Personal Life Media

Visit The Words To Mouth Website to Enter to Win a FREE Copy of EASY ON THE EYES

Easy on the Eyes (from Jane's Website)
At 38, Tiana Tomlinson has made it. America adores her as one of the anchors of America Tonight, a top-rated nightly entertainment and news program. But even with the trappings that come with her elite lifestyle, she feels empty. Tiana desperately misses her late husband Keith, who died several years before. And in a business that thrives on youth, Tiana is getting the message that her age is starting to show and certain measures must be taken if she wants to remain in the spotlight. It doesn’t help that at every turn she has to deal with her adversary—the devilishly handsome, plastic surgeon to the stars, Michael O'Sullivan. But a trip away from the Hollywood madness has consequences that could affect the rest of her life.

About Jane (from Jane's Website)
Born in Visalia, California, I'm a small town girl at heart. I love central California's golden foothills, oak trees, and the miles of farmland. In my mind, there's nothing sweeter in the world than the heady fragrance of orange blossoms on a sultry summer night. As a little girl I spent hours on my bed, staring out the window, dreaming of far off places, fearless knights, and happy-ever-after endings. In my imagination I was never the geeky bookworm with the thick coke-bottle glasses, but a princess, a magical fairy, a Joan-of-Arc crusader. My parents fed my imagination by taking our family to Europe for a year when I was thirteen. The year away changed me (I wasn't a geek for once!) and overseas I discovered a huge and wonderful world with different cultures and customs. I loved everything about Europe, but felt especially passionate about Italy and those gorgeous Italian men (no wonder my very first Presents hero was Italian). I confess, after that incredible year in Europe, the travel bug bit, and bit hard. I spent much of my high school and college years abroad, studying in South Africa, Japan and Ireland. South Africa remains a country of my heart, the people, the land and politics complex and heart-wrenching. After my years of traveling and studying I had to settle down and earn a living. With my Bachelors degree from UCLA in American Studies, a program that combines American literature and American history, I've worked in sales and marketing, as well as a director of a non-profit foundation. Later I earned my Masters in Writing from the University of San Francisco and taught jr. high and high school English. I now live in rugged Seattle, Washington with my two young sons. I never mind a rainy day, either, because that's when I sit at my desk and write stories about far-away places, fascinating people, and most importantly of all, love. I like a story with a happy ending. We all do.

I interviewed Dr. Shoshana Bennett, Ph.D. longer ago than I'd like to admit. To be honest, I ran into some editing issues with the sound quality and some phone interference, so I put it on the back burner. After revisiting the interview and all the excellent info Dr. Shosh offers, I inquired some moms on their interest in the content. Many moms were interested in hearing about Postpartum Depression and the treatment. Though it's still not perfect, I re-edited the file and finally posted it. It was a bit of a pain, but I really think the information Dr. Shosh offers is priceless. I realize it won't be of interest to every Words To Mouth listener, but let's face it, we're all either parents at some time in our lives or know someone who is, so if you don't listen, just be mindful of people around you who may find this interview useful. Be aware the sound levels were  a bit off, so you will hear some white noise and possibly a few phone key blurts--Hey, I tried.

Description on POSTPARTUM FOR DUMMIES from the Dummies Website:
It's a great blessing when a new mom with postpartum depression (PPD) is fortunate enough to be diagnosed early by a knowledgeable medical practitioner or therapist. But without guidance, it isn't always clear where the boundary between normal baby blues and PPD lies. As with any other illness, the quicker that PPD is identified and treated, the faster the woman will recover. Postpartum Depression For Dummies can help you begin the process of determining what’s going on with you and give you a better idea of where you fall so that you can get yourself into proper treatment right away. The book covers all aspects of PPD, from its history and its origins to its effects on women and their families to the wide variety of treatments available—including conventional Western medicine, psychological therapy, alternative medical treatments, and self-care measures.

POSTPARTUM FOR DUMMIES reveals:

• Why some doctors may be hush-hush about PPD
• How to distinguish between pregnancy hormone changes, "baby blues," and PPD
• The difficulties of getting a proper diagnosis
• The role and importance of a therapist
• The benefits of medication for depression
• Alternative treatments with  a successful track record
• How to find the right balance of psychological, medical, and alternative treatment
• Ways you can help foster recovery
• The nutrition you need to care for yourself properly
• How to help your partner help you

POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION FOR DUMMIES also provides the additional resources you need—web sites, organizations, and further reading—to help avoid the unnecessary suffering caused by undiagnosed and untreated PPD and survive and thrive as a new mom.

PREGNANAT ON PROZAC from Dr. Shosh's website:
Shoshana Bennett answers such questions as:

• Does the media exaggerate the risk?
• What of options such as tapering the dose?
• What alternatives are worth pursuing?

Most importantly, Dr. Shosh empowers each woman with the knowledge to make the best decision for her. Pregnant on Prozac is a must-have for any prospective mother who has experienced depression or anxiety as well as anyone with a friend or loved one in this situation.

Go to the Words To Mouth website for links

To enter to win Pregnant on Prozac OR Postpartum Depression for Dummies:

• Make sure you are subscribed to the Words To Mouth e-newsletter (how winners announced)
• Leave a Comment Below sharing your own experience with postpartum depression or why this interview piqued your interest.
• Call 206-309-7318 and leave a voice mail message I can play on-air
• U.S. & Canada residents only; No P.O. Boxes, please
• Deadline: June 30th, 2009 ~ midnight, EDT

Meet Shoshana Bennett, Ph.D., "Dr. Shosh":

She is the author of Postpartum Depression For Dummies and co-author of Beyond the Blues: Understanding and Treating Prenatal and Postpartum Depression. Her latest book Pregnant on Prozac was released on January 10, 2009. She’s also created guided imagery audios that are specifically focused on helping moms take care of themselves. National TV shows including “20/20? and “The Doctors” feature Dr. Shosh as the postpartum expert and news stations consult her. Several publications including the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Jose Mercury News have written articles on Dr. Shosh’s work. She’s interviewed regularly on national radio and television and has been quoted in dozens of newspapers and magazines such as the Boston Globe, Glamour, Psychology Today, New York Post, Self, Cosmopolitan, USA Weekend and the Chicago Tribune. Dr. Shosh is a pioneer in the field and considered the “go-to” expert for postpartum depression. She is a survivor of two life-threatening, undiagnosed postpartum depressions. She founded Postpartum Assistance for Mothers in 1987, and is a former president of Postpartum Support International. She has helped over 18,000 women worldwide through individual consultations, support groups and wellness seminars. As a noted guest lecturer and keynote speaker, she travels throughout the US and abroad, training medical and mental health professionals to assess and treat postpartum depression and related mood disorders. She earned three teaching credentials, two masters degrees, a Ph.D. and is licensed as a clinical psychologist. She is working to pass legislation that helps reduce the incidence and impact of postpartum mood disorders.

Come along as Mahbod Seraji leads us on a familiar coming-of-age journey in a distant land threatened with revolution. At times, humorous, at others, heart-wrenching. Open your experience to the universal truths of Middle Eastern culture and see the world--your world--a little differently ~ You’re bound to recognize your brother, your parents, your friend in those once nameless faces and consider ROOFTOP's poignant message of love, courage, grief, and hope.

