The Book Squad

What's Next on The Book Squad: Bye... For Now

2007-10-25T20:37:00.000-07:00

On October 26, 2007, The Book Squad will begin an indefinite hiatus from the air.

To go out in style, Karyn and Wendy will re-broadcast interviews that mean a great deal to them, for reasons they will discuss later. Karrine Steffan's interview from October 12 will air again, in support of her latest title, The Vixen Diaries.

Next, Roscoe Orman's interview from October 5 will air. Orman talks about his life as Gordon on Sesame St., as well as about his latest book, Ricky and Mobo.

Then joining the mix, live, via phone, is DeMonica D. Gladney, author of Willing to Wait: From Revelation to Manifestation. Gladney, in addition to being a poet and author, is a corporate lawyer and former president of the Houston Lawyers Association.

Our special live in-studio guest is Christina"Chrissie Love" Russell of 102.9 Island FM Radio in Nassau, Bahamas.

So join us for our last Friday together on wmet1160.com as we say a fond farewell for now and turn out all the lights behind us...

What's Next on The Book Squad

2007-10-18T19:38:00.000-07:00

We have pets... and something completely different on The Book Squad this Friday.

The "Pets" part of the show begins with Patricia B. McConnell, author of For the Love of a Dog: Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend. McConnell has much-needed advice for those of us who love and cherish our dogs but don't have a clue as to why they do some of the things they do.

Then Ann M. Martin joins us to talk about Food Pets Die For: Shocking Facts About Pet Food. Martin discusses the dirty little secrets of pet food companies and offers her own alternatives, nutritional advice, and strategies to avoid scams aimed at pet owners.

The "Something Completely Different" comes in the form of Essence best seller Daaimah S. Poole, author of All I Want is Everything. In this, her latest novel, Poole says she "confronts a dilemma that many of us tackle every day -- fear. Fear of putting our all into a dream and walking into the unknown."

Marcus Robinson is in the Author Spotlight.

Plus Heather Taylor from The Heather Taylor Show loved co-hosting so much that she's back again. And there's Wendy's World.

So sit, fetch, roll over, and listen to The Book Squad on wmet1160.com, tomorrow from noon to 1:00 PM. We'll even let you sit on the couch!

What's Next on The Book Squad: Vixens and Secrets!

2007-10-12T05:22:00.000-07:00

It's a day for the ladies on The Book Squad.

First up, we have Karrine Steffans -- no descriptor needed. The always controversial author of Confessions of a Video Vixen is back with her latest, The Vixen Diaries, in which she regales us with lessons learned after the ascent afforded her with the publication of Confessions.

Then Dari Dyrness-Olssen shares Seven Secrets For Girls: Simple Solutions to Survive Boys and Stay Sane. She says to girls that "THIS WILL BE THE MOST IMPORTANT BOOK THAT YOU WILL EVER READ. The information found in this book will positively affect your life FOREVER. After reading SEVEN SECRETS you will have the skills to become happier, healthier, and more satisfied with your life." We're all for that.

LaConnie Taylor-Jones , author of When I'm With You, is in the Author Spotlight.

Plus there's much more, including Wendy's World.

So join us today at noon on wmet1160.com. Hey, ladies!

What's Next on The Book Squad: Celebrating the Capital Bookfest!

2007-10-04T21:44:00.000-07:00

This weekend in D.C., it's all about The 3rd Annual Capital Bookfest. Not to toot our own horn -- TOOT, TOOT! -- but The Book Squad is one of the sponsors of this event, taking place on Saturday, October 6 at the Blvd @ Cap Centre, in Largo, Maryland. Over 100 authors from a myriad of genres will be there. Three of them will appear on tomorrow's Book Squad.

Poet, F.O.T.B.S., and organizer of the event, Kwame Alexander, is first up to whet your appetites with what awaits you at the event. He's holding down every aspect of The Bookfest, right down to the weather, which, he promises will be in the moderate eighty-degree range.

Those of you who were rabid fans of Sesame Street in your youth will undoubtedly remember our next guest, Roscoe Orman. The actor, who has played Gordon for thirty-five years, has written his second book, Ricky and Mobo, a story of a boy and his favorite mechanical horse.

Next we shift gears to John Amaechi, author of the controversial Man in the Middle. Amaechi tells us about his life's journey, from a hardscrabble existence in Manchester, England, to being a closeted gay man in the uber-masculine NBA, to his present quest to make the world a better place.

Victoria Rowell, accomplished television actress and philanthropist, has now added memorist to her list of talents. With her book The Women Who Raised Me, Rowell chronicles her life as a biracial ward of the state of Maine who could've fallen through the cracks of an overburdened foster-care system -- had it not been for several amazing women who loved, guided, and nurtured her.

Author Heather Taylor, host of WMET 1160's The Heather Taylor Show, is today's guest co-host with Wendy in studio.

So listen Friday -- noon, Friday -- to The Book Squad on WMET1160.com. And see you Saturday, October 6 at The 3rd Annual Capital Bookfest.

What's Next on The Book Squad: ROAD TRIP!

