A Book and a Chat with Thomas Laresca

The show today showed that one does not have to write a might tome to share with the reader important and helpful information that can only help those reading the finished product.

Thomas Laresca a high school and college athlete with a career professional career as a stock trader was living his American dream in Boca Raton, Florida with a wife, family and beautiful home when his world was shattered.

He was as we heard during the program wrongly arrested and abused by the police right outside his own house in a gated community. An event that not only left him, in intensive care, due mainly to being maced for thirty minutes while being pinned down, handcuffed and hogtied, but as we heard he actually died and started on the trip towards the light.

While recovering from this incident and fighting for justice Thomas was diagnosed with with cancer in three parts of his body. The next step was to go on a course of Chemo, however upon his first visit, he was told his blood count was too low, and the therapy could not continue, giving him just a possible three months to live.

His faith which had previously been severely tested now was tested once again, Thomas however not only found the strength from his often quiet praying and reading the New Testament, but his body started to self heal enough that the therapy was able to continue and he is now cancer free.

This though with all the issues was enough to start Thomas on the slippery slide into depression, something that again, with his faith and inner strength he was able to overcome.

Now in his book “I Want To Help: My Story About Cancer, Depression and God” he is able to share his own experiences and thoughts with many other who are facing their own issues.

The book is not a large book, but is one that will help and aid many readers.

As Thomas says…

“If reading it can help just one person, I’ll be happy.”

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 Thomas Laresca

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Thomas Laresca"

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Thomas Laresca"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Thomas Laresca - I WANT TO HELP: MY STORY ABOUT CANCER, DEPRESSION AND GOD"

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 Christopher Profeta

Catching up on a couple of show I missed from being sick, I am glad to say I have Christopher Profeta author of “Live in Pieces” a set of three stories that fall together beautifully to show that we are never too old to come of age.

Chris is a stay at home father dad who teaches writing at nights and weekend at a local community college. Being a full time parent, like the character in the book it has been a struggle for him to find the time to write while taking care of his two young children. The book however brings together some of these thoughts plus a few ideas into a three story , each one written in a different tense, everything he has wanted to say for a long time, master piece.

About “Live in Pieces”: (Taken from Jeanz Book Reads N Reviews)

Life in Pieces," tells the story of an unemployed stay-at-home-dad who wakes up one morning and reads the paper only to find out he is running for congress. The unlikely candidate's thoughts serve as a pointed satire of politics and the economy, as well as a moving love story about the strength and importance of family.

In the second "piece" of the story, Michael Langley, a college freshman, struggles to find his place in a new setting that doesn't make much sense to him. When he finally meets a group of friends that make him feel at home, he realizes that if he is to build a life with what might be the woman of his dreams, he'll have to give up everything he thought he ever wanted.

And somewhere, a crazy old man couldn't care less about either of these stories. This last "piece" follows two old lovers who have figured out a way to ignore the struggles of the world around them and be comforted only by their love as they reach the end of their earthly lives together, and resolve the conflicts of their past.

In "Life in Pieces," all these stories come gracefully together to show that we are never too old to come of age.

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 Christopher Profeta

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Christopher Profeta"

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Christopher Profeta

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Christopher Profeta - Life in Pieces"

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

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 Lynda Simmons

Today’s guest Lynda Simmons was due to be on the show on Thursday, however Toronto traffic meant she missed the show. So when my guest for today’s "A Book and a Chat" had to pull out, she was an obvious replacement and proved to be well worth waiting for.

Lynda is a writer by day, college instructor by night and a late sleeper on weekends. She grew up in Toronto reading Greek mythology, bringing home stray cats and making up stories about bodies in the basement. From an early age, her family knew she would either end up as a writer or the old lady with a hundred cats. As luck would have it, she married a man with allergies so writing it was.

She shared with us during the show about some of her early life including her experience with “paranormal” after the death of her Dad.

Her writers experience started with romantic comedy for Harlequin and Kensington, before she made the leap into mainstream fiction in 2009 with her debut novel Getting Rid of Rosie (Berkley Books). This book was also a comedy but this time the focus was on the female relationships -- mothers and daughters, sisters and friends -- the relationships that shape who we are as women, and have always fascinated her.

Her latest release is a fascinating novel “Island Girl”. It is a novel that will gather you into its pages and not let go. It is a story of family, friendship, forgiveness, and love that delves into the effects of alcoholism and Alzheimer's on a family and in the person's life in a very realistic and upfront manner. Island Girl will grab you emotionally and before you are even a few chapters in to the novel, you will find yourself caring deeply about what will happen to all of these people and you won't be able to put it down until you reach the end.

About “Island Girl”:

Set on an island off the city of Toronto, the novel is about hair stylist Ruby Donaldson, who at age 55 discovers she has Alzheimer's and makes plans for herself and her two daughters, Liz and Grace, for after she is unable to function normally. She is surrounded by friends on the island and an ex-lover who are willing to help her, though at first she refuses their advice and offers of help.

Ruby's plans are a surprise and her own plans for herself are somewhat unorthodox. She maneuvers to have her estranged daughter Liz return from Toronto to Ward Island to take care of Grace. The girls have different plans or hopes for their future.

With another new “black comedy” novel already on the way, I’m sure the name Lynda Simmons will be on many people’s book shelves.

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

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Lynda Simmons".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Lynda Simmons"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Lynda Simmons - Island Girl"

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 Fay Lindo Taylor

My guest on today’s show is fellow Connecticut author Fay Lindo Taylor.
Born in Kingston, the capital city of the idyllic island paradise of Jamaica, West Indies, Fay migrated to the USA in 1970 eventually settling down meeting her now husband and raising three children in Harford Connecticut

In 1989 a long overdue weekend in the Poconos turns tragic for young Fay Taylor and her husband Charley when she is thrown from a horse, a fall that results in a broken back and severe spinal cord injuries.

Thus begin a series of tragedies for Fay and her family, and it takes everything they have to combat each new challenge being thrown at them. From the depths of despair to triumphant heights and back again, first time writer Fay Taylor takes you on a rollercoaster ride through life, choices and experiences.

Fay wanted to share her experiences thus started her biographical novel “STEEL”

This memoir tells the story of a woman whose faith and courage help her remain steadfast like steel. Fay Taylor’s story of triumph over adversity is an inspiration to all who have to live with or care for someone with severe spinal cord injuries, and is a testament to the power of family and unconditional love.

As we learned during the program, “Steel” not just the metal that was inserted into Fay’s spine to help her walk again, but also describes the strength and conviction of this lady who has proved the doctor who told her family she would “never walk again” so wrong.

Her book I am sure will continue to be an inspiration to many.

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

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Fay Lindo Taylor".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Fay Lindo Taylor"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Fay Lindo Taylor - Steel"

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 Naheed H. Senzai

My guest on today’s "A Book and a Chat" has been traveling since she was two months old, spending much of the early part of her life in Saudi Arabia before moving onto London. N. H. Senzai and her book "Shooting Kabul" which is launched this next Tuesday; make a fascinating interview to be shared by listeners on the show today.

“Shooting Kabul” follows young Fadi and his family as they make a harrowing escape from Taliban-ruled Afghanistan to the safety of California. But before they make it to safety, Fadi’s six-year-old sister, Mariam is accidentally left behind. The rest of the family makes it to California heartbroken, each of them blaming themselves for Mariam’s loss. On top of all that, they have to deal with the cultural confusion and isolation of being Muslim Afghans in America, especially when 9/11 hits.

With her enjoyment the history, back-story and details of what she is writing, as well as her own personal connection with Afghanistan, Naheed manages to weave facts about Afghanistan’s history and Muslim traditions into the natural progression of the plot. It is a book that young and the not so young people of all backgrounds, especially those from immigrant families, will relate to Fadi’s confused yet loyal character.

From her early days eating camel meatloaf a recipe that might not be in one of her over 300 cookbooks, to smuggling illegal books into English classes at her English boarding school this talented writer has come a long way.

During the show Naheed, not only shares some of these early days on the show, but also her plans for future work and how being with a group of fellow debut authors has helped her along the publishing path.

So why not sit back and listen to an enjoyable sixty minutes on today’s "A Book and a Chat with Naheed H Senzia."

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Naheed H. Senzai"

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Naheed H. Senzai"

You can find out more about my guest and their book at:
"Naheed H. Senzai - Shooting Kabul"

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