MYM A Book and a Chat with Alan Gratz

When Alan Gratz realized that “the force” was not with him, that he did not have the mental power to make model airplane spin in a certain direction, his dreams of becoming a Jedi master faded. Instead Alan started writing. At first a one page news sheet for people in his street called “Blue Spring Lane News”, shortly followed by a book he produced in his fifth grade called “Real Men Don’t Eat Spinach” (a play on “Real men Don’t Eat Quiche”), a copy of which still exists.

From this early start Alan went on to study creative writing, writing over 6000 radio adverts, plays, articles and two as yet unsold books. Then along came “Samurai Shortstop”.

The idea for “Samurai Shortstop” came when Alan was looking through a travel guide and came across a picture of a man in a kimono throwing out the first pitch at a baseball tournament in Japan in… 1915! Around thirty books studied later Alan had a story about a boy blending bushido with baseball, and Alan had his start on the road to publication from which he’s never looked back.


This first book was followed by the so far first two Horatio Wilkes mysteries, loosely based on Shakspear plays with as we heard during a really entertaining show links to modern day issues.

Something Rotten:

Loosely based on the Champion Paper controversy, laced around Hamlet, Something Rotten tells about a stinking-rich family. A reeking paper plant. A murder most foul. Something is definitely rotten in Denmark, Tennessee, and only 17-year-old detective Horatio Wilkes can sniff out the killer.

Something Wicked:

A Scottish Highland Fair turns foul when its beloved founder is found dead in his tent. Horatio Wilkes is on the case, but he'll need all his snark and all his smarts--and a little "Amazing Grace"--to bring the killer to justice.

After this a jotted down idea of generations united through baseball, had Alan signed up for a fresh book before head even started writing. From this start perhaps his best novel so far “The Brooklyn Nine” came to life.

The Brooklyn Nine:

The story of nine "innings," or nine generations, of Schneider children from 1845 to the present. Their lives and their enduring connections to Brooklyn, baseball, and American history.

Alan shared with us not only about his past books and what he is working on now, but also his next publication due out early next year… “Fantasy Baseball”.

Fantasy Baseball:

Aflying monkey in the outfield. A toad at short. Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz on the mound. Alex Metcalf thinks he’s dreaming, but the Oz Cyclones exist here in Ever After, where storybook characters live on as long as kids in the real world believe in them.

But Alex isn't a storybook. To get home, he and the Cyclones will have to win the Ever After Baseball Tournament and earn wishes from the Wizard of Oz. Trouble is, the Big Bad Wolf wants a wish too.

To win the tournament, Alex and the Cyclones will have to defeat the wolf, play the best baseball of their lives, and find the courage to believe in themselves. But what good is believing in yourself if the real world stops believing in you?

So sit back and listen to an hugely entertaining sixty minutes as today I present "MYM A Book and a Chat with Alan Gratz"

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Alan Gratz".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Alan Gratz"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Alan Gratz - "Something Rotten", "The Brooklyn Nine"



Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

MYM A Book and a Chat with Estevan Vega

As we come to the last two days of my Male YA Author Month, it’s great not just to have a fellow Connecticut author as the guest on today’s show, but also a person whose appeared on the show before.

As a young boy, Estevan Vega never really felt interested in the written word. He found far more fascinating things, like comic book superheroes, listening to music, watching movies and sketching fantastical beings that caught his eye.

Then in the fifth grade, writing short essays for a rather standoffish teacher ignited the literary fire that is still burning. Using his imaginative father as a springboard for ideas, Vega set out to write a full manuscript. His dream to become a published author came forth when he was just 15 years old, releasing his first literary creation, “Servant of the Realm”, to the world, a story about a teenager who sees the future deaths of those he loves and tries to change it.

“The Sacred Sin”, his second book, was published when he was 18, and shows a darker edge and deeper intensity than his first effort. The captivating novel bleeds with honesty and emotion, telling the story of Jude Foster, a cynical self-loathing detective, assigned to bring down a serial killer capable of stealing victim's souls without ever touching them.

These first two books sent the ripples out into the world of YA novels, making the small waves that would become much larger ones when his next book “Arson” was launched.

About Arson:

Arson Gable feels like a freak. He can create fire. He never asked for it. He never wanted it. But he can’t shut it off.

Before now, three things were true: he both loved and despised his grandmother; his life was going nowhere; and he was alone. But when a strange girl-who feels more normal behind a mask than inside her own skin-moves in next door, Arson hopes to find something he's never had: purpose. Using what he fears the most about himself, Arson must face his consuming past and confront the nightmare that is present as he walks the fine line between boy and monster. Dark, moody, and breathtakingly relevant, Arson, the chilling chronicle of an isolated boy with unimaginable ability, is sure to ignite the hearts and minds of a new generation.

From signing books in movie theaters to running a band festival to promote his book, Estevan has moved into the world of YA literature like a breath of fresh air, his following growing all the time. As he shared with us, the follow up for Arson is almost completed and I’m sure with that book those ripples will spread even more across the YA literary pond.

