In The Author's Voice

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.

Author Kate DiCamillo is out with her latest novel.   The two-time Newberry Medalist ‘s latest  book for young readers is Raymie Nightingale.  WSIU's Jeff Williams recently talked with DiCamillo about the book for this edition of In The Author's Voice.

Raymie Nightingale is available from Candlewick Press.    In The Author’s Voice is an online feature of WSIU Public Radio.

Imagine scouring the globe for the remains of one of the rarest of artifacts - a 17th Century pirate ship known as the Golden Fleece.   Writer Robert Kurson chronicles the journey of two treasure hunters in search of respected British sea Captain turned pirate Joseph Bannister's infamous ship.   WSIU's Jeff Williams talks with Kurson about his book Pirate Hunters for this edition of In The Author's Voice.

New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry is out this week with his latest Cotton Malone adventure. The 14th Colony has what's left of the Magellan Billet working to uncover the plot of a former KGB mastermind that dates back to the Cold War.  WSIU's Jeff Williams recently talked with Berry about his latest novel and a quirk in the Constitution.

The Pew Research Center's 2015 study on religion found that nearly 23% of adults in the United States have no religious affiliation.  That's up from 16% in 2007.   The Religious Landscape Study also identified that 1 in 5 US adults were raised as members of a religion but now say they have no religious affiliation.

Prayer has been part of our culture since the dawn of civilization.  A new book examines the role prayer has played in history from the ancient world to the modern era.  Author and historian Jean-Pierre Isbouts discusses his latest book Ten Prayers That Changed the World with WSIU's Jeff Williams for this edition of In The Author's Voice.

Isbouts is a doctoral professor at Fielding Graduate University.  Ten Prayers That Changed the World is published by National Geographic.

March 2 is nationally recognized as Read Across America Day.  It’s a day to focus attention and awareness on the importance of the role that reading plays in student achievement.

Chicago during the dawn of the Roaring Twenties was a time of unregulated madness. Writer Dean Jobb tells the story of a smooth talking lawyer named Leo Koretz who used his charisma to entice people to invest millions of dollars in a pyramid scheme rivaling the modern day exploits of Bernie Madoff.

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

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that kids miss 22-million school days each year due to colds. If you are a parent or grandparent of school aged kids, you know we are in the middle of cough and cold season. Dr. Laurence Flint is a pediatrician and helped author a recent survey by the National Association of School Nurses that examines how parents approach their child's illness.   WSIU's Jeff Williams talked with Flint about the survey and what parents need to know about keeping thier children healthy during cold season.

The National Cancer Institute estimates there will be 1.6 Million new cases of cancer diagnosed in the United States during 2016.  About 40% of all men and women will experience some form of cancer during their lifetime.  Two nurses who run the cancer answer line at Cleveland Clinic’s Taussig Cancer Institute are out with a new book that is based on more than 15-years of helping cancer patients and their families.  The book, is The Complete Cancer Organizer.   Advanced Practice Nurse and book co-author Jamie Schwachter recently talked with WSIU's Jeff Williams for this edition of

How safe are you or your information in today's interconnected cyber world?  Author and security expert Marc Goodman explores those questions in his recent book Future Crimes: Inside the Digital Underground and the Battle for Our Connected World.   Goodman's book is now out in paperback.  WSIU's Jeff Williams recently talked with Goodman for this edition of In The Author's Voice.

The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism says some 28% of adults in the United States drink enough to put them at risk of dependency or other alcohol related abuses.  A new book takes an alternative approach to recovery from alcohol addiction that is different from the traditional 12-step process.   The authors are Jack Canfield who created the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and recovery expert Dave Andrews.    WSIU's Jeff Williams recently talked with Andrews for this edition of In The Author's Voice.

Author Colleen Coble is back with the next installment in her Sunset Cove series.  Mermaid Moon is out in paperback this week.  Readers get introduced to Mallory Davis as she returns to her Maine home for the first time in 15 years.  WSIU's Jeff Williams recently talked with Coble for this edition of In The Author's Voice.

Imagine a time in the not to distant future when Alzheimer's no longer exists.  The search for the fountain of youth has largely been a work of science fiction.  But science is on the cusp of a revolutionary breakthrough.  Dr. Michael Fossel is a physician and an expert in the science of cell aging and human aging.    WSIU's Jeff Williams recently talked with Dr. Fossel about his book The Telomerase Revolution for this edition of In The Author's Voice.

In this edition of In The Author's Voice, WSIU Radio's Jeff Williams talks with author, journalist and Salon founder David Talbot about his latest book The Devil's Chessboard: Allen Dulles, the CIA, and the Rise of America's Secret Government.

In The Author's Voice is a regular feature on wsiunews.org and is a listener supported service of Southern Illinois University.

With medical marijuana now legally available in Illinois, the state's pilot program is hitting full stride.  In fact, according to national statistics, 23 states and the District of Columbia have some form of legal marijuana usage.