A Book and a Chat with Renne Hand

Award winning romance author and now perhaps better known as a children’s author, Renne Hand drops by for a cup of tea and chat on today’s “A Book and a Chat”.

Renne is the author of the Crypto-Capers and Joe-Joe Nut series as well as two award winning novels as well as the wonderfully named “Do You Have Ants In Your Pants That Make You Dance?”

Renne’s love for reading and writing started when she was a child, she remembers frequently wearing out the stone steps to the local library, and when visiting a bookstore I she would sit in the middle of an aisle perusing a novel that she was eagerly going to purchase but couldn’t wait to read.

Renne's awards include a Best 2006 Fantasy Romance award for Magic Hearts. Her second romance novel, Seduction of the Lonely Heart won a National Literary Award for Best Romance of 2007. The first book in her children's series, The Crypto-Capers in "The Case of the Missing Sock", won a preferred choice award for 2009 by Creative Child Magazine.

Her Crypto-Capers Series is designed to involve the reader into the story. The reader must help the detectives solve the case by solving various puzzles and cryptograms. Book one gives the reader a basic understanding of how to solve the puzzles and cryptograms. Once you know how, you will be well on your way. Clues will be given to the reader, but with each case less clues are given to make it more challenging, and more interesting. Which means that you will have to use your noodle, and pay very close attention to what is going on in the story.

Now with four books in the series the latest being "The Chest of Mystery", and another one already on the way these books will not only provide a great story for the reader but involve them as well as educate them.

The Joe-Joe Nuts series is another great educational series for young children. It is about animal detectives. As the detectives talk to each suspect involved in the case the reader must use inference, what they know, but also what they learn about each suspect in order to figure out who committed the crime and why.

This is a great book to be used in the classroom. The reader will also be learning about animal tracks and some of the animals who make them. This is a cute and interesting story children of all ages will love.

Renne has just released book two of the Joe-Joe Nut Series, Mineral Mischief. It's about rocks and minerals. This will be an excellent addition to any classroom library. It will have terminology, experiments, opportunities to make predictions, the rock cycle and much more for the reader to enjoy.

With a blog tour through the month of April, Renne will be making several stops where readers can take part on various competitions with chances to win giveaways.

So sit back and listen to today's interesting and entertaining show as I host "A Book and a Chat with Renne Hand".

If you enjoy these radio shows why not become a follower of the prgram at a A Book and a Chat

Barry

Direct link to the show

"A Book and a Chat with Renne Hand".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Renne Hand"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Renne Hand - Joe-Joe Nut Series"

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

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A Book and a Chat with Stephen Beccia

Stephen John Beccia is an avid Stephen King fan and enjoy writing adult horror stories, however that is not why he was today’s guest on “A Book and a Chat”.

Born and Raised in Milford, MA, Stephen has been a local musician for most his life, he started writing stories when he was ten, the first one being his version of Dr. Jekyll. From writing short songs, poems and short stories Stephen moved into publishing with his book “The Treelanders - Journey to the Giants” which was an award winner of iUniverse’s Publishers Choice, and Editor’s Choice.

About “The Treelanders - Journey to the Giants”

‘The peaceful villagers of Treeland have been put under the evil gargoyle’s fire and ice curse. The last dragon—protector to the king—is dying, further crippling the town’s chances to lift the curse. Treeland’s only hope is one remaining dragon egg, but it has landed in the wrong hands and vanished into a forbidden land.

Treelander Avry Blain and his four siblings face their biggest challenge as they travel for the first time into this mysterious land in pursuit of the rare dragon egg. They battle Captain Slaughter and his pirates, and stand head to head with Kildane the warlock and his three greedy giants.’

The book is ideal for any age, with much more than just a story; puzzles, clues, riddles and adventures of all kind. It is a great book full of likable characters that boys and girls and of course adults will love.

As we heard through the program Stephen already has another four of the “Treelander” series on the way, plus another couple of children’s novels in the works, and then of course there is the adult horror…

So sit back and listen to today's interesting and entertaining show as I host "A Book and a Chat with Stephen Beccia".

If you enjoy these radio shows why not become a follower of the prgram at a A Book and a Chat

Barry

Direct link to the show

"A Book and a Chat with Stephen Beccia".

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

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Stephen Beccia - The Treelanders"

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 Heather Woodward

Today is my 300th “A Book and a Chat” and is great to have a returning guest to share this special show.

Heather Woodward is an author, a clairvoyant, a psychometrist, a teacher and a radio personality. For over 15 years, she has performed psychic tarot sessions, life-coaching consultations, past life-regressions and natal chart readings.

When Heather was last on the show chatted about her book “Ghosts of Central Arizona", a book about her personal experiences in the some of the most haunted and supernatural locations in Sedona, Jerome, Cottonwood and surrounding areas.

