A Book and a Chat with Hermina Krista Pettiford

Hermina Krista Pettiford, the women's ministry leader in her local Church - New Covenant Tabernacle located in San Diego, and mother of four, has penned the first of what I feel will be many more books on spirituality and the human condition; "Surrendered Balance: Daily Living for the Modern Christian Woman." Although the book states it is “for Modern Christian Woman” I can see this book being a help for general life balancing in a world where everything seems go at a hundred miles an hour.

Being the atypical single parent of four children, the author finds herself juggling her duties and responsibilities as the IT Network Manager for the Sycuan Tribal Government, and writing a devotional style blog once a week, in between work projects and her children's sports events. Thus, the basis of “Surrendered Balance”.

The book is written in two-parts and gives advice and insight into balancing daily priorities and tasks, it also includes a weekly planner to make sure it happens.
The first part of the book is entitled The Plan -Setting and Keeping Balanced Goals lists seven principles / disciplines in the form of goals for women to implement into their lives that will produce a godly balance. It also explains how to fit the activities into a busy lifestyle using the Planner which is part two of the book entitled The Work – Putting Your Plan into Action that helps women – wives and mothers set weekly goals and keep them.

The book includes sections on : Nourish Your Spirit, Family Time, Home-made Healthy, Parent-In-School, Kononia, Know Yourself Grow Yourself, and Rest and Revive.

The most unique part of the book is the planner because it was made to function like women, which in turn makes keeping your goals easier. Women make lists for just about everything, even if we don’t write them we make mental notes. When you make a to-do-list you mark things off until the list is done. The activities were created in the form of weekly to-do-lists that will guide you and help you stay on track in making your desire for a balanced life a reality.

"Surrendered Balance: Daily Living for the Modern Christian Woman." Is the first of what I feel will be many more books on spirituality and the human condition.

So listen to an interesting and hugely entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Hermina Krista Pettiford"

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Hermina Krista Pettiford".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Hermina Krista Pettiford"

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"Hermina Krista Pettiford - Surrendered Balance"

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 MC Marcus Chapman

My guest today is known to radio listeners as MC Marcus Chapman. Now he is also the author of the explosive tell-all book “Sex Time and Radio: The Raw Uncut Story of an On-Air Personality and the Decline of the Radio Industry.”

MC Marcus Chapman is an industry captain whose on-air radio personality spans over a decade. His book contains personal experiences with your favorite celebrities, encounters with fans and the dirty business of radio politics, a true page turner about personal strength and growth in an industry where standing up for what you believe will get you replaced by the next broadcast.

From early days doing college radio to becoming the host of some of the most popular radio shows in Chicago, Marcus tells all in the book that has already made it to number 1 at Amazon.

The book is in fact five books in one, and as we heard from Marcus it will soon be re-released as five separate books, so the current version of “Sex Times and Radio” or S.T.A.R will become somewhat of a collector’s item.

The book is actually structured this way due to the events and changes that took place.

Part 1 “Blueprint of a Radio Star” is the path that led to being in radio; as well as the path to being “that dude” sexually.

Part 2 “Rebel Music of a Sex Machine” deals with getting into college radio and the music & events that shaped my attitude.

Part 3 “The Cult of Personality” takes you inside life at Chicago’s top station in the ‘90s.

Part 4 “Road Warrior on the Industry Map” shows you what it’s like to work in professional radio away from your hometown; which is the scenario for many air personalities.

Part 5 “Communication Breakdown” takes you through the decline of the radio industry in the first decade of the 2000s.

About “Sex Time and Radio”

Sex Time and Radio is a tell all book about what went down during MC Marcus Chapman’s time at the radio station, and it includes encounters with celebrities like Beyonce, Dr. Dre, Aaliyah, Michael Jordan, Janet Jackson, James Brown, Vivica Fox, Keyshia Cole, Luther Vandross, LL Cool J, Erykah Badu, and Chaka Khan. It takes you from being on stage at the clubs to backstage at the concerts. It includes backstabbing co-workers, in studio arguments, closed door meetings, top secret information, battles with station management, battles with personal demons, and sexual escapades with some of the hottest women in America. It’s divided into five separate parts and it truly is an interesting and insightful read.

