P. J. O'Rourke
Author
P. J. O'Rourke was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, and attended Miami University and Johns Hopkins. He began writing funny things in 1960s "underground" newspapers, became editor-in-chief of National Lampoon, then spent 20 years reporting for Rolling Stone and The Atlantic Monthly as the world's only trouble-spot humorist, going to wars, riots, rebellions, and other "Holidays in Hell" in more than 40 countries. He's written 16 books on subjects as diverse as politics and cars and etiquette and economics. His book about Washington, Parliament of Whores, and his book about international conflict and crisis, Give War a Chance, both reached #1 on the New York Times best-seller list. He is a contributing editor at The Weekly Standard, H. L. Mencken fellow at the Cato Institute, a member of the editorial board of World Affairs and a regular panelist on NPR's Wait... Wait... Don't Tell Me. He lives with his family in rural New England, as far away from the things he writes about as he can get.
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Larkin Campbell
Actor, Author
What do Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, Clint Eastwood, Sylvester Stallone, Steve Carell and many other A-listers all have in common? Well, besides having a way bigger backyard and a better surround sound system than you and me, they have all shared screen time or worked alongside me, the unknown hero of our story, Larkin Campbell.
Larkin Campbell is a small-town kid at heart and always will be. He was raised in the tiny, but spectacular mountain town of Estes Park, Colorado. He grew up playing stick-ball in the street, performing in high school plays and working on the school newspaper. Him and his band of lunatic friends started a comedic dance group aptly named, “CAMPBELL’S CRAZY CREW”. They performed at high school basketball games, pep rallies and cheerleader camps until they realized nobody was still watching. He moved to Washington to attend Tacoma Community College and lived with his father in a gorgeous little harbor town named Gig Harbor. He studied acting and journalism before transferring east across the state to attend Washington State University. While there, he perfected the art of procrastination and tomfoolery while studying Broadcast Journalism and Theatre. While visiting Los Angeles on spring break of his senior year at WSU, he put in a request for an internship at the hit TV show Entertainment Tonight. His request was granted and upon graduation, he headed for the bright lights of the big city.
He spent many years working as a stand-in and photo double on dozens of big budget movies such as ARMEGEDDON, LETHAL WEAPON 4, MYSTERY MEN, ESCAPE FROM LA, HARD RAIN and dozens more. All the while hustling down agents and casting directors and anyone who would give him a look. He joined the Screen Actors Guild in 1995, and has never stopped chasing down the next role or opportunity. His hard work has paid off in dozens of roles in film and TV. Highlights include guest starring roles on CSI: NY, LAS VEGAS, CRIMINAL MINDS and a bucket list supporting role playing COACH SHANE, opposite Steve Carell and Ed Helms in THE OFFICE. His multiple film career highlights include playing HR HALDEMAN, in the highly acclaimed Clint Eastwood film, J EDGAR. He has written, produced and starred in over 25 short films and video projects which have gone on to win many awards at film festivals all over the country. His work has been published in multiple parenting magazines, describing the life of a stay-at-home-parent, trying to juggle the rigorous life of an actor. He recently chronicled his 30-year career in a hilarious and heartfelt memoir titled, A VIEW FROM THE MIDDLE. How an unknown actor managed to stay that way. Available on AMAZON BOOKS.
Visit Larkin Campbell online at www.larkinsworld.com
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Coal Country! written by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen
Featuring original music written and performed by Grammy Award winner Steve Earle
Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, the creative minds behind the award-winning docudrama The Exonerated, bring their signature style to this strikingly innovative New York Times Critic’s Pick that delves into the aftermath of the West Virginia mine explosion of 2010, highlighting the indomitable resilience of an American community on a quest for justice in this "profound and intensely human story told in an incredibly powerful 90 minutes." (Daily Beast)
Featuring the musical talents of three-time Grammy Award® winner Steve Earle, COAL COUNTRY combines the country and folk legend's "soaring emotional heft and superbly evocative string-picking" (The Hollywood Reporter) with actual first-person accounts from survivors and family members, immortalizing their stories of survival.
