Conversations Live With Vicki St. Clair

Returning guest Robyn Carr has met with tremendous success writing multiple New York Times bestselling novels for her Sullivan’s Crossing series, but today she comes to us with a standalone book, The View from Alameda Island. Today, she’ll reveal the rationale behind her decision to depart from a sure thing and take a break from her series. Robyn is a prolific author of romance and women’s novels, repeatedly making appearances on the New York Times bestselling list, often in the number one spot, and having sold tens of millions of books. Her novels have been translated into 19 languages in 30 countries. Later, A.F. Brady has worked in mental healthcare for many years, a career which has undoubtedly influenced her first two novels, The Blind and Once A Liar. She joins us today to talk about the latter, in which a high-powered sociopath meets his reckoning when he’s accused his mistress’ brutal murder. A.F. Brady is a New York State licensed mental health counselor/psychotherapist, and a proud native New

Today’s show kicks off with a buzz-worthy guest … literally. Meredith May learned some of life’s most pivotal lessons about community, loyalty and survival from one of nature’s most fragile and important creatures. Raised by her fourth generation beekeeper grandfather while her mother’s mental state slowly deteriorated, Meredith’s found everything she needed to know about family was buzzing right there in the hive. Her new memoir is The Honey Bus: A Memoir of Courage and a Girl Saved by Bees. Meredith spent sixteen years at the San Francisco Chronicle, where her narrative reporting won the PEN USA Literary Award for Journalism and was shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize. She is a fifth generation beekeeper. Later, frustrated by how little has changed in the 20 years since first writing about sexual assault in her groundbreaking, award-winning novel Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson reveals her personal history as a survivor of sexual assault and her journey to healing in her new book SHOUT. Today, she’ll discuss

Even the strongest relationships encounter shaky ground … the key is keeping those tremblors from becoming destructive and devastating relationship earthquakes. Loving Through Your Differences: Building Strong Relationships From Separate Realities explores how your unique emotional reality influences your interactions with the world. Today, Dr. James Creighton offers tips on how to keep combustible situations in check through expressing your feelings while minimizing blame and accusation, and how the five minute rule can improve your relationships. Dr. Creighton is a psychologist and relationship consultant who has worked with couples and conducted communications training for more than 50 years. Later, if you’ve ever frustrated yourself by acting (or reacting) in a way that defies your better judgement, take solace in the fact that we are all hardwired in infancy to act the way we do. Dr. Ronald J. Frederick joins us today to reveal how to rewire our brains to achieve healthy, secure relationships. Plus, yo

What do the tough do, when the going gets tough? They Keep Going, which just happens to be the name of Austin Kleon‘s new book where he shares 10 ways to stay creative in good times and bad. We’ll find out why this “writer who draws” describes himself as a mongrel, and how that benefits his work. Why he says life is for art, and not other way around. And, the big question that many have asked over the past few months in light of scandalous celebrity behavior, can you separate the art from the man, and the man from the art? Austin Kleon’s New York Times bestselling books include Steal Like an Artist, and Show Your Work. Want a fun, educational, and free activity to enjoy with your kids? Try star gazing. Andrew Fazekas, aka the “Night Sky Guy”, turned his life-long passion into his career. Today, he shares fun science facts such as what causes the elusive “green flash” at sunset. He also discusses his partnership with National Geographic in taking the world’s first open air augmented-reality planetarium to a

Described as the William Faulkener of the Breaking Bad generation, #1 New York Times Bestseller Greg Isles is no stranger to adversity in a career spanning nearly three decades as an author. Following a car accident that left him in a coma for 8 days, Greg, much like bandmate Stephen King, rejoined the legendary and notorious lit-rock band The Rock Bottom Remainders. Today we’ll discuss how his body of work has helped put his homestate of Mississippi on the map. Born in Germany in 1960, where his father ran the US Embassy Medical Clinic during the height of the Cold War, Greg spent his youth in Natchez, Mississippi, graduating from the University of Mississippi in 1983. His novels have been made into films, translated into more than twenty languages, and published in more than thirty-five countries worldwide. His latest is Cemetery Road. Later, while Glen Hamilton’s novels always begin and end in rain-soaked Seattle, Mercy River stays in the Pacific Northwest as the central plot sees our hero race on a myst

