Bob Andelman Interviews

STARTS @ 9:40 a.m.! In 1851, a lawyer named Elias P. Drake purchased a plot of land near Xenia, Ohio, with the intent to establish a summer vacation resort where the country's elite could relax and enjoy the mineral springs in the area. What made this resort unusual, however, was that it became a popular vacation destination for southern slaveholders and their enslaved mistresses. Ultimately, these flagrantly open relationships offended the northern abolitionists who also frequented the resort. After 4 years, it closed. Dolen Perkins-Valdez took the forgotten historical fact of this pre-Civil War Ohio resort (that eventually became the first black college Wilberforce University), and sketched in a fictional account of what it would have been like to be an enslaved woman traveling to this free state each summer. The book is Wench. During a dark period in our country’s history, Tawawa House was a resort of choice for white Southern slave owners to bring their black slave/mistress for summer vacations where they could live together, slave master and mistress, in a more relaxed social atmosphere and without the presences of their wives or southern society. Dolen Perkins-Valdez is a graduate of Harvard and teaches creative writing at the University of Puget Sound. Wench is her first novel. Solen Perkins-Valdez website For more original interviews with your favorite novelists, please visit Mr. Media Radio.

Hey Lost fans! Join Mr. Media Radio for a very special interview! Noor Abed Jazeem, more commonly known as "Nadia", was a childhood friend and the long-lost love of Sayid Jarrah (Naveen Andrews). Sayid risked his life to free her from imprisonment, and then spent the next eight years searching for her. He was traveling on the infamous Oceanic Flight 815 from Australia to Los Angeles looking for Nadia when it crashed. Later they were reunited when Sayid returned from the Island as part of the Oceanic Six, and the couple wed. But their marriage came to an abrupt ending when Nadia was killed during a hit-and-run collision, a fact used by Ben Linus to manipulate Sayid into working for him as an assassin. Andrea Gabriel first appeared as Nadia during a flashback of Sayid’s in season one. Since then, she has emerged every season, in a different place, and in two additional characters storylines (Locke and Charlie), making Gabriel one of only four actors to have appeared in every season of Lost. Currently, Gabriel is branching out creatively and working on a feature film adaptation of a stage play that she wrote titled, "Snow." Andrea Gabriel website For more original interviews with your favorite TV stars, please visit Mr. Media Radio.

The Splendid Magic of Penny Arcade details the history of a web comic strip called “Penny Arcade.” The comic appears to catalog the lives of two young men who are utterly steeped in popular culture. Each chapter gathers into a coherent beam of savory trivia, strange facts, formerly mysterious origins, biographical information, interviews, inaugural conventions, an unlikely charity, and comic strips. You get the sense that some of the content may be apocryphal—for example, the part where they eat a whole wolf basically comes out of nowhere. Also, if one of them really did become “King of the Britons,” you’re sure you would have heard about it somewhere else. You close the book and place it back on the shelf. Maybe next time. Jerry Holkins is the writer of “Penny Arcade.” Holkins also writes the majority of the news posts or rants that accompany each comic. hulikIn the webcomic, his alter ego is known as Tycho Brahe. Mike Krahulik is the artist for “Penny Arcade.” In the webcomic, his alter ego is Jonathan Gabriel, or simply Gabe. Penny Arcade website For more original interviews with your favorite web and print cartoonists, please visit Mr. Media Radio.

Being born and raised in a diverse city such as New York only gives good reason as to why the music of Adam Falcon is just as diverse. Falcon, one of the most colorful and emotionally filled guitarist, singer-songwriters around, now steps from a supporting role to a leading one. Working as an experienced session and touring musician has granted Falcon a wealth of opportunity. He has toured with Phyllis Hyman, Will Downing, Jonathan Butler, Sophie B. Hawkins and Roberta Flack and worked in the studio alongside Digable Planets, George Benson and Arif Mardin. One of Falcon's brightest moments as a songwriter occurred when his mentor and idol, George Benson, chose to record a composition of his. Produced by the legendary Arif Mardin, the song "In Search of a Dream" was included on the million selling record In Your Eyes. Years later, Benson used yet another composition from Falcon’s pen: the song "True Blue." Falcon's R&B, jazz-tinged, alternative soul is a fresh new blend, which allows us to hear music in a whole new light. Visit Adam Falcon’s website. For more original interviews with your favorite musicians, please visit Mr. Media Radio.

