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Feature Article #1

A Conversation with David Benioff, author of City of Thieves

Carrie: A short story in the collection When the Nines Roll Over also focuses on a young man in Russia confronted with the realities of war. Is there something that draws you to this theme?
David: I suppose there must be, though I don’t know what it is, except perhaps that my ancestors come […]

Carrie | April 29th, 2008 | Continued

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Feature Article #2

Audio Interview with A.M. Homes, author of The Mistress’s Daughter

In The Mistress’s Daughter, A.M. Homes shares her personal identity struggle in relation to and apart from her biological and adoptive parents. Anyone who’s read A.M.’s previous books is aware of her incredible talent. The real-life characters in her telling memoir prove the age-old adage “truth is stranger than fiction.” She reveals a vulnerable side, […]

 
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Carrie | April 22nd, 2008 | Continued

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Feature Article #3

Audio Interview with Mary Kay Andrews, Author of Deep Dish

Kathy Hogan Trochek, aka Mary Kay Andrews, took a few precious minutes from her very busy book tour to chat with me over her morning coffee.
I admit to recently vying for a spot in Kathy’s virtually endless line of fans at my local book store. Her admirers chatted with one another as though mingling […]

 
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Carrie | April 8th, 2008 | Continued

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Feature Article #4

Audio Interview with Kaira Sturdivant Rouda, Author of Real You Incorporated: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs

Listen to a great conversation with Real Living President and expert entrepreneur, Kaira Sturdivant Rouda. Kaira is an extraordinary woman who openly shares her successes and failures to help pave the way for other women interested in developing an authentic and personal brand simply by being real. Kaira’s practical strategies, real-life profiles, and shared secrets […]

 
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Carrie | April 6th, 2008 | Continued

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Feature Article #5

Audio Interview with Kate Jacobs, Author of The Friday Night Knitting Club

I had the distinct honor of speaking with Kate Jacobs, a truly talented writer of a wonderful novel about female friendship. The Friday Night Knitting Club is Kate’s first published novel and though she is unquestionably qualified based on her professional credentials, it thrills even Kate that her novel has made it on the New […]

 
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Carrie | March 13th, 2008 | Continued

About this Site

Welcome to Word To Mouth ~ Where readers meet authors beyond the printed page.
I am your host, Carrie. Words To Mouth is an Internet talk show and companion blog website produced to introduce you to authors and the books they write.
I also co-host the popular Internet talk show, TheDivaCast (www.TheDivaCast.com) and freelance as a Commercial […]

Other Recent Articles

I Found a Great Site to Share: Books On the Night Stand

Nightstand-adding-to-your-sI was playing around on Chris Brogan’s website where he graciously lists his subscriber’s podcasts (Rockstars) and was thrilled to find Books On the Night Stand ~ A conversation about books and reading ~ by Michael Kindness and Ann Kingman. Both work for Random House, but are quick to point out their views are no way affiliated with their employer.

I appreciated Michael and Ann’s latest “Top Ten” and wanted to share it with you. I struggle to find time in the day to read and the list below offers some great ideas. I had to laugh at the synchronicity of finding this list today, because just last evening my youngest daughter and I had a “conversation” (yes, a bit heated) about her goal of reading at least one book this summer. So what if it’s Stephenie Meyer’s third novel, Eclipse, boasting nearly one million pages. Hey, that was her choice, not mine. Anyway, I’m waiting for her to wake up, so I can share the list.  Something tells me, she’ll opt for #5 to find more time to read. Not an option!

Hmmm, maybe I should present the Top 9 Ways to Find More Time for Reading

10 Ways to Find More Time for Reading      

  1. Unplug. Seriously. Step away from the computer. Turn off the television. It’s a no-brainer, but it might be the hardest thing to do all day. A newspaper story about author James Patterson reported that “he also reprimanded adults who say they don’t have time to read: ‘People read thousands of pages. No content. No stories. It’s called your BlackBerry’.”
  2. Embrace television, but in an old-fashioned way. Drop the Tivo remote. Use the commercial breaks to squeeze in some reading time. Short stories work great for this, or books that have short chapters. I recently read Seth Godin’s MEATBALL SUNDAE this way. The chapters are short, but thought-provoking, making them perfect for commercial breaks. If you’re still reading when the commercials are over, you can pick up the remote and pause the TV until you’ve finished the chapter.
  3. Read aloud to your children, an elderly neighbor or family member, or someone else who would enjoy it. Sometimes we don’t really count that as “reading time,” but really, it’s time spent in an even more fulfilling way. At a recent event, Barack Obama was quoted as saying, “”Over the course of four years I made time to read all of the Harry Potter books out loud to my daughters. If I can do that and run for president, then you can find time to read to your kids. That’s some of the most special time you have with your children.”
  4. Take long car rides, and let someone else drive. This works great for me, because my husband can’t read in the car without getting nauseous. So he drives (and gets to choose the music), and I read.
  5. If you don’t have a chauffeur, try audiobooks. Audios are great not only for the car and gym, but for doing chores around the house, knitting, or any other time you need use of your hands. I have been known to listen to audios on my iPod at the grocery store, and they have saved my sanity while waiting for my kids at swimming lessons — I can still watch what’s going on, but can listen to a book at the same time.
  6. Wake up 15 minutes earlier, and go to bed 15 minutes later. Voila, 1/2 hour of found reading time, which shouldn’t take too much of a toll on your sleep cycle.
  7. Join a book group, reading circle, or take a literature class. The added pressure of a deadline might allow you to carve out some reading time without feeling too guilty.
  8. Give up housework, yard work, chores, etc. for one non-work day. Consider it a vacation — a “staycation” if you will. Schedule it on your calendar if you must. If you have small children, trade off being “on duty” with your spouse for 2 hour increments. Your spouse will probably appreciate the freedom as well, and 2 hours is enough time to immerse yourself fully into the plot and characters of a juicy novel.
  9. If you are simply unable to ignore the chores that must be done, take yourself off to a coffee shop, library, or other comfortable place where you can camp out for awhile. You’ll be away from the demands of the things you “should” be doing. It’s very liberating to read a book without that pile of laundry staring at you accusingly.
  10. OK, I’m going to just say it. You probably do it anyway. Read in the bathroom. For at least a few minutes, people will leave you alone. Choose your reading material carefully. If you are trying to do this at work, be discreet, and avoid tomes like War and Peace. ** from Books On the Night Stand

If you have some ideas you’d like to share, please feel free to add them to the Comments below or call in at 206–309–7318 and leave a voice mail message I can play on air.

Take good care…until next time!

Quick & Wordy with Carly Phillips, author of Hot Property (audio interview)

CarlyIn her earlier years, Carly Phillips attempted to embrace the life of an attorney, but her colicky infant altered Carly’s life course. She started devouring romance novels as a way to escape the stress of mothering young daughters and then eventually tried her own pen at romance writing. Carly got hooked, got published, and never looked back. 

In our Quick & Wordy interview, Carly Phillips admitted how, as a romance writer, it can sometimes be awkward trying to explain to others how she comes up with such steamy bedroom scenes. She confided that for the most part, when she got past the fear of what people would think, her stories flowed quite naturally. Carly appreciates Kelly Ripa who put her book, Bachelor, on her Reading with Ripa book club list. “Talk about a lucky break–that really made my career,” said Carly. “I’m really grateful to her.”

When I asked Carly what is important to her beyond writing, she said, “I’m very close with my own mother and having good relationships with my girls is very very important to me.” She’s also very passionate about her Wheaton terrier, Buddy, and is a self-proclaimed TV junkie. Carly writes with her MacBook Pro on her lap, television blaring, and daughters flitting about the house. Rather than distract, these sights and sounds energize Carly to create her unique characters.

Come along and listen in on a fast-paced conversation with Carly that will undoubtedly entice you to read her latest, Hot Property. And if that doesn’t do it, just take a peek at the book jacket…H-O-T!Hot Property

 
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Dr. Tina B. Tessina, Ph.D., L.M.F.T., author of Money, Sex, and Kids and The Commuter Marriage (audio interview)

Fair Warning:  We talk about SEX, Baby…
So, you may want to listen with your earbuds if younger ears are nearby.