Today, Vicki chats with three authors who weave historical twists with fictional tales to create suspenseful page turners! First, returning guest Steve Berry is noted for his mastery of blending fiction and history into a cocktail of intrigue and deception. The Malta Exchange, The latest in his best-selling Cotton Malone series, finds the titular character caught in a web of Vatican intrigue that involves the Knights of Malta and lost documents that could change history. Steve’s novels have been translated into 40 languages with 20,000,000 copies in 51 countries. Next, Kris Frieswick’s 20 years of writing experience didn’t prepare her for the journey as she embarked on her first novel. The Ghost Manuscript is Indiana Jones with a female lead — we see our heroine on a quest to find King Arthur’s tomb that takes readers from Wales, to Boston and eventually to Cape Cod. Kris is a journalist, editor, humorist, teacher and author whose work has appeared in national magazines, newspapers and books for more th

Returning guest Debra Gwartney, like many women, struggles with the challenges presented when trying to find that authentic connection with where your roots are … or where you are trying to lay them down. In I am a Stranger Here Myself, Debra weaves frontier history into a personal exploration of womanhood, place, and a sense of belonging. Debra is a Pacific University Professor, journalist, and author who grew up in Idaho and now tries to find a sense of permanence on on the upper McKenzie River on the west slope of the Cascade Mountains in Oregon. Listen to her original appearance on Conversations Live here. National Geographic’s Carrie Miller was initially motivated to learn to dive by great white sharks … and her passion and discoveries have led her to raise awareness of the critical changes we need to make to ensure the future health of our oceans. You’ll come away from National Geographic’s 100 Dives of a Lifetime knowing why she calls the ocean the heartbeat of our planet. Carrie has been covering t

Many of returning guest Pam Jenoff’s historical novels have been inspired in part by her work in international affairs at the Pentagon and for the State Department. Her latest is set during and right after World War II, exploring the story of a group of young women who risked their lives in the defiance of Nazi oppression. The Lost Girls of Paris is an essential and timeless story of survival, loyalty, and the power of sisterhood. Pam is a New York Times bestselling author of specializing in historical fiction. Monty Python Speaks: The Complete Oral History of Monty Python is a no-holds-barred look at the Pythons’ legendary sketches and films, told through interviews with Monty Python’s founding members, actors, producers, and collaborators. Author David Morgan reveals the story behind Spamalot: The Musical, the group’s reaction to their resoundingly successful 2014 reunion, and a touching look at the group without Terry Jones after his 2015 diagnosis of dementia. David is a senior producer for CBSNews.com

Today’s show is all about finding peace and prosperity, personally and profesionally. Imagine your life if you had the ability to achieve maximum focus without losing flexibility, got more of the right things done, and added to the ultimate goal of bringing more peace into the world? With his Seven Practices of a Mindful Leader: Lessons from Google and a Zen Monastery Kitchen, author Marc Lesser dishes up the tools you’ll need for optimum accomplishment without the stress that comes with it. Marc founded and was CEO of 3 companies, is author of 4 books, and has an MBA degree from New York University. He was a resident of the San Francisco Zen Center for 10 years, and director of Tassajara, Zen Mountain Center, the first Zen monastery in the western world. Later, The Jewel of Abundance: Finding Prosperity through the Ancient Wisdom of Yoga provides an antidote to the hypermaterialism that poisons our lives. “When prosperity is equated with material wealth attained for its own sake, the word prosperity loses

The squeaky wheel gets the grease, but remove the quiet wheel and the bike becomes useless. Jane Finkle knows firsthand the unique challenges and obstacles introverts face. Her new book, The Introvert’s Complete Career Guide: From Landing a Job, to Surviving, Thriving, and Moving on Up, provides the tools you need to break free from what is holding you back, creating a path to a more fulfilling life. Jane has 25 years of experience as a career coach for universities and has run her own career counseling firm since 2002.

