Growing up in today's culture, kids are forced to learn to handle situations their parents never had to face growing up. Technology, social media and the internet, especially present unique challenges for today's American middle schoolers.

Co-authors, Dr. Brenda Hunter and Kristen Blair, tackle difficult topics, such as media, experimentation with sex, alcohol, and prescription drugs, cyber-bullying, self-destructive behavior, and more, with honest and courage in their book "From Santa To Sexting: Helping Your Child Safely Navigate Middle School and Shape the Choices that Last a Lifetime".

Their book features interviews with experts, parents, and the kids themselves, providing concerned parents with a useful guide in navigating this critical time in their children's lives.

Get a behind the scenes look at the world of book publicity on the next Writers' Voices. Molly Brouillette works for Penguin books as a publicist at Tarcher, an imprint focused on mind/body/spirit books. A life-long lover of books, Molly has worked on campaigns for books ranging from healthy soul food to the upside of aging to near-death experiences. Her career has led to such adventures as doing facial yoga on Good Morning America, hand-modeling for the cover of a dating book, and attending a UFO conference. Molly has found that keeping up with the ever-changing publishing world isn't easy, but she finds it worth the effort to have a job that revolves around reading, writing about and talking about books.

Don't miss this delightful conversation!

This week's features a very special Writers' Voices. Local artists Betsy Dockhorn, Toni D'Orr, and John Stimson will all be guests to discuss the Book as Art Form.

Betsy Dockhorn will discuss her ongoing writing-based performance art project involving letters. Toni D'Orr, who creates meticulous tiny handmade books, will discuss her art. Both Betsy and Toni are involved with The Center for the Book, located in Iowa City. They will discuss what the Center for the Book is, what it does, and more. Also joining the conversation will be local artist John Stimson.

Don't miss this delightful conversation exploring the past, present, and future of the book!

This week Writers' Voices welcomes Shann Vander Leek, author of "Life On Your Terms." The book compiles interviews Shann conducted with over 40 successful entrepreneurs from around the world, who have discovered how to live their lives their way. The book shares their secrets, advice and encouragement for  finding your own entrepreneurial freedom.

Shann Vander Leek is an author, motivational speaker, yoga instructor and life coach with a background in broadcast television advertising sales, marketing and client development. She is the co-author of the bestselling "Wake Up Women: BE Happy, Health & Wealthy" and the creator of "Getting Your Groove Back - A Luscious Living Guide".

Whether you are a regular listener or tonight is your first night, don't miss Sleepytime with Grandpa D (and Mickey D).

We will feature two new books: "The Football Bully by Charles Hellman" (www.luckysports.net) and Joan Shaddox-Isom's "The First Starry Night" about a young fictional neighbor of Vincent Van Gogh.

Great music from Ritchie Valens, Stan Getz, Randy Newman, JT, Rachel Ries and many more.

Great things are happening with Sleepy Time.

Tune in tonight and listen to my interview with Shadoe Stevens, announcer for the "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" on CBS and one of the great voices of radio. When Casey Kasem left the show "American Top Forty", Shadoe became the new host for the next 6 years. During this time, it became the most successful and widely syndicated radio show in the world. It was broadcast in 120 countries to an estimated 1 billion listeners every week. His voice became one of the most recognizable voices in the world.

Now he's finally made it on KRUU-FM. Seriously, I found his book "The Big Galoot" (www.buygoodbook.com) and loved it and he was so kind and generous, he was happy to do an interview with us.

Listen tonight to "The Big Galoot" starting at 8pm.

Greetings everyone from Monica and Caroline.

We'd love to have you listen in this Friday from 1 to 2 pm or the following Monday from 8 - 9 am for a preview (or post-view as the case may be) of Tony Ellis' and Nynke Passi's Poems of Wonderment and Transcendence, followed by a fun interview with Van Buren High School writing teacher Richard Incorvia and his students.

Tony and Nynke are treating Fairfield to a reading of their poems Friday March 9 at 8 pm at Revelations.  Tony was a most delightful guest on Writers' Voices the first week of January, so we are happy to have him back for this encore.

Richard Incorvia's class just finished a project where they posted online book reviews based solely on  the book's cover.  Check out www.judgeabookbyitscover.org for these students' creative takes on books from authors ranging from Charles Dickens to Steven King.

For a brief hint of Fridays to come: