In a two-episode special event, Writers’ Voices unveils the makings of The Wizard of Oz and its prequel, Wicked, through biographers Evan Schwartz and Carol de Giere.

Tune in Friday, March 19 at 1pm Central (kruufm.com) to hear Evan Schwartz, author of Finding Oz: How L. Frank Baum Discovered the Great American Story, reveal both the spiritual teachings and life experiences that inspired The Wizard of Oz. Involving a Swami from the 1893 World’s Fair and a real yellow brick road, this is a fascinating inside look into a creative work that has touched all our lives. You might even find yourself pondering, “Am I a good witch or a bad witch…or both?!”

Next Friday, March 26, Fairfield-connected Carol de Giere talks about her book, Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz from Godspell to Wicked. Inspired by The Artist’s Way to follow her dream as a freelance writer, this was her first book project. As part of the process, she has developed www.MusicalSchwartz.com, and began publishing an email quarterly newsletter The Schwartz Scene.

Michael Linenberger is being called the "Efficiency Guru". He's a renowned speaker, teacher, and consultant, and author of four top-selling productivity books, including Total Workday Control Using Microsoft Outlook, the #1 bestselling book on Microsoft Outlook for four years running.

His new Master Your Workday Now! Proven Strategies to Control Chaos, Create Outcomes & Connect Your Work to Who You Really Are focuses on managing email and task lists, maximizing productivity, and finding your "life's work". Monica Hadley and Caroline Kilbourn are looking forward to welcoming Michael Linenberger this Friday at 1pm on KRUU.

Writers’ Voices welcomes Robyn O'Brien, who is being called "The Erin Brockovich of Food". A conservative Texan with an MBA, Robyn used to roll her eyes when finicky parents talked about their children's food allergies and special diets. When her own children started having severe allergy problems, she was catapulted into a research project that changed her life. In her book, The Unhealthy Truth, she lets us in on the secrets of GMO foods, the revolving door between the FDA and the food industry, and much more.

As CEO and Activator of Working For Good, Jeff Klein produces collaborative, multi-sector Cause Alliance Marketing programs that drive social and environmental change, while addressing the business objectives of alliance partners. Jeff also co-founded Conscious Capitalism, Inc with John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market. Jeff Klien was one of the driving forces behind Private Music (a record company sold to BMG in 1996), the career of musician Yanni, the Spinning fitness program, Seeds of Change, the ChiRunning fitness program, FLOW, the nonproit organization that gave rise to Conscious Capitalism, Accelerating Women Entrepreneuers, and Peace Through Commerce.

Jeff Klein has consulted for the Esalen Institute, the National Geographic Society, GlobalGiving, theInstituteofNoeticSciences, and Peace Cereal, among others. Jeff is passionate about connecting, collaborating, and faciliating people and processes to catalyze positive individual, social, and environmental change. In this interview with Jeff Klein, Monica Hadley and Caroline Kilbourn will be speaking with Jeff about his new book, Working for Good: Making a Difference While Making a Living.

Local Fairfield writer Gloria Wendroff will be our guest on Writers' Voices this week, along with her business partner, Santhan. They will be discussing Gloria's inspired writings, known as Heavenletters, which have a huge following on the internet. Gloria will be teaching a workshop on Godwriting™ this weekend in Fairfield. The workshop is titled "Come Play with Me!", and will teach us how to open up to receive personal messages from God through writing.

Our guest this week on Writers' Voices is Jill Esbaum, award winning picture book author and instructor for the Institute of Children's Literature.  She is also the Quad Cities Chair for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. 

Cheryl Johnson will be guest co-hosting the show and speaking during the last portion of the show about the upcoming Iowa Summer Writing Festival.  Now is the time to start registering for workshops, and Cheryl has the inside scoop!

Author, coach, speaker, and self-love expert, Christine Arylo, is our next guest on Writers' Voices. In her book, Choosing Me Before We, she teaches that loving yourself first opens doors to finding the relationship, and the life that you truly want. In 2008, she launched "Madly in Love with Me", an international movement to inspire women and girls.  

Christine traded in her career helping to build brand images for companies like Gap, Visa, and Frito Lay, to help 21st Century women, who can now do anything and feel that they have to do everything.

Chamaigne Montana and Caroline Kilbourn will host this interview. 

Marisa Handler, author of Loyal to the Sky: Notes from an Activist is our guest on Writers' Voices this week. Chamaigne Montana and Caroline Kilbourn will ask Marisa to tell about her fascinating journey from apartheid South Africa, to the U.S., to Israel, India, Nepal, Ecuador, Peru.  Not surprisingly, Marisa became deeply interested in social justice work during her travels, and this memoir takes a look at the social justice movement.  It's a riveting and educational read, that has received high praise.  Please join us for what promises to be an intriguing interview. 

Writers' Voices welcomes Michael Murphy to the show. We will be discussing his books, "Murphy's Laws of the Inner Life" and "What the Animals Said to Me". "Murphy's Laws of the Inner Life" is both a memoir and an example of a writing technique that Michael teaches. He has taught writing at MIU and independently. Both of these books were wonderful reads and we are looking forward to getting to know Michael a little better in what promises to be an engaging interview. To find out more or join the conversation, check out our new website, writersvoices.com

Tune into KRUUFM.com or 100.1 FM in Fairfield this Friday, January 8 at 1pm Central Time to hear Sherry Ellis talk about her new book, Now Write! Non-Fiction. This is an essential handbook for non-fiction writers, featuring the trusted personal writing exercises of today's masters of creative non-fiction, including Gay Talese, Reza Aslan, John Matteson, Tilar Mazzeo, and many more!

During the second half-hour of the show, we'll talk with John Sorflatten about the upcoming Fairfield Art Walk Film Expo, February 5-6. This will be Fairfield's 6th Annual celebration of Iowa film-making and script-writing. If you missed the interview, you can listen to it at Writersvoices.com