Author Interviews

Thelma Mbaezue-Daniel talks with Dr. Gary Small about his book, "SNAP!: Change Your Personality in 30 Days." Experts in psychiatry and psychology have long believed that our personalities are essentially set from early childhood and remain consistent throughout life. However, the latest scientific research contradicts this long-held assumption. New compelling evidence indicates that we can change our personalities – either on our own, with the help of a therapist, or a combination of the two – and meaningful personality change can be achieved in a snap! – as quickly as 30 days. These groundbreaking findings have shattered the false belief that we are locked into our negative personality traits – no matter how much they hinder our potential happiness and success.

Tami Goveia talks with Peter Stone about her book, "The Perfect Candidate." The Perfect Candidate, - published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers on October 2, 2018. The story is inspired by his experience working in Washington, D.C. as a Spanish tutor for former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and as an intern for Congressman Gary A. Condit just after he graduated from high school. Having majored in political science, Stone managed a Congressional primary campaign and is a Harry S. Truman Scholar. He is also a high school speech and debate national champion and maintains that speech and debate tournaments are the best thing any teenager could do with their Saturdays.

Fern Ronay talks with Janna King about her book, "The Seasonaries." Inspired by this deceivingly heady atmosphere, acclaimed screenwriting talent makes her fresh and thrilling debut with The Seasonaires. An idyllic Nantucket summer begins like a dream for Mia, a scrappy "Southie," Presley, the gorgeous southern beauty queen, Cole, a quiet newcomer with startling eyes, Jade, the exotic daughter of a model and music mogul, J.P., the energetic young designer, and Grant, the playful party-boy. All six are working as seasonaires for the clothing brand Lyndon Wyld. But like all things that look too good to be true, the darkness lurking underneath slowly [...]

Marisa Serafini talks with Katerina Cozias about her book, "Rising up from Mental Slavery." Do you feel an urge to expand your financial success, create a stronger romantic relationship, carve out a better work/life balance, or gain increased freedom to do what you want, when you want? Perhaps deep down you do, but you are asking yourself: Am I capable? Can I really have all the things I dream of having? The answer to these questions is YES. [...]

Lauren LoGrasso talks with Heather Monahan about her book, "Confidence Creator." The key to reaching your personal and professional goals and living the life of your dreams lies in the power of confidence. If you don't have it, don't worry. Heather Monahan will show you how anyone can master the essential techniques to building confidence and becoming your best self. In Confidence Creator, Heather offers a resource she wishes she had when she was younger. Using personal stories from her life and career, Heather illustrates the tough lessons she learned along the way that helped her develop the self-assurance necessary for getting what she wanted [...]

Lem Gonsalves talks with Dr. Javon Johnson about his book, "The End of Chiraq." The End of Chiraq: A Literary Mixtape is a collection of poems, rap lyrics, short stories, essays, interviews, and artwork about Chicago, the city that came to be known as "Chiraq" ("Chicago" + "Iraq"), and the people who live in its vibrant and occasionally violent neighborhoods. Tuned to the work of Chicago's youth, especially the emerging artists and activists surrounding Young Chicago Authors, this literary mixtape unpacks the meanings of "Chiraq" as both a vexed term and a space of possibility. [...]

Ashley Allen talks with Rainbow Barris about his book, "Keeping Up With the Johnsons: Bow’s Guide to Black-ish Parenting." Bow Johnson, a doctor and the beloved mother of five hilarious children on ABC's hit comedy "black-ish" is writing a parenting book. Bow will share some of the outrageous scenarios she has faced as a mom and how she dealt with the situations and the consequences. Bow will show us that imperfect parenting can often turn out perfect children. The book will be featured prominently on the show. [...]

Lem Gonsalves talks with Yesika Salgado about her book, "Corazon." Corazón is a love story. It is about the constant hunger for love. It is about feeding that hunger with another person and finding that sometimes it isn't enough. Salgado creates a world in which the heart can live anywhere; her fat brown body, her parents home country, a lover, a toothbrush, a mango, or a song. It is a celebration of heartache, of how it can ruin us, but most importantly how we always survive it and return to ourselves whole. [...]

Zoe Hewitt talks with KJ Howe about her book, "SKYJACK." International kidnap expert Thea Paris is escorting two former child soldiers on a plane from an orphanage in Kanzi, Africa, to adoptive parents in London when the Boeing Business Jet is hijacked and forced to land on a deserted airstrip in the Libyan desert. On the ground, Thea comes face-to-face with a former nemesis, a Sicilian don who wants something, or someone, on that plane. Her old foe imprisons her in the hangar and takes to the air with the boys and the passengers still aboard, mysteriously demanding that Thea use the resources of [...]

Lem Gonsalves talks with Rudy Fracisco about his book, "Helium." Rudy K. Francisco is a spoken word poet and poetry author from San Diego, California, United States. He has written books, recorded EPs, won awards and gained acclaim performing around the US. Helium is the debut poetry collection by internet phenom Rudy Francisco, whose work has defined poetry for a generation of new readers. Rudy's poems and quotes have been viewed and shared millions of times as he has traveled the country and the world performing for sell-out crowds. Helium is filled with work that is simultaneously personal and political, blending love poems, self-reflection [...]

