Tony Abbott – The Postcard – a Mystery within a Mystery
March 11, 2009 by David
Filed under Children's Authors, Fiction
978-0316011723 (Hardcover)
Little Brown Young Readers, $15.99
(paperback is due out in May 2009)
Writerscast host David Wilk interviews Tony Abbott, the author of over 60 books for young readers, including the extremely popular Droon series, which has sold over 4.5 million books, and the Golden Kite winner Firegirl.
This is part one of Wilk and Abbott’s in depth and wide ranging conversation about books and writing. Abbott talks about what he did before he became a full time writer and discusses in detail his writing methods and how he develops ideas that turn into books. Wilk and Abbott talk extensively about Tony’s latest book, The Postcard , an exciting and well written mystery set in Florida in the sixties that is based to a great extent on Tony’s experiences visiting there as a child. Abbott’s many fans will find this a great opportunity to get to know him as a writer and person. Part Two of their conversation will be posted soon.
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Starvation Lake – a mystery – Bryan Gruley
978-1-4165-6362-4 (paperback)
Touchstone, $14.00
Writerscast host David Wilk interviews Bryan Gruley, award-winning Chicago bureau chief for the Wall Street Journal, whose first novel, a mystery called Starvation Lake is about to be published as a paperback original from the Touchstone imprint of Simon & Schuster. Gruley’s novel is set in small town Michigan, and centers around a journalist with an unresolved past, local hockey players, and an engrossing story that captures the reader from the beginning and won’t let go. Harlan Coben has called Starvation Lake “A great debut from a major talent.”
Wilk and Gruley talk in depth about the writer’s work, what it’s like for a full time journalist to take on a novel, small town newspapering, and explore in depth some of the background and underpinnings of Gruley’s first novel. They discuss character development, story development and plotting, and the life and work of the novelist. Listeners will enjoy the opportunity to hear from a writer who clearly has alot to say and is an emerging new talent in American fiction.
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The People of the Book – Geraldine Brooks
978-0143115007 (paperback)
Penguin Books, $15.00
Writerscast host David Wilk interviews Pulitzer Prize winning author Geraldine Brooks, on tour for the release of the paperback edition of her newest novel, People of the Book. This brilliant and engaging historical novel has a story that spans centuries, using the Sarajevo Haggadah as the focus. As one reviewer has said: “There’s a romance between Brooks and the world, and her writing is as full of heart and curiosity as it is intelligence and judgement.” Carrie Brown, The Boston Globe.
In a wide ranging discussion with host Wilk, Ms. Brooks talks about her work and her working methods as a historical novelist. Wilk and Brooks talk in depth about The People of the Book. The author also offers fascinating details about the novel she is working on now, based on the Wampanoag Indians of Martha’s Vineyard, where she lives with her family. Her own website www.geraldinebrooks.com is a rich source of information about this wonderful writer and her consistently rich and rewarding fiction.
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Will War Ever End? Capt. Paul K. Chappell
January 31, 2009 by David
Filed under Non-Fiction
978-1935073-02-4
Ashoka Books, Hardcover $14.95
“There is cause to hope, and believe, that there can be an end to war.”
–Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, U.S. Army (ret.), author of On Killing
Writerscast host David Wilk interviews first time author US Army Captain Paul K. Chappell, whose new book, Will War Ever End? A Soldier’s Vision of Peace for the 21st Century will be published in February, 2009. The author talks about his personal background, why an active duty soldier who has served in Iraq has written a “manifesto for waging peace,” and explores some of the powerful ideas he covers in his new book. In a wide ranging interview Captain Chappell makes clear that achieving peace is not just a cliche, discusses the practical ways we can all work toward an active state of peace on earth, and gives compelling evidence for his reasoning that human beings are not naturally violent. In this interview the author shows why his powerful and original ideas are receiving so much attention among thinkers and activists for peace. The book website is located at www.paulkchappell.com.
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What Was I Thinking? Liz Dubelman
January 24, 2009 by David
Filed under Non-Fiction
ISBN# 978-0-312-38472-2
St. Martin’s Press, Hardcover $21.95
This fun WritersCast podcast has host David Wilk interviewing Liz Dubelman, co-editor of the wonderfully entertaining collection of first person essays by women describing those special moments in relationships when they suddenly realized: it’s not going to work. WHAT WAS I THINKING: 58 Bad Boyfriend Stories will be published February 3, 2009. Dubelman, co-founder of www.vidlit.com, talks about the genesis of the book, how she and co-editor Barbara Davilman (co-author of YIDDISH WITH DICK AND JANE) collected the essays in the book, how women are responding to it, and why it seems men do not have the same sensibilities about relationships that women do. Dubelman also talks about “Come to Your Senses Day” – February 15, and the book’s website www.c2ysd.com.
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Interview with Alan Katz
January 8, 2009 by David
Filed under Children's Authors, Poetry
Going, Going, Gone!: And Other Silly Dilly Sports Songs
Alan Katz and David Catrow
ISBN# 978-1416906964
Simon & Schuster, Hardcover $16.99
The first WritersCast podcast of 2009 has host David Wilk interviewing author humorist Alan Katz, author of more than 20 books for children and adults. His newest book is Going, Going, Gone, coming in February 2009. Wilk and Katz talk about a wide range of subjects, including Katz’s writing methods and experience as a writer. Alan Katz gives his first public performance of songs from his newest book.
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A World I Never Made by James LePore
A World I Never Made
ISBN# 978-0981608723
The Story Plant, Hardcover $24.95
The inaugural WritersCast podcast has host David Wilk interviewing author James LePore, whose first novel, a thriller entitled A WORLD I NEVER MADE will be published by The Story Plant in April, 2009. Wilk and LePore talk about the characters in the book, and LePore’s writing methods and other topics in a wide ranging interview. LePore is a former trial attorney who turned to writing fiction full time after selling his law practice.
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