Books, Kids & Creations with Tracy Blom
Shary Williamson, Author of the Woodland Elves
Join Tracy Blom as she interviews children's author Shary Williamson, creator of the Woodland Elves Series which has been sold 92 countries and inspired countless magical experiences. Each book promotes important lessons of unity, creativity, and finding a sincere connection to nature. Behind her books is a team of wonderful creators including illustrator Jay Johnston, and creative coordinator and musician Russ Kendall.
https://thewoodlandelves.com/
Victoria Morgan, Artistic Director of the Cincinnati Ballet
Join Tracy Blom in this one-of-a-kind interview with Victoria Morgan, Artistic Director of the Cincinnati Ballet. Here they discuss the various ways that ballet transforms the soul, creates a place of peace, and instills valuable lessons.
Over the past 23 years, Cincinnati Ballet has experienced tremendous growth and critical success under the leadership of Victoria Morgan. Today she is one of only four female Artistic Directors of U.S. ballet companies with an annual operating budget of $10 million or more. During her tenure at Cincinnati Ballet, Morgan choreographed numerous one-act and full-length ballets. Her most widely acclaimed works include the world premieres of King Arthur’s Camelot in 2014 and the new Nutcracker in 2011. Her newly choreographed Cinderella premiered in February 2016. Prior to coming to Cincinnati Ballet, Morgan was resident choreographer for the San Francisco Opera for nearly a decade. She was a principal dancer for San Francisco Ballet (1978–1987) and Ballet West (1969–1978). She performed lead roles for television and film, and her choreography was featured in the PBS documentary The Creation of O.M.O. She served on the boards of Dance/USA, Dance Magazine, and the NEA evaluation panel. She has been presiding judge for the New York International Ballet Competition, the Benois de la Danse Awards Gala in Russia, and The Valentina Kozlova IBC this past summer. Morgan graduated Magna Cum Laude with an M.F.A. from the University of Utah and was recognized as a Distinguished Alumna in 2009.
Marvel Comic Book Artist, Elsa Charettier
STAR WARS FANS GET READY..... This interview will be out of this world!!! Elsa Charretier is a French comic book writer, illustrator and comic book artist who has worked on a number of Star Wars projects so far, mainly Star Wars Adventures from IDW Publishing and its spin-off mini-series Star Wars: Forces of Destiny. She often works with another French comic book writer, Pierrick Colinet.
Clients include Random House (GGRM’s Windhaven graphic novel), DC Comics (Harley Quinn, Starfire...), Marvel Comics (The Unstoppable Wasp), Lucasfilm, IDW Publishing, Disney, and the New York Magazine.
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNGQ...
Loretta Claiborne
Loretta Claiborne is an American global speaker and multi-sport athlete who competes in the Special Olympics. Loretta was born partially blind, intellectually challenged, and unable to walk or talk until the age of four. Eventually, though, she began to run. And before she knew it, she had crossed the finish line of twenty-six marathons, twice placing among the top one-hundred women in the Boston Marathon. She introduced President Bill Clinton at the 1995 Special Olympics World Summer Games, won medals in dozens of its events, and holds the current women's record in her age group for the 5000 meters at seventeen minutes. Today, Claiborne is a celebrated athlete who was honored in 1996 with ESPN's ESPY Arthur Ashe Award for Courage. Her life is recounted in Walt Disney Productions The Loretta Claiborne Story (originally broadcast on ABC-TV and now on DVD) and in the biography "In Her Stride" published by WorldScapes.
Website: https://www.lorettaclaiborne.com/
Patrick quinn - parenting expert
In this fun-filled interview Tracy speaks with Patrick Quinn about empowering kids, creating environments to encourage learning, and brain-foods that can keep your child going!
Patrick Quinn is a parenting expert at Brainly, the world’s largest online learning community. He’s the father of three school-age kids and is also a former middle school special education teacher. Patrick has lived in New York, Hawaii, Arizona, California and Texas and is the co-founder of “Life of Dad” as well as the creator of a television show on Nickelodeon, International called “The Spyders.” In his free time he enjoys hiking with his family, swimming and writing.
Squire Rushnell and louise duart, on dogwinks!
CALLING ALL DOG LOVERS!!!
