A Book and a Chat with Daniel B Ferry

Daniel B Ferry is the guest on the last “A Book and a Chat" for 2011. His book “Tumbleweed Forts” I have seen reviewed as “A Fantasy as Amazing as the Desert Itself!” so I was looking forward to chatting with the author as well as finding out more about his book.

Daniel, grew up as an “air force brat” traveling to more countries in his pre teen years than most people do in a life time. For part of those younger years, as we learned during the show he lived near and played in the desert, himself building forts made out of tumbleweeds.

As he shared with us during the show, his book though written as a fantasy, covers many of the things that youngsters in the 50’s and 60’s might well have done, as well as a fantastic adventure story.

About “Tumbleweed Forts” (A review by Dellani Oakes)

Joshua is a lonely child. With only his imagination to keep him company, he invents epic adventures in his mind. He leads armies and builds magnificent tumbleweed forts in his desert home. When a trip to his fort goes awry due to a dust storm, Joshua's adventure really begins.

As he huddles in his fort, he is rescued by a mysterious girl named Zeleen. She takes him on an even more amazing adventure than those of his own making.

Many of the events depicted in the novel came from Ferry's own life. By his own admission, he is Joshua. Ferry is the son of an Air Force test pilot, as is Joshua. Though Joshua's description of his father's job is much more elegant and majestic. He calls him a "knight of the sky" - his plane is a "thundering airship".

Daniel Ferry's novel, "Tumbleweed Forts", is a fantasy as fascinating and magical as the desert itself. The reader is drawn into the world of Joshua's imagination, seeing the wonders through his eyes. We go with him as he journeys with Zaleen.”

It might have been written for middlegrade and YA, but is a book that can be read an enjoyed by people of all ages. The book explores the world through Time Travel and much, more, and with a seoncd book already underway, I’m sure we’ll hear more of Daniel B Ferry.

So listen now and share an interesting, and entertaining show as I chat with my special guest today on A Book and a Chat with Daniel B Ferry

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Daniel B Ferry

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

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Daniel B Ferry - Tumbleweed Forts"

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

A Book and a Chat with Carole Eglash-Kosoff

The year has flown by or so it seems, with 155 shows shared with the listeners through the year. Carole Eglash-Kosoff was a previous guest back in July where she shared with us all about her second book, just released called When Stars Align, a historical novel set in the late 19th Century in Louisiana, a time in which the Civil War and the nation's view of slavery were in turmoil. She writes about a taboo interracial relationship in the Deep South. It unveils how slaves, like Rose and Faris, were treated by their slave owners, Jedidiah and Ruby Rogers.

Carole joined us once again on tonight’s “A Book and a Chat” to share with us what she has been up to since the last show, which being Carole has of course meant travelling and about her new book “The Winds of Change”.

This book carries on with the next generation of folk from “When Stars Align” taking the reader through a tumultuous time in American history.

About "Winds of Change":

Winds of Change is a whirlwind novel of bi-racial love set against those forgotten decades that include the Spanish-American War, the San Francisco earthquake, and World War I. It deals with segregation and injustices to Southern black and white communities during the post Civil War period when old attitudes persisted and interracial love led to disastrous consequences. The racially charged love and conflict of the critically acclaimed When Stars Align have become more entrenched. Josiah, Bess, and Stephen discover facts about themselves that refute everything they believed regarding both their parents and their racial background. Loves are thwarted as they each struggle with echoes of their past.

It is a tumultuous time in American history that includes the inventions of airplanes, automobiles, telephones and movies, amidst decades of lynchings and economic turmoil. Racial biases complicate lives and relationships as newly arrived immigrants vie with white and Negro workers all trying to gain a piece of the American dream. It is a socially relevant, historically accurate, saga of decades often overlooked in American history. Winds of Change follows the next generation from those we came to know in When Stars Align

Winds of Change is a soaring historic fiction novel that stands alone but follows the next generation from those we came to know in When Stars Align into the 20th century. It is a socially relevant, historically accurate, saga of decades often overlooked in American history. A great read for all!

So listen now and share an interesting, and entertaining show as I chat with my special guest today on A Book and a Chat with Carole Eglash-Kosoff

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Carole Eglash-Kosoff

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Carole Eglash-Kosoff"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Carole Eglash-Kosoff - Winds of Change"

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

A Book and a Chat with Charles Rosenberg

The name Charles Rosenberg might well not mean anything to you, but you might well have seen some of his work on television. “Death on a High Floor” is his first novel, but you might well have heard himon TV and radio.

Charles is not a stranger to crime, nor for that fact drama. He was half of the “on-air” legal analysts for E! Entertainment Television's live coverage of the O.J. Simpson trial, he also provided commentary for E!'s coverage of the Simpson civil trial. This after writing a book “The Trial of O.J. Simpson: How to Watch the Trial and Understand What’s Really Going On”.

Also he has been the credited legal script consultant to the popular prime time television shows Boston Legal, L.A. Law, The Practice and Showtime Channel's The Paper Chase.

With all this plus his own background of practicing and teaching about law both in the US and Europe, it’s not surprising that his debut book “Death on a High Floor” is a classic legal thriller.

As we learned during the show, Charles did start writing a novel but that never was completed (up to now anyway) though one of the characters from that first draft does appear in “Death on a High Floor”

About Death on a High Floor:

On the surface, Death on a High Floor is a classic legal thriller, complete with tense courtroom scenes. As the novel opens, Simon Rafer, the managing partner of Marbury Marfan, a glitzy, L.A.-based international law firm of more than a thousand lawyers, lies dead in the firm's swank 85th floor reception area. An ornate Swiss dagger protrudes from his back.


Simon, it turns out, had recently paid $500,000 for the ancient world's most infamous coin, the EID MAR denarius, minted by Brutus to commemorate his assassination of Julius Caesar. On the back of the coin appear double daggers, the helmet of liberty and the Latin words EID MAR (Ides of March). The police quickly conclude that Simon was killed in a dispute with the seller over the authenticity of the coin. The question, "Real or fake?" echoes through the novel.

