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CTP (S3EMaySpecial4) BooksAuthorsWeekMay2026 Inside The Jackson MacKenzie Chronicles With Author Angel Giacomo
Exploring more of the fascinating intersection of Activism, Community Engagement, Faith / Religion, Human Nature, Politics, Social Issues, and beyond
We sit down with author Angel Giacomo to trace the real-life roots of her military fiction and how a trauma-shaped lead character turns into a full universe of connected standalones. Along the way we geek out on Theodore Roosevelt history, West Point details, book awards, and the strange way a simple joke can unlock a real lesson.
• Angel’s Oklahoma background and the online author connection
• The Jackson MacKenzie Chronicles trilogy and the larger character web
• Using POW and Vietnam-era inspiration to write trauma with respect
• Golden Feather and the meaning behind the eagle feather tradition
• Book awards, nominations, and what they signal in a massive market
• The Shadowlands series and a Roosevelt descendant as main character
• A neighbor’s ghost question that sparks a new story direction
• Dual Convergence: Witness To History and blending memory with history
• The Kettle Hill origin story and why names matter in research
• Publishing skepticism, query letters, and being “too close” to a subject
• Total books published and the unexpected family cookbook project
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A Short Story: A Lasting Legacy? book Trailer

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CTP (S3EMaySpecial3) Books Authors Week May 2026 Hybrid Publishing That Puts Authors First
Exploring more of the fascinating intersection of Activism, Community Engagement, Faith / Religion, Human Nature, Politics, Social Issues, and beyond
We sit down with publisher Michael J. Clausen, CEO of Illumify Media, to talk about how hybrid publishing can give authors professional quality without losing control of their work. We get into rights, royalties, cover design, distribution, and what it takes to become a “360-degree author” who can actually cut through the noise.
• why Michael uses his middle initial and how name confusion even sparked the interview
• what Illumify Media does for authors, from coaching to editing to global distribution
• why traditional publishing can feel like losing control of your own book rights
• how hybrid publishing works, including higher royalties and more author say
• why McHenry Press exists as an imprint and what brand focus it signals
• how titles, subtitles, and cover design decisions affect Amazon browsing behavior
• what makes a book cover work at thumbnail size
• how an author community model changes the long-term relationship after launch
• the “360-degree author” framework and why story matters for marketing
• how IngramSpark supports print-on-demand and worldwide fulfillment
• launch promotion tactics, review strategy, podcast outreach, and AI-driven visuals
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A Short Story: A Lasting Legacy? book Trailer

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CTP (S3EMaySpecial2) BooksAuthorsWeekMay2026 Chris Choate Apollo Wept
Exploring more of the fascinating intersection of Activism, Community Engagement, Faith / Religion, Human Nature, Politics, Social Issues, and beyond
We talk with Christopher Choate, a former Air Force weapon systems officer, about how a lifetime of flying, planning, and watching culture shift turns into the dystopian satire Apollo Wept. We dig into a future mission to intercept the Voyager probe, the cost of erasing history, and the simple habits that help writers catch ideas before they disappear.
• Christopher’s background from the F-4 Phantom to the F-15E Strike Eagle and how that shapes his fiction
• The 2020 catalyst and the strategic question of where cultural trends lead in 50 to 100 years
• Apollo Wept’s dystopian America where the Constitution is declared unconstitutional and history gets purged
• The Voyager plaque premise and the USS Despair mission to “correct” humanity’s message to the cosmos
• Star Trek influences and using science fiction as satire rather than a lecture
• Sequel and prequel possibilities plus what Christopher is writing next
• Practical writer’s block advice, running for ideas, and dictating notes to yourself fast
• Building characters from real mannerisms including a father-inspired voice and an onboard ideology enforcer
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A Short Story: A Lasting Legacy? book Trailer

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