For more information, or to request interviews with the performers including Steve Earle, show creators Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, or Theatre West Virginia Executive Director Scott Hill, contact:
Burke Allen (703) 589-8960 burke@allenmediastrategies.com
Ry Levey (647) 781-0818 ryan@allenmediastrategies.com
Shaili Priya (703) 622-3882 shaili@allenmediastrategies.com
Burke Allen/ Shaili Priya Allen Media Strategies +1 703-589-8960
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David Fisher
Author
For more than three decades, David Fisher has been writing about an extraordinary variety of subjects, ranging from major league baseball umpires to Nobel Prize winning biochemists. He is the author of more than 80 books, among them 24 New York Times bestsellers, and has been a frequent contributor to major magazines and newspapers. He is the only writer ever to have a work of non-fiction, a novel and a reference book offered simultaneously by the Book-of-the Month Club.
He began his professional career as a staff writer for the late comedienne Joan Rivers’ syndicated talk show, That Show. From there he joined Life Magazine, when it was still published weekly, becoming the youngest reporter in that magazine’s history, covering primarily sports and youth culture.
For more than three decades, David Fisher has been writing about an extraordinary variety of subjects, ranging from major league baseball umpires to Nobel Prize winning biochemists. He is the author of more than 80 books, among them 24 New York Times bestsellers--co-authored books with Donald Trump, Terry Bradshaw, William Shatner, Johnnie Cochran, Bill O’Reilly, Glenn Beck, Tommy Lasorda, Dan Abrams, and more!
Watch Zoom Into Books Interview HERE
For more information visit http://www.dfisher.com/
Don Bentley
Author
Don Bentley spent a decade as an Army Apache helicopter pilot, and while deployed in Afghanistan was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Air Medal with “V” device for valor. Following his time in the military, Don worked as an FBI special agent focusing on foreign intelligence and counterintelligence and was a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team member.
Don's new book, Tom Clancy: Target Acquired (Jack Ryan Jr Novel) hit the New York Times Best Seller List in it's first week of release.
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Peter Golenbock
Peter Golenbock, one of the nation's best-known sports authors
Peter Golenbock, one of the nation's best-known sports authors, graduated Dartmouth College in 1967 and the NYU School of Law in 1970. He has written seven New York Times bestsellers, including The Bronx Zoo (with Sparky Lyle) and American Prince (with Tony Curtis).
"Anyone who has love for the game of baseball will enjoy this remarkable book." Library Journal, Starred Review
In Whispers of the Gods, bestselling author Peter Golenbock brings to life baseball greats from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s through timeless stories told straight from the players themselves.
Like the enduring classic The Glory of Their Times, this book features the reminiscences of baseball legends, pulled from hundreds of hours of taped interviews with the author. Roy Campanella talks about life in the Negro Leagues before coming up to the Brooklyn Dodgers. Ted Williams recounts why he believes Shoeless Joe Jackson belongs in the Hall of Fame. Tom Sturdivant provides vivid memories of Casey Stengel, Mickey Mantle, and other Yankee icons. Other voices include Phil Rizzuto, Jim Bouton, Monte Irvin, Stan Musial, Ron Santo, Rex Barney, Ellis Clary, Roger Maris, Ed Froelich, Marty Marion, Jim Brosnan, Gene Conley, and Kirby Higbe.
The players interviewed were All-Stars, Hall of Famers, and heroes to many, and their impact on the national pastime is still seen to this day. Baseball history comes alive through the stories shared in Whispers of the Gods, offering a fascinating account of the golden age of baseball.
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Homer Hickam
Author
Homer H. Hickam, Jr. was born on February 19, 1943, the second son of Homer and Elsie Hickam, and was raised in Coalwood, West Virginia. He graduated from Big Creek High School in 1960 and from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) in 1964 with a BS degree in Industrial Engineering.
