Posts

Sneak Peak: Lee Child’s PERSONAL

/in , , , /by

Today we sat down with Lee Child, the bestselling author of the sensational thriller series about a former military policeman Jack Reacher. Child has had tremendous success with this suspenseful thriller series. The mysterious and intriguing nature of Jack’s sharp analytical intellect and physical strength has been captivating readers for the past seventeen years. The latest installment, PERSONAL was published on August 28th 2014.

Lee Child shared with us the surprising story of how he came up with the main character’s name. In the beginning of his writing career, Child was struggling to find a name for his leading character, and looked for inspiration everywhere. One day, while grocery shopping with his wife, he was approached by an elderly woman, who asked him to reach for a can of beans off the top shelf. The two started talking, and the woman suggested he become a reacher in a grocery store in case his writing career falls through. Haunted by the idea, Child named his leading man Jack Reacher.

Check out this behind-the-scene photo, and stay tuned for the whole interview with Child, where he talks about PERSONAL, Jack Reacher and much more.

photo-18

Never Go Back By Lee Child

/in , , , , /by

In the wilds of South Dakota, Reacher was struck by the voice—and the person with the voice—of Major Susan Turner, who was introduced in 61 Hours. Since ‘meeting’ her from afar, Reacher has slowly but surely been working his way east, and in NEVER GO BACK, he finally arrives in DC. But instead of walking into her office and meeting Susan face-to-face, Reacher walks into something even he couldn’t anticipate—he’s told he’s been drafted back into the Army.

NGBphoto

“Reacher gets better and better.” –The New York Times

 “Do yourself a favor and get hooked on this series.” —Cleveland Plain Dealer

This is a Jack Reacher novel you won’t want to put down! For some, his brute strength and sheer physicality are his dominant traits. For others, it’s the razor-sharp instincts and mental processes that make him a force to be reckoned with. But no matter the image you have, one thing is for certain—anti-hero Jack Reacher is one of the most iconic protagonists of contemporary suspense fiction.

Lee Child is the author of eighteen Jack Reacher thrillers, including the New York Times bestsellers A Wanted Man, Persuader, The Enemy, One Shot, and The Hard Way, and the #1 bestsellers The Affair, Worth Dying For, 61 Hours, Gone Tomorrow, Bad Luck and Trouble, and Nothing to Lose, as well as the short stories “Second Son” and “Deep Down.” His debut, Killing Floor, won both the Anthony and the Barry awards for Best First Mystery, and The Enemy won both the Barry and Nero awards for Best Novel. Foreign rights in the Reacher series have sold in more than forty territories. All titles have been optioned for major motion pictures, the first of which—Jack Reacher—was released in December 2012 featuring Tom Cruise as Reacher. A native of England and a former television director, Child lives in New York City, where he is at work on his next thriller.

 

 

The Smartest Kids in the World.. and how they got that way BY Amanda Ripley

/in , , , /by

SKIWphoto

American kids are better off, on average, than the typical child in Japan, New Zealand, or South Korea, yet they scored twenty-sixth on a test of critical thinking in math, below average for the developed world. Over the past fifty years, test scores have remained largely flat in the U.S., while soaring in Canada and Finland, where most children are now learning to make complex arguments and solve problems in math, reading, and science.

The conundrum intrigued investigative journalist Amanda Ripley, whose award-winning work explores the gap between public policy and human behavior. To learn more, Ripley decided to compare countries from a unique perspective—through the eyes of three American high school students studying abroad in Finland, South Korea, and Poland, respectively. The result is THE SMARTEST KIDS IN THE WORLD: And How They Got That Way (Simon & Schuster; On sale August 13, 2013; $28.00), a masterful blend of groundbreaking research and storytelling that sheds new light on how we can better educate our children — and why it matters that we do.

Ripley follows three intrepid young Americans as they push the envelope of their experiences and reckon with the inadequacies of their educations. Kim, from a small town in Oklahoma, raises the money herself to spend a year in Finland—the nation consistently ranked at the top of the world in education. Eric, just graduated from his well-regarded Minnesota high school, defers college to attend a Korean high school—where he finds out what high-pressure tests really look like. Pennsylvania native Tom seeks adventure in a gritty city in Poland, which has dramatically improved its education results. While shadowing these kids, Ripley gets to know their fellow students, their teachers, their real families and host families, along with school leaders and policy makers. She discovers three very different success stories of nations that have reversed their historical trajectories to become education superpowers.

In Finland, she learns how teaching has been transformed into a highly prized profession that attracts the finest minds. The “hamster wheel” culture of learning in South Korea has spawned fierce competition and at least one “rock star” teacher who makes $4 million a year. In just three years, Poland—the punch line for so many jokes around the world—caught up with the developed world in both reading and math, and now surpasss the rich and powerful United States, despite spending less than half as much per student.

