A Book and a Chat with Joel Fox

My guest on today’s show Joel Fox received his love of history from the historical Boston, and his love of Politics from his time on the west coast.

For over three decades Joel Fox has been involved in California politics as a taxpayer and small business advocate, served on numerous state commissions, worked on many ballot issue campaigns, and advised numerous candidates, including Arnold Schwarzenegger in the historic gubernatorial recall election of 2003. He is an adjunct professor at the Graduate School of Public Policy at Pepperdine University.

Joel has authored hundreds of opinion pieces for many publications including the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, and San Francisco Chronicle, as well as his well-respected blog on California business and politics, Fox and Hounds Daily.

His non-fiction works include a book, The Legend of Proposition 13, about California's most famous ballot measure, and a chapter in the book, What Baseball Means to Me, sanctioned by the Baseball Hall of Fame.

After completing the Los Angeles FBI Citizens Academy program gaining a deeper understanding of the FBI and its mission. Joel put his love of history and political mystery into his debut book “Lincoln's Hand".

About Lincoln’s Hand:

Unable to close his previous case against the Monument Bomber, Senior FBI Special Agent Zane Rigby has been re-assigned to uncover a secret. Is Abraham Lincoln’s body in his grave?

When DNA from a hand found with a blackmail note traced back to 1901 matches the DNA from bone taken at Lincoln’s autopsy, Rigby is shuffled off to Springfield, Illinois where all manner of obstacles threaten his success. He discovers a local congressman hiding a dreaded secret, a strange doctor who claims he can perform medical miracles, and his own ill-timed urge to rekindle a relationship with his college sweetheart.

And then there is the dead body of a young woman found near Lincoln’s Tomb.

As the Monument Bomber threatens to strike again, Rigby searches for redemption in solving the murder and discovering the secret buried in Lincoln’s Tomb.

Let’s face it, when even Governor Schwarzenegger stated "Lincoln's Hand is a great story, a page-turner from start to finish." You know it’s good to be a good read.

With a second Zane Rigby book about “FDR’s Treasure” already in the pipeline, you know that in the case of Joel Fox and his novel, as Big Arnold would say… “He’ll Be Back”.

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

Barry

Direct link to the show

"A Book and a Chat with Joel Fox".

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

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Joel Fox - Lincons Hand"

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. Kent Gustavson

Dr. Kent Gustavson is an author, publishing expert, industry consultant, professor, speaker, entrepreneur, professional musician and PhD classical composer. He is also my guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat”,

Owner of independent publisher Blooming Twig Books and Skeleton Method, he is also an accomplished ghost writer and now author in his own right.

His book "Blind But Now I See: The Biography of Music Legend Doc Watson" shows the regard he has for the man and guitar legend's in this full length account of Doc Watson’s life.

An eye infection caused Doc Watson to lose his vision before his first birthday. Despite this, he was taught by his parents to work hard and care for himself. He attended North Carolina's school for the visually impaired. This did not stop Doc from becoming one of the all time greats, as Dr. Kent shared with us during the show, Doc Watson said if it wasn’t for losing his site he might have just been something like a carpenter.

Instead Doc Watson, American guitar player, songwriter and singer of bluegrass, folk, country, blues and gospel music won seven Grammy awards as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

About "Bling But Now I See"

In his book Dr. Gustavson draws upon formidable research and extensive interviews to provide an impossibly detailed portrait of Doc's life. It has been a life largely defined by his relationships with family. His parents encouraged him to partake of activities as though he were sighted and his siblings treated him that way. His father helped him buy his first guitar and, in one of the many delightful details that pepper the book, helped him make a banjo from the skin of a cat. With the exception of some unhappy time at a state school for the blind, Doc would spend his whole life in the hollow he grew up in.

We also heard about some of Dr. Kent’s other activities from Blooming Twig Books to how he was recently named one of Twitter's Top 100 Edu-Tweeters for his use of Twitter in his university teaching (as @drkent).

