Playwright Kate Aspengren ventured into new territory recently by releasing her first middle grade novel, Ashley Templeton Is Ruining My Life, with Foreverland Press. Samuel French, Inc., published Kate's plays:Dear Mrs. Martin, Mother's Day, House of Wonders, Flyer, and Blue Yonder. Born in Des Moines, Kate earned her MFA from the University of Iowa's Playwrights Workshop. Her plays have been produced by the Actors Theatre of Louisville, the New American Comedy Festival, Six Figures Theatre Company (in New York), and 3Graces (also in New York). Two of her plays have been translated for European production.

For 17 years, Kate's held an annual playwriting residency at Tower Hill School in Wilmington, Delaware, where she works with middle school students. Kate has also taught playwriting at Grinnell College, Coe College, and Cornell College. She co-directs the University of Iowa's annual ten-minute play festival and teaches at the Iowa Summer Writing Festival. Kate lives in Iowa City with her dog, Cooper.

Nerve, Jeanne Ryan's young adult novel about a shy girl unintentionally enmeshed in a dangerous online game of dares, was released in September 2012 by Dial Books.

Raised in a family of 11 brothers and sisters, Jeanne spent her early childhood in Hawaill and the rest of her growing-up years trying to figure out how to get back there. Along the way, she lived in South Korea, Michigan, and Germany.

Now she lives in Seattle with her husband and children. Jeanne holds a degree in social welfare. Before writing fiction, she tried her hand at many things, including war game simulation and youth development research. 

One of the most common problems authors face is the dreaded "writer's block". Rosanne Bane, our guest this week, has been helping writers with this problem for decades as a writing and creativity teacher. She has written a new book entitled, "Around the Writer's Block: Using Brain Science to Solve Writer's Resistance"(Tarcher/Penguin). Her book deals with the problems writers face in a new and innovative way. Using the latest breakthroughs in brain science to help understand where this writing resistance comes from - a fight-or-flight response hard-wired into our brain, which can make us desperate to avoid the sources of our anxieties, her book lays out an effective plan to solve that resistance.

Don't miss this insightful and useful discussion!

International best-selling author, Kristine Carlson continues the "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff" series(originally started by her late husband, Dr. Richard Carlson) with the first new installment in nine years. "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff For Moms: Simple Ways to Stress Less and Enjoy Your Family More" presents tried-and-true advice in finding greater peace, joy, and harmony within themselves and their homes.

Kristine's previous books include, "An Hour To Live, An Hour To Love", "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff in Love", "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff For Women", and "Heatbroken Open: A Memoir Through Loss to Self-Discovery". She has also appeared on The Today Show, Oprah, The View, and more.

Don't miss this inspiring discussion!

Iowa City author, Larry Baker, has written five novels, including "Athens, America" and "The Flamingo Rising". His most recent book, "Love & Other Delusions", presents a fresh take on the story of a married woman having an affair with a younger man.

Larry Baker is currently an adjunct Assistant Professor for the University of Iowa, as well as an adjunct instructor at Kirkwood Community College. Baker will be giving a reading Saturday, June 9, 1 PM at Revelations. Bookstore in Fairfield.

Baker is also working on a documentary about the creative process, focusing on the writing of "A Good Man," in which Baker drew on, or "stole" as he would say, from a variety of predecessors.  Check out Monica's review of "A Good Man" at http://www.writersvoices.com/books-review/books-review/good-man-larry-baker/. 

Cheryl Fusco Johnson hosts this weeks conversation with Sharelle Byars Moranville, an award-winning versatile author of fiction for all ages. Her most recent book "The Hop" tells the intertwined stories of a Tad, a small toad taking on the challenge of saving his home, and Taylor, a girl determined to stop her grandmother’s pond from being turned into a strip mall. Along the way their quests take delightful and exciting twists in this tale of friendship, family, and growing up. This book is being published by Disney/Hyperion.

Sharelle has written 5 books including "Over the River", "The Snows", and "A Higher Geometry." She has been a writing teacher at the Iowa Summer Writing Festival at the University of Iowa and other venues.

Cheryl Fusco Johnson sits down for a conversation with Iowa native, Beth Howard. Beth, a journalist for more than 25 years, has recently written "Making Piece: A Memoir of Love, Loss and Pie". Her book recounts the sudden loss of her husband and her healing journey across the country that culminates in her return to Iowa, where she currently resides in the world famous American Gothic House and runs the Pitchfork Pie Stand.

Beth has recently appeared in The Los Angeles Times, Real Simple, Midwest Living and much more. Her previous writing has appeared in such publications as Shape, Elle, Fitness, Travel & Leisure. She has worked as senior editor for Sports Travler, web publisher, PR manager, and more.

Don't miss this delightful conversation!

At age 13, Frank Meeink became a SkinHead. At 18, he was a SkinHead leader and Neo-Nazi recruiter. In "Autobiography of a Recovering SkinHead: The Frank Meeink Story as Told to Jody M. Roy, Ph.D.", Frank tells his raw story, from his angry childhood that found an outlet in the Neo-Nazi movement through his time in prison, encountering cons of all backgrounds and race, that first caused him to question his anger and rascism. The book is a journey into the dark depths of the rascist American underground.

Since turning his life around, Frank has become a noted speaker, author and founder of "Harmony Through Hockey".Currently living in the Des Moines area, Frank's life is now dedicated to tolerance, diversity and mutual understanding.

Don't miss this incredible and moving story and conversation!

Cheryl Wilfong, our guest this week, is a Master Gardener and mindfulness meditation teacher, who has brought her two passions together in her book, "The Meditative Gardener". This book guides readers in practical easy-to-follow ways to bring full awareness into your gardening.

By sitting, walking, strolling or bending over in your garden, you can learn to enjoy it, just as it is and notice the joy in provides.

Cheryl is a teacher at Vermont Insight Meditation Center and has written a previous book, "Following the Nez Perce Trail: A Guide to the Nee-Me-Poo National Historic Trail"

Cheryl Fusco Johnson hosts Writers' Voices this week with guest author, editor, blogger, and humorist, Wendy McClure.  She is the author of "The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie"; and a recently released e-book, "Don’t Trade the Baby for a Horse and Other Ways to Make Your Life a Little More Laura Ingalls Wilder", that explores her obsession with all things Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Her published works also include essays in The New York Times Magazine; columns for Bust magazine; and the weblog Poundy, which she launched in 2000 to explore body image issues and to make fun of aerobics instructors. She’s written children’s picture books, such as "The Princess and the Peanut Allergy"and a memoir, "I’m Not the New Me".