New York Times bestselling authors SQuire Rushnell and Louise DuArt return with the beloved Godwink series (over 1.5M copies in print) with an inspiring dog-focused collection of true stories called Dogwinks (5/4/21). Every chapter focuses on a different, real-life canine who positively impacted their human family’s lives in a miraculous way. The Hollywood Reporter recently announced that Netflix will produce an original film titled Rescued by Ruby starring Grant Gustin (The Flash) as Trooper Dan O'Neil and this very adorable pup, based on “Ruby,” the first story in the Dogwinks collection. This is an incredible true story of an unruly stray dog who was rescued by a Rhode Island police officer, who now rescues others as a Search & Rescue K9. Ruby’s most newsworthy rescue involved finding a little boy in the woods—the son of the woman who previously took care of Ruby at the dog shelter! SQuire Rushnell and Louise DuArt will both executively produce the film. The other true stories in Dogwinks will give readers goosebumps, too—from rescuing babies to saving families from fires—and convey just how special and life-changing dogs are. It’s no wonder pet adoptions have skyrocketed since the pandemic began!
Read/watch more about her on the TODAY Show: https://www.today.com/pets/godwink-tu...
Link to SQuire Rushnell and Louise DuArt’s website: https://godwinks.com
Link to Buy Dogwinks: https://www.amazon.com/Dogwinks-Godwink-Stories-Blessings-Bring/dp/1982149213
Dennis Speigel, International theme park services
Ever wonder what it is like to create a theme park, or design a roller coaster?? Join Tracy for another episode of Books, Kids & Creations where she speaks with Owner and Founder of the International Theme Park Services, Dennis Speigel.
Mr. Speigel's early beginnings in 1960 as a ticket taker / seasonal employee at Coney Island Amusement Park (Cincinnati, Ohio) were the impetus behind his decision to make the theme park business his career. He quickly worked his way to Assistant Park Manager of Coney Island and then Kings Island Theme Park (Cincinnati, Ohio), where, as Assistant General Manager, he supervised general park operations, including personnel, rides, food / beverage, merchandise, games and guest hospitality. In 1974, Mr. Speigel became the Vice President and General Manager of Kings Dominion / Lion Country Safari (Richmond, Virginia), which historically draws over 3 million in attendance per year. In addition to overseeing the planning and construction of the park, he administered a $60 million construction budget, utilized his creative marketing skills to establish and implement several long-range marketing/development plans.
As Vice President of International Operations from 1981-83, Mr. Speigel was directly responsible for overseeing and assessing potential leisure sites in foreign markets, including all negotiations, research and development, design, site selection and zoning, as well as securing investors. In these endeavors, he was instrumental in developing project negotiations in Singapore, Australia and Tokyo, and secured a management/design and planning/project development contract in London, England in March, 1983. Today, Mr. Speigel provides insight to many newspapers and publications around the world. He has been interviewed and quoted by the Wall Street Journal, Cincinnati Enquirer, Park World, Fun World Magazine, USA Today, Red Book Magazine, Los Angeles Times, Amusement Business and many other local and foreign publications.
Dennis’ Podcast – I’m 4 Fun
Literary powerhouses!!! Irene o’ garden and john pielmeier
Books, Kids & Creations is pleased to welcome two very inspirational literary powerhouses to the show, Irene O’Garden and John Pielmeier. John and Irene have written countless books and pieces for stage and screen, including Agnes of God, Choices of the Heart, Hook’s Tale, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, and many more.
Irene O’Garden has won or been nominated for prizes in nearly every writing category from stage to e-screen, hardcovers, children’s books as well as literary magazines and anthologies.
John Peilmeier is an actor, playwright, novelist, poet, and screenwriter with decades of literary achievements. His play Agnes of God was a co-winner of the Great American Play contest and premiered professionally at Actors Theatre of Louisville, which was followed by several regional productions and a seventeen-month run on Broadway.
