Murder, Mystery and Mayhem Laced with Morality

Who Is Hunting Whom? — The God Hunter and the Search That Changes Everything🎙️
What happens when a grieving child goes searching for God—only to discover that God was never lost in the first place?
In this heartfelt and thought-provoking episode of Murder, Mystery & Mayhem Laced with Morality, Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes sits down with award-winning authors Annette Marie Griffin and Franella Smith, co-authors of The God Hunter, an adventurous story about Simi, a young boy in Kenya who sets out on a courageous quest after losing his father.
As Simi searches for answers, he encounters danger, friendship, wonder, and unexpected discoveries that challenge everything he thought he knew about God. But his greatest discovery may be the most profound: sometimes the One we're searching for has been searching for us all along.
Join us as we explore the inspiration behind The God Hunter, the role of grief in children's stories, the importance of faith and representation, and how powerful storytelling can help young readers navigate life's biggest questions.
✨ In this episode, we talk about:
The inspiration behind The God Hunter

Simi's journey through grief and loss

Why the story is set in Kenya

Writing meaningful faith-based stories for children

Courage, friendship, and finding hope

The difference between searching for God and discovering that God has been present all along

The power of collaboration between two authors

How stories can open meaningful conversations between children, parents, and families

Annette Marie Griffin is an award-winning author, acquisitions editor, columnist, writing instructor, and speaker who creates timeless stories designed to help readers find home.
Franella Smith holds an MFA from Southern New Hampshire University and is an award-winning writer as well as a registered and licensed dietitian with more than 20 years of professional experience.
🎧 Listen, share, and join the conversation: What happens when we stop searching for God long enough to recognize that He has been with us all along?
The answer might surprise you.

What happens when faith, history, literature, music, and a love of the mysterious come together in one remarkable storyteller?
In this episode of Murder, Mystery & Mayhem Laced with Morality, Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes welcomes Avellina Balestri, a Catholic author, editor, historian, speaker, and musician whose creative work spans historical fiction, poetry, essays, literary scholarship, and music.
Avellina takes us on a fascinating journey through the stories and traditions that have shaped her imagination—from the Middle Ages and British history to Early America, the Long 18th Century, and Middle Eastern culture. We’ll explore her novels Saplings of Sherwood and All Ye That Pass By, her poetry collections Pendragon’s Shield and Torn by Grace, and her work as Editor-in-Chief of Fellowship & Fairydust.
But there is much more to Avellina's story.
She has participated in literary and interfaith conferences at Oxford and Cambridge Universities, hosted a Tolkien-themed literary conference at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, and contributed to more than forty publications. She is also a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist who plays penny whistle, bodhrán drum, and autoharp and has performed with the Celtic band Across the Pond.
Join us for a conversation about faith and fiction, history and imagination, the sacred feminine, literature, music, morality, and the stories that stay with us long after the final page.
Could the past hold clues for how we understand the present? Can stories illuminate truth? And what happens when a love of history meets a deeply rooted faith?
Press play and discover the fascinating world of Avellina Balestri.
🌐 Learn more about Avellina:
avellinabalestri.com
Murder. Mystery. Mayhem. Morality. And the stories behind the stories.
#AvellinaBalestri #MurderMysteryAndMayhem #LacedWithMorality #ChristianAuthors #CatholicAuthors #HistoricalFiction #FaithAndFiction #ChristianPodcast #LiteraryPodcast #CatholicLiterature #HistoricalFictionAuthor #FaithBasedStories #WomenWriters #ChristianWriting #Storytelling #HistoryAndFaith #DressedInLovePress

🎙️ FEATURED GUEST: SHARISSA BRADLEY

Author • Podcaster • Speaker • Health Advocate
Author of Journey Back to Health

This Sunday on Murder, Mystery & Mayhem Laced with Morality, Sharissa Bradley joins Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes for an empowering conversation about the connection between mind, body, and emotional well-being.

Drawing on her background in experimental psychology, nutrition, and education, Sharissa shares practical insight into overcoming challenges, prioritizing self-care, and making small, sustainable changes that can lead to powerful transformation.

🎧 Listen this Sunday, August 2!

🌐 Discover more at sharissabradley.com.

👉 Follow, listen, and share this episode with someone who is ready to begin their own journey back to health.

#SharissaBradley #JourneyBackToHealth #FeaturedGuest #AuthorSpotlight #PodcastInterview #MurderMysteryAndMayhem #LacedWithMorality #HealthAdvocate #EmotionalIntelligence #HolisticWellness #MindBodyHealth #WellnessJourney #SmallChangesBigResults

🎙️ Murder, Mystery & Mayhem Laced with Morality welcomes Erik D’Souza!
This week, we’re heading to beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia, to sit down with author, publisher, podcast host, and literary community leader Erik D’Souza.
As the co-owner of Timbercrest Publishing, Erik has dedicated his career to helping writers succeed while crafting compelling mysteries of his own. His acclaimed Suzanne Rickson Mystery Series introduces readers to Suzanne Rickson—a brilliant amateur sleuth, devoted grandmother, and woman of faith whose investigations are often guided by conversations with her trusted priest, Father O’Brian. His debut in the series, Death in Halfmoon Bay, has captivated readers who enjoy traditional mysteries with heart, suspense, and unforgettable characters. 
Beyond writing, Erik serves as the social media and podcast host for Crime Writers of Canada, a national organization supporting Canadian mystery and crime writers. He is also president of the Tri-City Wordsmiths and hosts the popular Writers in Our Midst reading series, encouraging creativity and collaboration throughout the Vancouver writing community. 
Join us as we discuss:
Writing compelling traditional mysteries
Creating memorable amateur sleuths
Building a thriving writing community
Publishing and supporting fellow authors
Faith, storytelling, and the creative life
Learn more about Erik and his books:
ErikD'Souza.com⁠
Timbercrest Publishing⁠

What happens when Earth itself becomes the greatest mystery of all?
This week on Murder, Mystery, and Mayhem Laced with Morality, Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes sits down with Colin Brush, author of the gripping science fiction thriller EXO. Combining the intricate intrigue of a spy novel with breathtaking speculative fiction, EXO introduces readers to a future where humanity has abandoned Earth—and where the planet’s oceans have transformed into a mysterious, sentient force known as the Caul.
Together, Katherine and Colin explore:
The inspiration behind EXO and its unforgettable world-building.
How mystery, science fiction, and suspense intersect to tell deeply human stories.
The challenges of creating morally complex characters and impossible choices.
Colin’s remarkable publishing journey—from writing jacket copy for more than 5,000 books to publishing his own debut novel.
Why curiosity, imagination, and hope remain at the heart of great storytelling.
Whether you’re a fan of science fiction, thrillers, mysteries, or stories that ask profound questions about humanity’s future, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
🎧 Subscribe, listen, and discover why EXO is already generating excitement among fans of intelligent speculative fiction. Contact Colin: https://www.colinthecopywriter.com/about
#MurderMysteryMayhem #ColinBrush #EXO #ScienceFiction #SciFiMystery #SpeculativeFiction #BookPodcast #AuthorInterview #ChristianPodcaster #BookLovers #ThrillerBooks #MysteryReaders #WritingCommunity #ReadersOfInstagram #PodcastRecommendation