So listen to an interesting and hugely entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with MC Marcus Chapman"

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with MC Marcus Chapman".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"MC Marcus Chapman"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"MC Marcus Chapman - Sex Time And Radio"

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 Nell Walton

My guest on today’s show is Nell Walton. She has degrees in journalism and biology from the University of Arkansas, spent many years as a professional journalist and worked as an intern for former President Bill Clinton when he was governor of Arkansas.

Nell as well as being founder and managing editor of the online equestrian news magazine, The AllHorses Post (www.allpetspost.org/allhorsespost), is now the author of the terrific “western mystery” The Bone Trail.

I say Western mystery, but her debut novel is a whole lot more than that.
The Bone Trail does not fit neatly into any genre. It is set in the West, but is not a classic Western. It has romantic elements, but is not a classic romance. It has fantasy elements, but is not a fantasy. It centers around horses, but it is not a horse opera!

About “The Bone Trail”

The Bone Trail is the story of investigative journalist and horsewoman, Kate Wyndham, who is sent to northern Nevada to do a story on the disappearance of two wild horse advocates. When Wyndham attempts to gain information from the FBI and local authorities she is stonewalled. She turns to Jim Ludlow (who has been called the Sexiest Man in Print (SMIP)!, a local rancher who lives on an Indian Reservation near where the advocates disappeared. Ludlow, a Shoshone Indian horse “whisperer” agrees to try to help Wyndham and they begin a search for answers that may cost them everything the hold dear – it may even cost them their lives.

The story as we heard during the program was inspired by two actual events, which molded into such a great story that people are already clamoring for a follow up novel. So am sure we will hear a lot more of Nell Walton.

So listen to an interesting and hugely entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Nell Walton"

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Nell Walton".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Nell Walton"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
" Nell Walton - The Bone Trail"

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 Annie Greer

Originally I was going to have Tim Vandehey one of the co-writers of “The Chimp Who Loved Me” instead it went one better when I had on tonight’s “A Book and a Chat” the other co-authors whose real life stories go to make up a truly humorous and enjoyable book, Veterinary Chiropractioner, Farmer and chat show host… “Annie Greer”.

Let’s face it, when you read under your guests description that they have “always been English” and the first question they ask you on your show is “PG Tips or Typhoo” (that tea), followed by “love or hate marmite” you know it’s going to be a show that would be filled with a lot of laughter and so it was.

The Chimp Who Loved Me is a collection of very funny real-life accounts of Annie's strange life with animals. The stories are “laugh out loud” funny, with some slightly strong language, but then these are true stories from real life… it shows the wonder of animals from the dogs and cats we're all so familiar with to the cougars and wolves and chimps that come into our lives from time to time

You know it's going to be a fun read, when for instance you read from the first story about Sammy the chimpanzee…

"All I could think was, 'Oh God! I'm going to be sexually assaulted by a chimp!' I pictured the 911 call. I saw the operator laughing so uncontrollably that she forgot to send help. I tried to peel Sammy's pinching, prying hands off my naked, wet body and realized that I had to get some clothes on."

The show as you can expect is full of laughter, English humour and stories about Annie’s animals, including how a person tried to steal her flying squirrel by stuff it down the front of their trousers.

About The Chimp Who Loved Me

The Chimp Who Loved Me is a collection of true stories from the life and times of Annie Greer, a veterinary chiropractitioner, animal healer, radio host, speaker, farmer's wife and all-around magnet for bizarre animal behavior. When Annie and Tim Vandehey, a professional writer, met in 2006 and began talking about Annie's endless trove of strange and pants-wettingly funny tales about drill sergeant sheep and insane veterinary clinic customers, a book was born.

Infused with Annie's trademark dry English wit and Tim's storytelling panache, The Chimp Who Loved Me is a sort of twisted love child of Dave Barry, David Sedaris and James Herriot of All Things Bright and Beautiful fame. If you're sick of the treacly sweetness of animal books like Marley and Me or Dewey and crave twisted tales of sex, poop, pee and death, where apes throw donuts at chefs during dinner parties and stoned veterinary students dispense bizarre advice to puzzled dog show contestants, then you won't be able to put The Chimp Who Loved Me down...until it hits you in the nose because you're reading in bed, silly.

