In this episode of Literary Lines, GiGi Meier sits down with Bill Hulseman—former Catholic educator, seminary student, and middle school principal—whose journey through unimaginable loss birthed the exquisite essay collection Six to Carry the Casket and One to Say the Mass. After a year that claimed his mother, sister, and father, Bill stepped away from education to grieve, write, and ultimately craft a new life centered on ritual, queer spirituality, and the quiet magic of ordinary moments.

What began as a weekly newsletter evolved into a book that dances between hilarity and heartbreak, exploring everything from how advice columnist Dan Savage unexpectedly reshaped his life to why weddings (and funerals, and even film screenings) deserve to be reimagined as radical acts of connection. Bill opens up about shedding the guilt of self-prioritization, the freedom in releasing perfectionism, and his next project: rethinking social rituals in a disconnected world.

For anyone who’s faced loss, questioned their path, or longed to find the sacred in the mundane, this conversation is a balm—and an invitation to carry your own grief (and joy) with equal tenderness.

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https://petergribble.com/

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https://www.gigimeier.com/

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Brace yourself for a whirlwind conversation with fantasy/sci-fi dynamo Stacey LP as Afterglow: Defiance Ignited rockets toward release! In this electrifying Literary Lines episode, GiGi Meier sits down with the author who drafted nearly 100,000 words in under three months—all while balancing a full-time job, family life, and a growing six-book saga (plus a holiday novella already in progress).

Stacey pulls back the curtain on how her own journey with anxiety and depression shapes the emotional core of her characters, why therapy sessions double as writing research, and how collaborating with her husband fuels her creative fire. She breaks down The Afterglow Rising trilogy’s expansion into a sprawling universe, complete with morally gray choices, parallel storylines, and upcoming prequels—all meticulously organized between edge-sprayed books and Comicpalooza prep.

From her counterintuitive secret (tight deadlines boost her productivity) to the healing power of writing mental health authentically, this interview is a masterclass in creating boldly while navigating life’s complexities. Don’t miss Stacey’s vision for where she’d be if granted one magical year—you’ll walk away desperate to dive into her cosmos.

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https://authorstaceylp.com/

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https://www.instagram.com/authorstaceylp/

Website:

https://www.gigimeier.com/

Free Bonus and Deleted Scenes:

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https://gigimeier.substack.com

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In this moving Literary Lines episode, GiGi Meier sits down with historical fantasy author Peter Gribble, whose City of the Magicians trilogy is a testament to creative endurance and devotion. Over 21 years—through 1,500 pages of writing, five years of editing, and a decade of full-time caregiving for his partner Robert—Peter crafted a world where history and fantasy collide, all while honoring the love story at the heart of his own life.

Peter opens up about how Robert, his muse and developmental editor of 43 years, shaped every page of the trilogy, even as their shared journey grew more challenging. He reveals the discipline behind writing 5–8 hours daily amid caregiving, and why this story of pacifism versus power demanded such meticulous attention to historical detail. Now, with the trilogy complete, Peter is already weaving the next arc (Books 4–6), aiming to finish in under six years.

This conversation is a lesson in perseverance, partnership, and the magic that emerges when life and art intertwine. Don’t miss this conversation, a celebration of legacy, love, and the stories worth waiting for.

Find Peter here:

Website:

https://petergribble.com/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/petergribble3/

How to find GiGi:

Website:

https://www.gigimeier.com/

Free Bonus and Deleted Scenes:

https://www.gigimeier.com/freebies

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Substack:

https://gigimeier.substack.com

The Cougar Den Facebook Reader Group:

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YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@gigimeier