December 28, 2011
Environmental educator, writer and historian, Dr. Bruce Hopkins has written the book “When Foxes Wore Red Vests”, a collection of poetry, essays, drawings and photographs that show how sense-of-place can serve as a role-model for future generations, as well as helping us learn how we can best inhabit our communities and the natural world around us. Dr. Hopkins career has included teaching in Nebraska, New York, and Iowa, and serving as chief administrator of an Iowa area education agency. He currently focuses on helping people of all ages connect with nature, a greater sense of community, and the literature of place.
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December 22, 2011
Harvard grauduate, Barry Spector is the author of “Madness At The Gates Of The City: The Myth Of American Innocence” (2011, Regent Press). Dissecting America’s belief in innocence, this book explains how that has allowed America to re-enact old patterns that cause us to subvert our goals and miss the deeper meaning in events. Through his book, Mr. Spector uses Greek mythology, indigenous wisdom and archetypal psychology to discover new ways of looking at our present situation and finding healing solutions.
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December 15, 2011
Cheryl Fusco Johnson speaks with three Iowan children’s books creators on this week’s Writers’ Voices. First, conversations with the writer and illustrator of “The Juggler”(published by Ice Cube Press). “The Juggler” follows the wiry and tan young farmer, who desperately wants to be a great juggler. Children’s author and educator, Jeanette Hopkins provided the words, with artist Stormy Mochal providing the illustrations. The last conversation is with educator Wendy Cavanaugh. Wendy wrote, illustrated, designed, and self-published the picture book, “Pumpkin in the Sky”, to teach people that baking pumpkin pies is an easy, fun activity that children and adults can share.
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December 1, 2011
Current Fairfield resident, World War II veteran, and co-director of Operation Warrior Wellness, Jerry Yellin is the author of four books, including his most recent, “The Black Canteen”. In this interview he will discuss “The Resilient Warrior: Healing the Hidden Wounds of War”, which describes the pain of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome experienced by returning veterans and the ways Transcendental Meditation can be used to help them.
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November 28, 2011
Writers’ Voices welcomes two guests with books helping others deal with difficult life issues.
Over 12,000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer each year, dramatically altering their lives and lives of their families. Lynda Young has written a helpful and compassionate book to give support to those families. “Hope for Families of Children with Cancer” presents encouraging short stories, helpful hints, inspiring scriptures and prayers, and resources designed to help the overwhelmed and hurting parents dealing with new feelings and situations.
Our second guest, Janet Thompson has written “Dear God, Why Can’t I Have A Baby: A Companion Guide for Couples on the Infertility Journey”. Her book takes the reader through the infertility process. Having dealt with it herself, Janet provides women and couples with tools, direction, guidance, hope, and encouragement.
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November 15, 2011
Listen to a conversation with Young Adult book author, Delia Ray. Her most recent book, “Here Lies Linc”, a Junior Library Guild Selection, describes what happens when young Lincoln Crenshaw Jr. investigates a curse connected with an ominous statue in a nearby cemetery. A graduate of the Radcliffe Publishing Course, Delia Ray wrote two nonfiction books while working as an editor in Seattle. The New York Public Library selected “Behind the Blue and the Gray: The Soldier’s Life in the Civil War” for inclusion in Books for the Teen Age. “Singing Hands”, Delia’s historical novel about her deaf grandfather, was named Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association. Her book “Ghost Girl”, set in the Blue Ridge Mountains during the Depression, was nominated to the final master lists for Children’s Choice awards in six states.
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November 7, 2011
Philosopher Robert Sessions, author of “Becoming Real: Authenticity in an Age of Distractions”, believes that our modern culture makes it very difficult for us to develop a coherent identity. His book, filled with quotes and examples from ancient wisdom to modern politics, uses personal stories and philosophical musings to discuss the way everyday distractions keep us from being ourselves. Robert is Professor of Philosophy & Humanities at Kirkwood Community College.
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November 2, 2011
We have a very special Writers’ Voices interview with author and activist, Frances Moore Lappé. “Diet For A Small Planet”, her first book, sold millions of copies and has received praise from around the world. She has since authored 17 other books, including her newest “EcoMind: Changing the Way We Think to Create the World We Want”. She is the co-founder of Small Planet Institute and Food First. Gourmet Magazine named her one of 25 people (including Thomas Jefferson, Upton Sinclair, and Julia Child), who have changed the way America eats. Frances is passing through Iowa on her current book tour.
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October 21, 2011
Cheryl Fusco Johnson welcomes children’s author Dori Butler and her publicist Michelle Bayuk. Dori is the author of many children’s books and stories. Her book “The Buddy Files: Case of the Lost Boy” won the 2011 Edgar Award. Dori has been “ghostwriter” for ten Sweet Valley Twins and Boxcar Children books.
With 20 years experience in children’s publishing, Michelle F. Bayuk has been Director of Marketing at Albert Whitman & Company since February of 2009. Previously Michelle was Marketing Director for the Children’s Book Council. She’s worked at many publishing houses, including Millbrook Press and Scholastic.
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October 13, 2011
Seventh-generation Iowan, Zachary Michael Jack has written the book, “Native Soulmate: A Season in Search of a Love Homegrown”. It tells of his attempts to love fresh, love local. Travelling across the state of Iowa, giving lectures and signing books, Zachary tests his theory that the girl of his dreams may be closer than he imagines.
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.
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