyOExzWnpGWkFDdDYweU1hTGtMdmM2N1ZpQmtpRlc0THRndUlOUTZGYw&q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F29g2RS8&v=Fptf5LSwXekhttp://bit.ly/29g2RS8 [http://bit.ly/29g2RS8] Eon: https://youtu.be/XVbvE0PJyss?si=0B0U_aeA5Phu5Okm [https://youtu.be/XVbvE0PJyss?si=0B0U_aeA5Phu5Okm] Voice Over, Mixing and Mastering Credits: L. Connor Voice - Website [https://www.lconnorvoice.com/] https://www.instagram.com/l.connorvoice/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095473899665 Music Credits: Louie Sanders, https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/ [https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/]

Episode 28: Author Interview - Gabrielle Wanek

Today we talk to Gabrielle Wanek, the Author of Songs of Ash and Dawn; a new urban fantasy that has been topping charts in the 2 weeks since its release. We talk about Gabrielle’s writing journey, how she came to write the Songs of Ash and Dawn, and what makes a compelling villain. Join us as we explore Gabrielle’s detailed world building, and talk about what’s next for her on her writer’s quest.  Thanks again for the interview Gabrielle! Listen to Chapter 1 Audio Here: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-27-songs-of-ash-and-dawn-chapter-1-gabrielle-wanek/id1717470807?i=1000740219611 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-27-songs-of-ash-and-dawn-chapter-1-gabrielle-wanek/id1717470807?i=1000740219611] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4DSPJJh98NhmORaZVLUF8H?si=b25ad6e102084f55 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/4DSPJJh98NhmORaZVLUF8H?si=b25ad6e102084f55] Songs of Ash and Dawn: https://www.songsofashanddawn.com/book [https://www.songsofashanddawn.com/book] https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/songs-of-ash-and-dawn-gabrielle-wanek/1148400036 [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/songs-of-ash-and-dawn-gabrielle-wanek/1148400036] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G21NQQ2P?ref=KC_GS_GB_US [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G21NQQ2P?ref=KC_GS_GB_US] Gabrielle Wanek: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabriellewriter?lang=en [https://www.tiktok.com/@gabriellewriter?lang=en] https://www.instagram.com/gawanek/?igsh=Z2dxdTd1czRwYnU0&utm_source=qr [https://www.instagram.com/gawanek/?igsh=Z2dxdTd1czRwYnU0&utm_source=qr] Voice Over, Mixing and Mastering Credits: L. Connor Voice - Website [https://www.lconnorvoice.com/] https://www.instagram.com/l.connorvoice/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095473899665 Music Credits:  Louie Sanders, https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/ [https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/] Voice Over, Mixing and Mastering Credits: L. Connor Voice - Website [https://www.lconnorvoice.com/] https://www.instagram.com/l.connorvoice/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095473899665 Music Credits: Louie Sanders, https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/ [https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/]

Episode 27: Songs of Ash and Dawn: Chapter 1 - Gabrielle Wanek

Racing through his local dark forest, Detective Ethan is being hunted by dark and malevolent creatures. While magic is not new, Ethan handles all sorts of magical disputes in his community, what is transpiring now is nothing he’s seen before. A shadowy creature, and inhuman roar, a skull with piercing red eyes. Can Ethan make it out of the forest before dawn? Or did the shadows bring him his final sunset?  Songs of Ash and Dawn is a new fantasy series that was released just last week December 2nd, and is taking the world by storm. Ranking number one in urban fantasy on multiple platforms!  Thanks to Gabrielle and her team- It is my sincere pleasure and privilege to share an audio chapter with you here! Songs of Ash and Dawn: https://www.songsofashanddawn.com/book [https://www.songsofashanddawn.com/book] https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/songs-of-ash-and-dawn-gabrielle-wanek/1148400036 [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/songs-of-ash-and-dawn-gabrielle-wanek/1148400036] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G21NQQ2P?ref=KC_GS_GB_US [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G21NQQ2P?ref=KC_GS_GB_US] Gabrielle Wanek: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabriellewriter?lang=en [https://www.tiktok.com/@gabriellewriter?lang=en] https://www.instagram.com/gawanek/?igsh=Z2dxdTd1czRwYnU0&utm_source=qr [https://www.instagram.com/gawanek/?igsh=Z2dxdTd1czRwYnU0&utm_source=qr] Voice Over, Mixing and Mastering Credits: L. Connor Voice - Website [https://www.lconnorvoice.com/] https://www.instagram.com/l.connorvoice/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095473899665 Music Credits:  Louie Sanders, https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/ [https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/] Voice Over, Mixing and Mastering Credits: L. Connor Voice - Website [https://www.lconnorvoice.com/] https://www.instagram.com/l.connorvoice/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095473899665 Music Credits: Louie Sanders, https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/ [https://www.instagram.com/soundmonksound/]