A Book and a Chat with “Irene Latham”

The various guests I’ve had on “A Book and a Chat” have covered many subjects along the way, however up and tell now, I’ve never discussed “quilting” on the program before, that is until today. Before you start thinking I’m on some form of craft kick, that is not the case. As we discovered during today’s show, my guest “Irene Latham” debut novel “Leaving Gee’s Bend” is about a whole lot more than just quilting.

Irene has been producing poetry since the age of eight, with a family that believed not only in reading and sharing what was produced by their children, but also showing them the wonders of the world in a modern form of “Grand Tour”.

Irene, resident of Birmingham, Alabama, for the past 25 years, she has published over 120 poems of various books, journals and anthologies, including a full-length collection WHAT CAME BEFORE, which was named Alabama State Poetry Society’s book of the Year and earned a 2008 Independent Publisher’s (IPPY) Award.

During what was a truly interesting, fun and educational sixty minutes, we were told about the story behind the book. How “Leaving Gee’s Bend” merges the history of that location in the early thirty’s, with a beautiful and meaningful story about a young girl not giving up, not letting herself down or anybody else, as well as the love of a daughter for her mother. It is a story that can make you laugh and cry on the same page.

There is so much information and shared during the show I do not know where to start writing about it. The best thing I can suggest is you listen to the show now or else download the mp3 file and share what was a fascinating one hour show, “A Book and a Chat with Irene Latham

Barry

“A Book and a Chat with Irene Latham”

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
“Irene Latham”

You can find out more about Hope and his books at:
“Irene Latham – Leaving Gee’s Bend”

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

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A Book and a Chat with “Peter Wright”

My guest on today’s “A Book and a Chat” is Peter Wright, whose born in Liverpool in 1926 has gone through as many stormy seas as he did himself as a sailor.

His new book Triumphs and Tragedies describes, as he puts it, “Twenty-five aspects of the life of a Liverpool Sailor.”

In Triumphs and Tragedies, Peter shares with us 25 different pieces of his life, from his early days and the loss at sea of his father, through in the hard drinking, hard living life of a Liverpool sailor.

On the program Peter shared with us much of these snippets of what can only be described as a fascinating life. How he found comfort and release from alcohol, to the steps, not always successful ones, that he took to recover from alcoholism.

We heard about Peters steps to becoming a writer, and also the book he is currently working on “The Gentle Art of the Healer” a love story highlighting the interesting life of his late wife Gloria, a wonderful psychotherapist and as peter say – A Giver of Love and spiritual treasures.

Now eighty three, Peter’s stores of his life still seem as fresh as the paint on a newly pained ship, something that he is able to portray to the readers in this wonderful book “Triumphs and Tragedies”

So sit back and listen to today’s fascinating and entertaining radio show, or even download the mp3 file and listen later, as I share “A Book and a Chat with Peter Wright”

Barry

“A Book and a Chat with Peter Wright”

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
“Peter Wright”

You can find out more about Hope and his books at:
“Peter Wright – Triumphs and Tragedies”

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

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A Book and a Chat with “Ashley – Books Make Great Lovers”

My special guest was previosuly a guest on the show way back on June 6th 2009, she is YA Blogger, Ashley whose blog Books make great lovers” is actually 2 years old this very day.

During the show we discussed about blogging and how her blogs and reviews have developed through the the last two years. The fact she blogs basically every day and actually started doing reviews some months before her blog started shows you how much she has written and read during that time. To give you and idea, Ashley is currently taking part in the “100+ challenge of 2010” where the person is challenged to read over a hundred books in the year. Well Ashley before the end of March is on book 47.

Through the show we discussed about authors and books as well as other subjects such as what age group books might be for, something that Ashley has covered with her own brand of grade and ratings she uses for her book reviews.

Some of Ashley favorite books and authors were discussed as well and what is happening with her own writing.

One really great thing for her to share was that she has been asked to be a gust panelist at a book convention, something that just goes to show what I am often saying, that at last the “Sham Wows” of YA literature are beginning to be recognized by publishers, publicists and authors.

