The Wild Truth is an important book on two fronts: It sets the record straight about a story that has touched thousands of readers, and it opens up a conversation about hideous domestic violence hidden behind a mask of prosperity and propriety.” – NPR.org. Today, author Carine McCandless joins Vicki to delve deeper into the background of what really led to the tragic death of her brother, Chris McCandless, whose riveting story was first portrayed in the book Into The Wild.

Since the days of Gone With The Wind, books have been translated into movies, but what exactly makes a book a good fit for the big screen? New York University Professor and Script Consultant Marilyn Horowitz shares her thoughts on what types of books are best suited to become scripts, what elements filmmakers are looking for, and more.

Catch Conversations Live with Vicki St. Clair every Monday at noon Pacific on KKNW 1150AM or 94.9FM HD. Like us on Facebook and follow Vicki on Twitter for exclusive updates and contests!

In the more than twenty years since the body of Chris McCandless was discovered in the wilds of Alaska, his spellbinding story has captivated millions who have either read Jon Krakauer’s iconic Into the Wild or seen Sean Penn’s acclaimed film of the same name. Now, his sister Carine McCandless has authored her own version of Chris’s story, The Wild Truth. Carine’s story encompasses years of searching for the missing pieces of Chris’s life. But it is also about shaping an extended family with her half-siblings, grappling with her parents’ continuing betrayals, learning from her three failed marriages, finding success as a small business owner, and discovering unconditional love as a mother. It’s about Carine finding ways to rise above her troubled childhood and survive.

The Atlantic reports that the top 10 grossing films of 2014 were all inspired by pre-existing media, such as a novel or comic book. With over 15 years of experience working with filmmakers and produced screenwriters, award-winning New York University Professor and Script Consultant Marilyn Horowitz delves into what it takes to turn a book into a movie, including what to keep in mind as you write your book and how hard is it to sell a book to filmmakers. Marilyn has taught thousands of aspiring screenwriters to complete a feature length screenplay using her methods, and is an author in her own right. Her latest novel is the new political thriller The Book of Zev.

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Nicolette Hahn Niman, author of Defending Beef: The Case for Sustainable Meat Production, returns to continue challenging environmentalists’ concepts of ecological stewardship and those raising cattle and producing beef to lead the way to a restorative, regenerative agriculture. She’ll talk about why it’s not enough to simply buy locally raised meat, and how the Big Food Industry is poisoning our food.

Americans typically change jobs every 4 years, which equates to 12 job changes in your lifetime. Today Vicki welcomes career management expert Martin Yate to share his Knock ‘Em Dead philosophy, offering practical methods to finding professional succes, personal fulfillment, and financial stability.

Catch Conversations Live with Vicki St. Clair every Monday at noon Pacific on KKNW 1150AM or 94.9FM HD. Like us on Facebook and follow Vicki on Twitter for exclusive updates and contests!

Nicolette Hahn Niman is the author of Defending Beef. She previously served as senior attorney for the Waterkeeper Alliance, running their campaign to reform the concentrated production of livestock and poultry. In recent years she has gained a national reputation as an advocate for sustainable food production and improved farm-animal welfare. She is the author of Righteous Porkchop and has written for numerous publications, including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Huffington Post, and The Atlantic online. She lives on a ranch in Bolinas, California, with her husband, Bill Niman, and their two sons, Miles and Nicholas.

Combining humor (“Everyone feels crappy when they are looking for a job”) with practicality (“Your resume is the most important financial document you will ever own”) along with his vast experience in decades of career management, Martin Yate has been helping people find great jobs for 30 years with his Knock ‘Em Dead books and philosophy. Yate’s own resume includes success as an international technology headhunter, Director of Human Resources for a Silicon Valley company’s technology division, and Director of Training and Development for a multi-national employment services company. He spent 25 years on the international lecture circuit until the wonders of webcasts and distance learning technology have allowed him to retire his grueling travel schedule.

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Many people tell great stories, but can you believe them? Or are they taking advantage of you? In her new book Nothing But The Truth, body language and lie detection expert Maryann Karinch shares how to get to the heart of the truth… in person, on the phone, even through email.

But first, Cole James of the Grief Recovery Institute talks to Vicki about how to recover from the loss of a furry friend with The Grief Recovery Handbook for Pet Loss, and Driving To Perfection: Achieving Business Excellence by Creating a Vibrant Culture author Brian Fielkow shares the dangers of getting too buddy-buddy with employees.

Catch Conversations Live with Vicki St. Clair every Monday at noon Pacific on KKNW 1150AM or 94.9FM HD. Like us on Facebook and follow Vicki on Twitter for exclusive updates and contests!

In assessing whether someone is telling the truth or not, two sets of skills come into play: having the interpersonal skills to get the facts, and the ability to determine if the set of facts fit together. In Nothing But The Truth, body language and lie detection expert Maryann Karinch utilizes secrets from top intelligence experts, including her eight conversation motivators that help drive you toward the truth, to help you get the straight facts in person, over the phone, or even through email. Maryann has conducted seminars in body language and lie detectin for the International Spy Museum, US Dept. of Homeland Security, and other government and private sector institutions. She has authored 22 books, most of which focus on human behavior.

Every year over 60 million Americans suffer from grief associated with the loss of a beloved pet. The Grief Recovery Handbook for Pet Loss was co-written by members of The Grief Recovery Institute, including today’s guest Cole James, to help us get through one of the most trying times a person can experience, covering major myths about grieving, things best said, and NOT said to a griever, the misuse of the word guilt, and the stages of grieving. They also include practical help such as what to do with your pet’s stuff after their death.

Are workplace friendships good for morale and corporate culture, or do they foster jealousy, mistrust, and suspicion amongst your ranks? Workplace Culture and Leadership Advisor Brian Fielkow offers advice on how to handle such situations, ranging from how to protect your people, set proper boundaries, sharing the wealth, and why cliques are corrosive. Brian is the author of Driving To Perfection: Achieving Business Excellence by Creating a Vibrant Culture and has over 25 years of executive leadership experience in both public and privately held companies.

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For four years running the DASH Diet has been chosen by US News and World Report as the #1 Best Diet Overall. In The DASH Diet Younger You: Shed 20 Years – and Pounds – in Just 10 Weeks, author and dietitian Marla Heller brings you tips such as focusing on Flavonoids, populating your diet with probiotics and prebiotics, and why you should “fire” Big Food and Big Pharma.

Also today, countless among us have made New Year’s resolutions, swearing that this time we are really going to stick to it. And too often by the second week in January they are already a distant memory. With It’s About Time! Transforming Chaos Into Calm, A to Z, author and life coach Mitzi Weinman presents a New Year’s revolution on how to make that resolution stick.

And finally, she’s been called the Carrie Bradshaw of America’s yoga and Ayurveda movement. Katie Silcox translates the ancient system of Ayurveda for the modern woman who wants to be healthier, happier, sexier – and live her life to the fullest.

Catch Conversations Live with Vicki St. Clair every Monday at noon Pacific on KKNW 1150AM or 94.9FM HD. Like us on Facebook and follow Vicki on Twitter for exclusive updates and contests!

“There are no razzle-dazzle gimmicks surrounding this book,” says Marla Heller, author of The DASH Diet Younger You: Shed 20 Years – and Pounds – in Just 10 Weeks. She promises no conflicting information, no magic combinations and no forbidden foods, providing in their place a back-to-basics guide to her redesigned version of the DASH diet. Marla is a Registered Dietitian and holds a Master of Science in Human Nutrition and Dietetics. She has been working for over 15 years to help her patients put DASH into practice. A New York Times bestselling author, she has also been the featured nutrition expert for the Chicago Tribune and Washington Post and is a spokesperson for the Greater Midwest Affiliate of the American Heart Association.

New Year’s resolutions are the time honored tradition that nearly every one of us fails to uphold. There are many reasons why a resolution falls by the wayside, and Mitzi Weinman has advice to help you stay strong in your resolve with It’s About Time! Transforming Chaos Into Calm, A to Z. Some of her advice includes critical points such as is your resolution realistic, are you really dedicated to making it happen, and are you willing to refocus your current priorities and take the time neccessary to see it through. Mitzi is a coach, workshop leader, professional speaker and founder of TimeFinder, which offers practical approaches to personal productivity.

Are you craving a deeper connection to soul? Do you know there’s more to life than chasing the dream of wealth and power? Are you struggling to find a spiritual practice that fits intoy our hectic modern life? So was Katie Silcox, so she left a successful career in technology in search of her life’s purpose, traversing the globe and ultimately finding inner peace in the ancient system of Ayurveda, Her relationships improved, emotional baggage has been put behind her, and she wakes up each morning connected to her purpose in life. Katie has studied with some of the East and West’s most renowned teachers and healers of Ayurveda, Taoism, Tibetan Tantra and Yoga.

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Why would someone sell everything they own, pull roots, and travel for three years around the world alone… on a motorcycle? Allan Karl answers this and much more in FORKS: A Quest for Culture, Cuisine, and Connection, a book that brings worldwide adventure to your table. And we mean adventure… Allan experienced being walked into the Colombian jungle at gunpoint, having to beg for a visa to enter Sudan, and crashing his bike and crushing his leg badly in Bolivia. It’s all intertwined with over 700 color photos and 40 global recipes!