Robert Tarza is a sixty-something senior partner at Marbury Marfan. He had recently sold the coin to Simon and is instantly suspected of being the killer. Robert is proper, self-contained and sardonic but has lived his entire professional life, literally and metaphorically, on the "high floors." He is utterly unprepared to deal with being accused of murder, let alone prepared to deal with the police, the ravenous media, and the generally unsupportive reactions of those he had thought of as his close friends. The title of the book, Death on a High Floor, is thus simultaneously a description of both the physical place where Simon Rafer was murdered and the metaphorical place where Robert's psychological death spiral begins, as he falls from highly respected attorney to common criminal. On a deeper level, Robert's fall from grace is what the novel is really about, and I hope reader's will take from it not only a better understanding of how criminal procedure really works, but an appreciation for what it is like, emotionally, to be falsely accused.

While a second separate book is already underway, there is also a promise of a follow up the “Death on a High Floor".

As one reviewer put it…

Death on a High Floor" is a great book. The suspense starts on page 1 and continues until the very end. Once I began reading it, I could not put it down. I finished it in two days only because I had to go to work. Otherwise, I probably would have read it all in one sitting. I'm looking forward to Rosenberg's next book!

So listen now and share an interesting, and entertaining show as I chat with my special guest today on A Book and a Chat with Charles Rosenberg

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Charles Rosenberg

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Charles Rosenberg"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Charles Rosenberg - Death on a High Floor"

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

A Book and a Chat with Bonnie Doerr

It is always great to have a returning guest on the show to discuss what they have been doing since their last visit and also chat about a new book they have written. This is especially so when today’s guest in the form Bonnie Doerr had a debut book as popular as “Island Sting”.

When she visited before she kindly sent me a copy of Island Sting which fast became one of my daughters favorite reads. It would seem it became that with many teens/betweens as since the last show; “Island Sting” has been awarded the “Epic award for the best children’s E-book in 2011”.

Much as Island Sting was a fast paced, un-put-down-able adventure set in the Florida Keys, covering the environment but not in any form of science class sort of way. Touching on relationships, nature and life, Bonnie’s new book “Stake Out” looks like being another huge hit.

Returning characters Kenzie and her “possible” first crush Angelo return this time they are joined by fearless, wheelchair-bound Ana in another adventure when they discover somebody is stealing turtle eggs near her home in the Florida Keys. The story takes many twists and turns along the way, a perfect mystery, full of suspense, action, and drama.

Don’t just believe me, Flamingnet is a place where young readers write reviews on their favorite books, and here’s what one young reviewer said about “Stake Out”.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Rockford, Michigan U.S.A.

“After meeting Old Turtle at a New York aquarium, Kenzie vows to help the sea turtles at all costs. So when someone starts stealing turtle eggs near her new home in the Florida Keys, she s on the case! With the help of her dog, Salty, the KTC (Keys Teens Care), and friends Angelo and Ana, they try to track down the thief before he or she destroys every turtle nest on the beach. Could it be angry Anita, the meanest women on the beach? Or the mysterious Shalima and her skin care products? Or might it be someone who s supposed to be protecting the turtles in the first place? You ll have to read the book to find out.

This book is the perfect mystery. Full of suspense, action, and drama, Stake Out is one of the best mysteries I have ever read. It has just the right amount of family matters to balance out the plot, and the author paints such a vivid picture in my mind that I can almost smell the sea salt. The unexpected twists are just delightful! This book is great for people who love mysteries and people who love the environment. I liked this book so much that I will read it again and lend it to all of my friends. I highly recommend reading Stake Out by Bonnie J. Doerr.

I for one totally agree with this young reviewer, “Stake Out” is a great follow up to “Island Sting” that people of all ages will enjoy

So listen now and share an interesting, and entertaining show as I chat with my special guest today on A Book and a Chat with Bonnie Doerr

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Bonnie Doerr

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Bonnie Doerr"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Bonnie Doerr - Stake Out"

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

A Book and a Chat with Stephen Labossiere

My guest on tonight’s “A Book and a Chat” is Stephan Labossiere.

Stephan is a man on a mission, that is to help men and women experience more successful and authentic relationships.

He knows firsthand how challenging the male and female dynamic can be and strives to bridge the gap of communication between the sexes. The only male in a family of three older sisters, one of whom is his twin, Stephan has learned early on to take the time to understand and embrace the inner workings of a woman’s mind.

Stephan grew up in Miami, Fl before moving to and settling in Atlanta, Ga.
He has worked as an entrepreneur for the past ten years and, most recently, has served as a Life Coach as well as a relationship consultant to married and dating couples.
In addition, Stephan is a motivational speaker conducting speaking engagements with topics such as personal and spiritual growth, financial stability and relationships. How To Get A Married Woman To Have Sex With You…If You’re Her Husband is his first book in a series aimed to break down the barriers and turn the battle of the sexes into nothing more than a pillow fight with a mutually pleasing ending.

About How To Get A Married Woman To Have Sex With You…If You’re Her Husband: (Midwest Book Review)

The ring was easy. The sex is the hard part. How to Get a Married Woman to Have Sex With You...If You're Her Husband is a humorous guide to relationships and sex from Stephan Labossiere to the wonderful nonexistent world of married sex. With plenty of advice for keeping the fire alive and understanding one another through it all, How to Get a Married Woman to Have Sex With You , is a useful and much recommended read for those who see the pursuit of lust only getting harder under the bonds of matrimony. -----The Midwest Book Review

As one reviewer put it…

… It's really a good idea for both men and women to read it and don't worry, for those men out there that would rather have their lips stapled shut than read a book about relationships and women it's only 85 pages. I'm sure you can handle that. I'm going to tie mine to a chair and make him read it!

With a second book in the series already underway also a book for single woman, I am sure Stephan will be helping many more people with his writing.

So listen now and share an interesting, and entertaining show as I chat with my special guest today on A Book and a Chat with Stephen Labossiere

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with phen Labossiere

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Stephen Labossiere"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Stephen Labossiere - How To Get A Married Woman To Have Sex With You…If You’re Her Husband"

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

A Book and a Chat with Noah Baird

I haven't laughed this hard since 1967." Said Genny "Honu" LaFontaine, one of the reviewers of my guest Noah Baird and his debut book “Donations to Clarity”. We don’t know what made her laugh in 1967, but as anybody who listened to tonight’s “A Book and a Chat” vouch the author and his debut book are certainly things to exercise your chuckle bone.