2007-09-27T19:04:00.000-07:00

This week, Karyn and Wendy broadcast The Book Squad from the Infinity Publishing's 8th Annual Author's Conference in sunny Valley Forge, PA. Conference attendees will attend seminars and gain strategies for producing and marketing their self-published books.

First up, conference attendee Eric Kampmann, President of Beaufort Books and Midnight Trade Distributors, appears on the show to discuss how he came to bring the O.J. Simpson tome, If I Did It, to the masses.

Tom Gregory, Infinity Publishing's President, tells Book Squad listeners about his latest endeavor, Authornation, the online community for authors, writers, poets, and their readers.

Jane M. Martin, the author of Breathe Better, Living in Wellness: Winning Your Battle Over Shortness of Breath shares with us the secret of better living through better breathing.

Lastly, Conference Coordinator John Harnish visits with other break-out Infinity authors in tow.

So, listen to The Book Squad on Friday, from noon to 1:oo on wmet1160.com and check out the new improved website! It's the next best thing to being with Karyn and Wendy at the conference.

What's Next on The Book Squad: All of the West Indian Massives!

2007-09-20T23:38:00.000-07:00

Karyn and Wendy are back with new shows for you, the devoted listeners. And, as summer winds down, we cleave to the lazy hot days of summer -- elsewhere -- by showcasing authors from the West Indies.

First up, we have award-winning Haitian-born author Edwidge Danticat, whose latest work, Brother, I'm Dying, is a touching journey of how she comes to terms with tragically losing both her biological and surrogate fathers at the same time, all while preparing herself for impending motherhood.

Next, there's Jamaican author Colin Channer, often called "Bob Marley with a pen," according to Wikipedia. He discusses his latest, The Girl With the Golden Shoes, a 2007 Washington Post Spring Pick.

Also joing Karyn and Wendy is Sofia Quintero, aka Black Artemis, nuesta hermana dominicana y puertoriquena from the Bronx, holding it down with her latest Names I Call My Sister. She challenges essentialist notions of Latino culture, feminism, and street lit, all interwoven with a hip hop sensibility.

Deborah Slappey Pitts is in the Author Spotlight.

So, listen to The Book Squad tomorrow on WMET1160.com. We'll keep an iced Bacardi and Coke waiting for ya...

The Book Squad Begins a Two-Week Hiatus...

2007-09-07T07:40:00.000-07:00

... but we'll be back on September 21 with whole new guests and a brand spanking new website. In the meantime, we'll be re-running two of our most favorite shows. Listen at wmet1160.com, if you haven't been with us from the beginning.

Thanks for sticking with us for this fantastic ride that is The Book Squad. We appreciate it!

What's Next on The Book Squad

2007-08-30T20:11:00.000-07:00

We have in store for you an unprecedented day on The Book Squad:

One hour. Six author interviews. Six women with smoking hot literary careers. The Femme Fantastik Tour kicks off with a stop at our studios. In addition to The Book Squad's own Wendy Coakley-Thompson, the Tour consists of the following authors who will be front and center:

Lori Bryant Woolridge

Carmen Green
Nina Foxx

ReShonda Tate Billingsley

Berta Platas

Trisha Thomas

Sammy E. Williams is in the Author Spotlight

Join us tomorrow at wmet1160.com. Isn't it the ultimate fantasy to have eight women entertain you all at once...?

Karyn and Wendy Catch the YouTube Wave!

2007-08-25T19:25:00.000-07:00

Hey, y'all!

The Book Squad has gone Internet video. Check out our promo below, made as a collaborative effort between Karyn and Wendy and Ryan J. Heathcock, a talented D.C.-area videographer.

Hope you like it. Let us know what you think by dropping a comment here or e-mailing us at info@thebooksquad.com.

What's Next on The Book Squad

2007-08-23T19:34:00.000-07:00

On Friday's Book Squad, we're meeting authors who have the courage to examine their lives through memoirs.

Mary Gordon, a successful fiction writer in her own right, talks to us about her latest nonfiction work, a memoir called Circling My Mother. In the book, Gordon explores her mother's extraordinary life, their relationship, and Gordon's own role as a daughter.

Next up is journalist Mike O'Connor. Through Crisis, Pursued by Disaster, Followed Closely by Catastrophe: A Memoir of Life on the Run -- what Kirkus Reviews calls his "riveting debut" -- O'Connor delves into his childhood of lies created by his parents and his quest to get to the hidden truth.

Yolanda Tucker is in the Author Spotlight.

So join us tomorrow at noon on wmet1160.com. We'll give you something to remember...

What's Next on The Book Squad

2007-08-16T20:18:00.000-07:00

It's Manly Men Day on The Book Squad, and we've got two authors whose pursuits and life experiences have ensured -- in spades -- that they, indeed, qualify to be present.

Anthony Swofford is first up to introduce us to his next literary gem, Exit A. Unless your address is under a rock, you must know that Swofford is also the author of Jarhead, his memoir detailing his life as a Marine sniper during Desert Storm -- a book which later became a film starring Jake Gyllenhaal.

