A BOOK AND A CHAT

A Book and a Chat with Deby Eisenberg

2012-02-02T19:18:00.011-05:00

Deby Eisenberg, is my guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat”. She is the leader of an established Chicago area Book Club, a former English teacher and journalist, loves literary research, art, architecture, Jewish history, and travel in the United States and Europe. You mix all of those together and you can why her debut book “Pictures of the Past” is such a formidable and “must read” novel.

Using her vision of a multi-generational love story that would inform as well as entertain, that would broaden the mind and open the heart. And with many authors, lead by her characters, Deby has with this book created something that will touch the hearts and keep the pages turning for many a reader.

About ”Pictures of the Past”
(Taken from “The Girl Who Stole the Eifel Towwer” Blog)

The novel takes us through generations of hardships, each unique to their era, beginning in modern-day Chicago where an Impressionist painting on display at the Art Institute, a treasure donated by celebrated philanthropist Taylor Woodmere, is charged as a Nazi theft. The claim takes us back to 1930s Paris, where the story of Taylor Woodmere truly begins. As he journeys to Europe on his first independent venture for the business of his forefathers we learn of the would-be fiancé he left behind, of his instantaneous connection with the city of Paris, of the Impressionist painting that captivates him and finally of his meeting with the German Sarah Berger.

Their blissful romance is beautifully depicted amid the simple treasures of the German country whilst the shroud of the Nazi regime lingers threateningly in the background, inevitably proceeding to wreak havoc on Taylor and Sarah’s dream world. Together – and apart – they face the garish realities of an unjust war and Sarah takes a centric role in the center of her terrorizing quandary as a Jewish woman alone in a perilous place. Woven betwixt their tale is the story of Rachel Gold, a young girl left pregnant and abandoned by Taylor’s son, Court, in the 1960s. In her quest to secure a better life for herself and her son, Jason (aka Rusty), she travels from Chicago to New York where she pursues a life of normalcy with Aunt Ida, a Holocaust survivor and great friend.

Through Ida’s connection to the life and times of Sarah Berger, and Rachel’s connection to the heroic Taylor Woodmere a bond is forged through the eras, weaving the history of one family and illuminating the tragedy of the Holocaust, a tragedy that still resonates through time and space to our world today.

As one reviewer put it…

Deby Eisenberg has combined a compelling story of love and loss during the Holocaust with a modern love story that is a must read for anyone who enjoys well-written fiction. Her command of the subject matter brings believability to her characters & makes you want to keep reading.

To me this is a must read, it covers all your emotions and wants in a good book. Deby’s challenge to herself was to write a novel that her avid readers could not put down and would love to discuss. With “Pictures of the Past” she has done that and so much more.

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 Deby Eisenberg

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Deby Eisenberg

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Deby Eisenberg"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Deby Eisenberg - Pictures Off The Past"

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 Rick Lenz

2012-01-31T19:09:00.008-05:00

Rick Lenz is a star of stage, and screen from his staring roll in “Cactus Flower” along sides the likes of Goldie Hawn and Walter Matthau, to appearing in John Wayne’s last file “The Shootist” He has played rolls ranging from gunslingers to patient husbands, intellectuals, to a wimpy murder-mystery fanatic. Along the road he has rubbed shoulders with the likes of Al Pacino to Peter Sellers and Ingrid Bergman to Lucille Ball. However Rick Lenz is not just an actor/director, he is also a talented artist and now author of a great book “North of Hollywood”

While “North of Hollywood” is full of anecdotes about many of the people Rick has come into contact with along his career, it also shares with the reader some of the darker moments in his family and life, touching on drug addiction and cancer.His book reveals real-life experiences of heartbreak, suspense, discovery and joy.

As Writer/editor Kevin Cook said…

“North of Hollywood is “fall-on-the floor funny and graveyard-serious, a page-turner with a brain. This is an excitingly original book overflowing with lyrical power that I can’t compare to anything else I’ve ever read.”

About North of Hollywood (taken from Goodreads)

Take a roller coaster ride through the life of a real Hollywood actor.

Rick Lenz is an actor who has made it in New York and Hollywood. You have seen him countless times on TV and in the movies. He has been a popular leading man as well as a character actor, consistently avoiding repetition in the roles he chooses. Lenz has played leads opposite some of entertainment’s biggest names, and has had recurring or guest starring roles on many of your favorite TV shows.

Yet his book is more than just an ordinary Hollywood insider story. Lenz is a terrific writer with a wicked sense of humor. Also a gifted artist and widely produced playwright, he uses his extraordinary storytelling skills to take you into his personal experiences with actors and entertainers we normally only hear about through the rumor mills, and to reveal real-life experiences of heartbreak, suspense, discovery and joy.

His memoir is fascinating. He doesn’t pull any punches. Along with plenty of showbiz anecdotes, he tells us about his marriages (especially his “final” one) and his journey from summer stock through New York, then to Hollywood. He offers us deep insights into an actor’s life and living in general. Feeling the shock waves of his stormy family background, including the emotional tremors of nearly losing his daughter who struggled for years with drugs, Rick Lenz is a real life husband and dad—and the absorbing reality of that shines through his words.

Spending time with Rick Lenz is fun, enlightening and authentic. If this weren’t a true story it would make a mesmerizing fictional adventure.
Bottom line: North of Hollywood is edgy, way out of the ordinary, and, as a bonus, funny.

It is a book that all will enjoy, one I highly recommend, it is due for release on February 15th, and if I were you I’d get my order in now for “North of Hollywood” as I’m sure it will be a very popular read.

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 Rick Lenz

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Rick Lenz

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Rick Lenz"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Rick Lenz - North of Holywood"

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 Stephanie Osborn

2012-01-28T10:53:00.007-05:00

My guest today is Stephanie Osborn, former rocket scientist, payload flight controller and a veteran of over twenty years of working in the civilian space program, as well as various military space defense programs.

She has always enjoyed writing, and as we heard during the program actually wrote Sherlock Holmes story when she was in fourth grade that was rejected because the teacher thought it was a copy of an actual Conan Doyle story, it is a shame that story no longer exists as I’m sure it would be amongst the other wonderful novels created by Stephanie since her retirement from the space race.

Her first book “Burnout” was so close to home and actual incidents that subsequently happened. Along the way she has worked with both Darrel Bain and Travis S Taylor on further Science Fiction series “The Cresperian Series” and “Extraction Point”.

In her latest production “The Displaced Detective Series” Stephanie has come full circle as it brings back her love for Sherlock Holmes. The first two books in the series “The Arrival” and “At Speed” are already out and receiving great reviews.

About “The Displaced Detective Series”

This is a science fiction mystery in which the brilliant hyperspatial physicist, Dr. Skye Chadwick, discovers that there are alternate realities, and said alternates
are often populated by those we consider only literary characters. Her pet research, Project:

Tesseract, hidden deep under Schriever AFB, is her means of looking in on these continua. In one particular reality, continuum 114, a certain Victorian detective (who, in fact, exists in several continua) was to have died along with his arch-nemesis at the Reichenbach Falls. Knee-jerking, Skye intervenes, rescuing her hero, who inadvertently flies through the tesseract wormhole connecting his universe with ours, while his enemy plunges to his death. Unable to send Holmes
back without causing devastating continuum collapse due to non-uniqueness, he must stay in our world and learn to adapt to the 21st century.

Meanwhile, the Schriever AFB Dept of Security discovers a spy ring working to dig out the details of - and possibly sabotage - Project: Tesseract. Can Chadwick help Holmes come up to speed in modern investigative techniques in time to
stop the spies? Will Holmes be able to thrive in our modern world? Is Chadwick now Holmes' new "Watson" - or more?

And what happens next?

Well we will find out, as this series promises to run and run as Stephanie has the next two in the editing/publishing stages, book 5 is being written, book 6 is planned, and book 7 is actually finished but needs beefing up. As we heard this prolific author is also producing and co-producing further nvels in her other series as well.

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 Stephanie Osborn

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Stephanie Osborn

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Stephanie Osborn"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Stephanie Osborn"

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 Ken Stoller and Galen

2012-01-26T18:59:00.005-05:00

My guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat” is Dr Ken Stoller, the editor, rather the author of “My Life After Life” the first book in the “Death Walker” series.

Before Dr Ken started his medical career over twenty years ago, he was already writing on psychopharmacology even before he entered medical school. During medical school, he was hired to do research for the Humane Society of the United States, and became involved in an effort to prohibit the use of shelter dogs for medical experiments, which made him very unpopular in certain circles when he published an article entitled “Sewer Science and Pound Seizure” in the International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems. He was then invited to become a founding board member of the Humane Farming Association, and served as science editor for the Animal’s Voice Magazine, where he was nominated for a Maggie.

Starting his career as a pediatrician he also worked in the UCLA Department of Anesthesiology and volunteering at the since disbanded Parapsychology Lab at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute.

In 1990s, after a friend, head of Apple Computer’s Advanced Technology Group, lapsed into a coma, Dr. Stoller began investigating hyperbaric medicine. Soon after, he started administering hyperbaric oxygen to brain-injured children and adults, including Iraqi vets and retired NFL players with traumatic brain injuries, also pioneering the use of this therapy for treating children with fetal alcohol syndrome. He is a Fellow of the American College of Hyperbaric Medicine and has served as president of the International Hyperbaric Medical Association for almost a decade.

The journey for the production of “The Life After Life” started one evening in 2007 when he received a phone call from the state police telling him that his 16-year-old son Galen had been illed at an unguarded rail crossing. Keenly aware of their emotional bond during his son’s life, Dr. Stoller would soon realize just how powerfully that bond could continue to express itself as his son began to communicate with him in dream states. Confused at first, plagued by disbelief, and overwhelmed with grief, Dr. Stoller, a man of science and medicine experienced difficulty in accepting what was happening to him, both in terms of the stress of the loss and the stress of the contact. Galen had to demonstrate to his father that it was truly him.

As said at the beginning Dr Ken is not the author, he is the editor, the actual author is Galen, himself who one day during the communication with his father asked, when he would start writing Galen’s own book.

About “The Life After Life”: (Taken from Amazon)

Sixteen-year-old Galen Stoller never saw the train that forced him, in December 2007, into another dimension–what some call the other side, heaven, or nirvana. He was able to make contact in dream states with his intuitive father within days and verbal contact by the end of the first month. Two years later he requested his father write down communication from Galen about his new circumstances. Dr. Stoller’s only comments in this revelatory account appear in Editor’s Notes at the end of each chapter. While there are many accounts of near-death experiences, never has an account been written documenting a personal encounter with such detail and clarity. The story of this gifted boy intent on getting through to earth the knowledge of what lies beyond is both comforting and sobering with a message relevant for all of us still living in this dimension.

As one reviewer put it…

This is a memoir that generates multidimensional consciousness, the wisdom of an open heart and the desire to participate in our unlimited opportunities guided by service and above all, love. I'm ready for Galen's next book in the "Death Walker Series".

Well reader, you do not have to wait too long, with the second book due out in the spring time and the third book already underway.

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 Dr Ken Stoller and Galen

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Dr Ken Stoller and Galen

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Dr Ken Stoller and Galen"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Dr Ken Stoller and Galen - Life After Life"

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 DJ Brown

2012-01-24T19:27:00.007-05:00

DJ Brown, or Donna as I’ll call her, joins me for a chat over a cup of tea on today’s “A Book and a Chat”.