ROOFTOPS OF TEHRAN Book Description from Mahbod’s Website:
This stunning literary debut paints a vivid portrait of growing up, discovering love, and awakening to the reality of life in a nation on the verge of revolution in the 1970s.  Rooftops of Tehran opens in a middle-class neighborhood in Iran’s sprawling capital city. The rooftop of the narrator’s house – the tallest in their alley - is the perfect spot for sleeping on hot summer nights. It’s also the perfect location for stargazing, sneaking cigarettes, talking about American movies, and confiding, analyzing and agonizing through the typical trials of being a seventeen year-old boy, including being in love. This is the spot from which the narrator quietly watches his secret love, his beautiful next door neighbor Zari, promised since birth to his friend and mentor, nicknamed Doctor, a man adored and respected by the whole neighborhood.  It is from this high perch that the narrator witnesses the SAVAK's brutal hunt and arrest of Doctor and realizes the oppressiveness of the regime under which he resides.  And the rooftop is where the narrator and Zari ultimately find quiet refuge in each other after the shock of Doctor’s senseless faith ripples through their close-knit community and brings about terrible, unexpected repercussions. With the candor only an Iranian can offer, Seraji's narrative bares the enduring struggle between beauty and brutality infused into the centuries-old Persian culture while reaffirming the human experiences we all share: contentment, terror, love, helplessness, ferocity, and hope.

"On the Plane with Annette Bening" Blog Excerpt (I'm glad I got to read the rest of it after speaking with Mahbod--don't miss the "Continue Reading" message at the bottom):
...Wow!  Annette Bening in Iran, I thought to myself.  I looked up and suddenly noticed a cheerful, beautiful, blond lady walking toward the snack bar, happy, carefree and relaxed, talking to the person who was walking along side of her, smiling, moving her arms—great energy for someone who like me must have woken up in the wee hours of the morning to make the damn flight!  Wow, the Academy Award wining Annette Bening and Alfre Woodard, one of the most underrated actors of all time!  Both their pictures were in the paper in front of me.  The ladies checked out the meager snack bar counter, and settled for a cup of coffee.  I have to admit, I felt a little giddy being in the same room with an Oscar winning actor, but I decided to rise above my giddiness and pretend like I hadn’t noticed her.  I buried my head back in the paper. For more, visit Words To Mouth.

• Mahbod is reading CITY OF THIEVES, by David Benioff ~ Check out the “early days” Words To Mouth interview.

Visit Words To Mouth for links to ROOFTOPS website and other Words To Mouth interviews.

To Enter to Win a FREE Copy of ROOFTOPS:

• Subscribe to the Words To Mouth e-newsletter (how winners announced)
• Leave a Comment Below telling us what piqued your interest from the interview/blog post
• Call 206-309-7318 and leave a voice mail message I can play on-air
• U.S. & Canada residents only; No P.O. Boxes, please
• Deadline: June 30th, 2009 ~ midnight, EDT

~ "Thanks" to Natalie Brown for her song You Gotta Believe from the Podsafe Music Network ~

THE SECOND OPINION
"Question Everything"

Dr. Thea Sperelakis, diagnosed as a teen with Asperger’s syndrome, has always been an outsider. She has a brilliant medical mind, and a remarkable recall of details, but her difficulty in dealing with hidden agendas and interpersonal conflicts have led her to leave the complex, money-driven dynamics of the hospital, and to embrace working with the poor, embattled  patients of Doctors Without Borders. Her father, Petros, is one of the most celebrated internal medicine specialists in the world, and the founder of the cutting-edge Sperelakis Center for Diagnostic Medicine at Boston’s sprawling, powerful Beaumont Clinic.

Thea’s rewarding life in Africa is turned upside-down when Petros is severely injured by a hit-and-run driver. He is in the Beaumont ICU, in a deep coma. No one thinks he will survive. Thea must return home. Two of Petros’ other children, both physicians, battle Thea and her eccentric brother, Dimitri, by demanding that treatment for their father be withheld.

As Thea uncovers the facts surrounding the disaster, it seems more and more to be no accident. Petros, himself, is the only witness. Who would want him dead? The answers are trapped in his brain . . . until he looks at Thea and begins slowly to blink a terrifying message.

In The Second Opinion, Michael Palmer has created a cat-and-mouse game where one woman must confront a conspiracy of doctors to uncover an evil practice that touches every single person who ever has a medical test. With sympathetic characters and twists and betrayals that come from the most unlikely places, The Second Opinion will make you question…everything.

For links and details on how to win a FREE copy of THE SECOND OPINION visit the Words To Mouth website

Be sure to visit the Words To Mouth website for links and a chance to win a FREE copy of ONO

ONO is a Business Book with a Soul (From the ONO website)
If you find yourself wanting more time for the things that matter in life—spouse, children, a “higher purpose,” or a hobby you’re passionate about, you want ONO.

Too many financial obligations make the juicy things in life harder to have.  Options, on the other hand, make them all possible.  You get to pick.  It’s delicious and available to anyone at any income level.

ONO will teach you the mastery levels of Family First Entrepreneurial thinking which will create options in your life.  It will show you how to maintain a work-life balance.  ONO gives busy moms and dads the permission they need to love their families more than their jobs – yet still create financial independence.  Our children spell love T-I-M-E.  Sadly, we have to buy that time.  ONO will show you how.

If you’re tired of not having a plan that shows promise of breaking loose from the burden of life’s financial obligations.   You want ONO.  At the end of life it will be the people we love, the places we saw, and how we grew as humans that we will remember.  ONO will be your blueprint to create the time and money for all of these.

ONO will help you:

• Learn the true definition of wealth
• Realize the power of building relationships
• Limit lifestyle to create options
• Discover how to live the Family First Entrepreneurial lifestyle

Through ONO, Marc Warnke will be introducing to you both a lifestyle and a path to follow that will allow money to create wealth and produce positive changes in your life. If fears about having enough money were no longer a part of our daily decisions, we would be free to focus on something greater than ourselves. We could devote energy to a Higher Purpose, whether it was spending a lot more time with our children, volunteering to do church work, helping kids learn to read, donating time, effort or money to a favorite cause, or even shoveling rhino poop at the zoo.If you find yourself wanting more time for the things that matter in life—spouse, children, a “higher purpose,” or a hobby you’re passionate about, you want ONO.

Marc Recommends:
Good to Great

"It's a love story, but in a much larger sense, it's about loving life and wanting as much of it as you can have," says Robert about THIRD WISH

For more details and a chance to win a free copy of THIRD WISH, visit The Words To Mouth website.

Upon editing my conversation with Josh, I realized this interview is as much for writers as it is readers. Josh, folds his life philosophies and his writing tips adeptly into MATRIMONY and our interview. He is an engaging conservationalist and a natural teacher, not to mention, of course, a gifted writer. 

How would you summarize Matrimony?
(From Josh's website)

Jonathan Franzen once said that the better a novel is, the more difficult it is to summarize. The protagonist in Martin Amis's novel The Information says something similar. He's a writer himself and he's being interviewed about his novel and the interviewer keeps asking him what his novel is about. Amis's protagonist, who, like many Amis protagonists, is a pretty difficult fellow, says something to the effect of, "It's 150,000 words, and if I could have said it in any less I would have." I sympathize. But if I had to describe Matrimony, I'd say it's about the twenty-year history of a marriage (it's about two marriages, actually--arguably three) and that it's about love and friendship, and the pleasures and perils that attend to those things. More generally, the novel is about what it's like to be in your twenties and thirties--even your forties in some cases--when you're waiting for life to begin and you find to your surprise that it already has begun and that the decisions you make have consequences that you're not even aware of yet. This is particularly pronounced in the case of my protagonists, Julian and Mia, since they get married at twenty-two, right out of college, and find themselves a year later living in Ann Arbor among friends for whom marriage is the last thing on their minds. College towns can perpetuate an eternal adolescence--I know; I've lived in a lot of them. And there's a real divide between married people and single people, the way further down the line there's an even bigger divide between people who have children and people who don't. So Julian and Mia have done what seems like the supremely adult act--getting married--even as in other ways they are far from fully formed. This is certainly true professionally. Julian is struggling to finish his novel; Mia is slogging away on her psychology dissertation. In that sense, the book is about what happens when life calls even when you're not ready for it to come calling.

