Uncorking a Story Podcast

Uncorking a Story

Hosted ByMike Carlon

Stories influence, teach and inspire us, but what about the storytellers who create them? Uncorking a Story profiles storytellers to uncover how their background and life experiences influence the stories they create. We learn what motivates them, their path to success, and what fuels them to keep creating. It all starts by asking one simple question, where does your story begin? Welcome to uncorking a story. All of the books promoted on Uncorking a Story can be viewed and purchased here: https://bookshop.org/shop/UncorkingaStory

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Turning Inspiration into a Trilogy, with Laura Buchwald

January 6, 2026 MPN Uncorking a Story 0 Comments
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Let help uncork your memoir through a 12 week memoir mentorship program: https://mikecarlon.com/memoir-cohorts/

“The Book of Reservations is about a woman navigating a dubious gift in a world that doesn’t always believe in it.” — Laura Buchwald

Author Laura Buchwald returns to discuss her latest novel, The Book of Reservations, the second installment in her Ghost Table trilogy. Laura shares how a haunted Manhattan restaurant inspired her series, what it’s like to write under contract deadlines, and why humor is essential—even when tackling heavy themes like grief and the aftermath of 9/11. If you love stories about creativity, resilience, and the supernatural, this conversation is for you.

Key Themes:

  1. The origin of the Ghost Table trilogy — How a real-life restaurant and whispers of paranormal activity sparked Laura’s imagination.
  2. From standalone to trilogy — The challenges of expanding a single novel into a multi-book series.
  3. Writing under pressure — Why Laura found publisher-imposed deadlines motivating rather than stressful.
  4. Balancing grief and humor — How levity helps navigate heavy themes without diminishing their impact.
  5. Research through experience — Laura’s approach to visiting real locations to bring authenticity to her settings.
  6. The role of belief and skepticism — Laura’s personal experiences with mediums and how they influenced her storytelling.
  7. Looking ahead — A sneak peek into book three and how early reader feedback is shaping its tone.

Buy The Book of Reservations

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4bbtcze

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9798892990776

Connect with Laura

Website: https://laurabuchwald.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurabuchwaldauthor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095294176611

Connect with Mike

Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@uncorkingastory

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory

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#LauraBuchwald #TheBookOfReservations #GhostTableTrilogy #AuthorInterview #WritingLife #ParanormalFiction #UncorkingAStory #BookTok #Bookstagram

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