Speaking of authors who have a film connection, The Book Squad welcomes back Eric Van Lustbader. Again, unless you're living under that same rock mentioned above, you also know that Van Lustbader has taken over Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne franchise. This time, he discusses his own non-Bourne-related work called The Testament, which is, according to The Barnes and Noble Review, "a pedal-to-the-metal thriller."

Kevin Johnson is the featured Author Spotlight.

Plus there's an extended Wendy's World!

I know -- way too much excitement for one Friday. But join us on wmet1160.com tomorrow and MAN UP!

Book Squad Fun

2007-08-11T17:59:00.000-07:00

When Steve Santagati had first appeared on The Book Squad, he'd asked why he'd gotten the feeling that the show was being conducted in someone's basement, like Wayne's World or a public access show like that.

Well, as homey as it may feel on the show, we have an actual studio and have had actual guests who've written actual books.

Here some various and sundry Book Squad moments...

Wendy and Karyn goofing off in said studio, between commercial breaks. Kudos to our crack hair and makeup team!

F.O.T.B.S. (Friend of The Book Squad) Lori Bryant Woolridge, meeting her public at Karibu, Bowie Town Center, Bowie, MD, where she signed her latest, Weapons of Mass Seduction, July 2007.

Karyn and F.O.T.B.S. Jason Miccolo Johnson, author of Soul Sanctuary, in studio during the show, July 2007.

What's Next on The Book Squad

2007-08-09T19:22:00.001-07:00

Karyn's down in Florida trying to be The Ultimate Author. Wendy's in D.C. with her ultimate family. So they've selected their two favorite interviews for rebroadcast.

Karyn chose Walter Mosley, author of This Year You Write Your Novel, for his amazing writing chops. Wendy chose Steve Santagati, author of The Manual: A True Bad Boy Explains How Men Think, Date, and Mate -- and What Women Can Do to Come Out on Top because he gave her helpful tips on the care and feeding of men... and because he made her laugh hysterically.

If you missed these authors before, listen tomorrow at noon on wmet1160.com.

Like pizza, they're better the second time around...

What's Next on The Book Squad

2007-08-02T21:16:00.000-07:00

We begin the dog days of August with an ecclectic mix of authors.

Nathan Englander joins us, sharing aspects of his first novel, The Ministry of Special Cases, which was eight years in the making. Englander’s short fiction has appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, The New Yorker, and numerous anthologies including The Best American Short Stories, The O. Henry Prize Anthology, and the Pushcart Prize. Englander’s story collection, For the Relief of Unbearable Urges, became an international bestseller, and earned him a PEN/Faulkner Malamud Award and the Sue Kaufman Prize for First Fiction from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Washington D.C.-based novelist J. J. Michael is next to discuss her latest, It's Not Over Yet, a fictional exploration of the paranormal. Michael, a lifelong student and teacher of Metaphysics and healing principles, is the founder of Pathtotruth.com and publisher of Path2truth.com, an ezine that promotes spiritual awareness, self-development and world peace. Michael has appeared on the local Virginia Cable Television and has been featured on National Public Radio (NPR). A renowned numerologist, Ms. Michael appeared in CNN's segment, "A Wrinkle in Time."

Author Lauren Spicer joins us to dish about the last minute preparations for the taping of her reality show The Ultimate Author. The Book Squad's own Karyn Langhorne is part of the cast. Plus we'll also have your shot of Wendy's World.

Join us tomorrow on wmet1160.com, 'cause next week, we're having a compilation show, so you won't have us to kick around!

*CORRECTION: Last week, this blog incorrectly identified The Bracelet as romance author Karen Rose Smith's sixtieth book. It is actually her fifty-ninth. The fact that she has written so many that we could actually make that mistake remains impressive.

What's Next on The Book Squad: Revisiting Our Past

2007-07-27T04:42:00.000-07:00

It's deja vu all over again on The Book Squad today. We're ending the month of Jult by checking in with past guests to see what they've been doing.

First up is John Callahan, from our Writing While Dead show. He returns to further discuss the process of resurrecting Ralph Ellison's novel Juneteenth -- from a manuscript allegedly destroyed by fire in 1967, to having it grace the world's bookshelves decades later. He'll also share with us his latest, A Man You Could Love, in which he poses the question: Can politics be an expression of love? Let's as the latest iteration of the Sharks and The Jets here in D.C.

Remember Jason Miccolo Johnson, the author of Soul Sanctuary, his photographic essay of the Black Church? He'd been a guest on our Spirituality show. A Washington DC resident, Miccolo Johnson has photographed the African Methodist Episcopal Church in an official capacity for a quarter of a century. He'll chat with us about what he's got percolating.

And you can't forget Karen Rose Smith from our Valentine's Day show. She has written fifty-nine romance novels. Her latest, The Bracelet, is #60. She'll be talking about the book and the miraculous feat of writing sixty romance novels.

Plus there's more Wendy's World.

So join us on wmet1160.com today at noon. Hey... haven't I seen you before?

What's Next on The Book Squad: Potpourri!

2007-07-19T20:41:00.000-07:00

Which is French for "Today's show has no central theme!"