Stephen Hawking portended that Artificial Intelligence is likely to be the end of humankind. In Crucible, returning guest James Rollins probes the question: If humans are to co-exist with A.I., what do we need to do to ensure our survival? His answer lies in a much more complex question – what does it mean to have a soul? James is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of international thrillers, translated into more than forty languages, with more than 20 million copies sold. Check out his last CLV appearance here! We'll begin today with another returning guest, Karen Kingsbury, who is launching a new series of books for children, co-written with her son Tyler Russell. We'll discover what prompted them to work together … and how that went. And what makes this series different to many kids' books currently on the shelves. Karen is a #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, with many of her novels under development as major motion pictures. Her Baxter Family books are being developed into a TV serie

Can holding a grudge actually change your life for the better? In How to Hold a Grudge: From Resentment to Contentment – The Power of Grudges to Transform Your Life, author Sophie Hannah demonstrates how grudges can work in your favor, protect and inspire you, and even make you more forgiving. Sophie is an internationally bestselling writer of psychological crime fiction, published in forty-nine languages and fifty-one territories. How to Hold a Grudge is her first foray into self-help. Next, each year, millions of Americans seek alternative forms of treatment for chronic health problems. Yet even those who have experienced relief often can't explain it. In The Magic Feather Effect: The Science of Alternative Medicine and the Surprising Power of Belief, journalist Melanie Warner brings a critical eye and open mind in her quest to understand some of the world's most popular alternative health treatments, the people who seek them, and the reasons so many of them feel cured. Melanie is a freelance journ

While very rare, suicide in children is the 10th leading cause of death. What every parent must know w/ Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore Coping with the suicide of a loved one is arguably the hardest thing we face. You search for signs you missed, cope with changes in your own life as a result, and try to come to terms with a question you may never have the answer to. Author A.W. Barnes and his older brother Mike were saddled with the challenge of being gay while raised in a large, conservative midwest family, until tragedy struck, as Mike took his own life. The Dark Eclipse: Reflections on Suicide and Absence is A.W. ‘s collection of personal essays, written to reflect on and share his experiences in what he hopes is a cathartic path to reconciliation by helping others recover from similar loss. A.W. Barnes has a Ph.D. in English Literature and an MFA in Creative Writing. His nonfiction has appeared in numerous publications, and he's the academic author of Post-Closet Masculinities in Early Modern England.

Even with technology (and often because of it) aiding us, most of us are drowning in an endless sea of paperwork, bills, texts, and e-mails, all tedious tasks that become overwhelming if we don't stay on top of them. With Life Admin: How I Learned to Do Less, Do Better, and Live More, author Elizabeth Emens offers simple ways to reduce the time and effort we spend on these mundane daily details of life. Elizabeth is a legal scholar and an Isidor and Seville Sulzbacher Professor of Law at Columbia University. Lastly, Psychotherapist Dr. Bryan Robinson says “If you are a workaholic, overachiever, or perfectionist, you have permission to stop working and #CHILL�. His new book, #CHILL: Turn Off Your Job and Turn On Your Life, explores how to get out of the trap of working non-stop and achieve a healthy work/life balance. Dr. Robinson is a psychotherapist and Professor Emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He has authored thirty nonfiction books and written for over one-hundred profes

Robyn Carr began writing novels as a young mother of two, ignoring harsh criticism from a peer suggesting she find another line of work and persevering to become an eleven time New York Times bestselling author. “There's a need for positive drama,� she says, “Not just (a) goody-two-shoes, everything-is-beautiful kind of story, but a kind of story where characters serve as positive role models for women who read the books.� Her new book is the latest in her Sullivan's Crossing series, The Best of Us. Robyn has written over 40 novels, has received a Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award, and has a scripted drama with Netflix coming soon.