So sit back and listen to an hugely entertaining sixty minutes as today I present "MYM A Book and a Chat with Estevan Vega"

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Estevan Vega".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Estevan Vega"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Estevan Vega - Arson"

MALE YA AUTHOR MONTH GUESTS

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond


Nov 29th Estevan Vega - Author of "The Sacred Sin" and "Arson" - Thur 6:30pm EST

Nov 30th Alan Gratz - Author of "Something Wicked", "Something Rotten", "The Brooklyn Nine" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST



Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

MYM A Book and a Chat with Allan Frewin Jones

My guest today on another Male YA Book and a Chat special is author Allan Frewin Jones. His love for literature started when a teacher read the first few chapters of Alan Garner’s The Weirdstone of Brisingamen to his class. And as Allan says… “The heavens opened and voice said, "WRITE!".


His love of writing mixed with his love of music and art has inspired him to writer numerous books from the late 1980’s. Something that as we heard during a really interesting and entertaining program was aided by a mysteries chance meeting with an elderly gentleman on a train, which lead to his purchase of a collection of fantasy books, enhancing his already love for Fantasy.


Though Allan’s early works were produced at a time when fantasy was not the popular genre that it is today.

Popularity of series including “Stacy and Friends/Little Sister” and “Hunter and Moon” allowed Allan to write full time, developing him into a much loved author.

Other sets of books including “Dark Paths” and “Special Agents” kept his name on the literary shelves until with the increase of Fantasy books following the huge success of the Harry Potter books, Allan has brought his talents back to his first love.


Hugely popular series of books such as “Talisman”, “The Warrior Princess” and “The Faerie Path” have since flowed from the worlds of Allan Frewin Jones. Making him a much loved and appreciated author, that was suggested by many to appear on this month’s “Male YA Author” shows.

In a packed show that could have gone on for hours Alan shared with us much about his wiring as well as some of the works that are in the production pipeline including his new six part fantasy series “Sundered Lands” or as we heard during the show, being launched in the US under the titles “The Six Crowns”

So sit back and listen to an hugely entertaining sixty minutes as today I present "MYM A Book and a Chat with Allan Frewin Jones"
Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Allan Frewin Jones"

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Allan Frewin Jones"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Alex - Warrior Princess, Faerie Path"

MALE YA AUTHOR MONTH GUESTS

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond


Nov 27th Allan Frewin Jones - Author of "The Faerie Path" and "The Warrior Princess" series - Sat 11:00am EST

Nov 29th Estevan Vega - Author of "The Sacred Sin" and "Arson" - Thur 6:30pm EST

Nov 30th Alan Gratz - Author of "Something Wicked", "Something Rotten", "The Brooklyn Nine" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST



Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

MYM A Book and a Chat with Steve Brezenoff

It was either the love of “Whose Mouse Are YOU? When very young, or when in the seventh grade when he read The Catcher in the Rye and thought that he could write like that which lead today’s guest Steve Brezenoff down the path which has eventually lead to his debut YA novel “The Absolute Value of -1”.


In between there were several other books baring Steve’s name as he was pulled in to help with various other short novels as well as his popular “Field Trip Mysteries”.

During his senior year of college, Steve took a class on creative writing where he wrote a short story called "Looking Down on Havoc" about a boy obsessed with death and very close with his big sister. Over the next 14 years, he expanded the novel, writing more scenes until he’d produced Metro magazine’s “Young Adult Book of the Year”… “The Absolute Value of -1”.

About: “The Absolute Value of -1”

Noah, Lily, and Simon have been a trio forever. But as they enter high school, their relationships shift and their world starts to fall apart. Privately, each is dealing with a family crisis—divorce, abuse, and a parent’s illness. Yet as they try to escape the pain and reach out for the connections they once counted on, they slip—like soap in a shower. Noah’s got it bad for Lily, but he knows too well Lily sees only Simon. Simon is indifferent, suddenly inscrutable to his friends. All stand alone in their heartache and grief.

The book explores the changing value of relationships as the characters realize that the distances between them are far greater than they knew.

During the show, Steve shared with us much about what lead to his debut YA novel, as well as news of his second book now called “Brooklyn, Burning", will be out in fall of 2011.

So sit back and listen to an entertaining sixty minutes as today I present "MYM A Book and a Chat with Steve Brezenoff".
Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Steve Brezenoff"

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Steve Brezenoff"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Steve Brezenoff - The Absolute Value of -1"

MALE YA AUTHOR MONTH GUESTS

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond


Nov 23rd Steve Brezenoff - Author of "The Absolute Value of -1", "Alley of Shadows" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST

Nov 24th Alex - Author of "Alex reads books" blog - Wed 6:30pm EST

Nov 25th Estevan Vega - Author of "The Sacred Sin" and "Arson" - Thur 6:30pm EST

Nov 27th Allan Frewin Jones - Author of "The Faerie Path" and "The Warrior Princess" series - Sat 11:00am EST

Nov 30th Alan Gratz - Author of "Something Wicked", "Something Rotten", "The Brooklyn Nine" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST



Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

MYM A Book and a Chat with Shaun David Hutchinson

My guest today, Shaun David Hutchinson wanted to be a superhero when he was young, but as he could not be one of those he began to tell stories instead. One day when his mother had been taken to hospital with some heart problems, he was thinking about how he was so far away from her and what would he do if anything happened (something I know about too well this year). How he would not be able to say goodbye, when the thought came to him, that there should be some form of system, so that people could prepare for their death. From this acorn of an idea, that was nurtured by the voice of his character Ollie, came the mighty oak of his debut novel “THE DEATHDAY LETTER”

During a hugely entertaining show, as well as discussing how being a member of the ”tenners” debut author group had helped him, we chatted about not only the theme of the book, but the wonderful characters that bring the pages to life.