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

Barry

Direct link to the show

"A Book and a Chat with Dr. Kent Gustavson".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Dr. Kent Gustavson"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Dr. Kent Gustavson - "Blind But Now I See"

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 Hannah Dennison

My guest today, Hannah Dennison was born and raised in England, but like myself now lives in the US. Her journey to becoming an author has led her in many different directions.

Hannah began her writing career as trainee reporter on a small West Country newspaper but soon got bitten by the travel bug. For a decade she worked as a flight attendant on private jets before moving to Los Angeles with her daughter and two cats. After several years as a story analyst in the entertainment industry, Hannah switched to long form narrative and enrolled in the UCLA Writer's Program. Hannah still works full-time for a west coast advertising company.


Her experiences being the “cub” reporter on the small news paper (mainly doing the funerals and wedding) is an obvious background “Vicky Hill” series of books, though one wonders what sort of book her diaries might make, that is if she could work out the code she used for some of them.

Vicky Hill first made the literary light of day in 2008 when Hannah produced her first book “A Vicki Hill Exclusive”, which was followed by two more in the series , “Scoop!” and “Expose!”

Vicky Hill is an aspiring investigative journalist whose two challenges in life are to escape the boredom of funeral reporting (we know where that came from) for the Gipping Gazette. The second is to lose her virginity-a heavy burden for a woman of twenty-three. Add to that the fact that her parents are silver thieves wanted by the Interpol, sprinkle in some not well known English pastimes, and a sense of humor and you have the ingredients for a mystery, romance and a read that will keep you turning the pages.

From worm charming to snail racing Hannah has introduced her readers to some of the less known of English pastimes, and in her latest book “Thieves” she continues with this educating her readers. A Vicky Hill adventure wouldn't be the same without introducing an unusual British hobby to her readers.

In "Thieves," we meet the usual suspects-hedge jumpers, hedge cutters, snail racers and a naked farmer or two, but it's Morris Dancing that really grips the townsfolk of Gipping-on-Plym this time around.

About Thieves:

When a slew of silver thefts hit the small town of Gipping-on-Plym, it's up to aspiring investigative journalist Vicky Hill to figure out if the culprits are gypsies, tramps, or thieves…

Unaware that their temporary dwelling is also serving as the official gathering site for the upcoming annual "Morris Dance-a-thon," the gypsies set up their illegal campground at The Grange, much to the dismay of almost everyone in town. And when silver is stolen shortly after the gypsies arrive, blaming the despised nomads makes more than a little sense.

But when the body of an unnamed woman is found in a shallow stream, Vicky suspects there's a connection between the murder and the recent silver thefts. And since both her boss and the local police refuse to investigate, Vicky takes on the case by herself. It's a criminal conundrum suited only for the mind of Vicky Hill, and she's determined to uncover the answers and clinch her fourth national exclusive!


With another novel already underway, this time introducing “tar barrel racing” (yes I know about that event as well, but do you?) and soon to have her series launched in England, I am sure that the name Hannah Dennison will soon be on every book shop and libraries shelves.

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

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Hannah Dennison".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Hannah Dennison"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Hannah Dennison - Thieves"

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 Jack Cavanaugh

My guest today is Jack Cavanaugh a veteran sportswriter whose work has appeared most notably on the sports pages of the New York Times, for which he has covered hundreds of assignments.

During his 50-year career in journalism, as well as the New York Times , Jack has covered sports for, contributed to Sports Illustrated, Reader's Digest, Golf and Tennis magazines and the Sporting News, and served as a reporter for ABC and CBS News.

During this time he has published several books. Damn the Disabilities: Full Speed Ahead published in 1995, followed by the Pulitzer Prize-nominated "Tunney: Boxing's Brainiest Champ and His Upset of the Great Jack Dempsey" a biography of boxing legend Gene Tunney was referred to as "impressively researched and richly detailed" by Sports Illustrated.
In 2008 Jack release yet another great sporting book in the form Giants Among Men: How Robustelli, Huff, Gifford, and the Giants Made New York a Football Town and Changed the NFL.