Josh's advice about writing that first draft:
"Write by hand...to move forward and not back" and "Write, write, write and read, read READ!"

Oops, one question from Mari I missed (Thank goodness Josh was willing to answer via email):
Mari:  The dialog was so meaningful throughout the book, I would like to know if the author was able to reflect his life (did his parents share tidbits of wisdom or is this his creativity)?  Here’s an example: Page 59 – “My father’s always saying that college is the great equalizer.  Here, we’re all taking the same courses and eating the same meals.  But then we graduate and gravitate toward our own kind.”  What a strong statement/wisdom.  I noted several phrases in the book that read like “ah-ha” moments to me. 

Josh:  That's a great question.  That actual line of dialogue, like all the dialogue I wrote--like everything in MATRIMONY, in fact--is made up. But a writer is always on the lookout, always thinking, always observing, and you absorb the things that people say to you.  Certainly my parents shared tidbits of wisdom with me over the years.  It's hard to imagine a parent who doesn't, and perhaps my parents especially--my father was a professor for 50 years, so teaching came naturally to him, and to my mother as well, even if in a different way.  But neither of my parents ever said that line of dialogue.  Almost everything I write comes to me only at the moment I write it, though of course there are years of having lived and thought about things stored away somewhere in the recesses of my brain.  In general, I love writing dialogue.  How people speak characterizes them so deeply.  it's interesting to me (and pleasing) that you chose the line of dialogue you did.  It's not a major moment in the novel, it would seem, but to me it is a major moment and one that I often bring up when I talk with book clubs.  I'm more than twenty years out of college now, and I'm struck by how different many of my college friends are from what they were like in college, but how similar they are to what they were like before college, and to what their parents are like.  I think college is a time of real experimentation for a lot of people.  Economic concerns, while still present, may be less pressing than they are later, and so people are more on the same playing field.  It's the great equalizer, as Carter's father says.  And in some ways, though I didn't realize it as I was writing the book, this idea, this tension, is the driving force behind everything that happens in MATRIMONY.  You take a couple that meet in college, you take friends that meet in college, and you subject them to what life is like after college, and interesting things happen.  What is it like to fall in love in college and to try to stay in love many years later?  That, to me, is what MATRIMONY is about."

To read an excerpt of MATRIMONY and Josh's SUGGESTED READING, and find out how to have Josh "visit"  your book club, check out the Words To Mouth website.

COLD PURSUIT Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author Carla Neggers leads readers into a
deadly chase, where the right step can lead to the truth...
and a single misstep spells disaster. A prominent ambassador is killed in a suspicious hit-and-run in Washington, D.C. Hours later, his stepdaughter vanishes in the mountains of northern New England. Back in her hometown of Black Falls, Vermont, to do damage control on her career, Secret Service agent Jo Harper is drawn into the search. But her efforts face an unexpected challenge: Elijah Cameron. With his military training and mountain rescue experience, Elijah knows the unforgiving terrain better than anyone. But he and Jo have been at odds forever—and Elijah believes the missing teenager isn't just lost…she's on the run.
Forced to work together, Jo and Elijah battle time and the elements in a race into the unforgiving mountains. The twists and turns awaiting them will take them closer to the explosive truth…and into the sights of a killer.

Favorite Authors:

• Rex Stout
• Mary Stewart

Carla's Reading Now:

• MJ Rose's latest The Memorist
• **If you like time travel, check out The Time Traveler's Wife

Visit Words To Mouth website for links to Carla Negger's books and read an excerpt of COLD PURSUIT and her very latest THE BETRAYALS

Carla follows Nora Robert's sage advice "I can fix a bad page, but I can't fix a blank one"

To enter to win a free copy of STILL ALICE:

• Be sure to subscribe to the Words To Mouth e-newsletter ~ That is how I announce winners!
• Leave a Comment Below (if you've read the book, tell us who you see playing Alice or any of the other main characters of the book)
• Call 206-309-7318 and leave a voice mail message sharing something I can play on-air
• Subscribe to Words To Mouth via the link on my website or on iTunes
• Deadline for entry - February 30th, midnight, EST
• U.S. & Canada residents only; No P.O. Boxes

STILL ALICE Synopsis:
Still Alice is a compelling debut novel about a 50-year-old woman's sudden descent into early onset Alzheimer's disease, written by first-time author Lisa Genova, who holds a Ph. D in neuroscience from Harvard University. Alice Howland, happily married with three grown children and a house on the Cape, is a celebrated Harvard professor at the height of her career when she notices a forgetfulness creeping into her life. As confusion starts to cloud her thinking and her memory begins to fail her, she receives a devastating diagnosis: early onset Alzheimer's disease. Fiercely independent, Alice struggles to maintain her lifestyle and live in the moment, even as her sense of self is being stripped away. In turns heartbreaking, inspiring and terrifying, Still Alice captures in remarkable detail what's it's like to literally lose your mind...

“The book is about a young woman’s descent into dementia.  And of course, we see her struggle against this horrifying and inevitable descent.  But interestingly, as her cognitive capabilities diminish, we also get to see her grow.  As her symptoms worsen, Alice loses her cerebral life at Harvard, where she’d placed her worth and identity, where she’d been valued and respected.  Without it, she embarks on a desperate search for answers to questions like ‘Who am I now?’ and ‘How do I matter?' and is forced to search for meaning and intimacy beyond career success in her relationships with her husband and children, relationships previously neglected or on autopilot.  But has too much time and distance passed in those relationships, and has Alice already lost too much of herself to reconnect before she dies?” Lisa Genova

Lisa's Bio:
Lisa Genova graduated valedictorian from Bates College with a degree in Biopsychology and has a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University.  She has done research on the molecular etiology of depression, Parkinson's Disease, drug addiction, and memory loss following stroke.  She is a proud and active member of the Dementia Advocacy & Support Network International and DementiaUSA and is an online columnist for the National Alzheimer’s Association.  She spends a considerable amount of time acting on stage in Boston and in local independent films.  She is currently working on her next novel, LEFT NEGLECTED.