It is a great book, a must to be left in the bathroom for visitors, whom you know are enjoying the stories when you hear the sounds of laughter coming from the smallest room.

So listen to an interesting and hugely entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Annie Greer"

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Annie Greer".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Annie Greer"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Annie Greer - The Chimp Who Loved Me"

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 Jennie Helderman

Jennie Helderman makes a welcome return visit to A Book and a Chat today, to tell us more about herself and her wonderful book “As the Sycamore Grows” and what has gone on since she was last on the show.

Jennie was a “girl power” forerunner, when at the age of ten she became the first girl page in the Alabama State Legislature.

That surge of girl power wouldn’t be the last time she saw a need to put women’s issues at the forefront. Years later, after she helped set up a crisis-call center in an old house, a cry for help at the other end of the phone line resounded in her head. That call was the catalyst; eventually, the empty bedrooms upstairs served as the community’s first shelter for victims of domestic abuse.

Through years of helping champion women’s and children’s issues and working with child abuse victims Jennie put her own mark on the Alabama human rights issues.

Jennies reputation has been enhanced by her wonderful, and as we heard during the show now multi award winning book “As the Sycamore Grows”.

The book is the true story– real names–of a seventeen year abusive marriage; a Sleeping with the Enemy in the Tennessee backwoods, as told by Ginger, who escaped, and Mike, who abused and holds no remorse.

As the Midwest Book Review wrote about this interesting and thought provoking book…

“…a life-story of emancipation, personal fulfillment and escape—not only from a padlocked cabin in the woods, but from a backwards anti-feminist culture into the broader world of contemporary human rights that is America’s mainstream….”

This is a book, that as we heard, is appealing to men and woman alike and keeping Jennie busy being guest speaker at many locations and events, with the possibility of a film also now under discussion it’s always good to have this interesting lady as a guest on the show.

So listen to an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Jennie Helderman"

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Jennie Helderman".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Jennie Helderman"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Jennie Helderman - As the Sycamore Grows"

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 Laina Turner-Molaski

One thing that came out of today’s chat with guest "Laina Turner-Molaski" is that this lady is more than just a Professor during the day and an author at night, she is a person who multi-tasks to reach her numerous targets to accomplish. One might think that with so much going on, it's hard to keep her eye on the ball, however this lady does that and so much else. As came out though in the show, one of her main issues to share is about MS, so for Laina, I will start this blog by reminding everybody.

"ORANGE STANDS FOR MS" and WORLD MS DAY IS MAY 26th

A college professor by day and a writer by night, Laina Turner-Molaski is a businesswoman, mom, author, Professor, and a major supporter of shopping. She has an undying love for shoes and coffee, which is why she created her main character and alter ego Presley Thurman.

Her debut book in the Presley Thurman series Stilettos & Scoundrels came out last year, and will soon be followed by a second novel. But what else does this lady manage to cram into her life? Here are some of the items on her “to do” list.

Launch of her official iPhone app launch (that in itself has raised her coolness factor at least 20 points according to her kids)
Official release of Chiczofrenia (blog) – crazy is an art form
Release of “But It’s my Business” iPhone app and website
Release of Fragments by Tracy Bull, the first book published by myher publishing company, Five Seas Ink, that’s not mine.
Release of the Multiple Sclerosis awareness iPhone app, website, and book
Release of her new novel, Don’t Write in my Notebook
Release of the 2nd Presley Thurman novel – title TBD

With so much going on it’s no wonder we could have continued chatting on the show for another hour and still only scratch the surface of Laina’s talents.

About Stilettos & Scoundrels

In the new mystery, which was just released in March, the reader is introduced to Presley Thurman, a sassy, thirty-something red-head. Readers follow Presley as she investigates a US senator’s murder and reignites old passions with a high school beau—all while looking fabulous.

So listen to an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Laina Turner-Molaski"

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Laina Turner-Molaski".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Laina Turner-Molaski"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Laina Turner-Molaski - Stilettos & Scoundrels"

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 Barbara Barnett

My guest on today's show Barbara Barnett knows all about that character, her book "Chasing Zebras" is a comprehensive and (hopefully) thought-provoking look at the hit TV show House, M.D.

Now too many English people, such as myself, you mention the name "Hugh Laurie" and they think of the comedian, part of the double act with "Stephen Fry", or playing Bertie Wooster and must of all playing the bumbling fool type s such as the Prince of Wales the fabulous Black Adder TV series.