Jamie Malanowski is first up to fill us in on his latest, The Coup, his delicious new satire about a conspiracy to execute a power grab for the White House. Yes, it's fiction. He's the managing editor Playboy magazine. A member of the original staff of Spy, where he worked seven years, he has also been an editor at Time and Esquire, and has written for The New Yorker, The New York Times, Vanity Fair, The Washington Monthly, and many other publications.

Those still recovering from the fatty July 4th meal will appreciate the next guest. Medical journalist and heat attack survivor Robert E. Kowalski joins us to discuss his latest health book The Blood Pressure Cure: 8 Weeks to Lower Blood Pressure without Prescription Drugs. In addition to having written several bestselling books, he has published The Diet-Heart Newsletter for twenty years, maintains his Web site thehealthyheart.net, averages twelve media interviews monthly, and is launching an alliance with iamplify.com to be their provider of heart health information.

Friend of The Book Squad (FOTBS) and Borders District Manager Juliana Wood tells us what Borders stores in the region are doing to celebrate the arrival of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Plus there's Wendy's World!

Come join us at wmet1160.com. As always, we're keeping your seat warm for you.

On Today's Book Squad

2007-07-13T03:48:00.000-07:00

We're back! Hope you had a wonderful Fourth of July holiday.

This week, we're talking to the authors of debut novels.

First up, Savannah J. Frierson joins us to discuss her first born Being Plumville, a story of interracial love and friendship down south. Frierson is a recent graduate of Harvard University who concentrated in African and African-American Studies and English. Frierson won the Dorothy Hicks Lee Prize for her creative thesis on African-American literature. She is originally from Blythewood, South Carolina, and now lives in Somerville, Massachusetts.

Local D.C.-area author Shauna Seliy is also in the house with us. Her novel When We Get There, which received a starred review from Booklist (that's a good thing, people) explores one boy's coming-of-age over the course of a long, eventful, brutally cold winter.

There's also Wendy's World, Around Town, and Karyn chats her experiences with reality TV on The Ultimate Author.

So join us on today at noon on http://www.wmet1160.com/. If it's your first time, we'll be gentle...

No Book Squad This Week

2007-07-05T04:56:00.000-07:00

Karyn and Wendy wish you an extended Fourth of July holiday. See you back on the air at wmet1160 on Friday, July 13. Watch this space for more details...

What's Next on The Book Squad

2007-06-28T18:23:00.000-07:00

We're ending the month of June like fireworks -- with a big bang!

We'll be in the presence of greatness when literary icon Walter Mosley shows up as our guest this Friday. We could go on ad infinitum about the twenty-eight best selling and critically acclaimed novels he's written. So few are as well-equipped as he to talk about developing an idea into a manuscript, as he does in his latest, This Year You Write Your Novel, a primer on the writing process.

Next, joining us to discuss her long-awaited memoir is actress, talk show host, and now author Robin Givens. She talks about, among other things, marriage to Mike Tyson, mistreatment from a voracious press corps, and motherhood on her road to self-actualization in Grace Will Lead Me Home.

For our mothers of tweens in our audience, Junie B. Jones enlightens us about her new book, Aloha-Ha-Ha, and about The Stupid, Smelly Bus Tour, appearing here in the DC area on July 2nd.

Come join us on wmet1160.com. Think of us as the appetizer before your Fourth of July meal of burgers and dogs!

What's New on The Book Squad: WWD!

2007-06-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our WWD show. "WWD?" you may ask. It's Writing While Dead, and it's not as sinister as you might think.

Today, The Book Squad showcases already-successful authors who have taken on the mantle of writing in the style of their deceased contemporaries. We'll delve into what it entails to inhabit the literary skins of the creators of some of this era's most recognizable fiction.

Eric Van Lustbader is the author of numerous best selling novels, including The Testament and The Ninja. He's been commisioned to continue Robert Ludlum's legacy as the author of the Jason Bourne novels, including The Bourne Legacy and the latest, The Bourne Betrayal.

With Juneteenth occurring this week, it's only fitting that we'd have with us John Callahan, who discusses the process of resurrecting Ralph Ellison's novel of the same name -- Juneteenth -- from a manuscript allegedly destroyed by fire in 1967, to having it grace the world's bookshelves decades later. He'll also share with us his latest, A Man You Could Love, in which he poses the question: Can politics be an expression of love? Probably not here in D.C...

Also on the agenda, Karyn regales us with stories from her travels to Florida last week week for The Ultimate Author casting call.

Join us on wmet1160.com this Friday at noon. Bring a pulse...

What's Next on The Book Squad

2007-06-14T20:31:00.000-07:00

It's June, and t'is the season to be wed. So, on The Book Squad, we'll be talking about weddings, whether you need ideas from a preeminent lifestyle guru, whether you want to run away to tie the knot, or whether your focus is on using the actual wedding ceremony as a tool to build your relationship as a couple.

The preeminent lifestyle guru in the house is Colin Cowie, discussing his eponymous Colin Cowie's Extraordinary Weddings: From a Glimmer of an Idea to a Legendary Event. You've seen Colin over the years on Oprah, Live with Regis and Kelly, Entertainment Tonight, CNN, and Extra! 'Nuff said.