She has always been a person interested in writing, in fact when she was in 4th Grade; Donna submitted her first full-length, illustrated book to Doubleday. A “kindly” editor took the time to write to her, both to let her know that her book did not fit into any of their current categories and also to encourage her to continue to write, no matter what.

From that moment on she was hooked and has been writing and submitting her work ever since, be it one of her many short stories, which she hopes one day to publish as a collection or her wonderful novel “Butterfly Season”.

About Butterfly Season:

BUTTERFLY SEASON is part thriller and part magical realism. The book takes Lila Dean to the edge of madness and back as she learns to deal with tremendous loss and overwhelming fear in order to protect her daughter Olivia, whose extraordinary gift not only seals her destiny, but changes the lives of the people of Freedom, Texas forever.

What people say about “Butterfly Season”:

“I just finished this book and I have to say I was literally blown away. Since I have "limited" time because of working two jobs...I very carefully choose the books that I purchase to read. This book's title is what originally caught my eye...but upon reading the little blurb on the back...I decided to purchase it. I was not disappointed in the least in the book. The storyline is one that grabs you from the beginning and just keeps you turning pages. I thank goodness that I had two days off....because I started the book one day and finished it the second. The author has a wonderful way of making you feel as though you are sitting right next to the characters. She's vivid in her descriptions of the characters and it makes you really feel a part of their story. I certainly look forward to further books by this author as she's a fantastic story teller. Be sure to purchase this book and read it...you will not be disappointed!” - Mary J. Kirkpatrick

Well Mary, judging by the many reviews I have read you are not the only one who can’t wait to read more by this talented author.

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 DJ Brown

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with DJ Brown

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"DJ Brown"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"DJ Brown - Butterfly Season"

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 Lynne Kelly

2012-01-21T12:36:00.008-05:00

I have one of the debut authors from the Class of 2K12 on my show today. Lynne Kelly was born in Galesburg, Illinois, grew up in Houston, lived in some much colder places, then found her way back to the Houston area, where she works as a sign language interpreter. For a few years she also taught special education, a good career for someone with excellent organizational and planning skills. Lacking those skills, she quit teaching in 2006 and thankfully has more time for writing. But it was during those teaching years that she worked with some great kids and became interested in writing, so that all worked out.

After giving up her main teaching role, she started writing her book “Chained” which though going through many edits and re-writes has been well worth waiting for.

As we discussed during the show doing research Lynn found out many things about elephants that she did not know before writing her novel, the research also included a personal “get to know” with one of these might beasts.Did you know…

Sscientists recently discovered that there are three species of elephants, not just two. (One in Asia, two in Africa.) African forest elephants are much smaller than their neighbors in the savannah, and the two African species are as different as tigers and lions.

Or that…

A long-distance call: some sounds elephants make are too low for you to hear even if you're standing nearby, but an elephant two miles away will hear them

The resulting book “Chained” has been worth all the research, receiving some great reviews..

“…a story that unwraps the heart and asks it to be brave, loyal, and above all, kind.”
~ Kathi Appelt, Newbery Honor winner and New York Times bestselling author of The Underneath and Keeper.

“…It doesn’t matter if Kelly is writing about about gentle giants, adults who have made mistakes, people left without choices or boys who rise to their own occasion, she has a talent for making the characters feel real and for making readers feel.”

About “ Chained”

The touching story of a boy and an elephant who have a friendship stronger than any lock, shackle, or chain.

Ten-year-old Hastin’s sister has fallen ill, and his family must borrow money to pay for her care in the hospital. To work off the debt, Hastin leaves his village in northern India to work in a faraway jungle as an elephant keeper. He thinks it will be an adventure, but he isn’t prepared for the cruel circus owner. The crowds that come to the circus see a lively animal who plays soccer and balances on milk bottles, but Hastin sees Nandita, a sweet elephant and his best friend, who is chained when she’s not performing and punished until she learns her tricks perfectly. With the help of Ne Min, a wise old man who seems to know all about elephants, Hastin protects Nandita as best as he can. Still he wonders–will they both survive long enough to escape?

As we learned during the show, Lynne is already hard at work on her next book a YA novel, with a more humorous touch “Reasons for Leaving” about a hitting the road to find a long lost friend, when all you want to be is safe at home.

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 Lynne Kelly

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Lynne Kelly

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Lynne Kelly"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Lynne Kelly - Chained"

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 Dee A Levy and Brian Sheffield Hunt

2012-01-19T19:12:00.006-05:00

Imagine that in the middle of celebrating the New year over a romantic dinner, your husband suddenly says he has something to” tell you”, no not tell, “show you”. Only to appear ten minutes later dressed in your dress and lingerie. What would you think, what would you do, to suddenly after how many year of marriage to find that your husband and father of your children was a “cross dresser”?

This happened to Dee A Levy, one of my guests on today’s today who is the founder of the nonprofit organization Cross Dressers Wives, whose mission is to provide a safe environment for cross dressers' wives everywhere. Since 2006, the website www.crossdresserswives.com has emerged as one of the top support sites designed to address the needs of all women who are (or were) involved in an intimate relationship with a cross dresser. The Forum encourages cross dressers' wives from across the globe to reach out and anonymously share their experiences in an effort to learn from each other without fear of being judged or humiliated.
She was in the process of writing a book about her own life, when finding others who wanted to share their own story, herself and my other guest on today’s show, Brian Sheffield Hunt decided to put all these stories into a wonderful and helpful book “The Cross Dresser’s Wives – Our Secret Lives”.

The book is a powerful and engaging, this international collection of thoughts and short stories emanating from the web site, it offers valuable and emotionally intimate social commentary on the taboo subculture of cross dressing and, for the first time, exposes the shocking secret lives of cross dressers' wives or partners who silently grapple with the issue of cross dressing in their marriage or relationship.
The show brought up many interesting pieces of information about what is basically still a thorny subject of “cross dressing”. Unlike Gay and Lesbian relationships, the fact that your partner is a cross dresser can lay hidden for many years, a large percentage indeed is happily, or so it seems, heterosexual men.

A Brian shares on the web site...

“Multiple thorny issues can surround cross dressing. Often, it involves some sense of romantic betrayal at its deepest, messiest level. These relationships are operatic in scale and shake these women to their core. Why else would a sound woman consider leaving the love of her life and disrupt her family if this issue was merely about ‘scraps of clothing?”

The book consists of five stories that cover many issues and stories submitted to the sites forum submitted by women who wanted to tell their own stories. These stories are sprinkled with other selected posts, all of which are meant to illustrate the powerful ‘emotional speakeasy’ sense of camaraderie, caring, and support that is evident on the Forum on a daily basis.

As one reviewer put it…

“Finally! A book that actually acknowledges that many crossdressers ARE sexually motivated by this "harmless hobby" and that wives are NOT selfish, "uneducated", or unloving if their relationships crumble under the onslaught of the increasingly deviant desires of their partners…
...it should be required reading for everyone involved in a relationship that is faltering from the strain of this - partners who are struggling, ex-partners (who often remain scarred for years), therapists (who may "research" by using the same resources available to the wives), and crossdressers - anyone who truly wants to understand the emotions experienced by the silent partner. These wives valiantly try to hold their families and relationships together in an escalating, isolating, shape-shifting world that tells them that they are "irrational", weak, or prejudiced if they dare to doubt the" truth" of what they are told by the crossdressing communities and their supports...and who ultimately choose to believe in their own perceptions and in the importance of their OWN gender, sexual identity and sexual preferences.

Whether these women stay or leave the relationship, it is an understatement to identify them as courageous, self-sacrificing, and strong...they are survivors!
Highly recommended.”

I would go further than that, not only the book but also a visit to the web site to read and understand just what these woman have gone through. A good start would be to listen to today’s really interesting A Book and a Chat with Dee A Levy and Brian Sheffield Hunt

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Dee A Levy and Brian Sheffield Hunt

or you can download the mp3 file of the show fromA
"Dee A Levy and Brian Sheffield Hunt"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Dee A Levy and Brian Sheffield Hunt - The Cross Dresser's Wives"

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 Hunter Shea

2012-01-17T19:07:00.006-05:00

Hunter Shea was raised on a diet of The Night Stalker, The Twilight Zone and In Search Of mixed with the old B movies at the local drive in. That being the case it came as no surprise that when he finally finally decided to write, what were produced were horror stories.

As Hunter shared with us, during another interesting and entertaining show, at first these were just short stories many of which were published in magazines such as Morpheus Tales, The Harrow, Tabard Inn, Deadline & Ethereal Tales. Finally his debut novel “The Forest of Shadows” was produced, though as we heard during the show not without its own roller coaster ride to production.

It is not every day that you hear of a book that is really scary. No special effects, 3D images or background music, just a book that almost should have a warning in some parts… “Read With the Light On”. However in “The Forest of Shadows” Hunter has produced just such a book.

Reviewers have made comments such as

“With Forest of Shadows debut novelist Hunter Shea combines ancient evil, old school horror and modern style. Highly recommended!”

“Shea isn't just focused on scaring the pants off his readers (although, to be honest, I had a knot in my stomach just reading the prologue!). He takes the time and energy to develop his characters, in particular, the main character, John Backman. Shea is a true storyteller who provides the reader with all of the details necessary to see what he sees, to feel what his characters feel. He gets the reader so invested in Backman that one can't help but turn page after page with bated breath, anxious to discover Backman's fate.”

About “The Forest of Shadows”:

John Backman wins the lottery on the night his wife dies. Instead of going crazy with the money, he retires from a job he hates and uses the money to cover the living expenses for himself and his young daughter, Jessica. However, because John grieves his loss and is also diagnosed with anxiety disorder, his sister-in-law, Eve, chips in to help the small family keep the vultures away, get their finances in order and just survive day to day.

John indulges his interest in the paranormal by setting up a paranormal web site about ghost/UFO sightings and experiences, and this is how he is contacted by Judas, a man in Shida, Alaska who tells him about strange, frightening experiences he had while cleaning an empty house. A house where a family had mysteriously disappeared. Intrigued, John decides to investigate this case, and that means moving Jessica, Eve and Eve's infant son, Liam, into the house while he works. This very decision will be John's undoing, because the horror that awaits him and his family in that house is unlike any other he would have ever imagined.

It is a book reminiscent of Stephen King at his best, which will have you wanting to turn the page to see what happens next while at the same time, wanting to hide yourself under the blankets. Let’s face it any book that is good enough to have a beer named after it, has to be a sure winner.

With further books already in the pipeline, I am sure we will hear a lot more of Hunter Shea.

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 Hunter Shea

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Hunter Shea

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Hunter Shea"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Hunter Shea - Forest of Shadows"

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

2012-01-14T11:34:00.010-05:00

Back again for today’s show is the always popular author C.S. Lakin, who like every great fantasy author uses her initials in her pen name.

She comes from a family of successful writers. She grew up collating television scripts for her mother, a screenwriter, story editor, and producer for television.
As an adult, Susanne assisted in developing series for television, and while raising two daughters and running a bed and breakfast inn in northern California, wrote her first three novels and a cookbook. In 2009, Susanne’s contemporary novel, Someone to Blame won the Zondervan First Novel contest at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. As well as being an author of some twelve novels she works as a freelance copy editor and writing mentor.