No failed to get into clown school because of his grades but did get into the navy for fourteen years. Now I’m not sure if that just shows how hard it is to be a clown, or how many failed clowns there might be in the navy. After that as he shared with us during the show he went on to try and be a standup comedian, in Hawaii, working for food, in a dry club, often as we heard trying to tell jokes to a non English speaking audience. Still as we now know, he did have a boat named after one of his joke punch lines… (You’ll have to listen to the show to find out just what that was.)

About Donations to Clarity:

The plan was simple: hoax Bigfoot, then sell tours to Bigfoot enthusiasts. The plan wasn't brilliant, and neither were Harry, Earl, and Patch. The three chemical-abusing friends only wanted to avoid the 9 to 5 rat race, but their antics attract the attention of a real Bigfoot. When the misogynistic Earl is mistaken for a female Bigfoot by the nearsighted creature and captured; it is just the beginning of their problems.

The U.S. Government has a plan to naturalize the mythical creatures living within the U.S. borders. The problem is the plan needs to be carried out carefully. You can't just drop little green men and Sasquatch in the middle of Walmart without warning Ma and Pa Taxpayer. The naturalization program is not ready to be set into motion, and the rogue Bigfoot is bringing too much attention to itself, including a feisty investigative reporter who uncovers the truth of the government conspiracy and two Bigfoot researchers. No longer able to contain the situation, government agents are tasked with eliminating the Bigfoot and all witnesses.

Between bong hits and water balloon fights, Harry and Patch come up with a plan to save Earl and the lovestruck Bigfoot. Where do you hide a giant, mythical creature? In an insane asylum, because who is going to listen to them?

Along the way through this fun romp you’ll learn how Star Wars was a government training film for children, and the real truth behind Elvis meeting President Nixon,

As another reviewer put it

“… The implausible plot doesn't seem far-fetched for very long and the incredible characters are super-glued in my brain forever. If you want to take a rib-tickling ride, read this book! I think it will be the first of many amazing and zany novels to come from Noah Baird. I certainly hope so!"

I second that wish.

So listen now and share an interesting, and entertaining show as I chat with my special guest today on A Book and a Chat with Noah Baird

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Noah Baird

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Noah Baird"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Noah Baird - Donations to Clarity"

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

A Book and a Chat with Sandy Armstrong

I hate to upset some people, and it might not be PC, even call me old-fashioned, but at this time of year I say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Christmas”, I wish those of the Jewish faith “Happy Hanukah” but I have no idea how Kwanzaa came along, except that is was some bodies idea in 1966. I think people should have the right to celebrate how they want to, without the so called PC people stating they can’t sing carol’s or hold children’s nativity services without if being “politically correct”. There for I am very pleased to have on my show today a co author of a book, which celebrates part of the Christmas story, but from a slightly different viewpoint.

Sandy Armstrong is one of the co-authors of the wonderful little book “My Journey to Bethlehem”, with fellow author Mona Brown Ketner, she produced this book over ten years ago, and like the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem (about 70 miles) it took a little time complete.

The result is a book, well worth waiting for, the illustrations by Amy Tiller, matching the charming story and the way each page being shared by a verse from the bible as well as the actual story have, as Sandy shared during the show, has been extremely well received by readers.

About My Journey to Bethlehem:

Travel to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus with Mary and Joseph as the journey is told from the donkey s perspective.

Extra special treats for breakfast, new blanket, everyone packing their bags. What is going on? Who is Caesar Augustus and what are taxes?

The donkey learns that he has the honor of ensuring a smooth ride for Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus.

Sharing with other animals in the stable, where there is warmth, fresh straw for the donkey to eat, a soft bed for the baby. The donkeys blanket is even used to swaddle baby Jesus.

An angel appears to the shepherds keeping watch over the sheep to announce the birth of the Savior.

With another book already being planned, this time about the donkeys grandson, I am sure we will hear more of Sandy Armstrong and Mona Brown Ketner.

"My Journey to Bethlehem" is a book rightly stated for people of all ages, and I can see many a child sitting on their grandmother’s lap as they share this wonderful story together.

So listen now and share an interesting, and entertaining show as I chat with my special guest today on A Book and a Chat with Sandy Armstrong

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Sandy Armstrong

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Sandy Armstrong"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Sandy Armstrong - My Journey to Bethlehem"

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

A Book and a Chat with Braxton Cosby

On today’s “A Book and a Chat” the book being discussed is “Proto Star” the first book in the “Star-Crossed Saga”: it is a magnificent start to an inventive series by my guest the talented debut author. Braxton Cosby (yes, Bill’s nephew aka Dr. Huxtable), With this debut book he definitely makes his mark in the science fiction, young adult and fantasy genres. In fact, Braxton has created a whole new genre ”Sci-fance”, a rich blend of science fiction and romance, a name that simply makes sense.

Braxton is a dreamer with a vision of continuously evolving and maximizing the untapped potential of the human genome. A physical therapist by background, Braxton received his Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate from the University of Miami, his fascination of science grew into an obsession of Sci-fi and on one unassuming Sunday this self-proclaimed romantic as we heard during the show, decided to pursue a 'calling' to create a new genre of writing.

Proto Star is the first of the Star-Crossed Saga trilogy, a mix of believable science fiction, no ray guns or weird creatures, set on earth it asks the question of what would win between “love and duty”. Written in sharp, strong prose, it is appealing, engaging and well-written and has received numerous five star reviews.

About Proto Star:

Star-Crossed Saga: ProtoStar begins by asking the question, love or duty? As human beings, we are all given free will. We are all faced with choices. We are all responsible for the consequences of our actions. Cosby poses these questions to the protagonist, Bounty Hunter Prince William Derry, and to his readers.

On the threshold of Civil War, the Torrian Alliance presses forward with its obligation of eliminating the universe of Star-children as a means to contain an intergalactic evil. King Gregorio Derry takes direction from his Council and sends his only son from Fabricius to Earth on an assignment to restore honor to his family. Bounty Hunter Prince William Derry has travels thousands of light-years, on a mission to fulfill an age old prophecy.

Sydney Elaine learns first hand, what the old adage, “Be careful what you wish for” means when she meets William Derry. Fate steps in, leaving Prince Derry to curtail his scheduled assignation of Sydney. It is during this delay that a bond is formed, leaving both awakened for the first time. Everything William believes is challenged.
Meanwhile, a diabolical act of treason is underway back home on Fabricius. It is this contemptible act of collusion and monarchical unraveling, that threatens to extinguish the lives of those William holds dear and destroy his dad’s noble birthright.

