In The Author's Voice

WSIU's Jennifer Fuller talks with author Jeremy Finley about his new book, "The Darkest Time of Night."

So, what is a giraffe's favorite shoe?   Answer: Hightops!    Just in time for a good summer read for your kids or grand kids is the latest children’s story from long-time educator, and former college president Karen Gross.    Her new book, Lady Lucy’s Laugh Giraffe Journey is the latest in her Lady Lucy series.  

This week the United States officially opened its US Embassy in Jerusalem.   A move, that has generated praise, as well as controversy and unrest in the region.  Michael Sfard is a human rights lawyer in Israel and author of the recent book The Wall and The Gate: Israel, Palestine, and the Legal Battle for Human Rights.  As an advocate for human rights, he offers a different perspective on the much covered conflict. 

A southern Illinois native is the author of a new children's book.  Dr. Kimberly Gordon Biddle grew up in Colp.  She now lives in California where she teaches at Sacramento State University.    LaDonna Plays Hoops is a picture book that tells the story of a young African-American girl who goes to visit her grandma for a family reunion.  

In this edition of In The Author's Voice, WSIU's Jeff Williams recently talked with Dr. Biddle about her book and a reading she will give on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at the Carbondale Barnes & Noble beginning at 12:00pm. 

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the assignation of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.   After nearly five-decades there remain many unanswered questions surrounding the killing of Dr.

As China's trillion dollar "Road and Belt" infrastructure initiative continues working to re-shape global trade, a new book, Young China, works to bring a new understanding of China to the world - especially of Chinese millennials known as the Restless Generation.   In this edition of In The Author's Voice, WSIU's Jeff Williams talks with author Zak Dychtwald about his book and his experience with China and its people.

The Vietnam War was a time of much change in America that still echos through our country's culture nearly 50 years later.  Les Arbuckle spent nearly two years of his life growing up in Saigon at the start of the Vietnam War. His father was stationed there and signed on the air Saigon's Armed Forces Radio station. Arbucfkle talks with WSIU's Jeff Williams about being a teenager in Saigon and his new memoir, Saigon Kids: An American Military Brat comes of Age in 1960's Vietnam.

More of the Conversation with Les Arbuckle:

The May cover story for National Geographic Magazine is Genius.    Author and journalist Claudia Kalb delves into the issue exploring where geniuses come from.  And, what role does society play in their development or is genius simply a genetic lottery?  

WSIU's Jeff Williams recently talked with Kalb about those questions and more for this edition of In The Author’s Voice. 

This week (Thursday, April 27, 2017) the Mystery Writers of America holds its 71st Annual Edgar Awards in New York City.   Named after Edgar Allan Poe, the Edgar Awards honors the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction and television published or produced in 2016.   Southern Illinois based author Laura Benedict is a finalist in the Best Short Story category for her work "A Paler Shade of Death."  WSIU's Jeff Williams recently talked with Benedict about her nominated story and the Edgar Awards.

New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry is out today (Tuesday, April 4, 2017) with his new novel The Lost Order.  It’s the latest in his Cotton Malone series.   WSIU’s Jeff Williams talked with Berry about the story and the real life history of the Knights of the Golden Circle that forms the foundation of the tale…

The Lost Order is published by Minotaur Books.  In The Author's Voice is a series of original interviews from WSIU and is a listener supported service of Southern Illinois University.

Geo-biologist and research scientist Hope Jahren has spent her scientific career studying plants. Her new memoir Lab Girl chronicles her journey of scientific discovery from playing in her father’s lab as a child to her ground breaking research on trees and plants.  It’s an honest and frank look at the life of a research scientist.  WSIU's Jeff Williams recently talked with Jahren about her work, the book, and trees.

Thomas Nickell is an 18 year old classical pianist.  This past summer he appeared in recital in London and Italy.  He's also played with orchestras in Spain, Poland, and Japan.   On Sunday he makes is solo debut at Carnegie Hall where he will give the North American premiere of Britain's contemporary composer David Matthew's Piano Concerto, Op. 111, with the the Orchestra of the Swan.  

WSIU's Jeff Williams recently talked with Nickell about his music and his upcoming performance for this edition of In The Author's Voice.

Welcome to this Edition of In The Author's Voice.  In 1980 Jonathan Sanger's first feature film debuted.  That movie was The Elephant Man.   It starred John Hurt, Anne Bancroft, Anthony Hopkins and John Gielgud.  It also helped launch the career of director David Lynch.

Jonathan Sanger is out with a new memoir, Making The Elephant Man.   WSIU's Jeff Williams recently talked with Sanger about the book and his career.

Social media and its influence on today's children presents a disturbing reality.  Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Vine, Tinder, and many others form the social media landscape that continues to evolve and intertwine itself into the fabric of our lives - especially the lives and the socialization of today's youth.    Writer Nancy Jo Sales is the author of American Girls: Social Media and the Secret Lives of Teenagers.

There’s a new who-done-it series from an author that knows of what she writes.   Dr. Barbara Golder is forensic pathologist and an attorney.   The first novel in her Lady Doc murders series is Dying for Revenge.   WSIU's Jeff Williams recently talked with Golder about the book, her work, and its influence on her writing.

Dr. Barbara Golder is a retired pathologist and attorney.  Her new novel, Dying for Revenge, is the first book in her Lady Doc Murders series from Full Quiver Publishing.