Books Lisa Mentioned:

• The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, Oliver Sacks
• Thirty-Six Hour Day, C. Rayner
• The Lace Reader, Brunonia Barry
• Don't Leave Me this Way, Julia Fox Garrison

**Thanks, as always, to Natalie Brown for her song You Gotta Believe from the Podsafe Music Network.

For links to cited books and websites, visit Words To Mouth website

To enter to win a free copy of Attack of the Theater People:

• Be sure to subscribe to the Words To Mouth e-newsletter ~ That is how I announce winners!
• Leave a Comment Below or Call 206–309–7318 sharing about your own guerilla theater AND
• Subscribe to Words To Mouth podcast/blog by clicking the icon to the right or Subscribe to Words To Mouth on iTunes
• Deadline for entry - February 15th, 2009 midnight, EST
• U.S. & Canada residents only; No P.O. Box

Attack of the Theater People Synopsis:
It's 1986, and twenty-year-old Edward Zanni has been kicked out of drama school for being "too jazz hands for Juilliard." Mortified, Edward heads out into the wonderland of 80s New York City, bumbling through a series of disastrous day jobs before finally finding one that suits his limited abilities. Working as a "party motivator," Edward excels at getting thirteen-year-olds to dance at Bar Mitzvahs and charming business people as a "stealth guest" at corporate events. Eventually, he attracts the attention of Chad Severson, a devastatingly charismatic and unscrupulous young stockbroker who befriends Edward in order to obtain insider trading information. Unaware he's breaking the law, Edward is soon in a heap of trouble. Not only are the feds after him, but he's being stalked by an obsessive thirteen-year-old Bat Mitzvah groupie, and facing the revenge of his spiteful ex-stepmother, Dagmar. Only the help of his crew from How I Paid for College can rescue Edward from a stretch in Club Fed, tumbling him into an adventure involving roller-skating actors, jet-setting Persians, guerilla theater, and a Springsteen tribute band called Almost Bruce. Together, they must give the performance of their lives. Laced with the inspired zaniness of classic American musical comedy, Attack of the Theater People matches the big hair of the eighties with an even bigger heart.

Visit Words To Mouth website for mentioned links for The Mesmer Project,Marc Acito’s Website and Tahoe Jackson

Book Recommendations:

• Heartburn by Nora Ephron
• Christopher Rice (Anne Rice's Son) Light Before Day

Thanks, as always, to Natalie Brown for her song You Gotta Believe from the Podsafe Music Network.

To enter to win a copy of The Shack:

• Comment below and/or
• Call 206-309-7318 and leave a voice mail message about your thoughts on The Shack, our interview, or maybe your own faith story
• You must be subscribed to the Words to Mouth e-newsletter to be informed of winning
• Deadline - February 15th, 2009 (midnight EST)
• U.S. and Canada residents only; NO P.O. Boxes

Description (Amazon):
Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever. In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant "The Shack" wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?" The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You'll want everyone you know to read this book!

Some of Paul's "future tripping" blog post ~ a term now part of my common vernacular among friends:
A couple of years ago, I decided to stop ‘future tripping’.  ‘Future Tripping’ is ‘taking thought for tomorrow’, it is creating imaginations of what is going to happen and then actually take a mental and emotional trip to live there for a bit.  It is ‘what am I going to do if _________ (fill in the blank), what am I going to say if __________, what would our family go through if _____________.  I confess to you that I have experienced many un-realities and their attendant emotions this way. 

I have repeatedly suffered huge financial losses, ended up living under one of the city bridges, been abandoned by my family, suffered the loss of each of my children, had my closest friends turn out to be villains, embarrassed myself in public, was put on the spot and said something stupid, been to my own funeral (more than once), unsuccessfully tried to stop something horrible from happening, failed repeatedly to live up to somebody’s expectations, been horribly maimed in every kind of imaginable accident known to man, lost all my teeth, lost every job I ever had, came down with every disease possible, regularly looked like an idiot, got my lights punched out for no reason, explained my driving to a police officer, lost my friends, went to school and found out I wasn’t wearing anything, got mugged, imagined the situation that I currently was in was permanent…that nothing could ever or would ever change…

…you get the idea.  I have written volumes of imaginations in my own head, things that have no substance, no reality, and are empty, vain imaginations.  But I treat them as if they are real.  I feel all kinds of terrifying and horrible emotions, and scramble to control my life so that these imaginations won’t actually come to pass.  THESE IMAGINATIONS ARE NOT REAL!!!!  But I had spent most of my life in or around them.  GOD DOES NOT DWELL IN ANYTHING THAT IS NOT REAL!!!  In these imaginations, Papa is conspicuously absent.  Why?  Because Papa has no interest in living inside something that isn’t even real to begin with.  So in my ‘vain’ empty imaginations, I am the only ‘god’ there is.  I have to fix things, make sure things turn out right, try to get a handle on people and events…and frankly, I do a very poor job of it…this playing god thing.  So, my life tended to be gripped by fear and I worked hard to get some ‘control’ to prevent these imaginations that I feared.  I had a habit of treating something that had no reality or substance as if it were truly real.

A couple years ago I stopped this insanity.  And here is what I discovered.  JOY has a name (for more...visit Paul's wonderful blog website).

For cited  links visit the Words To Mouth website

I had the privilege of meeting and cruising with the Manic Mommies back in November. One of the lovely mommies, Kim Erskine, organized an on-ship book club and we all met up in the library one afternoon to chat about The Pirate's Daughter. It was the perfect backdrop to talk about a book set in the tropics. The conversation was thought-provoking and as with most book clubs, impressions were introduced that weren't previously considered. Some of the questions our group had about the book went unanswered, so it was wonderful to pose them directly to the woman who penned the story.

Listen in as Margaret speaks so eloquently and intensely about her book and the Caribbean island nation she adores so much. Margaret is without a doubt a gifted storyteller and simply a delightful person.

Join the conversation & be entered to win a FREE copy of The Pirate's Daughter by:

• Leaving a comment below and/or
• Calling 206-309-7318 and sharing your impressions of the book or this interview--something I can play on-air
• Deadline February 15th, 2009, EST
• No P.O. Boxes Please
• U.S. & Canada residents only

Unbridled Books Description:
In 1946, a storm-wrecked boat carrying Hollywood’s most famous swashbuckler shored up on the coast of Jamaica, and the glamorous world of 1940’s Hollywood converged with that of a small West Indian society. After a long and storied career on the silver screen, Errol Flynn spent much of the last years of his life on a small island off of Jamaica, throwing parties and sleeping with increasingly younger teenaged girls. Based on those years, The Pirate’s Daughter is the story of Ida, a local girl who has an affair with Flynn that produces a daughter, May, who meets her father but once.

Spanning two generations of women whose destinies become inextricably linked with the matinee idol’s, this lively novel tells the provocative history of a vanished era, of uncommon kinships, compelling attachments, betrayal and atonement in a paradisal, tropical setting. As adept with Jamaican vernacular as she is at revealing the internal machinations of a fading and bloated matinee idol, Margaret Cezair-Thompson weaves a saga of a mother and daughter finding their way in a nation struggling to rise to the challenge of independence. 

A wonderful book review excerpt from BookingMama:
THE PIRATE'S DAUGHTER by Margaret Cezair-Thompson has been on my radar for over a year now so I was very excited when one of my book club members selected it for our December meeting. News about this book just kept popping up everywhere, and all of the buzz was so good. I think it was only a matter of time before I picked it up.

I first heard about this novel when Unbridled Books released it last fall. The book's description sounded very interesting to me. Then, it started receiving some big-time praise including including the #1 October 2007 Book Sense Pick as well as 2008 Essence Magazine Literary Award for Fiction. In August, the trade paperback version of THE PIRATE'S DAUGHTER was released by Random House with a bright, gorgeous cover. And just a few months ago, Celestial Seasonings' Adventure at Every Turn selected it as one of their book club picks. I am just so glad that someone finally selected it for us to discuss.