For the couple wanting to chuck the familiar trappings of home in favor of a destination wedding, we have Carley Roney and JoAnn Gregoli, authors of The Knot Guide to Destination Weddings. Carley is the co-founder of TheKnot.com, the number one wedding brand worldwide. JoAnn, who has planned over one-hundred destination weddings, is the owner of Elegant Occasions, Inc.

Those into wedding preparation as a relationship builder can learn a thing or two from two PhDs: Judith Sherven and James Sniechowski, authors of The Smart Couple's Guide to the Wedding of Your Dreams: Planning Together for Less Stress and More Joy. Judith and Jim, who are also a married couple, are two of the country's most respected and pioneering authorities on successful relationships.

Toria Wyrick is in the Author Spotlight. And today's Man-spondent on the subject of love and marriage is David Kletzkin.

So join us on wmet1160.com. We don't require a lifetime commitment -- just one hour out of your day.

What's Next on The Book Squad

2007-06-07T20:24:00.000-07:00

The June 8 installment of The Book Squad explores this question: What Do Men Really Want?

We ask Steve Santagati, the author of The Manual: A True Bad Boy Explains How Men Think, Date and Mate -- and What Women Can Do to Come Out on Top. Per Publishers Weekly: "Santagati, a former model and admitted bad boy who has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and The View, has expanded on his relationship advice enterprise, AskSteveSantagati.com, to make this guidebook to dating and taming the wild male."

For balance, we talk to the couple that seems to have the answer to the question: 14-year NBA veteran Doug Christie and his wife Jackie. The pair, stars of BET-J's reality show Committed: The Christies, has written the relationship guide called No Ordinary Love: A True Story of Marriage and Basketball.

We also test drive our first "Manspondent," Chris King, who fills us in on how what men are reading reflects their interests. And Wendy presents her very own Book Expo America wrap-up.

Be there at wmet1160.com for our peek into the male psyche.

The Book Squad's Karyn Langhorne Drops "Unfinished Business"

2007-06-07T19:24:00.000-07:00

Unfinished Business, by co-host of The Book Squad Karyn Langhorne, hit bookshelves on June 1. The novel, about the unwilling attraction of opposites, is Karyn's fourth. In a taped interview on The Book Squad, Karyn discussed this and her three other novels, her process, and what it's like to be both full-time mom and writer.

Harold Lee Wise, author of Inside the Danger Zone, was the live guest on the June 1st Book Squad. The novel, published by Naval Institute Press, explores the involvement of the United States military in the Persian Gulf during the Iran-Iraq War.

What's Next on The Book Squad

2007-05-24T20:24:00.000-07:00

David Baldacci has hit #1 on many of the major bestseller lists in the country with his latest Simple Genius. The New York Times, Associated Press, Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Publisher’s Weekly magazine, New York Daily News, and Richmond Times-Dispatch have all crowned him king. And tomorrow, he's joining us on The Book Squad to discuss his life and his extraordinarily successful career.

Also with us is Eleanor Stoddard, the author of Fearless Presence, which chronicles the life of Lt. Col. Nola Forrest. Forrest served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps (ANC) for more than twenty years, ultimately as director of Army nurses for the Southwest Pacific Area during World War II.

Join us on wmet1160.com. It'll be the perfect running start to your long Memorial Day weekend.

What's Next on The Book Squad

2007-05-17T19:54:00.000-07:00

On tomorrow's Book Squad, we take a look at urban fiction and examine trends and controversies surrounding the genre.

First up is Teri Woods, author of the Dutch series. She joins us to discuss the urban scene and her move to mainstream publishing (Grand Central Publishing, formerly Warner Books) after doing her own thing successfully for years. She tells us about her latest, True to the Game II, which drops later this year.

Lauren Spicer of SpiceRack Books has joined the realm of reality TV. She lets us know about her latest innovative venture, The Ultimate Author.

Spicing things up further is author Miasha. She introduces us to her latest foray into urban fiction, Mommy's Angel and reveals aspects of her journey as an urban author.

Always Arising: A Deferred Dream author Virla Rolle Barry is in the Author Spotlight.

Join us at www.wmet1160.com for our exploration of the street life, through fiction.

The Book Squad is on Hiatus on Friday, May 11

2007-05-09T18:22:00.000-07:00

We're taking a much-needed break this coming Friday, May 11.

Karyn will be preparing for a wonderful Mother's Day with her two beautiful daughters. Wendy will be calling her mother in The Bahamas to explain why, for another year in a row, she finds herself childless.

Come back on May 18 for our urban book show, featuring the great Carl Weber and up-and-coming author Miasha.

Until then, be good to your mothers!

What's Next on The Book Squad

2007-05-03T22:05:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our first show for the month of May!

An interesting mix of guests hangs out with us. First up is four-time Emmy award winning TV host and entertainment industry insider Bill Boggs. He tells us about his book called Got What It Takes: Successful People Reveal How They Made It To the Top, based on his candid interviews with forty-four leaders in their respective fields.