A new study by the John Muir Project shows that fire does important ecological work in forests and it may be time to re-think our federal policy on logging and forest fire suppression.  Chad Hanson is a forest fire ecologist and author of the book – The Ecological Importance of Mixed Severity Fires.  In this edition of In The Author's Voice, WSIU's Jeff Williams talks with Hanson about the study’s findings and his work as a forest fire ecologist.

Bestselling author Kate DiCamillo knows a thing or two about books for young readers.  The two-time Newbery Medalist has some recommendations for those buying books for kids this holiday season.  WSIU's Jeff Williams recently talked with DiCamillo about what she looks for in books for young readers.

Have you ever wondered what's inside toothpaste? Or nail polish? Or dry erase markers?    Well, MIT trained chemist and science Educator George Zaidan has.  Ingredients, The Stuff Inside Your Stuff takes a closer look at the science behind everyday things.  WSIU's Jeff Williams talked with Zaidan about the series that is featured on National Geographic's YouTube channel. 

You can watch this season's episodes of Ingredients, The Stuff Inside Your Stuff here.

When author Carol Miller was a teenager she survived an airplane crash that took the life of her younger sister.  For 20-years she carried the guilt of having survived that trauma until a therapy know as EMDR brought her back to life.   

Miller's new memoir, Every Moment of A Fall, chronicles her journey.  She recently talked with WSIU's Jeff Williams about the book and her experience for this edition of In The Author's Voice.

Fans of New York Times Best Selling Author Patricia Cornwell have, undoubtedly, been anxiously awaiting today’s (November 15, 2016)  release of her latest Kay Scarpetta novel, Chaos.    It’s been nearly three decades since Post Mortem launched the character that has become part of the forensic literary landscape.

WSIU's Jeff Williams recently talked with Cornwell about her latest Scarpetta novel and what keeps her inspired after all of these years.

National Geographic is out with its 2016 edition of Greatest Landscapes.   It features more than 250 unforgettable images from around the globe.

Veteran National Geographic photographer George Steinmetz  wrote the forward for this year’s book.  WSIU's Jeff Williams talked with Steinmetz about the book and about what inspires him as a landscape photographer.

National Geographic Greatest Landscapes is in stores now.

November is both Lung Cancer Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month.   According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among men and women.

In the edition of In The Author's Voice, WSIU's Jeff Williams talks with Anita Logsdon, a treatment suite nurse with Oncology Hematology Care; and Katie Brown, Vice President for Support and Survivorship Programs with LUNGevity, a lung-cancer research and advocacy group about the disease and its impact on society.

Author Laura Benedict's latest "Bliss House" novel hits book stores Tuesday (Oct. 11, 2016).   The Abandoned Heart is the third installment in the series and chronicles the beginning of Bliss House and the sordid tale of it's patriarch, Randolph Bliss.

WSIU's Jeff Williams recently talked with Benedict about the book for this edition of In The Author's Voice.

Part 2 - The Abandoned Heart: Continued

Part 3 - Benedict on writing mystery novels

Sandra Brown’s latest suspense novel, Sting, hit book stores this week.  WSIU's Jeff Williams recently talked with the New York Times best selling author about her new book and what keeps her inspired after more than 60-novels.

In the Author’s Voice is a listener supported service of WSIU Radio and Southern Illinois University.

The Jaguar Man is the latest from  Author and documentary playwright Lara Naughton.  It's a memoir that chronicles a harrowing event that took place in her life while on vacation in Belize.  WSIU's Jeff Williams talked with Naughton about the book, the experience, and her journey of healing in this edition of In The Author's Voice.

New York Times bestselling author Steve Martini is out with his latest legal thriller.  It’s called Blood Flag and is rooted in the history of Nazi Germany.  WSIU Radio's Jeff Williams recently talked with Martini about his latest installment in the Paul Madriani series for this edition of In The Author's Voice.

Memorial Day officially kicks off the summer vacation season.  The U.S. Travel Association says Americans will take nearly 1.7-billion leisure trips this year.  Some of those trips could be as close as a local state park or as far away as a cross country excursion.  A free travel planning website, Gogobot, can help you decide where to go and what to do while you're on vacation.  WSIU's Jeff Williams recently talked with travel expert Krista Canfield about the website and this year's trending vacation destinations.

A new children’s book, Lady Lucy’s Quest,  tells the story of a feisty young heroine who believes in the power of the possible. 

It’s written by Karen Gross who is a former college president and former senior policy advisory at the US Department of Education. 

WSIU Radio's Jeff Williams recently talked with Gross about the book and what inspired her to write a story for children.

In The Author's Voice is a web-based series of WSIU Radio.

A new “how to” book suggests creative ways that we can remember loved ones who will never be forgotten.  It's a guide to how we can move beyond grief to celebrating the joy and affection of loved one's memories.    Loss survivor, author and journalist Allison Gilbert’s new book is Passed and Present: Keeping Memories of Loved Ones Alive.   WSIU's Jeff Williams recently talked with Gilbert about the book for this edition of In The Author's Voice.

Alibaba is one of the world's largest online shopping malls.  A new book, Alibaba: The House That Jack Ma Built chronicles the humble origins of its founder and the company that is now a $200-billion industry.  WSIU's Jeff Williams recently talked with the book's author Duncan Clark for this edition of In The Author's Voice.