Conversations Live with Vicki St. Clair airs each Monday at noon Pacific on KKNW 1150AM or 94.9FM HD. Like us on Facebook and follow Vicki on Twitter for exclusive updates and contests!

Through adventurous stories, 700+ color photos, and the flavors of local food in 40 global recipes, FORKS: A Quest for Culture, Cuisine, and Connection brings the world to your table: the kindness of strangers, the beauty of humanity, the colors of culture, and the powerful gift of human connection. Of the many lessons author Allan Karl learned on the road, the most important is we are never alone. It’s always possible to connect with people, even in the most challenging and dangerous of circumstances. Allan is a world traveler, adventurer, photographer, author, entrepreneur, and inspirational keynote speaker. With an insatiable passion for travel, culture, people, and food, he has explored more than 60 countries, photographing, writing, and blogging about them along the way.

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We end 2014 with a fun conversation with one of America’s most popular fiction writers. Patricia Cornwell doesn’t just research how a character would do something, she lives it — whether it’s learning to fly a helicopter or scuba dive to explore sunken ship wrecks. Her latest book, Flesh and Blood, features the iconic Dr. Kay Scarpetta.

Conversations Live with Vicki St. Clair airs each Monday at noon Pacific on KKNW 1150AM or 94.9FM HD. Like us on Facebook and follow Vicki on Twitter for exclusive updates and contests!

The incomparable Patricia Cornwell is celebrating her 25th anniversary in publishing this year, and you can’t talk crime investigation writing without mentioning her name. Her early forays into the genre helped to inspire countless tv shows and movies, and essentially spurred a cultural phenomenon with entire cable channels dedicated to the science of crime investigation. Flesh and Blood is her latest offering featuring her iconic forensic investigator, Kay Scarpetta. With over 100 million copies of her books in print in 36 languages spanning 120 countries, Cornwell remains on of “the” top selling novelists.

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If we can imagine it, visualize it, and restore ancient truths swept beneath the rug and kicked to the curb by patriarchy, then we can manifest it! Hear solutions from visionaries, scholars, wayshowers, foremothers and activists – women and men – dedicated to reshaping our world in Voices of the Sacred Feminine: Conversations to Re-Shape Our World, edited by returning guest Rev. Dr. Karen Tate.

Also today, leading expert on animal behavior and emotions Marc Bekoff argues that unless we rewild ourselves, becoming profoundly reconnected to nature and fundamentally shifting our consciousness, our conservation efforts will have limited impact. His new book is Rewilding Our Hearts: Building Pathways of Compassion and Coexistence.

Conversations Live with Vicki St. Clair airs each Monday at noon Pacific on KKNW 1150AM or 94.9FM HD. Like us on Facebook and follow Vicki on Twitter for exclusive updates and contests!

Voices of the Sacred Feminine: Conversations to Re-Shape Our World, edited by Rev. Dr. Karen Tate, brings to the forefront the concept that a society dominated by patriarchy – male-dominated and revering a largely believed to be male God – is not working for Mother Earth. This collection of solutions from some of the brightest and most forward thinking visionaries and scholars of our time, both men and women, show that it’s not too late to bring about a course correction resulting in a more fair, equal, and just world of sharing, caring and peace. For over two decades, Karen’s work has been fueled by her intense interest and passion for travel, comparative religions, ancient cultures, and Goddess Spirituality and the resurging interest in the rise of the Feminine Consciousness.

In wildlife conservation work, rewilding refers to habitat restoration and the creation of corridors between preserved lands to allow declining populations to rebound. With Rewilding Our Hearts: Building Pathways of Compassion and Coexistence, Marc Bekoff, one of the world’s most engaging animal experts and activists, applies rewilding to human attitudes. Bekoff covers every aspect of changing our own course, including how to incorporate rewilding into our day to day activities, how to become reenchanted with nature even if you live in an urban setting, and how to stop feeling overwhelmed when facing a global crisis and the positive impact that facing world problems can have on us as individuals. Bekoff is professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and has worked alongside such leading writers and activists as Jane Goodall, Peter Singer, and PETA cofounder Ingrid Newkirk.

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Somewhere between ultra-right wing fundamentalists and the New Atheists are millions of Americans trying to find a balanced middle ground between rational science and deep spirituality. No one has spoken for this great, silent majority?until now. Among those leading the exploration of the vast middle ground is Frank Schaeffer, artist, father, political commentator, and author of Why I Am An Atheist Who Believes In God: How to Give Love, Create Beauty and Find Peace.

“We’re never too old to learn from a good story,” says Paul Smith, author of Parenting With A Story: Real-Life Lessons in Character for Parents and Children to Share. Smith calls on extensive research into storytelling along with years of experience with children to demonstrate the power of a great personal story, providing 101 compelling real-life stories that will deliver something substantial about themselves and how they treat others.