I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I began reading THE PIRATE'S DAUGHTER, but I have to say that the book was a little different than I thought it would be. While I knew that the story was about a young Jamaican girl, Ida, who falls in love with Errol Flynn, I didn't know that the book also included a lot of historical information about Jamaica. Having known absolutely nothing about Jamaica and their struggle for independence in the 1970s, I thought it was very interesting. The author did a tremendous job of incorporating the history with the characters in this novel.

I had always known that Errol Flynn was a unique figure to say the least, but I had no idea how much trouble this man could cause. I found him to be extremely distasteful -- he seemed to prefer under-age girls and lots of alcohol; however, I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of him and his actions -- these scenes were excellent. He must have been such a charismatic figure because men and women alike wanted to be in his presence (although to me he just seemed disgusting.) I found it so sad that Ida fell in love with him (or the idea of him) and ended up sacrificing her entire life because of her feelings. For More . . . 

Margaret's Suggested Reading:

• Mister Pipp, by Lloyd Jones "I love and highly recommend," says Margaret

Margaret's favorite author (when forced to pick ONLY one!):

• Edith Wharton

**Visit the Words To Mouth website for links to Booking Mama, The Pirate's Daughter MySpace, Margaret Cezair's Facebook page, and Errol Flynn Wikipedia

FINALLY THIN! is the ultimate companion to any diet--featuring ten steps that will give you the information and motivation to achieve your own success on any weight-loss plan.

I had the privilege of speaking with Kim Bensen, an incredibly inspiring individual. She's struggled with her weight her whole life and finally lost over 200 pounds and just celebrated her 5-year anniversary of keeping it off. Her book FINALLY THIN! is open, honest, and encouraging. Kim unabashedly shares her "warts and wrinkles" ~ all the embarrassing stories of her food addiction. She's been there and relates to those who struggle. In FINALLY THIN! Kim gives an overview of all the different diet programs out there and offers her book as a companion to whichever plan is right for you. She also provides over 70 yummy recipes.

Kim Bensen is a marketing and PR Expert, wife, and mother of four children who was obese for much of her life, weighing as much as 347 pounds. Five years ago, she lost 212 pounds on Weight Watchers and has never looked back. Her story has garnered her thousands of fans and followers as well as a host of national media: She has appeared on the Today Show, Extra, Fox and Friends, 700 Club, and numerous local TV and radio outlets, as well as in People, Women's World, Prevention, and Cooking Light. She does a weekly 3-minute segment on Better TV (affiliated with Better Homes and Gardens) and her weekly column, "Here's the Skinny," runs in several newspapers across the country. Her website has over 7,000 subscribers who log on for diet tips and recipes, and her recently launched product line, Kim's Light Bagels, is carried in 800 major supermarkets on the east coast. She continues to lead Weight Watchers groups in CT, where she lives.

The following is additional Q & A with Kim, not a transcription of our conversation, so be sure to click to listen!

Carrie:  FINALLY THIN! is your journey to weight loss—and keeping that weight off.  Although not always obese, you have battled a food addiction and its challenges since childhood.  Tell us a little about your own personal experience.
Kim:  I live with my loving husband and four children—ranging in age from 7 to 22 in Southern, CT. In high school I fluctuated up and down 10-15 pounds in a yo-yo cycle that would haunt me for years. In college the spread of pounds grew to 30, then 40. I lost weight for my wedding in 1984, but soon gained it all back and more. Shortly after we were married my eating got out of control and for the first time in my life I was over 200 pounds. For the next 10 years I struggled up and down in the 200 pound range; for 10 years after that in the 300 pound range. I tried every low carb, high protein, low sugar, shake-supplemented, pill popping, bar munching, body piercing weight loss program in existence. Guess what? They ALL worked! But after a while I would feel deprived or discouraged and fall off the wagon, gaining back all that I had lost ... and then some.

Carrie: Eventually every-day activities became increasingly difficult for you.  How was your health suffering? 
Kim:  My cholesterol was astronomically high. Eventually even my walking was limited. When I sat down my stomach came to the end of my knees. I had no lap for my children and, if I continued along the same path, my children would have no mother at all. I was eating myself to death. Then, on October 1, 2001, I cried out to God in a desperate, broken prayer which would change my heart ... and my life. Three days later, with renewed determination and hope, I walked through the doors of Weight Watchers® (again) and weighed in at 347 pounds. I "knew" I would eventually quit and gain the weight back, but I was hoping to be able to breathe a little easier and – possibly – fit into plus size clothing stores again (which I had outgrown) before that happened. The idea that I might actually become thin never even entered my mind.

Carrie: What was the next step?
Kim:  For two years I planned meals, counted POINTS™, drank water, weighed, measured, and kept track of my points on a “tracking bracelet” I had made. For two years I focused on changing recipes and behaviors from the inside out. For two years I watched the scales inch downward, and my once hopeless spirit began to soar. The more I put into it, the more fun it became! I was actually ENJOYING my new way of eating!  Week after week I stuck with it. There were challenges and plateaus. There was hope and victory. My journey was long, but it didn't matter any more. I loved what I was doing! I could live with this! For the first time in years I was under 300 lbs ... then 200 lbs ... then, on October 7, 2003, I reached my goal.

Carrie: How much weight did you ultimately lose?
Kim:  In the end I lost 212 pounds, lowered my cholesterol more than 200 points, lost an inch and a half in each wrist, and went down from a size 6x to a size 6. The weight loss has made countless practical differences in my life: I can fit in any chair, buckle up in a car, and get toys out from under the middle of my boys' beds.  I can fit socks inside my shoes and can wear over-the-counter jewelry without extenders. I even joined Curves to help me with toning and maintenance.

Carrie:  How did your weight loss change your profession?
Kim:  My weight loss has not only changed my health and my looks, it’s changed my profession. In 2005 I became a leader for Weight Watchers® and began cooking for my members.  Today I write a weekly weight loss column called Here's The Skinny and I’m the Diet Editor for Better TV and Parents TV.

Carrie:  How is your book a companion to any diet?
Kim:  FINALLY THIN! doesn't sell anything. No one diet. No product. Nothing. It's written from the perspective of someone who loves food, loves eating and has always had trouble being satisfied with a "normal" portion of food. It's written by someone who always yo-yoed and never thought maintenance — happy, enjoyable maintenance — at a healthy weight was possible. It's a book of hope ... and a book of every trick, tip, mantra and recipe I used to get where I am today. No matter what diet you are on, whether you've had surgery or are "just cutting back" FINALLY THIN! can help you stick with it whether you have 10 lbs to lose or 210.

Carrie:  What suggestions do you give to readers trying to find the diet that's right for them?  How do they know if it's a good fit?
Kim:  FINALLY THIN! offers a “Diet Quiz” with practical questions that help readers think through what their needs are.  I also have a “Diet Shoppe” which is simply a short, unbiased summary of 30 of the top diets on the market from Atkins to the Zone. There are a lot more tips and helpful guidelines, but that's a brief overview of a few of the takeaways from the book.

Carrie:  You have created some terrific recipes including Broccoli Crunch, Jalapeno Poppers, and Angel Food Layer Cake, just to name a few. Do you have a favorite recipe?
Kim:  I would have to say my Hot Artichoke Dip ... hands down. Or my Bruschette ... definitely. No. No. Wait! Either my Downeast Chowder or my Chicken Pot Pie or my Family Cheesecake. It's really hard to say!