Susanne also teaches at various conferences about the art of writing and as we heard during the show, over the holiday she has created a blog for nearly every day of the year to be used on new blog site she has created which will be filled with articles that focus on the craft of writing. All this information can be found on her new blog Live Write Thrive.

Since she was last on the show as well as publishing the next volume in the great “The Gates of Heaven” series, Susanne has two new mysteries up on ebook at Smashwords! Conundrum , an intense relational drama/mystery about betrayal and faithful love, and Innocent Little Crimes, a top 100 finalist in the 2009 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest, a mystery spinoff on Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians.

There is always Time Sniffers, a wild young adult time-travel romance for teens who love science is now out. as an ebook.

With all this other work however my favouirite is her fantasy series “The Gates of Heaven”. Book three “The Land of Darkness” is now available, book four “The Unraveling of Wentwater” is in “gally” stage to be released in the spring, and book five “The Crystal Scepter” will be out later this year.

Each of the novels in “The Gates of Heaven” series are subtitled “fairy tales,” and this description becomes especially pointed in The Land of Darkness. The story has everything a reader could want – mysterious creatures, a quest, a story that never falters and even a wicked stepmother (think Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, a baddy that will make you laugh) and two ugly stepsisters. They all mold together in a third magical story, which again has twists and turns and adventures that make the reader work for their dose of fantasy.

And it’s all wonderful….

About “The Gates of Heaven”: (from Faith Fiction Friends)

Jadiel, a 12-year-old girl, lives with her wealthy father and stepmother on a spacious farm. The stepmother is not what she seems, and finds way to bewitch the father while she steps up her mistreatment of and cruelty to Jadiel. After several unsuccessful attempts to kill the girl, the stepmother sends her off to find the leaves of the terebinth tree, which no one seems to have heard of. If Jadiel fails in her quest, the stepmother will kill her father.

Callen, a young man not much older than Jadiel, works for the girl’s aunt and uncle. He becomes interested in old parchment drawings of a bridge, with words inscribed in an unknown language and the drawing of a giant tree. He leaves for the capital city of Sherbourne (which was the major setting of The Map Across Time) – and finds himself rescuing Jadiel from kidnappers.

Together, Callen and Jadiel embark upon a quest, she to save her father and he to find the bridge. Eventually they are joined by an old, scarred guide named Ebed, who directs them forward both geographically and spiritually.

The reader comes to understand that whatever else The Land of Darkness is, it is the story of a spiritual quest, one that transcends the fantasy its set within to become something very recognizable – the meaning of faith.

It’s a delightful, enchanting story. Even with the wicked stepmother.
As mentioned book four is already into printing stage and book five with the publishers, each book as well as being part of the series can be read as a standalone novel in its own right. I have really enjoyed reading this series and am already looking forward to the next book when it comes out in the spring time.

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 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 their books at:
"C.S.Lakin - The Gates of Heaven"

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 Gordon Gumpertz

2012-01-12T19:16:00.007-05:00

If you like novels full of action and adventure, or disaster films such as “Armageddon” then Gordon Gumpertz, my guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat” is the author for you.

Gordon, though a writer in his youth left in basically until he retired to follow his writing dream which has now led to the production of “so far” two great page turning novels. In addition he has won gold and silver awards in national and regional short story competitions.

His first book “TSUNAMI” received great reviews…

"TSUNAMI starts with a bang and the reader is off on a 300 page wild adventure. I could not put it down. I know this is a cliché, but I have to say it anyway. TSUNAMI is a page turner."

About TSUNAMI

Deep in the mid-Pacific, an ancient undersea volcano comes to life. Leading scientists predict the volcano will subside and go dormant, but seismologist Dr. Leilani Sanches is alarmed. Her advanced computer model shows the volcano will build to a monster explosion and trigger a tsunami massive enough to wipe out the Southern California coast.

Her theory is fiercely opposed by a jealous scientific establishment and powerful special interests who think a tsunami scare will hurt business. Her efforts to warn the public are blocked.

Coast Guard Commander Dave Steel believes she is right and becomes her ally in a race against time. Leilani and Dave meet the violence of nature and the violence of their enemies head on, and put their lives on the line in a frantic struggle to move five million people away from the coast before disaster strikes.

His new book RED HOT SUN, promises to be even better, sort of the world was going to end, a man was going to save it, he gets the girl, and everything turns out picture perfect as world destruction is avoided once again. Gordon however transforms this classic man versus nature battle into an action packed story of survival.

About “RED HOT SUN”

CO2 buildup in earth's atmosphere reaches a tipping point. Global weather destabilizes, turns chaotic. Ice storms, dust storms, floods, blizzards, hurricanes, tornadoes pummel the earth nonstop. A secret computer model reveals that the frantic weather will peak out, and radically transform world climate into an alien environment devastating to human survival.

Scientists Ben Mason and Claudine Manet, developers of the computer model, are lovers as well as lab partners. While they work frantically to head off the approaching catastrophe, a disgraced Russian general hacks into their model and sees earth's bleak future as his opportunity for ultimate world power. Ben, who had left the CIA to develop the computer model at the national lab, is reactivated by the Agency and sent on a perilous mission to block the rogue general's plot.

Claudine, not realizing that Ben is on a secret mission, misunderstands his absence, putting their relationship on thin ice. Claudine is placed in charge of a massive NASA project that, if completed on time, could stop the approaching doomsday climate change. But her project is stalled by bureaucracy. And Ben, his cover blown, is on the run in hostile territory. The climate change calamity steadily approaches, threatening to turn the planet into a simmering wasteland.

With a third book already underway I’m sure we’ll hear a lot more about Gordon Gumpertz, I might add, I also think that “Red Hot Sun” would make a great movie.

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 Gordon Gumpertz

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Gordon Gumpertz

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Gordon Gumpertz"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Gordon Gumpertz - RedHot Sky"

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 Irene L Pynn

2012-01-10T19:11:00.008-05:00

Irene L Pynn author of the YA fantasy novel “From Light to Dark” is my guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat”. She did not really have a huge amount of choice than becoming an author being raised in a family of writers. Though her days were filled with a mix of Dr Who and Shakespeare, the fact that she almost made herself sick in first grade trying to turn herself into some magical figure might explain the fantasy link within the story.

Irene writes fantasy and light science fiction for adults, young adults, and children. Her work spans novels, plays, transmedia events, and more. Most of her work focuses on internal conflicts told through speculative metaphors.

She got the idea for this her debut YA novel while watching a Cirque du Soleil performance of Varekai. It began with an Icarus-like fall, but, instead of dying, the Icarus character ends up in a magical world below where he encounters strange creatures. Taking this idea and blending the different worlds with a touch of Romeo and Juliet, Irene created the star-crossed Eref and Caer in From Light to Dark.

About “From Light to Dark” (taken from Amazon)

“Her voice was like flower petals falling on wet grass.”

Eref is about to die. He sits at the End of Light World, accepting his stoning execution one rock at a time, until the impossible happens: the ground opens up beneath him, and he drops down into the unknown.

There, he meets Caer, a kind-hearted girl from Dark World who saves his life. Together, the pair forms an unlikely and illegal bond that not even the strongest hatred can break. But can their connection bring down the evil institution that has kept Light World and Dark World at odds for hundreds of years?

As one reviewer put it…

“Irene L. Pynn is a phenomenal storyteller who immerses the reader in the thick tapestry of her extraordinary worlds. Again, we are introduced to a fantasy author who plunges our senses into stories that spirit us away from the daily grind and transport us into realms where honor builds heroes, beauty is birthed from dignity, and magic solves our problems. Reading Pynn isn't a pastime, it's a life choice." Ron Gavalik, author of the Grit City emotobook series.

The book as everything love, action, magic, mythology, some violence, fantasy, puzzles, riddles and great characters, add to that an amazing cover and you get “From Light to Dark” is a book not to be missed.

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 Irene L Pynn

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Irene L Pynn

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Irene L Pynn"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Irene L Pynn - From Light to Dark"

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 Wayne Edwards

2012-01-07T11:48:00.012-05:00

Finally starting to shake off the affects of the mix of bronchitis and smoke inhalation, and host the first real show of 2012. My guest on today’s show Wayne Edwards would make anybody smile with his wonderful rhyming poetry covering all sorts of subjects and for all ages, a show well worth the listen.

Wayne did not start writing his poetry until he retired from the Air Force in 1977. He spent his last five years in the military as the Air Force’s nuclear security inspector, which might explain why he built himself an underground house. He has written sixteen paperback books of rhyming poetry, all illustrated with his own cartoons, which are enough to make you smile in themselves.

He is a popular guest and many events ranging from schools to senior centers his words and humor a fit for all ages. He subjects of his books range from youthful reflections to hospitals, from animals to law enforcement.

During the show Wayne shared with us several of his poems, all with twists at the end, and sure to have the listener chuckling, one of my favorites was “The Parking Ticket”

The cop was writing out a ticket
When I came out of the hardware store.
A parking ticket is the one thing
That can really make a person sore.

I said, “Can’t you give a guy a break?”
And I guess I really showed my ire
‘Cause he got out another ticket
And he wrote it out for one bald tire.

That’s when I told him what he could do,
I think you probably know the verb.
He calmly wrote another ticket,
He wrote, “Car parked too far from the curb.”

Seven times more, he wrote out tickets
And stuck them under the wiper blade.
And then he just coolly walked away
Completely ignoring my tirade.

It’s people like him that make me mad,
Who take their authority too far.
Those tickets will cost a small fortune.
I’m sure glad that it wasn’t my car!
(Written by Wayne Edwards)

As one person wrote to Wayne...

Thank you for sharing your gift with others. I know that your poetry will allow our family to share laughter and rich experiences together while the kids (shh, don’t tell anyone) actually learn something too. My eldest is a budding writer and my youngest would prefer shots at the pediatrician to picking up a pencil. I am confident that your clever words and hilarious art while inspire both ends of the writing spectrum in our house. Thanks again!

His poetry is classed as paraprosdokian "a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to reframe or reinterpret the first part." The twists at the end of each poem enough to bring a smile to anybodies face.

Wayne Edwards is a poet for all, a person who can bring a smile to anybodies face, as the review says, his poetry allows people to share both laughter and the experiance of his words and art.

Check out Wayne’s award winning web site filled with words that will bring a smile to your face. Sixteen books so far but I’m sure many more to come from Wayne Edwards, the “family poet”.

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 Wayne Edwards

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Wayne Edwards

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Wayne Edwards"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Wayne Edwards - The Famnily Poet"

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 Daniel B Ferry

2011-12-27T19:07:00.008-05:00

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

2011-12-22T19:07:00.006-05:00

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

2011-12-20T19:11:00.006-05:00

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

2011-12-17T12:24:00.006-05:00

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

2011-12-15T18:00:00.006-05:00

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

2011-12-13T19:03:00.011-05:00

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

2011-12-12T19:13:00.008-05:00

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

2011-12-10T12:06:00.008-05:00

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

2011-12-08T19:04:00.006-05:00

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

2011-12-07T19:01:00.005-05:00

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

2011-12-06T19:10:00.010-05:00

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

2011-12-03T12:26:00.011-05:00

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

2011-12-01T19:06:00.006-05:00

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

2011-11-29T19:10:00.007-05:00

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

2011-11-28T19:24:00.009-05:00

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

2011-11-26T12:25:00.008-05:00

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

2011-11-24T08:17:00.010-05:00

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

2011-11-22T19:07:00.010-05:00

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

2011-11-20T18:58:00.013-05:00

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

A Book and a Chat with Nancy Stewart

2011-11-19T11:35:00.008-05:00

Nancy Stewart has travelled around this wonderful world and back again, and continues to do so, finding it both inspirational and invigorating. This is a long way from scrounging apples from an orchard in the greater St. Louis area, though both have lead to adventures.