Next, we have a man after my own heart because he makes cleaning fast and easy -- Jeff Bredenberg, a self-described "independent writer and editor of trustworthy how-to and health information" who joins us to discuss his latest How to Cheat at Cleaning: Time Slashing Techniques to Cut Corners and Restore Your Sanity.

Allegra Bennett is also in the house -- literally and figuratively speaking. This Renovating Woman talks about her career in home improvement. And we'll get her to tell us what happens When a Woman Takes an Axe to a Wall.

Come join us tomorrow on wmet1160.com. We'll have a sparkling clean and well-built show waiting for you.

What's Next on The Book Squad

2007-04-26T20:24:00.001-07:00

Look who's hanging out with us on The Book Squad tomorrow...

The Good Husband of Zebra Drive's Alexander McCall Smith has written more than sixty books ranging from reference works to children’s titles, as well as his much loved series of gentle detective novels set in Botswana: The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series. In 2007 McCall Smith was awarded a CBE for his services to literature.

D.C.-area author Connie Briscoe (Can't Get Enough, etc. ) has collaborated with Michael Cunningham (Crowns) to pen the photographic masterpiece that is Jewels: 50 Phenomenal Black Women Over 50. Per Booklist, "Each striking black-and-white portrait accompanies a personal essay as the women often recall the people who came before them, inspiring them to achieve and admonishing them not to allow themselves to be defeated by the limitations they faced."

Slate Magazine senior writer Timothy Noah talks about The Woman at the Washington Zoo: Writings on Politics, Family, and Fate, his collaborative effort with his wife, the late Marjorie Williams. Tim is also local to D.C., living in the area and having contributed to The Washington Monthly and the Washington beat of the Wall Street Journal.

So come hang out with us Friday at noon on wmet1160.com. We'll have sparkling conversation and dry wit on the menu for you...

April 20, 2007: "Today, we are all Hokies..."

2007-04-19T19:36:00.001-07:00

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine has declared today -- Friday, April 20, 2007 -- a statewide day of mourning for the victims of the April 16th tragedy on the Blacksburg campus Virginia Tech.

To us at The Book Squad, this is a local travesty, as we are residents of DC, Maryland, and Virginia. We join with the world in hoping that in these trying times, we will all find the strength to go on and to find meaning in the senselessness of thirty-three deaths.

What's Next on The Book Squad

2007-04-19T19:36:00.000-07:00

The Book Squad gets a jump on commemorating Earth Day, which falls on April 22nd this year.

First up, Kim McKay, co-founder and deputy chairwoman of Clean Up Australia and Clean Up the World, discusses True Green: 100 Everyday Ways You Can Contribute to a Healthier Planet, the book she co-wrote with fellow conservationist Jenny Bonnin.

Next up, Essence bestselling author and avid recycler Lori Bryant-Woolridge, graces us with her presence to tell us about her latest effort, Weapons of Mass Seduction.

Ocean of Emotions' Phaedra Ridley joins us in the Author Spotlight.

So, listen to us Friday at noon on www.wmet1160.com while you're in your hybrid car, or as you separate out your paper, plastic, and cans...

What's Next on The Book Squad

2007-04-12T18:57:00.000-07:00

Tax day is APRIL 16TH, PEOPLE!

Just in time for that monumentous -- or frightening, depending on your outlook -- day, The Book Squad has two authors on to share the secrets of how to banish debt from your life, how to acquire money, and how to invest it and make it work for you.

Erlend Peterson, the author of Rich By Choice, advises people on how to manage their income and invest their money; when they need insurance and how much to buy; how to reduce their taxes; how to plan their retirement; and how to get the whole family involved so that when they pass on, their money is not wasted.

Debt is Slavery author Michael Mihalik describes how he triumphed over a paralyzing amount of debt. Michael uses his personal experiences to illustrate ten lessons about money that will change the way you think about money so you too can pay off your debt and reclaim your freedom and your life.

But first, to take our mind off the Tax Man, poet extraordinaire and best friend of The Book Squad, Kwame Alexander, regales us with poetry from his latest, Crush. He'll be reading from Crush at its launch party at Barnes and Noble Booksellers, Potomac Yards, Alexandria on Friday, April 13, 6:30 pm.

Spiritual Shackles scribe Okeyo A. Jumal is in the Author Spotlight.

See you tomorrow. We won't even charge admission...

What's Next on the Book Squad

2007-04-05T19:13:00.000-07:00

April 6 is YA Day on The Book Squad... with a twist.

First up, Teen People entertainment editor turned author Jen Calonita dishes about having interviewed who's who in Young Hollywood and tells us about her latest, Secrets of My Hollywood Life: On Location, which drops this month.

Paula Chase is next in the hot seat. She discusses her novel So Not the Drama: A Del Rio Bay Clique Novel. She also talks about the increase of YA literature for black readers, and about how parents can monitor young readers without imposing censorship.

And now, the twist -- a deviation from the YA theme. Texas author Jo Barrett's new book The Men's Guide to the Women's Bathroom has been optioned by CBS and Paramount Studios! Jo enlightens us about the whole option deal; after all, Hugh Jackman's production company's is involved. She shares with us how to say "bathroom" in many languages and discusses the inevitable comparison of her work to that of author Candace Bushnell (of Sex and the City fame).

