Episodes

  • Justice for Jon Benet
    Feb 25 2025
    Episode 57: Justice for Jon Benet On December 26, 1996, the police responded to a kidnapping call, which later turned into a murder investigation. There were two possibilities: an intruder murdered Jon Benet Ramsey or someone in the house killed her. Sources ABC News. Ex-DA Opens Up About Why She Cleared the Ramsey Family of JonBenet’s Murder. October 28, 2016 Netflix. Trial by Murder. “Dingo’s Got My Baby.” https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2024/11/25/netflix-who-killed-jonbenet-ramsey-docuseries-revelations-bombshells/76403399007/ Netflix. Trial by Murder. “Brian Dorian’s Story.” https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2024/11/25/netflix-who-killed-jonbenet-ramsey-docuseries-revelations-bombshells/76403399007/ National Policing Institute In-depth Training of Police Officers Results in Less Crime, Fewer Arrests, and Improved Community Views Toward Police in High Crime Hot Spots.https://www.policinginstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NPI-Research-in-Brief-Hot-Spots-Jun-2022.pdf __________________________________ Now Available __________________________________________________________ Check out the Author Masterminds Website ________________________________________________________________ Get to know the authors at The Readers and Writers Book Club ___________________________________________ Meet Valerie Winans, Your Host for Episode 57: Justice for Jon Benet Valerie Winans is a graduate of Northwestern Michigan College, a retired state government manager, and a former campground host in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Valerie is the author of four books: Alaska’s Savage River: Inside Denali National Park and Preserve, Road Trip with Remington Beagle: Michigan to Alaska and Back, and A Hero’s Journey: Life Lessons From A Dog And His Friends, and The Extraordinary Life of Edwin B. Winans: From the Stampede for Gold in California to the Capitol of Michigan. A writer of both fiction and non-fiction, her books are written to inform and entertain readers of all ages. She currently resides with her husband in Traverse City, Michigan. More information can be found at www.valeriewinans.com.
    Show More Show Less
    25 mins
  • The Mystery of Artificial Intelligence
    Feb 11 2025
    Episode 56: The Mystery of Artificial Intelligence In 1950, a robotic mouse named Theseus found its way through a maze and remembered the route. AI had taken its first baby step, the first step in a journey that would change the world as we know it. It is doubtful that the significance of this achievement was fully understood at the time. ________________________________ Grab a copy of Crystal Shards! _________________________________________________ Check out the Author Masterminds Website ________________________________________________________________ Get to know the authors at The Readers and Writers Book Club ___________________________________________ Meet Cil Gregoire, your host for Episode 56: The Mystery of Artificial Intelligence I was born to write. Fortunately, life provided me with plenty to write about. As a young woman, I moved from South Louisiana to Alaska, seeking the Alaska dream. And I found it. Or should I say, the Alaska dream found me? For decades, I was too busy living the adventure to write more than highly descriptive letters to folks back home. I did it all, from teaching school in the bush, to commercial fishing in Bristol Bay and Norton Sound, to building a log cabin in the woods. My novels reflect all these experiences and more.
    Show More Show Less
    25 mins
  • The Mysterious Pig
    Jan 28 2025
    Episode 55: The Mysterious Pig How did a 200-pound pig become the "darling" on an Arabian horse ranch? Owning a ranch isn’t very mysterious. It’s a lot of plain hard work. But some mysterious things have happened here. I’m going to tell you about one of them. _____________________________________ Prince Ali had everything: talent, charisma, and a devoted best friend, Becky Howard. He won every time he set a hoof in a show ring. He garnered more fans from personal and TV appearances. Becky was with him every step of the way, even riding him in the Swallows Day Parade in their hometown, San Juan Capistrano. Disaster struck when two thugs put Becky in a coma, drugged him and dragged Prince Ali off to sell for diabolical purposes. When their buyer realized who Ali was, he nixed the deal. That landed the pampered show horse high in the mountains in late March. One night, a week later, he discovered the corral gate unlatched. Prince Ali mustered every ounce of strength, courage, and stamina he had to walk into the wilderness, searching for the best friend he couldn't live without. ______________________________________ Check out the Author Masterminds Website ________________________________________________________________ Get to know the authors at The Readers and Writers Book Club ___________________________________________ Meet Victoria Hardesty, Your Host for Episode 55: The Mysterious Pig Victoria Hardesty has owned, bred, and shown Arabian Horses for more than 30 years. She and her husband operated their own training facility, serving many young people who loved and showed their own horses. She is the author of numerous articles in horse magazines and was the editor of two Arabian Horse Club newsletters, one of which was given the Communications Award of the Year by the Arabian Horse Association at their national convention. An avid reader from childhood, she read every horse story she could get her hands on. Victoria and her writing partner, Nancy Perez, have written seven novels about Arabian horses. Check out their website at http://www.wonderhorsebooks.com/author-bio and see their books at Victoria Hardesty and Nancy Perez | Bookshelf (authormasterminds.com).
