Tag

Author Interviews

Inspirational, Memoir, Non Fiction

Nov 02: A Mother’s Memoir of Autism and Finding Joy

November 2, 2022

An Inspiring, Sometimes Challenging, Always Loving Journey

From the moment of conception, every parent dreams of having the perfectly healthy child. But sometimes life throws out challenges that test us. And that was true for Kate Swenson when her first born son was diagnosed with Autism.

Kate joins us today to share the uplifting journey she embarked upon when she discovered her son Cooper was born with a condition that would require special needs and care. Along the way, she discovered that no matter what, life can be joyful, and that she’s exactly who she’s supposed to be … and Cooper is exactly who he’s meant to be.

About Kate Swenson

A frequent contributor to publications on autism, parenting, and motherhood, Kate Swenson’s work is all about helping to ease other families journey’s as they live with autism. She’s the founder of a popular blog called Finding Coopers Voice. Her new memoir is  FOREVER BOY: A Mother’s Memoir of Autism and Finding Joy.

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Inspirational, Memoir, Non Fiction

May 18: Forever Boy with Kate Swenson

May 18, 2022

A Mother’s Memoir of Autism and Finding Joy

Every parent dreams of having the perfect child, the perfect healthy happy family. But sometimes life throws out challenges that test us. And that was true for Kate Swenson when her first born son was diagnosed with Autism.

Kate joins us today to talk about her inspiring, sometimes challenging, always loving journey to help her son live well in a world that often overlooks special needs and care. She says this journey has shown her that no matter what, life can be joyful, and that she’s exactly who she’s supposed to be … her son Cooper, is exactly who he’s meant to be.

About Kate Swenson

Kate Swenson’s work is all about helping to ease other families journey’s as they live with autism. She’s the founder of a popular blog called Finding Coopers Voice and is a frequent contributor to publications on autism, parenting, and motherhood. Her new memoir is  FOREVER BOY: A Mother’s Memoir of Autism and Finding Joy.

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Inspirational, Non Fiction, Personal Development, Self-help

DEC 22: Girl Be Brave with Cheryl Hale

December 22, 2021

Finding Courage in 100 Days

When life throws you that unexpected curve, it takes bravery to hit it out of the park! Cheryl Hale knows that first hand and today we discuss her small but powerful book, Girl Be Brave: 100 Days to Chart Your Course.

We share the dangers of perfectionism, the pitfalls of overplanning, and taking your future into account with the choices you make today. Cheryl also shares how she overcame her fears and negative selftalk to walk more in love, empathy, and compassion.

About Cheryl Hale

Cheryl Hale is an entrepreneur–an author, writer, blogger, and founder of Girl Be Brave, an online community at GirlBeBrave.com. Cheryl’s book makes for a beautiful last minute Christmas gift or a treat for yourself!

 

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Fiction, Poetry, Writers on Writing

AUG 11: Summer Reads & Celebrations with Susan Wiggs & Maggie Smith

August 11, 2021

One novelist. One poet. A whole lot of good reading!

“Even sitting closed on a shelf, a book had a life of its own.”
― Susan Wiggs

Today #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs shares some of her favorite books for summer reading, authors to follow, and her best summer cocktail recipe.

Susan joined us last year with her latest novel, The Lost and Found Bookshop. Now she celebrates the premium edition, which includes special features, including book club resources. But Susan’s favorite feature of the new edition is the recipe in the back of the book. It’s ” … the best banana bread in the world!” she says.  Find earlier conversations with Susan Wiggs here.

Long-celebrated in the poetry community for her lyricism and style, Pushcart Prizewinning poet Maggie Smith gained star status in 2016 with her viral poem Good Bones.

Today, Maggie shares her latest collection, Goldenrod. Celebrating “the contours of daily life”, Goldenrod explores the space between thought and experience – reminding us that we decide what is beautiful. Maggie reads and discusses a couple of her poems with us. And shares her writing journey, and why poetry is her chosen form.

About Susan Wiggs

Susan Wiggs’ novels have appeared in the #1 spot on the New York Times Bestseller List, and have been translated into more than 20 languages, and read in over 30 countries. A former Harvard graduate, Susan Wiggs has been featured in the national media, including NPR, PRI, and USA Today.

Maggie Smith

Maggie Smith is the bestselling author of Good Bones, The Well Speaks of Its Own Poison, Lamp of the Body, and the national bestseller Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change. A 2011 recipient of a Creative Writing Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, Smith has received several awards including a Pushcart Prize.

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Fiction, Short Stories

AUG 04: The Impossible Shore with Marc Porter Zasada

August 4, 2021

“The universe gives and…takes away, but the taking is sudden, while the giving is slow.”

When Marc Porter Zasada wrote The Impossible Shore, he set out with two intentions: “To explore the way in which we don’t so much move through time, as become different people, in different times. But more importantly, to understand how each person’s longing for ‘the infinite’… pulls us relentlessly forward.”