Will William be able to complete his task or will he sacrifice everything to follow his heart?

As we learned during the show the second book “Super Nova” is already in the editing stage, with the third book underway. I am sure the series would make a great film, something we discussed during the show, even to the fact have having a part for Uncle Bill.

As one reviewer put it…

You had me in the first chapter! I couldn't put it down. Very refreshing! Not like anything I have ever read before. I loved it! We want more!

Reviewer, your wish has been granted, and I’m sure we’ll hear a lot more from Braxton Cosby

So listen now and share an interesting, and entertaining show as I chat with my special guest today on A Book and a Chat with Braxton Cosby

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Braxton Cosby

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Braxton Cosby"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Braxton Cosby - ProtoStar"

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

A Book and a Chat with Wendy Wax

Back in June 2009, Wendy Wax came on my show as one of my first guests, at the time she was just releasing her new book “The Accidental Bestseller” a book that firmly put her name on the “must read” list. Since then she has had a further hit with “Magnolia Wednesdays” and now with what already looks like another smash hit for this great author “Ten Beach Road”

Wendy is a native of Florida which enables the settings of her book to be not only believable but enables her with the skill for creating such believable characters, enable you to almost feel the gentle wind and hear the lapping of the waves as you read the book. So saying “Ten Beach Road” is not some book about the beach, summer tans and drinking ice cold martini’s, far from it.

About Ten Beach Road: (taken from “You’ve Gotta Read This blog”)

Three women, who are complete strangers to each other, but they have one thing in common. They've all been financially decimated by a Ponzi scheme shyster, and have been left with nothing but a three-way ownership in a ramshackle mansion on the Florida gulf shore beach of Pass-a-Grille.

Bonded by a common goal, the women decide to use a little elbow grease, along with the grumpy (but alas, handsome) contractor to bring Bella Flora back to its previous grandeur. But this isn't a summer of tans and strawberry daiquiris. It's about the most labor intensive work they've ever done, and about digging deep into their own souls to work through all their personal demons. In addition to being broke, the women worry through their family problems, lost loved ones, failed relationships, and secrets they keep from each other. Secrets that threaten to destroy the fellowship and trust they have established.

But in the spirit of their mission, the women hold steadfast to one tradition. At the end of every back-breaking day, they watch the sunset, eat Cheez Doodles, have a drink and praise "one good thing" that happened that day. Never underestimate the power of friendship and a stiff margarita

As Wendy shared with us, the success of this book has already meant that the planned next creation has been put on the back shelf while she has written a follow up to “Ten Beach Road” called “Ocean Beach” which should be out in July 2012, so not long to wait for Wendy’s the many fans.

I’ll leave the final word to a reviewer of “Ten Beach Road”

“Wow! Wendy Wax has earned herself a spot at the top of my awesome authors list! She is a fantabulous author with terrific writing skills. She really blew me away with her characters, her wit, and her plot line. It is wonderful book to get lost in to past a beautiful summer day with... (Molly Edwards)”

Molly, I am sure Wendy is at the top of many other readers “awesome” list and will be for many years to come.

So listen now and share an interesting, and entertaining show as I chat with my special guest today on A Book and a Chat with Wendy Wax

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Wendy Wax

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Wendy Wax"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Wendy Wax - Ten Beach Road"

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

A Book and a Chat with Ericka Williams

My guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat” is Ericka Williams an author, actress, teachers and so much more. Always a great guest Ericka previously shared with us on a show about her books “All that Glitters” and “Shining Star” which were dedicated to her sister, as well as her “A Woman Scorned” series of which at the time of the last show book two “A Woman Scorned 2- Family Ties” had just come out.

Now Ericka is back with something new, “The Robbin Hoods”, a story based on actual events she was told first hand, that she realized she had to write, to share and to show there are two sides to every story.

About “The Robbin Hoods”

The Robbin Hoods are burglars. They are hood stars who are living the good life splurging their money on women, fast cars, jewels, nice homes, trips, and drugs. Chance was from Brooklyn. His mother moved him and his siblings to New Jersey for a better life. They moved to the suburbs where the dangers and crime of city life were not supposed to exist. Very early on his family learns that the have-nots are surrounded by those who are successful; as opposed to the projects where everyone is struggling. Chance chooses a life of robbery to support his mother and siblings. The "crew"started out robbing houses in their town and the surrounding working class and middle class towns.

What started out as a petty crime with teenagers who would cut school and break and enter into houses, on foot, turned into a multi-million dollar empire when the crew took their craft to a higher level. They graduated from boys to men, who made millions of dollars when they began venturing into exclusive upper class neighborhoods. The story is about the unattainable "American Dream", when the only dream hopeless and uneducated men have is to steal someone else's "Dream Come True ".The Robbin Hoods is about what happens when you take from others, instead of building your own.

Ericka also shared with us that book three of “A Woman Scorned- Déjà Vu” will be out early next year as well as the next step up in her acting career with her appearance in the movie “Pitbulls in a Skirts” hopefully coming out in 2012.

Meanwhile her writing career is just going from strength to strength, as one reviewer wrote about The Robbin Hoods and Ericka’s writing…

Growing up in the hood is one thing because everyone around you basically have what you have. When you move to an area where people have more then you, you often want more because you see more. So Chance Major did just that by joining forces with what the FBI called "The Robbin Hoods". Chance had opportunity's but he choose not to chase after them. He didn't want to work for it, he wanted it the fast way and now a days most of our young man think that way . The one thing I can say about Chance he gave back to people who needed it. The Robbin Hoods is a story that our young man NEED to read.

Miss Williams did her thing, she brought a message that so many of our Youth need to hear. She's taking a stand and putting it all out there and that's what I LOVE about her books, there is always a message. Good JOB!! Looking forward to your future projects.

So listen now and share an interesting, and entertaining show as I chat with my special guest today on A Book and a Chat with Ericka Williams

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Ericka Williams

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Ericka Williams "

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Ericka Williams - The Robbin Hoods"

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

A Book and a Chat with Heidi Ann Smith

My guest today on “A Book and a Chat” is Heidi Ann Smith, she grew up in the Chicago area and began publishing poems as a child, winning various local and academic awards for her writing. Based on her writing abilities, she was awarded a scholarship to a private high school and attended college courses during her high school years.

