Podcast by Mark Perzel
Best Part of the Book
Mark Perzel hosts engaging conversations with authors of nonfiction books published by McFarland.
Best Part of the Book
Latest episodes
28 March 2025
Horowitz/Norman: Wrestling is My Gimmick
In this episode, Barry David Horowitz and Jason Norman discuss their 2024 book, 'Wrestling Is My Gimmick: My Life on the Wrong Side of the Three-Count.' They delve into the book's creation and share entertaining stories from Barry's career as a professional wrestler, particularly his experiences as a 'jobber.'"
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14 March 2025
J.C. Bernthal: Agatha Christie
In this episode, Mark Perzel speaks with J.C. Bernthal, the author of "Agatha Christie: A Companion to the Mystery Fiction," a comprehensive guide to the life and work of the world's most famous mystery writer. In this interview, Bernthal discusses Agatha Christie's life, work, and her enduring popularity. He shares his experiences as a Christie fan, how he came to write the book as well as the challenges of creating a definitive guide for such an incredibly prolific writer.
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28 February 2025
Elizabeth Blackstock & Alanis King: Racing With Rich Energy
This episode features a conversation with Elizabeth Blackstock and Alanis King about their book, "Racing with Rich Energy." Delve into the wild world of Formula One racing and its intersection with a controversial energy drink company. The authors, drawn to motorsports through vastly different paths, share how they uncovered the questionable dealings of Rich Energy's enigmatic CEO, William Storey, and his audacious attempt to disrupt the established Formula One order. Hear the financial intricacies of the sport, the behind-the-scenes drama, and the challenges of investigating a story filled with evasive characters and disappearing evidence.
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14 February 2025
Linda McKay & Kate Vogl: Iron Horse Cowgirls
This episode features a conversation with David McKay and Kate St. Vincent Vogl about the book, "Iron Horse Cowgirls," which chronicles the lives of Louise Scherbyn and other women motorcyclists in the 1930s and 40s. Find out how the discovery of a collection of photographs inspired the book and shaped the narrative. McKay and Vogl detail Scherbyn's influence on women's motorcycling, including her efforts to establish clubs and advocate for women's rights within the sport. Hear the challenges these women faced, the evolution of women's motorcycle organizations, and the broader societal context of their experiences.
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24 January 2025
Josiah Lebowitz: So You've Landed in a Fantasy World
Host Mark Perzel sits down with Josiah Lebowitz to discuss his book, "So You’ve Landed in a Fantasy World: How to Survive and Thrive." Do you know what a Fantasy Verse is? Basically, it's like a huge, interconnected universe where all your favorite fantasy stories and worlds live! From Tolkien's Middle-earth to the world of Final Fantasy, Lebowitz breaks down how these worlds are linked by similar themes, tropes, and styles. He even identifies four distinct types of fantasy worlds within this verse: Standard, Comic, Video Game, and Dark Fantasy. Plus, he shares his own epic journey into the world of fantasy. Get ready to dive deep into the fascinating world of fantasy with us!
LISTENER DISCOUNT CODE: BESTPART
Receive a 25% discount on this title when purchased from McFarland's website by using the code BESTPART at checkout: mcfarlandbooks.com/product/so-youve-landed-in-a-fantasy-world
FEATURED TITLE & DESCRIPTION
So You’ve Landed in a Fantasy World: How to Survive and Thrive. McFarland, softcover (2022) ISBN: 9781476685274 mcfarlandbooks.com/product/so-youve-landed-in-a-fantasy-world
DESCRIPTION OF THE BOOK.
Today, it seems as if everyone from heroic-yet-angsty teenagers, to giggling schoolgirls, to middle-aged businessmen, to bored moms are finding themselves whisked away to save distant worlds from some kind of unspeakable evil. But how do you prepare for such an amazing adventure? And, more importantly, how do you make it through without getting horribly maimed or killed along the way? Fortunately, this handbook has analyzed the accounts of numerous heroes who have traveled to magical lands and returned to tell the tale in order to create the definitive guide to survival and success no matter where in the fantasyverse your adventures may take you. In these pages, you’ll learn how to increase (or, if you prefer, decrease) your chances of successfully being chosen, what types of preparation and training you should undertake beforehand, and how to hit the ground running on arrival and become the legendary hero that you were always destined to be.*
*Makes no guarantees of destined heroism and cannot be held liable if it turns out that you are instead destined to be eaten by a giant toad.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Josiah Lebowitz is a professor of Game Design and Writing at George Mason University and co-leader of their popular Japan Game Studio Tour. He specializes in both game and narrative design, with a particular focus on the integration of plot and gameplay as described in his textbook, Interactive Storytelling for Video Games. In addition to teaching, he does indie and contract design and writing, with credits including EverQuest Next, Aurora’s Nightmare, and The Verities Silex trilogy. His other passions include travel, cooking, and Japanese culture.
Interactive Storytelling for Video Games https://a.co/d/8TC61GG
The Verities Silex Trilogy https://a.co/d/12GUEBz
Aurora's Nightmare (a visual novel game, like an extra long and complex Choose Your Own Adventure book with full visuals and audio; currently in development, but a free demo is available) https://penandswordgames.com/AurorasNightmare/get-the-demo/
ABOUT MCFARLAND
McFarland, a leading independent publisher of academic and general-interest nonfiction books, is perhaps best known for the serious treatment of popular culture. Founded in 1979, McFarland is recognized among authors and readers as adventurous in range and a reliable source of worthy books that other publishers overlook. They have about 8000 unique works for sale and each year publish about 350 new titles. Meeting high library standards has been a major focus since the company began, and many McFarland books have received awards from the academic-oriented (Choice Outstanding Academic Title, ALA Outstanding Reference Work) to the mainstream (Hugo, Edgar, Stoker, and Eisner, among others). www.McFarlandBooks.com
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36:46
12 January 2025
Phil Roycraft: The Plot to Perpetuate Slavery
In this episode, host Mark Perzel interviews Phil Roycraft, author of The Plot to Perpetuate Slavery: How George McClellan, Southern Spies and a Confidence Man Nearly Derailed Emancipation. Roycraft reveals how General McClellan, despite leading the Union Army, secretly worked to undermine President Lincoln's efforts to end slavery. The conversation explores McClellan's covert operations, the role of spies and informants, and the political intrigue that nearly derailed the Emancipation Proclamation. Roycraft discusses his in-depth research, uncovering a hidden history of deception and political maneuvering during the Civil War.
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