My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Linda Margolin Royal, author of the book The Star on the Grave. Linda Margolin Royal was born in Sydney, forever thankful her father and grandparents received life-saving transit visas from Chiune Sugihara in 1940, which enabled them to enter Japan and escape the Holocaust. This ultimately meant they could find a permanent, safe home in Australia in 1941. The remainder of her family, numbering in the hundreds, was murdered in concentration camps. She trained as a graphic designer and then copywriter, and spent thirty years in the advertising industry both in Australia and the US, writing advertisement scripts for TV and radio, and general press advertising for multinational newspapers and billboards. Linda’s creative bent extends to abstract painting and drawing from live models. The Star on the Grave is her first novel.

In my book review, I stated The Star on the Grave by Linda Margolin Royal is a Holocaust historical fiction. I love historical fiction, especially those based on true family history and those that give me an insight into an aspect of history I didn't know.

The novel is a dual timeline showing Rachel's life in 1968 and her grandmother and father's life in 1940 - relatives of the author. We learn of a Polish Jewish family escaping the Nazis through Lithuania and a brave Japanese diplomat, unknown to me, named Chiune Sugihara who issued thousands of visas to save them. This novel hit both of my loves!

I also love great characters, and this novel doesn't disappoint. I immediately came to love Rachel and felt her despair, anger, grief, and eventual understanding as her world shattered around her. Her grandmother is a character who is deserving of her own book! Linda did such a great job describing her that I could both see and hear her in my head as I read. And even Rachel's father, though not a warm and fuzzy character, held me captive.

This is a great read. A definite must-read. Grab your copy today!

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You can follow Author Linda Margolin Royal

Website: https://staronthegrave.com/

IG: @lindaroyal8968/

FB: @The Star on the Grave

LinkedIn: @Linda R.

Purchase The Star on the Grave on Amazon:

Paperback: https://amzn.to/4suyvzi

Ebook: https://amzn.to/4udenTV

Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com

FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor

IG: @terimbrown_author

X: @terimbrown1

Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors

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*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Deborah J Brasket, author of the book This Sea Within. Deborah Brasket spent six years sailing around the world with her husband and children. When she returned home to the Central Coast, she taught English at Allan Hancock and Cuesta colleges before joining SBCAN.

After retirement, she settled among the golden hills and vineyards of Paso Robles to write the kinds of novels she loves to read. When Things Go Missing was published in September 2025. Her second novel This Sea Within will be published in June 2026.

In my book review, I stated This Sea Within is a political thriller by Deborah J Brasket. We quickly meet Lena, a young woman on the brink of discovering who she truly wants to be. However, her mother's absence, and Lena's anger on the subject, have gotten in the way. So, she decides to go to San Balanque, her mother's homeland, to figure out the parts of her she's missing. If only life were that simple.

Instead of a few simple lessons about her heritage, Lena soon learns of an underground revolution trying to overthrow the cruel dictator - and the activist in her wants to know more. When she meets Raoul, the leader of the rebel group known as the Aguileros, her world changes forever.

Will she be able to reconcile her pacifist leanings to the freedom fighter mentality needed to overthrow the government? Will her family's past taint her future as an Aguileros? Can she separate her feelings for Raoul from her feelings about the revolution?

This is an intense novel that doesn't hold back. You'll find yourself struggling along with Lena as you try to figure out where you stand - and where you should stand. This is a must-read!

Author Note: There is violence and sex scenes, but at no time did I feel they were gratuitous or out of line with the characters.

Subscribe to Online for Authors to learn about more great books! https://www.youtube.com/@onlineforauthors?sub_confirmation=1

You can follow Author Deborah J Brasket

Website: https://deborahjbrasket.com

FB: @DeborahJBrasket

IG: @dbrasket

LinkedIn: @Deborah Brasket

X: @DeborahBrasket

Purchase This Sea Within on Amazon:

Ebook: https://amzn.to/4eF6aCS

Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com

FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor

IG: @terimbrown_author

X: @terimbrown1

Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors

#deborahjbrasket #thisseawithin #thriller #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Shane Vigeant who will be chatting about marketing with AI in mind. Shane is a digital marketer based in Boise, Idaho, where he helps nonfiction authors build platforms that grow their books and businesses. He’s built over 500 websites, managed six figures in ad spend, and focused on making marketing simple so people can actually reach the right audience.

Subscribe to Online for Authors to learn about more great books! https://www.youtube.com/@onlineforauthors?sub_confirmation=1

You can follow Author Shane Vigeant who will be chatting about AI Marketing

Website: https://booklaunchers.com/

LinkedIn: @shane-vigeant

Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com

FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor

IG: @terimbrown_author

X: @terimbrown1

Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors

#shanevigeant #booklaunchers #aimarketing #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.