A Book and a Chat

My guest Joan Heartwell is a an award-winning author (with several novels published under another name) and a former indie publisher now working as a freelance writer, ghostwriter, and book consultant.

Heartwell chronicles her heroic (and often hilarious) determination to live an unremarkable life as a member of a poverty-stricken, super-dysfunctional family that includes a mostly absent father, a religious fanatic mother, a kleptomaniac grandmother, and two special needs siblings, all residing more or less in the middle of a parking lot. The story moves from Heartwell’s lively coming of age in the sixties to her role as caretaker for both siblings after her parents’ deaths, at which time she must resort to extraordinary measures to locate the midpoint between their needs and her own.

My guest Allison M. Dickson is one of those people who was writing little stories as soon as she could hold a crayon.

After earning a few small publishing credits, she started selling her short stories online, where she gained a decent following with short stories that include her bestselling titles "Dust" and "Vermin." She soon caught the attention of author and visionary Vincent Hobbes, and her relationship with Hobbes End Publishing solidified with her two contributions to the second volume of The Endlands, and finally with their acceptance of her visceral thriller novel, STRINGS, an expansion of her hit short story "The Good Girls" which released 10/26/13.

Today's guest Gabriel Valjan lives in New England. Ronan Bennett short-listed him for the 2010 Fish Short Story Prize. Gabriel's short stories continue to appear in print and online literary journals. He recently won ZOUCH Magazine's inaugural Lit Bits Contest.  His debut book "Roma Underground"  the first in a series has been described as "provocative thriller with a riveting and surprising plot.

Looking forward to having this chat with a very much up and coming author.

Mark J Grant is the author of LILA:THE SIGN OF THE ELVEN QUEEN. A Book that is already being classed as a fairytale for all ages.

LILA: THE SIGN OF THE ELVEN QUEEN by Mark J. Grant is an adventure for Young Readers/Fairy Tales/Folklore. An interesting read of how a little girl,Lila, becomes an Elven Princess. An enchanting modern day fairy tale from New York to Iceland. A magical and mystical story of the invisible people of Iceland. Alice in Wonderland move over and make room for Lila, the Elven Princess. An invisible dog, named Fluffy,the invisible people of Iceland and the adventure of a lifetime, what's not to enjoy? Fluffy is so much more than a dog and dreams do come true in "Lila: The Sign of the Elven Queen". A wonderful read for Young and old readers alike. Lila,is a grand child with a vivid imagination, and is a very special child. Well written,easy to read for older Young Readers,with engaging characters and an interesting non-scary modern-day Fairy Tale story.

Joel Boggess is the host for "finding your voice radio", author & life coach. He is the go-to guy for clarity, confidence and direction. Joel's passion and expertise is connecting you to who you are at your core, so you have the clarity of life direction, and empowered to take your work, home and family life in a direction that's best for YOU.

His book "Finding Your Voice: Sort Through the Clutter, Discover Clarity, Confidence, and Direction" has been described as...

In Finding Your Voice, Joel Boggess explains that it isn't selfish to focus on your needs and dreams. Being your best possible self benefits everyone around you! Read this book with a pen. Your world will thank you."

An avid fan of Agatha Christie’s British tea-cozy mysteries and the hard-boiled novels about detective Easy Rawlins by Walter Mosley since she was a teenager, Veronica Faye recently published "My Past Came Knocking: The Savannah Wooten Case". Should be an interetsing show and looking forward to hear if more of the series are on their way.

A great welcome back for author C.S. Lakin, can't wait to chat again.

C. S. Lakin is novelist and writing coach who spends her time divided between developing new book ideas and helping writers polish theirs. She is the author of twelve novels – six contemporary novels and six in the fantasy/sci-fi genre. Whether she is exploring the depths of the human psyche and pushing her characters to the edge of desperation, or embellishing an imaginary world replete with talking pigs and ancient magical curses, she is doing what she loves best – using her creativity and skills to inspire and affect her readers.

In all her books she seeks to journey to the heart of human motivation, to uncover unmet needs, and show the path to healing and grace.

Shelley Streit is a passionate entrepreneur, speaker, financial advisor, and author. Known for her sincerity and candid, but non-judgmental style, Shelley is a sassy dynamo who gets fired up by empowering women to live life to its full potential. Experience drawn from a difficult life as a youth taught her the value of learning, making tough but intelligent choices, and hard work.

A nominee for the Fierce Woman of the Year Award, Shelly will be along to chat about her book "Beyond the Rear View Mirror,"

As Simon and Garfunkel sang... "wehere have you gone Jo DiMaggio" well if we're talking Joannne DiMaggio she is my guest on today's "A Book and a Chat".

For more than 25 years, Joanne DiMaggio has been a student of esoteric studies. A professional writer with a background in advertising, public relations and marketing, she developed her writing skills at a very young age, writing plays as early as third grade. But what she also developed was her ability to write in an altered state of consciousness. At the age of 9, she said a prayer asking for guidance to develop a secret code she could use but her parents would not be able to read. Sitting with pen and paper under the bathroom sink, she closed her eyes, said her prayer and waited for guidance. She received her secret code--only to find out 25 years later that it was the Phoenician alphabet, dating back to 1000 B.C.

I am really loking forward to chatting to Joanne about her life and her book "Your Soul Remembers: Accessing Your Past Lives Through Soul Writing"

Stephen Langford is today's guest on "A Book and a Chat".

A veteran writer producer of over 150 hours of primetime television writing, Stephen Langford's credits include Family Matters and Malcolm and Eddie. Stephen later became a screenwriter writing the motion picture Lovewrecked. His latest produced film is The Nanny Express which youmight have caught on the Hallmark Channel over the holiday period.

Now this talented creator is the co author along with David R Fett of a new thriller "White Sleeper".

hen Arkansas experiences a wave of rare fatal diseases, the CDC sends disgraced doctor Dave Richards to investigate, and he knows this is the case that could save his career. When he teams up with FBI agent Paula Mushari, Richards thinks he may have found the person who can help him find the answers. But as they dig deeper, they begin to get a sinister glimpse into what they are dealing with—a vengeful sect, led by the son of a late white supremacist, intent on destroying a nation. As Richards fights to save his job, he and Mushari must race against the clock to prevent a plague of catastrophic proportions.