Nancy, today’s guest on the 399 “A Book and a Chat”, was raised in a book loving environment, though her love of words lead her down the teaching path rather than creative writing, that has come along later in her life.

As mentioned she has toured the world, including a stay in England, where England where she was a consultant to several universities, including Cambridge.

After Nancy and her husband bought a second home in Clearwater Beach, Florida, her life took on another dimension. With a home right on the gulf, the problem of beach litter and the plight of sea turtles became of paramount importance to her. She wrote the two picture books, Sea Turtle Summer and Bella Saves the Beach as a direct result of my new environment. This has been followed by another Bella and Britt story One Pelican at a Time, which has been six weeks on Amazon’s Bestseller List for Children and addresses the deep water Gulf spill on April 20, 2010.

About “One Pelican at a Time”

One Pelican at a Time, is the story of two girls, Bella and Britt, who love living by the beach. During an oil spill they realize their old friend, the crooked beak pelican, is in grave danger. The girls, after having been told by adults that kids can do nothing to help, take matters into their own hands and try to save him from the oily gulf.

As we discovered from the show, there are further “Bella and Britt” adventures in the pipeline along with several other books which she hopes will be published soon.

One very dear to her heart, is for all those reluctant boy readers out there. It’s called "Guts!" A very different book from Pelican.

A couple of others she hopes will be published in the next year or so are, "Viva la Diva" and "Viva Camp Diva", again a series featuring Dee and her best pal, Katie Jimenez, both of whom so badly want to be divas.

Along with that there is also a new book Nancy has just finished called “Rampaige!” about a very naughty girl who is asked to keep an eye on her little sister while her mom and cousin have coffee in the other room. Big mistake!

So listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Nancy Stewart

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Nancy Stewart

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Nancy Stewart"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Nancy Stewart - One Pelican at a Time"

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 Kyle

2011-11-17T19:23:00.007-05:00

Living in a house where many of the book shelves are filled with Tudor historical fiction I was really pleased when I managed to get my guest booked for today’s “A Book and a Chat”. However when I delved into Barbara Kyle and her writing, I found a whole lot more than just historical fiction.

Barbara studied in a classical theatre program at the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal. She had an acting career of twenty years acting mostly on television in made-for-TV movies, series, sit-coms, and soap operas as well as appearing in many stage productions throughout Canada and the United States. In many ways this theatrical background aided her when she started writing.

She had three thriller books published "Beyond Recall", "After Shock", and "The Experiment" where she used a male pen name of Stephen Kyle, as she explained on the show, she thought thriller novel might do better when under a male name, though after her subsequent success she is now re-releasing the books under her “Barbara Kyle” nom de plumb.

From this early success Barbara has gone on to find huge success in the historical fiction genre. Her “Thornleigh” series of so far four novels have sole over 400,000 copies.

Her first historical fiction novel, "The Queen's Lady" published in 2008 was a success! Two more novels followed: "The King's Daughter" and most recently "The Queen's Captive". These novels are set in Tudor England and feature fictional characters of the Thornleigh family manuevering the dangerous Tudor court. These have now been followed by "The Queeen's Gamble".

Whether it was her love of Shakespeare, thoughts of Lawrence Olivier in “Richard III” or an interest in Sir Thomas More Barbara’s writings about Tudor times and the rarified world of kings and queens has proved nothing but success.

A Barbra wrote about her Thornleigh series..

I love writing about the Tudor/Elizabethan period, whose "on the make" characters and life-and-death intrigues – to say nothing of the era's religious paranoia – speak deeply to our own time. I hope you'll agree, and will enjoy being caught up in the passions and setbacks, adventures and strivings of the Thornleigh family – Honor, Richard, Isabel, and Adam – as they befriend, and sometimes betray, their willful kings and queens.

This however is not all this great author has written, a new thriller “Entrapped” has also been published this year.

Set in Alberta, Canada, Entrapped is the story of Liv Gardner, an ambitious young oil executive intent on stopping farmer Tom Wainwright who is sabotaging her rigs after a spill of lethal “sour” gas poisoned his wife. Desperate to save the company she built, Liv plants evidence to frame Tom. But when the evidence is used to indict him for a murder, only Liv can save him.

With another three books in the Thornleigh series in the creative pipeline, the name Barbara Kyle will be one to follow and enjoy for many years.

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

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Barbara Kyle

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

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Barbara Kyle - The Queen's Gamble"

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 Laura Lee

2011-11-13T11:38:00.008-05:00

Laura Lee was book for a previous “A Book and a Chat”, however the winter storm that caused the lack a week without power in Connecticut led to that show being cancelled, however I am glad to say that she was able to be a guest on today’s “make-up” show.

Previously the author of twelve non-fiction books nonfiction books, including Broke is Beautiful, the Elvis Impersonation Kit, Blame It on the Rain, and 100 Most Dangerous Things in Everyday Life. In fact it was one of these non-fiction books that started the thought creation that lead to her debut novel “Angel”.

She wrote a book called “Bad Predictions” weird predictions, that never happened, earth is flat, man will never fly etc. She was, as a form of comic relief invited to be speaker at a conference put on by NASA. All went well, and after her success addressing a group of actual rocket scientists, she decided that she deserved a reward and I took a bus tour of Mount Rainier.

Throughout the tour, the guide kept mentioning burning out on his old job. Towards the end of the tour, someone asked him what his old job had been. He said, “I was a minister.”

This got her thinking and started the thoughts that with several other pieces of the puizzle and many years later lead to her writing “Angel”

About “Angel”:

Since the loss of his lively, charming wife to cancer six years ago, minister Paul Tobit has been operating on autopilot, performing his religious duties by rote. Everything changes the day he enters the church lobby and encounters a radiant, luminous being lit from behind, breathtakingly beautiful and glowing with life. An angel. For a moment Paul is so moved by his vision that he is tempted to fall on his knees and pray.

Even after he regains his focus and realizes he simply met a flesh-and-blood young man, Paul cannot shake his sense of awe and wonder. He feels an instant and overwhelming attraction for the young man, which puzzles him even as it fills his thoughts and fires his feelings. Paul has no doubt that God has spoken to him through this vision, and Paul must determine what God is calling him to do.

Thus begins a journey that will inspire Paul’s ministry but put him at odds with his church as he is forced to examine his deeply held beliefs and assumptions about himself, his community, and the nature of love.

Angel is a romance but not with a capital “R”. As one reviewer put it…

"Angel" a romance novel. Yes, but no. It provokes thought and feelings within ourselves. It hits the inner question of who we think we are. It pokes at the tender spot in our soul. Do we really know ourselves? And if we go in a new direction, what does that do with our lives and who we think we are? And society, how they view us and what if we do change, how will they judge and view us then? I found "Angel" to be about how we see ourselves and how society sees us. Strong feelings can evoke and change one's life. It is what we do with it. "Angel" puts that question within each one of us.

It is a book that will make you think, you know that the relationship and the church might be heading for a non-happy ending yet you feel you have to keep turning the pages, to find out more.

As Laura wrote…
What is interesting to me is how much people bring to a novel themselves. The author only writes half, the reader writes the other half. I would love to discover that people found things in it that I didn’t see in there myself.

So listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Laura Lee

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Laura Lee

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Laura Lee"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Laura Lee - Angel"

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 Terri Giuliano Long

2011-11-12T11:35:00.007-05:00

Terri Giuliano Long teacher and author is my guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat” joins me for another interesting and entertaining thirty minutes of radio.

At high school she planned career more in the visual art side of her creative instincts having always been writing and drawing little stories up to that time, however after taking an advanced writing course; she realized that was what she wanted to do and began writing for the school paper. As they say ”from little acorns might oaks are made” and she later brazenly walked into office of her town paper and asked the editor for a job. At first, she covered sports and other high school news; soon, though she was given her own column. She was just sixteen.

That column was her first paid writing job, and she knew then that the only job she’d ever want would be that of writer.

She later wrote a series of articles in which mothers chatted candidly about their heartbreaking struggles about their drug and alcohol-addicted teens. From these articles and with her own experiences as a parent who knew how it felt to be worried about your children’s welfare and future, her debut book “In Leah’s Wake” was born.

About “In Leah’s Wake”:

The Tyler family had the perfect life - until sixteen-year-old Leah decided she didn't want to be perfect anymore.

While her parents fight to save their daughter from destroying her brilliant future, Leah's younger sister, Justine, must cope with the damage her out-of-control sibling leaves in her wake.

What happens when love just isn't enough?

This mesmerizing debut novel tells the tale of a contemporary American family caught in the throes of adolescent rebellion - a heartbreaking, funny, ultimately redemptive quest for love, independence, connection and grace.

Many people agree with the above comments as “In Leah’s Wake” as it has already won awards as a pick for 2011.

As one reviewer put it…

It's hard to believe this book was the author's debut novel. The characters and storyline kept you riveted to the book and you didn't want to put it down. Very true to life story that anyone who is raising or raised teenagers could definitely relate to and see themselves, as parents, in almost the same type of situations. I enjoyed reading about the family dynamics and how each individual's actions affect everyone in the family. Very good read! Great job Terri!

With a second “family” book already underway, we’ll hear more of Terri Giuliano Long – Author.

So listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Terri Giuliano Long

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Terri Giuliano Long

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Terri Giuliano Long"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Terri Giuliano Long - In Leah's Wake"

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 Karen Simpson

2011-11-10T19:04:00.006-05:00

Karen Simpson is a quilting, CSI watching, foodie, in fact you can even find a wonderful recipe for George Washington Carver’s sweet black-eyed pea pie on her web page. Along with that, she is a fascinating lady and the author of a great debut book “Act of Grace”.

As we learned during the show Karen was destined to become a writer, her father even gave her a typewriter when she was around five years old. However it was many years later that Karen has now produced this great book.

Act of Grace is loosely based on an incident that happened several years ago in her hometown during a Klan rally. When what was supposed to be a nonviolent protest became violent, a young black woman saved a white man, who was simply wearing a confederate flag T-shirt, from being beaten by throwing her body over him. She got involved because she believed he had the right to his beliefs even if she and others felt he was wrong.

For weeks after the event people argued about whether she was a guardian angel or just crazy. I Karen’s opinion was that she was a compassionate and brave person, worthy of admiration and respect for living up to her values.

Five years after this rally as Karen shared with us, she had a very vivid dream about a young woman named Grace and during the dream she yelled out what is more or less the first line of the novel.

About “Act of Grace”

Act of Grace is the story of Grace Johnson a bright, perceptive African American high school senior who saves the life of a Klansman named Jonathan Gilmore. Everyone in her hometown of Vigilant, Michigan wants to know why. Few people, black or white, understand her act of sacrifice especially since rumor holds that years ago a member of the Gilmore family murdered several African -Americans including Grace’s father. Grace wants to remain silent on the matter but Ancestors spirits emerge in visions and insist she fulfill her shamanic duties by bearing witness to her town’s violent racial history so that all involved might transcend it.

