Writer's Voices

Our guest, Priscilla Warner, has written the new book, “Learning to Breathe: My Yearlong Quest to Bring Calm to My Life”. For years, Priscilla struggled to overcome anxiety and panic attacks despite having a loving family and a successful book (“The Faith Club”). In this book, she chronicles her journey and transition from panic into peace. Experiencing spiritual chanting, meditative painting, meetings with mystical rabbis, Ayurvedic oil treatments, silent retreats, self-examination and more, she attempts to find that place of calm. You’ll definitely want to take time to sit back and enjoy this wonderful edition of Writers’ Voices.

In “Autobiography of a Recovering SkinHead: The Frank Meeink Story as Told to Jody M. Roy, Ph.D.”, you’ll find the raw true life story of Frank Meeink, from his angry childhood that found an outlet in the Neo-Nazi movement through his time in prison, encountering fellow prisoners of all backgrounds and race, that first caused him to question his anger and rascism. Since turning his life around, Frank has become a noted speaker, author and founder of “Harmony Through Hockey”. Currently living in the Des Moines area, Frank’s life is now dedicated to tolerance, diversity and mutual understanding. Frank currently lives in Des Moines, Iowa.

Our guest this week is a Master Gardener and mindfulness meditation teacher, who brings her two passions together in her book, “The Meditative Gardener”. Cheryl Wilfong guides readers in practical easy-to-follow practices to bring full awareness into your gardening through sitting, walking, strolling or bending over in your garden. This book helps show you how to enjoy your garden, just the way it is. Cheryl is a teacher at Vermont Insight Meditation Center.

Caroline Preston has created the first ever scrapbook novel, “The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: A Novel in Pictures”. Growing up enamored with her families scrapbooks, she has collected a large collection of vintage ephemera, including vintage postcards, magazine ads, ticket stubs, catalog pages, fabric swatches, fashion spreads, menus, and more. All of which she uses to capture the spirit of “the roaring ’20s” as seen through the eyes of the lovely, spirited, and ambitious Frankie Pratt. Caroline Preston has also written three previous novels, including “Jackie By Josie”, a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, and “Gatsby’s Girl”. She currently resides in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Author, editor, blogger, and humorist, Wendy McClure is the author of “The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie”; also a recently released e-book, “Don’t Trade the Baby for a Horse and Other Ways to Make Your Life a Little More Laura Ingalls Wilder”, that explores her fascination and obsession with all things Laura Ingalls Wilder. Wendy has also published essays in The New York Times Magazine; columns for Bust magazine; and the weblog Poundy, which launched in 2000 to explore body image issues. She’s also written children’s picture books, such as “The Princess and the Peanut Allergy”, and a memoir, “I’m Not the New Me”.

Emerging writer, Rae Bryant is a teacher at the John Hopkins University graduate writing program and is editor-in-chief of the program’s new literary and arts journal. “The Indefinite State of Imaginary Morals”, Her short story collection, is a Pen Hemingway and Pushcart award nominee. This collection pushes the boundaries and explores all the humor and tragedy found in everyday modern life.

On Friday, March 30th, she will doing a reading at at Prarie Lights Bookstore in Iowa City as a part of The Mission Creek Literary Series , which will be running from March 27 – April 1.

Join Cheryl Fusco Johnson for a delightful conversation with Iowa native, Beth Howard. Beth has recently written “Making Piece: A Memoir of Love, Loss and Pie”. A journalist for more than 25 years, Beth recounts the sudden loss of her husband and her healing journey that took her across the country and back to her roots in Iowa. Beth currently resides in the world famous American Gothic House and runs the Pitchfork Pie Stand.

Her story has recently appeared in The Los Angeles Times, Real Simple, Midwest Living and much more. Her previous writing has appeared in such publications as Shape, Elle, Travel & Leisure, and Fitness. Previous jobs has included being senior editor for Sports Travler, web publisher, PR manager, and more.

Luis Alberto Urrea, the 2005 Pulitzer Prize finalist for nonfiction, discusses his most recent novel, “Queen of America”. Following beloved healer and “Saint of Cabora”, Teresita Urrea, as she flees with her father from Mexico, the book, a sequel to Urrea’s “The Hummingbird’s Daughter”, takes the reader on a journey through turn of the century New York, San Francisco, St. Louis and beyond.

Born in Tijuana, Mexico to a Mexican father and an American mother, Luis Urrea has authored over 13 books, winning numerous awards for his poetry, fiction and essays. On Tuesday, March 27th, Luis will present a reading from “Queen of America” at Prarie Lights Bookstore in Iowa City. This will be the kick-off event for The Mission Creek Literary Series , which will be running from March 27 – April 1.

Author, economist, attorney, and entrepreneur, Michael H. Shuman has authored, coauthored, or edited eight books, including, the award-winning, “The Small-Mart Revolution”, “Going Local”, and, his newest, “Local Dollars, Local Sense: How to Shift Your Money from Wall Street to Main Street and Achieve Real Prosperity”(Chelsea Green Publishing). In this book, Michael shows investors how to use their money to help local businesses and build resilient regional economies. Considering that not even 1 percent of the $30 trillion Americans’ have in long-term savings reaches local small businesses, this book serves as a much needed resource and guide through the expanding realm of local investment choices—from institutional lending to investment clubs and networks, local investment funds, community ownership, crowd-funding, local stock exchanges, and more.

Village in Nepal. Growing up in poverty, Khakendra dreamed of coming to America for a better life. His dream came true in 1991, arriving in San Francisco and embarking on an entirely new journey. In his book “Nueli Cried in the Himalayas”, Khakendra tells the story of his life, describes the life of his people, and shows the healing power of kindness, love, and a positive attitude. He has also spent over 7 years creating the film “Lost Village in the Himalayas”. Khakendra is the founder of Project Himalayan Hope, an organization dedicated to helping children’s education in his home village of Ulleri, Nepal.