Heather also has produced, edited and directed the paranormal documentary "Dead House" which regularly hits the “Top 20 Best Selling DVD Rank” on Amazon in the Supernatural category, as well as being often shown on television.

Over the years, Heather has been interviewed as a guest and performed psychic tarot readings on television, film, radio and print for her knowledge in the paranormal and psychic development. She teaches a practical psychic development class at Pima Community College.

Amongst the general discussion about the growth in the popularity of ghost hunting, the advances in equipment and perhaps some of the does and don’t related to paranormal investigation. We touched on some of Heathers own experiences, as well as a few of my own.

In her new book “Arizona’s Haunted Hotspots” heather goes into not only some of these locations, including the Birdcage Theatre in Tombstone as well as some of the history of supernatural investigation.

About Arizona’s Haunted Hotspots:

‘Take a ghostly road trip to some of the most haunted hotspots in Arizona. Tour the Birdcage Theatre in Tombstone and experience the disembodied footsteps of specter cowboys. Visit the Centennial Hall in Tucson and try not to get pushed down the stairs by its resident mischievous ghost. Witness the wonders of the magical Sedona vortexes, and learn the history behind the Spiritualism Movement and early paranormal investigators. Read about the Fox Sisters and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's spirit photography. From the spooky to the paranormal, there's something ‘‘supernatural’’ going on in Arizona. The book also includes a glossary of paranormal definitions and terms.’

From past life regression to psychometrist, where you get information from touching an object, including some of the drawbacks both in this and perhaps knowing what other people are going to say, all were discussed in this special 300th show.

So sit back and listen to today's interesting and entertaining show as I host "A Book and a Chat with Heather Woodward".

If you enjoy these radio shows why not become a follower of the prgram at a A Book and a Chat

Barry

Direct link to the show

"A Book and a Chat with Heather Woodward".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Heather Woodward"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Heather Woodward - Arizona's Haunted Hotspots"

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

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A Book and a Chat with Cynthia Kocialski

My guest on today’s show is Cynthia Kocialski. The youngest of four children who and observer paying attention to what goes on around her, and is one of those people who is great with puzzles, figuring out and getting the big picture into perspective.

The early sign of Cynthia taking onboard and idea and running with it was when she was in second grade when many of her friends were having birthday parties, wanting a party of her own, and with her parents had not approached the subject, Cyhthia took matters into her own hands. She sat down at her brother’s desk one day, and made up her own party invitations, handed them out at school the next day. She then told her parents she was having a birthday party and needed a birthday cake, party favors, and party games. It was so successful that this was the first of a string of similar childhood initiatives.

She had a career at IBM as a systems engineer and later worked in diverse roles at IBM as a design engineering manager, technical marketing, and business development. Cynthia was the General Manager of Matrox Electronics, where she managed several product development groups. For the past 15 years, she has been involved in hi-tech start-up companies.

Cynthia founded Vesta Corporation, a specialized telecom software provider and SLI, a fabless telecom semiconductor company. Cynthia has worked with many start-ups and has served as a member of technical advisory boards. Her recent role was as COO for a medical consumer technology and services start-up. Her experiances and practical insites on how to go from an idea to a new business are shared in her book "Startup from the Ground Up".

About Startup from the Ground Up:

Start-ups don’t fail because companies are unable to build a product; they fail because the business factors needed to bring that product into the market are either neglected or ignored. Startup from the Ground Up gets the entrepreneur moving down the right path and thinking in the right direction with tips, strategies, and techniques on how to launch a start up. In this book, readers will discover why a great product isn’t enough.

Cynthia also writes the popular “Start-up Entrepreneurs’ Blog” and has written many articles on emerging technologies. The book is one that can help many people, even authors when you think about it, after all what is launching a book but transforming and idea into a business.

So sit back and listen to today's interesting and entertaining show as I host today's "A Book and a Chat with Cynthia Kocialski".

If you enjoy these radio shows why not become a follower of the prgram at a A Book and a Chat

Barry

Direct link to the show

"A Book and a Chat with Cynthia Kocialski".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Cynthia Kocialski"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Cynthia Kocialski - Startup from the Ground Up"

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 John Ames

My guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat” is John Ames author of the wonderful “coming of age” type novel “Adventures to Nowhere”.

John was raised in Tampa, before going to the University of Florida originally to train as an actor, but after a season treading the boards summer stock convinced him that a lot of theater people are crazy, so he changed his major to English.

After his graduation John built a rustic “pole” house and lived, for several years, on the edge of a spiritual community located near Gainesville, Florida. He produced and appeared in numerous short films and videos, including the interesting “Tub Interviews,” wherein all the interviewees were required to be in a bathtub. From making lamps to co-writing Renée Richards two biography books, John eventually found his way to his first novel “Adventures to Nowhere”.

