Better World Books Podcast: Byron Pitts

Posted by Dana on 11.03.2009 at 4:01 pm

Byron Pitts is a gifted broadcast journalist, an engaging and talented speaker, a published author and force for good. But that wasn’t always the case.  As his book STEP OUT ON NOTHING details, Byron started out a skinny kid with the nickname “Pickle” who didn’t talk much and was often bullied.  But worse than that, Byron was hiding and working hard to keep his secrets.  He couldn’t read and had a debilitating stutter.

If it wasn’t for his faith and the people who “stepped out on nothing” for him, Byron doesn’t believe he would have made it to the place he is today.  When his mother was told he was “stupid” she wouldn’t accept it.  When his best friend in college noticed his limited vocabulary he stepped in to help.  And a when a professor he had never met before found him dejected an about to drop out, she believed in him. Read more…

 

 Interview with Byron Pitts [17:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (104)

Have your say » | Tagged Author Podcast, Our Partners, 60 Minutes, Author Interview, Byron Pitts, CBS, dana barrett, National Center Family Literacy, podcast, Step Out on Nothing

Better World Books Podcast: Warren St. John

Posted by Dana on 10.07.2009 at 11:14 am

Did you ever have one of those days?  The kind where everything comes together and you know you are doing what you are meant to be doing?

That’s how I felt when I finished reading OUTCASTS UNITED and knew that I would have the opportunity to meet and interview author Warren St. John and help get the word out about this great book.

The book tells the story of coach Luma Mufleh the soccer team of refugee boys she founded and the town of Clarkston, Georgia that wasn’t sure they wanted them… or their families.

Once I finished reading the book, I knew it would be a perfect fit for The Better World Book Club.  And once again that perfect day stuff starting happening.  I think they call it serendipity.  When I called Warren to let him know his book had been chosen for the December 2009 read for The Better World Book Club – now going live at Whole Foods Markets in Atlanta, he let me know how perfect that was, as he had written a good bit of the book IN the Whole Foods Market at Ponce.  I think I actually got chills. Read more…

 

 Interview with Warren St. John: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (184)

Have your say » | Tagged Author Podcast, Atlanta Book Club, Better World Book Club, Clarkston, dana barrett, georgia, Luma Mufleh, Outcasts United, The Fugees, Warren St. John, Whole Foods Markets

Better World Books Podcast: Mary Kay Andrews

Posted by Dana on 09.21.2009 at 12:20 pm

I met Mary Kay Andrews for the first time in 2006 when BLUE CHRISTMAS first came out.  She came to my little bookstore to do a signing and could not have been more supportive or gracious.  Already a New York Times bestselling author she could have been a total diva – but she was exactly the opposite.

Since then I’ve gotten to know Mary Kay through various events and saw her again at the Decatur Book Festival earlier this month where I had the pleasure of introducing her and Haywood Smith at their very well attended talk.  This time Mary Kay (whose real name is Kathy) had her daughter and adorable first grand-baby in tow and was proudly introducing them around.  I guess my point is Mary Kay knows who she is and is Read more…

 

 Better World Books Author Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (210)

Have your say » | Tagged Author Podcast, Blue Christmas, dana barrett, Decatur Book Festival, Haywood Smith, Mary Kay Andrews, The Fixer Upper

Better World Books Podcast: Christopher Gavigan

Posted by Dana on 08.27.2009 at 4:30 pm

Healthy Child Healthy World is an easy to use guide for creating a safe, green and clean home for your babies and children (even the ones who haven’t been born yet – and the ones that are grown up but just act like babies!).

Complete with a shopping guide, recipes for cleaning products and expert opinions, this is a great resource for parents and parents to be (and would make a great baby shower gift…I’m just sayin’).

The best part about the book to me was the celebrity “Parentblog” entries that gave some great insight into how Read more…

 

 Interview with Christopher Gavigan: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (256)

3 Comments » | Tagged Author Podcast, Brooke Shields, Christopher Gavigan, dana barrett, Green for kids, Gwyneth Paltrow, Healthy Child Healthy World, Meryl Streep, Michelle Obama, Tobey Maguire

Better World Books Podcast: Lisa Unger

Posted by Dana on 08.18.2009 at 9:27 am

Talk about a page turner.  Lisa Unger’s DIE FOR YOU gets going on page one and never really lets up.   And though it really moves, somehow the characters (especially Isabelle), really come to life and some big issues are tackled.  Lies, secrets, love and family to name a few.

