VS Grenier ~ Award-Winning Author, Speaker & Podcaster

From Dennis Milam Bensie (Chapter 1 from Shorn: Toys to Men) Novelist James Jones enlisted in the Army and left his hometown of Robinson, Illinois in 1939. His experiences during the attack on Pearl Harbor inspired his first published book, From Here to Eternity . For his second book, Some Came Running , he used Robinson as the backdrop. This semi-autobiographical novel centers around a failed writer named Dave Hirsh, orphaned as a child, who comes home after serving in World War II to a fictionalized version of Robinson (renamed Parkman, Indiana) to find family divisions, sexual repression, and other unsavory vices. The book was described as shrill and bitter by its critics. The 1958 Oscar-nominated film was a scandal when it played at the Lincoln Theater, a few blocks away from Jones’ childhood home.   My dad was a local hero similar to characters in any of James Jones’ war themed novels. He returned home to Robinson from the Korean War allegedly the most decorated soldi

  Join Host Virginia S Grenier on Monday May 13, 2013 as guest author Jewel Kats visits the show. They will be talking about Jewel's lastest graphic novel "DiTzAbled Princess" and recent events to help spread awareness.   "DitzAbled Princess" comes out as a web comic on Tapastic.com and Marvelous Spirit Press published a graphic novel based on this character. It's a hybrid of a women's comic book meets graphic novel. Once a teen runaway, Jewel Kats is now a self-made Diva. She’s authored seven books! For six years, she penned a syndicated teen advice column for Scripps Howard News Service (USA) and TorStar Syndication Service (Canada). Jewel also interned in the TV studio of ­Entertainment Tonight Canada. Her books have been featured in Ability Magazine twice. She recently made a guest appearance on Accessibility in Action. Jewel appeared in a documentary series by the Oprah Winfrey Network (Canada) in September of 2012. Katarina Andriopoulos ha

Come join BTR's World of Ink Network Featured Show: Storeis for Children with hosts VS Grenier and Irene Roth. They will be chatting with guest author Cheryle Carpinello on Monday January 14, 2013 at 2pm EST - 1pm CST - 12(noon) MST - 11am PST. Although a retired teacher, Cheryl Carpinello still has a passion for working with kids. She regularly conducts Medieval Writing Workshops for local elementary/middle schools and the Colorado Girl Scouts. She is not the only one who loves Medieval Times and the King Arthur Legend. The kids thoroughly enjoy writing their own medieval stories complete with dragons, wizards, unicorns and knights! She loves to travel and her other job is with a major airline. Her favorite trip was a two week visit to Egypt with her husband that included traveling by local train from one end of Egypt to the other. Some of her favorite books include The Hobbit , The Lord of the Rings , The Once and Future King, and any by the duo Douglas Pres

Stop the Press! Author Margot Finke come to The Writing Mama Blog a chat and to share about her 3 recent books for children along with offering readers a FREE eBook...Talk about a "WOW" factor.   Margot Finke is an Aussie transplant who writes midgrade adventure fiction and rhyming picture books. For many years she has lived in Oregon with her husband and family. Gardening, travel, and reading fill in the cracks between writing. Her husband is very supportive, and their three children are now grown and doing very well. Margot didn't begin serious writing until the day their youngest left for college. This late start drives her writing, and pushes her to work at it every day. Margot said, "I really envy those who began young, and managed to slip into writing mode between kid fights, diaper changes, household disasters, and outside jobs. You are my heroes!" Her first books, a 7x book rhyming series, "Wild and Wonderful," offers fun facts ab