In the US however like many several other British comedians “Hugh Laurie" has made his name as a straight actor, being the face of "House MD".

During the show Barbara explained about the title of her book “Chasing Zebras” and how it comes from an old medial axiom taught to medical students. When you hear hoof beats, think horses, not zebras—think common, not complex and rare. The television show’s central character is a zebra-chasing physician—he only treats extremely rare diseases.

One of the interesting things about the series, which not everybody realizes is how the series narrative, central character Dr. Gregory House and all in his orbit is so connected with Sherlock Holmes.

About "Chasing Zebras":

CZ is a comprehensive (and fun) exploration of the hit television series House, M.D. It’s written in two parts. In the first, I take apart the show’s storylines, character histories, bits of social commentary and more. My aim is to understand the series narrative, central character Dr. Gregory House and all in his orbit.

I look at everything from the series connections to Sherlock Holmes to the music, sets, etc. I also look the often-provocative social commentary: what does the series say about ethics, religion and God, patient rights and more.

The second part of the book is an episode-by-episode dissection. It summarizes each episode, but also hones in on the highlights and a lot of fun trivia: how was House a jerk, what was the episode’s ethical dilemma?

What was House’s eureka moment? What was the most important relationship moment?
What was the “romantic” moment between Wilson and his best friend House, for example? But even in this section,
I delve deeply into many of the episodes with “Closer Look” essays.

House has now reached its 150 episode and is more popular world wide than ever, and I’m sure her books, which have already been available in many countries will like the TV series itself spread across the world.

So listen to an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Barbara Barnett"

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Barbara Barnett".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Barbara Barnett"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Barbara Barnett - Chasing Zebras"

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 today Ericka Williams tried to appear on the show last week, but a terrible echo on the line meant we had to cut the show short. I’m glad to say that this week the show went fine and we found out lots about this, teacher, actor, director, film producer and author.

From taking creative writing in the 7th grade as well as a writing class in college both of which she loved, Ericka’s never thought of becoming an author.Her break out into the realm of writing did not take place until the death of a family member gave her the desire to tell a story dedicated to her cousin that would address young woman. The result was her first book “All that Glitters”.

About All that Glitters:

“In a place where females are driven by lust and greed, twenty-four year old Mika has deliberately turned away from the structured upbringing her mother worked so hard to give her. She would rather take risks in the streets of New York City with bad boys who could potentially destroy her life, rather than continue her college education and be a responsible mother to her four-year old son.

Her mother and sister are trying to "straighten" her out, but Mika wants to be a bad girl and run with her best friend, Asia, who is ironically on the same path of destruction. Together, Mika and Asia leap head first into a life of money, sex, and drugs.

They both learn the hard way that 'all that glitters isn’t gold' and that money doesn't buy you love; but in the meantime, Mika sets out to use men for every dime they’re willing to give up”

From the self publishing world this book was picked up by a major publisher and was followed by two more success stories. “Shining Star” the second book in the All That Glitters series and “A Woman Scorned”.

Where as the “All that Glitters Series"tends to be for the younger range, the new Woman Scorned set of books is more of a thirty something, and the success of the first book in the series is now followed by Ericka’s latest novel, “A Woman Scorned Part 2-Family Ties”

About: A Woman Scorned Part 2-Family Ties

A Woman Scorned 2: Family Ties is about the ties that bind us. Brielle is facing a murder charge and dealing with the fact that her own cousin, Janay, snitched on her.

The love-hate relationship that Brielle and Janay had has turned to only hate. Neither one knows if the other will continue to betray her, so each woman must make sure that she is the last one standing.

With her a fresh book called “The Robbin Hoods” planed next aimed perhaps a little more towards men, as well as appearing in an appearance in an up and coming film… I’m sure this is not the last we’ll hear of this talented lady.

So listen to an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "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 - A Woman Scorned"

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 Hayley Rose

Haley Rose is my guest today has always been in entertainment, with her band “Crush Violet", as an entertainment business manager and now as a successful author of children’s books, her latest being “Fifo 50 States”

Hayley Rose grew up in the beach side town of Pacific Palisades , California, to a family of visual artists. In the early 1990’s she traveled the U.S. with her band Crush Violet. In 1994, after a family reunion, she was inspired to write a children’s book. Looking for a cute and catchy name for a main character, she kept hearing “first in, first out”. Hence, the name Fifo was born.

