Thursday, May 15, 2014

Lynne Cheney on 'LiveLine'

It's not very often that a reporter from Bradford, PA, gets a chance to interview the wife of a former vice president of the United States, so I was thrilled and honored to speak with Lynne Cheney earlier this week about her new biography of the fourth president of the US.

You can listen to our conversation by going to WESB.com/listen, clicking on the "Local Programs" tab, and scrolling down to today's date (05-15-14).

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Melanie Benjamin Visits Bradford


"The Aviator's Wife" author Melanie Benjamin visited Bradford on Tuesday as the culmination of this year's One Book Bradford season. She gave an interesting talk on how and why she became a novelist and the road to becoming published. She was very engaging, funny and insightful and thoroughly entertaining.

Congratulations to the One Book Bradford committee on another successful year.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Robert B. Parker's Cheap Shot (A Spenser Novel)
By Ace Atkins

My apologies for not getting this up on Friday.

Everyone's favorite Boston PI Spenser is back and better than ever, working a case that could be ripped from the headlines.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Ace Atkins, who was chosen by Robert B. Parker's estate to continue writing the Spenser novels. You can listen to our conversation here.

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Bookshare Program Starting in Bradford

As part of the Leadership McKean program, our team is working with the Bradford Area Public Library to develop a book-share program for local children and their parents. Our goal is to encourage rising literacy rates in Bradford by providing great books, reading tips, and fun reading exercises at various sites around the city to help parents and their kids get excited about reading. To get the program started, we need good books! If you'd like to donate your gently-used children's books for readers up to age 12, here are two easy ways to do so:

1. Just email the library director@bradfordlibrary.org. We’d be delighted to pick up your used children's books at your convenience.

2. While at the Bradford Public Library, drop your gently-used children's books in the box labeled Leadership McKean, located in the circulation-desk area.

We think that literacy begins with leadership. Thanks in advance for yours; we really appreciate your support!

Team B, Leadership McKean Class of 2014

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Monday, May 12, 2014

Author Melanie Benjamin Visits on Tuesday

One Book Bradford’s season will end on a high note Tuesday when author Melanie Benjamin comes to town.

Benjamin, the author of “The Aviator’s Wife,” this year’s OBB book, will offer her perspective as an author of the book, a fictional account of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, the wife of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh.

Benjamin’s talk will start at 7:30 p.m. in the Mukaiyama Room of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The program, the culmination of each OBB season, is free and open to the public. A book signing and refreshments will follow.

Benjamin will also hold a writers’ workshop from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Bradford Area Public Library.

The workshop is limited to 15 participants; reservations must be made in advance at the library.

One Book Bradford is a community-wide reading initiative. One book is selected and area readers are encouraged to read the book and take part in a variety of events. The season has traditionally ended with a visit by the book’s offer.

Often overshadowed by her husband, Anne Morrow Lindbergh was accomplished in her own right as a successful author and the first licensed female glider pilot in the United States.

The book, which has been on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists, has received many accolades since its release earlier this year, something each author hopes for, but may not be prepared for, according Benjamin.

“I think every author is always surprised when a book becomes a success,” Benjamin said. “We always have high hopes but we work in such a vacuum. Often the first indication that a book might do well is in house, at our publisher, but even then we’ve all seen books not perform as expected. “

One Book Bradford events this year included a public discussion of “The Aviator’s Wife,” a movie night at the Bradford Movie House to view Spirit of St. Louis, a Gift from the Sea literary luncheon and a “Kevin’s Best BBQ” fundraiser. All proceeds from these events are used to continue the One Book Bradford efforts.

Benjamin said she is looking forward to a lively discussion about the book with lots of questions and insights from the audience.

“I love talking with readers; I always learn something new about my own writing from them.

“I hope that the reader willingly steps into a different time when they read Anne’s story; that the reader doesn’t judge her actions based on our modern sensibility and hindsight. I think that’s so important when reading historical fiction; you do have to at least try to check your modern ideas and notions at the door.”

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'Don't Write the Obituary Yet' Author to
Give Presentation at Pitt-Bradford

Susan Evans will give a presentation on her newly released book, “Don’t Write The Obituary Yet” at 7 p.m. Monday, May 19, at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 7 p.m. in the Mukaiyama University Room in the Frame-Westerberg Commons. It is being sponsored by the Friends of Hanley Library.

In addition to the presentation, the evening will include a question-and-answer period with Evans, which will be moderated by John Schlimm, award-winning author of 15 books and nationally renowned artist, activist and inspirational speaker and television celebrity.

Evans, who is in remission from ovarian cancer, wrote the book with her doctor, Dr. Thomas C. Krivak, a noted gynecologist/oncologist in Pittsburgh with the Allegheny Health Network.

The work is an unusual account of Evans’ first day and all the days thereafter when she was told she had ovarian cancer and never had a sign or symptom, other than a swollen ankle. She describes her journey, using humor and compassion, and offers candid and insightful advice for those who may face the disease one day.

The book has earned significant endorsements. Dr. Larry Maxwell, retired U.S. Army colonel and chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Inova Fairfax Women’s Hospital, praised the book’s narrative. “It provides reflections on issues of fear, treatment, physician-patient relationships, and marriage that are all affected in women faced with this diagnosis.”

Jennifer Gangloff, a cancer survivor and research managing editor at the Mayo Clinic, said, “It is with wit, wisdom and candor that Evans explores both the little details and the larger picture of cancer, from an unexpected diagnosis through the unexpected recovering in this engaging page-turner.”

But there is more than the book itself. Susan and husband, George, have established the Evans-Krivak Gynecological Cancer Research and Education Fund under the auspices of The Pittsburgh Foundation. All proceeds from the book are donated to the fund. The fund’s mission is to improve the clinical treatment and personalized care of women with ovarian and gynecologic-related cancers and to support education for physicians who seek specialization in such cancer treatment and care. One aim is to provide the research findings with physicians everywhere, with an emphasis on aiding physicians in rural areas.

Evans is a retired English teacher at Bradford Area High School and a native of Pittsburgh. She holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Slippery Rock University and a master’s degree from St. Bonaventure University.

Krivak is a graduate of The Ohio State College of Medicine and interned at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Cancer Institute. He is an U.S. Air Force veteran.

Susan Evans was on WESB's LiveLine on Monday and you can here that by going to WESB.com, clicking on the "Listen" link and then the "Local Programs" tab. Scroll down to 05-12-14 Susan Evans Don't Write the Obituary Yet.

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Tuesday, May 6, 2014