TinaDr. Tina Tessina Ph.D., L.M.F.T, aka Dr. Romance, has been married 26 years and has over 30 years counseling experience. Join us as we have a casual honest conversation about money, sex, and kids–all possible stumbling blocks to a healthy happy marriage.

Money, Sex, and Kids: Stop Fighting About the Three Things That Can Ruin Your Marriage  explores how to develop a relationship infrastructure to help us view our marriage as a partnership and learn to talk to one another and bring up difficult subjects in a way that won’t end up in a fight. Dr. Tessina offers insight, real-life scenarios, and practical solutions to the everyday challenges of married life. She says, “With a little information and practice, you can become a successful, happy couple. You’ll learn to understand why you and your partner argue and the remaining skills you need to enhance your relationship and transform your struggles into working together to create a smoothly working partnership. You’ll be able to resolve your issues about money, sex, and kids, and move on to having a workable, satisfying relationship, with minimal or no arguing or fighting.”

Dr. Tessina’s Words of Wisdom:

  • “Part of marriage is teaching each other–you get to teach each other what works for you.”
  • “If you develop partnership, your marriage is gonna work. If you develop an antagonistic relationship, then your marriage will struggle…and eventually you’ll probably get tired of the struggle.”
  • “Think about your struggles as “problems to be solved” rather than who’s right and who’s wrong.”
  • “Sex is supposed to be fun. It’s not supposed to be a drag.”

     
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Jeff LeJeune, Postmarked Baltimore

LeJeune_Author_Photo[1]I met Jeff LeJeune on GoodReads website, a place where writers and readers can share reviews, recommendations, and most anything. 

A Bit About Jeff LeJeune:  Jeff LeJeune played basketball in high school and then for two seasons at McNeese State University before a deadly disease redirected the course of his life. He is now a professional novelist (The Final Chase and Postmarked Baltimore) and a columnist for Writers News Weekly. He teaches at St. Louis Catholic High School in Lake Charles, LA, where he was recently named a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction.

Postmarked Baltimore (Book Jacket Summary): On New Year’s Eve, 1989, Father Perry Burns is sitting in his study, accompanied by a mysterious stranger. Perry has just received a letter from his former sweetheart, whom he jilted years earlier after making a terrible decision. He joined the priesthood to hide from his emotions, but now he finds himself recalling, almost reliving, his checkered past. Will the mysterious stranger win the fight for Father Burns’ soul, or will the struggling priest denounce his false life and return to Baltimore to answer to the woman he has always loved?

JC Hutchins, Personal Effects Dark Art (audio interview) Part II

JC2I first heard of JC Hutchins on CC Chapman’s podcast Managing the Gray. Fortunately, podcast distribution has exposed me to books of varying genres I wouldn’t have otherwise picked off the shelf—and 7th Son is one of them.

First things first: JC is such a positive uplifting guy, before I realized it, we had chatted for over an hour. For those of you who cannot listen for a whole hour, I cut the conversation into two, so you can listen to the first half and then come back for the second whenever it’s convenient. Whatever you do, don’t just disregard the second half. We get into some personal stuff with JC and also chat about his unique approach to building community around his books ~ Good ideas for writers ~ A lot of fun for readers!

 
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JC Hutchins, 7th Son Trilogy (audio interview) Part I

JCI first heard of JC Hutchins on CC Chapman’s podcast Managing the Gray. Fortunately, podcast distribution has exposed me to books of varying genres I wouldn’t have otherwise picked off the shelf—and 7th Son is one of them.

First things first: JC is such a positive uplifting guy, before I realized it, we had chatted for over an hour. For those of you who cannot listen for a whole hour, I cut the conversation into two, so you can listen to the first half and then come back for the second whenever it’s convenient. Whatever you do, don’t just disregard the second half. We get into some personal stuff with JC and also chat about his unique approach to building community around his books ~ Good ideas for writers ~ A lot of fun for readers!