Grace begins a journal, but she warns readers upfront that if they are looking for a simple or rational explanation for her actions then they need to look elsewhere. She knows that her accounts of her ability to speak to the dead, along with her connections to a trickster spirit name Oba, will be hard for most people to believe. With insight shaped by the wisdom found in African American mythology and the book, The Velveteen Rabbit, Grace recounts a story of eye-for-an-eye vengeance that has blinded entire generations in her hometown.

As one reviewer put it…

“This is Simpson’s first novel. It is a must read. Her poetic style of writing soothes you into the harsh realities of racism, violence, and absolute hate based horror. The hero, Grace, puts an end to historical and current race based violence by her own sacrifice–after learning much from her ancestors…Music and food are the backdrops of Simpson’s work: “better than sex” chocolate cake, red velvet cake, Nina Simone and John Coltrane. Simpson’s work is screaming to be a book club pick. That is why it is my book club selection for June. My theme? Tunes and food inspired by the novel.”

Yes even Karen’s food finds it ‘s way into her novel, this is her first novel but certainly not her last, so keep a look out along book shelves for more books by Karen Simpson.

So listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Karen Simpson

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Karen Simpson

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Karen Simpson"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Karen Simpson - Act of Grace"

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 Lilian Duval

2011-11-08T19:02:00.005-05:00

My guest today’s “A Book and a Chat” is writer “Lilian Duval”, I say writer as she is that not just an author, having been in the creative writing field for over thirty years before her now debut novel.

Being from French speaking parents then living in New York, Lilian explained to us during the show how there was some “issues” when she started school with her thick accent and pronunciation of some words. This however did not stop her love stories, and any third grader, who can compare the books in a library to houses on a street, with the shelves being the roads, obviously had a talent.

Lilian and her husband are survivors of 9-11, and we heard her story about how both she and her husband were workers in the first tower. Her husband should have been in a meeting at the top of the tower when the first plane hit, but had forgotten about the meeting. Such coincidences, or whatever you want to call them in a way leads us to Lilian’s debut novel “You Never Know”.

Anybody who lives around New York/New Jersey knows the phrase from Lottery, and how often have you heard somebody say “If only I could win the lottery”. Well the main character in “You Never Know” does just that…

About “You Never Know”

Tobias Hillyer had a promising future until a car accident claimed the lives of his parents.

Abandoning his dreams, he dropped out of college to take care of his orphaned, brain-damaged younger brother. Now in his late thirties, Tobias struggles to provide for his family, working dead-end jobs that fall far short of the academic career he had imagined.

Then he wins the New Jersey Mega-Millions! His financial worries eliminated, Tobias anticipates nothing but smooth sailing ahead for himself and the people he loves. But he soon finds that his amazing stroke of luck may threaten everything he holds dear.

Over peaks and valleys, this uplifting journey challenges everything we think we know about luck, life, and what we value most.

The book has received numerous great reviews from many readers, the one I like best and used on the show is…

Have you ever read a book you didn't want to finish because it was so good? You Never Know is a book to devour in one night, but also to cherish and read slowly. --Emily Truman, Esq., Assistant Municipal Prosecutor, City of Newark, New Jersey.

Lilian has a collection of short stories coming out next year in her book called “Random Act of Kindness”, but her writing does not stop there, as she is currently working on not one but two biographies.

So listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Lilian Duval

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Lilian Duval

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Lilian Duval"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Lilian Duval - You Never Know"

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 Chad Coenson

2011-10-29T11:47:00.009-04:00

Humor has always been a way of putting over a point from the Greek philosophers to programs like British satirical puppet Spitting image add to those thoughts the words of the Monty Python Bruce’s Song “I drink therefore I am” . Take that and bend it around the lyrics of Kris Kristofferson song “Me and Bobby McGee” and you have the award winning novel of the same name by my guest Chad Coenson.

Chad has from an early age found putting over a point of view easier in the written word normally laced with humor, his travels have perhaps given him an insight into life that others do not have, and we heard during the show his sense of humor adds to both his views and his writing.

When you try and pigeonhole “Me and Bobby McGee” into a genre, it is like looking at the colors from a prism, “it all depends what angle you are looking at it from.” The book is full of humor, it is a thriller, it is satire and it’s even been called SC FI. The one thing that you will find is that the book is a masterpiece of comedic literature. Good enough to win the 2011 Independent Publisher Book Awards Silver Medal for Best Regional Fiction West-Pacific.

About “Me and Bobby McGee” (taken from Amazon)

Prepare to embark on a thrilling comedic adventure seen through the booze-blurred eyes of Keesey Cypher, a government-trained killer with an ill-fated abundance of classified memories who has since resigned himself to a regrettable existence, sipping away his tainted past. It is this powerful thirst coupled with Cypher's hunger for games of chance that leads him to New Orleans' coziest dive-bar the day after Fat Tuesday where one night of seeming misfortune leads to a frighteningly funny reality of subversive politics, corporate greed, backwards logic, and star (double)-crossed romance.

In this gripping social satire of modern times, Me and Bobby McGee pokes fun at the inane absurdities ingrained in our society, proving that freedom is truly subjective and karma is not just a philosophy, but a fate that is unwavering. And as an added bonus, for the careful reader and music fan, there are subtle connections throughout the novel to the classic folk song that inspired its title.

In a world of terrible truths and impending doom, find out what happens when the only man with the power to stop it... decides not to.

As one reviewer out it...

"There are several laugh-out loud moments; at the same time, there are moments which will make you ponder about life and its absurdities. It's entertaining and thought-provoking - a rare combination indeed." - Misha (My Love Affair With Books)

With a second book being planned the humor and satire promises to keep flowing from "Keesey Cypher" and his creator the guest on today's show "Chad Coenson".

So listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Chad Coenson

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Chad Coenson

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Chad Coenson"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Chad Coenson - Me and Bobby McGee"

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 Brayton

2011-10-27T19:18:00.006-04:00

Stephen Brayton in an interview described himself as “This time traveling guy who flits around the universe in a British police call box. Usually he has a beautiful companion…” knowing he meant the one and only Dr Who, how could I not want an interview this author.

Stephen describes himself as a reader; a writer; an instructor; a graphic designer; a lover of books, movies, wine, women, music, fine food, good humor, sunny summer days spent hiking or fishing; and I'm a catnip drug dealer to my thirteen pound cat, Thomas. He is also a Fifth Degree Black Belt instructor in the American Taekwondo Association, which happens to be one belt higher than Mallory Petersen the hero of his book “Beta”.

Mallory Petersen, a Fourth Degree Black Belt and private investigator, who divides her time between instructing martial arts and taking on clients and cases that are…a little odd.

It's not that she wants bad things to happen to people, but it makes life more interesting when they do.

In “Beta”, Mallory accepts a case to find Cheryl McGee’s kidnapped eight year old daughter, she is pulled into the dark underworld of child pornography. The trail soon leads to the Quad Cities, where Mallory partners with an officer from the Special Case Squad.

As the investigation deepens, Mallory discovers there’s more to the girl's disappearance than her client let on.

This is actually the second book in the Mallory Preston series, the first book being “Alpha”, which is currently under re-write.

Along with the detective series, Stephen has also produced “Night Shadows”

About Night Shadows:

Des Moines Homicide detective Harry Reznik and F.B.I. agent, Lori Campisi, have their hands more than a little full when they team up to investigate a series of gruesome murders.

With life throwing them one obstacle after another, the unlikely pair has no choice but to put their personal issues aside as they battle malevolent creatures from another dimension. With everything to lose, they have no one but each other to count on in a wicked game of survival.

With further Mallory Peterson books, a sequel to Night Shadows, a thriller with a woman who uses Army Ranger skills to survive in the woods after being attacked by four men, and possibly a romance novel, I am sure we’ll hear plenty more about “Stephen Brayton.

So listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Stephen Brayton

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Stephen Brayton

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

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Stephen Brayton"

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 Conelli

2011-10-25T19:08:00.009-04:00

My guest today was a bestselling author at the age of four, when she wrote a story which thrilled fellow kindergarteners for all of twenty-four hours.

That was just the start for Barbara Conelli, who along with the title of bestselling author can add globetrotter, chocoholic, avid linguist, very eager yet very bad golf player and a “Chique” person with a passion for all things Italion.

This love can be seen through the her eyes and of course words in her debut book “Chique Secrets of Dolce Vita” the first of her charming, delightful and humorous Chique Books filled with Italian passion, in which she invites readers to explore Italy from the comfort of their home with elegance, grace and style, encouraging them to live their own Dolce Vita no matter where they are in the world.

Her book has brought in many comments and reviews. When it starts with…

“To live a dolce vita means living with an open heart and soul, indulging in life with all your senses. It means having the eyes to see real beauty, having the nose to semll intoxicating scents, having the ears to hear dreamy sounds, having the mouth to taste delicate flavors, having the body to perceive soft sensations. It means being aware of yourself, of your emotions and desires. It means finding happiness in ordinary yet unique things.”

How can you not just long to read more, the almost poetic grace and flow will have the reader mentally sipping Chianti, while working out when they can make the flight to enjoy the same sights and sounds of Milan, which Barbara paints in her book.

This is not the last book in this range as Barbara shared with us, book two “Chique Secrets of Dolce Amore” will be out next year to share more about Milan, the everyday magic of its dreamy streets, the passionate romance of its elegant hideaways, and the sweet Italian art of delightfully falling in love with your life wherever you go.

With a future book about Rome already planned I am sure this will not be the last we’ll here of the very chique Barbara Conelli.

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

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Barbara Conelli

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

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Barbara Conelli - Chique Secrets of Dolce Vita"

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 Kathi Macias

2011-10-22T11:32:00.010-04:00

With almost 400 shows under the “Book and a Chat” belt we’ve had many guests appearing several times on shows, today I am very pleased to have one of our most popular and prolific authors back on the show, the one and only Kathi Macias.

Always an interesting and entertaining guest, Kathi shared with us about a new series of three books she has written, once again touching on something that will not only make the reader will enjoy reading about but also make them think.

The first book in the new series is called “Deliver Me From Evil” the start of a series which goes into the world of slavery, or human trafficking. As Kathi shared with us during the show, there are estimated to the 27 million people around the world involved in human trafficking, with upwards of 300,000 in the USA.

In “Deliver Me From Evil” we meet Maria who has been taken by her Uncle to be sold at sixteen she is one of the oldest - she has seen many children die in the conditions Readers will also meet 18-year-old, Bible-college-bound Jonathan and his 16-year-old sister, Leah, whose paths cross Mara’s and who become involved in her dramatic rescue.

Interwoven between the stories of Mara, Jonathan, and Leah is the heartbreaking story of another young woman in captivity in the Golden Triangle of Thailand, whose past life mysteriously connects to the young people in San Diego.
As one reviewer put it…

Growing up in New Zealand , we don't at times realise how blessed and safe though of course we are not short of the horrific crimes that occur but compared to America and other countries we are quite lucky.

Deliver Me From Evil touches base on a topic that scarily enough does happen and more often than not , the number of victims are higher in statistics than the number of survivors and escapees. Overseas, we read that Human Trafficking is one of the biggest crimes - Children mainly from countries like Mexico, South American Countries are taken or sold from their homes by their families with hope that they can get a better life over in America - across the borders. However , more often than not the families of the children who are used for Human Trafficking aren't aware of the consequences as they believe their child is better off when in fact -they are worst off as they are beaten, sold, kept in captivity and not nurtured for.