Actor Ted Raimi is director/producer for the new dark comedy web series, Playing Dead. He teams up once again with Groundlings alum Suzanne Keilly, who writes and stars in the 8-episode series at www.WatchPlayingDead.com. Based on a short play written by Keilly, Playing Dead follows Grace, an out-of-work actress that lands a part-time job as Death. To pay the bills, Grace agrees to be the grim reaper’s little helper. Taking each assignment to escort someone to the other side proves to be harder than it looks and Grace suddenly finds herself breaking all the rules in order to get the job done. Recognized by millions of fans for his roles in sci-fi and horror flicks, Raimi has starred in numerous film and television projects including USA Network’s “Xena Warrior Princess,” all three Spider-Man movies, Adam Sandler’s Reign Over Me, and the newly released Drag Me to Hell. Raimi also created the MTV show “Normal Joe” and directed the web series, “Rebooted.” Coming up, Raimi will be once again behind the camera for a new internet horror anthology series he has created and he’s also putting the finishing touches on a feature script which will reunite him with long-time pal Bruce Campbell (Army of Darkness). Ted Raimi website Suzanne Keilly website For more original interviews with your favorite actors and writers, visit Mr. Media Radio.

This show features an interview with one man, Rob Elder, discussing his two websites: It Was Over When (website) is dedicated to cataloging the exact moment when you realize a relationship isn’t going to work. This could be years into a romance, on the first date or even before the first date. These stories can be funny, poignant, abysmally sad and universal. The aim: To provide a bit of comfort, humor and, hopefully, healing identification. It Was Love When (website) is dedicated to cataloging the exact moment when you realize that you are in love with someone. Elder is Chicago-based writer. You can read more about him at www.robelder.com. A Montana native and graduate of the University of Oregon, Elder lives and writes in Chicagoland. It’s a little known fact that he survived a Snuffleupagus encounter in the wild. For more original interviews with your favorite website developers, visit Mr. Media Radio.

Jim Gaines, who left Time Inc in 1997 and has maintained a flourishing media career in the years since, believes that journalism will survive its current upheaval. However, he thinks that decision makers will need a willingness to experiment with new formats, new platforms and new ways of giving people news and information in the media they prefer. On true/slant, Gaines offers commentary on the future of the media: http://trueslant.com/jimgaines/ For more original interviews with America’s top journalists, visit Mr. Media Radio.

The second book of an irresistible series narrated by a loveable and wise dog. In the newest Chet and Bernie mystery, Chet gets a glimpse of the show dog world turned deadly. "We run a detective agency, me and Bernie, called the Little Detective Agency on account of Little being Bernie's last name. My name's Chet, pure and simple. Headquarters is our house on Mesquite Road, a nice place with a big tree out front, perfect for napping under, and the whole canyon easily accessible out back, if it just so happens someone left the gate open. And then, up in the canyon -- well, say no more." Praised by Stephen King as "a canine Sam Spade full of joie de vivre," Chet and his human companion Bernie have both had some setbacks in life -- Bernie in combat, Chet in K-9 school, but together they make up a team like no other. In Thereby Hangs a Tail by Spencer Quinn, Bernie and Chet are called on to investigate threats made against an unlikely target -- a pretty, pampered show dog named Princess. What seems like a joke turns into a serious case when Princess and her owner are abducted. To make matters worse, Bernie's on-again, off-again girlfriend, reporter Susie Sanchez, disappears too. When Chet is separated from Bernie, he's on his own to put the pieces together, find his way home, and save the day. Chet the Dog website For more original interviews with your favorite American novelists, visit Mr. Media Radio.

Bestselling author Adriana Trigiani writes with compassion, insight and humor about the complicated lives of today’s women, and this magic touch has earned her millions of fans and enthusiastic critical acclaim. And she does it once again in Brava, Valentine, the standout sequel to her instant New York Times bestseller Very Valentine (just out in paperback). This transporting yet realistic tale, the second installment in a trilogy starring the charismatic Valentine Roncalli and a multigenerational cast of supporting characters, finds Trigiani crafting another emotionally stirring and frequently hilarious take on career, family, friendship and love as well as the delicate dance between respecting tradition and moving forward. An award-winning playwright, television writer and documentary filmmaker, Trigiani is the author of the bestselling Big Stone Gap series and the New York Times bestselling novels Lucia, Lucia, The Queen of the Big Time, Rococo, and, most recently, Very Valentine, she has been published in 33 countries around the world. Trigiani has written the screenplay for the film version of Big Stone Gap, which she will also direct, and Viola in Reel Life, the first title in her young adult series, debuted in September. She lives in New York City with her husband and daughter. Adriana Trigiani website For more original interviews with your favorite novelists, visit Mr. Media Radio.