    Show More Show Less
    Less than 1 minute
  • The Mysterious Alaska Triangle
    Jan 14 2025
    Episode 54: The Mysterious Alaska Triangle First named in 1972, the Alaska Triangle stretches from Anchorage in southcentral Alaska to Juneau in the southeast panhandle to Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow) on Alaska's northern coast. Since 1988, more than 16,000 people have vanished from this area, and every year, approximately four people go missing per every 1000 Alaska residents. This rate is twice the national average. Sources Alexander, Kathy. “The Alaska Triangle – Disappearing Into Thin Air.” March 2023. Legends of America. Dundas, Suzie. “Why do so many people go missing in the Alaska Triangle?” January 25, 2023. MapQuest Travel. Dunning, Brian. “The Japan Airlines Alaska UFO.” November 10, 2020. WayBack Machine. Gough, Cody. 2019. “Thousands of People Have Mysteriously Disappeared in Alaska's Bermuda Triangle.” Discovery. LeBlanc, Jocelyne. 2018. “10 Facts About the Little-Known Alaska Triangle.” Toptenz Liefer, Gregory P. 2011. Without a Trace. Aviation Mysteries of the North. Chapter 11: Anchorage, AK. Publication Consultants. Locations Unknown Team. “The strange stories of the Alaska Triangle.” November 26, 2019. Strange Outdoors. Weiss, Lawrence D. “Unfriendly skies: The extraordinary flight of JAL 1628. Alaska's best known UFO encounter.” October 28, 2019. The Anchorage Press. _____________________________________________ Read True Stories of Murder and Mystery in Alaska ________________________ Check out the Author Masterminds Website ________________________________________________________________ Get to know the authors at The Readers and Writers Book Club ___________________________________________ Meet Robin Barefield, your host for Episode 54: The Mysterious Alaska Triangle Robin Barefield lives in the wilderness on Kodiak Island, where she and her husband own a remote lodge. She has a master’s degree in fish and wildlife biology and is a wildlife-viewing and fishing guide. Robin has published six novels: Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman’s Daughter, Karluk Bones, Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge, and The Ultimate Hunt. She has also published two non-fiction books: Kodiak Island Wildlife and Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. She draws on her love and appreciation of the Alaska wilderness as well as her scientific background when writing. Robin invites you to join her at her website: https://robinbarefield.com, and while you are there, sign up for her free monthly newsletter about true crime in Alaska. Robin also narrates a podcast, Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. You can find it at: https://murder-in-the-last-frontier.blubrry.net
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
  • Will a Massive Deportation of Aliens Work?
    Dec 31 2024
    Episode 53: Will a Massive Deportation of Aliens Work? Donald Trump has said that on Day One of his Presidency, he would begin the largest deportation of aliens in American history. Best of luck, President Trump. We tried that before. In 1919. It didn’t go as planned. Well, what happened? For an answer, let’s look back in history. _________________________________________________________ Now Available! ___________________________________ ________________________ Check out the Author Masterminds Website ________________________________________________________________ Get to know the authors at The Readers and Writers Book Club ___________________________________________ Meet Steve Levi, your host for episode 53: Will a Mass Deportation of Aliens Work? Steve Levi is a 70-something writer in Alaska. He specializes in the impossible crime and the Alaska Gold Rush. An impossible crime is one in which the detective must figure out HOW the crime was committed before he can go after the perpetrators. As an example, in THE MATTER OF THE VANISHING GREYHOUND, the detective must figure out how a Greyhound bus with four bank robbers, a dozen hostages, and $10 million can vanish off the Golden Gate Bridge. Steve’s books can be seen at www.authormasterminds.com/steve-levi and www.steverlevibooks.com. He also does two historical uploads a week. Send Steve your email, and he will include it in the mailings.
