60:00 minutes (54.94 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

Not too long after she met her husband Ralph, author Marcy Luikart (formerly Woolf) helped him fulfill a lifelong dream of building a raft and floating down the Mississippi River.

Inspired by that journey, the former Fairfielder, now living in Santa Barbara, wrote "River Braids," the story of a former midwesterner who returns to his roots along the Mississippi River and discovers the real history behind the family story of his grandfather Joe on the 1904 Olympic rowing team.  The tale weaves back and forth between the modern day and the St. Louis Worlds' Fair and Olympics of 1904.

This is Marcy's second appearance on Writers' Voices. As one of our first guests, in 2006 Marcy discussed her success with getting stories published in literary magazines. "River Braids" is her first published novel.

59:56 minutes (54.88 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

 

Join Monica and Caroline on Writers' Voices this week for an English teacher's dream as we welcome Kevin Smokler, author of "Practical Classics: 50 Reasons to Reread 50 Books You Haven't Touched Since High School."  Just released from Prometheus books, "Practical Classics" covers a lot of ground, from Shakespeare to "Huckleberry Finn,"  with stops along the way for "The Bell Jar," "To Kill a Mockingbird" and oh so much more.

And yes, Caroline was a high school Engilsh teacher (here at FHS).

Kevin Smokler has been called "a publishing visionary" by the Huffington Post.  His writing on the arts has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Fast Company, and he was a recent guest on NPR's "Talk of the Nation."

60:01 minutes (54.95 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

 

 

Caroline and Monica welcome Nancy Kennedy, editor of the "Miracles and Moments of Grace" series back to Writers' Voices this week for an inspiring hour of stories from Moms.

Nancy's previous books include two others in the Miracles and Moments of Grace series - "Inspiring stories from Military Chaplains" and Caroline's favorite, "Inspiring Stories from Doctors" as well as a book of weight loss success stories "How We Did It."

If you are a Mom, have a Mom, or know a Mom - you will surely enjoy this interview.

58:45 minutes (53.8 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

If you're intrigued by new ideas; excited by in-depth conversation on consciousness; or inspired by visionary speakers who are thinking and doing outside the box -sometimes far outside - then the upcoming  (April 20) conference hosted by MUM, "Our Conscious Future" has probably caught your interest.

This Friday on Writers's Voices, join Monica and Caroline as they invite conference speaker, best-selling author, Discovery Health TV medical host and NIH medical researcher Dr. Pamela Peeke to discuss the neuruological basis of food addiction.  Dr. Peeke's most recent book, "The Hunger Fix" provides a three stage detox and recovery plan for overeating and food addiction.

Dr. Peeke has also written columns and editorials for O, Prevention, Fitness and More magazines and is a regular health news commentator for national and cable networks.

60:00 minutes (54.94 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

  When a pig, a frog, and a woodpecker set out on a three wheeled Harley bound for the ancient redwood forests of Big Sur so they can learn how to fly (a woodpecker who can't fly - what's that all about?), a lot can go wrong.It’s times like this when it’s good to have friends. Like Swami, a local surfer who hears your thoughts and changes his appearance at will; or Vashti, the ten thousand year old holy man; or Anansi, the shape shifting trickster; or Stokes, the ageless mountain man.  

"The Unlikely Confderacy of Hoggy, Froggy and Ernie" is hard to describe

 - a little bit "The Incredible Journey" and a little bit Tom Robbins, with a dash of Vedic storytelling thrown in.  Join us this week on Writers' Voices for the story behind the story, when Monica and Caroline interview Fairfield author Ron Louthan, a fourth generation California native who studied English Literature at the University of Oregon and UCLA and has managed to become a witty, original writer nevertheless.  "The Unlikely Conferacy" was published March 22, and Ron will be giving a reading at Revelatiions on Saturday, April 6. 

59:55 minutes (54.86 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

 

 

Allen Cobb returns to Writers' Voices this week to tell Monica and Caroline about his latest publishing venture - "The Rules for the game of life" - A novel, in which secrets are revealed.

According to Allen, "t's a little comical, a little cosmic, and hopefully a fun read. As many of you know, I've been collecting a strange set of "rules" — with tongue firmly in cheek — and I finally succumbed to repeated requests to "make them into a book." It quickly turned into an unexpected little novel, one which pretty much wrote itself. (Which is probably a Good Thing.)"

Allen is also a poet, a sound artist, and a publisher so no doubt this will be a far-ranging conversation on Writers' Voices!

59:16 minutes (54.26 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

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art this post-Valentine's season.  Paul Stokstad, writer, tennis pro, webmaster, marketing director and poet is here to talk love and tattoos with Writers' Voices host Monica Hadley.  Butterfuly Tattoo is Paul's third published book, and somewhat of a deprature from "How To Be Your Own Best Tennis Pro" and "How to Start Your Own Improv Comedy Group." 

59:53 minutes (54.83 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

As of 2011 over 235,000 books have been self-published, and the growing trend towards e-books makes this an even more feasible option for authors. But what would make a traditionally-published author decide to go independent?  Join Monica and Caroline on Writers' Voices this week as they discuss this with Sabrina Ricci, whose essay, "Why Traditionally Published Authors are Going Indie" recently appeared on Huffington Post.  

Ricci is a freelance writer whose own self-published novella, "The 13th Cycle" is widely available online.  She was also the co-founder and publisher of FictionBrigade, a micropublisher of flash fiction ebooks. FictionBrigade's ebook "Espresso Fiction" is an award-winning finalist in the 'E-book: General Fiction' category of The 2012 USA Best Book Awards, sponsored by USA Book News. Previously, Ricci worked for traditional publishers Random House and Simon & Schuster.

58:36 minutes (53.65 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

For most writers, going from concept to finished product is a mostly solitary pursuit, and getting across the finish line is largely dependent on your own efforts.  With the sefl-publishing technology available today, you don't necessarily need anyone else in order to publish your work. But for a screenwriter, getting the script finished is only half the battle - if that.  What does it take to get a movie made?

Join Monica and Caroline on Writers' Voices
as they talk to Caterina Titus, of www.rubystarproductions.com to learn more about the screenwriter's journey.  Caty is the co-writer of “Pyaar” - a social political feature film (with Stuart Tanner,) and romantic dramedy "Between Worlds" (with actor/director Ruben Pla.) Her goal is to create films that address the issues of globalization. For the last five years she has been developing a valuable network of contacts in the film industry as she focuses on getting her movies made.