So check Ashley’s blog and her special contest to celebrate her second blog birthday.

The whole show was a fun, entertaining and interesting thirty minutes, so why not listen now or down load the mp3 file to share when ever you can, as my special guest today on “A Book and a Chat” was Ashley from “Books make great lovers – blog”

Barry

“A Book and a Chat with Ashley – Blogger”

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
“Ashley”

You can find out more about Hope and his books at:
“Ashley – Books Make Great Lovers Blog”

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

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A Book and a Chat with Kaylin McFarren

My special guest on today’s show is award winning author Kaylin McFarren. Kaylin has always been into the arts, spreading her wings as director of a fine art gallery, she assisted in furthering the careers of numerous visual artists who, under her guidance, gained recognition through promotional opportunities and in national publications. While she’d been actively involved in both business and personal writing projects for many years, it was the illness and death of her beloved father to colon cancer after an intense two and a half year battle that finally pushed Kaylin to release her emotions and produce this her first and certainly not last novel “Flaherty’s Crossing“. A lot easier to type than say as I found out during the radio show.

As we found out during the show, the production of the novel has not been as straight forward, as some others with the unfinished story put away in a draw for many years until with the aid of her daughter Kaylin was finally able to complete this wonderful novel. The inspiration behind the book has not been forgotten either. As Kaylin was proud to share that 100% of her proceeds from the sale of Flaherty’s Crossing will be donated to the cancer research center at Portland’s Providence Medical Center.

The show covered many aspect of both Kaylin work and life, from how she found out that Champagne Books, had offered her a contract, to the requirement for wine, chocolate and a book of tissues should be added to most authors must haves.

Kaylin also shared with us some of the ways she has managed to promote her book which should be available in paperback around May time, as well as the response she has receipted for the early chapters of her next book “Severed Threads” which looks like it could be a trilogy not to miss.

The show proved to be a full thirty minutes of entertainment and interest for all to enjoy.
So sit back and listen to show or else download it’s mp3 file and listen later to “A Book and a Chat with Kaylin McFarren”

Barry

Direct Link:
“A Book and a Chat with Kaylin McFarren”

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
“Kaylin McFarren”

You can find out more about Hope and his books at:
“Kaylin McFarren- Flaherty’s Crossing”

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

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A Book and a Chat with “Jack Gresham”

While some people just about manage to fill their lives with one career, my guest on today’s show has managed three, and that is “so far”. Jack Gresham, has been a pilot in the United States Air Force, orthopedic surgeon, and now successful author of his the first novel in a set of four called “18 Billion“.

From flying F86D’s out of Maguire Air Force Base in new Jersey, to setting up a western style orthopedic surgery/rehabilitation dept in Saudi Arabia, and touring most of the world Jack has been there seen it and got the tee-shirt. His knowledge of the people and locations have helped Jack create this exciting and enjoyable novel.

“18 Billion” is the first book in the “Mohammed of Babylon” series a set of four books, the second being “A Tree in the Desert“. The story develops through the first book leaving people clamoring for the follow up, and it’s good to know the complete series has been written and is ready to fill the craving for those who love 18 Billion.

During the show Jack shares with us much about this life, traveling, and how the book developed. Intriguing incites as to the development not only of the book and series but how the story was helped by his own knowledge and beliefs.

So sit back and listen to show or else download it’s mp3 file and listen later to “A Book and a Chat with Jack Gresham”

Barry

Direct Link:
“A Book and a Chat with Jack Gresham”

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
“Jack Gresham”

You can find out more about Hope and his books at:
“Jack Gresham – 18 Billion”

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

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A Book and a Chat with “Hope – YA Blogger”

I am really pleased tonight to have on my show one of my YA Sham Wows, the bloggers who help make YA literature the success it is, “Hope” from “Hopes Bookshelf“.

Hope has been blogging since February 2008, and during that time has developed into one of the popular blogs for YA authors and readers to visit, and share. From these early days “Hopes book Shelf” has turned not only into a great location to read about new books, but Hope has also developed her own TV reviews on Youtube.