Marc’s new book is a story cycle of 14 related tales exploring cultural perspectives, belief systems, and connections. Today we discuss some of his inspirations, challenges, and thoughts on storytelling and life. He also reads passages from The Impossible Shore.

About Marc Porter Zasada

Marc Porter Zasada is best known for his six years of commentaries as The Urban Man on NPR, KCRW, Los Angeles. His many careers range from newspaper editor to high-tech marketer, podcaster, and author. As a book reviewer, he was one of the founders of the Bay Area Book Awards. The Impossible Shore is Marc’s first book.

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Fiction, Writers on Writing

MAR 10: Across the Deep with NYT Bestselling Author Lisa McGuinness

March 10, 2021

A Novel of Suspense, Human Trafficking, Friendship, & Hope

“Raised in Thailand and brought to the United States against her will, protagonist Suda is hiding from a sex trafficking ring, and the man she believed was on her side.”

What sparked the idea for Across the Deep? Author Lisa McGuinness discusses the activism and volunteer work that led her to S.E. Asia and the atrocities of human trafficking … it was inevitable, she says, that at some point she’d write about it. And, most importantly, share the hope and possibilities of second chances.

About Lisa McGuinness

A 25-year veteran of the publishing industry, Lisa McGuinness is the Creative Director at Mango Publishing, and the founder of Yellow Pear Press and its imprint, Bonhomie Press.  Lisa’s written numerous books, and is also the co-author of several children’s books — including the New York Times bestseller Bee & Me and Baby Turtle’s Tale.

 

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Biography, Journalism, Non Fiction

NOV 04: Sarah Smarsh with She Come by it Natural

November 4, 2020

Dolly Parton and the Women Who Lived Her Songs

“Country music…is how we talked to each other in a place where feelings aren’t discussed” writes Sarah Smarsh.

We discuss what Dolly Parton means to working class women living in poverty. Why Sarah describes Ms. Parton as the ultimate “woman of paradox.”  And why, despite her huge success as a sex symbol, creative genius, and philanthropic juggernaut, Dolly Parton does not consider herself a feminist. 

About Sarah Smarsh

Sarah Smarsh is a journalist who’s covered socioeconomic class, politics, and public policy for The New York Times, The Guardian, The New Yorker, Harper’s. She Come By It Natural: Dolly Parton and the Women Who Lived Her Songs is Smarsh’s second book. Her first, Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth, was a New York Times Bestseller, and a finalist for the National Book Award.

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Creativity, Fiction, Social Issues, Writers on Writing

JUL 15: A Dangerous Breed with Glen Erik Hamilton

July 15, 2020

Thriller author Glen Erik Hamilton returns to Conversations Live with the latest novel in his popular Van Shaw series, A Dangerous Breed.  We discuss a broad range of topics, including character development and how he keeps his recurring characters evolving from book to book.  We also dive into some of the research he did for the novel, and where he took creative license and why.

Glen also shares his perspective on artist rights and responsibilities as related to our current political climate and how artists can (or should) go about representing characters from other backgrounds or orientations.

Glen grew up aboard a sailboat in Seattle, Washington, playing and occasionally finding trouble around the islands, marinas, and commercial docks of the Pacific Northwest.  His books in the Van Shaw series have won numerous awards and received critical acclaim from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and more.

 

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Fiction, Writers on Writing

JUL 01: The Lost and Found Bookshop with Susan Wiggs

July 1, 2020

If you had to start over, what would you do, and who would you be?  Returning guest Susan Wiggs explores that question along with the meaning of happiness, trust, and faith in oneself in The Lost and Found Bookshop.

Susan shares her thoughts on artistic expression, how she develops her stories and characters, and the responsibility she feels an author has in portraying characters outside their own ethnic background.  She also reveals how she persevered through an incredibly tough period early in her career.

Susan Wigg’s novels have appeared in the #1 spot on the New York Times Bestseller List, and have been translated into more than 20 languages and 30 countries.  Her recent novel, The Apple Orchard, is currently being made into a film, and The Lakeshore Chronicles has been optioned for adaptation into a series.

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Business, Career, Non Fiction, Personal Development, Relationships

JUN 17: Good Talk with Daniel Stillman

June 17, 2020

What’s the difference between a good conversation and a transformative conversation?  Most often, it’s the difference between getting what you want from a conversation versus wishing you could get that time back.  Daniel Stillman designs conversations for a living.  Today, he discusses how real change is needed now, more than ever, and that change will not come through force, edict, or persuasion.  Our future will be built through conversation.

His new book, Good Talk: How to Design Conversations that Matter has dozens of tools and interactive components, making it an accessible handbook to navigate the conversations that matter.

Daniel works with organizations like Google, Nike and Visa to help them frame and sustain productive dialog, deepen their facilitation skills, and coach them through the innovation process.  He also hosts The Conversation Factory podcast where he interviews leaders, changemakers and innovators on how they design the conversations in their work and lives.

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