Life and a family got in the way of her writing but she soon returned to complete a Bachelor of Arts from Eastern Illinois University. Heidi is currently a PhD student studying Creative Writing at Middlesex University in London, England, a location I know very well, being about five miles from my family home in England.

“THE CLARA ANN BURNS STORY” is her first novel.

As Heidi explained during the show...

“The story is based on some of my life experiences,” which included sexual abuse. “I needed to write this book–and I needed to have the right and the freedom to bring together different events.”

About "THE CLARA ANN BURNS STORY":

A woman who suffered child abuse looks back over her turbulent life as she approaches her fifties. Smith describes it as “a story of a young girl, Clara Ann Burns, who was tortured, abused and neglected by her family. When she was old enough to go out on her own, she got herself into situations that were not always the best. But in the end she raises her own family and holds onto the hope of healing and living without fear.

Heidi shared with us that she hopes that readers who can identify with THE CLARA ANN BURNS STORY will find some comfort in it.

“When I was a little girl I was very sick and I didn’t have a happy home life. I started reading poetry, and I felt some kind of resonance and a kindred spirit with the other writer’s work. I hope my work will reach someone and that they will also know that they are not alone.”

It is certainly that, and also a great work of literature.”

So listen now and share an interesting, and entertaining show as I chat with my special guest today on A Book and a Chat with Heidi Ann Smith

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Heidi Ann Smith

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Heidi Ann Smith"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Heidi Ann Smith - The Clara Ann Burns Story"

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

A Book and a Chat with Caroline Starr Rose

My guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat” is Caroline Starr Rose, teacher poet, member of the Class of 2K12 and now author. Caroline was an avid reader while young, and as we heard, also put on “magic shows” as “Caroline the Great”. She spent her childhood in the deserts of Saudi Arabia and New Mexico, camping at the Red Sea in one and eating red chili in the other.

She’s taught both social studies and English in New Mexico, Florida, Virginia, and Louisiana. In her classroom she worked to instill in her students a passion for books, the freedom to experiment with words, and a curiosity about the past.

She also spent some time in her teens in Australia as an exchange student, camping in the Outback, climbing Ayers Rock, holding a koala, and getting bitten by an emu. Of course from her stay in Australia, we could also discuss the virtue of Marmite over Vegemite.

Along the way Caroline has shared her love for poetry with many students in many forms, including dressing up as a character from the planet Zircon.
She started writing seriously about ten years ago, at first trying her hand on an historical novel about the Oregon trail, which though something that might never see the light of day, she found to be a good learning curve that has eventually lead to her debut YA novel “May B”.

About "May B"

Mavis Elizabeth Betterly, or May B. as she is known, is helping out on a neighbor's Kansas prairie homestead, “Just until Christmas,” says her Pa. Twelve-year-old May wants to contribute, but it's hard to be separated from her family by fifteen long, unfamiliar miles.

Then the unthinkable happens: May is abandoned to the oncoming winter, trapped all alone in a tiny snow-covered sod house without any way to let her family know and no neighbors to turn to. In her solitude, she wavers between relishing her freedom and succumbing to utter despair, while trying to survive in the harshest conditions. Her physical struggles to at first withstand, and then to escape her prison is matched by tormenting memories of her failures at school. Only a very strong girl will be able to stand up to both and emerge alive and well.

In this debut novel written in gripping verse, Caroline Starr Rose has given readers a new heroine to root for, one who never, ever gives up.

The book is written in verse a form that helps move the story along as well as making the reader feel even more part of the reading, as one reviewer put it, “It made me feel as if I was in the snow storm.”

Caroline’s journey to publication from a start where she had several offers for her book, was not a smooth one, when her first publisher closed just as her book was planning to be launched, however lucky enough another publisher picked up “May B”, though this did mean several more rounds of editing. The result however is well worth waiting for, “May B” which is officially released on January 10th 2012.

As Newbery winner, Karen Cushman wrote…

“Heroes come in all sizes; my newest hero is a pint-sized girl named May B. Caroline Starr Rose tells May's story in simple, moving verse that captures the joy of family, the gloomy isolation of a dirt soddy, and the determination of one scared but indomitable young person. May B. is a girl you'll be proud to know. “

In “May B” we have Laura Ingalls Wilder–inspired ode to the human spirit who is a brave, stubborn fighter, written in beautiful and riveting verse.

This book is book for all, and certainly one to use those to add to your reading wish list for 2012.

So listen now and share an interesting, and entertaining show as I chat with my special guest today on A Book and a Chat with Caroline Starr Rose

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Caroline Starr Rose

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Caroline Starr Rose"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Caroline Starr Rose - May B"

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

A Book and a Chat with Lauren Carr

My guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat” fell Lauren Carr fell in love with mysteries when her mother read Perry Mason to her at bedtime. As she shared with us, her mother thought that no book was worth reading unless there was a body or two in the plot.

She worked as an editor with the federal government, and while there read a book from the library on how to write a screenplay. Using the instructions in this book, she wrote a screenplay and sent it to a literary agent listed in the back of the book. This was the early 1990’s before Internet. Well, a couple of weeks later, she had an agent. Less than a month after that, my screenplay was at Universal Studios with an actor (who I will not name since he dumped her) and a producer who want to make my screenplay into a pilot for a television series.

“That was easy”… or so she thought.

The actor dropped the project for a better offer elsewhere; and the promised pilot collapsed. her agent shopped the screenplay elsewhere and said everyone loved the script, but no one wanted to take a chance on an unknown.

So Lauren dropped the agent and began writing.

Her first two mystery books were the start of the Joshua Thornton Mystery series, “A Small Case of Murder” and “A Reunion to Die For”.

"Joshua Thornton is a hero most sublime, and his five children provide the perfect backdrop for a man searching for the next plateau. Chester, West Virginia is every town, and its inhabitants are fun and pivotal to the plot. “

These have now been followed by a two books in the Mac Faraday Mystery series firstly “It’s Murder, My Son” and now her second book in the series ”Old Loves Die Hard”.

What does a homicide detective do with all his spare time when he comes into a multi-million dollar inheritance and a luxurious estate on Deep Creek Lake? If you’re Mac Faraday, you pursue the lifestyle of a millionaire playboy between solving mysteries.