Hayley’s mother would often ask her what she wanted to be when she grew up, so Hayley decided to start her series of “Fifo” books with that very question… Fifo “When I Grow Up,”

Her second book in what I’m sure will become an extremely popular series is inspired by her own love of travel as “Fifo” the bear dreams of visiting all 50 states, in Fifo "50 States".

Intended for children between 2 and 10, it is written in delightful rhyming format that I’m sure will appeal and perhaps educate those who read books to their children...

About Fifo “50 States”:

Fifo “50 States” is the second book in the Fifo series. In this delightful rhyming story, both educational and fun, Fifo dreams about visiting all 50 states. A colorful reference-like book, Fifo, discovers the wonders each state has to offer. Along the way he learns about each state’s capital, shape, flag, motto, and much, much more. The possibilities are endless!

A third book about Fifo visitng England, the first stop in a possible world tour, plus two possible board games and a TV show, Fifo looks like he is a bear that is here to stay. Hayley’s singing background has also not been forgotten and she hopes one day soon hope to one day soon release an album of children’s songs.

So listen to an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Hayley Rose"

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Hayley Rose".

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

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Hayley Rose - Fifo "50 States""

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 Shelly Frome

My guest today's "A Book and a Chat is Shelly Frome. Shelly a Professor Emeritus of dramatic arts at the University of Connecticut, went from studying law to become a professional actor and theater director, before branching out into writing.

His literary credits include a number of national and international articles on acting and theater, profiles of artists and notable figures in the arts, books on theater and film and mystery novels. His latest writing production is a wonderful mystery novel called “The Twinning Murder”.

As Shelly shared with us during an entertaining show, “The Twinning Murder” got it’d creative juices from many of Shelly’s own travels and local happenings.

The story is a modern day classic mystery, which could be called a cozy read as the profanity and violence that sometimes fills the pages of murder mystery book is extremely minimal, with the murder part being in theatrical terms primarily “off stage”.

The characters many of which can only be classed as eccentric have to founding from both sides of the Atlantic. Many, as Shelly shared with us, are based on people he’d actauly come into contact with.

The mystery has a genuine old fashioned Agatha Christie-Miss Marple, British mystery feel to it though most of the action is set in Connecticut.

The female sleuth Emily Ryder though is far from being the “sit in the chair, work out the plot while knitting a pair of socks” type of investigator, is a thirty something rambler and tour guide.

About The Twinning Murders:

The story opens just before she embarks on this year’s Twinning: a ritual exchange between her historic New England home and its sister village deep in Dartmoor, a wild upland area in the west of England .

Presently, Emily becomes involved in a suspicious death that affects her personally. A few days later, at the Twinning itself, her main client meets the same fate. As Emily’s world continues to unravel, and though she has little help, she finds herself compelled to piece together the games being played on both sides of the Atlantic.

If you like a cozy mystery, especially those with a British flair, you should definitely consider booking a trip to visit the two Lydfields with Emily and see how well you fare figuring out The Twinning Murders.

So listen to an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Shelly Frome"

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Shelly Frome".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Shelly Frome"

You can find out more about my guest and his books at:
"Shelly Frome - The Twinning Murders"

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 C.S Lakin

My guest C.S. Lakin makes a very welcome return on today’s "A Book and a Chat". Previously a guest on the show last December, when she chatted about her book “The Wolf of Tebron” the first book in the fantastic new fantasy series “The Gates of Heaven”. Is back to tell us more about the series and her new book (second in the series) “The Map Across Time”.

She wrote her first novel over twenty three years ago, and got picked up almost straight away by a top literary agent. But it was not an overnight success, writing subjects from suspense and mystery to sci-fi it never really happened. That is until the last couple of years, when two of her books were published within months of each other.

Her contemporary fiction novel “Someone to Blame” won the Zondervan First Novel contest in 2009. The book is full of tension, written with scenes and characters that make you wanting to keep turning the page, keeping the reader guessing as to what happens next.

