A Book and a Chat with Heidi Ann Smith

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 Helen Laibach

My guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat” is Helen Laibach, always interested in writing she eventually graduated in psychology.

She quickly realized that her plans to be a “Marriage, child, and family counselor” did not suit her temperament. So instead she began a family and chose a more satisfying career as an executive assistant. Helen is an avid reader and very talented nature photographer.

She wrote her debut book “A Soul Less Broken” over eleven years ago, though after the days of rejections both in having the book published and getting an agent, the book, then under another name laid on the shelf.

This was not forgotten by her son who at least once a year asked his mother “So Mom, when are you going to publish your book?”

As times change and publishing with the development of e-books and the internet independent publishing has become much easier and much more common and that was the route she decided to take.

About “A Soul Less Broken”:

It's about the struggles and triumphs of the main character Catherine, as she recovers from being brutally attacked and left for dead.

She falls in love with the emergency room physician who treats her, but quickly realizes that she is so emotionally scarred from the attack that her only choice is to push away the one man who truly loves her.

Then just when her life is finally beginning to heal, she learns that her dearest friend has terminal cancer. So it's about love, loss, the enduring strength of friendship between women, and the power of love.

At the end of the day, love really can overcome anything.

As “Pacific Book Reviews” put it…

"... In Laibach's skillful hands, the psychological impacts are brought home in a frightening way. Its characters will touch readers at a deep level. Yes, this book is also a love story, but certainly not in the conventional sense. It will haunt you long after you turn the final page..."

As we learned during the show, a follow up novel “A Soul to be Forgiven” is already underway and I’m sure we’ll hear a lot more from this talented author.

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

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Helen Laibach"

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Helen Laibach"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Helen Laibach - A Soul Less Broken"

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 Arny Alberts

A terrible, and all too common, fact of today’s world is that children are sexually abused. Not just by strangers, which is horrific enough, but by those who are supposed to guard and cherish them. When the most trusted exploit this dependence, the ultimate effect can only be a long-term disaster in the making.

My guest today Arny Alberts in his new book,”Burnt Cookies” tells of his own horrific experience at the hands of an older and trusted man when he was just fifteen. 


In unflinching detail he describes how he became involved with Coach without really understanding the consequences it would have on him for the rest of his life.
”Burnt Cookies:A Quest for Closure” is no holds barred true live experience that that makes you shudder, think and hopefully bring hope.

During the show, Arny shared with us how his life was affected by the abuse he received leading to seizure disorder, sexual abuse, therapy, and family-related that scarred him though life.

During the program we learned how one phone call, lead to trail that ended with thirteen men holding a press conference outing what this coach had done to them, and hopefully saving more teenagers from a similar abusive fate.

As hard as it was to read such as this, it needs to be brought out in the open so parents will be aware of the damage pedophiles can inflict on a person’s life.

Arny Alberts and his book “Burnt Cookies” , is one such read that will help victims and family alike.

So sit back and listen to an interesting thirty minutes on today’s A Book and a Chat with Arny Alberts."

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Arny Alberts "

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Arny Alberts "

You can find out more about my guest and their book at:
"Arny Alberts - Burnt Cookies"

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