An old friend returns to Conversations Live today as Vicki is joined by Patti Dobrowolski, who we last heard from six years ago upon the release of her first book, Drawing Solutions: How Visual Goal Setting Will Change Your Life. Today, she'll discuss how you can use visual goal setting to get a jump start on your goals for the new year in a fun and easy way! To help you get started, here is your free goal-setting template map and a free downloadable icon guide! Patti is a TEDx speaker, critically acclaimed comic performer, writer and business consultant, and is a member of the National Speaker's Association known for her innovativevisual keynotes. She is a multiple business award winner and past Broadway performer. Her latest book is 9 Tips to Up Your Creative Genius.

DEC 10: Filmmaker John de Graaf “John de Graaf is one of the good guys in our world, always right there with the next important, life-affirming idea,� says The Giraffe Project's Ann Medlock. Beginning in the late 70's, John embarked on an award-winning documentary film career that continues to this day. Today, we'll delve deep into his process, discovering how he chooses projects, lessons he has learned along the way, and how he has navigated his own creative path while still making a difference in people's lives. Find out what the biggest turning points in his career were, which films impacted him the most, and the best – and worst – career advice he has ever been given. “I'm an author, filmmaker, speaker, and activist with a mission to help create a happy, healthy, and sustainable quality of life for America,� reads John's mission statement. With over 40 documentaries and countless shorter films to his credit, he has received over 100 regional, national, and international awards for filmma

Sara Ruhl is a distinguished playwright and author, Tony award nominee, and two time Pulitzer Prize finalist. In 2012, exuberant and opinionated Max Ritvo took her playwriting class at Yale University, proving himself a highly gifted poet. Max was also in remission from pediatric cancer. Over the course of four years, Sara watched Max blossom as his illness returned and his health declined, exchanging a series of letters with him that changed the way she looked at life, death, and the unexpected connections one makes along the way. She shares these urgency and humor filled exchanges in Letters From Max: A Book of Friendship. Sara's plays have won numerous awards, and have been produced all over the country and internationally, including on Broadway.

She's a writer's-writer. A reader's-writer. And with self-effacing humor, and ruthless honesty, Anne Lamott makes us think about what most of us don't like to think about. She's known for writing and speaking about subjects that begin with Big Capital Letters. Today we'll share her thoughts on Hate, Jealousy, Love, Hope, and preserving one's Sanity. A New York Times bestselling author and recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, Anne Lamott has been inducted into the California Hall of Fame. She's taught at UC Davis, as well as at writing conferences across the country. Academy Award-winning filmmaker, Freida Mock, made a documentary on her called Bird by Bird with Annie. Anne Lamott's latest book of essays is Almost Everything: Notes on Hope. We'll end today's show chatting with the host of Ciao Italia, the longest-running cooking show on television, Mary Ann Esposito. Find out the secret to the show's success, her thoughts regarding pairing food and wine, and a few of her all time favorites for those who

There are many misconceptions about why a woman cheats on her partner. In The New Monogamy, sex therapist Tammy Nelson, PhD, argues that freedom to have a discreet affair can be empowering, healing, and ultimately improve a marriage. Tammy is a sex and relationship expert, an international speaker, an author and a licensed psychotherapist with almost thirty years of experience working with individuals and couples. Also, if you're one of the many who feel the growing gap between the haves and have nots, it can leaving you feeling left behind, and less-than. Leadership consultants Jennifer Cohen and Gina Laroche say you are enough, you have enough, and there is enough to go around. We'll explore solutions to help you ditch scarcity thinking in The 7 Laws of Enough: Cultivating a Life of Sustainable Abundance. Jennifer is cofounder of Seven Stones Leadership Group and a speaker and author, known for coaching world-class leaders from institutions including Harvard Business School and Simmons. Gina is also a