About Adventures to Nowhere:

Adventures in Nowhere is the story of ten-year-old Danny Ryan, a crafty youngster with lots of problems. He has an unstable father, a sick sister, another sister who is an emotional powder keg, and a mother distracted by overwork. Worse yet, they are crammed together in a tiny three-room house. Danny thinks he is the only completely sane member of his family, and he tries his best to keep things at home balanced, but it’s a big job for a small boy. Danny thinks he might be cracking under the strain when he starts seeing a mysteriously changing house across the Hillsborough River. Thanks to the help of some quirky characters in his neighborhood, Danny manages to rise above his problems and see that life offers beauty even in the most trying of circumstances.

This book is a great page-turning read coming of age type novel along the lines of Huckleberry Finn and Catcher in the Rye that will have you reliving your own childhood.

So sit back and listen to today's interesting and entertaining show as I host today's "A Book and a Chat with John Ames".

If you enjoy these radio shows why not become a follower of the prgram at a A Book and a Chat

Barry

Direct link to the show

"A Book and a Chat with John Ames".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"John Ames"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"John Ames - Adventures in Nowhere"

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 Alfred Wellnitz

My guest today Alfred Wellnitz served in the Navy for seven years then worked for thirty-three years in technology as an electrical engineer. After retiring he worked in real-estate before at the age of 72, he decided to become a writer. Nothing in his background prepared him for this, but after a brief period at University of Minnesota while winding down my real estate business he spent two years taking classes and seminars at the Loft, a Twin Cities organization dedicated to teaching writing skills. During his second year of taking Loft classes he started writing his first novel, an historical fiction book called Finding the Way.

About Finding the Way:

Prussian immigrant Karl Mueller undertook a long journey in order to reach his goal to homestead land in America, a journey which ends in the Dakota territory during the time of the 1876 Black Hills gold rush. Karl meets companion Heinrich Schlicter on the ship taking him on the first step of what becomes a seven year odyssey. The two remain friends and partners as they travel across the young country while Karl pursues his goal. KarlÂ’s first priority is to accumulate enough money to finance his homestead plans.

The quest to accumulate the needed stake takes the two young men to ChicagoÂ’s notorious meat-packing plants, to a Wisconsin lumber camp, and to the Black Hills gold rush. While in the Black Hills, Karl falls in love with a mixed blood Lakota woman who helps him redefine his goal and to understand who he really is. A blending of history and social issues with a compelling story makes Finding the Way entertaining and informative reading.

From there he taken the writing mantel on full fold author with his first fiction novel “Push Back” set in 2033 while at the time futuristic, with all that is going on in the world these days one wonders just how real it might actually be.

About Push Back:

In PushBack, the author portrays a scenario of what could happen in the near future to a United States if it does not get its finances under control.

Young African American Lawyer Jim Reed seemingly has it all. Recently named a junior partner in an Atlanta law firm, Jim is shocked when he stops at his usual gas station and realizes the price of fuel has skyrocketed overnight to fifty dollars a gallon. It is 2033, and the world as Jim knows it is suddenly spinning out of control. Things get worse for Jim Reed and girlfriend Linda Alonzo when the nation, its economy devastated by hyperinflation, splits into eight different parts and they find themselves in the Federated States, a country controlled by an authoritarian white-supremacist government.

Jim Reed joins a group of African American insurgents pushing back against the brutal, bigoted ruling party and finds himself involved in dangerous, bold attacks on Federated States targets. The insurrection causes the Federated States government to take extreme measures, and it interns or exiles the country’s entire African American population. Reed goes into exile. As he recruits like-minded people to join together with the intent to destroy the Federated States Supremacist government, he conceives a plan that may just become the world’s greatest act of terrorism.

With a third book already under way, though starting late in life along the writing trail, the name of Alfred Wellnitz is one I’m sure we’ll hear more of.

So sit back and listen to today's interesting and entertaining show as I host today's "A Book and a Chat with Alfred Wellnitz".

If you enjoy these radio shows why not become a follower of the prgram at a A Book and a Chat

Barry

Direct link to the show

"A Book and a Chat with Alfred Wellnitz".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Alfred Wellnitz"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Alfred Wellnitz - Push Back"

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 Kristina McMorris

Some people are just creative, no matter what they do with their lives and my guest on today’s show is just one of those people. As on today’s show award winning actress, TV host and now author, Kristina McMorris drops by for a chat.