In Old Loves Die Hard, Lauren Carr continues the rags-to-riches story of Mac Faraday, an underpaid homicide detective who inherits two-hundred-and-seventy million dollars and an estate on Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, from his birth mother on the day his divorce becomes final.

Carr placed the Mac Faraday mysteries on Deep Creek Lake, where she and her family often vacation, because the resort area struck her as the perfect location for a detective. “Deep Creek has everything I love to find in a mystery,” Carr says. “From a diversity of characters to locations either up on the mountain or down on the lake. Deep Creek has it all.”

After years of working as an editor in Washington, Carr gave up life in the big city to return to small town life and her native West Virginia. “I love a good mystery,” said author Lauren Carr. “Growing up in a small community, an argument at the corner store can become a murder by dinner. Making the story a reality on paper is a real thrill.”

In Old Loves Die Hard, Carr picks up where she left off in It’s Murder, My Son. Mac Faraday is settling nicely into his new life at Spencer Manor when his ex-wife Christine shows up—and she wants him back! Before Mac can send her packing, Christine and her estranged lover are murdered in Mac’s private penthouse suite at the Spencer Inn, the five-star resort built by his ancestors.

The investigation leads to the discovery of cases files for some of Mac’s murder cases in the room of the man responsible for destroying his marriage. Why would his ex-wife’s lover come to Spencer to dig into Mac’s old cases?

With the help of his new friends on Deep Creek Lake, Mac must use all of his detective skills to clear his name and the Spencer Inn’s reputation, before its five-stars—and more bodies—start dropping.

With more books on the way, the name Lauren Carr will soon by now mystery to detective story readers.

So listen now and share an interesting, and entertaining show as I chat with my special guest today on A Book and a Chat with Lauren Carr

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Lauren Carr

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Lauren Carr"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Lauren Carr - Old Loves Die Hard"

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

A Book and a Chat with Dave Moore

As a father I know the worry that can rush through you at the thought that something might happen to your children, if you lose sight of them in a crowd, if they do not come home at the time they should. No matter what you always have those dark thoughts tumbling through your mind.
Dave Moore my guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat” went through that and so much more before finding his lost son, but also his faith.

Dave’s son David had been worrying about his first year at college, his grades were dropping and he felt he could not go on, nor could he face his parents and let them know that he was failing them. So he purchased a greyhound bus ticket and left a not e for his parents.

"The Father's Love" tells the true story of how Dave goes on a cross-country search for his missing son.

Becoming increasingly desperate and having done all that is humanly possible without results, what will he do? Who will he turn to? In this amazing true story, you will experience Dave Moore's anguish in going through a father's worst nightmare missing child.

As we heard through the show it is a story of of love hope and the power of prayer.
We learn how through his fear, Dave confronted his soul's emptiness and eventually learned the heavenly Father's Love.

The book is a true emotional rollercoaster.

As one, five star reviewer put it…

No story is better then a real and honest story, and that's exactly what The Father's Love is. A father, on a journey full of fear, questions, and determination, will not rest until his son is found. I know both of these incredible people and knew of this situation before reading the book but was absolutely blown away at how God truly had his hand in all of it. No matter if you have experienced something like this or not, are a non-believer or devoted christian, or have just come across this book by chance, it is truly a moving and profound piece of work.

From one cover to the other you will experience pain, joy, disappointment, hope, determination, faith, and love. I will warn you though, whenever you decide to pick it up and start reading, make sure you have no plans because you will not want to stop reading until the last page is through!

This true story, will have you reaching for the Kleenex as your emotions get churned with every page as you share Dave Moore’s story in “The Father’s Love”

So listen now and share an interesting, emotional and entertaining show as I chat with my special guest today on A Book and a Chat with Dave Moore

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Dave Moore

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Dave Moore"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Dave Moore - The Father's love"

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

A Book and a Chat with Veronica Blade

Bite's tale, Book and a Chat
When Twilight first came out YA readers divided themselves into factions with “Team Edward” and “Team Jacob” each being a heartthrob for YA readers. Veronica Blade however might just have found the next YA hunk, in the form of “Haydn Anders” in her debut YA novel “Something Witchy This Way Comes.”

Though “Something Witchy This Way Comes” is Veronica’s debut novel, it’s by no means the first one she has written, in fact it was her 5th, and as we found out during the show some of those previous creations, might well be hitting the book shelves next year.

About “Something Witchy This Way Comes”:

Brainiac Tessa McClean’s newly discovered magical powers give her an escape from her self-absorbed parents. But the thrill of being a witch fades when she learns of a rival coven and begins to suspect her own coven’s motives. Evidence tells Tessa to trust one side, but instinct drives her toward the other. When the school’s scrumptious delinquent, Hayden Anders, offers Tessa self-defense lessons in exchange for tutoring, his timing couldn’t be better.

Although hanging out with him is a necessary evil in Tessa’s fight to stay alive, resisting a bad-boy she secretly yearns for might be more than she can manage. Together, Tessa and Hayden work to unravel the mysteries behind the two covens to discover why they’ll stop at nothing to lure Tessa to their side. She must form an alliance with one of the covens before it’s too late. But the wrong decision could cost Tessa the lives of all who she holds dear — including Hayden…

The book is one of those great YA novels that appeals to people of all ages, the characters have you cheering for them, the dialogue and emotions are real and raw.
Something Witchy This Way Comes is full of paranormal twists and turns, self-discoveries, courage, loyalty, trust and surprises. As one reviewer put it…

“What I loved about this book was that it dove straight into my emotions. When she and Hayden had a steamy scene, I felt it too. When she was getting into trouble, I was biting my nails. When she discovered truths, I gasped and even cried. It was a great emotional roller coaster...” - booknookclub.blogspot.com

But this is not the end, as we heard there are many new offerings scheduled from Veronica.

She has A Bite’s Tale: A Furry Fable coming out later this month. It’s a novella with a Cinderella spin, but with vampires and werewolves.

In December, there is the prequel to her shape shifter series, a novella called Thrown to the Wolves. To be followed by the first book in that shape shifter series, "My Wolf’s Bane" releasing in January 2012.

And then of course there is definitely more to hear from Tessa and Haydn.

So listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I chat with my special guest today on A Book and a Chat with Veronica Blade

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Veronica Blade

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Veronica Blade"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Veronica Blade - Something Witchy This Way Comes"

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

A Book and a Chat with David J. Friedman

My guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat” is David J. Friedman.

David spent 27 years leading and building RSI into one of the largest independently-owned employee benefits consulting firms in the country. During that time, he won awards for just about every category of business success – from leadership to growth to quality to being a Best Place to Work. After selling the company to a large publicly-held insurance brokerage, he retired from the industry to pursue his writing and speaking interests.

Always a writer, he was editor-in-chief of his High School newspaper; he has produced short articles and documents throughout his career. However, he didn’t focus his efforts on writing a book until his past year. The data was obviously there for once David set about writing “Fundamentally Different” it took him only five weeks to get what he had been teaching for many years, down in a format to share with all.

Fundamentally Different is a business book, and yet it’s not only a business book, as many who have read the book or listened to one of David lectures, it is a also a something that will help in your way of life.

The lessons within “Fundamentally Different” are based on David’s own experiences and reflections as a leader of a high-performance organization. On a business level it teaches leaders and organizations the 8 key steps to institutionalizing their most important values, and provides lots of stories and examples to illustrate just how to do it.

However, as mentioned it is not only a business book, and that’s what makes it doubly powerful and impactful. At RSI, David wrote, developed, and taught a series of 30 values and principles that he calls “Fundamentals.” His book includes an insightful, thought-provoking essay on each of the 30 Fundamentals, each filled with stories and practical examples of how they apply in our daily lives.

They include such concepts as “Check the ego at the door”, “Communicate to be understood”, “Set and ask for expectations”, “Speak straight”, and “Be quick to ask and slow to judge.” Everyone who reads the book comes away with lots of “aha” moments and practical ideas that can make a meaningful difference in their lives – at work, at home, with their families, and with their friends.

As one reviewer put it…

If there was a "Chicken Soup for the Soul" for Business, "Fundamentally Different" would be that book. David Friedman has shared the basic building blocks for creating a business culture that are the foundation of any business that wants to strive for excellence or sustain success. As a change management consultant, and Executive Coach I would recommend this for every employee, manager, leader, and business owner. And as a Executive In Residence who teaches professional development and Leadership this should be a must read for every student who plans to be a part of the workforce. An enjoyable read with valuable takeaways, for business and Life.

So listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I chat with my special guest today Chat with David J. Friedman

Barry
Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with David J. Friedman

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"David J. Friedman"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"David J. Friedman - Fundamentally Different"

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

A Book and a Chat with Deborah Winter-Blood

Deborah Winter-Blood is a witch, yes really, a practicing witch…. So as authors are advised “write about what you know” so of course for Debi, her first book had to be about a witch. However what has been produced is not just any book about magic, but a book that though YA genera, is being read and enjoyed by people of all ages.

“The Glendale Witch” indeed is one of those wonderful books that has something for everybody, romance, humor, fantasy, magic even conservation.

Debi was one of those children who was creating little stories as soon as she could hold a crayon, her first published work came when she was a teenager, when a short story of hers appeared in Highlights for Children. From that time she has written many short stories as well writing “stringers” for the travel industry. Both of those facts have helped her develop this great debut novel.

The page turning read is full of wonderfully developed and enjoyable characters, and the various location description are pained like a travel brochure making you feel you are part of the location.

About “The Glendale Witch”:

“The Glendale Witch” tells the story of seventeen-year-old Celeste Needfyre, a typical American girl whose life is turned upside down when she discovers that she is the last in an ancient line of powerful witches known as Guardians. The Guardians disappeared almost twenty years before, having been taken prisoner by a demonic creature.

Celeste must travel through the fantastical elemental worlds of fire, water, air and earth to save her ancient kin, but when she arrives at her destination she finds herself in sympathy with the dark creature she is there to destroy. It’s a fantasy tale full of strange beings, some mythological creatures, three love stories and a talking iguana, embellished with humor and touching upon poignant global environmental issues.

As I said at the start of the blog, though this book was written for a young adult audience, the response to “The Glendale Witch” from readers aged nine years to middle-age has been overwhelmingly positive.

As one reviewer put it…

Since I am usually not a fan of YA fiction, I might have hesitated to pick up this book had I not been familiar with, and impressed by, Ms. Blood's shorter fiction. I must say that I am so glad that this was the case because I would have missed a wonderfully executed book for absolutely no reason other than my own preconceived notions about the limitations of the genre.

Ms. Blood carefully reeled me in and held me captive from page one. Her attention to detail made the entire adventure a joy and her imagination knows no bounds. Celeste and her friends are likable and believable and the creatures they meet on their journey are astounding. It takes great skill to create magical realism and Ms. Blood has proven that she is an expert at it . . . she truly is the YA author to keep your eye on.

So listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I chat with my special guest today Chat with Deborah Winter-Blood

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Deborah Winter-Blood

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Deborah Winter-Blood"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Deborah Winter-Blood - The Glendale Witch"

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

A Book and a Chat with Roxanne Bok

Back from the 400th show, today’s broadcast is an example of just why I love doing these shows so much. We have gone through the full range of genres over the last few weeks, now here we are today talking about horses and living like being part of Green Acers.

Roxanne Bok and her family were successful urbanites in New Jersey, used to clean, controlled and orderly lives They decided to purchase a “weekend getaway” in Connecticut and took on and old geriatric horse farm which meant restoring a nearly collapsed empty barn and multiple sagging outbuildings, sixty tired acres littered with decayed fencing, and pastures deep in standing water.

At first, Roxanne and her husband merely wanted to preserve the land across the road from their weekend home from encroaching development. But when maintaining the faded glory of the adjoining El-Arabia horse farm was more than their elderly neighbor could handle, Scott’s success in business made it possible to rescue the place. What could an investment banker and a writer know about the rigors of caring for large animals?

In Roxanne’s pastoral memoir “HORSEKEEPING” we discover the joys, heartbreaks and self-discovery that transformed their lives.

Anyone who has lived through home restoration will appreciate what it takes to restore an entire farm, from the mall-sized stable down to the riding rings, outbuildings and caretaker’s cottage. Bok is delightfully direct as she describes watching the farm come back to life as uninvited wildlife, accumulated mess and years of neglect are forcibly evicted.