So join us Friday at noon on wmet1160.com. We're leaving the light on for you...

What's Next on The Book Squad

2007-03-30T03:56:00.000-07:00

Join us when we close Women's History Month with three authors who know women.

First up, author/producer/husband of actress Sharon Gless, Barney Rosenzweig discusses his groundbreaking TV series Cagney & Lacey, his book Cagney & Lacey... and Me, An Inside Hollywood Story OR How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Blond, and his successful fight to have DVDs of Cagney & Lacey's first season released.

Then Rebecca Walker chats with us about her latest, Baby Love: Choosing Motherhood After a Lifetime of Ambivalence. Rebecca is the author of the national bestseller Black, White, and Jewish, and yes, she's the daughter of uber-novelist Alice Walker.

And Marjorie Nightingale talks about her book Help Me Before I Go Crazy: Adventures from a Working Mother's Life, in which she humorously addresses the challenges of today's working mothers.

See you Friday at noon on www.wmet1160.com!

What's Next on The Book Squad

2007-03-22T21:08:00.000-07:00

Join us tomorrow as we celebrate Women's History Month with three exquisite female authors, who bring their own flavor to the mix.

First up, we have Random House author Alison Weir, the author of Innocent Traitor, her first historical novel based on the life of Lady Jane Grey.

Latina Berta Platas shows up with her own sabor, discussing what she calls "fun, sexy romance." We'll ask Berta about her novel, Cinderella Lopez, and about what's new on the horizon for her, especially her contribution to the anthology Names I Call My Sister and her participation in the 2007-2008 Femme Fantastik Tour.

Marybeth Bond, consultant, keynote speaker, and the self-professed Gutsy Traveler, takes us away on the 50 Best Girlfriends Getaways in North America.

Atlanta author Tracie Choates is featured in Friday's Author Spotlight.

Tune in tomorrow at noon on www.wmet1160.com. We'll save you a spot.

What's Next on The Book Squad

2007-03-15T18:49:00.000-07:00

On tomorrow's Book Squad, we will be talking about self-publishing as a vehicle for authors to make their dreams come true.

John Harnish, Special Projects Director for Infinity Publishing, shares with us what he's learned in his fifty-year-plus of creating, writing, publishing, and marketing, with a focus on self-publishing and print-on-demand. His latest book, My Book's Published -- Now What? will be released later this month.

Tonya M. Evans-Walls, Esquire shows us how self-publishing has helped to maximize her client outreach efforts. Evans-Walls is a poet and an attorney practicing in areas such as literary law and intellectual property. Among her numerous publications are the self-published titles Copyright Companion for Writers, Literary Law Guide for Authors, and Contracts Companion for Writers.

Travis Hunter discusses how he went from a self-published author of The Hearts of Men in 2000 to being signed to Random House. Hunter's latest, Something to Die For, is available now in bookstores, along with his other titles.

Upper Marlboro, MD filmmaker Scott Rainey tells us the story of making Tracia Ward-Rainey's 1997 self-published book Painted Smiles into a movie.

Join us tomorrow, Friday, at noon on www.wmet1160.com.

What's Next on the Book Squad

2007-03-08T19:26:00.000-08:00

This week, we're examing fiction for our greatest national treasures -- our children.

We welcome children's book authors Jabari Asim and Ed Baker to the show.

Asim is the author of Whose Toes Are Those? and Whose Knees are These? He's also deputy editor of the Washington Post Book World. He also writes a weekly syndicated column on popular culture. His writing has appeared in Essence, Salon, the Los Angeles Times, the Village Voice, the Hungry Mind Review, Emerge, and elsewhere.

Ed Baker is the author of The Story of Kitten Cuckoo. wrote and illustrated his first children’s book, A Bear in My Hair at the age of four, and by age five, Ed painted his first oil on canvas in the studio of renowned landscape artist Mark King. Ed participated in fine art exhibitions throughout his teens, and then went on to attend the University of Michigan, where he received a degree in Film and Video Studies.

Give us a listen!

We're Off This Friday, March 2...

2007-03-01T17:35:00.000-08:00

... but we'll be back next Friday, March 9, with children's book authors Jabari Asim and Ed Baker.

Asim is the author of Whose Toes Are Those? and Whose Knees are These? Baker has written The Story of Kitten Cuckoo. They'll share with you listeners their work, their inspirations, and their reasons for wanting to entertain the little ones.

See you next week!

What's Next on The Book Squad

2007-02-22T22:03:00.000-08:00

Join us this week for our show on health and well being.

Everyone wants to know the secret to maintaining a healthy body for as long as humanly possible. We will have two experts in studio to give us their advice on how to achieve that goal.

Listen as Dr. Hilton M. Hudson II, author of The Heart of the Matter and High Blood Pressure, tells us of his lifelong work to improve access to and the quality of healthcare provided to underserved and minority populations.

We’re deep into February, and some of us are STILL hanging on to that New Year’s resolution to drop a few pounds. Nutritionist and author Tanya Zuckerbrot shares with us The F-Factor Diet: Discover the Secret to Permanent Weight Loss.