Kristina is creativity personified. She’s an actress, TV show host, entrepreneur, and public relations whiz, as well as an author. She hosted a children’s TV show for five years beginning at age nine, had a stint on Days of Our Lives and was in a comedy sketch with Jay Leno on The Tonight Show during college, and was the weekly host of the WB’s show Weddings Portland Style from 2001-2008. After earning a Marketing degree in three years at Pepperdine University, she founded her own company, Best Kept Secret, a full-service wedding and event planning business. She’s served as Director of Public Relations and Special Events for her family’s 18-company conglomerate, the Yoshida Group (perhaps most recognized for its line of Mr. Yoshida’s Gourmet Sauces) for over a decade.

Her trip into the world of being an author began in the fall of 2006 as a result of interviewing her grandmother for the biographical section of a self-published cookbook intended as a holiday gift for the family. During this time her Grandmother shared with Kristina her own war time romance and the large pile of letters between herself and her late husband.

From this acorn of an idea, the mighty oak that is now a numerous award winning novel “Letters from Home”.

About Letters from Home:

Inspired by a true account, LETTERS FROM HOME is a story of hope and connection, of sacrifices made in love and war – and the chance encounters that change us forever. n the midst of World War II, a Midwestern infantryman falls deeply in love through a yearlong letter exchange, unaware that the girl he’s writing to is not the one replying. Woven around this tenuous thread are three female friends whose journeys toward independence take unexpected turns as a result of romance, tragedy, and deception, their repercussions heightened by an era of the unknown.

Having spent a year in Florence during college, she dreams of living in Italy in a villa purchased with her millions of royalty dollars, but for now her family is content to dine at Olive Garden. However with a second book “Bridge over Scarlet Leaves” due out early next year, it looks like this creative lady has another successful string to her bow, this time as a bestselling author, perhaps that dream might happen.

So sit back and listen to today's interesting and entertaining show as I host today's "A Book and a Chat with Kistina McMorris".

If you enjoy these radio shows why not become a follower of the prgram at a A Book and a Chat

Barry

Direct link to the show

"A Book and a Chat with Kistina McMorris".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Kistina McMorris"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Kistina McMorris - Letters from Home"

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 Sebastian Stuart

My guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat” is Sebastian Stuart who's been writing for well over twenty years.

His early days as a would be actor, included him being the only male in the off-Broadway hit Women Behind Bars (he hopes there are no photos of my nude scenes) and appearing on Broadway in the bomb Legend, starring that spitfire Elizabeth Ashley. His writing first showed itself in several plays which gradually developed into getting produced off-off Broadway at places like La Mama, Theater for the New City, and The Kitchen.

From there he went into screenplays and ghost writing for many years, until in 1999 he produced "The Mentor" which as New Woman put it… “A Deliciously Twisted Pyscho-Thriller.” which started of as a screen play and ended as a Book-of-the-Month Club selection.

This success was followed by several more, 24 Karat Kids (2006) – co-written with Dr. Judy Goldstein and then in 2008 Charm – ghost written as Kendall Hart within the soap “All My Children” not only that but they also launched a perfume called Charm at the same time, something not many authors can lay claim to.

In 2009 “The Hour in Between” was released to be followed by his latest book, the first in the Janet’s Planet series called “To the Manor Dead”.

About To the Manor Dead:

After a messy divorce and fifteen years of listening to sob stories, former New York City psychotherapist Janet Petrocelli is burnt out. Leaving behind life as a stressed shrink, Janet has opened a used-stuff shop in the quirky Hudson River Valley town of Sawyersville.
Unfortunately, Janet is a magnet for nut jobs. In this case, it's the Livingstons, an aristocratic family gone to seed in a disturbingly seedy way. Daphne, the clan's not-so-grande dame, offers her prized heirlooms to Janet for a hasty sale, but the deal ends abruptly when she turns up dead. Soon, Janet gets pulled into a tangled web of lust, insanity, avarice, and murder. Did a greedy developer kill off the biggest obstacle to his high-rise condo development? Or was it a family affair of the vengeful—and very twisted—variety?

Despite her resolve to steer clear of the murky depths of degeneracy and deceit, Janet becomes obsessed with finding justice for the dead . . . if the killer doesn't find her first.

During the show Sebastian shared with much about his writing, including this latest novel, as well as the second book in the Janet’s Planet series, and I’m sure Sebastian Stuart is a name we’re hear a lot more of.

So sit back and listen to today's interesting and entertaining show as I host today's "A Book and a Chat with Sebastian Stuart".

Barry

Direct link to the show

"A Book and a Chat with Sebastian Stuart".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Sebastian Stuart"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Sebastian Stuart - To The Manor Dead"

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 Joel Fox

My guest on today’s show Joel Fox received his love of history from the historical Boston, and his love of Politics from his time on the west coast.

For over three decades Joel Fox has been involved in California politics as a taxpayer and small business advocate, served on numerous state commissions, worked on many ballot issue campaigns, and advised numerous candidates, including Arnold Schwarzenegger in the historic gubernatorial recall election of 2003. He is an adjunct professor at the Graduate School of Public Policy at Pepperdine University.