A U.S. Army veteran, Mr. Hickam served as a First Lieutenant in the Fourth Infantry Division in Vietnam in 1967-1968 where he won the Army Commendation and Bronze Star medals. He served six years on active duty, leaving the service with the rank of Captain.
Hickam's first book was Torpedo Junction about the battle against the U-boats along the American east coast during World War II. A military history best-seller, it was published in 1989 by the Naval Institute Press. In 1998, Delacorte Press published Hickam's second book, Rocket Boys: A Memoir, the story of his life in the little town of Coalwood. It became an instant classic. Rocket Boys has since been translated into many languages and also released as an audio book and electronic book. In February 1999, Universal Studios released its critically-acclaimed film October Sky, based on Rocket Boys (The title October Sky is an anagram of Rocket Boys). Delacorte subsequently released a mass market paperback of Rocket Boys, re-titled October Sky. October Sky reached the New York Times # 1 position on their best-seller list.
Mr. Hickam has since had a very successful writing career with many best-sellers including Back to the Moon, The Coalwood Way, The Keeper's Son, and Carrying Albert Home.
Mr. Hickam was also employed as an engineer for the U.S. Army Missile Command and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He has received many literary awards and honors. Among them are the prestigious University of Alabama's Clarence Cason Award and the Appalachian Heritage Writer's Award for his memoirs and fiction. He also received an honorary Doctorate of Literature from Marshall University.
Mr. Hickam is married to Linda Terry Hickam, an artist and his first editor and assistant. They love their cats and share their time between homes in Alabama and St. John, US Virgin Islands.
Watch Virtual Rocket Boys Conference Here!
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David Selby
Books, Fiction, Contemporary, Drama
David Selby was born and educated in West Virginia. A veteran of stage, screen, and television, including such popular series as "Dark Shadows" and "Falcon Crest", the actor and award winning author's last novel, Promises of Love, won awards at the Paris and Hollywood Book Festivals and an International Reader's Favorite Book Award. In 1989, he was honored as a distinguished alumnus of West Virginia University and was given the first Life Achievement Award from the West Virginia University College of Creative Arts. He received the distinguished West Virginian Award from the state in 2002. For more information, visit DavidSelby.com.
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Landau Eugene Murphy Jr
Biographies / Memoirs
In November 2010, Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr. and his wife Jennifer left their hometown of Logan, WV for New York City, where they stood for over twelve hours outside the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. They were among the thousands of people-young and old, singers, dancers, jugglers, mimes, and more – lined up to audition for NBC’s America’s Got Talent. It would take several more hours for Landau to finally get inside and sing a few bars, and his day grew even longer as he sang for one producer after another. Soon, he was the last one sitting in a huge rehearsal hall. “I knew that was a good sign,” remembers Jennifer.
The rest as they say is history. Despite going from washrags to riches, “I’m still happiest when I’m with my family,” says Landau. “I like it when there is no stress and I’m doing what I want to do-which is to sing.”
Click Here - From Washing Cars to Hollywood Star
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For More Information Visit https://www.landaumurphyjr.com/
Glenn Leonard, Joe Coleman, Joe Blunt
Non-Fiction, Biographies / Memoirs
Leonard, Coleman and Blunt have been around the world and back again several times each as the lead singers of three of the most legendary vocal groups of all time: the Temptations, Platters and Drifters. The three Washington, DC natives have a back-story right out of a Hollywood movie; Leonard, Coleman & Blunt grew up singing together in church and on street corners throughout the 1960s before finding fame and fortune separately, then reuniting after 30 years to harmonize together once again.
Glenn Leonard and his sweet tenor voice joined Motown’s legendary Temptations, recording ten hit albums, touring the world, and singing lead on many of their 1970s and 1980’s R&B hits. Joe Coleman joined the Platters for a two-decade stint as the group’s lead singer in addition to gaining a successful career as a songwriter and playwright. Joe Blunt performed and recorded with the Drifters for over a decade in venues all over the world alongside Ben E. King and Johnny Moore, earning a Lifetime Achievement Award from Sony Records.