THE DEATHDAY LETTER:

The clock is ticking... Ollie can't be bothered to care about anything but girls until he gets his Deathday Letter and learns he's going to die in twenty-four hours. Bummer. Ollie does what he does best: nothing. Then his best friend convinces him to live a little, and go after Ronnie, the girl who recently trampled his about-to-expire heart. Ollie turns to carloads of pudding and over-the-top declarations, but even playing the death card doesn't work. All he wants is to set things right with the girl of his dreams. It's now or never.

What would you do if you found you only had 24hrs to live, something that happens to believable; loveable and so true to life Ollie in the book, the off and on relationship with Ronnie and his mate Shane, make sure that his last 24hrs are ones that are enjoyed. While the book could be deep about the meaning of life etc, it is not though obviously there are undertones. It’s a a book full of humor, rollercoaster relationships, dynamic characters and a great plot.

Of course being 15 year old boys, Ollie and Shane thoughts revolve around sex, food, sex, girls, antimony and sex. It will bring back memories of high school, educate some girls into the inner working of a teenage boys mind and relate to teenage boys in so many ways.

This debut book has pretty much got the teenage boy persona down perfectly. Hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time, no wonder THE DEATHDAY LETTER has become one of the YA hits of 2010.

So sit back and listen to an entertaining thrity minutes as today I present "MYM A Book and a Chat with Shaun David Hutchinson".
Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Shaun David Hutchinson"

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Shaun David Hutchinson"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Shaun David Hutchinson - The Deathday Letter"

MALE YA AUTHOR MONTH GUESTS

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond


Nov 18th Shaun David Hutchinson - Author of "The Death Day Letter" - Thur 6:30pm EST

Nov 20th Daniel Nayeri - Author "Another Faust", "Another Pan"- Sat 11:00am EST

Nov 23rd Steve Brezenoff - Author of " The Absolute Value of -1", "Alley of Shadows" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST

Nov 24th Alex - Author of "Alex reads books" blog - Wed 6:30pm EST

Nov 25th Estevan Vega - Author of "The Sacred Sin" and "Arson" - Thur 6:30pm EST

Nov 27th Allan Frewin Jones - Author of "The Faerie Path" and "The Warrior Princess" series - Sat 11:00am EST

Nov 30th Alan Gratz - Author of "Something Wicked", "Something Rotten", "The Brooklyn Nine" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST



Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

MYM A Book and a Chat James - Book Chic Club Blog

As the Male YA Author Month (MYM) continues I could not do without the “sham-wow” what I call the YA bloggers, so of course to fit with the theme of the whole month I asked about male YA bloggers when setting up my guests. One that was suggested as a guest, is today’s guest, author of “Book Chic Club” blog… James.

Participating in Drama Club, Stage Crew, Choir, and Anime Club at high school, in his junior year, he wrote a one-act play that got performed in my school's annual One-Act Festival. James started blogging on “myspace” in June 2007, before moving to his current Blogspot site in July 2009.

James shared with us what lead to him starting the blog, some of his interviews as well as people he has met in the literary world.

Always willing to do reviews or guest posts, “Book Chic Club” is a blog you should try and follow, or else for authors perhaps asks James for help with your next book. He mainly reviews YA books, but will also do the occasional MG or adult title, as well as interview authors etc.

The show included many little snippets about James, his love of YA literature, his guests and his blogs.

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with James Blogger)"

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"James (Blogger)"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"James - Book Chic Club Blog"

MALE YA AUTHOR MONTH GUESTS

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond


Nov 17th James - Author of "Book Chic Club" blog - Wed 6:30pm EST

Nov 18th Shaun David Hutchinson - Author of "The Death Day Letter" - Thur 6:30pm EST

Nov 20th Daniel Nayeri - Author "Another Faust", "Another Pan"- Sat 11:00am EST

Nov 23rd Steve Brezenoff - Author of " The Absolute Value of -1", "Alley of Shadows" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST

Nov 24th Alex - Author of "Alex reads books" blog - Wed 6:30pm EST

Nov 25th Estevan Vega - Author of "The Sacred Sin" and "Arson" - Thur 6:30pm EST

Nov 27th Allan Frewin Jones - Author of "The Faerie Path" and "The Warrior Princess" series - Sat 11:00am EST

Nov 30th Alan Gratz - Author of "Something Wicked", "Something Rotten", "The Brooklyn Nine" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST



Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

MYM A Book and a Chat with Barry Lyga

When my guest today told his grandmother he wanted to be a writer, in typical Jewish grandmother terms she replied, “Oh, so you want to starve?” Barry Lyga, despite that start has not only become an author, but a hugely popular YA author.

Anybody who can write terrific novel that go from revealing his on comic book geekdom, to the sexual abuse of a teen boy by a female teacher, to tackling censorship before going onto start another book with the lament about the female’s character menstrual cycle is somebody worth chatting to. And so it proved on a hugely interesting and entertaining MYM (male YA Author month) Book and a Chat with Barry Lyga.

Barry grow up with a deep love of comic books, his favorite Sandman receiving several mentions in his first book, “The Astonishing Adventures of Fan Boy and Goth Girl”.