Zoe Hewitt talks with Karen Karbo about her book, "In Praise Of Difficult Women." From Frida Kahlo and Elizabeth Taylor to Nora Ephron, Carrie Fisher, and Lena Dunham, this witty narrative explores what we can learn from the imperfect and extraordinary legacies of 29 iconic women who forged their own unique paths in the world. Smart, sassy, and unapologetically feminine, this elegantly illustrated book is an ode to the bold and charismatic women of modern history. Best-selling author Karen Karbo (The Gospel According to Coco Chanel) spotlights the spirited rule breakers who charted their way with little regard for expectations: Amelia Earhart, Helen Gurley [...]

James Lott Jr. talks with Tina Alexis Allen about her book, "Hiding Out."   Actress and playwright Tina Alexis Allen’s audacious memoir unravels her privileged suburban Catholic upbringing that was shaped by her formidable father—a man whose strict religious devotion and dedication to his large family hid his true nature and a life defined by deep secrets and dangerous lies. The youngest of thirteen children in a devout Catholic family, Tina Alexis Allen grew up in 1980s suburban Maryland in a house ruled by her stern father, Sir John, an imposing, British-born authoritarian who had been knighted by the Pope. Sir John supported his [...]

Katerina Cozias talks with Alex Broches about his book, "A Dark Path to Light." "Alex has been through hell and back. His story is an inspiration to me on not only survival but how to thrive from the middle of darkness" James Altucher- Best Selling Author & Venture Capitalist  A gripping true-life tale of one young man’s journey from poverty, isolation and desperation to health, happiness and financial success. Nine-year-old Alex Broches’ life is suddenly turned upside down when his father is arrested for a shockingly violent crime, sending his family on a downward spiral of shame, fear and even bouts of homelessness. An [...]

Zoe Hewitt talks with Kathleen Sharp about her book, Mr. & Mrs. Hollywood: Edie and Lew Wasserman and Their Entertainment Empire. Ever wonder why so many B actors wind up as A-grade politicians? Or how the casting couch worked? Acclaimed author Kathleen Sharp traces the influence of show business through the lives of its first power couple. Edie and Lew Wasserman built the world's largest talent agency, MCA, created the multibillion-dollar Universal Studios, and helped shape Washington, DC. Starting from MCA's birth in gangland Chicago, Lew represented stars such as Jimmy Stewart and Marilyn Monroe; pioneered TV with Leave It to Beaver and Miami [...]

Host Zoe Hewitt talks with Jean Picker Firstenberg about her book " Becoming AFI: 50 Years Inside the American Film Institute." Jean Picker Firstenberg, is an American who served as the CEO and Director of the American Film Institute from 1980 through 2007. She was the Institute's second and first female CEO. At the time of her appointment, she was an executive at the Markle Foundation. About the Book: For over fifty years, the American Film Institute has flourished as one of America’s great cultural entities. Its graduates, faculty, supporters, and trustees have included such acclaimed individuals as Steven Spielberg, Maya Angelou, Gregory Peck [...]

James Lott Jr talks to Ed Asner about his new book, The Grouchy Historian: An Old-Time Lefty Defends Our Constitution Against Right-Wing Hypocrites and Nutjobs. In the tradition of Al Franken and Michael Moore, Ed Asner—a.k.a. Lou Grant from The Mary Tyler Moore Show—reclaims the Constitution from the right-wingers who think that they and only they know how to interpret it. Ed Asner, a self-proclaimed dauntless Democrat from the old days, figured that if the right-wing wackos are wrong about voter fraud, Obama’s death panels, and climate change, they are probably just as wrong about what the Constitution says. There’s no way that two [...]

Michael Rippe talks to Yvonne Lacey about her book, Taking Back Your Holidays: A Whimsical Guide to a Lighter, Brighter Christmas. Maybe you love Christmas, or maybe you want to love Christmas, but you feel like the time between the beginning of Fall and the start of the New Year flies by so fast that you can't stop to enjoy a moment of it. Did you get a chance to sing Christmas songs together? To cook your grandmother's secret recipes in your own kitchen? To make a snow angel? To sing "Happy Holidays" to your neighbors? This year is your chance to take back [...]

James Lott Jr talks to Ava Kaufman about her book, The Transplant Journey. About the book: The process of transplant is about restoring life. I mean how truly amazing is modern medicine and science! They can now take organs from a person who is brain dead (yes, a person must be brain dead to be able to donate their organs; heart still beating, but no brain activity) and medication taken twice or more daily can keep that organ functioning and give new life to a person who, half a century ago, would be dead. And not just new life, but for many a life [...]

Chae Jones  talks with Joe Ballarini about his book, A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting.   Joe Ballarini is an American film director, screenwriter and author. He graduated from the USC School of Cinematic ArtsTelevision Director's Program with a degree in film production in 1999. A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting The Last Kids on Earth meets Goosebumps in this hilarious new series about a secret society of babysitters who protect kids from the monsters that really do live under their beds! When middle schooler Kelly Ferguson’s Halloween plans switch from party-going to babysitting, she thinks the scariest part of her night will be [...]

Tiege Dooley-Panko talks with Ora Nadrich about her book, Says Who? How One Simple Question Can Change the Way You Think Forever.   Ora Nadrich, a popular Huffington Post writer, is a Los Angeles-based certified Life Coach and Mindful Meditation specialist. From a very early age Ora has been a seeker of knowledge, with a particular interest and talent in discovering how our thoughts work. Her lifelong journey towards this inner awareness, along with her distinctive combination of intuition and compassion, eventually led to her becoming a Life Coach and developing her simple yet effective "Says Who?" questioning method, designed to uncover the [...]