During the show we not only found out about Hope and her reading and review habits, we also learned along the way, of her love for mountain dew, her favorite color, the use of sticky notes and what she loves and hates about certain books and series of books.

That and information on some of her favorite books, and authors made the show one of those must listen to’s. From favorite blogs to how music is part of her life, this is an interview for all to love and enjoy.

So sit back and listen to show or else download it’s mp3 file and listen later to “A Book and a Chat with Hope”

Barry

Direct Link:
“A Book and a Chat with Hope”

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
“Hope”

You can find out more about Hope and his books at:
“Hope – Hopes Bookshelf”

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

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A Book and a Chat with “Leonard Rosmarin”

Growing up we often watched on the good old BBC, what became known as a “Whitehall Farce” along the lines of “No Sex Please We’re British”.

One of the main stars of these shows which filled London theaters being the late Brian Rix.

The shows normally ended up with the stars trousers round his ankles, a dead female in his bed and his wife/mother/girlfriend walking in on him.

“Getting Enough” the novel of my guest on today’s show “Leonard Rosmarin” would not be out of place with these bastions of English theater.

Started way back in 1982, once Leonard retired from being university professor for over forty years, he had no excuses but to finish what he started all those years before. Time though it seemed changed his views and what once was intended to make fun of his relatives, with some sex and a good story line changed into much more. The characters lead Leonard along a path where he started to feel a deep empathy towards them. As he explains… “Laughing with them rather than at them.”

Leonard has published nine books on various aspects of French literature, presented hundreds of papers at learned conferences and has written many articles. The French Government has also decorated him twice for exceptional service in the cause of French letters. He feels as though he’s been writing all his life and writes fiction to see more clearly into himself and the human condition.

His novel “Getting Enough” is hilarious as well and poignant, about a family who are desperate for emotional and spiritual fulfillment but go about seeking it the wrong way. They get short-circuited by their erotic cravings.

During the show we found out much about this author and his book, sharing his humor and his views.

So sit back and listen to show or else download it’s mp3 file and listen later to “A Book and a Chat with Leonard Rosmarin”

Barry

Direct Link:
“A Book and a Chat with Leonard Rosmarin”

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
“Leonard Rosmarin”

You can find out more about Leonard and his books at:
“Leonard Rosmarin – Getting Enough”

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

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Happy Mothers Day – At least Across the Pond

Today is Mother Day, rather Mothering Sunday in many places around the world, this is a post I made last year which many have asked me to post again, to explain the origins and changes of this date withing the USA.

Happy Mothers Day, or rather… Happy Mothering Sunday.

Hang on the Americans are thinking.. Mothers Day is in May?

Well it is but that is because an American lady and Hallmark decided it would be better in May than in March.

Mothering Sunday, sometimes called Rose Day is a Christian festival celebrated throughout Europe. It is used as a celebration of motherhood, and is now more and more being called Mothers Day.

A religious festival celebrating motherhood has been existent in since approximately 250 BC when the Romans honored the mother goddess Cybele during mid-March. As the Roman Empire and Europe converted to Christianity, Mothering Sunday celebrations became part of the liturgial calendar as Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday in Lent in honor of the Virgin Mary and “mother church”.

The other names attributed to this festival include Simnel Sunday, Refreshment Sunday and Rose Sunday.

Simnel Sunday is named after the practice of baking Simnel cakes to celebrate the reuniting of families during the austerity of Lent. Because there is traditionally a lightening of Lenten vows on this particular Sunday in celebration of the fellowship of family and church, the lesser-used label Refreshment Sunday is also used, although rarely today.

Rose Sunday is sometimes used as an alternative title for Mothering Sunday as well, as is witnessed by the purple robes of Lent being replaced in some churches by rose-colored ones. This title refers to the tradition of posies of flowers being collected and distributed at the service originally to all the mothers, but latterly to all women in the congregation.