Joel has authored hundreds of opinion pieces for many publications including the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, and San Francisco Chronicle, as well as his well-respected blog on California business and politics, Fox and Hounds Daily.

His non-fiction works include a book, The Legend of Proposition 13, about California's most famous ballot measure, and a chapter in the book, What Baseball Means to Me, sanctioned by the Baseball Hall of Fame.

After completing the Los Angeles FBI Citizens Academy program gaining a deeper understanding of the FBI and its mission. Joel put his love of history and political mystery into his debut book “Lincoln's Hand".

About Lincoln’s Hand:

Unable to close his previous case against the Monument Bomber, Senior FBI Special Agent Zane Rigby has been re-assigned to uncover a secret. Is Abraham Lincoln’s body in his grave?

When DNA from a hand found with a blackmail note traced back to 1901 matches the DNA from bone taken at Lincoln’s autopsy, Rigby is shuffled off to Springfield, Illinois where all manner of obstacles threaten his success. He discovers a local congressman hiding a dreaded secret, a strange doctor who claims he can perform medical miracles, and his own ill-timed urge to rekindle a relationship with his college sweetheart.

And then there is the dead body of a young woman found near Lincoln’s Tomb.

As the Monument Bomber threatens to strike again, Rigby searches for redemption in solving the murder and discovering the secret buried in Lincoln’s Tomb.

Let’s face it, when even Governor Schwarzenegger stated "Lincoln's Hand is a great story, a page-turner from start to finish." You know it’s good to be a good read.

With a second Zane Rigby book about “FDR’s Treasure” already in the pipeline, you know that in the case of Joel Fox and his novel, as Big Arnold would say… “He’ll Be Back”.

So sit back and listen to today's interesting and entertaining show as I host today's "A Book and a Chat with Joel Fox".

Barry

Direct link to the show

"A Book and a Chat with Joel Fox".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Joel Fox"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Joel Fox - Lincons Hand"

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 Dr. Kent Gustavson

Dr. Kent Gustavson is an author, publishing expert, industry consultant, professor, speaker, entrepreneur, professional musician and PhD classical composer. He is also my guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat”,

Owner of independent publisher Blooming Twig Books and Skeleton Method, he is also an accomplished ghost writer and now author in his own right.

His book "Blind But Now I See: The Biography of Music Legend Doc Watson" shows the regard he has for the man and guitar legend's in this full length account of Doc Watson’s life.

An eye infection caused Doc Watson to lose his vision before his first birthday. Despite this, he was taught by his parents to work hard and care for himself. He attended North Carolina's school for the visually impaired. This did not stop Doc from becoming one of the all time greats, as Dr. Kent shared with us during the show, Doc Watson said if it wasn’t for losing his site he might have just been something like a carpenter.

Instead Doc Watson, American guitar player, songwriter and singer of bluegrass, folk, country, blues and gospel music won seven Grammy awards as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

About "Bling But Now I See"

In his book Dr. Gustavson draws upon formidable research and extensive interviews to provide an impossibly detailed portrait of Doc's life. It has been a life largely defined by his relationships with family. His parents encouraged him to partake of activities as though he were sighted and his siblings treated him that way. His father helped him buy his first guitar and, in one of the many delightful details that pepper the book, helped him make a banjo from the skin of a cat. With the exception of some unhappy time at a state school for the blind, Doc would spend his whole life in the hollow he grew up in.

We also heard about some of Dr. Kent’s other activities from Blooming Twig Books to how he was recently named one of Twitter's Top 100 Edu-Tweeters for his use of Twitter in his university teaching (as @drkent).

So sit back and listen to today's interesting and entertaining show as I host today's "A Book and a Chat with Dr. Kent Gustavson".

Barry

Direct link to the show

"A Book and a Chat with Dr. Kent Gustavson".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Dr. Kent Gustavson"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Dr. Kent Gustavson - "Blind But Now I See"

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 Hannah Dennison

My guest today, Hannah Dennison was born and raised in England, but like myself now lives in the US. Her journey to becoming an author has led her in many different directions.

Hannah began her writing career as trainee reporter on a small West Country newspaper but soon got bitten by the travel bug. For a decade she worked as a flight attendant on private jets before moving to Los Angeles with her daughter and two cats. After several years as a story analyst in the entertainment industry, Hannah switched to long form narrative and enrolled in the UCLA Writer's Program. Hannah still works full-time for a west coast advertising company.


Her experiences being the “cub” reporter on the small news paper (mainly doing the funerals and wedding) is an obvious background “Vicky Hill” series of books, though one wonders what sort of book her diaries might make, that is if she could work out the code she used for some of them.