Amanda Ripley takes readers inside homes and classrooms around the globe and reveals why some students are succeeding where others are stagnating. A reporting tour de force, THE SMARTEST KIDS IN THE WORLD upends rigid assumptions and offers new ways of looking at the future of American education—and the necessity for vast improvement—in a changing world.

 “In riveting prose….this timely and inspiring book offers many insights into how to improve America’s mediocre school system.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Ripley’s stirring investigation debunks many tenets of current education reform.” —BookPage

 “Such an important book! Amanda Ripley lights the path to engaging our next generation to meet a different bar.  She makes an enormous contribution to the national and global discussion about what must be done to give all our children the education they need to invent the future.”

—Wendy Kopp, founder and chair, Teach For America, and CEO, Teach For All

 

Honey Brings the Energy with Mitzi Dulan

/in , , , , , , , /by
Mitzi Dulan shows viewers how to use honey as an all-natural energy booster.

Mitzi Dulan discusses how she uses honey as an all-natural energy booster.

September is not just back to school, but back to routine for the millions of Americans who have said goodbye to the carefree days of summer and are returning to the daily grind.  From that second or third snooze in the morning to that long yawn during your afternoon meeting, getting energized for the day and keeping that energy is, well, exhausting!

America’s Nutrition Expert Mitzi Dulan, RD, CSSD, has inspired millions to lose weight, get fit and keep energized.  As the current team nutritionist for the Kansas City Royals baseball team and former team nutritionist for the Kansas City Chiefs football team, Mitzi knows one secret ingredient for a quick, natural energy booster—honey.  Whether it’s at the office, at school or after a workout, many Americans experience that mid-afternoon energy slump, and the majority crave something less than nutritious and binge on candy, sodas and other high-calorie foods. Mitzi was in the studio with us this week discussing how honey can play an important role in your day:

 

 

  • Morning wake-up:  what you choose to eat sets the tone for the day ahead.
  • Keep hydrated throughout the day.
  • Mid-morning crash: mix nut butter and honey as a dip for fruits or vegetables.
  • Maintain consistent energy levels throughout the day by consuming adequate amounts of protein.
  • 3 p.m. slump and afterschool doldrums: try Mitzi’s personal favorites (wink, you’ll have to interview her to find out!).
  • Pre-, mid- or post-workout: Learn to make your own budget-friendly drink and the perfect post-workout meal.

Bruce Feiler: SECRETS OF HAPPY FAMILIES

/in , , /by

Caught between aging parents and growing children, New York Times columnist and best-selling author Bruce Feiler, felt the same pressures many of us feel. But when his annual family vacation erupted into arguments over texting, whining, and manners, he knew the old rules of family life weren’t working anymore. He needed a new playbook for modern-day families, something to counteract the chaos of the digital age.

SecretsofHappy hc c

Rather than turning to the traditional family experts, Feiler used his experience as an investigative reporter to seek new sources—the most creative minds in business, sports, technology, television and the military.  He asked them what cutting-edge techniques from their professional lives they used with their own families.  Then, with the sense of humor and adventure that his readers have come to love, Feiler took those ideas home and test drove

them with his own wife and kids.  THE SECRETS OF HAPPY FAMILIES recounts Feiler’s terrifically funny and fruitful quest, with over 200 new ideas to make contemporary family life more functional, more meaningful, and, best of all, more fun.

Many of the ideas Feiler encountered ran counter to age-old wisdom: Let your kids pick their punishments.  Don’t worry about family dinner.  Ditch date night.  Scrap the sex talk. And it’s no wonder:  Feiler spoke to people who don’t just think outside the box, they live outside the box, and their families are happier for it.  Above all, Feiler emerges with what family life is all about:  a story—an insightful, original, funny story about why families are important, why they’re so difficult to get right, and why this most maddening of human institutions is also the thing that brings us the most joy in our lives.  Infused with Feiler’s trademark humor and wisdom, THE SECRETS OF HAPPY FAMILIES will help families everywhere enhance their lives, reduce their stress, and improve their stories every day.

 

Julie Andrews Edwards & Daughter – LITTLE BO IN LONDON

/in , , , /by

Legendary Actress Julie Andrews Edwards, best known for her performances in Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music and The Princess Diaries, has teamed up with her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton to bring us the latest installment of the Little Bo Series; LITTLE BO IN LONDON. LittleBoLondon hc c

For Little Bo, the tiny cat with an extraordinary spirit, and her friend Billy, life just keeps getting better and better. They have traveled from England to France, sailed with the crew of the motor yacht Legend to Italy, and now they are enjoying a leisurely cruise through the Mediterranean. However a scuffle with pirates cuts their journey short, and calls for the heroic efforts of Bo and Billy. Then, a change of course means a triumphant return to England—and Little Bo’s most amazing adventure yet!

With beautiful illustrations by celebrated artist Henry Cole, Little Bo’s exciting journey bring her home again and offers a thrilling conclusion to her globe-trotting adventures.

In this exclusive video, the beloved children’s book author reviews the inspiration behind the character Little Bo and the experience writing with her daughter. Find out what’s next for Julie Andrews Edwards.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgW50a2TbK4&feature=share&list=UUMiNd9dn46u-aKnBkUJtXVA

David Baldacci’s THE FORGOTTEN

/in , , , , /by

From #1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci comes the next blockbuster thriller featuring Army Special Agent John Puller. A combat veteran, Puller is the man the U.S. Army relies on to investigate the toughest crimes facing the nation. In THE FORGOTTEN Puller is back on the case…but this time it’s personal.

When his aunt is found dead in the picturesque town of Paradise, Florida, the local police rule her death a tragic accident. But a letter she sent to Puller’s father just before she died indicates there may be something sinister behind the town’s beautiful veneer.

What Puller finds convinces him that his aunt’s death was no accident. As he searches for answers, Puller comes face-to-face with people willing to go to unthinkable lengths to make sure the truth is never revealed.

THE FORGOTTEN’s palpable suspense, gutsy protagonist, and inventive plotting deliver the “edge-of-your-seat” thrills readers have come to expect from Baldacci.

360 Sound – The Story of Columbia Records

/in , , , , /by

Columbia Records is celebrating its 125th anniversary with the release of 360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story on the great American record label and its role in initiating recorded music, cultivating great artists, and igniting cultural change. Written by Pulitzer Prize-and Grammy nominated author and historian Sean Wilentz, the book provides a journey through Columbia Records’ storied past and its contributions to entertainment from the invention of commercial recording through the present day.

We will be in the studio with Sean Wilentz tomorrow, Nov 15th, 2012 to discuss this amazing book and cd that takes us from the beginnings of recorded music to the commercial success of the industry today.

360 Sound includes 300 rare and intimate photographs from the Columbia archives and sidebar discussions of crucial developments and performers written by eminent music historians Dave Marsh and Colin Escott. The book offers a virtual history of the music industry from its infancy, tracing Columbia’s pivotal technological as well as business innovations, not least its invention of the LP. It also reflects on the connection between Columbia’s artists and music and sweeping cultural and political changes, from the emergence of mass commercial culture to the rise of the civil rights movement and beyond.

http://vimeo.com/52031601B

Columbia’s list of major performers, past and present, is unsurpassed and includes much of the most important, and beloved music in all genres, including pop, rock, country, show tunes, classical, jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and blues. Artists recorded by Columbia and its subsidiaries have included Barbra Streisand, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Miles Davis, Leonard Bernstein, Johnny Cash, Beyonce, Adele, Billy Joel, Al Jolson, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Robert Johnson, Bing Crosby, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Tony Bennett, Simon and Garfunkel, Leonard Cohen, Neil Diamond, Aerosmith, Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson, Yo-Yo Ma, LL Cool J, James Taylor, Philip Glass, Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill, Dixie Chicks, John Mayer, Jack White, and more.

LIVE BY NIGHT by Dennis Lehane

/in , , , /by

Dennis Lehane is a force to be reckoned with. His bestselling novels include Gone, Baby Gone, Mystic River, Shutter Island, The Given Day, and Moonlight Mile, and big-screen adaptations have been helmed by Ben Affleck, Clint Eastwood, and Martin Scorsese. Called “as much social historian as mystery writer,” by The Chicago Tribune, Lehane once again showcases his ability to create suspenseful historical fiction with his first stand-alone novel in four years. The popularity of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and Ken Burns’ Prohibition mini-series have set the stage for LIVE BY NIGHT, a Prohibition-era tale that catapults readers between 1920s Boston and Florida, introducing a cast of hard-living gangsters, petty criminals, and two unforgettable dames. This novel released just two weeks ago is already on the New York Times Bestseller List.

Jamie Lee Curtis – Brave Year of Firsts

/in , , , /by

New York Times bestselling duo Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell present their tenth picture book collaboration in the Books to Grow By series: MY BRAVE YEAR OF FIRSTS.
It’s a celebration of first times…the key moments in a child’s life that shape who they are. Funny yet heartfelt, Jamie Lee Curtis emphasizes that first times are about trying hard, being brave, strong, and true to yourself.

About the book:
While our spunky heroine, Frankie, learns to ride a bike, tie her shoes, make new friends, love her first dog, borrow a book from the library, say when she’s wrong, try yucky food and work with her dad, she also learns that trying new things is how she grows—and that being brave enough to do so is what growing up is all about.