And, For Your Listening Enjoyment

Two new interviews are coming up. First, an interview with author Haven Kimmel. She discusses fiction and memoir writing plus the stroke of luck that made it happen. The back story is at Writers Webcast and the full interview will be posted at Wauktown Radio.

Next is an interview with Hillary Frank, an author and radio producer. If you've ever wondered just how those public radio shows come about, she will be on hand to tell us.

October Already

Well, the McArthur Genius grants were announced and--this is absolutely shocking--I did not make the list. I also did not win the lottery. So life is going at a rather calm pace. I did, however, read Starbucks Saved My Life, a terrific book about having it all (money, family, and a job at J. Walter Thompson) and loosing it all yet still managing to tell the story. And get a publishing contract, too. After reading the book, I now have a new career choice in mind. With benefits!

The interview with Wendy Willett will be this Saturday and should be online next week. Wendy has a marvelous story about what she decided to do when the fame and fortune of the publishing world alluded her.

Also coming up is an interview with Havel Kimmel (Zippy, She Got Up Off the Couch, and others.) Haven was in the Chicago area this week and I interviewed her in Highwood, IL following her presentation. Haven told me she had a bit of luck when it came to getting a contract for Zippy, the book that put her on the best seller's list.

Back in Action

Back in action...off and running....WaukTown Radio has rejuvenated itself and we'll be back doing interviews very soon. It's good to talk to other writers and hear what keeps them motivated and inspired- selling or not.

This week I plan to post another short audio story on www.writerswebcast.com. This story is called American Dream and I wrote and produced it in response to Third Coast Festival's call for short docs. Unfortunately, it did not win, place, or show.

So, I'm looking forward to our upcoming conversation with Wendy Willett and hear her publishing solution.

Technical Difficulities are Causing a Slight Delay

Wauktown Radio is experiencing some difficulties and recording new shows are on hold until the technology is resolved. It has something to do with the host...and Texas....

There's probably a thing amacallit and a herkmere in there, too. It's all terribly, terribly serious, probably because of intrastate transit. Or something.

But, Writer's Webcast is still alive and well, although slightly sweaty from all the high temps and even higher humidity here in Illinois.

When things are back to normal our guest will be Wendy Willett who has just published her first novel Amber Shadows and the Missing Wands, the story of a thirteen year old White Magic witch in-training. She describes her writing journey as one of "struggle, impatience, and anticipation." Definitely someone I can identify with!

Wendy has numerous works published on AuthorsDen.com. Visit her website at http://outskirtspress.com/wendywillett.

Coming Attractions

Plenty of new guests are going to be on hand in the coming months. Be sure to check www.writerswebcast.com often!

The new site also has a list of interview guests plus some mighty nice mp3s!

Under Construction With More "Stuff"

Is there a writer anyplace that doesn't like to tinker just a bit once something is written? Of course not. Just a slight change here...perhaps a new direction, too, as a long as I'm making a few changes. Well, you certainly see where I'm heading with this.

Yes, a new blog. A New website. It's under construction...I'm still tinkering!

But there are new ideas. New pages. And new opportunities to tinker with. Please check out www.writerswebcast.wordpress.com and send your comments to me at Chriswangelos (at) hotmail dot com or respond here.

Just put "Writer's Webcast" in the subject line so I know you are real and not a piece of spam offering me advice on how to enlarge body parts.

Good Stories Share Universal Truths-Ben Rosenfield

For Ben Rosenfield one of the best parts of having an audience for his stories is the look in people’s eyes and the expressions on their faces. Ben is a storyteller and gets to enjoy the first hand reaction his words bring to listeners. His web site is www.thefrogguy.com.

“Good story tellers don’t talk about themselves, they talk about life, about family,” said Ben as he summed up what makes for a successful story—and storyteller. It’s a gentle way to bring about the awareness that we are all connected. In the interview, Ben talks about the positive effect that story telling has had in classrooms where he’s used it as an educator.

All storytellers have their “signature stories” that they are known for and, in each performance, they add stories they are developing or have customized for the event. Ben's shows feature plenty of stories based on his upbringing in rural Ohio.

For more information on storytelling Ben recommends visiting Storytelling.org. And, by the way, Ben’s full name really is Ben. Not Benjamin. That’s a story, too.