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Author ExpressGet to know your favorite writers Author: Shawna Rodrigues, Kathleen Basi, Kristi Leonard
This is your place to hear the voice behind the pages of your favorite books. Here youll get a feel for the person who spent hours, weeks, months, and even years to fill the pages and build a world where you can not only use yourself but possibly find yourself as well. Our gift is a glance at the human side of writing; perhaps a morsel from the authors childhood, insight on the character to which they are most attached, or a little on the passion that fueled the topics in the book. Its your chance to get to know some of your favorite writers in a new light. Well give you a quick glimpse into their latest work and pique your interest in your next read, but well also let you get to know a little about the authors themselves. As youll see in our episodes, we end up in some great conversations, whether they are about the historical significance of a topic, a laugh around chasing cows in the mud, or a few moments musing on travel and the best parts about visiting France. It is our goal to connect you with authors from varying genres and styles of writing and to keep in concert with our title by keeping them Express so you can easily work them into your weekly routine. This show is co-hosted by Kathleen Basi, Kristi Leonard, and Shawna Rodrigues. Kathleen Basi is a musical composer and songwriter, feature writer, essayist, nonfiction author, and of course, storyteller. Kristi Leonard is the owner and host of Writers in the Wild Retreats, nonfiction voice over artist, and president of the Women's Fiction Writers Association (WFWA). Shawna Rodrigues is a Podcast Strategist, Founder of Authentic Connections Podcast Network, Host of The Grit Show www.thegritshow.com, and Internationally Best-Selling Author. Language: en Genres: Arts, Books, Documentary, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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The Last Page; A Farewell & Celebrating Three Years of Author Express -134
Episode 134
Wednesday, 5 November, 2025
In this special episode of Author Express, hosts Shawna Rodrigues, Kristi Leonard, and Kathleen Basi come together for a heartfelt reflection as the podcast wraps up its recording season. They share the most surprising lessons learned from interviewing authors across genres—revealing how the creative journey connects us all in unexpected ways. Enjoy behind-the-scenes stories, favorite book moments, and timeless insights from the incredible authors featured on the show. It’s a celebration of storytelling, creativity, and the enduring power of community.If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to connect with writers from around the world and how these conversations inspire both aspiring and established authors, this episode will spark your imagination. Even as Author Express pauses on new recordings, every past episode remains a source of wisdom and inspiration—ready for you to revisit anytime!A little about today's host-Author and musical composer Kathleen Basi is mother to three boys and one chromosomally-gifted daughter. Her debut novel, A SONG FOR THE ROAD, follows a musician on an unconventional road trip. Bestselling author Kerry Anne King writes, “In a novel filled with music, heartbreak, and surprising laughter, Basi takes us on a journey that encompasses both unimaginable loss and the powerful resilience of the human heart.” Meaty, earnest, occasionally humorous, and ultimately uplifting, Kathleen’s fiction highlights the best within ourselves and each other. She writes monthly reflections on life, writing and beauty on her newsletter. Subscribe at https://kathleenbasi.substack.com/. A little about today's host-Kristi Leonard is a modern Renaissance woman deeply rooted in the book world. When she's not immersed in crafting novels, she's orchestrating writing retreats through her business, Writers in the Wild, or lending her voice to non-fiction audiobooks. She leads the Women’s Fiction Writers Association as the president of the board, and interviews her writer pals as one of the hosts of the Author Express Podcast. She will start querying her first book in 2024.Beyond the realm of words, Kristi embraces the Florida sunshine by hiking with her writer-hiker group and leisurely walks on the beach. She and her husband juggle a couple side businesses and take turns sharing the couch with their goofy Golden-doodle, Maddie. Kristi enjoys travel adventures with her twin sister and living vicariously through her grown children. You can learn more about her and connect at: https://linktr.ee/kristileonard. A little about today's host-Shawna Rodrigues left her award-winning career in the public sector in 2019 to consult and publish her first novel Beyond the Pear Blossoms. Her desire to connect and help others led to the launch of her podcast The Grit Show shortly thereafter. When she learned women host only 27% of podcasts, her skills and passion led to the founding of the Authentic Connections Network. She now helps mission-driven entrepreneurs better connect with their audiences by providing full-service podcast production and through a community for Entrepreneurs & Podcasters – EPAC. Podcasting is her primary focus, so she continues to support the writing community through this podcast, and her writing time is mostly focused on anthologies. She...