Carrie: I understand you have a new bagel line?
Kim:  A year ago friends encouraged me to take to market one of my favorite products – a 110 calorie, high fiber, low fat bagel — in six yummy flavors. Today we ship Kim’s Light Bagels to all 50 states and are in major grocery store shelves across New England, New York and New Jersey. Our goal? To get out of the shipping business and be in the supermarkets of EVERYONE who wants a tasty, portion controlled, New York style, kettle boiled bagel!

Carrie:  How have these experiences shaped you?  And, what will readers take away from your book?
Kim:  There’s a lot about my story that isn’t easy to share, but my goal is to encourage others. You need to feel the depths of my bondage to food, so that you can see how great the possibilities are of overcoming yours.  No matter where you are today, reaching your weight loss goal is possible. No weight is too much. No time is too long. The only way you'll never lose weight is if you stop trying.  Come on ... it’s YOUR turn now!

WIN:  Kim has not only agreed to provide a free copy of FINALLY THIN! for our book giveaway contest, she's also throwing a bunch of FREE Kim's Light Bagels into the mix. To be entered to win the book and/or bagels (two separate drawings), simply:

• Comment on the Words To Mouth website and/or
• Call 206-309-7318
• You MUST be subscribed to the Words To Mouth e-newsletter to find out who wins!
• Deadline: January 15th, midnight EST

We'd love to hear your story ~ your challenges and successes. Whatever they are, 2009 is a NEW beginning, so I encourage you to pick up FINALLY THIN!, visit Kim's website and just BEGIN...

Kim's Helpful Tips for Moms:

• To foster healthy eating habits, Kim suggests asking kids "What are you going to have for your fruit and vegetable before you have everything else?" 
• Kim has wonderful perspective when it comes to reconciling the role model she was at 345 pounds and where she is today. "My kids see an area where I've struggled and how it's never too late to turn it around...an example of overcoming." Kim encourages other mothers:  "...don't wear the guilt, work on yourself, and let those habits trickle down to your kids."

On a side note: Kim and I talked a bit about emotional eating and food addiction and I got to thinking about the added difficulty of food addiction as compared to our other addictive tendencies. And, by the way, according to my therapist friend, Suzanne Maiden (Dear Zanny) we all have those tendencies, whether it's alcohol, nicotine, even busyness or exercise--our neuroses can manifest in all kinds of "kooky" ways. Food addiction creates blatant physical side-effects that other addictions don't ~ not to mention all kinds of judgments. As Kim shares, people can take one look at an overweight person and make all kind of assumptions. But what about the person who spends night after night surfing internet porn sites and drinking mass amounts of alcohol and in the morning is at the office with no one the wiser? I also considered the added difficulty of beating food addiction over some other addictions. I mean, as difficult as it may be, people stop drinking and smoking cold turkey with a key component NOT having the substance in the home. Think about it, we all have to eat ~ imagine being addicted to the very substance you need to sustain your life. My heart goes out to people who struggle with weight and food addiction and I just encourage you to read FINALLY THIN! and visit Kim's website for added support. Even if you don't have a weight struggle, we all can benefit from Kim's tips and recipes for a healthier lifestyle. 

Kim's Light Bagels ~ 110 calories, high in fiber, 6 great flavors, and only 1 Weight Watchers point. 2009, unveils Kim's Lite english muffins and breads.

Kim's Reading & Recommends

• John Piper
• Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis
• The Holy Bible

**Be sure to check out TheDivaCast's talk on Childhood Obesity with expert Andrea Hope, PhD

Dr. Allan Hamilton's career is far from linear spanning from janitor, to Harvard-graduate neurosurgeon, author, motivational speaker, Grey's Anatomy script consultant, and Horse Whisperer. Without a doubt, he's one extraordinary man and yet he has an easy demeanor that elicits familiarity and relaxed conversation.

Dr. Hamilton admits to almost titling his book The Spiritual Journey of a Reluctant Surgeon, because...well, that's his truth. He comes from an esoteric hard-core science-based background. But, after witnessing how the healing power of hope trumps scientific evidence time and time again, Dr. Allan Hamilton stepped beyond denial and recognized the capability of the human soul.

In his book, The Scalpel and the Soul, Dr. Hamilton shares story after story of what he encountered in his medical career and through his own personal life experience ~ Things that cannot be explained scientifically. He shares his views on what faith means to him and his "Twenty Rules to Live By" in and outside of a hospital room.

Dr. Hamilton speaks of how to harness emotional and spiritual resources, so the soul gets as much intensive care as the physical, and in turn, enhances the body's healing process. He hopes The Scalpel and the Soul encourages physicians and scientists to address their patients' spiritual needs as well as their physical requirements. I think it should be required reading for graduation from medical school, but read it and decide for yourself.

From Dr. Allan Hamilton's Website:
The soul often needs more than an Intensive Care Unit can provide. The Scalpel and the Soul explores how premonition, superstition, hope and faith not only become factors in how patients feel, but can change the outcomes as well. The stories with in this book validate the spiritual manifestations physicians see every day. The tales empower patients to voice their spiritual needs in medical situations. When the life is threatened, the soul can exert mysterious powers, embracing that knowledge can help anyone, patient or caregiver, to cope with such difficult and challenging times.

Endorsements:
"Allan Hamilton is a natural storyteller. His real-life experiences remind us that patients and surgeons can share in a spiritual transformation during the course of battling disease. He also reminds us that every patient presents a dramatic opportunity to see the miraculous, the inexplicable, and the inspirational at work."
Linda Klein R.N., Producer, Grey's Anatomy & Nip/Tuck

"A tragic error in medical education is that doctors are taught to think and not feel. The Scalpel & the Soul is a moving account of what can happen when a doctor opens his heart and his eyes to life's spiritual lessons and the mystery that thrives amidst the terror and trauma of life-threatening illness. This book will be appreciated by everyone who reads it because we are the same at both ends of the scalpel."
Bernie Siegel, MD author of Help Me To Heal and Prescriptions For Living

"Allan Hamilton has the whole-person perspective that I emphasize in integrative medicine. Like me he regards patients as not just physical bodies but also as metal/emotional beings and spiritual entities. In order to understand health and illness, doctors must examine and attend to those dimensions of human life as well as the physical, even when the physical body is obviously damaged or sick." Andrew Weil, MD author of 8 Weeks to Optimum Health, Spontaneous Healing, Natural Health, Natural Medicine...and many more.

• To enter to win a free copy of The Scalpel and the Soul, visit Words To Mouth website for details.
• Thanks to Natalie Brown for her song You Gotta Believe from the Podsafe Music Network

Free Books for Readers & Sage Advice for Authors

Join Evo and me as we talk about books, authors, and the benefits of podcasting and social media. This show is not only for published authors or aspiring authors, but for readers, too. Visit Podiobooks and get a taste for just how many books are available for you to download to your computer/ipod for FREE.

About Evo (Podiobooks Bio):
From independently funded start-ups to multi-million dollar ebusiness projects, Evo Terra has been leading internet and ecommerce strategic development since 1999. His specialty is in discovering emergent technologies and adapting them to meet a variety of wants and needs. Prior to Podiobooks.com, he consulted with industry-leading search platforms as they developed their local search properties, directed ebusiness for a $2BB retail organization, and managed over $10MM of online media funds on behalf of various best-of-class advertising clients. Evo also has a penchant for good literature, co-hosting Dragon Page Cover to Cover, one of the first podcasts ever and is focused on authors of speculative fiction. Additionally, he is recognized as a pioneer in the podcasting world, and co-authored Podcasting for Dummies (TM) along with Tee Morris.

