After Richard Doetsch's '13th Hour,' baby, I want more, more, more

By BOB ANDELMAN

Regular listeners know I’m not prone to breathless hyperbole about my guests or their work. If I like a book I’ve read, I tell you straight out. And if I don’t like a book, you probably won’t hear the author interviewed on Mr. Media Radio because to me, lying isn’t worth the effort.

Today, I’m going for what will sound like breathless hyperbole, but when I got to the end of Richard Deutsch’s latest novel, The 13th Hour, I was mad because it had to end! I immediately gave it to my thriller-reading wife and said, “Read this. Now!”

The 13th Hour is the kind of brain-twisting, adult fiction that you can’t—and won’t—put down. Doetsch literally turns the world upside down and sets events in backwards motion.

And dammit, it makes sense.

I’m not the only one who thinks so, either; New Line bought an option to turn the book into major motion picture before it was even published.

Richard Doetsch website

RICHARD DOETSCH AUDIO EXCERPT: "As you travel through this book, friends die. Things change. He's got to set everything in motion because it's all racing to the final hour... Writing it was like playing five games of chess in my head as I moved through the chapters." 

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Copyright 2010 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

Chet the Dog, mystery author, leads Mr. Media astray in "interview"

By BOB ANDELMAN

Dogs that can express themselves in a language we can all understand are nothing new.

Remember the movie Cats & Dogs? One dog had the voice of Tobey McGuire, another the sonorous tones of Alec Baldwin.

But how many dogs have written books about their adventures?

Point for Chet the Dog, sidekick of Bernie Little and sole employee of the Little Detective Agency and—do you smell that? Hint of bacon, ground black pepper, sizzling burgers on the grill…
Where was I?

Oh, right, the Chet and Bernie mystery series. Book one, Dog Gone It, was a big hit, quickly followed by the just published Thereby Hangs A Tail. Both books are narrated by Chet the Dog, who is a pretty adept storyteller, except for when he gets distracted by the smell of food, another dog’s butt, fresh pastries, Frisbees, baseballs…

Chet also has some problems remembering details a short time after an event occurs, but once he catches a scent the second time, the large incisors are known around the desert to take a big bite out of crime. And criminals.

Chet the Dog website or follow on Twitter.

CHET the DOG AUDIO EXCERPT: "Everything is dictated in a mental telepathy way, through Spencer Quinn, whose name also appears on the books. I would call him my muse; he's the interface with the publishing business. But the stories are mine." 

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Copyright 2010 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!



 

Young adult novelist James Dashner sends Mr. Media in deep with 'The Maze Runner'

Cover via Amazon

By BOB ANDELMAN

Recommendations are worth what you pay for them, so I don’t always accept them at face value.

But the same literary agent who turned me on to young adult novelist Sara Zarr two years ago thought I’d also enjoy James Dashner’s new YA book, The Maze Runner, enough that he sent me a copy without first asking. And Michael—who, in the interests of full disclosure, represents all three of us—even though there is hardly a bit of similarity between the work of these two authors, you read me pretty well so feel free to recommend something else.

The Maze Runner is the kind of book that teens and youthful readers of all ages in search of an appropriate follow-up to the adventures of Harry Potter will no doubt enjoy. It takes place in a fantastical, impossible place, develops a language of its own, and features characters you will instantly love—and hate. (Sorry, Gally.)

This is the first book in a trilogy from Dashner, who you may already know as author of the 13th Reality series.

(James Dashner website)

AUDIO EXCERPT: "The words in The Maze Runner are never used exactly as replacements for swear words. Their main intent was to give their dialogue a futuristic flavor and that they've been isolated and developed some words on their own." 

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Copyright 2010 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

Shark Tank's Barbara Corcoran puts the bite on Mr. Media Radio

"Shark Tank" panelists Barbara Corcoran and Robert Herjavec, image by Getty Images via Daylife

By BOB ANDELMAN

“Shark Tank” star Barbara Corcoran has a sense of humor. She must: an incredibly successful real estate mogul, she’s the author of three books, including my favorite title, If You Don’t Have Big Breasts, Put Ribbons on Your Pigtails.