    Show More Show Less
    23 mins
  • A Texas Christmas Murder Mystery
    Dec 17 2024
    Episode 52: A Texas Christmas Murder Mystery Who murdered Latricia White, and what happened to her boyfriend, Lee Wackerhagen (nicknamed Dub), and his nine-year-old son, Chance? This tragic tale occurred in 1993 in McMahon, Texas. Sources: “Episode 47: Murdered and Missing in Lockhart.” March 12, 2019. All Murder, No Cattle. Cargile, E. “New hope for a Caldwell Co. cold case.” June 25, 2010. KXAN. “Dub’s Last Stand.” March 15, 2010. Unsolved Mysteries. “Dub and Chance Wackergan: Last Christmas.” July 14, 2019. Lost n Found Blogs. __________________________________________________________ What would you do if someone was hunting you in the Alaska wilderness? Check out the Author Masterminds Website ________________________________________________________________ Get to know the authors at The Readers and Writers Book Club ___________________________________________ Meet Robin Barefield, Your Host for Episode 52: A Texas Christmas Murder Mystery Robin Barefield lives in the wilderness on Kodiak Island, where she and her husband own a remote lodge. She has a master’s degree in fish and wildlife biology and is a wildlife-viewing and fishing guide. Robin has published six novels: Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman’s Daughter, Karluk Bones, Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge, and The Ultimate Hunt. She has also published two non-fiction books: Kodiak Island Wildlife and Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. She draws on her love and appreciation of the Alaska wilderness as well as her scientific background when writing. Robin invites you to join her at her website: https://robinbarefield.com, and while you are there, sign up for her free monthly newsletter about true crime in Alaska. Robin also narrates a podcast, Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. You can find it at: https://murder-in-the-last-frontier.blubrry.net
    Show More Show Less
    22 mins
  • Secret Cargo
    Dec 3 2024
    Episode 51: Secret Cargo A thick, impenetrable overcast concealed the heavily forested hills below, leaving only the jagged peaks of the snow-capped Rocky Mountains visible as they pierced the night sky. Far above, a U.S. Army Air Forces C-49K military transport aircraft navigated the cold, unforgiving skies of British Columbia. The plane, a Douglas C-49K—a variant of the Douglas DC-3—was a sturdy, reliable workhorse routinely used for administrative missions along the Northwest Staging Route during World War II. This route connected Fort Nelson and Fort St. John, threading its way through the remote wilderness of Canada. On February 5, 1943, the C-49K, operating under the command of the Air Transport Command’s Alaska Wing, departed Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, bound for Edmonton, Alberta. On board were three crew members, including the experienced Lieutenant Colonel Mensing, and eight passengers—four military personnel and four civilian technicians contracted by the U.S. Army. The aircraft also carried several sacks of mail and an unidentified cargo, whose contents were a mystery to all but a few. _____________________________ Now Available Five Dollars: How One Act of Kindness Changed the World tells the uplifting story of a single five-dollar bill that moves from person to person, sparking acts of kindness that ripple across communities and cultures. Each chapter introduces a new character touched by a simple act of generosity, revealing how even the smallest gesture can create a lasting impact. Whether shared with friends, family, coworkers, or community members, Five Dollars makes a heartfelt gift perfect for inspiring others. You can buy 20 copies for only $5 each—a wonderful way to pass it along to loved ones, neighbors, or even strangers, spreading its powerful message of kindness and encouraging others to join in creating positive change. To order your Five Dollars for $5 and start changing the world, kindly visit https://publicationconsultants.com/?s=five+dollars. For an extra 25% discount, type in Christmas on checkout. ___________________________________________ Check out the Author Masterminds Website ________________________________________________________________ Get to know the authors at The Readers and Writers Book Club ______________________________________________________________________________________ Meet Evan Swensen, your host for Episode 51: Secret Cargo Evan Swensen, book publisher, editor, author, and Author Masterminds charter member along with his wife, Lois, publishes books by authors worldwide. He has been the publisher and editor of Alaska Outdoors magazine and producer of Alaska Outdoors television show and outdoor videos, and host of Alaska Outdoor Radio Magazine. He has been an Alaska resident since 1957. As a pilot, he has logged more than 4,000 hours of flight time in Alaska, in both wheel and float planes. He is a serious recreation hunter and fisherman, equally comfortable casting a flyrod or using bait, or lures. Evan has been published in many national magazines and is the author of five books and publisher of more than 1,000 books by other authors. Evan claims to have the best job in the world; he gets up in the morning, puts on his fishing vest, picks up his fly rod, kisses his wife goodbye, tells her he’s going to work—and she believes him. Author Masterminds: https://authormasterminds.com/evan-swensen Author Masterminds One Last Cast book: https://authormasterminds.com/details/XLxrX One Last Cast on Amazon: https://bit.ly/3H0OzTo One Last Cast short video: https://youtu.be/2wzwWmim-2g Alaska Outdoors https://alaskaoutdoorsmagazine.com. Alaska Outdoors Blog: https://alaskaoutdoorsmagazine.com/blog/ Alaska Outdoors Videos: https://bit.ly/37xjUzl
    Show More Show Less
    22 mins
  • Why Did Japan Twice Attempt to Take Alaska?
    Nov 19 2024
    Episode 50: Why Did Japan Twice Attempt to Take Alaska? It almost happened, you know. Japan almost took Alaska. Not during the Second World War; just after the First World War. It was a very clever plan and almost succeeded. Now, let me tell you the whole story!! _____________________________________________________ Now Available! Use the Code "Christmas" at the Publication Consultants Website to get 25% off the Cover Price! Vi___________________________________ Visit the Bazaar Meet the Authors Win Prizes Find Great Deals on Excellent Books ____________________________________ Meet Steve Levi, your host for Episode 50: Why Did Japan Twice Attempt to Take Alaska? Steve Levi is a 70-something writer in Alaska. He specializes in the impossible crime and the Alaska Gold Rush. An impossible crime is one in which the detective must figure out HOW the crime was committed before he can go after the perpetrators. As an example, in THE MATTER OF THE VANISHING GREYHOUND, the detective must figure out how a Greyhound bus with four bank robbers, a dozen hostages, and $10 million can vanish off the Golden Gate Bridge. Steve’s books can be seen at www.authormasterminds.com/steve-levi and www.steverlevibooks.com. He also does two historical uploads a week. Send Steve your email, and he will include it in the mailings.
    Show More Show Less
    27 mins