Fan Boy and Goth Girl, is often said to be too autobiographical for his own good, the hero being a young comic book geek who meets the girl of his nightmares. Barry shared with us how the characters and events were woven from his own experiences, friends, even girls he admire, sometimes from afar. The bulling part he told us also came from an episode in his own life.

Booklist said about the book… sharply authentic….Fanboy’s whip-smart, often hilariously sarcastic voice skillfully captures a teenager’s growing self-awareness, and adds fresh, urgent perspective to age-old questions about how young people cope with bullying and their own feelings of helplessness, rage, and being misunderstood as they try to discover themselves

Many people wanted a follow up; instead Barry went a different direction… at the time… with his second book Boy Toy. A book about a teen boy being lead on, then sexually abused, by his attractive female teacher. A hard book for Barry to write he told us, more about Josh the hero facing up to the fact he was abused, and getting over his own guilt.

After that came “Hero-Type” a book Barry openly admits he wrote in anger, it is set in Brookdale once again, covering censorship, flag burning and patriotic believes.

Finally the sequel of “The Astonishing Adventures of Fan Boy and Goth Girl” did arrive with his next book “Goth Girl Rising" which had Kyra returning home from Maryland Mental Health Unit.


With further books following close behind including his first and by no means his last foray into younger readers material “Archvillian” which as we heard will be followed by several more based on the same character. Also a new YA book coming out in 2012 ”I Hunt killers” a slightly more heavy book, which already has a follow up in the pipeline.

Barry Lyga, far from “wanting to starve” has become a hugely popular writer with a string of books going to hit the stores over the next few years.

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Barry Lyga"

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Barry Lyga"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Barry Lyga - Fan Boy and Goth Girl"

MALE YA AUTHOR MONTH GUESTS

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond


Nov 16th Barry Lyga - Author of "Fan Boy and Goth Girl", "Boy Toy", "Hero Type" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST

Nov 17th James - Author of "Book Chic" blog - Wed 6:30pm EST

Nov 18th Shaun David Hutchinson - Author of "The Death Day Letter" - Thur 6:30pm EST

Nov 20th Daniel Nayeri - Author "Another Faust", "Another Pan"- Sat 11:00am EST

Nov 23rd Steve Brezenoff - Author of " The Absolute Value of -1", "Alley of Shadows" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST

Nov 24th Alex - Author of "Alex reads books" blog - Wed 6:30pm EST

Nov 25th Estevan Vega - Author of "The Sacred Sin" and "Arson" - Thur 6:30pm EST

Nov 27th Allan Frewin Jones - Author of "The Faerie Path" and "The Warrior Princess" series - Sat 11:00am EST

Nov 30th Alan Gratz - Author of "Something Wicked", "Something Rotten", "The Brooklyn Nine" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST



Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

MYM A Book and a Chat with Jon Skovron

It’s not everybody’s dream to act a Shakespeare play in a warehouse with temperatures in the nineties, wearing a woolen sailor suit, nor was it Jon Skovron’s, my guest on today’s Male YA Author “A Book and a Chat”. In fact that was the start of him giving up the acting and following his writing career, which eventually has lead to the hugely popular debut YA novel “Struts & Frets”.

Jon is an insatiable music geek who can play eight instruments, but none of them well… (According to him). He started writing in junior high, which developed into short stories at high school. He also, wrote songs and still has is old song books, from which some of the songs within “Struts & Frets” have been taken.

As we heard during the entertaining program, Jon shared with us, how one of the main influences in his writing is Vanity Fair by William Thackeray. John shared how he definitely feels a very intense connection to Thackeray's work unlike any other author he’s ever read. What's weird is that, stylistically speaking, is that they are nothing alike as writers.

As with Sammy the hero of “Struts & Frets” music runs in Jon’s family, with characters such as Sammy’s grandfather not far away from his own relation.

About STRUTS & FRETS:

Music is in Sammy’s blood. His grandfather was a jazz musician, and Sammy’s indie rock band could be huge one day—if they don’t self-destruct first. Winning the upcoming Battle of the Bands would justify all the band’s compromises and reassure Sammy that his life’s dream could become a reality. But practices are hard to schedule when Sammy’s grandfather is sick and getting worse, his mother is too busy to help either of them, and his best friend may want to be his girlfriend.
When everything in Sammy’s life seems to be headed for major catastrophe, will his music be enough to keep him together.

The book has been called “honest, urgent, inspirational, hilarious and moving”.

The story is told in a voice that will resonate not just with teenage musicians but with anyone who ever sat up all night listening to music and wondering if they’d ever find their place in this world.

We also heard about Jon’s new book “Misfit” a sarcastic yet lovable half demon girl in a Catholic School, a bigger and darker book, which is due to come out in the Fall of 2011. With a second a follow up to “Misfit” already underway, and a third story in the planning stage, Jon Skovron, is a name week hear a lot more of in the future.

So sit back and enjoy today's Male YA Author "A Book and a Chat with Jon Skovron".