Vicky Hill first made the literary light of day in 2008 when Hannah produced her first book “A Vicki Hill Exclusive”, which was followed by two more in the series , “Scoop!” and “Expose!”

Vicky Hill is an aspiring investigative journalist whose two challenges in life are to escape the boredom of funeral reporting (we know where that came from) for the Gipping Gazette. The second is to lose her virginity-a heavy burden for a woman of twenty-three. Add to that the fact that her parents are silver thieves wanted by the Interpol, sprinkle in some not well known English pastimes, and a sense of humor and you have the ingredients for a mystery, romance and a read that will keep you turning the pages.

From worm charming to snail racing Hannah has introduced her readers to some of the less known of English pastimes, and in her latest book “Thieves” she continues with this educating her readers. A Vicky Hill adventure wouldn't be the same without introducing an unusual British hobby to her readers.

In "Thieves," we meet the usual suspects-hedge jumpers, hedge cutters, snail racers and a naked farmer or two, but it's Morris Dancing that really grips the townsfolk of Gipping-on-Plym this time around.

About Thieves:

When a slew of silver thefts hit the small town of Gipping-on-Plym, it's up to aspiring investigative journalist Vicky Hill to figure out if the culprits are gypsies, tramps, or thieves…

Unaware that their temporary dwelling is also serving as the official gathering site for the upcoming annual "Morris Dance-a-thon," the gypsies set up their illegal campground at The Grange, much to the dismay of almost everyone in town. And when silver is stolen shortly after the gypsies arrive, blaming the despised nomads makes more than a little sense.

But when the body of an unnamed woman is found in a shallow stream, Vicky suspects there's a connection between the murder and the recent silver thefts. And since both her boss and the local police refuse to investigate, Vicky takes on the case by herself. It's a criminal conundrum suited only for the mind of Vicky Hill, and she's determined to uncover the answers and clinch her fourth national exclusive!


With another novel already underway, this time introducing “tar barrel racing” (yes I know about that event as well, but do you?) and soon to have her series launched in England, I am sure that the name Hannah Dennison will soon be on every book shop and libraries shelves.

So sit back and listen to today's interesting and entertaining show as I host today's "A Book and a Chat with Hannah Dennison".

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Hannah Dennison".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Hannah Dennison"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Hannah Dennison - Thieves"

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 Jack Cavanaugh

My guest today is Jack Cavanaugh a veteran sportswriter whose work has appeared most notably on the sports pages of the New York Times, for which he has covered hundreds of assignments.

During his 50-year career in journalism, as well as the New York Times , Jack has covered sports for, contributed to Sports Illustrated, Reader's Digest, Golf and Tennis magazines and the Sporting News, and served as a reporter for ABC and CBS News.

During this time he has published several books. Damn the Disabilities: Full Speed Ahead published in 1995, followed by the Pulitzer Prize-nominated "Tunney: Boxing's Brainiest Champ and His Upset of the Great Jack Dempsey" a biography of boxing legend Gene Tunney was referred to as "impressively researched and richly detailed" by Sports Illustrated.
In 2008 Jack release yet another great sporting book in the form Giants Among Men: How Robustelli, Huff, Gifford, and the Giants Made New York a Football Town and Changed the NFL.

Now twenty years after he first wrote articles about this sporting hero for Sports Illustrated, he has produced “The Gipper”.

Once portrayed in a film by Ronald Regan, “The Gipper- George Gipp" is a sporting hero, the likes of which perhaps we’ll never see again. The phrase “Win one for The Gipper.” is one of the most widely-used exhortative phrase in sports.

In his book Jack goes shares with us about this mythical-like sports figure whose nickname has aroused, in turn, awe, wonderment, curiosity, and amusement since the second decade of the twentieth century.

Not perhaps the choir boy image portrayed by Ronald Regan, Gipp loved playing poker and pool. For a person who went to Notre Dame to play baseball his footballing talents in his all to short life were just amazing.

2,341 rushing yards, throwing for 1,789 yards and did not allow a pass completion in his territory. He scored 21 career touchdowns, averaged 38 yards a punt, and gathered five interceptions as well as 14 yards per punt return and 22 yards per kick return in four seasons of play for the Fighting Irish. Gipp is still Notre Dame's all-time leader in many stats. He sadly died at the age of twenty five after contracting strep throat and pneumonia while giving punting lessons after his final game, of course there was no such thing as antibiotics in those days.

The book as a fascinating incite into a mythical sporting hero, an ideal read for all

So sit back and listen to today's interesting and entertaining show as I host today's "A Book and a Chat with Jack Cavanaugh".

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Jack Cavanaugh".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Jack Cavanaugh"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Jack Cavanaugh - The Gipper"

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 Jeff Sharrett

My guest on today’s A Book and a Chat is mystery writer Jeff Sharrett, sharing with us about his Jimmy O’Brien books, including his new book “Detour to Murder”.