I had the opportunity to speak to Lisa on the phone recently about her latest book, why you should consider it for book club and what the genre of literary suspense actually is.  We also tackled some of the big questions in the book like “Was love really real if it didn’t last?”, and Read more…

 

 Interview with Lisa Unger: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (240)

Have your say » | Tagged Author Podcast, Better World Books Podcast, book club, dana barrett, Die For You, Lisa Unger, Literary Suspense

Better World Books Podcast: Mike Farrell

Posted by Dana on 08.07.2009 at 4:26 pm

Meeting Mike Farrell was cool.  There is no other way to say it.  I grew up watching M*A*S*H and felt like I already knew him.  This feeling was only amplified by reading his very personal and heartfelt memoir JUST CALL ME MIKE. So when I saw Mike heading across the floor of the Chicago Green Festival, I ran right up to him and said “Hi Mike” as if we were old friends.  Of course he was a bit perplexed.  I realized my gaffe right away and quickly introduced myself.  As a famous actor, I’m sure he gets that kind of thing all the time so he was very gracious.

Once I got my foot out of my mouth, and the startstruck look off my face, we sat down for a great interview where we talked about Mike’s activism, his childhood, his book tour road trip – and yes, just a teensy bit about M*A*S*H.

I hope you enjoy the interview! Click here to check out more great authors talking about their books on our podcast page!

 

 Interview with Mike Farrell: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (263)

1 Comment » | Tagged Author Podcast, Chicago Green Festival, JUST CALL ME MIKE, M*A*S*H, Mike Farrell

Better World Books Podcast: Greg Palast

Posted by Dana on 08.03.2009 at 1:53 pm

Greg Palast is a character.  And I mean that in the best possible way.  This is a guy you want at your dinner parties.  Sadly, I don’t actually have dinner parties – but if I did, Greg Palast would always get an invite.  From his signature hat to his biting wit and his unforgiving commentary, Greg will keep you laughing until he’s made a difference.

The way the schedule worked out at the recent Chicago Green Festival, I was able to sit in on Greg’s lecture before I interviewed him.  It’s always great when I can do that as it gives me whole new level of understanding about an author that I don’t always get by just reading their Read more…

 

 Interview with Greg Palast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (239)

1 Comment » | Tagged Author Podcast, Armed Madhouse, dana barrett, Elections, Greg Palast, Oil, Palast Investigates, podcast, The Best Democracy Money Can Buy

Better World Books Podcast: Michael Malone

Posted by admin on 07.24.2009 at 1:24 pm

Michael Malone is the best award winning, New York Times bestselling author you’ve never heard of. His latest novel, THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE SKY, is a rare combination of page turning adventure and deeply complex writing. And it should be — he spent 10 years writing it. You get the feeling when you talk to Michael that he doesn’t write for the money or the fame but because he genuinely loves to write.

This is a guy who has won an Edgar, an O. Henry, and even an Emmy for his television writing and he is as unassuming and easy to talk to as you could ever imagine. In addition to his writing, Michael is also a professor at Duke University and as I interviewed him I found myself jealous of his students. This is a guy you could really learn from.

Read more…

 

 Interview with Michael Malone: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (209)

Have your say » | Tagged Author Podcast, Annie Peregrine-Goode, dana barrett, Duke University, Handling Sin, Michael Malone, podcast, The Four Corners of the Sky

Better World Books Podcast: Ann Brashares

Posted by Dana on 07.16.2009 at 12:30 pm

When you meet Ann Brashares you can see immediately that she is the perfect person to write for young adults.  Though she has three kids of her own she seems to have held onto a sweetness and openness that you sense when you meet her and feel when you read her books.

Ann came to our office on the last stop of her book tour for her latest book 3 WILLOWS, which is the beginning of a new series for her.  For fans of The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants series, have no fear, you’ll see a couple of your favs making an appearance in the Willow series and rumor has it she may come back to the Pants girls again before it’s all said and done. Read more…

 

 Interview with Ann Brashares: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (165)

Have your say » | Tagged Author Podcast, 3 Willows, Ann Brashares, dana barrett, podcast, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Young Adult Books

Better World Books Podcast: Laura Flanders

Posted by Dana on 07.08.2009 at 7:20 am

I got the chance to sit down with Laura Flanders recently at the Green Festival in Seattle.  This is a busy, smart woman who knows how to talk and knows what she is talking about.  After all that’s what she does for a living.

In addition to being an author, Laura Flanders hosts GRITtv – a daily talk show which airs online as well as on satellite, cable and public tv.  The show also airs weekly on radio and focuses on both news and arts.

We talked primarly about the book BLUE GRIT which focuses on the Democratic party and Laura’s belief that the party has to stop pandering the middle and focus on it’s liberal base.  The Blue Gritters as she calls them.  Read more…

 

 Interview with Laura Flanders: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (178)

Have your say » | Tagged Author Podcast, Blue Grit, green festival, GRITradio, GRITtv, Host Dana Barrett, Laura Flanders