Now twenty years after he first wrote articles about this sporting hero for Sports Illustrated, he has produced “The Gipper”.

Once portrayed in a film by Ronald Regan, “The Gipper- George Gipp" is a sporting hero, the likes of which perhaps we’ll never see again. The phrase “Win one for The Gipper.” is one of the most widely-used exhortative phrase in sports.

In his book Jack goes shares with us about this mythical-like sports figure whose nickname has aroused, in turn, awe, wonderment, curiosity, and amusement since the second decade of the twentieth century.

Not perhaps the choir boy image portrayed by Ronald Regan, Gipp loved playing poker and pool. For a person who went to Notre Dame to play baseball his footballing talents in his all to short life were just amazing.

2,341 rushing yards, throwing for 1,789 yards and did not allow a pass completion in his territory. He scored 21 career touchdowns, averaged 38 yards a punt, and gathered five interceptions as well as 14 yards per punt return and 22 yards per kick return in four seasons of play for the Fighting Irish. Gipp is still Notre Dame's all-time leader in many stats. He sadly died at the age of twenty five after contracting strep throat and pneumonia while giving punting lessons after his final game, of course there was no such thing as antibiotics in those days.

The book as a fascinating incite into a mythical sporting hero, an ideal read for all

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

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Jack Cavanaugh".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Jack Cavanaugh"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Jack Cavanaugh - The Gipper"

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 Jeff Sharrett

My guest on today’s A Book and a Chat is mystery writer Jeff Sharrett, sharing with us about his Jimmy O’Brien books, including his new book “Detour to Murder”.

As we heard during the show, Jeff has had enough experiences during his life to fill several books of his own story, from flying a plane for a gambling relative to writing biographies for would be politicians. And while there are no exact links to the characters in his so far four books, you can bet there’s a few of the perhaps more seedy characters that relate to some people he’s met in his life.

Jimmy O’Brien is a defense attorney to the dregs of the criminal world, the novels immerse the reader in the politics, society, and industry of Los Angeles in the 1970s, all the while maintaining a style more reminiscent of 1940s who-dunnit narratives than anything else. They’re classy, surprising, and endearing – in a murder mystery kind of way.

From his first two books “The Brimstone Murders” and “Guilty or Else”, Jeff has built up a following in the mystery world, his books clever, gripping, and addictive filled with multiple layers of suspense that keep the reader wanting more. His latest novel and many say his best so far “Detour to Murder”, is linked to the film noir icon, Detour.

About Detour to Murder:

Why did Al Roberts meekly confess to a brutal murder in 1945, then nearly three decades later swear that he’s innocent?

Jimmy O'Brien, defense attorney to the dregs of the criminal world, digs into the past, igniting a powder-keg that threatens to expose the long-held secrets behind Detour, the iconic Hollywood film documenting Roberts' story. Secrets that could destroy the underground aristocracy holding power in Los Angeles, city of broken dreams.

Each book while being part of the same series with several characters in each book, are equally readable as a standalone novel, with several more books in the pipeline already I’m sure we’ll hear a lot more of Jimmy O’Brien and Jeff Sharrett.

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

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Jeff Sharrett".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Jeff Sharrett"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Jeff Sharrett - Detour to Murder"

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 Estby Dagg

The grandmother of today’s guest Carole Estby Dagg, who was said to have some talent as a mystic, told her she would be a writer, it took her quite a few years but with her debut YA novel “The Year We Were Famous”( Winner, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrator’s Sue Alexander Award for most promising new manuscript) Carole has become just that.

Based on a true story of two of her ancestors, Carole’s truly enjoyable, entertaining and educational book tells the story of a mother and daughter who get sponsored to walk from Washington state to New York City. They do it all to save their farm because of money troubles. The woman in NYC offers them $10,000 to do the trip and write a book about it in the end.

This is their story of traveling across snowy mountains, hot lava fields, through Indian reservations, and much more. It's the story of the people they meet and what they learn about themselves along the way.

When you take into consideration that this was in 1896, and all they took with them for the epic journey were two satchels with a compass and maps, ponchos, first-aid supplies, journals, a pistol, and a yes a curling iron.