Evo Mentioned (Visit the Words To Mouth website for direct links):

• Evo at 11
• Gang Plank
• Fun Anymore
• PG Holyfield
• Chuck Tomasi
• Nathan Lowell
• J.C. Hutchins
• Scott Sigler
• Tracy Hickman
• Dr. Jack's Soap Box Seminars
• I Sold the Moon, Barry McArdle
• Faithful Warrior, Basil Sands
• Ask a Ninja Handbook
• Welcome to the Bee Hive

"You like golf, you like murder mysteries - then Sudden Death is your book!"  James Patterson
"Pure fun, pure intrigue. The action never stops till a fascinating climax."  Clive Cussler

Michael Balkind Wins the “Patience Award”...

I'm embarrassed to say, Michael and I spoke several months ago and I’ve admittedly sat on the interview for a number of reasons. Some had to do with an interview back log and prioritizing, but I've also been on a bit of a learning curve deciphering which genres most interest the Words To Mouth community. Things have shaken out a bit since I created the show/site and it appears women's fiction/mysteries, novels, memoirs, and non-fiction generate the most comments and attention. Michael Balkind's Sudden Death fits none-of-the-aforementioned. Sudden Death, in my humble opinion, appeals mostly to the male persuasion and the majority of our community here is primarily female.

"Well, you shoulda thought about that before you interviewed him," you may say.
Well, yes, true. BUT...you haven't met Michael Balkind.

The man is persistent with a capital "P" and he is a born marketer. That being said, don't bother asking him how he landed endorsements from James Patterson and Clive Cussler...mum's the word.  Michael's genuine, open and honest demeanor made our exchange enjoyable and engaging. He shared some very private experiences with me on mic...He revealed his more feminine, or as he calls it "gushy," side which shows us he's human, vulnerable, and a downright likeable guy.

I encourage you to listen to our conversation and decide for yourself if Sudden Death piques your interest. Regardless of your taste in books, I doubt you'll be able to resist Michael's easy charm and his eagerness to share his love for his literary journey.

By the way, it's not unintentional that I decided to post this interview close to the holidays ~ Sudden Death can be a great gift for that special someone who enjoys sports and mysteries...regardless of his/her gender.

Angela M. Hooper's Amazon Review:

Reid Clark is a temperamental man, who plays golf in the PGA, and might I add that he is "the best out there." He has caused many enemies, but that isn't all. People want to kill him due to his temper tantrums and he has to play knowing that it may kill him due to the death threats he has received. He is so sure of himself off and on the golf course with the ladies. Other players and business associates resent his temper. Known as the "Bad Boy" his threat is to: Never win another golf tournament. Will he stop playing? You must read to find out. This novel could be a wonderful movie. There is suspense and mystery and a lot of egotistic mannerisms. Great read! Oh, and read the reviews from other top authors. Quite impressive!

I wish Michael all the very best with his books, television series, and potential movie deals. Michael Balkind is certainly a name to keep an eye on ~ Just caught him in a photo hobnobbing with John Grisham--How does he do that?

• Marc Entertainment has optioned the television/movie rights for Balkind's Deadly Sports Mysteries
• The Fix (co-authored by ESPN anchor Ryan Burr),"a college football gambling story with a serious twist at the end," has already garnered movie interest from Clint Eastwood and Matt Damon, according to Balkind.

Balkind's Charities:

• Juvenile Diabetes
• Gilda's Club
• Friends of Karen

What Michael's Reading & Recommends:

• Dennis Batchelder's Soul Identity "a phenomenal book," says Michael.
• Tony Eldridge’s The Sampson Effect

Thank you to Natalie Brown for her song, You Gotta Believe.

To enter to win a copy of Sudden Death:

• Subscribe to my e-newsletter (right-hand top corner). This is how I notify winners
• Leave a comment below or call 206–309–7318 and leave a voice mail message.

I've had this interview in my back pocket for awhile. I took to heart an expert podcaster's advice to have at least 10 shows in the hopper, so as to be prepared and it sort of backfired. I think I do best living life a bit more on the edge. So...my apologies on the delay to Amy. I think you'll agree, it's worth the wait ~ She's a pleasure. Listen in as we talk about her life, her book, and her blogs.

Afterwards, don't forget to comment below and/or call 206-309-7318 and leave a voice mail message to be entered to win a FREE copy of HOW FAR IS THE OCEAN FROM HERE. You'll need to subscribe to my e-newsletter to make it quick and easy for me to announce the winner! Please leave me a review on iTunes and don't forget to subscribe to Words To Mouth to get it delivered to your computer for free, so you can listen wherever and whenever you'd like. “Thanks” as always to Natalie Brown for You Gotta Believe from the Podsafe Music Network.

About HOW FAR IS THE OCEAN FROM HERE:
Susannah Prue is a young, unmarried surrogate mother who, in the days before her delivery date, panics. Jumping into her car, she flees her Chicago home and a few days later pulls up to a bleak motel in the Southwest—the Thunder Lodge. There, she encounters misfits, much like herself, who also carry secrets: the motel’s terse proprietors, their mentally disabled son, and a woman transporting her niece to the father she’s never met. But when the parents of Susannah’s baby discover her whereabouts, she can no longer ignore the profound power she holds over their lives.

Beautifully written, How Far Is the Ocean from Here explores the ways in which people care for one another and the ways in which they fail, the kinds of families we create when we have no one else to turn to, and the strangeness and unpredictability of love.

Book Excerpt:
Chapter One, "Otherhood"

Along the highway in that stretch of desert, some-where between West Texas and East New Mexico, there was nothing and nothing and nothing and then the Thunder Lodge. But what a nothing! There the horizon had a weight she hadn’t known a horizon could have; a plain unvaried by cactus or tree, unstirred by lizard or coyote, undimpled by even a shadow, only here and there the slightest swell of hills. A house, a diner, a roadside attraction—an abandoned gas station with leaking, ancient snouts; a gigantic plaster dinosaur; a man in a gorilla suit advertising discounted tires—any distraction would have inspired as raucous a land ho as has ever been heard. But there was nothing, and still she moved onward, and still the desert lay insensible to any human who entered it.

That is to say, the highway was so forgotten in those stretches that it was difficult to believe it had ever been built. Out walking on its dusty shoulder, her hands pressed to her belly as if it might detach in the heat, sweat trickling between her shoulder blades, Susannah tried to imagine the men who had done such a thing, these ghostly men who’d installed the devolving asphalt: bending their backs in the sunlight, their lungs struggling in the grit of reddish dirt, the hides of their legs and hands torn from arguing with the sinewy tangles that accounted for vegetation. On the whole she spent entirely too much time daydreaming—it was a weakness, she knew— picturing what it was like to be somebody else, trying on different versions of herself like suits of skin. Now she was entirely out of context, a paper doll slapped onto an unfamiliar backdrop, just any pregnant girl standing on the side of the highway twisting her spine, giving the overheated car a minute to tick time-bombishly, a chance to stop steaming from the hood. (For more, go to the full excerpt on Amy's website

Amy's Book Recommendations:

• The House of Mirth, Edith Wharton  ~  "It is so wonderful. If you just want to spend a weekend at home weeping, I highly recommend it," says Amy.
• Amy says about her favorite author: "Virginia Woolf inspires me...at the same time making me feel like there is no point in writing anything"

"Violence Knows No Zipcode" John Linney

Youth on youth mistreatment is getting younger, meaner, and harder for adults to identify...and more acceptable
A National Epidemic

U.S. Bullying Stats According to Safe School Ambassadors:

• 25,000 secondary school students are targets of attacks or robberies.
• Over 1600 teachers are threatened each day and 300 are assaulted by students
• 160,000 students stay home from school because they are afraid of what someone will say or do to them.
• 22% of 4th through 8th graders report academic problems due to bullying
  Every Day in America
• 160,000 students stay home from school because they are afraid of how they might be treated by their peers.
• Every day, thousands ­ or millions ­ more come to school with a knot in their guts ­unable to concentrate, learn, or perform at their best ­ because they are afraid they'll be insulted, harassed, assaulted or worse. Every day...