Yikes!

On her ABC show, which airs its second season finale this Friday, February 5 at 9 p.m., Barbara is on a panel of experts assessing potential business investments. There are some great ideas; and there are some horrible ideas.

Barbara is the only woman on the panel and presents some of the best “Are you out of your mind?” facial expressions to the deer-in-the-headlights, wannabee capitalists.

But she’s also invested in a few good ideas along the way.

(Website: Shark Tank)

AUDIO EXCERPT: "Think of the opportunity and the sheer entertainment value of 'Shark Tank'! We're working 11-hour days, listening to pitch after pitch and we're never bored. It is so fascinating! And then you go home with new business partners. Who would say no to something like that?" 

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Howard J. Morris, Jenny Lee, co-authors, TV sitcom writers, WOMEN ARE CRAZY, MEN ARE STUPID: Mr. Media Radio Interview

Cover via Amazon

By BOB ANDELMAN

Howard J. Morris and Jenny Lee didn’t just co-author the new book Women Are Crazy, Men Are Stupid, they actually live together as a couple.

My experience, many years removed, is that working on a book with my spouse, a gifted editor, wa s that to continue doing so would generate the title, “Women Are Crazy, Men Are Stupid… Couple is Divorced.”

But I digress.

Morris and Lee have an advantage over most couples who might put themselves in the position of exposing the intricacies of an interpersonal relationship. They’re professional TV comedy writers so zingers and comebacks are all part of a day’s work.

Howard began his career writing for one of my favorite HBO series of all time, “Dream On” and later wrote for “Home Improvement,” “My Wife and Kids,” “According to Jim” and “The Starter Wife.”

Jenny was a writer on one of my wife’s favorite shows, "Samantha Who?" And is the author of three humor collections, including Skinny Bitching.

AUDIO EXCERPT: "As we were writing, I kept thinking, 'This would be a great episode!' Once the book got a really good response, we sold a pilot to ABC. It was the best early Christmas present ever. And now we have to cast people as ourselves." 

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Copyright 2010 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

Thomas E. Sniegoski, LEGACY young adult author: Mr. Media Radio Interview

By BOB ANDELMAN

One of the most daring challenges in writing novels for young adults is transferring the four-color escapades of superheroes to narrative form and still retaining the boldness ad glory of the comic book medium—while adding meat to the bones of the structure.

I think Thomas E. Sniegoski (website) accomplished that—and more—with his new novel Legacy, detailing the generational handover of the “Raptor” crown.

Legacy is a rip-snorting good roll in the costumed character hay, adult enough to pull teens and fanboys along into slightly more mature literature while still capturing the intrigue and answering questions about powers and abilities in the “real” world.

AUDIO EXCERPT: "The whole adult thing? I gave up on that nonsense a long time ago. That's boring! I'm gonna write about monsters!" 

Of course, Sniegoski should be able to pull this off: he’s successfully written for both genres, young adult novels and comic books, for many years. He is the author of the Fallen books, where wee adapted into a TV movie for ABC Family Channel, as well as the Sleeper and Owlboy series. He has also written comic books for everyone from Marvel, Image and Dark Horse to Crusade and London Night Studios

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Copyright 2010 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

Jeff Herman, GUIDE TO BOOK PUBLISHERS, EDITORS, LITERARY AGENTS author: Mr. Media Radio Interview

Image via Wikipedia

By BOB ANDELMAN

This is a tough time to be a writer, whether you’re on the staff of a newspaper or magazine or an independent like myself. Layoffs and budgets cuts are impacting virtually everyone I know; there are no sure things in the writing game these days.

But two things are unchanged: people are actually reading more than ever and everybody still thinks their life story would either make a great book or they’re capable of writing The Next Great American Novel.

Make that three things: One of the best resources for the established or wannabe book author is still keeping a copy of Jeff Herman’s Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents on your desk. The 2010 edition is hot off the press.

I have recommended Herman’s book to authors in much the same way I recommend the Writer’s Market from Writer’s Digest to freelance writers interested in exploring article writing. Both are invaluable desktop references, one best for books, one for articles.