The introduction of horses – and all that goes with them – to the newly named Weatogue Stables sheds a light on what makes some people go “horse crazy.” Starting with a charming pony and a lovable horse named for a giant rodent, Bok and her children begin the fundamentals of “horsekeeping.” But along with the pleasures of caring for and raising horses, dogs, cats and rabbits comes the possibility of loss, and Bok must confront her own fears left by the death of her young mother, even as she helps her own son and daughter understand the joys and sorrows of living with nature.

As the family grows as equestrians and learns the ropes of showmanship and competition, they learn what it really means to be a part of the land; the community and a world too few of us get to enter.

As one reviewer put it…

“HORSEKEEPING is a wonderful telling of the history of a Salisbury farm and land including delightful descriptions of the characters that have made up that history. Roxanne makes you feel as if you are a part of the story and allows you to experience the equestrian way of life. She thoughtfully explores stewardship of the land, the lure of country life and the value of raising children understanding the responsibility involved in caring for animals.”

So listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I chat with my special guest today Chat with Roxanne Bok

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Roxanne Bok

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Roxanne Bok"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Roxanne Bok - Horsekeeping"

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

The 400th "A Book and a Chat" with Cheryl Malandrinos

Back in February 2009, after appearing on a few radio shows, and with experience of running a couple of local TV shows narrating stories from my romance book as well as filming local karaoke, I thought… why not try your own radio show. Loving a good old “chin wag” as we say in England I thought it might be good fun, little did I know just how much.

After a couple of practice runs the first “A Book and a Chat” was aired on March 7th, with my first guest being a fellow radio show starter and author Kim Smith.

Now a couple of years or so later here I am hosting my 400th radio show.

For this special 400th addition of “A Book and a Chat” I am very pleased to say I have Cheryl Malandrinos as my guest. Cheryl is freelance writer and editor, a founding member of Musing Our Children; she is also a Tour Coordinator for Pump Up Your Book. Her first children’s book, Little Shepherd, was released in August 2010 by Guardian Angel Publishing.

Cheryl has been working on blogs, reviews and virtual book tours for more years than the show has been running, and was one of the first people, along with Dorothy Thomson who I met when my own book “Across the Pond” was published.

During an entertaining and I hope informative show, we discussed how things have changed in the world of publishing and promotion since the show has been running.
Cheryl herself has had success with her book “Little Shepherd” which as we learned during the show will be followed by “A Christmas Kindness” next year. About “Little Shepherd”

Obed is in the hills outside Bethlehem when the angels appear to announce the Savior’s birth. Can he trust that the miracle of the first Christmas will keep his flock safe while he visits the newborn King?

With Christmas just around the corner, I can highly recommend her book for those young readers in your family.

Over the last 400 shows, I am very proud of the many, many comments I have received from guests, nearly all love the style and many have come back for a second third, fourth or even fifth time.

I have had some very famous guests on the show during these last two years from Emmy award winners such as Louise Shaffer, to authors such as Steve Berry who have 72 million copies in print throughout the world. I love to involve the YA Bloggers, as I call them the “Sham Wow” of YA literature as they soak everything up. I have made it a point to include bloggers as guests on the show as well as many debut authors. After all they might be debut authors today but they could be the stars of tomorrow. Class of 2K10, 2K11 YA debut authors were great and I already have several from Class of 2k12 signed up for the show.

There are a few drawbacks in having what sometimes has been five shows a week, the jokes and anecdotes tend to repeat themselves, but I always try and make the chat flow and love to laugh as anybody who has listened will tell you. Many guests are what can only be described as “scared” when they first call in and we chat before the show starts, but as I say to them, it’s honestly just a chat over a cup of tea (in my case English PG Tips), and so many have told me afterwards how much they enjoyed the easy going format and style, that they were completely at ease.

One good sign as to how the show is being enjoyed is the way the time seems to rush by for all over them, this I very soon realized and started running some 1hr specials, which again people have enjoyed.

I have in the last 400 shows I have covered subjects from abuse to life coaching, from Picture books to historical fiction. I have within three days covered a multi-million selling author such as Steve Berry, to William Link whose name might not be one you remember straight away until you realize he and his late writing partner wrote all the Colombo series, Murder She wrote and so much more. To be followed by a local author who had written some small books of stories about famous horses which were being sold on local “tack” shops
.

I love the various styles that can appear on the show, learning about people’s fights over illness and abuse, historical novels about periods in history, Leaning about floods, disasters, love and laughter, the eclectic mix of shows not only keeps me looking forward each week to the next show but I hope my listeners as well. I have made many friends along the way learned many things, about the art of writing as well as telling a good story.

Along the way I have come up with this parallel universe theory, which has become a pet theory of mine.

I think there is this parallel universe where all these stories are situated, all us writers are is the conduit that allows the stories to be share din our world. Ask almost any author and they will tell you that no matter how much you outline or plan the story, the characters come along that were not even thought of, and take over the story, you get led down different paths not even thought about as the story develops. When you have completed the novel, and look back on it, often you can’t even remember writing some of it, let alone using some of the language and words which you’d never use. Yes... the parallel universe writes story for you… well that’s my slightly tongue in cheek theory.

As you can imagine I’ve had some shows that have ended up more like a comedy show, while others have brought tears to many a listener.

One show that will always stand out for me was back in November of 2009. My guest was M.M Anderson and we were talking about her book “Werewolf Dreams”. There is an option and for people to dial into the show to chat to my guest themselves, and on this day a call came in to my switchboard, that as a show host you are able to control. I opened the phone connection and asked who wanted to talk to M.M. Anderson. All I got in response was some growling a cross between a dog and Chewbacca; yes a werewolf had dialed in to the show.

My guest thought it might be one of her children and threats were made, but on checking the number it was from a totally different state.

So from Werewolf’s to film stars, multi selling authors to ones with their first book, abuse to humor, peoples to pets, tears to laugher I’ve seen had them all on A Book and a Chat” 400 show downs, and hope to have many more to share with you.

I guess a few new one liners are required, and you never know, perhaps I’ll even have another call from a werewolf.

So listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I chat with my special guest today Chat with Cheryl Malandrinos

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Cheryl Malandrinos

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Cheryl Malandrinos"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Cheryl Malandrinos - Little Shepherd"

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