These children are sold to the highest bidder and used for Prostitution etc. It is a game to many people, but for the girls -they have to learn to stay strong as only the strong will survive. .. (The Phantom Paragrapher)

Kathi told us how she struggled with writing this book series, as even for her the subject and just what she found out from her investigation went to some very dark areas.

I am sure this will be yet another “smash hit” of a series for Kathi.

On a lighter note, Kathi also has he first but by no means the last “Christmas Book” coming out.

“A Christmas Journey Home” tells of two widowed woman, one driven by fear and a promise, the other by bitterness and revenge who must make their journeys along different pathways, but with the same destination: a barn full of animals that stands waiting for them on Christmas Eve.

Forced to face their personal demons, Isabella and Miriam soon discover a common yearning that will bind them together in a most miraculous way.

As always Kathi left us with a snippet of her up and coming work, with a second Christmas book already penciled in for 2012, and the release of the further novel in the “Deliver Me From Evil” series, she will be working with other authors on a book series about a fictitious town. I’m sure we will hear more about that during a show next year.

So listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Kathi Macias

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Kathi Macias

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Kathi Macias"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Kathi Macias - Deliver Me From Evil"

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 Vincent Hobbes

2011-10-20T19:11:00.006-04:00

Vincent Hobbes is my guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat”. He has been actively writing since he was 15 years old. A fan “The Twilight Zone” his roots lay in horror, though now he has branched out into other genres.

In 2007, he published his first book “The Contrived Senator” the first book in a fantasy series, which was followed the following year by book two of the series “Exiles”,

Vincent has always been into writing short stories and in 2010 he teamed up with 11 incredible authors, and created The Endlands.

This horror anthology, like chicken soup for the sole for horror readers, “The Endlands”, an ode to the kooky and bizarre,was released at the start of this year.

As Vincent shared with us on the radio show, the book was the result of many hundreds of short stories he received, ranging from multi published authors to a person who had one story that had to be told.

The finished book includes seventeen different stories ranging across various styles of horror, I'm sure it would make a great TV series, perhaps a little like Twilight Zone for horror fans.

As Midwest Book Review put it…

There is little more primordially frightening to us than the unknown. “The Endlands” is a collection of short stories aimed to frighten and ponder what we all fear the most, what’s behind that corner, what is there to antagonize us and what we simply cannot explain. With plenty to ponder and plenty to make it quite hard to put down, “The Endlands” is an excellent read and very highly recommended.

With a second book already being prepared, to follow “The Endlands", Vincent is currently finishing two solo authored books; one is a horror novel set in the wild west, the other is a futuristic novel—dystopian.

So listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Vincent Hobbes

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Vincent Hobbes

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Vincent Hobbes"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Vincent Hobbes - The Endlands"

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 Ted Poppe

2011-10-18T19:07:00.006-04:00

Ted Poppe is the guest on “A Book and a Chat” today, where he shared with us the fascinating story of how he became a publisher and a teacher of “A Course in Miracles” (ACIM).

Ted grew up in Greenwich Village in the 60′s and went to a Jesuit Military High School in New York City before graduating from Jesuit University to become an Intensive Care caseworker for a Catholic Child Care agency.

He went through some difficult and troubling times, before in 1986 after an intense two week period of revelatory experiences, he was shown ACIM while in the Clint Eastwood Recovery Center in Monterrey, California. He was sure it was from Jesus and was the same instructions he was given during the revelations he experienced. He knew he would be involved with this contemporary teaching of Spirit, and felt it was something for everyone everywhere.

After working with the Course for several months, through a process of contemplation of the principles and listening to instructions/guidance from within, he found through his studies that some of the original words told to the scribe (Helen Schucman) had been edited out of the final version of “A Course of Miracles”.

From there ted set out on what can only be described as a very bumpy journey to against legal and copyright cases not only in America but also in Australia, where Ted had been doing much of his teaching.

Eventually after 8 years of litigation they prevailed in the case in NY Federal Court and the copyright was voided and the “Sparkly” as his version of “A Course in Miracles” had become known is now able to be published and shared.

From that Ted has gone on set up his own publishing company “Diamond Clear Vision” and been able to publish several other award winning books, including children books “We Are One” and “We Are Loved”

So listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Ted Poppe

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Ted Poppe

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Ted Poppe"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Ted Poppe - A Course in Miracles"

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 Erica A. Murray

2011-10-13T19:09:00.008-04:00

Today’s guest on “A Book and a Chat" is entrepreneur, mentor, educator and public speaker and now author is Erica A. Murray.

Erica for the past 18 years she has worked diligently consummating many business transactions and establishing an impressive clientele, as a mortgage broker, real estate broker, real estate developer, garment manufacturer and international business consultant. As Erica shared with us, one of her main mentors along the way was Donald Trump, from whom she I learned as much as possible, reading every book that he wrote and attending seminars where she knew he would be present, even if it meant traveling thousands of miles.

From this Erica has become a highly successful Global Business Consultant who finds great pleasure in assisting entrepreneurs and business owners to expand their boundaries to the global platform. She now shares this knowledge in her debut book “CEO to the POWER of YOU”

About CEO to the POWER of YOU:

This is more than just another philosophical disconnected self-help book that fails to connect with the audience, but a captivating guide that will catapult the reader into uncharted territories of productivity and self-fulfillment. This global blueprint of success will challenge and transcend your thinking beyond innovation and cutting-edge, to a revolutionary and unfathomable dimension that you never could have imagined existed. Not only will you implement relevant CEO concepts, but you will be able to transition the theoretical information into practical, which will yield you a holistic life.

No matter your profession, industry, enterprise, skill-set or educational achievement, you have the authority to unleash the POWER of the CEO that resides within you! Her amazing power to tap into the psyche of the reader s conscious and sub-conscious mind is immeasurable and this literary work will NOT disappoint! She is clear, concise, and consistent providing detailed instructions for achieving growth beyond measure.

Erica A. Murray is inviting you into the Executive Boardroom of your life, for the most important meeting of the century! Are you READY to become CEO of the MOST POWERFUL corporation in the WORLD?

It is a book written in a way that sets it apart from other “self help” type of books, putting it in a language that all can understand, with a touch of humor, which shares Erica’s wish to enlighten business owners and entrepreneurs alike to the global world of business. It is not just for those highflyers but is something that we can all use to help us in our lives.

So listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Erica A. Murray

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Erica A. Murray

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Erica A. Murray"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Erica A. Murray - CEO to the POWER of YOU"

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 Mary Carter

2011-10-08T10:50:00.011-04:00

Mary Carter is my guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat”. She started writing at the age of four, with her first story being, The Boy and the Mouse. Then in third grade she won a story-writing contest, this time her work was about a boy and a muskrat. I’m sure there must be some deep underlining reason for this early creativity around boys and rodents that would fill pages on a psychiatrist’s report…

From this early start Mary went on to graduate from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, which is part of the Rochester Institute of Technology A background that has definitely helped her in her writing process.

In 2004 Mary decided she wanted to write a book after years of essays, letters, journals, poems, plays, and a screenplay the result of which was her first novel “She’ll Take It” a story about Melanie Zeitgar. Aspiring actress-turned-bored temp. The Queen of Divine Quips… And a total kleptomaniac. For Mel, stealing is a lot like love: she knows the right thing when she sees it...

This was followed by “Accidently Engaged”, “Sunny Side Blues” and “My Sisters Voice”. All covering different subjects yet penned with the same style, characterization and wonderful storyline that keeps her readers asking for more.
Mary’s latest book is called “The Pub Across the Pond” , Mary says about this latest book…

“Like Carlene Rivers, the main character in The Pub Across the Pond, I’ve always had a fascination with Ireland. I was also dating an Irishman at the time. And hanging out a lot in an Irish pub. I used to see advertisements for the contest Guinness used to run to ‘Win a pub in Ireland’. Basically it was a wish-fulfillment project, how amazing I always thought to just pack up your life and go run a pub in Ireland. So cool. I guess I’m always jealous, so I funnel it through my writing."

Amongst the comments made by readers of this great book is the fact that it is not your “typical Irish romance novel”, you know… big castle on the hill, etc, etc. It is a story written about Irish people, their humor and magic, friendliness including depth and warmth of their hearts and loyalties as a community.

About “The Pub Across the Pond”:

Carlene Rivers is many things. Dutiful, reliable, kind. Lucky? Not so much. At thirty, she's living a stifling existence in Cleveland, Ohio. Then one day, Carlene buys a raffle ticket. The prize: a pub on the west coast of Ireland. Carlene is stunned when she wins. Everyone else is stunned when she actually goes.

As soon as she arrives in Ballybeog, Carlene is smitten, not just by the town's beguiling mix of ancient and modern but by the welcome she receives. In this small town near GalwayBay, strife is no stranger, strangers are family, and no one is ever too busy for a cup of tea or a pint. And though her new job presents challenges--from a meddling neighbor to the pub's colorful regulars--there are compensations galore. Like the freedom to sing, joke, and tell stories and, in doing so, find her own voice. And in her flirtation with Ronan McBride, the pub's charming, reckless former owner, she just may find the freedom to follow where impulse leads and trust her heart--and her luck--for the very first time.

It is a book that all will enjoy, and will touch your heart bringing a smile to your lips and a tear to your eye.

So listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Mary Carter"... I even managed to find the clip of me singing that I promised during the show... well sort of singing...Barry singing Gypsy Rover

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Mary Carter

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Mary Carter"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Mary Carter - The Pub Across the Pond"

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 Terrell Dunnum

2011-10-06T18:16:00.007-04:00

My guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat” is Terrell Dunnum, a school teacher and ordained non-denominational minister. He holds a master’s degree in Christian counseling from American Bible College and Seminary. He is the founder of Total Freedom Ministries, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides mentoring, biblical counseling, and basic life skills to troubled youths and families.

His debut book is “While There is Still Time” a book of prophecy revealed through poetry.

The inspiration for this book came from a series of events that transferred what many people would be consider a dream into the actuality of reality. Writing a book was not something Terrell had set out to do. In fact, the only writing he’d thought about was that which was requirement for obtaining his master’s degree in Christian Counseling.
One day the words of poetry started flowing into his mind and Terrell found himself at odd times of the day or night having to stop whatever he was doing and let the creating of these poems just take place, let the words flow from his mind, allow himself to be used to share the words.

The end result is this great book “While There is Still Time”. As one reviewer put it...

Author Terrell Dunnum uses his gift of words to express a message of faith and action in WHILE THERE IS STILL TIME. Combining scriptures that speak of a necessary sense of urgency along with the author's skill, the book takes you into what is needed in order to ensure we are making the most of the time we have here.

Time is really the operative word, since the sign of the times seem to indicate that the events we see going on in the world is leading us towards either destruction or the promise of eternal life. As with the title, the book reminds us again and again that there is a choice to be made. It is up to the reader whether he or show will heed the call.

Dunnum reminds us of the Holy Scriptures message that God is speaking to us all the time in the world and situations we see. The question then becomes 'Are we listening?' The answer could literally mean the difference between life and death.

The words that are shared in “While There is Still Time” are not preachy, they are not does and don’ts, they are just a poetic message that he shares to help with the reader that will help many along life’s bumpy roads.

So listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Terrell Dunnum".

