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I Could Chew on This and Other Poems by Dogs

I Could Chew on This and Other Poems by Dogs

Francesco Marciuliano’s new book, I Could Chew on This and Other Poems by Dogs, captures the thoughts and emotional life of man’s best friend. Sometimes hilarious, sometimes poignant, Francesco’s new book is partly the result of his lifelong fascination with Charles Shultz’ Peanuts comic strip, which Francesco points out, was sometimes sad. Besides studying other writers, Francesco draws inspiration from walking–a lot! Formerly shy and with an interesting cast of real-life relatives, Francesco has funny, thoughtful, interesting things to say about the creative process and also about people as well as cats and dogs. He’ll be my guest on The Studio with Cheryl on kruufm.com Monday, Sept. 2 at 1 PM.

Best-Selling YA Author D. J. MacHale’s Tips on Writing & Life


Sylo: Book #1 of D. J. MacHale's YA thriller trilogy

Sylo: Book #1 of D. J. MacHale's Trilogy of YA Thrillers

On The Studio last week New York Times best-selling author D. J. MacHale shared some of the secrets of success he’s learned while directing films, executive producing TV series, and penning wildly popular young adult novels, like his new YA thriller Sylo. From famous people (Alfred Hitchcock, Stephen King, Haig Manoogian) and the not-so-famous (a young fan, a school librarian, his 10-year-old daughter), D. J.’s gathered nuggets of knowledge that help him in all his endeavors. He’s developed expertise on many topics: helping reluctant readers, wordsmithing vs. storythinking, long-haul truckers’ reading preferences–and lots more! D. J. also shares his thoughts on fan fiction, Skype school visits, and the first book in his new YA series (deemed unputdownable by Kirkus). Click here to download this interview or listen to it online.

D.J. MacHale’s Sylo – An “Unputdownable” Thriller

D. J. MacHale's book Skylo

D. J. MacHale's new YA thriller

At The Studio on KRUU this week, NYT best-selling author D. J. MacHale chatted with me about Sylo, his new YA thriller. He related lessons he learned from famous people (Alfred Hitchcock, Stephen King, Haig Manoogian) and humbler folks (a young fan, a school librarian, his 10-year-old daughter). For a guy who writes thrillers, he had lots of thoughtful advice, on writing–and life. This free one-hour radio interview airs Monday, July 8 at 1 PM CDT and Wednesday, July 10 at 7 AM CDT via live steaming on kruufm.com. http://kruufm.com/node/15971 — at KRUU.

From traditional to self-publishing: Diana Star Helmer

Helmer 300dpi 2000px highDiana Star Helmer switched to epublishing after traditionally publishing 43 nonfiction books and the popular picture book, The Cat Who Came for Tacos. Her ebook novel for middle-grade students, Elsie’s Afghan, highlights the transformative power of a shy girl’s love for the afghan hound she knitted. On The Studio, Diana discusses why, despite her love of printed pages, she embraced new technology. She also reveals tidbits about her creative process and how she and her husband, fellow writer Tom Owens, facilitate each other’s writing.

Diana’s book, Belles of the Ballpark, about the All American Girls Baseball League, was named to the New York Public Library’s Books for the Teen Age list. She and Tom had seven of their coauthored books about Women’s National Basketball Association teams published in one year. That same year Diana had an eighth book, American Woman Suffragists, published, as well.

Admirably versatile, Diana also writes plays and teaches piano. She assisted aspiring writers by helping found statewide conferences of the Iowa chapter of The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She also helped organize that organization’s mentorship program. Tune in! http://www.kruufm.com/node/15609

Linda Egenes & Fairfield’s First Annual Local Authors Exhibition

linda_egenes

Linda Egenes will explain “How to Stay Healthy While You Write (Or Work Any Desk Job)” at the Fairfield Public Library Wednesday, April 17th during Health & Fitness presentations from 7 – 9 PM. Three other wellness authors will speak Wednesday, too, and Mayor Ed Malloy will laud the First Annual Local Author’s Exhibition.

The Exhibition begins Monday at 7 PM with poetry readings at the Fairfield Public Library in celebration of National Library Week (April 14th-20th).

For details on all Exhibition events, see http://kruufm.com/node/15488 and tune in to The Studio with Cheryl on KRUU 100.1 FM Monday at 1 PM CDT.

Classical Music: Nancy McFarland Gaub & Gene Gaub Predict Its Future

Gene Gaub

At 7:30 PM on Sunday, April 7th the McFarland Gaub Violin and Piano Duo will perform three Johann Brahms sonatas at the Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts. On a recent KRUU episode of “The Studio” Nancy and Gene played bits of each sonata and discussed how each one is unique. They also made predictions about the future of classical music.
Gene and Nancy, husband and wife, are both faculty members in Grinnell College’s Music Department. As a pianist, Gene made his New York debut performing Bartok’s First Piano Concerto with the Juilliard Orchestra at Lincoln Center. He’s given solo piano recitals at Carnegie Hall and many other venues. He’s also performed with orchestras in Vienna and Salzburg. A specialist in chamber music, he’s performed with many ensembles throughout the U.S.
Nancy was a member of the first violin section of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra for many years and now performs as soloist with the Grinnell Symphony Orchestra and the Ottumwa Symphony. The recipient of many music awards, Nancy has performed in festivals throughout the U.S. and in Mexico, Canada, Africa, and Europe. She’s also enjoyed recording many styles of music with popular artists and for film scores and commercials in New York City
Together Nancy and Gene founded and are co-artistic directors of Western New York’s critically acclaimed Roycroft Chamber Music Festival, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary in June.
Nancy Gaub

The African American Museum of Iowa Is (Almost) 20 Years Old!

African American Museum of Iowa

Writers Visit the African American Museum of Iowa

Artist Jeni Reeves’ vibrant rainforest murals enliven the “Western Africa: Before the Boats” exhibit at the African American Museum of Iowa. Recently Jeni and museum curator Lynn Koos showed me and five writing friends Jeni’s detailed murals and the many other great features of this exhibit, which runs through March 30th, 2014. Next Monday on “The Studio” on KRUU-LP 100.1 FM, Lynn will explain this exhibit and the museum’s mission. She’ll also reveal plans for the museum’s upcoming 20th anniversary celebration.

B.K. Loren: How to Write Like a Wolf

B.K. Loren, Author of Animal, Mineral, Radical

B.K. Loren, Author of Animal, Mineral, Radical

Why did the editor of B.K. Loren‘s first book of essays accuse her of writing like a wolf? How does B.K. strive daily to live up to that accusation? B.K. answers these questions during an in-depth discussion of the creative process that helped her produce her novel,Theft; her first essay collection, The Way of the River: Adventures and Meditations of a Woman Martial Artist; and her newest book, Animal, Mineral, Radical: Essays on Wildlife, Family, and Food. B.K.’s writing has garnered Pushcart nominations, fellowships, and inclusion among Best American Spiritual Writing anthologies. To learn how B.K. crafts prose that reviewers deem visceral, lyrical, and incandescent, tune in to “The Studio” on KRUU Monday, Feb. 11 at 1 PM CST or on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 7 AM CST.

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