 
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Quick & Wordy ~ Susan Mallery, Sweet Talk (audio interview)

SusanmalleryAccording to Susan Mallery, she is quite possibly one of the few authors who can actually understand her royalty statements. She first got into writing romance while studying accounting in college. On a whim, she took a romance novel writing class and her life was thereafter destined for a different course. Though she completed her degree, she never actually worked in the accounting field, but rather got straight into writing romance novels right out of college–publishing her first novel her graduation summer. Now, after almost 100 published books, she most likely needs to hire an accountant to keep her finances in order.

I spoke with Susan not only about her latest release, Sweet Talk, but about what is important to her on a personal level. She responded with one word–Relationships. Her life revolves around relationships, writing, travel, and researching her novels…oh, and her tiny poodle.

 
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Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing, Mignon Fogarty (audio interview)

Grammar GirlAs a technical writer and editor, Mignon Fogarty realized she repeatedly encountered the same grammatical errors. While sitting in a coffee shop one morning, a light bulb moment led Mignon to creating the Grammar Girl concept–a weekly podcast with memory tricks and fixes for the most common grammatical mishaps. Little did she know, what started out as a hobby for Mignon would quickly turn into a whole new career path.

Within a couple weeks, Grammar Girl topped iTunes featured podcasts and just a few months later, the Wall Street Journal chose Grammar Girl as its web pick of the day, and then…Mignon found herself sitting on Oprah Winfrey’s coveted couch–What a whirlwind! Can’t you just picture Grammar Girl as a super hero, complete with cape and tights, flying high above to rid the world of our grammar woes?

Since then, Grammar Girl evolved into an entire Quick and Dirty network with a variety of podcasts providing tips on parenting, etiquette, and personal productivity.

GGbookOn July 8th Mignon’s first in-print book, Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing, hit bookshelves and online book distributors. The book is a writing companion MUST for everyone from business professionals, bloggers, published authors, to folks who wouldn’t dream of writing anything beyond email to co-workers or friends. Listen in on the interview to hear the author talk about the book and her grammar quest in her own words.

 
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Carrie’s Quick & Wordy

Introducing a new Words To Mouth approach for those of you who simply want a  taste of authors and a bite of their books. Quick and Wordy interviews are just brief snippets where I speak to new and seasoned authors about their new releases and a bit about their personal lives and what’s important to them.

My first Quick and Wordy interviews are with Susan Mallery and Carly Phillips, both romance writers, and Trish Ryan will soon follow.

Your  suggestions and recommendations are always welcome. If there is a particular writer you’d like me to  approach about being a guest on Words To Mouth, please feel free to comment on this post or email me at Carrie@WordsToMouth.com or call 206-309-7318 and talk to me.

Remember…to get Words To Mouth delivered to your computer for free subscribe on iTunes.

As always…thanks for listening and visiting the website…and take good care!

Brenda Novak, author of Trust Me (Audio Interview)

TrustmeBrenda Novak is a wife and mother of five, a juvenile diabetes research fundraiser, and New York Times BESTselling author. Talk about life-work balance! And…we do!

“Dreams really do come true,” says Brenda about landing a spot on the coveted New York Times Bestseller list the day before we chatted! “Congratulations” to Brenda who sold her first book almost a decade to-the-day Trust Me appeared on the print list!
 

What we chat about:

Even to this day, Brenda admits feeling guilty about not realizing her trusted day-care provider had been drugging her kids with over-the-counter medications to get them to sleep—Every mom’s nightmare. Brenda turned that painful experience positive by choosing a practical way to stay at home with her kids—Writing Books! Having never before put pen to paper, Brenda had a lot to learn about the writing craft and the challenges of her chosen genre—historical romanc, but after five years, her choice paid off.

Listen in as Brenda shares how she got her first novel published by taking advantage of Romance Writers of America (RWA) resources (i.e., contacts, market, and contest information). Since then, she’s moved into romantic thrillers and has published a slew of books including The Last Stand series.Brenda

 
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    Carrie created Words-to-Mouth—a blog & companion Internet talk show introducing new book releases and their authors to a community interested in excellent writing that may not  necessarily top the New York Times Bestseller List—Yet! To learn more about Carrie, click here