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Jon Skovron"

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Jon Skovron"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Jon Skovron - Struts & Frets"

MALE YA AUTHOR MONTH GUESTS

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond


Nov 15th Jon Skovron - Author of "Struts & Frets" and "Misfit (2011)" - Mon 6:30pm EST

Nov 16th Barry Lyga - Author of "Fan Boy and Goth Girl", "Boy Toy", "Hero Type" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST

Nov 17th James - Author of "Book Chic" blog - Wed 6:30pm EST

Nov 18th Daniel Nayeri - Author "Another Faust", "Another Pan" - Thur 6:30pm EST

Nov 20th Scott Westerfeld - Author of "Uglies", "Pretties", "Special", and "Extras" - Sat 11:00am EST

Nov 23rd Steve Brezenoff - Author of " The Absolute Value of -1", "Alley of Shadows" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST

Nov 24th Alex - Author of "Alex reads books" blog - Wed 6:30pm EST

Nov 25th Estevan Vega - Author of "The Sacred Sin" and "Arson" - Thur 6:30pm EST

Nov 27th Allan Frewin Jones - Author of "The Faerie Path" and "The Warrior Princess" series - Sat 11:00am EST

Nov 30th Alan Gratz - Author of "Something Wicked", "Something Rotten", "The Brooklyn Nine" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST



Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

MYM A Book and a Chat with R.A. Nelson

R.A (Russ) Nelson, grow up like a modern day Huckleberry Finn, his life full of fun and adventure, building tree houses or horror house, waging warts with rotten water melons or constructing an "airplane" that was pushed out of his sweet gum tree, with his brother on board for a very show and downward flight.

Yet all the time Russ was reading and writing, from his first single act play “The Mummy’s Curse,” he still has boxes of those early and normally uncompleted efforts, approximately two million words stored away in boxes that will most likely never see the light of day, and that’s not counting the other million words or so stored on computer disks and flash drives, etc.

It was while he was struggling with a yet still unpublished novel “The House of Novembers”, that the character “Nine” appeared to him out of the blue. As Russ explained during a fascinating program, this was the start of what developed into his first published and award winning novel “Teach Me”.

TEACH ME:

"What happens when a high school student and her teacher cross that line? From the very first page, Nine speaks in a voice that is at once raw, honest, direct, and unusually eloquent. 'There has been an earthquake in my life,' she says, inviting you inside an experience that fascinates everyone-an affair between teacher and student-and giving a personal answer to the question: How does this happen? A novel about a love so intense that the person you're with becomes your world, and when you lose that person, you lose your world."

The book was the starting point for what has become a hugely popular set of books that cover many different angles and subjects, yet it is still this first book that caused the most interest and discussion. Russ explained that far from receiving criticism about the subject he received many comments from people who knew this type of affair was going on over decades.

His next book “Breathe My Name” tackled a totally different subject.

BREATHE MY NAME:

Frances is falling in love for the very first time. But she has a devastating secret. One day, 11 years ago, her mother Afton suffered a psychotic break with the real world and smothered her own children with a pillow. Frances alone survived. What will her new boyfriend think about her twisted past? Especially now that Afton has sent a chilling message: "I need to see you. We have to finish." Frances and Nix embark on a forbidden journey to confront the monster in its lair so Frances can find peace. Or die trying

The next offering by this great author again moved to a different subject, with “Days of Little Texas”.

DAYS OF LITTLE TEXAS:

Ronald Earl Pettway, better known to his devoted followers as Little Texas, has been on the road six years preaching the gospel as a "child evangelist" and faith healer. Now 16, his hormones are running wild and he's beginning to have doubts. What is the meaning of his unsettling dreams? Why is the beautiful girl he just healed showing up wherever he goes, always wearing the same blue dress? And what diabolical evil is she leading him to on Devil Hill?

During the show Russ shared with us about his new novel which is due out in January, again he has changed directions this time bringing in his own life and working in NASA as his hero finds she is a “Super Vampire” able to go out in the light, not requiring blood, and resistant to garlic and whatever else might come here way.

“THROAT”:


She's superhuman. There's just one catch. Seventeen-year-old Emma Cooper has always been a risk taker at heart, smart and adventurous. But ever since her first grand mal seizure at the age of 13, her epilepsy has felt like a curse, wrecking her social life, derailing her dreams, even driving her boyfriend away. Her doctors think they know best. Her mom worries her to distraction. Tired of being held back, Emma fantasizes about running away, but she can't even legally drive. At least she can channel her frustrations into soccer, where she’s a star — the most aggressive player in the league — until a violent collision ends her playing days. Heartbroken, Emma steals a car and races into the night, no idea where she is going. Losing control on a steep mountain road, she crashes into a ditch beside a sinister forest. An old cabin beckons through the trees. Emma goes to look for help — and her life is changed forever.

The show covered so much that any listener I’m sure will find something of interest.

So sit back and enjoy today's Male YA Author "A Book and a Chat with R.A. Nelson".

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with R.A. Nelson"

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"R.A. Nelson"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"R.A. Nelson - Teach Me"

MALE YA AUTHOR MONTH GUESTS

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond


Nov 13th R.A.Nelson - Author of "Teach Me", "Breath My Name" and "Days of Little Texas" - Sat 11:00am EST

Nov 15th Jon Skovron - Author of "Struts & Frets" and "Misfit (2011)" - Mon 6:30pm EST

Nov 16th Barry Lyga - Author of "Fan Boy and Goth Girl", "Boy Toy", "Hero Type" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST

Nov 17th James - Author of "Book Chic" blog - Wed 6:30pm EST

Nov 18th Daniel Nayeri - Author "Another Faust", "Another Pan" - Thur 6:30pm EST

Nov 20th Scott Westerfeld - Author of "Uglies", "Pretties", "Special", and "Extras" - Sat 11:00am EST