As we heard during the show, Jeff has had enough experiences during his life to fill several books of his own story, from flying a plane for a gambling relative to writing biographies for would be politicians. And while there are no exact links to the characters in his so far four books, you can bet there’s a few of the perhaps more seedy characters that relate to some people he’s met in his life.

Jimmy O’Brien is a defense attorney to the dregs of the criminal world, the novels immerse the reader in the politics, society, and industry of Los Angeles in the 1970s, all the while maintaining a style more reminiscent of 1940s who-dunnit narratives than anything else. They’re classy, surprising, and endearing – in a murder mystery kind of way.

From his first two books “The Brimstone Murders” and “Guilty or Else”, Jeff has built up a following in the mystery world, his books clever, gripping, and addictive filled with multiple layers of suspense that keep the reader wanting more. His latest novel and many say his best so far “Detour to Murder”, is linked to the film noir icon, Detour.

About Detour to Murder:

Why did Al Roberts meekly confess to a brutal murder in 1945, then nearly three decades later swear that he’s innocent?

Jimmy O'Brien, defense attorney to the dregs of the criminal world, digs into the past, igniting a powder-keg that threatens to expose the long-held secrets behind Detour, the iconic Hollywood film documenting Roberts' story. Secrets that could destroy the underground aristocracy holding power in Los Angeles, city of broken dreams.

Each book while being part of the same series with several characters in each book, are equally readable as a standalone novel, with several more books in the pipeline already I’m sure we’ll hear a lot more of Jimmy O’Brien and Jeff Sharrett.

So sit back and listen to today's interesting and entertaining show as I host today's "A Book and a Chat with Jeff Sharrett".

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Jeff Sharrett".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Jeff Sharrett"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Jeff Sharrett - Detour to Murder"

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 Estby Dagg

The grandmother of today’s guest Carole Estby Dagg, who was said to have some talent as a mystic, told her she would be a writer, it took her quite a few years but with her debut YA novel “The Year We Were Famous”( Winner, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrator’s Sue Alexander Award for most promising new manuscript) Carole has become just that.

Based on a true story of two of her ancestors, Carole’s truly enjoyable, entertaining and educational book tells the story of a mother and daughter who get sponsored to walk from Washington state to New York City. They do it all to save their farm because of money troubles. The woman in NYC offers them $10,000 to do the trip and write a book about it in the end.

This is their story of traveling across snowy mountains, hot lava fields, through Indian reservations, and much more. It's the story of the people they meet and what they learn about themselves along the way.

When you take into consideration that this was in 1896, and all they took with them for the epic journey were two satchels with a compass and maps, ponchos, first-aid supplies, journals, a pistol, and a yes a curling iron.

As we heard during the show, the original notes made on the journey were burnt, and Carol had to dig deep, investigating every local newspaper and report from the stops along the way to piece together the adventure. Making it into fiction allowed Carole to use her own imagination to fill in some of the gaps though ash she shared, many adventures and incidents were cut when the book was reduced by 200 pages from her original draft.

We do know they wear out sixteen pairs of shoes apiece on their eastward trek as they confront flash floods and snowstorms, mountains and deserts, highwaymen and rattlesnakes. Clips of their adventure tell how they met various governors and mayors, the wife of presidential candidate, William Jennings Bryan, and even shake hands with the new president-elect himself, William McKinley along the way.

Just the scene of the two ladies showing native Americans how to use the curling iron, brings to my mind a picture of Geronimo looking like Shirley Temple, one of numerous adventures brought to you in “The Year We Were Famous”.

The Year We Were Famous:

Based on the true story of the author’s great aunt and great grandmother, this is a fast-paced historical fiction adventure that sets the drama of Around the World in 80 Days against an American backdrop of the suffragist movement, the 1896 presidential campaign, and the changing perception of “a woman’s place” in society.

This is a book all will enjoy, and with a second book already underway I’m sure we’ll hear a lot more of Carol Estby Dagg.

So sit back and listen to today's interesting and entertaining show as I host today's "A Book and a Chat with Carole Estby Dagg".

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Carole Estby Dagg".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Carole Estby Dagg"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Carole Estby Dagg - The Year We Were Famous"

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 Bettina Restrepo

A fresh member of the class of 2K11, Bettina Restrepo is today’s guest on “A Book and a Chat”.

Bettina Restrepo has made quite a splash onto the literary scene, firstly with her picture book Moose and Magpie, an entertaining and humorous book about the life of a moose. Now this reformed business woman turned author, is creating waves within the YA readership with her debut novel “Illegal”.

Struggling from an early age as to what language she was meant to speak with a Columbian father and German mother, much travelled Bettina, had her first touch of success when coming 2nd in a creative writing contest she thinks because the winner had better penmanship than she did, though her subject “The Teacher Compactor” might have had something to do with her being in the runner-up spot.