I’m so there! Join us, won’t you?

What's Next on The Book Squad

2007-02-15T19:04:00.000-08:00

Hello, Listeners!

The theme for this week's Book Squad is spirituality.

Jason Miccolo Johnson discusses Soul Sanctuary, his photographic essay of the Black Church. A Washington DC resident, Miccolo Johnson has photographed the African Methodist Episcopal Church in an official capacity for a quarter of a century.

Daveed Gartenstein-Ross also joins us to talk about his memoir, My Year Inside Radical Islam. He's a senior consultant for the Gerard Group International, a counterterrorism and homeland security firm based in Massachusetts.

Come join us for some spirited -- and spiritual -- discussion.

Another Take On Valentine's Day...

2007-02-14T01:27:00.000-08:00

In celebration in Valentine's Day, Lori Bryant-Woolridge, author Hitts & Mrs. and Read Between the Lies, shares tips on how to 'host' a red hot night -- from invitations to decadent dining ideas. These are straight out of Weapons Of Mass Seduction, her part flirt-manual, part fiction novel that drops on April 17.

Mark your calendars: Lori will be joining us on The Book Squad on Friday, April 20.

And now, here are Lori's Rules for Creating A Red Hot Night

'Tis the season for creating Red Hot Nights for romance and I thought I'd pass on some red hot rules for sensual entertaining. Every Weapon of Mass Seduction knows that:

1) To Thine Own Self Be True. At the core of a truly sensual woman is confidence in her authentic self. The evening you create should be driven first by your own comfort and enjoyment.

2) Senses Rule. Every aspect of your special evening should be planned according to your senses. Every sight, sound, smell, taste and touch should be pleasurable.

3) Anticipation is Everything. Stay one step ahead. Maintain the mystery and you'll surely maintain your lover's interest (and gratitude)!

4) Drown Yourself in Pleasure. Not libations or food. You will negate all of your hard work and pleasure if you allow yourself or your lover to drink or eat too much.

5) Be Flexible. Anticipation will bring your evening alive. Expectations will kill it. Remember one of the joys of living a sensual life is living in the moment and reveling in life as it comes. Plan your evening and then see where it takes you.A Red Hot Night is an amazing way to celebrate Valentines or a birthday or anniversary, but what makes a night like this really hot, is when it comes out of the blue for no reason other than to make your lover feel special.

Visit www.Weapons-of-Mass-Seduction.blogspot.com for more sensual living (and loving) tips.

Question of the Week: February 9, 2007

2007-02-08T22:47:00.000-08:00

Hey, listeners.

Author Sherry Argov, one of our guests on The Book Squad tomorrow, tells us in her latest book why men marry bitches. Before you get your undergarments in a bunch, according to Publishers Weekly, Argov uses the B-word to "describe a strong woman who has her own identity and is secure with who she is."

Why do you think men marry bitches? Do you even think they do? Do you object to the idea of a strong, self-assured woman being called a bitch?

Share your comments here, and we will read some of them on the air in this and/or subsequent shows.

Happy reading!

What's Next on The Book Squad

2007-02-06T21:19:00.000-08:00

Hey y'all.

As you undoubtedly know, the day for lovers -- Valentine's Day -- is February 14, for those of you who are calendar-challenged. Before you know it, it'll be here. To celebrate the auspicious day, the February 9th The Book Squad will feature romance, romance, and more romance.

Highlights include poet Kwame Alexander, who will grace us with his silver-tongued iambic pentameter. We will also have author Karen Rose Smith on the mic. She has written fifty-nine romance novels, most recently Falling for the Texas Tycoon (Silhouette Special Edition). As always, you can call us on air at 866-369-1160 to participate in our "Buy it Or Burn it" segment, where you tell us if your recent book purchase is a must read or must miss. You may even win a Borders gift card, just for participating.

So check out The Book Squad at www.wmet1160.com on Friday, from 12 noon to 1:00 pm. We can't wait to hear from you!

Authors: Get Exposed!

2007-02-05T08:28:00.001-08:00

Calling all authors!

Do you want to expand your outreach? Get profiled -- in a good way -- in The Book Squad's Author Spotlight.

Click here for more details.

Welcome to The Book Squad Blog!

2007-02-05T08:28:00.000-08:00

This is the official blog for The Book Squad, a fast-paced, high impact hour on the latest, hottest and most wanted authors in the world of books!

Hosted by us, Karyn Langhorne and Wendy Coakley-Thompson--both published authors and avid readers, The Book Squad gives you the 411 on the best reads in fiction, nonfiction children's books and poetry. You can also call in to give your own recommendations on what's hot and what's not during our "Buy it or Burn it" segment-- every Friday at 12:15 p.m.

On Friday, February 2, we hosted our inaugural show with guest Denise Nicholas, actress extraordinaire and author of Freshwater Road, winner of the Hurston Wright Award for debut fiction.

Tune in to www.wmet1160.com on Fridays from 12 to 1 p.m. for The Book Squad, where we respect your right to a good read.