Writer's Voices

Zachary Jack has authored “What Cheer: A Love Story”, been a sports editor and has edited many anthologies, including “Letters to a Young Iowan”, “Iowa: The Definitive Collection”, “Uncle Henry Wallace: Letters to Farm Families”, and many more. He currently lives in rural Iowa.

Diane Wilson, fourth-generation shrimper who made a living along the Texas Gulf Coast, was driven to activism when she discovered her area was number one in the nation for toxic waste disposal. Through determination and hard work, Diane convinced local plastic manufacturers to sign a zero-discharge agreement. She has become a strong and vocal determined

Tune in for an exciting interview, as our guest is an expert in “disrupting the ordinary” and tries to help others do the same. Kristen Moeller, author, speaker, personal coach, and radio show host, has recently written the book “Waiting for Jack: Confessions of a Self-Help Junkie”. After struggling with addictions to drugs, alcohol, and food, Kristen realized her transference of addiction to the self-help world. Through personal anecdotes, including the fateful first encounter with Jack Canfield (the man behind Chicken Soup for the Soul) that changed the course of her life, Kristen explores the ways we wait for life and look outside ourselves for answers.

2011 saw two children’s books released by Iowa author Wendy Henrichs. “I Am Tama, Lucky Cat” (Peachtree) retells the 17th-century Japanese legend behind the beckoning cat figurines commonly displayed in Japanese shops and restaurants, with pictures by award-winning illustrator Yoshiko Jaeggi. “When Anju Loved Being an Elephant” (Sleeping Bear Press), illustrated by accomplished artist John Butler, reveals how a lonely elephant no longer young enough to work in a circus or reside in a zoo finds friendship at last. Always an animal lover, Wendy lives in Iowa City with her husband, two sons, two cats, one dog, and whatever stray wildlife manages to slip into their 88-year-old home.

Taking place in 1961, when the few solitary dragons are threatened as their invisibility begins to fail, the Protectors, allies of the dragons, led by 15-year old Griff Owen and his family, go up against the forces that are working to destroy the dragons and their Protectors.

Monte Schulz, son of famed Peanuts cartoonist Charles Schulz, is our guest. Monte is the author of several books, including his upcoming novel, “The Big Town”, the third book in Schulz’s trilogy of books delving into the American psyche during the Jazz Age. The book follows the story of a failed businessman, whose future prosperity hinges on a secret proposition from a millionaire industrialist, and his relationship with a poor orphan girl chasing love. Taking place in the summer before the stock market crash of 1929, his novel vividly recreates the Jazz Age, complete with speakeasies, sanitariums, and glittering Gatsby-like parties.

Writer’s Voices has the honor of having two State Poets Laureate on this show, Iowa’s curent Poet Laureate, Mary Swander, and former State Poet Laureate of Missouri, Walter Bargen. They are both featured in the recently released anthology, “An Endless Skyway: Poetry from the States Poet Laureate”. This collection gives a glimpse into the heart of our nation, by collecting the poetry of thirty-eight State Poets Laureate from across the United States. Tune in for a delightful discussion!

This episode features a discussion with author Zoe Ghahremani, author of “Sky of Red Poppies”. The book, Zoe’s first, starts with a strange friendship between two women coming of age in a politically divided 1960’s Iran under rule of the Shah. The book is a glimpse into a part of the world that many people in western civilization are unaware. As the story continues, the history and culture of the womens homeland takes on a life of its own. Zoe’s novel is a featured book in KPBS’ One Book, One San Diego.

Michael R. Rosmann Ph.D., psychologist and small Iowa farmer, discusses the fulfillment found in life’s simple pleasures. His book, “Excellent Joy: Fishing, Farming, Hunting, and Psychology”, is a collection of essays exploring the reasons why humans have engaged in these activities for generations. One starts to wonder, in a society that keeps telling us to buy more and consume more, but we aren’t getting any happier, if there’s something we’re missing. Dr. Rosmann explains that stored in our basic genetic material is information that has survival value for the human species. An incredible conversation you don’t want to miss!

This Writers’ Voices takes a focus on screen writing with guest John Rainey. John began as a professional actor, but worked his way into becoming one of the industry’s most sought after script consultants. Creative Screenwriting magazine voted John #1 script analyst in the country. He has professionally analyzed and consulted on thousands of scripts. John worked as script consultant on such films as Invincible, Vacancy, Holes, and many more. He has several of his own screenplays currently in pre-production. This interview is an insightful look into what it takes to create a successful screenplay.