Conversations Live with Vicki St. Clair airs each Monday at noon Pacific on KKNW 1150AM or 94.9FM HD. Like us on Facebook and follow Vicki on Twitter for exclusive updates and contests!

In Why I Am An Atheist Who Believes In God: How to Give Love, Create Beauty and Find Peace, Schaeffer shares insights brought on by deep reflection using family, art, conversation and the words of great thinkers to explain his own path to redemption and embrace the paradox in the book?s title. He discusses why art is central to understanding God, sex, education, politics, religion, love, relationships, and the very ?Why?? of existence. He shows how living an ethical life seeking transcendent spiritual beauty is to contemplate that meaning without fear. Frank Schaeffer is a bestselling author, movie director, blogger, speaker, fine artist, father of three, grandfather of five, and a survivor of polio. He has appeared on Oprah, Fresh Air with Terry Gross, the Today Show, Rachel Maddow and many more.

Paul Smith is a popular keynote speaker and corporate trainer in leadership and storytelling techniques, and a former executive and 20-year veteran with Procter and Gamble. Parenting With A Story: Real-Life Lessons in Character for Parents and Children to Share is a follow-up of sorts to his widely praised Lead with a Story, and focuses on stories that show a hero struggling and succeeding in a way that is both meaningful and interesting to children, helping parents to reach and teach their kids using the power of a great story. Smith’s work has appeared in many publications including the Wall St. Journal, Time, Forbes, The Washington Post, and Success.

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If you’re a guilt-ridden beef lover, don’t miss returning guest Nicolette Hahn Niman She’s the author of Defending Beef: The Case for Sustainable Meat Production, which simultaneously challenges environmentalists’ concepts of ecological stewardship and those raising cattle and producing beef to lead the way to a restorative, regenerative agriculture. Hahn Niman also presents solid evidence that, counter to popular belief, well-raised beef is healthful, highly nutritious food.

Gail Sheehy and DARING are synonymous. She was one of the first journalists to be embedded in a war zone; to stroll in hooker boots with New York prostitutes of New York to help clean up the city; to follow Bobby Kennedy on his presidential campaign (even though she’d not yet written a political story); to follow Hillary Clinton into the bathroom to talk to her about being first lady. Sheehy’s classic new York Times bestseller Passages, propelled her from groundbreaking “60s girl journalist” to icon. She joins Vicki to discuss her new memoir called, not surprisingly, DARING: MY PASSAGES.

Check out both guests’ impressive backgrounds by clicking below.

Sheehy is the author of sixteen books, including the classic New York Times bestseller Passages, named by the Library of Congress as one of the ten most influential books of our time. As a literary journalist, Sheehy was one of the original contributors to New York magazine and has been a contributing editor to Vanity Fair since 1984. She is a seven-time recipient of the New York Newswomen’s Club Front Page Award for distinguished journalism and three-time winner or finalist for National Magazine Awards. A popular lecturer, she was named AARP’s Caregiver Ambassador in 2009. In 2013, she was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by Books for a Better Life.

Nicolette Hahn Niman is the author of Defending Beef. She previously served as senior attorney for the Waterkeeper Alliance, running their campaign to reform the concentrated production of livestock and poultry. In recent years she has gained a national reputation as an advocate for sustainable food production and improved farm-animal welfare. She is the author of Righteous Porkchop (HarperCollins, 2009) and has written for numerous publications, including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Huffington Post, and The Atlantic online. She lives on a ranch in Bolinas, California, with her husband, Bill Niman, and their two sons, Miles and Nicholas.

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Grab a pen and paper for our second segment as expert bookseller, Pam Cady, from University Book Store shares her passion for holiday books and gift ideas.

Award-winning journalist Jane Velez-Mitchell, having been on the front lines of the Jodi Arias trial, goes behind the scenes and into the mind of a killer in EXPOSED: The Secret Life of Jodi Arias.

Conversations Live with Vicki St. Clair airs each Monday at noon Pacific on KKNW 1150AM or 94.9FM HD. Like us on Facebook and follow Vicki on Twitter for exclusive updates and contests!

EXPOSED: The Secret Life of Jodi Arias by award-winning journalist Jane Velez-Mitchell is the ultimate refresher as the State vs. Jodi Arias penalty phase trial continues on, highlighting the proceedings viewers may see as the jury decides a verdict. Will this new batch of jurors decide on the death penalty or will Arias charm the court? Could there be a plea deal? Velez-Mitchell’s experience reporting from the frontlines of the first trial makes her an expert analyst as the nation waits to hear the fate of Jodi Arias. In addition to being an award-winning television journalist, Velez-Mitchell is a bestselling author and hosted her own show on HLN. She is a frequent media expert guest commentator on high profile cases, appearing on CNN and many other national television programs.

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