As we heard during the show, the original notes made on the journey were burnt, and Carol had to dig deep, investigating every local newspaper and report from the stops along the way to piece together the adventure. Making it into fiction allowed Carole to use her own imagination to fill in some of the gaps though ash she shared, many adventures and incidents were cut when the book was reduced by 200 pages from her original draft.

We do know they wear out sixteen pairs of shoes apiece on their eastward trek as they confront flash floods and snowstorms, mountains and deserts, highwaymen and rattlesnakes. Clips of their adventure tell how they met various governors and mayors, the wife of presidential candidate, William Jennings Bryan, and even shake hands with the new president-elect himself, William McKinley along the way.

Just the scene of the two ladies showing native Americans how to use the curling iron, brings to my mind a picture of Geronimo looking like Shirley Temple, one of numerous adventures brought to you in “The Year We Were Famous”.

The Year We Were Famous:

Based on the true story of the author’s great aunt and great grandmother, this is a fast-paced historical fiction adventure that sets the drama of Around the World in 80 Days against an American backdrop of the suffragist movement, the 1896 presidential campaign, and the changing perception of “a woman’s place” in society.

This is a book all will enjoy, and with a second book already underway I’m sure we’ll hear a lot more of Carol Estby Dagg.

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

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Carole Estby Dagg".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Carole Estby Dagg"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Carole Estby Dagg - The Year We Were Famous"

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 Bettina Restrepo

A fresh member of the class of 2K11, Bettina Restrepo is today’s guest on “A Book and a Chat”.

Bettina Restrepo has made quite a splash onto the literary scene, firstly with her picture book Moose and Magpie, an entertaining and humorous book about the life of a moose. Now this reformed business woman turned author, is creating waves within the YA readership with her debut novel “Illegal”.

Struggling from an early age as to what language she was meant to speak with a Columbian father and German mother, much travelled Bettina, had her first touch of success when coming 2nd in a creative writing contest she thinks because the winner had better penmanship than she did, though her subject “The Teacher Compactor” might have had something to do with her being in the runner-up spot.

Nicknamed “The Pusher” by the 2K11 group for her pushing and refusal to give up attitude, even to perhaps sometimes cheating at board games, Bettina has been called “endearingly weird”, and “Dr. Pepper-coming-out-of your-nose—funny.”… An obvious guest for my show.

During a hugely interesting end entertaining show, she shared with us much about her life and her work, from the early days to the new book she is writing called “Tella Novella” (of some such spelling).

With dial in and chat room questions we touched on much about her book, it’s subject and her path to publication.

About Illegal:

Illegal is the story of Nora, a Mexican immigrant who crosses the border illegally to find her missing father in Houston. We are all immigrants, so this story just isn’t about one nationality looking for family in a Texas town. It’s about how we love and survive.

Her book while touching on the aspects of illegal immigration from Mexico is one that people across the world can relate to, leaving loved ones, immigrating etc, and I am sure that in the near future the book will become a must read worldwide for YA and none YA readers. I am sure Bettina Restrepo is a name we will hear a lot more of.

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

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Bettina Restrepo".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Bettina Restrepo"

You can find out more about my guest and his books at:
"Bettina Restrepo - Illegal"

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 Fran Lewis

Fran Lewis is my guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat” with 36 years experience in NYC Public Schools as the Reading and Writing Staff Developer, Fran has gone on to become an author, radio show host, book reviewer and interviewer and educator. She is also a member of Whos Who of Americas Teachers and Whos Who of America’s Executives and Professionals on Cambridge

Her life has had plenty of ups and downs with some many of her early experiences being written about in her wonderful “Bertha” children’s books. Fran shared with us with much laughter some of these childhood stories, including the burning of $8000 in the kitchen oven.

As well as her children’s book Fran has also written a book dedicate to her mother “Memories are Precious: Alzheimer’s Journey” which proved a great amount of help and information for those who are affected by Alzheimer’s in one way or another. A second book dedicated to her sister called “Sharp as a Tack” is also available.

As well as her writing Fran provides a three in one deal for authors.
Get your book reviewed, blog tour on her website, face book and more and added interview posted on her site.

All you need to do is send her a print copy of your book and refer back to the author on your site when posting your review and your interview

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

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Fran Lewis".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Fran Lewis"

You can find out more about my guest and his books at:
"Fran Lewis - Bertha Fights Back"

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 Amy Mittelman

I met my guest today at "Write Angles 25" back in October last year. When I heard about her book and talked to the author, I know I had to have Amy Mittelman as a guest on my show.

Her book “Brewing Battles: A History of American Beer” is a fantastic journey through a detailed history of American beer.

Although today’s beer companies have their roots in pre-Prohibition business, historical developments since Repeal have affected industry at large, brewers, and the tastes and habits of beer-drinking consumers as well.

Brewing Battles explores the struggle of German immigrant brewers to establish themselves in America, within the context of federal taxation and a growing temperance movement, their losing battle against Prohibition, their rebirth and transformation into a corporate oligarchy, and the determination of home and micro brewers to reassert craft as the "raison d etre" of brewing.

Brewing Battles looks at beer s cultural meaning from the vantage point of the brewers and their goals for market domination. Beer consumption changed over time, beginning with an alcoholic high in the early 19th century and ending with a neo-temperance low in the early 21st. The public places where people drank also changed from colonial ordinaries in peoples homes to the saloon and back to home via the disposable six pack. The book explores this story as brewers fought to create and control these changing patterns of consumption.

Drinking alcohol has remained a favored activity in American society and while beer is ubiquitous, our country harbors a persistent ambivalence about drinking. An examination of how the industry prevailed in a sometimes unreceptive environment exemplifies how business helps shape public opinion.

Brewing Battles reveals the complicated changes in the economic clout of the industry. Prior to the institution of the income tax in 1913 the liquor industry contributed over 50% of the federal government s internal revenue; 19th century temperance advocates portrayed the liquor industry as King Alcohol. Today their tax contribution is only 1% yet brewing actually has a much more pervasive influence, touching on almost every aspect of modern American life and contributing greatly to the GNP.

Brewing Battles is book that takes you through American history for on so many levels not just those interested in beer, and is a book I’m sure many will find very interesting reading.

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

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Amy Mittelman".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Amy Mittelman"

You can find out more about my guest and his books at:
"Amy Mittelman - Brewing Battles"

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 Mike L Kilday

Back in 1979, my guest today, Mike L Kilday, went for a deep-trance, past life session with nationally-renown medium Elwood Babbitt, instead of learning about a past life, Mike found himself receiving a prediction of future Earth changes. Ten years and much study later Mike produced his book “Truth Never Changes: Earth Does”.

Weather changes, solar flares, past changes, predictions, are these signs or pointers to a doomsday scenario of the future?

Mike’s first book as he explained during an interesting show, was not just based upon the initial session with Elwood Babbitt, but upon what he read and discovered from such sources as the history chanel which lead to him putting together the pieces of the puzzle, that has not only lead to his current book, but also his second book which he shared during the show "Truth Never Changes: Genisis of the Path.

As one reviewer stated…

Isn't it good to challenge your natural inclinations? Healthy to step outside your mind's box once in awhile? To avoid the trap Paul Simon identified in The Boxer "...still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest."? Sure it is.

Truth Never Changes: Earth Does:

To assist in finding the Truth, human beings created prophecy. Is prophecy equal to Truth or is it an estimation of it? According to the sources of prophecy, the world as we know it will end on 12/21/2012. The faithful believe they will be ‘raptured’ into heaven beforehand and it is only the unfaithful who will suffer through the tribulation. Regardless of belief, will humanity be swept up into circumstances it neither understands nor controls? Will the events of 2012 happen anyway, or is that date just a mile marker on the road to the future

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

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Mike L Kilday".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Mike L Kilday"

You can find out more about my guest and his books at:
"Mike L Kilday - Truth Never Changes"

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