I can well remember going to church as a family on this day and being given a little bundle of flowers to give to my mother

Mother’s Day holiday, in the United States and Canada, celebrates motherhood generally and the positive contributions of mothers to society. It falls on the second Sunday of each May. It is the result of a campaign by Anna Marie Jarvis (1864–1948), who, following the death of her mother on May 9, 1905, devoted her life to establishing Mother’s Day as a national, and later an international, holiday.

The first observances of both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day were held in the state of West Virginia.

Interestingly, by the 1920s, Anna Jarvis had become soured on the commercialization of the holiday. She incorporated herself as the Mother’s Day International Association, claimed copyright on the second Sunday of May, and was once arrested for disturbing the peace. She and her sister Ellsinore spent their family inheritance campaigning against the holiday. Both died in poverty.

Jarvis, says her New York Times obituary, became embittered because too many people sent their mothers a printed greetings card.

Heaven knows what she would think of how it has become with Fathers Day, Grandmothers Day and every down to second cousin twice removed day.As she said,

“A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world. And candy! You take a box to Mother—and then eat most of it yourself. A pretty sentiment!”

So Happy Mothers Day – especially to those mothers “Across the Pond”

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

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A Book and a Chat with “Molly Roe”

Until about five years ago, my guest on today’s a book and a chat “Molly Roe” had written only only academic papers, but after following her family history through her hobby of genealogy lead her to produce her first, but certainly not last novel “Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly Maguires“.

her writing combines family genealogy, Irish and coal region lore, local history, and imagination to create historical fiction for young people.

During the show we were told many fascinating details about the history of Pennsylvania and the “Molly Maguires”. the whole history of the area and the people has been investigated in great detail by Molly, not only for her current novel “Call me Kate” but as we heard during the show for a follow up novel (or two).

“Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly Maguires“is dramatic and adventuresome, yet expressive of daily life in the patches of the hard coal region during the Civil War era. This novel will appeal to readers of the Dear America series, as well as more mature readers who will enjoy the story’s rich context and drama.

As a junior high teacher, Molly has been able to not only share this book with her students, but also see how the knowledge has lead some of them to carry out their own investigation into the past. The book has proven so popular and able to provide not only education but a great story, that Molly Roe recently was the the silver recipient in the Mom’s Choice Awards.

So sit back and listen to show or else download it’s mp3 file and listen later to “A Book and a Chat with Molly Roe”

Barry

Direct Link:
“A Book and a Chat with Molly Roe”

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
“Molly Roe”

You can find out more about Vincent and his books at:
“Molly Roe – Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly Maguires”

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

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A Book and a Chat with “Vincent Zandri”

You ever have one of those days where you just can’t catch up with things? Tonight’s show was one of those events. I was running a little late due to work, children and the “I’ve just cooked that dinner you had better eat it before your show starts.” I logged onto the system and switchboard to find some strange entry for Skype instead of my normal dial in number, then it hit me. For some reason or other my show booking had not taken when I set it up last weekend. So a mad dash to get the show up and running,meant that my guest and I were just a few minutes late. Still the show proved more than worth those couple of harassed minutes.

Vincent Zandri was my special guest on “A Book and a Chat” tonight, was award-winning novelist, essayist and freelance photojournalist and author of four books including his latest novel “Moon Light Falls“.

Vincent proved a great guest sharing many incites and anecdotes both from journey to the publication of his latest novel, to how the modern use of social networking had helped him.

From majoring in “Rock Star” at college, and how music has been part of his life, to writing blogs for “Russia Today TV” Vincent Zandri has lived what can only be called an interesting life.

His latest novel “Moon Light Falls” is Vincents fourth book following in the successful wake of “As Catch Can” and “Godchild“. It is a thriller full of twists and turns, which as Vincent explains during the show, surprises many readers with the plot, let alone the ending.

So sit back and listen to show or else download it’s mp3 file and listen later to “A Book and a Chat with Vincent Zandri”

Barry

Direct Link:
“A Book and a Chat with Vincent Zandri”

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
“Vincent Zandri”

You can find out more about Vincent and his books at:
“Vincent Zandri – Moon Light Falls”

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

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