Students Hold the Key
Students see, hear, and know things adults don't... and they can intervene in ways adults can't. But too often they don't because they fear retaliation and don't know what to do.

Imagine...
What if a cadre of courageous, committed and skilled students ­ the social leaders of your school's diverse cliques, those most likely to speak up ­ were preventing and stopping exclusion, teasing, bullying and other forms of violence on your campus... right now? **from SSA Website

The Oprah Winfrey & Doctor Phil’s Television Shows Have Recently Featured Bullying. As Oprah's recent shows on bullying so clearly point out, students hold the key to creating physically and emotionally safe schools. In more than 400 schools in the United States and Canada, over 18,000 Safe School Ambassadors are reducing teasing, insults, gossip, bullying, harassment and fighting using non-violent communication skills. These socially influential student leaders from diverse cliques are promoting tolerance and helping their friends treat people right.

To win a FREE copy of Safe School Ambassadors, subscribe to the Words To Mouth newsletter, then leave a comment either via the blog post below or by calling 206-309-7318 and share your experience ~ Were you ever bullied? Maybe you were the bullier?? Come on, fess up ~ I did! Do you have a child who's in the midst of the bullying dynamic? Have any tips for others? Share your stories. I'll be taking one copy of SSA on the Manic Mommies getaway cruise for a "door prize" and giving one away...so, let me hear from you.

Don't forget to subscribe to the show via iTunes (Sure would love to see a new review on iTunes...it's been so long, I'm suffering from review withdrawal)

As always, thanks to Natalie Brown for her song You Gotta Believe from the Podsafe Music Network.

The Flynn Brothers Trilogy

Publishers Weekly on Deadly Night
Bestseller Graham (Kiss of Darkness) spices up a spooky post-Katrina mystery in this solid trilogy opener. PI brothers Aidan, Jeremy and Zachary Flynn have inherited a plantation near New Orleans from Amelia Flynn, a relative they never knew. They consider selling the rundown house, but instead agree to restore it and move in. When Aidan finds human bones on the plantation's grounds, further sleuthing reveals some local missing persons cold cases that might be connected to the house, already haunted by two Flynn cousins who fought on opposite sides of the Civil War. Meanwhile, romance slowly ignites between cynical widower Aidan and Kendall Montgomery, psychic and Amelia's friend and former caregiver. Dream messages and premonitions, ghostly sightings, capable detective work and fascinating characters blend to make a satisfying chiller.

Slight Correction from audio interview: I actually have the full series to give away. So, simply leave a comment below and/or leave me a voice mail message at 206-309-7318 and you’ll be entered to win the three-book series. Keep it for yourself or give it away as a holiday gift.

What Heather is reading & recommends:
The Beautiful Cigar Girl, by Daniel Stashower "a great nonfiction," according to Heather

Heather's advice to fledgling authors: Join a writing organization. She belongs to RWA, HWA, Ninc, MWA, and ITW.

 Heather's Websites:

    * eheathergraham.com
    * theoriginalheathergraham.com ~ Check out the New Orleans bizarre story video
    * heathergraham.tv

Out in November: Pirate's Bride
Out in April: Night Walker
Out Summer '09: another 4-book Vampire Series - the first, Dust to Dust

M.I.L.D.E.W. (Mother-in-Laws Do Everything Wrong), now in its second printing, is a hysterical marriage companion book every woman should have in her back pocket–either to make herself laugh when those inevitable mother-in-law issues arise or to have at-the-ready for a girlfriend who may need a dose of M.I.L.D.E.W. perspective.

Co-Authors, Liz Buper and Renee Plastique (okay, their names have been changed to protect their identity ;) bring humor to an otherwise extremely frustrating dynamic. The acronym, M.I.L.D.E.W., is infiltrating today’s vernacular and every woman can relate–we all have a personal or “friend” story to  contribute when the mother-in-law topic is broached. Hear about some of the biggest challenges and funniest MILDEW stories, plus some great strategies to deal with MILDEWS.

Check out and earlier Words To Mouth written interview and click the gray arrow below to hear about the book from the author’s own lips.

The 4th Sunday in October is MIL Day ~ Just in time for Halloween ~ How appropriate ;-) To win a free autographed copy of M.I.L.D.E.W. share your MILDEW stories ~ Call 206-309-7318 and leave a voice message I can play on air or post a comment below.

Double your bet by visiting www.MyMildew.com and share your stories for the M.I.L.D.E.W. newsletter.

Book Recommendations:

    * The Post Birthday World, by Lionel Shriver  ~ Liz
    * Have a New Kid by Friday, by Dr. Kevin Leman ~ Renee

Click the arrow below to listen to the audio interview. Be sure to leave a comment below or call 206-309-7318 and leave a voice message to be entered to win a FREE copy of Matters of Faith and don't...

Words To Mouth is an Internet talk show and companion blog website connecting readers with authors beyond the printed page. Discover new and seasoned authors and the books they write through audio interviews and daily written blog posts. Plus, you can enter drawings to win FREE books!

From Eric’s website:

Eric Weiner’s The Geography of Bliss signals the arrival of the next great category of literary nonfiction: the philosophical self-help humorous travel memoir.

Weiner, a veteran foreign correspondent for National Public Radio, has covered a multitude of catastrophes and maladies from more than 30 countries over the past two decades. For The Geography of Bliss, however, he decided to tell the other side of the story by visiting some of the world’s most contented places.

Using the ancient philosophers and the much more recent “science of happiness” as his guide, Weiner travels the world in search of the happiest places. Many authors have attempted to describe what happiness is; fewer have shown us where it is, and what we can learn from the inhabitants of different Eric Weinercultures…Throughout his global quest, Weiner integrates the insights of classical thinkers on happiness, augmented by one-liners worthy of a stand-up comedian. This is travel writing that simultaneously journeys across the globe and through the author’s mind.

Our conversation:

    * Where would you guess the United States falls on the International Scale of Happiness?  Listen in and find out, but you just may have to eat some rotting shark meat to get the full effect.
    * Eric addresses the age-old question “Does money buy happiness?” Eric’s short answer: “A little bit of money will buy you a lot of happiness, but a lot of money won’t buy you much more.”
    * Eric speaks about the U.S. obsession with happiness relative to our country’s founding documents ~ Life, Liberty, and The Pursuit of Happiness ~ “We suffer from the unhappiness of not being happy,” Eric says. On his travels, Eric observed that other countries obsess about happiness less and tend to be happier for it. He spoke about the great paradox of happiness ~ “It’s a ghost, it’s a shadow. You can’t really chase it. It’s a by-product, a very pleasant side effect to a life lived well. more.

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