Nov 23rd Steve Brezenoff - Author of " The Absolute Value of -1", "Alley of Shadows" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST

Nov 24th Alex - Author of "Alex reads books" blog - Wed 6:30pm EST

Nov 25th Estevan Vega - Author of "The Sacred Sin" and "Arson" - Thur 6:30pm EST

Nov 27th Allan Frewin Jones - Author of "The Faerie Path" and "The Warrior Princess" series - Sat 11:00am EST

Nov 30th Alan Gratz - Author of "Something Wicked", "Something Rotten", "The Brooklyn Nine" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST



Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

MYM A Book and a Chat with William Kostakis

My male YA author guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat” is antipodean author William Kostakis, chatting to us about his debut book “Loathing Lola”.

William who will be finished with University in three days from now, had his first success as a writer when he won the the Sydney Morning Herald Young Writer of the Year for a story called "Bing Me".

His novel “Loathing Lola” he began working on when he was 11 years old, and has since been refining it, sometimes, especially in the early days due to computer viruses and lack of backups, the whole story having to be re-written. He scored his first publishing contract at 17, while still completing his final year of high school.

Over the edits the book went from being written in third person to being written in first person in the voice of one of the female characters. As William shared with us in a fun and humorous program this was changing of person also removed much of the “ad lib” entries added by his own voice to the original edit, though as we learned as the show went on there are still a few of the satirical lines still to be found as you read through the book.

Loathing Lola:
As one of the bloggers(Persnickety Snark) reviewed about the book…

Fifteen-year-old Courtney Marlow didn't exactly think it through. She thought the offer to have her life broadcast on national television was the perfect solution to her family's financial troubles.

She was wrong.

Mackenzie Dahl, the show’s producer, promised to show Australia a real teenager. Courtney was going to be a positive role model, someone on television without a boob job and an eating disorder.

Soon, everyone wants their 15 minutes of fame via a little bit of Courtney – especially her conniving friend Katie, and her stepmother, Lola. And Courtney is just beginning to realize that ‘ordinary’ does not translate to ‘entertaining’…

People have said of the book...
"extremely funny", "highly entertaining", and "a witty tale of trust, teenage friendship, school politics, family relationships and teenage love that is propelled by regular humor, satirical characters and loads of drama... a popular addition to the mid-teen market".

Wirtten in the TV age, the style obviously suits itself to being made into a TV special, something I’d love to see, sort of an antidote to reality shows.
During the show William shared with us several funny anecdotes and events which I’m sure brought laughter to those listening. With that sense of humor and the wonderful style of writing, William’s next book I for one will be looking for.

So sit back and enjoy today's Male YA Author "A Book and a Chat with William Kostakis".

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with William Kostakis"

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"William Kostakis"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"William Kostakis - Loathing Lola"

MALE YA AUTHOR MONTH GUESTS

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond


Nov 11th William Kostakis - Author of "Loathing Lola" - Thur 6:30pm EST

Nov 13th R.A.Nelson - Author of "Teach Me", "Breath My Name" and "Days of Little Texas" - Sat 11:00am EST

Nov 15th Jon Skovron - Author of "Struts & Frets" and "Misfit (2011)" - Mon 6:30pm EST

Nov 16th Barry Lyga - Author of "Fan Boy and Goth Girl", "Boy Toy", "Hero Type" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST

Nov 17th James - Author of "Book Chic" blog - Wed 6:30pm EST

Nov 18th Shaun David Hutchinson - Author of "The Death Day Letter" - Thur 6:30pm EST

Nov 20th Scott Westerfeld - Author of "Uglies", "Pretties", "Special", and "Extras" - Sat 11:00am EST

Nov 23rd Steve Brezenoff - Author of " The Absolute Value of -1", "Alley of Shadows" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST

Nov 24th Alex - Author of "Alex reads books" blog - Wed 6:30pm EST

Nov 25th Estevan Vega - Author of "The Sacred Sin" and "Arson" - Thur 6:30pm EST

Nov 27th Allan Frewin Jones - Author of "The Faerie Path" and "The Warrior Princess" series - Sat 11:00am EST

Nov 30th Alan Gratz - Author of "Something Wicked", "Something Rotten", "The Brooklyn Nine" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST



Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

MYM A Book and a Chat with David Macinnis Gill

My guest on today’s MYM (Male YA Author Month) A Book and a Chat is David Macinnis Gill, started was reading almost before he started school. In middle school his love for reading and literature lead him to volunteer as a library aid so that he could have free access to the library before during and after school. He wrote several short stories during those early years as well as teaching at several schools before becoming an associate professor in the English education department.

Two of his short stories “Broken Circles (1993)” and “Peoples Song (1996)” received praise and encouragement that eventually lead to the production of his first novel “Soul Enchilada”.

Originally “Soul Enchilada”, started as a short story, it turned into the spark that would eventually produce his first debut novel in 2009. The book became a success winning several awards including 2010 Best Book for Young Adults, 2010 Stuff for the Teen Age (NYPL) and 2010 Bank Street College Best Books of the Year.

As David explained during the show, the book was not without issues, even though the voice of “Bug” the main character came to him almost immediately, basing her on many people he’d come into contact with teaching. As well the music in the book is part of both his and “bug’s” life.

