Books and Brew Episode #55: MJ Williams

Books and Brews Podcast

MJ Williams is the pen-name for the writing duo, Peggy Joque Williams and Mary Joy Johnson. Peggy is a freelance writer and book editor. A retired elementary school teacher, Peggy has taught creative writing classes and workshops for Madison College and the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Department of Continuing Studies. She is a member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, Sisters in Crime, and the Wisconsin Writers Association.

She will be debuting her first solo historical novel, Courting the Sun: A Novel of Versailles, next May (2024), to be published by Black Rose Writing.

Mary Joy is a retired professor of writing.

Together they co-wrote and independently published two mystery novels centering on Emily and Stan Remington who travel the country in their RV -- On the Road to Death’s Door, a Wisconsin Library Association award winner, and On the Road to Where the Bells Toll.

MJ's Readings:

• Surprise in the Rug – 11:29
• An Explosive Fourth of July – 27:26
• Calamity at Storrow Bridge – 43:10

Chris's Cocktail Pairings:

• When the Kids are Away (paired to Surprise in the Rug) – 8:39
• Blue Independence (paired to An Explosive Fourth of July) – 24:10
• The Boston (paired to Calamity at Storrow Bridge) – 39:43

Interview Highlights:

• How Non-RVers came to write about RVing – 16:45
• Writing as a team – 19:50
• Is Pelltier based on…? – 23:10
• Using a historic event in fiction – 34:02
• RV horror stories – 50:30
• Daughters of the King – 53:10

COMING NEXT MONTH: MB Zucker, author of political and historical fiction

UPCOMING EVENTS: Gabriel's Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology NEW THEME: MUSIC

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.