How do the movie studios follow the humongous, year-after-year success of the Harry Potter movies? That is, where do you find a character and situation that will grab the imagination of everyone from elementary school students on through your grandmother? And craft tales that will make audiences come back for more? Again. And again. And... Continue Reading →
Novelist Thomas E. Sniegoski shares his Legacy! PODCAST INTERVIEW
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... Continue Reading →
Literary agent Jeff Herman offers tips on landing a rep! PODCAST INTERVIEW
Today's Guest: Jeff Herman, literary agent, author, Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, and Literary Agents: Who They Are! What They Want! How to Win Them Over! 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... Continue Reading →
On Late Show writer and novelist Bill Scheft, Everything Hurts! PODCAST INTERVIEW
Today's Guest: Bill Scheft, comedy writer, "The Late Show with David Letterman," novelist, Everything Hurts, Shrink Thyself Here are my Top Ten reasons for inviting Bill Scheft to be a guest on Mr. Media Radio: 10. Used to write for ESPN The Magazine and left it off the flap of his new book. 9. Wrote... Continue Reading →
At Writer’s Digest, Jane Friedman held every comma in place! PODCAST INTERVIEW
I was a little nervous when I received an email from Jane Friedman, the publisher of Writer’s Digest magazine and books. She was responding to my interview with one of her authors, Mike Sacks, the author of And Here’s the Kicker: Conversations with 21 Top Humor Writers on Their Craft. Sacks was unhappy with... Continue Reading →
Jeff Wilser recites The Maxims of Manhood to Mr. Media! PODCAST 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.... Continue Reading →
Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files draw a graphic crowd! PODCAST INTERVIEW
Today's Guest: Novelist Jim Butcher, author of The Dresden Files. I am NOT the world’s biggest Harry Potter fan. The only book in the series that I’ve read is the first, which my wife and I took turns reading aloud to my daughter when she was just learning to read herself. Since then, they’ve... Continue Reading →
Novelist Kamran Pasha tells of the Mother of the Believers! PODCAST INTERVIEW
Today's Guest: Kamran Pasha, novelist, Mother of the Believers. Kamran Pasha is a brave man. He knows that Sherry Jones’ book, The Jewel of Medina—about the birth of Islam—lost its initial publisher in 2008 because of the ruckus it stirred up. He knows that filmmaker Moustapha Akkad—who created the 1977 movie The Messenger, about... Continue Reading →
Sci-fi writer Kevin J. Anderson: To Alderaan and beyond! PODCAST INTERVIEW
Today's Guest: Kevin J. Anderson, novelist, Hidden Empire: The Saga of Seven Suns, Young Jedi Knights, Allies, Last Son of Krypton, Ground Zero If you create or own a sci-fi or other genre character or franchise, one of the top, go-to guys for a writer who will admirably adapt your property for novelization is... Continue Reading →
Illegal! Novelist Paul Levine writes it so! PODCAST INTERVIEW
I’m Mr. Media—not Mr. Know-It-All. So I hope I can be excused for not realizing what a clever, entertaining writer Paul Levine is, at least not before I read his latest novel, Illegal. It’s a fast-paced, often funny, often frightening story that personalizes the case of illegal immigration, reducing it from faceless masses crossing... Continue Reading →