Craig Titley is a screenwriter and producer who began his film career as a production assistant on feature films and TV movies. After a brief stint as an executive for Nickelodeon’s feature film division, he went on to become a writer of family films including the live-action Scooby-Doo movie and Cheaper By the Dozen starring Steve Martin. Both films grossed more than $100 million domestically and spawned successful sequels. After working for a decade in the family film genre, Craig spent three years honing his craft while pursuing a Ph.D. in Mythological Studies from Pacifica Graduate Institute, home of the Joseph Campbell library and archives. Titley’s current projects include a big budget adaptation of Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea with Sam Raimi producing and Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, based on the first from a series of popular “Percy Jackson novels about a boy who discovers that the Greek gods and monsters are alive and well and walking among us. Chris Columbus (director of the first two Harry Potter films) directed the film, which opens February 12. For more original interviews with your favorite film stars, writers and directors, visit Mr. Media Radio.

Tom Wilson is the author of the phenomenally popular cartoon Ziggy, which is syndicated internationally in more than 600 newspapers. After losing his beloved young wife to breast cancer, it’s up to him to raise two children alone and keep the laughs coming in his cartoons worldwide—even as his own personal orbit is falling apart. In Zig-Zagging: Loving Madly, Losing Badly, How Ziggy Saved My Life—a mesmerizing and nostalgic account of a beloved artist’s life—Wilson details his compelling journey from growing up in the shadow of his father’s genius to inheriting an iconic cartoon when his father falls ill, all while struggling to overcome a crippling depression. As President of Ziggy and Friends, Inc., and founder of Character Matters, Wilson has worked extensively with national organizations, non-profits, and corporations. A frequent speaker, branding consultant, artist, and father of two, Tom continues to write. For more original interviews with your cartoonists, visit Mr. Media Radio.

Elisha Cuthbert, image via Wikipedia Elisha Cuthbert ("24") joins Christian Slater on "The Forgotten" in a recurring role beginning Tuesday, February 9 @ 10:00 p.m. on ABC. Both actors will join Mr. Media Radio for a very special interview. Also starring in “The Forgotten” are Michelle Borth as Candace Butler, Bob Stephenson as Walter Bailey, Anthony Carrigan as Tyler Davies, and Rochelle Aytes as Grace Russell.

Lisa McMann, the New York Times bestselling author of the young adult paranormal thrillers Wake and Fade and her latest release Gone, has signed a four-book deal with Simon Pulse and Aladdin, imprints of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. Dead to You, a young adult novel of psychological suspense about a teenage boy who was abducted nine years ago and is now returning to his family, will be published on the Pulse list in hardcover in spring 2012 with a paperback edition to follow in spring 2013. Pulse will also publish a yet-to-be-titled young adult novel in hardcover in spring 2013 with a paperback edition in spring 2014. Aladdin will publish The Unwanteds, a dystopian middle-grade fantasy novel about kids who are exiled from their homeland when they display signs of creativity to a hidden world where they are trained to use their abilities and hone their magical skills, in hardcover in fall 2011 with a paperback edition in fall 2012, and a yet-to-be titled middle grade novel in hardcover in fall 2012 and paperback in fall 2013. Lisa McMann is also the author of Wake and Fade. She lives with her family in Phoenix, AZ. Visit Lisa at www.lisamcmann.com or www.myspace.com/lisamcmann, and on Facebook and Twitter. For more original interviews with your favorite young adult novelists, visit Mr. Media Radio.

Useless Keys just released its debut EP, Is The Painting Changing on iTunes. Useless Keys formed out of the ashes of 3 Silverlake bands in June 2008. Over 2009, Useless Keys have been recording with Sheldon Gomberg and Rick Parker on their upcoming debut EP. Buzz in Los Angeles and abroad has already steadily grown despite not having a proper release thanks to the band's auditory assault of a live show. UK single "Down Threw" has been given heavy support by KROQ in Los Angeles. KROQ has sponsored three Useless Keys headlining shows at Spaceland and The Viper Room over the past few months. KROQ DJ Kat Corbett said Useless Keys music should "be in the next James Bond movie". A former SPIN editor called Useless Keys "a great space rock band". Website: http://uselesskeys.blogspot.com/ For more original interviews with your favorite musicians, visit Mr. Media Radio.

John Perkins’s latest book, Hoodwinked, is a blueprint for a new form of global economics. The solutions are not “return to normal” ones. Instead, John challenges us to soar to new heights, away from predatory capitalism and into an era more transformative than the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions. Hoodwinked details specific steps each of us can take to create a sustainable, just, and peaceful world. Perkins' Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, which spent nearly a year and a half on the New York Times bestseller lists and has been published in more than 30 languages, is a startling exposé of international corruption. His The Secret History of the American Empire, also a New York Times bestseller, details the clandestine operations that created the world's first truly global empire. For more original interviews with business leaders, visit Mr. Media Radio.