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Terrell Dunnum

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Terrell Dunnum"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Terrell Dunnum - While There is Still Time"

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 Nemo James

2011-10-04T19:00:00.007-04:00

Derek Newark aka Nemo James is my guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat” on whitch he not only shared about his great book “Just a Few Seconds” but also some of his own songs.

Nemo, dreamt of becoming a professional musician from the first time he “picked up” a guitar following a talent content disaster, where he didn’t even get on the stage.
Thought of by his friends as being the person most likely to make the big time he turned professional but was continually side tracked by the need to earn a living from music. This included such of shoots as becoming a professional squash player.
As Nemo shared with us during the show, his journey took him all over the world from private gigs for the rich and famous to some of London’s roughest pubs where the guitar can be as much for defense as for playing.

He started in the late sixties when heavy rock was born, even turning down a chance to join some newly formed band called Genesis, through to the 1980’s and 90’s when discos and electronics decimated live music dance halls.

Even the name he chose was not without it story…

Why not use Nemo. That was your grandfather’s nickname.” Grandfather Nemo was a real character who died long before I was born. He basically “sold the family jewelry” and asked nothing more from life than anonymity and playing cards at whist drives. Nemo is Latin for “no one” so he always used that when signing on at whist drives. I loved the name, but was still stuck for a surname; when suddenly the name “James” came into my head, despite not knowing anyone called James, so there was no reason why I should have thought of it. Then a couple of weeks later my dad said out of the blue “Do you know your grandfather was one of 9 children and the eldest was called James … and he was poet.”

About “Just a Few Seconds”

Just A Few Seconds is a story of one man’s experience in the music business. It is an amusing and true story of a successful freelance musician whose gigs ranged from private parties to the very rich and famous to the roughest London pubs where playing the wrong song at the wrong time meant the difference between life and death. He takes more twists, turns and knocks than a mouse trapped in a pinball machine but the ending shows how the road to success can lead us down the strangest and most desolate of paths. If you are looking for the usual rock star memoirs full of sex drugs and rock and roll then this book is not for you, but if you are interested in a unique insight into the music business that reads like a thriller then this book won’t disappoint.

If the stories we heard on the show are just a sprinkling of what are in the book then I’m sure it’s a read many will enjoy.

So listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Nemo James".

Links to Songs:

A Woman Unknown

The Poet

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Nemo James

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Nemo James"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Nemo James - Just a Few Seconds"

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 W Huffstetler

2011-09-29T19:07:00.006-04:00

I am very happy to welcome as today’s guest on “A Book and a Chat” thriller, well that’s one hat he wares, author David W Huffstetler.

David spent a lot of his life working for various areas of human relations, as well as weaving his way through the political maze. His journey as a senior manager with a major industrial concern took him to international venues and exposures that helped feed his urge to write "Disposable People", a dramatic expose of the working conditions and politics that engulf undocumented workers. This debut book is in the top-ten “Suggested Book” at Tufts University in Boston, MA.

This first book was followed by “Dead in Utah”

It’s the murder of the century, and it’s only 1914. Hell came to visit when thirteen-year-old Merlin Morrison watched his father and brother shot to death in their family grocery store. Joe Hill, the controversial musician and union organizer is the only suspect, and he is enough for the police and the politicians. He claims he is innocent, but no one seems to care, and Lady Justice gasps for breath as he goes to trial. The crusty Captain of Police, John Hempel, fights for the truth for Hill and pushes his way past union activists who want to free him and Copper Bosses who want to hang him. And in the middle of it all is young Merlin, trying to put his life back together and wondering if the right man is on trial. This book is inspired by a true story.

While the first two books might be classed as somewhat historical, his latest book "Blood on the Pen" is one hot thriller!

About “Blood on the Pen”

Someone is killing literary agents, and Jack Harden’s only reason to live is to find the killer. This modern-day Texas Ranger is haunted by his wife’s death a year ago and the urge to kill the drunk driver who took her, or kill himself. Enter Elsie Rodriguez, the young reporter assigned to the murders for her newspaper and ordered to stay with Jack Harden. He’s old school, tough, and doesn’t want her there. Theirs is a complex, often stormy relationship, but the big Ranger triggers something inside her, something more than her Latin temper. They weave their way from the busy streets of Dallas to the River Walk in San Antonio, across the Hill Country, and to the limestone caverns of Sonora in a desperate chase.

Can she pull Jack from the edge of sanity, back to the living? Or will it end with a psychopath taking two more lives and living to write about it?

As one five star review put it…

Blood on the Pen A great read from the first page to the last page. Very imaginative story, one I would recommend to all of my friends. Can’t wait for another one from David Huffstetler.

Well reader as we learned from David you will not have to wait too long to hear more about Elsie and Jack as a new book “Blood on the Cards” is already on the way.

So listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with David W Huffstetler".

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with David W Huffstetler

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"David W Huffstetler"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"David W Huffstetler - Blood on the Pen"

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 U.L. Harper

2011-09-27T19:02:00.009-04:00

It’s always good to have previous guests back on the show even more so if that author has produced a new book we can chat about, though sometimes the technical gremlins seem to get in the way.
Today was one such show when U.L. Harper who was previously on the show chatting about his debut book, “The Flesh Statue“ was back to chat about his new book “The Darkness”.

However the show was a little spoiled with some form of echo on when I spoke, no matter what phone etc I used, still the best way around that was to let this great young author do most of speaking about his book, the characters and what is next for him.

For those who missed the first show, this is a brief description of “The Flesh Statue”

Tired of watching his ailing grandfather wither away from Alzheimer's, 19 year old Langley Jackson moves from his middle class home and subsequently struggles to survive in downtown Long Beach. Here he finds himself part of a social movement bent on destruction and retribution. Through all of this, Langley must decide on trying to subsist in a complicated and unlawful new world of graffiti and poetry or endure in a disheartening old one outlined by the death of his mother and his sick grandfather.

“The Darkness” as U.L describes it…

“Is a coming of age story about three young adults. Through them you witness and alien invasion. The big question being, how many would you let die to save yourself?”

As U.L shared during the program some people who like his first book are surprised at the pacing and style differences with “In Blackness”. There is also what does the book come under, “coming of age”, “science fiction”, ”horror”? To be quite honest what does it matter?

It’s a great book which has received many great reviews. I one reviewer recently wrote…

I really liked this book.

I opened it up the afternoon I received it from the author, U.L. Harper, fully intending just to have a quick glance, to get the idea of it. Well..... I didn't put it down again until I'd read the last page.

Now, it's not a rock-em-sock-em kind of story with lots of fireworks, and obvious in-your-face action. Oh, no, it's more insidious than that. :O)

The tone for most of the book is really quite level, but the author still keeps you turning pages, needing to know what will happen next.
The tone of this book is also the reason you reach the last page realizing that... hey, this could really happen, and with the world as self absorbed as it is, it could really happen this way...

Definitely looking forward to the next installment!

As we learned,that reader will not have long to wait as he is already racing through book two of “The Darkenss” series, with a third book in the pipeline.

So listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with U.L. Harper".

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with U.L.Harper

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"U.L.Harper"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"U.L.Harper - The Blackness"

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 Jackie Carpenter

2011-09-24T11:38:00.009-04:00

A journey through life can be like a journey on a boat, you think you are managing and that your faith like the boat on the seas can manage any “bad weather” that comes along. Then suddenly out of a blue sky, your world like your boat is turned upside down everything that you thought and believed is now upside down.

My guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat” is Jackie Carpenter, she found her life and her faith tested beyond what most people can imagine, only to find a knew and inspiration that lead her to write her first book “The Bridge Between Cell Block A and a Miracle is Psalm 91”

Her book is based on the true story of her son Jason Veitch who was falsely accused of Felony Murder. It takes the readers through the actual Murder Trial and down the road of utter helplessness and despair endured by our family and the strong faith that brought us to a place of Victory.

Jackie explained the full story of what happened that fateful night and how her life, the lives of her family and her faith was turned upside down, like that boat in a storm I started this article with.

Jackie explains how she got the title to the book…

God gave me the Title before he gave me the Book. He asked me the question; Jackie, what was the worst part of this ordeal? I said God, that would be when Jason was incarcerated for 9 days. He then asked me; Jackie, what was the best part of this ordeal? I said, God, that would be when we got our Miracle. He then said, Jackie, what is that “Bridge” that joins the worst to the best, and it hit me like a ton of bricks, I cried, Oh God, that would be Psalm 91 God’s Shield of Protection that I had been claiming for Jason for 10 months. He said, now let’s start the book.

As we learned the outcome of what happened did end in a “happy ending” but not before her world like the boat had been turned upside down.

The tragedy led to a walk of faith, fueled by the discovery of the Book of Psalms, that ended in a miracle. The story of the faith walk, discovery, and miracle is told in The Bridge, a compelling can’t put down book that offers a way out for individuals drowning in sorrow, grief, fear, anger or shame. The story of how a tormented mother made a critical decision that allowed God to deliver a miracle is told in Georgia Justice. “God took The Bridge and used it to touch so many hurting people,” says the author. “He put me on four television shows, numerous radio interviews, in newspaper articles, and put my book in hospitals throughout America where it can be picked up by people in need. He has great plans for this Reluctant Author and those plans included using me so He could also write “Georgia Justice.”

As we also learned that voice has again continued to talk to her not only having her tell her story on numerous TV and radio shows, but now start writing a set of books for children.

So listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Jackie Carpenter".

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Jackie Carpenter

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Jackie Carpenter"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Jackie Carpenter - The Bridge Between Cell Block A and a Miracle is Psalm 91"

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 Barnett

2011-09-22T19:01:00.012-04:00

To find out at the age of four that there was such a thing as a Dad, let alone that he famous and then add to that that he was part of a circus with all the strange sites and sounds that environment brings is something a child would remember.

Bonnie Barnett, my guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat” remembers just that, when she met her father the famous “Bobo the Clown”.

One Saturday morning four year old Bonnie’s mom; with Bonnie in tow set out to meet the man Bonnie realized was told was her father. The pair entered a very different world filled with horses and elephants, trailers and trucks and little pens filled with small barking dogs and even a giraffe. It was all a bit overwhelming for a little girl. Suddenly a large person in torn, musty clothing appeared; he had red and black and white paint on his face. Lifting Bonnie the man said, -How about a kiss for your ol daddy?-

Before long a troupe of folks appeared, some wearing face paint, some in sequined costume, they all seemed to know who Bonnie was and; they even her Mom, Dottie. Called Jojo Barnett, Dorothy was the first girl clown.

When Bobo lifted her to kiss her, someone snapped a photograph that was later used on the front page of the newspaper. Many years later, Ro Kim, an incredibly talented artist from Korea was commissioned by Bonnie to paint this moment from a tattered newspaper clipping to give to her father for his 80th birthday. Ro's artistic gift brought this memory to life, and thus begins the tale of Bobo's Daughter.

In Bonnie’s book “Bobo’s Daughter”, from that point the reader is carried along on the journey of a small girl, her tumultuous relationship with her mother and her search for the man who was her father.

Bobo was one of the world’s most famous clowns, a veteran performer for the Shrine Circus, The Ed Sullivan Show, and other productions, well known for his “little car” which now resides in the Clown Hall of Fame. (see fil clip at end of this article)

Though his star persona was always present in the periphery of her life, she rarely heard from him, and the inconsistency of her mother, a former clown herself, only exacerbated her loneliness.