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Dreama Denver
Headline Kids, Fiction, West Virginia Authors/Illustrators
Dreama Denver was married for three decades to TV icon Bob Denver, known to millions worldwide as the star of the television classic Gilligan’s Island. The two met when they were cast opposite one another in a theater production, and toured the country for many years performing together. An author and speaker, Dreama keeps Bob’s legacy alive via her work with The Denver Foundation, supporting special needs children and U.S. veterans. This is her first children’s book. Visit www.dreamadenver.com to learn more.
Watch Interview Here - Gilligan's Dreams: The Other Side of the Island
Watch FB Live Book Launch Here
GKG Productions video of my award winning children’s book Four Bears in a Box, incorporating the talents of animation voice acting giant Charlie Adler, Nashville singer/songwriter Delnora Reed Acuff and director Kevin Sizemore. Watch HERE
Gilligan's Dreams eBook Available HERE
Four Bears in a Box eBook Available HERE
Children's Book Discussion with Dreama Denver - YouTube Video
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Don McLeod
Books, Non-Fiction, Biographies / Memoirs
Actor and professional mime, Don McLeod, writes unbelievable stories about his career as gorilla and other fantastic creatures. Famous for his role as the American Tourister gorilla and his appearance as the gorilla in the Eddie Murphy / Don Aykrod / Jamie Lee Curtis movie, “Trading Places” and many other films, Don shares the trials and tribulations of traveling with his gorilla suit, awkward public situations, and much more. Entertaining and enlightening, this memoir gives the reader great respect for those actors who portray non-human characters in the movies!
Kraig Kann
Network Sports Anchor, Radio Host, C-Suite Communications Executive, Business Entrepreneur
As former lead anchor and studio host for NBC Sports’ Golf Channel, Kraig Kann achieved a lifelong dream. He then progressed to Chief Communications Officer for the LPGA and today is a requested speaker, branding consultant, presentation coach and successful entrepreneur; mastering his own brand and empowering others to do the same.
For More Information and to contact the author visit https://kannadvisory.com/
Daniel Boyd
Headline Kids, Fiction, Middle Grade, West Virginia Authors/Illustrators
Daniel Boyd is an acclaimed filmmaker (Chillers, Strangest Dreams, Paradise Park), a two-time television regional Emmy nominee, a multi-nominated graphic novelist (Chillers I & II, CARBON, SALT, and playwright (Paradise Park the Musical, Space Preachers the Musical, Miss Dirt Turtle’s Garden Club Musical.)
A retired media studies professor at West Virginia State University, Boyd also taught around the world including in Tanzania as a three-time Fulbright scholar. He recently retired as Artist in Residence at WV State University’s Economic Development Center.
eBook Miss Dirt Turtle Available HERE
eBook The Adventures of Wandala Available HERE
Jennifer McGill
Actress, Speaker, Worship Leader, Songwriter, Coach, and Inspirational Pop Recording Artist
With over 30 years of showbiz under her belt, she now tells the stories of her rollercoaster ups and downs like never before, as a Speaker, Worship Leader, Songwriter, Coach, and Inspirational Pop Recording Artist. What started as almost a clean sweep of nearly 50 pageant victories from age seven in a small Texas town quickly evolved into seven seasons in Orlando on the Disney Channel’s wildly popular The All-New Mickey Mouse Club in the late ‘80s well into the ‘90s, which Jennifer describes as a sort of “‘Saturday Night Live’ for kids” featuring interviews, skits, variety show-styled razzle dazzle, and of course, loads of singing. A quick internet search shows her performing alongside a slew of internationally renowned stars --Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera-- and throughout a real time conversation, she just as casually mentions how Michael Jackson used to visit the set as a major fan of their show or the time when Celine Dion helped calm her nerves prior to an inauguration performance for President Bill Clinton at the Kennedy Center.
For more information visit https://www.jennifermcgill.com/
Dave Shelton
Headline Kids, Fiction, Middle Grade, West Virginia Authors/Illustrators
Film and television writer/director/cartoonist/voice actor/author/musician
Dave, an award winning film and television writer, cartoonist, author, musician, voice actor and freak nerd, has had his writing compared to the likes of Ray Bradbury and David Lynch and his cartoon work to that of Charles Schulz, one of Dave’s idols. As senior writer and head of cartoons at National Lampoon, he put out two best-selling cartoon collections while handling writing and cartooning for the flagship magazine. He was also involved with Comic Relief. His early work includes art and design for Nickelodeon’s “Double Dare” and MTV and art for Tim Allen and Robert Wuhl’s HBO specials. As a cartoonist and writer for Tiger Beat’s Superteen Magazine he created the popular cartoon Toon Groupies©. Dave is also the creator of the popular Hackidu characters from “Everybody Loves Raymond.”
Dave illustrated the award winning children’s book, The Lemming Shepherds, which is being adapted into a feature film. He also illustrated and helped edit the book Full Frontal Tenudity from famed comedienne Judy Tenuta. Dave’s humor book, Brain Explosion, a collection of his cartoons and writings from his National Lampoon days has become a big seller and is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
His kids TV special, “Professor Creepy’s Scream Party(c),” starring some of horror’s most iconic figures, was one of the most watched specials on Roku for Halloween, 2018. Professor Creepy has secured a deal memo with a national TV network. Dave’s documentary, “From Cheesecake to Cheesecake: The Joy Harmon Story” (WGAw), about the life of 1960s film/TV icon Joy Harmon, has won numerous festival awards around the world.
Dave’s sitcom special, “Against Type,” starring Roland Kickinger (Terminator Salvation), Stephen Furst (Animal House) and ICarly’s Jennette McCurdy, aired domestically in over forty US markets including NBC. His voice work can be heard on the SyFy Channel films “Path of Destruction” and “Lake Placid vs. Anaconda” and in the animated series “Alien House,” co-starring Kim Possible’s, Christy Carlson Romano, and the new series “Cozmo’s.” In October, 2016, Dave’s song, “I am A Zombie,” charted on kids syndicated radio network JenniRadio. Dave also played guitar on the single, “Running,” by actor Larry Thomas (Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi).
Taking a break from crazy LA and proving you don’t have to live there to produce on a major level, Dave relocated to historic Sistersville, West Virginia for a gig as a features and investigative reporter for a newspaper. While there, he began producing and hosting a national horror radio show, Cemetery GoGo(c), on WRSG 91.5 FM out of Tyler County, on Dec. 14th, 2019. It has since become one of the most popular shows on the station. True to his book title, Brain Explosion (which has become a permanent part of the West Virginia library system), Dave has not stopped creating. He has begun an audio podcast on Spotify and has several animated and live action series and film projects also in the pipeline.
Other credits:
Dave has worked with legendary bands Cheap Trick and The Dickies and his cartoon work is part of the Charles M. Schulz (Snoopy) museum in Santa Rosa, CA and the Haig Museum of Cartoons in New York. He is the former song writing partner of the late Albert Hague (Fame, How the Grinch Stole Christmas) and is a direct descendent of Vlad the Impaler (inspiration for Dracula). Dave is an avid golfer and athlete and got to coach basketball with legendary UCLA coach Jim Harrick and former LA Lakers and Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy.
Stephanie Storey
Author
Stephanie Storey is the author of "Raphael, Painter in Rome" and "Oil and Marble: a Novel of Leonardo and Michelangelo," which The New York Times called 'tremendously entertaining,' has been translated into six languages, and is now in development as a feature film by Pioneer Pictures. Storey is also a national television producer of shows like "The Alec Baldwin Show" on ABC, "The Arsenio Hall Show" on CBS, and Emmy-nominated "The Writers' Room" for the Sundance Channel. When not writing fiction or producing television, Storey can usually be found traveling the world with husband Mike Gandolfi--an actor and Emmy-winning comedy writer--in search of their next stories (except during the pandemic when they are sheltering-in-place by a lake). Learn more at StephanieStorey.com