About “The Gates of Heaven” series:

Fairy tales inspire hope, while at the same time impart life lessons as a hero or heroine ventures out into the world on a classic "hero's journey." Those of us raised reading fairy tales have had these values inculcated in us from early on, but it seems no one has taken the path of reinventing traditional fairy tales and turning them into full-length, original novels.

This is the aim of The Gates of Heaven collection of fairy tales: to draw from traditional, well-known classic tales and combine these elements with new storylines and deep characters. Designed to follow in the tradition of C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia (but for a more adult and sophisticated audience), these tales meld humor, purpose, and inner struggles as characters seek heaven's will for their lives.

The Map Across Time:

The kingdom of Sherbourne is plagued by an ancient curse which must be halted before devastation results. The King's twin teenagers, Adin and Aletha, use a magical map to go back in time to discover the origin of the curse and its cure, but everything goes awry. Can Adin manipulate events in the stream of time to assure the salvation of his kingdom?

We heard also about the third book in the series “The Land of Darkness" as well as a little hint about the fourth of this seven book series, also about another fantasy book to do with time travel.. and so much more… that she is producing.

With “The Gates of Heaven” series my guest C.S. Lakin has not just taken over the mantel from C.S. Lewis for adult fairytale/fantasy writing, but with her other writing has set her literary level of success to something that others will be looking up to.

So listen to an interesting and entertaining show as I spend sixty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with C.S.Lakin"

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with C.S.Lakin".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"C.S.Lakin"

You can find out more about my guest and his books at:
"C.S.Lakin - The Gates of Heaven 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

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

A Book and a Chat with Connie Joy

Connie Joy makes a welcome return visit on “A Book and a Chat”, author of the terrific “Tragedy In Sedona. After a little early trouble with both of our phone connections, Joy made today's "A Book and a Chat" a truly fasinating show".

With the current trial of “James Arthur Ray” she has been hitting the chat shows and blogs telling of her life in James Arthur Ray’s inner circle.

Raised in a very religious Roman Catholic family, Connie had a near death experience which put her on a lifelong path as a student of spirituality. During a truly fascinating show we discussed such things such as past life regression, and how from learning self hypnosis to try and help with her sleep issues suddenly she discovered a past life.

She belonged to several spiritual groups, including leading a Sylvia Browne study group, and was trained as a Practitioner of Hypnosis with emphasis in past life regression.

After watching the movie “The Secret”, Connie attended one of James Arthur Ray’s seminars in 2007 with her husband Richard and signed up for his Harmonic Wealth Weekend (HWW) event held in February, 2007. Over the next three years, Connie and Richard participated in or volunteered for 27 James Arthur Ray seminars and events.

Connie shared with us how what started off as perhaps a path to enlightenment in the end became obvious to be perhaps nothing more than a scam by a super salesman. Money in the hundreds of thousands paid out by people like Connie, instead of going to do good, seemingly found its way into James Arthur Ray pocket.

From walking on fire and glass to the tragic deaths caused at the "Spiritual Warrior" retreat conceived and hosted by Ray at the Angel Valley Retreat Center, Arizona, where two people died and many others were hospitalized after a “Sweat lodge” exercise.

Connie's book "Tragedy in Sedona" is a fascinating read. We learned how attendees, who had paid up to $10,000 to participate in the retreat, had fasted for 36 hours during a vision quest exercise before the next day's sweat lodge. During this vision quest, participants were left alone in the Arizona desert with a sleeping bag, although Ray offered them Peruvian ponchos for an additional $250. With these same items on sale at under $30, it makes you wonder where the money went to?

We spent some time updating on the current trial James Arthur Ray, best-selling author and self-help guru, who mixed New Age philosophy with Native American ritual, who is currently the center of a reckless manslaughter trial.

It is very hard to understand some of what went on not only went on before the events on October of 2009, when 55 participants paid $10,000 each to join Ray near Sedona for a week of meditation, which was to be followed by a “rebirth” during a sweat lodge ritual. The event lead to three tragic deaths and several others very seriously injured, to the indifference of the event leader.

There is so much to hear about what went on, so my advice is listen to the show, but more importantly read Connie’s great book, you will be shocked at some of the things you learn.

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

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Connie Joy".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Connie Joy"

You can find out more about my guest and his books at:
"Connie Joy - Tragedy in Sedona"

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

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