Nicknamed “The Pusher” by the 2K11 group for her pushing and refusal to give up attitude, even to perhaps sometimes cheating at board games, Bettina has been called “endearingly weird”, and “Dr. Pepper-coming-out-of your-nose—funny.”… An obvious guest for my show.

During a hugely interesting end entertaining show, she shared with us much about her life and her work, from the early days to the new book she is writing called “Tella Novella” (of some such spelling).

With dial in and chat room questions we touched on much about her book, it’s subject and her path to publication.

About Illegal:

Illegal is the story of Nora, a Mexican immigrant who crosses the border illegally to find her missing father in Houston. We are all immigrants, so this story just isn’t about one nationality looking for family in a Texas town. It’s about how we love and survive.

Her book while touching on the aspects of illegal immigration from Mexico is one that people across the world can relate to, leaving loved ones, immigrating etc, and I am sure that in the near future the book will become a must read worldwide for YA and none YA readers. I am sure Bettina Restrepo is a name we will hear a lot more of.

So sit back and listen to today's interesting and entertaining show as I host today's "A Book and a Chat with Bettina Restrepo".

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Bettina Restrepo".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Bettina Restrepo"

You can find out more about my guest and his books at:
"Bettina Restrepo - Illegal"

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 Fran Lewis

Fran Lewis is my guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat” with 36 years experience in NYC Public Schools as the Reading and Writing Staff Developer, Fran has gone on to become an author, radio show host, book reviewer and interviewer and educator. She is also a member of Whos Who of Americas Teachers and Whos Who of America’s Executives and Professionals on Cambridge

Her life has had plenty of ups and downs with some many of her early experiences being written about in her wonderful “Bertha” children’s books. Fran shared with us with much laughter some of these childhood stories, including the burning of $8000 in the kitchen oven.

As well as her children’s book Fran has also written a book dedicate to her mother “Memories are Precious: Alzheimer’s Journey” which proved a great amount of help and information for those who are affected by Alzheimer’s in one way or another. A second book dedicated to her sister called “Sharp as a Tack” is also available.

As well as her writing Fran provides a three in one deal for authors.
Get your book reviewed, blog tour on her website, face book and more and added interview posted on her site.

All you need to do is send her a print copy of your book and refer back to the author on your site when posting your review and your interview

So sit back and listen to today's interesting and entertaining show as I host today's "A Book and a Chat with Fran Lewis".

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Fran Lewis".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Fran Lewis"

You can find out more about my guest and his books at:
"Fran Lewis - Bertha Fights Back"

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 Amy Mittelman

I met my guest today at "Write Angles 25" back in October last year. When I heard about her book and talked to the author, I know I had to have Amy Mittelman as a guest on my show.

Her book “Brewing Battles: A History of American Beer” is a fantastic journey through a detailed history of American beer.

Although today’s beer companies have their roots in pre-Prohibition business, historical developments since Repeal have affected industry at large, brewers, and the tastes and habits of beer-drinking consumers as well.

Brewing Battles explores the struggle of German immigrant brewers to establish themselves in America, within the context of federal taxation and a growing temperance movement, their losing battle against Prohibition, their rebirth and transformation into a corporate oligarchy, and the determination of home and micro brewers to reassert craft as the "raison d etre" of brewing.

Brewing Battles looks at beer s cultural meaning from the vantage point of the brewers and their goals for market domination. Beer consumption changed over time, beginning with an alcoholic high in the early 19th century and ending with a neo-temperance low in the early 21st. The public places where people drank also changed from colonial ordinaries in peoples homes to the saloon and back to home via the disposable six pack. The book explores this story as brewers fought to create and control these changing patterns of consumption.

Drinking alcohol has remained a favored activity in American society and while beer is ubiquitous, our country harbors a persistent ambivalence about drinking. An examination of how the industry prevailed in a sometimes unreceptive environment exemplifies how business helps shape public opinion.

Brewing Battles reveals the complicated changes in the economic clout of the industry. Prior to the institution of the income tax in 1913 the liquor industry contributed over 50% of the federal government s internal revenue; 19th century temperance advocates portrayed the liquor industry as King Alcohol. Today their tax contribution is only 1% yet brewing actually has a much more pervasive influence, touching on almost every aspect of modern American life and contributing greatly to the GNP.

Brewing Battles is book that takes you through American history for on so many levels not just those interested in beer, and is a book I’m sure many will find very interesting reading.

So sit back and listen to today's interesting and entertaining show as I host today's "A Book and a Chat with Amy Mittelman".

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Amy Mittelman".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Amy Mittelman"

You can find out more about my guest and his books at:
"Amy Mittelman - Brewing Battles"

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