The challenge was that the setting of the book was El Paso, a place David had never been to, he narrated to us the various help and education he received both from friends and critic groups as well as by searching the internet.

We discussed about the various steps he went through with editing, how some of the language changed becoming more real and the addition of exclamation marks, something frowned on I by some editors.

The success of Soul Enchilada has been followed by another YA hit, “Black Hole Sun”. His new book is a mad story about a disgraced teenage soldier hired to save a group of out of luck miners. A novel he described to his editor as “Seven Samurai on Mars”.

A really funny story, with Monty Phyon like humor, the book has become a great favorite among the YA readers. As well as sharing with us how he had to learn to curse in seven languages for the book, he also told us a little bit about the follow up novel he is currently working on “Invisible Sun”

So sit back and enjoy today's Male YA Author "A Book and a Chat with David Macinnis Gill".

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with David Macinnis Gill"

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"David Macinnis Gill"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"David Macinnis Gill - Black Hole Sun"

MALE YA AUTHOR MONTH GUESTS

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond


Nov 10th David Macinnis Gill - Author of "Black Hole Sun" and " Soul Enchilada" - Wed 6:30pm EST

Nov 11th William Kostakis - Author of "Loathing Lola" - Thur 6:30pm EST

Nov 13th R.A.Nelson - Author of "Teach Me", "Breath My Name" and "Days of Little Texas" - Sat 11:00am EST

Nov 15th Jon Skovron - Author of "Struts & Frets" and "Misfit (2011)" - Mon 6:30pm EST

Nov 16th Barry Lyga - Author of "Fan Boy and Goth Girl", "Boy Toy", "Hero Type" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST

Nov 17th James - Author of "Book Chic" blog - Wed 6:30pm EST

Nov 18th Shaun David Hutchinson - Author of "The Death Day Letter" - Thur 6:30pm EST

Nov 20th Scott Westerfeld - Author of "Uglies", "Pretties", "Special", and "Extras" - Sat 11:00am EST

Nov 23rd Steve Brezenoff - Author of " The Absolute Value of -1", "Alley of Shadows" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST

Nov 24th Alex - Author of "Alex reads books" blog - Wed 6:30pm EST

Nov 25th Estevan Vega - Author of "The Sacred Sin" and "Arson" - Thur 6:30pm EST

Nov 27th Allan Frewin Jones - Author of "The Faerie Path" and "The Warrior Princess" series - Sat 11:00am EST

Nov 30th Alan Gratz - Author of "Something Wicked", "Something Rotten", "The Brooklyn Nine" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST



Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

MYM A Book and a Chat with Daniel Waters

Week two of Male YA Author Month (MYM) kicks off with author of “Generation Dead” series “Daniel Waters”.

Born with a crayon in his hand, a young comic book creator, Daniel shared how he got the epiphany regarding writing when the weekly homework of putting the weekly spelling words into sentences, suddenly formed the puzzle of the story in his mind. so he wrote a story. The teacher and his class mates thought that was pretty cool, and it soon became almost a monthly serial, which even had the class bully asking what was going to happen next rather than his normal bully tactics.

From that early start Daniel commented how his work developed from comic strip entries to his first novel launched in 2008 “Generation Dead”. During the show we heard how the idea for Generation Dead, came to Daniel while channel surfing in a hotel. A news magazine program about violence in schools, where basically kids were engaging in random acts of violence just so they could be filmed and the clips put on YouTube.



After going through the thoughts of a almost series book about school life, Daniel hit on the wonderful Zombie inspired format of Generation Dead.

The first book of the series was soon followed by “Kiss of Life” and then this year “Passing Strange”. While there are more stories left in the “Generation Dead” locker, Daniel shared he’s going to have a break from his Zombie friends, who even have their own blog, which has more hits than his own.

About Generation Dead:

Generation Dead is a young adult supernatural romance novel. It follows a girl named Phoebe and her best friends, Margi and Adam. It follows a story in which the country is baffled by a strange phenomenon of dead teenagers not staying dead. Some of them die, and suddenly start walking around again a couple hours later. Phoebe finds herself attracted to Tommy Williams, one of the "living impaired" teens at Oakvale High School. Oakvale High has attracted several living impaired kids from throughout the country because of the larger ratio of living impaired kids to living kids…


As Daniel shared all the characters seem to have their own fans, he even heard from readers who were dressing up as some of the characters for Halloween.

So sit back and enjoy today's Male YA Author "A Book and a Chat with Daniel Waters", after all as Daniel says... "YA fiction is the new Rock and Roll"

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Daniel Waters"

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Daniel Waters"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Daniel Waters - Generation Dead"

MALE YA AUTHOR MONTH GUESTS

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond


Nov 9th Daniel Waters - Author of "Generation Dead" series - Tues 6:30pm EST

Nov 10th David Macinnis Gill - Author of "Black Hole Sun" and " Soul Enchilada" - Wed 6:30pm EST

Nov 11th William Kostakis - Author of "Loathing Lola" - Thur 6:30pm EST

Nov 13th R.A.Nelson - Author of "Teach Me", "Breath My Name" and "Days of Little Texas" - Sat 11:00am EST

Nov 15th Jon Skovron - Author of "Struts & Frets" and "Misfit (2011)" - Mon 6:30pm EST

Nov 16th Barry Lyga - Author of "Fan Boy and Goth Girl", "Boy Toy", "Hero Type" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST

Nov 17th James - Author of "Book Chic" blog - Wed 6:30pm EST

Nov 18th Shaun David Hutchinson - Author of "The Death Day Letter" - Thur 6:30pm EST

Nov 20th Scott Westerfeld - Author of "Uglies", "Pretties", "Special", and "Extras" - Sat 11:00am EST

Nov 23rd Steve Brezenoff - Author of " The Absolute Value of -1", "Alley of Shadows" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST

Nov 24th Alex - Author of "Alex reads books" blog - Wed 6:30pm EST

Nov 25th Estevan Vega - Author of "The Sacred Sin" and "Arson" - Thur 6:30pm EST

Nov 27th Allan Frewin Jones - Author of "The Faerie Path" and "The Warrior Princess" series - Sat 11:00am EST

Nov 30th Alan Gratz - Author of "Something Wicked", "Something Rotten", "The Brooklyn Nine" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST



Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

MYM A Book and a Chat with Jay Asher

Today’s Male YA Author requested by the bloggers to appear on my “A Book and a Chat” during this special month of shows is Jay Asher, author of the hugely popular novel "Th1rteen R3asons Why".

JAY has worked at an independent bookstore, an outlet bookstore, a chain bookstore, and two public libraries. He hopes, someday, to work for a used bookstore.

Writing has always been part of his life that and playing the guitar, his first book he wrote during a Children’s Lit Appreciation class was a picture book called “Stop, Easter Bunny! You Forgot Something”. The book never sold, but with Jay and his wife expecting their first baby, he is once more looking at picture books, and with a title like that it could well be back on the market.

As a debut YA author Jay was part of the “Class of 2k7” the first of the debut YA authors groups that have helped many great YA authors on their debut year plenty of whom have appeared on my show.

His debut novel “Thirteen Reason Why” was started to be written in late 2003 making its appearance in 2007. The book won several awards along the way to publication, and it was interesting to hear how it even went to a “publisher auction, before being picked up by Razorbill/Penguin.

About Thirteen Reasons Why:

It's about a high school junior, Clay Jensen, who comes home and finds a package on his doorstep. Inside are seven audiotapes, their sides labeled one through thirteen. He finds a tape player, pops in the first tape, presses play, and out comes the voice of Hannah Baker...his classmate and crush who, two weeks earlier, committed suicide. Each side of each tape tells a story about a different person at their school who, Hannah feels, led to her decision. And since Clay received the tapes, he's one of the reasons why.

Jay shared how he originally got the idea after taking an audio tour at a museum several years ago, and I felt that would make for a fascinating way to format a novel: someone's recorded voice leading another person on a journey through their town.

He wrote the book in two separate parts after struggling to write in two voices. Firstly creating Hannah tape messages, then after a break, writing Clay’s responses and thoughts and what he heard on the tapes.

One of the things that many have picked up on, indeed there are actually pages of them on the internet are quotes from Hannah’s tapes, rather “Quotes from Jay Asher”
During the show Jay explained how some of the better known ones are used not just in the book but the phrase “Everything... affects everything” is one he used when signing books. One of my own favorite is “in the end… everything matters”

Jay went on to give us an incite into his next book which is nearly finished and should be out towards the end of next year.

So sit back and enjoy today's Male YA Author "A Book and a Chat with Jay Asher".

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Jay Asher"

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Jay Asher"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Jay Asher - Thirteen Reasons Why"

MALE YA AUTHOR MONTH GUESTS

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond


Nov 4th Andrew Auseon - Author of "Freak Magnet", "Funny Little Monkey" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST

Nov 6th Jay Asher - Author of "Th1rteen R3asons Why" - Sat 11:00am EST

Nov 9th Daniel Waters - Author of "Generation Dead" series - Tues 6:30pm EST

Nov 10th David Macinnis Gill - Author of "Black Hole Sun" and " Soul Enchilada" - Wed 6:30pm EST

Nov 11th William Kostakis - Author of "Loathing Lola" - Thur 6:30pm EST

Nov 13th R.A.Nelson - Author of "Teach Me", "Breath My Name" and "Days of Little Texas" - Sat 11:00am EST

Nov 15th Jon Skovron - Author of "Struts & Frets" and "Misfit (2011)" - Mon 6:30pm EST

Nov 16th Barry Lyga - Author of "Fan Boy and Goth Girl", "Boy Toy", "Hero Type" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST

Nov 17th James - Author of "Book Chic" blog - Wed 6:30pm EST

Nov 18th Shaun David Hutchinson - Author of "The Death Day Letter" - Thur 6:30pm EST

Nov 20th Scott Westerfeld - Author of "Uglies", "Pretties", "Special", and "Extras" - Sat 11:00am EST

Nov 23rd Steve Brezenoff - Author of " The Absolute Value of -1", "Alley of Shadows" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST

Nov 24th Alex - Author of "Alex reads books" blog - Wed 6:30pm EST

Nov 25th Estevan Vega - Author of "The Sacred Sin" and "Arson" - Thur 6:30pm EST

Nov 27th Allan Frewin Jones - Author of "The Faerie Path" and "The Warrior Princess" series - Sat 11:00am EST

Nov 30th Alan Gratz - Author of "Something Wicked", "Something Rotten", "The Brooklyn Nine" etc… - Tues 6:30pm EST



Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry