A Book and a Chat with Shannon Delany

Back in June of 2010 I had a debut YA author on my show, one of the Class of 2K10 who’s first book was due out that month. An interesting part of the interview was that this author had been the winner of the first-ever cell phone novel contest in the western world.

This debut author was Shannon Delany who in 2009 she following the success of the phone novel contest was contracted by St. Martin’s Press to create a trilogy based on the original serial 13 to Life story.

From that early appearance on “A Book and a Chat” and in the case of actually meeting Shannon, it has been a huge privilege to see her career go from strength to strength.
The original “13 to Life” was followed in 2011 by “Secrets and Shadows” and “Bargains and Betrayals” Such was the success of these books; in 2010 Shannon’s contract was extended to include five books. The fourth and fifth in the series being produced in 2102 namely “Destiny and Deception” and “Rivals and Retribution”.


With this series just completed Shannon has set her sights on breaking new ground and not just with her writing; she has recently written short stories for two charity anthologies. Starting work on an up and coming steampunk trilogy has allowed her to work with the two other guests on today’s show.

Both are musicians but distinctly different…

Max Scialdone whose dark and edgy style of music caught Shannon’s attention and they have since co-wrote “Pieces of Eight” for Month 9 Books’ "TWO AND TWENTY DARK TALES" (releasing this fall).

Wade Mulvihill was introduced to Shannon at an “Open Mic Competition” where she asked for help in creating a song for her up and coming steampunk trilogy. Wade dully obliged creating a song that connects the characters in a powerful and pivotal way with his music

Both Max and Wade have been playing, loving and making music for years and have strong voices all their own, and it was interesting hearing about how their music can also be developed into Shannon’s writing.


As I said at the start of this blog it has been great seeing the success of Shannon and her “13 to Life” series, now though I am looking forward to following the success not just of the writing but also the music created by Max and Wade in the future. That is why I am also providing their links on this blog.

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 Shannon Delany and Friends

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Shannon Delany"

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Shannon Delany and Friends"

You can find out more about my guests, their books and music:
"Shannon Delany - 13 To Life Series"
"Max Scialdone"
"Wade Mulvihill"


Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK Including my Olympic Blog - 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 Shannon Delany

In a show last year I had a Werewolf dial in and speak or rather chat at the guest author that day, in today’s show with guest Shannon Delany I went even better. Having not one but two guest werewolf’s, in the shape of Pietr and Max, two of the stars of her “13 to Life” series.

In a show that all will enjoy, not only did we hear about book two of Shannon’s hugely popular series, “Secrets and Shadows”, but also about the third book in the series to be launched later this year.

Secrets and Shadows official launch date is February 15th, though as we heard some lucky people were able to get an advance sighed copy yesterday at the wonder “The Voracious Reader”.

For those who do not know the series, “13 to Life”

Something strange is stalking the small town of Junction…
When junior Jess Gillmansen gets called out of class by Guidance, she can only presume it’s for one of two reasons. Either they’ve finally figured out who wrote the scathing anti-jock editorial in the school newspaper or they’re hosting yet another intervention for her about her mom. Although far from expecting it, she’s relieved to discover Guidance just wants her to show a new student around—but he comes with issues of his own including a police escort.

The newest member of Junction High, Pietr Rusakova has secrets to hide--secrets that will bring big trouble to the small town of Junction—secrets including dramatic changes he’s undergoing that will surely end his life early.

About Secrets and Shadows:

The supernatural stakes are higher than ever now that more than just werewolves prowl the town of Junction--friendships will be formed, choices will be made and allies may become enemies...

Nothing's simple when you run with werewolves. Jess Gillmansen thinks she's seen it all but her eyes are about to be opened to even more danger and a reality far more paranormal than she's suspected.


Secrets and Shadows follows where book one leaves off, answering a few questions left from the cliffhanger ending of book one, as well as leaving a many questions in its own right that already have people clamoring for book three. The relationship between Pietr and Jessie is starting to shows signs of the pressure, not being helped by Sarah. The book also involves Max a lot with both of the Rusakovas brother spending a lot of time as wolves. With Shannon’s normal plot twists and turns, secrets are divulged and new questions asked. It is a fast paced page-turner that will keep the many who have been waiting for this book two, on the edge of their seat and asking when the third book will be available.

Pietr and Max, shared with us much of their enjoyment about appearing not only in Shannon’s books, but as we learned soon to appear with her at book signings.

The show was great fun and one that many will enjoy as they already do with this wonderful YA Authors books.

So sit back and listen to today's thoroughly entertaining show as I host today's "A Book and a Chat with Shannon Delany".

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Shannon Delany".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Shannon Delany"

You can find out more about my guest and his books at:
Shannon Delany - Secrets and Sadows

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 Janet S Fox

My guest on today’s A Book and a Chat is Janet Fox is another member of the wonderful 2K10 group of authors, those who have their debut YA novel coming out this year. Her book is called "FAITHFULL" and we learned during the show it is for Janet more than just a book.

Janet's mother was also a writer and encouraged her daughter at an early age to write stories. In 3rd grade she found out that you could become a writer as a profession when her teacher, I discovered that writing was a profession. I could be a writer. People would pay me to tell stories! My teacher, Mrs. Weber, secretly sent a poem I wrote to the town newspaper. This was the start, as Janet describes it...

"When my mom showed me the poem – published! With my name in the paper! – I was so excited. I have to say, it was the beginning of my career."

During the show, we learned how Janet's writing talent and been overtaken by her love of Geology amongst other things, until the death of her mother and finding of her mother’s writings, "kick started" the production of "Faithfull" Janet debut YA Novel.

From Yellowstone Park to a young girls life in 1904, all aspects of not just the book but some of Janet own views were discussed in this entertaining sixty minutes of a Book and a Chat.

FAITFULL

It’s YA historical fiction set in 1904, with romance and mystery and a unique setting – Yellowstone National Park. An exciting setting for the story, with its deadly yet spectacular hot springs, geysers, and animals. This provides a spectacular background for the novel and enhances the experiences of the books protagonist, Maggie Bennet.

The show covered so that it is impossible to go over everything that was discussed in the sixty minutes. So why not sit back and share “A Book and a Chat with Janet Fox”


Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Janet S Fox"

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

You can find out more about Janet and his book at:
"Janet S Fox- Faithfull"

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 Alexandra Diaz

Alexandra Diaz was my special guest today on "A Book and a Chat", and what a great show it was, with almost as much laughter as there was literary content.

Alexandra grew up in a bilingual Spanish/English-speaking family in various parts of the US, but has also lived in Puerto Rico, Austria, and Britain.

Of course knowing that my guest had spent toms time in England it was a topic discussed about during the show featuring the language issues and the aspects of some of her three years she spend at Bath University completing her MA in “Writing for Young People”. The issues with being a tourist guide in Bath, and how people wondered why the water was green, to how she appeared and did not appear in two films.

Along what was a thoroughly enjoyable forty-five minutes of chat, Alexandra lead us from her literary beginnings to the production of her debut novel…

“Of All the Stupid Things”.

“When a rumor starts circulating that Tara’s boyfriend has been with one of the guy cheerleaders, the innuendo doesn’t just hurt Tara. It marks the beginning of the end for three lifelong friends.

Tara’s training for a marathon, but also running from her fear of abandonment from her father.

Whitney Blaire seems to have everything, but an empty mansion and absentee parents leave her looking for her own value in the wrong places.

And Pinkie has a compulsive need to mother everyone to make up for the mama she’s never stopped missing.

Then the new girl arrives in school and Tara starts to feel things she’s never felt for before for a girl. Can the girls’ friendship survive when all the rules have changed?”

“Of All the Stupid Things”. paints a story of reality covering issues such as lesbian relationships, to the joys and clarity of the mind that can come with marathon running, with a freshness that all will enjoy.

The inspiration behind the book cover, simple, yet one that will catch your eye, the response received and the fact that some people forget it is fiction and think the book is really about Alaexandra all were discussed during the show

The story unfolds and the lives of the characters in the book merge in such an impressive way, that you know “Of All the Stupid Things”. will be the first of a long line of successful novels by today's guest Alexandra Diaz.

The show is one you will not want to miss.

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Alexandra Diaz"

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Alexandra Diaz"

You can find out more about Alexandra and her book at:
"Alexandra Diaz - Of All The Stupid Things"

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 Judith Graves

I was pleased to have another one of the 2k10 authors on my show today that is the group of writers whose maiden novel is coming out in two thousand and ten.

Today on "A Book and a Chat" my guest is Judith Graves talking to us about her life and her debut novel "Under My Skin". In addition to writing YA fiction, Judith is a singer, songwriter, and makes daytime appearances as a library technician, which helps with insatiable desire for reading enabling her to devour at least two books a week… in the reading sense that is.

As we learned during the show her fist book in the “Skinned” series, “Under My Skin”, was released in March by Leap Books, where she has also collaborated with author, Kitty Keswick, on the Origins series.

During a thoroughly interesting and entertaining sixty minutes of “A Book and a Chat” Judith shared with us how her writing experiences have wound through the poetry, song, short story paths to this first book of a trilogy. Through the show we not only learned about what lead to Judith writing “Under My Skin” but her steps along the road to publication have been helped by critic groups and now the 2K10 group of authors.

We even heard how Judith along with some of these other authors will be at the BEA in New York next month.

“Under My Skin” when asked to be described in three words, Judith stated “Power, Temptation, Choices”. As we heard during the show, it is a book that covers many aspects characters and indeed creatures, a novel that I’m sure will be a great hit leaving many waiting for the second and final book in the series.

The show was as normal full of interest and humor, covering such items such as Ann of Green Gables fighting zombie potatoes, how a joint critique and exercise group might help authors”, and what is it about seven minutes past nine?

So why not sit back and share a really interesting sixty minute show, or else download the mp3 file and listen to the show at your own convenience.

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Judith Graves"

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Judith Graves"

You can find out more about judith and her book at:
"Judith Graves - Under My Skin"

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