Stephen Geez wears many hats. He’s a publisher, a podcaster, an accomplished musician, a teacher, and a talented author. Find out about all these things and more on Wednesday June 7th at 2 pm ET (1 pm CT) on Book World: The Great Escape with C.J. Peterson and Michael Scott Clifton.
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Tune in to the Voice of Indie podcast tonight (Wednesday 11/2) at 8 pm ET as we welcome guest authors Pete Risingsun and Marcha Fox to the show.
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Pete Risingsun is an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. He is recognized as a Ceremonial Man who is well-versed in his tribe’s ceremonies and traditions of the Creator’s circle of life. His experience includes serving as a spirit helper to medicine men in ceremonial sweat lodges, where traditional procedures are meticulously followed. Sweat lodge keepers earn their right to function in that role. After completing his vow to fast four times at the Sacred Mountain, he earns four paints, each of which has important ceremonial significance.
Pete is a proud fifth generation descendant of Chief Iron Shirt, his great-great-grandfather, who was a lodge keeper and powerful medicine man who lived to be 98 years old. At 95, he still rode his white horse to the Busby, Montana fair. Chief Iron Shirt is shown below on the left.
(L to R) Chief Iron Shirt, Philip Risingsun, Pete Risingsun (author Pete’s grandfather), and Harry Risingsun (Author Pete’s uncle.) (Picture taken c. 1927 by Dr. Thomas B. Marquis, Copyright Risingsun Family, used with permission.)
Pete was born in 1950, the eighth child of ten, and raised on a small ranch east of Busby, Montana, where he became a horseman and hunter at a very young age. When he was twelve, he shot his first deer and also caught a young bald eagle. He and his uncle, David Seminole, raised it in a large cage for three years. They took four tail feathers for Pete’s traditional dancing bustle and then set the eagle free. This uncle taught him traditional dancing as well as how to ride a horse.
After graduating high school in 1968 he attended Montana State University for four years, then was offered a position with Exxon as an employee relations director overseas. He turned it down, instead completing a three-year apprenticeship in plant operations and working in that capacity for one additional year in Billings, Montana. Working in a refinery a hundred miles from home combined with the discomforts of shift-work made him crave the smell of fresh air as well as getting outside astride a good horse.
Years before, his uncle, Ted Risingsun, had told him, “You younger Cheyennes with education need to come home and help your people. Do not forget where you came from.” Thus, when he was offered a job as adult education director for the Northern Cheyenne Tribe back home in Lame Deer, he accepted, grateful to see Billings and the refinery fade away in the rear-view mirror. Upon returning to the reservation, Pete also bred championship American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) horses, guaranteeing he’d have a good ride available whenever he wanted. He also raised black Angus cattle.
His Uncle Ted further encouraged him to follow in his footsteps and become a Tribal Council member. He heeded his advice and served on the Council for six years. In addition, Pete’s leadership includes being the first Northern Cheyenne elected as a Rosebud County Commissioner, a position he held from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2012.
He’s the proud father of one daughter, Echo Raine, who blessed him with two very special grandchildren, Sierra Star and Skyler Seven. He’s teaching his grandson about the Cheyenne way of life, which has so far included a sweat lodge and cloth ceremony. Upon graduating from high school, Skyler plans to attend college to earn a degree in a technological field.
Marcha Fox earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from Utah State University in 1987, which led to a 20+ year career at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Her interests expand far beyond the world of aerospace and hard science, however. The esoteric realm of metaphysics and all things weird and wonderful hold her interest as well.
Forever fascinated by the heavens, when her attempt to debunk astrology backfired, she pursued knowledge in that field as well. She graduated from the International Academy of Astrology’s professional development program in 2012 and created ValkyrieAstrology.com. Much of the popular website’s informational content can be found in “Whobeda’s Guide to Basic Astrology.”
Her previous fiction work includes her epic Star Trails Tetralogy series which has been highly acclaimed for its family-oriented plot as well as its palatable and accurate science content. More information can be found on StarTrailsSaga.com.
Born in Peekskill, New York, she has lived in California, Utah, and Texas in the course of raising her family. She has six grown children, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Besides writing, she pampers a spoiled 16-year old Bengal and a sassy tuxedo while trying to keep up with her astrology clients, home, yard, garden, friends, family, and of course, writing.
Tune in to the Voice of Indie podcast Wednesday November 11 at 8 pm EST. Our guest this week is Gwen Plano, author of The Heaven and Earth trilogy. Gwen will be with us for the entire hour, sharing news of current projects, chatting about her past work, and answering your questions and comments. So join the discussion via Twitter by using #FreshInkGroup in your tweets. We will also open the phone lines during the show to take your calls live on the air. We hope to find you in the audience!
Hey! Did you know Fresh Ink Group publishing produces a weekly live podcast called Voice of Indie? The hosts of the show are me, Beem Weeks, and author and publisher Stephen Geez. Every Wednesday at 8 pm EDT we welcome authors, musicians, and artists into our studio for a full hour of discussions. We also open the phone lines so listeners can call in with their questions and comments.
Past guests have included author and journalist Ronald E. Yates, musicians Ron and Zach Tippin of the prog rock band Widetrack, sci fi author Robert G. Williscroft, and Robert McKenzie, author of The Chair.
This week’s guest is Christian romance author and gospel singer Jeannie Sharpe. Be sure to mark it down on your calendar. And if you miss any show live, you can always find it in the archive!
Past Guests:
Tune in to the Voice of Indie podcast Wednesday October 14 at 8 pm EDT for an hour with Widetrack. This Michigan prog rock band has been making big waves with their fourth studio album The Unwakening.
Tune in here: VOICE OF INDIE
Visit the band’s web site here: WIDETRACK
Grab your copy of The Unwakening
Join the discussion on Twitter using #FreshInkGroup
I would like to take this opportunity to bid a hearty and heartfelt congratulations to the ReLaunch podcast for a strong showing at the 2014 Podcasters’ Paradise Awards.
For those who may be unfamiliar with ReLaunch, it is an internet podcast hosted by Dr. Pei Kang and Joel Boggess. The show specializes in sharing stories of real people overcoming difficult situations to experience a re-birth in life, career, attitude.
I would like to invite you to stop by and browse their archives and listen for yourselves to the amazing stories of real life, of the struggles, and ultimately, of the victories enjoyed by those who have found their own Relaunch.
ReLaunch Archive: http://relaunchshow.com/relaunch-archive/
Here’s my own story: http://relaunchshow.com/getting-sober-author-beem-weeks/
The Indie Spot! 