Actor, tv host, & science-superhero Tamara robertson
Tamara resides in Los Angeles, CA where she works as a Science Host, Engineering Consultant, SAG-AFTRA Actor and Wardrobe Designer. In her downtime, she volunteers as a board member for a number of STEM organizations across the US, utilizes Superhero Science to get kids excited about careers in STEM and lends her Science and Maker skills to a number of non-profit organizations. Did I mention she was on MYTH BUSTERS???? She was.
author melissa Shapiro - piglet the unexpected story of a deaf, blind pink puppy and his family
PIGLET The Unexpected Story of a Deaf, Blind, Pink Puppy and His Family by Melissa Shapiro, DVM with Mim Eichler Rivas In the tradition of the beloved New York Times bestsellers Marley and Me and Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love, a charming, inspirational memoir about empathy, resilience, kindness, and an adorable deaf blind pink dog. When Connecticut veterinarian Melissa Shapiro gets a call about a tiny deaf-blind puppy rescued from a hoarding situation in need of fostering, she doesn’t hesitate to say, “yes.” Little does she know how that decision will transform her, her family, and legions of admirers destined to embrace the saga of the indomitable pink pup.
erin winick of nasa
Erin Winick is a maker, engineer, writer, entrepreneur, science fashionista, and science communicator. Her passion is helping people engage with science and engineering in new ways, and communicating complex science topics. Erin works as a science communicator for the International Space Station, communicating the science performed aboard the orbiting laboratory. She assigns, writes, and edits stories and video scripts for publication on NASA.gov covering station science. She also handles the social media and distribution strategy for station science content, running the @ISS_Research Twitter account, and composing science content for other NASA accounts. Erin also supports astronauts with science communication materials.
tracy long director of marketing & development for dolly parton’s imagination library
Tracy has over 20 years’ experience in marketing and branding in nonprofit, hospitality and consumer goods industries. Today she is part of a small team of 15 that have the privilege of working for the Dollywood Foundation, in particular Dolly’s flagship program, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. This early childhood literacy program began in 1995 and helps to inspire the love of reading in over 1.8 million children each month in the U.S, Canada, the U.K, the Republic of Ireland, and Australia. Tracy passionately leads the foundation’s continuing mission to bring awareness and globally grow the program, while helping to support the over 2000 committed volunteers and partners who help gift the free books each month in local communities all over the world.
ny times best-selling author and screenwriter Geoff rodkey
Geoff Rodkey is the New York Times best-selling author of ten children’s books, including a collaboration with comedian Kevin Hart, Marcus Makes a Movie that just hit The New York Times Bestseller list. Geoff’s also the Emmy-nominated screenwriter of Daddy Day Care and RV, among other films.
His new novel, Lights Out in Lincolnwood, poses the question: who are we when the lights go out? And when everything else that keeps our day-to-day lives humming: internet, cell phones, cars, planes, trains, water, sewer. In short, who will we resort to becoming if we are cut off from all the markers of our living in the 21st century?
Interview with author florenza denise lee
FLORENZA LEE is an author, publisher, narrative coach, transformational speaker, radio talk show host, Master Storyteller, wife, mother, and advocate for our Nation's Veterans. Her Children's books focus on Social-Emotional Learning. Her dynamic characters immediately capture the readers' attention, and her lessons remain long after the book is closed. The tagline for her coaching business is, "…like having glasses for your mind." Florenza believes Christ uses everyday principles to bring about profound truths. She applies this practical teaching method to guide her audience on a soul-searching journey to discover the power that lies within them. Florenza says her messages will stick with you like collard greens and cornbread. She and her husband, CSM (Ret US Army) Trefus Lee, have been married for nearly 38 years and reside in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Their daughters, Jessica and Missy, call Las Vegas, Nevada, and Chagrin Falls, Ohio, home.
Interview with Egyptologist kara cooney
KARA COONEY is Professor of Egyptian Art and Architecture at UCLA and chair of its Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures. Her academic work focuses on death preparations, social competition, and gender studies. She appeared as a lead expert in the popular Discovery Channel special "The Secrets of Egypt's Lost Queen" and produced and wrote Discovery's Out of Egypt.
The author of The Good Kings: Absolute Power in Ancient Egypt and the Modern World (2021), When Women Ruled the World (2018), and The Woman Who Would Be King (2014).
Interview with mark house of the krohn conservatory
The Krohn Conservatory is a plant lover’s dream, featuring over 1000 varieties of plants from all over the world, transforming into a botanical winter wonderland featuring colorful poinsettias, train exhibits, and miniature replicas of Cincinnati landmarks created by Applied Imagination.
The holiday exhibit runs through January 9th and is sure to bring holiday cheer and wonder to all who attend.
For more information: https://www.cincinnatiparks.com/krohn/
About Applied Imagination:
Nationally recognized, award-winning crew of creative artists, botanical architects, and landscape designers producing original public garden exhibits, seasonal displays, and garden railways http://appliedimagination.biz