AUDIO EXCERPT: "Most agents are looking for tomorrow's clients. Part of the thrill for me as an agent is looking for tomorrow's clients." 

As for Herman, this isn’t even his day job—he makes the bulk of his living from representing writers as a literary agent.

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Copyright 2010 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

Mark Ribowsky, THE SUPREMES biographer: Mr. Media Radio Interview

The Supremes via last.fm

BY BOB ANDELMAN

It’s not pleasant when a man’s good fortune comes at the hands of another man’s loss.

What would you call it when you’re the author of a new book about a Motown act, Diana Ross and The Supremes, that fizzled out more than 35 years ago—but another Motown star of that era, Michael Jackson,  dies the week before your years of research are published, making your book front and center?

AUDIO EXCERPT: "Very loathsome—that's the thing everybody talks about—even before The Supremes were popular. Even back then, (Diana Ross) was getting on people's nerves left and right, saying what she was going to be. This was an obsessed woman, even when they were nobodies. Everybody laughed at her—but who had the last laugh, right? There would never have been a Supremes without her as the lead singer."

Mark Ribowsky didn’t know Jackson was going to die, of course, and he certainly didn’t know Jackson’s will would name Diana Ross the likely guardian of his three children.

The Supremes: A Saga of Motown Dreams, Success, and Betrayal is not the first biography of the ultimate girl group, but it probably won’t be hurt by it’s timing.



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Copyright 2009 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

Anna Jane Grossman, OBSOLETE: AN ENCYCLOPEDIA author: Mr. Media Radio Interview

As I’m saying this, I can’t help wondering if, by the time you hear this, I won’t be obsolete.

Think I’m kidding? I’m not.

In her new book, Obsolete: An Encyclopedia of Once-Common Things Passing Us By, Anna Jane Grossman reels off a stunning list of devices, equipment and habits that were once everywhere and now are nowhere. This would include body hair, the evening news, long distance charges, housewives, lickable stamps, short basketball shorts and even slide projectors.

AUDIO EXCERPT: "I've written a lot for newspapers and magazines and I certainly worry about them becoming obsolete... In the book everything is written in the past tense. I had a hard time convincing the publisher that it was okay to write about books in the past tense."

The disposable society now comes with an encyclopedia—at least it’s an alphabetical look to the past—and its chief historian is Anna Jane Grossman.


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Copyright 2009 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

Elizabeth Fournier, ALL MEN ARE CREMATED EQUAL author, green mortician: Mr. Media Radio Interview

I have a particular weakness for men and women with stories of dates gone horribly wrong. And I think I’m already on record as having a general weakness for all kinds of women.

Add that to the fact I frequently like to help new authors, and how could I say no to Elizabeth Fournier, who has written the ticklish new book, All Men Are Cremated Equal: My 77 Blind Dates.

Besides amusing us with psycho-social encounters, Elizabeth brings an extra dimension to her story thanks to her vocation: she’s mortician.

She is also the voice of the autopsy exhibit in the forensic wing at the United States National Museum of Medicine.

Oh, did I mention she lives in a boring little town—Boring, Oregon. And because of that, she’s become a reality TV star on MySpace known as The Green Reaper. More about that, later.

And here’s a spoiler alert: there’s a happy ending to her book.

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Copyright 2009 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

Jeff Wilser, THE MAXIMS OF MANHOOD Author: Mr. Media Radio Interview

If you’re old enough to remember dumbass books such as Real Men Don’t Eat Quiche—or my own Why Men Watch Football—then you know there have been a lot of cheap attempts to make money off the good nature of good men.

But not by Jeff Wilser. This guy actually knows what he’s talking about.

The author of The Maxims of Manhood: 100 Rules Every Real Man Must Live By gives us life instructions that are more practical than anything handed down since Hef wrote the Playboy Philosophy. (I think it’s just an odd coincidence that Wilser’s book title has he word “maxim” in it, since nothing useful ever came out of the magazine of that name.)

Here's a good example, Maxim #21: Use every four-letter word but one.

Classy, huh?

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