As she entered adulthood, put herself through college, and sought spiritual fulfillment, Bonnie found herself seeking out her father at every turn. It wasn’t until she finally showed up at his doorstep that he stopped being a larger-than-life myth and became a very human father, full of faults, regrets, and love.

Bobo's Daughter offers the reader a peek into the man who was Bobo, the clown and some of the life experienced by those who choose a career in the circus.

What People say about "Bobo's Clown"

"I couldn't put it down . . . it's touching and contains lessons in persistence, following your heart and forgiveness. -- Lynn Polke, Dancer ,Trapeze and Aerialist Artist, Elephant Empress and Animal Trainer, Ringling Bros. Circus

"Working with hundreds of memoirists , no life story has taught me more about how to heal through love." -- Tristine Rainer, Story Editor, Television Producer, Author of Your Life As Story and The New Diary

So listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Bonnie Barnett".

Barry

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

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

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Bonnie Barnett - Bobo's Daughter"

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 Millie Gonzalez Martelino

2011-09-20T19:10:00.006-04:00

Millie Gonzalez Martelino went from fifteen years of teaching, to fifteen years of banking before rising to president and CEO of a very successful mortgage company. All the time her training in literature was pressing her into creating work of her own.

Her experience from those years enabled her to produce her first book “More Cash in Your Pocket Everyday!”, another easy to read book that offers practical, easy solutions to help you keep more of your hard-earned money and rise above living from paycheck to paycheck.

This was followed by a true labor of love writing about one of her own family members in her book “The Forgotten Maestro” a biographical story of romance, betrayal, greed and lust that surrounded the musical genius of Juan de Sahagun Hernandez.

Her mother on her deathbed encouraged Millie to write, and share with the world her own experiences with God and how he can help with personal struggles and challenges in everyday life.

Her latest book entitled "Miraclets: Life's Precious Little Blessings", is a collection of inspiring, faith-infused stories that stress how we humans can get through the most challenging of times in our lives by relying on God and his Divine intervention.

As Millie says…. “My book is about the times in my own life when I needed that extra help, that additional strength, or even supernatural intervention that could fix things for me when nothing earthy or mortal could rectify the situation,” At least, that is the message I want to convey…no matter what happens call for Divine assistance…it might just surprise you.”

Amongst the everyday “Miraclets” that Milie shared with us are stories that range from the simple fact of lost sunglasses suddenly appearing to her favorite chapter in the book, which happens to be the last chapter.

“My mother was on her deathbed and I prayed to Blessed Andre Bessette to intercede for me to have an emissary escort my mother to the hereafter. I did not know much about Blessed Andre at that moment. After a series of occurrences, I was completely stunned to later find out that it was Blessed Andre himself, who came to my mother’s aid in her time of need”

Miraclets is a book that will bring a smile to your face, a tear to your eyes and is a reminder of our Humanity in Faith influenced and guided by a Divine Intervention.

So listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Millie Gonzalez Martelino".

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Millie Gonzalez Martelino

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Millie Gonzalez Martelino"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Millie Gonzalez Martelino - Miraclats"

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 Testimone'

2011-09-15T19:08:00.007-04:00

On the shows which are now heading towards number 400, we have covered many differant subjects from various points of view, today I was glad to add some poetry to the list of discussions. Not just poetry but "urban poetry" talking about the sides of life which sometimes we forget.

Testimone' my guest on today’s show has been writing poetry for many years sharing her ups and downs as well as the issues she sees. Now she has published a book called “Voices Inside My Head" (the cry of an urban mom). The book consists of over three hundred pages of words that cover life written in words from the heart.

During the show Testimone’ shared much about her life what lead her to start writing as well as much of has kept her producing such interesting and vivid poems. Written in an uncompromising style, in everyday language there are words that not only touch your soul but make you think as well.

During the show she shared several of her poems with us, and while you can hear those on the show, here is one she did not read…

IF THERE WAS A CURE FOR H.I.V.

Would the wild behaviors of my people increase or would
the excruciating pain of today’s victims cease?

Would a cure be another excuse to engage in uncontrollable and non-committed affairs with the estranged by the attraction of a meaningless stare?

- Or -

Would my people open their closed minds and leave their animalistic behaviors behind
in a prayer of forgiveness for their lustful desires?

If there was a cure for H.I.V.

Would we roll around in bed with a one-night stand in laughter
until the sun beams through our vertical blinds the morning after?

- Or -

Would we drink and celebrate in the heat of the moment as if there were no tomorrow
and enjoy the pleasures of body parts we temporarily borrowed,
while neglecting our own personal horror?

Could we as women of power allow our loneliness to die
by putting our abandonment in the dark shadows of our minds
and close our legs to soothe the heat of our most sacred place?

Would our everlasting brothas no longer admire us
as fresh pieces of meat as we parade up and down the streets?
Advertising and surrendering freely what use to be for one man’s eyes to see,
while entertaining in a bedroom of privacy and intimacy.

Unfortunately, THERE IS NO CURE FOR H……I…….V!

There is a cure in educating and controlling ourselves,
protecting and respecting ourselves, and loving and caring for ourselves.
Self-love will spread throughout the universe
and conquer the disease called H.I.V.

CAN YOU DIG IT?

Here novel is though provoking from love to drugs, abuse to gun control, so listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Testimone'".

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Testimone'

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Testimone'"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Testimone' - Voices Inside My Head"

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 MJ Allaire

2011-09-13T19:12:00.007-04:00

Author, fellow book signer and friend MJ Allaire makes a welcome return to today’s “A Book and a Chat” to share about her books, self publishing and even appearing as a wench in the court of King Richard.
If you have seen me signing around New England would normally see me working with this great author, as the St George the knight always goes well with a person who has written about dragons.

MJ started writing her young adult fantasy series in 2005, for her eldest son, then 15, however from the first book "Dragon's Blood", MJ went on to produce “The Prisoner” and “ Dragons Tear” as books two and three of the now “Denicalis Dragon Chronicles” . Just to show she was not all about dragon as she then produced “My Blissful Life As a Submariner's Wife”

Imagine yourself as a young mother; half the world away from loved ones as a military dependent, then compound this with the much larger challenge of raising a family by yourself because your military spouse is always gone. No amount of money can replace when an active duty military member misses some of life's major milestones, such as the birth of a child, a baby's first steps, or a high school graduation. Follow one woman as she struggles to provide balance and stability to her dependent children while her husband serves his country. Her trials and tribulations will provide insight to just a few of the challenges faced by today's military family. Think you understand the life of a military dependent? Think again.

In 2010 MJ produced “Dragons Breath” book four of the Denicalis Dragon Chronicles, then took the step to move from print on demand type publishing to produce and market her own, creating her own publishing company Bookateer Publishing

Review of "Dragons Breath"

In book four of the Denicalis Dragon Chronicles series, the reader is invited to follow a group of curious children who set out on a mission to find not only each other, but also the amulets, while finding a solution to save the dragons from evil forces that rule through greed and power.

Will the children succeed through trust and determination as they follow their destiny, or will their efforts become 'Mission Impossible!' Why did the girls trust Kennard, and was he a slimy frog, or a muck dragon? Was an evil spell casted upon Kennard, and by whom? Will the girls be able to save Gruffod, and what was Lotor's intentions? Why is Nivri searching for the missing amulets, and were the dragons able to communicate with each other? What happened to Kennard when he tried to escape at an attempt for freedom, and was a bird laughing at him? How will the girls get to the other side of the mountain? Will they find food to satisfy hunger, and will Tonia ever see her brothers again? Were the rats and turtles Kennard's friends, and did they help the girls? Who provided lights for the girls as their journey began, and who guided the way?

This novel is highly recommended for all fantasy lovers. MJ Allaire takes the reader through another spectacular adventure that not only young adults would appreciate, but parents and teachers as well. The incredible story is educational as magic fills the air, while mystical creatures come to life. Time is running out as the mysterious quest continues. The clock is ticking fast, who will survive, and who will die? Will the journey end with a treasure of memories, or will it end in a nightmare? Why did the Ring of Alyshana strike an emotional chord in Kennard, and did it have special powers? Why was Zacharu held as a prisoner? Two prisoners found freedom, who were they?

Will the missing stones be found? What happens to Kennard, after the girls make it through the mountain, and who will be grieving? This book will indeed capture the imagination as the reader travels through a life-endangering odyssey. "DRAGON'S BREATH" is enchanting, delightful, and as thrilling as WILD AMERICA!

During the show MJ shared with us some of the issues and what sort advantages there can be from publishing your books yourself, before going on to tell us about her latest venture. Selling her books and being a part of the King Richards Faire in Carver MA.

With those medieval appearances spread over the next month followed by signings in the Connecticut building with fellow CAPA authors at the Big E and now book five underway I am sure the name MJ Allaire will soon be spreading around the country as a must read author for all ages.

So listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with MJ Allaire".

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with MJ Allaire

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"MJ Allaire"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"MJ Allaire - Denicalis Dragon Chronicles"

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 Benjamin Kane Ethridge

2011-09-10T11:49:00.007-04:00

Floods, hurricanes, solar flares or just a dodgy internet connection, all of these and more are sent to try the host of a blog radio show, or so it seems. Today’s show had a difficult start with my guest being there but unable to be heard by myself or the audience. Still once Benjamin Kane Ethridge was able to be heard it was well worth waiting for.

Benjamin is the Bram Stoker Award winning author of the novel Black & Orange. Beyond that he's written several collaborations with Michael Louis Calvillo, one of which is a novella called Ugly Spirit, available in 2011.

Black & Orange came from a brainstorm Benjamin had one Easter about how the holiday didn’t really represent what we Americans have come to see it as, this lead to further thoughts about a different holiday…

“What if Halloween wasn’t what we really thought it was?”

No pagan, druids, Satanists, ghosts, witches etc… what if Halloween was something that could make or break our world, our universe, if it didn’t go right? After that, he began piecing a story together.

About Black & Orange

On Halloween a gateway opens to a terrifying place of sacrificial magic known as the Old Domain. The Church of Midnight and their diabolic leader, Chaplain Cloth, are hell-bent to keep the gateway open forever.

Martin and Teresa, known as the Nomads, have the mission to prevent a sacrifice from being fed to the gateway. This sacrifice is an energy source that grows in a different person every year. This year, however, things have gotten worse. Teresa’s losing a battle to lung cancer and Martin can’t bare the thought of fighting this battle alone. The Church of Midnight is backstabbing each other-- making internal moves they haven’t before, and the sacrifice this year is something that nobody would ever see coming. Meanwhile, Chaplain Cloth plans to merge the worlds and start his reign of destruction on the universe.

As mentioned this dark fantasy novel Black & Orange has won the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in First Novel., perhaps opening the door for further success, as Benjamin shared his second novel “Dungeon Brain” is already doing the publisher rounds.
The gremlins had not finished with today’s show and we both had to reconnect at one time, still it was all well worth listening to as we learned much about this award winning author that I am sure will have many hunting for his book, and looking out for further writings of “Benjamin Kane Ethridge”

So listen now and share an interesting and entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Benjamin Kane Ethridge".

Barry

Direct link to the show
A Book and a Chat with Benjamin Kane Ethridge

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Benjamin Kane Ethridge"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Benjamin Kane Ethridge - Black and Orange"

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