A Book and a Chat with "The Story Siren"

Sometimes a show is so special that you have make it stand out above other shows, change your night extend the length of your show, whatever it takes. Tonight was one of those special shows.

A Book and a Chat with "The Story Siren"

Kristi alias "The Story Siren" has one of the leading lights in the YA blogging community, with almost 200,000 Visitors in under 2 years, number 6 in the top book sites, followed by over 800 on twitter, the plaudits just go on and on. The Story Siren blog has been nominated for TEN different categories in the BBAW awards.

Listen to this special radio program about a special blogger, with interaction from other guests and chat room folk

Stop what your doing and share this forty five minute fascinating incite into the world of YA blogging.

Listen at

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond/2009/08/21/A-BOOK-AND-A-CHAT-with-The-Story-Siren

or on my blog at

http://acrossthepond-storyheart.blogspot.com

"The Story Siren" did a great recap of the show...(in her words) which I'll share so it gives you an idea of how it went.

The Story Sirens Recap:

* Well there was an introduction! ha!
* We talked about how books can help with things like: self esteem for example
* That I was an "invisible" person in high school, I related to The Opposite of Invisible by Liz Gallagher.
* I showed up for my first swim practice in a two piece.
* Books are an escape!
* Xander is my Rotten-weiler. Everyone loves him, especially Cat.
* I've gotten to meet other bloggers. I mentioned Chelsea of the Page Flipper and Lauren of Shooting Stars Mag. I'm amazed that you can have real friendships that develop online!
* Why I like reading YA: relate to the characters and Fantastic Writers! They are the complete package!
* Vlogs
* That I can't help buying books! Even if I already have them.
* My Favorite books from this year: well the ones I remembered to mention: Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert, Willow by Julia Hoban, and Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater.
* The YA Connection, that is in retirement at the moment.
* The genre that I wish I could read more of: fantasy! Diana Peterfreund author of Rampant asked this one!
* Cindy of Cindy's Love of Books stopped by
* Cindy asked what was the one thing about blogging that surprised me the most? That authors are accessible! You can talk to them and everything, that's just crazy!
* Cindy's favorite book she mention was Willow by Julia Hoban. Lots of Willow talk.
* We couldn't pick a favorite author!
* Also, thanks to Adele of Persnickety Snark, I remembered I loved Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols.
* Book Blogger Appreciation Week, started by My Friend Amy. And my 10 nominations!
* Vania of Reverie Book Reviews stopped by.
* V asked what's one of the hardest thing about bloggin? My reviews! I stink at writing them!
* Steph asked what books I read and loved as a teen? I read James Patterson and Micheal Crichton, loved the Jurassic Park books. I didn't read teen books, there weren't really any. Loved Goosebumps and Babysitters Club when I was younger.
* Talked about the fact that you can read YA at any age, and the recent negative email and comments that were made on the blog.
* Diana from The Book Resort called in.
* Diana asked where do I see YA trending? We need a new "vampire" I'm predicting unicorns, zombies, faeries and angels!
* Khy from Frenetic Reader stopped by too!
* Khy asked what books have gotten overlooked? I mentioned The Dairy Queen series by Catherine Gilbert Murdock.
* Team Unicorn!
* Plus a few other things that I might have mentioned!

Thanks for such a great run down Kristi



Author of Young Adult Romance/Fiction book
"Across the Pond"

A Book and a Chat… the show that nearly never happened

Saturday as many of you know is my Book and a Chat Radio Show. Normally it starts at 11:00 and I check about ten minutes before to make sure connections, microphone phone etc is working correctly. The you as the host dial into Blogtalk radio, set up your switchboard and wait for your guest or anybody else who wants to chat to arrive.

This morning however, when you attempted to open the switchboard you received an error message. I attempted to get to the switchboard, but no matter what I attempted this part of Blogtalk was not working. That meant that though my guest dialed in I was unable to see her or open a microphone for her to join the chat show. I could not control, open, play the music nothing. I even sang the closing music...

So I tried to chat for the thirty minutes about my guest, my book "Across the Pond" and YA Blogging. I had no idea what was going on and after, I could not even check or listen to the show.

Finally seven hours later the problem was fixed. I knew this as suddenly I received a message from my guest saying she was there.

The show is also finally now available for people to listen to.

So check the show out, listen as I try to cover 30 minutes about my planned guest, my book, reviews, have my rant about YA bloggers and even sing the closing music.

Give it a listen and let me know what you think

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond/2009/08/15/A-BOOK-AND-A-CHAT-with-Chamein-Canton

Barry


http://acrossthepond-storyheart.blogspot.com



Author of Young Adult Romance/Fiction book
"Across the Pond"

Literary Saturday - what is "Christian Literature"?

Normally I blog on a Saturday about that days radio guest, however today I did not have a radio show. The reason being this morning I was a guest speaker/panelist at a Connecticut Authors and Publishers (CAPA) event.

As stated on the program...

"During the first several minutes of the program, each panelist will share a brief story of an appearance to promote their book. Following this first segment, a Question & Answer period will follow, where each panelist can attempt to provide his or her "best answer" to the questions posed by the audience, based on their experience. The venues may include libraries, bookstores, other book sale venues, television and radio."

My chat and answers went down really well with promoting as I always do the use of the internet for publicity and just getting your name out there. Of course I mentioned my favorite subject the fantastic YA Bloggers that are out there, or as I call them the "Sham Wow" of YA literature.

One question I was asked, and it has been asked before is if my book is a "Christian Book?"

What are Christian books, Christian Authors etc, what does it mean?

I mean to say.. ones mans Christianity is another mans Judaism. Words like bloody and hell are in the Bible, yet used as "Bloody Hell" which is a common saying in England, might be classed as bad langauge.

Some reviewers/readers have said great for teens teen and good "Christian Book" others have said some bad language...(not sure where unless we are talking about "bloody hell")

Basically I'm lost. I mean what about all the "begating" in the bible, and after all were not Adam and Eve were the first sex experts?

Any way I think the book might be classed as a good Christian book, but then I could have just been agreeing to sell copies and possibly be a guest speaker at an event or two.

So if anybody could explain what "Christian Literature" is, not counting the monthly news letter from your local church (at least in England), I'd be very glad.

This by the way is my church from back home in England. St Marys (East Barnet) built in 1080... yes that old, and still has many parts (walls doors, arches etc) from the original Norman building. I was christened, sang in the choir and had one wedding ceremony there.

Barry




Author of Young Adult Romance/Fiction book
"Across the Pond"