Tomorrow on Kitchen Chat: Lis Wiehl

We're thrilled to have Lis Wiehl on the show this week - just a fascinating woman! Be sure to call in with your questions 1-877-864-4869. Or leave them them HERE!

Lis will be chatting about her latest book, Hand of Fate.

Hand of Fate is a Triple Threat Novel - and follows on the super successful heals of Face of Betrayal. When the host of a popular radio talk show is murdered, the suspects almost outnumber his millions of listeners.

Outspoken radio talk show host Jim Fate dies tragically when poisonous gas fills the studio while his polarizing show, “The Hand of Fate,” is on air.

In the ensuing panic, police evacuate downtown Portland--and the triple threat of FBI Special Agent Nicole Hedges, crime reporter Cassidy Shaw and Federal Prosecutor Allison Pierce begin piecing together the madness, motive, and the mystery of what just happened. And this time it’s personal since one of the women was secretly dating the host and has access to his home...as well as possible evidence.

In the days following Fate’s murder, these three colleagues and friends must confront a betrayal within the team while unearthing the not-so-public life of Jim Fate. Together, they must uncover the stunning truth of who killed him, how close the killer really is, and the twisted motive for this cold-blooded murder.

About Lis:

Lis Wiehl is one of the nation’s most prominent trial lawyers and highly regarded commentators. Currently, hafshe is the legal analyst and reporter on the Fox News Channel and Bill O’Reilly’s sparring partner in the weekly “Is It Legal?” segment on The O’Reilly Factor. Prior to that she was O’Reilly’s co-host on the nationally syndicated show The Radio Factor. She is also a Professor of Law at New York Law School. Her column “Lis on Law” appears weekly on FoxNews.com.

Prior to joining Fox News Channel in New York City, Wiehl served as a legal analyst and reporter for NBC News and NPR’s All Things Considered. Before that, Wiehl served as a Federal Prosecutor in the United States Attorney’s office.

Wiehl earned her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School and her Master of Arts in Literature from the University of Queensland.

Wiehl is also the author of The 51% Minority, which won the 2008 award for Books for a Better Life in the motivational category, and Winning Every Time.

She lives with her husband, CBS CBS Early Show analyst, Mickey Sherman, and two children in New York. For more about Lis, please visit her website at http://www.liswiehlbooks.com/.

Join Margaret every Friday at 11:00 CST for Kitchen Chat!

It's American Idol Week on Kitchen Chat!!!

I'm thrilled to interviewing American Idols this week on Kitchen Chat! Be sure to tune in tomorrow at 11:00 am Central for all the inside scoop and to find out what the pat Idols are up to now!

Our first guest will be Carole MacIntyre!

Carole MacIntyre, mother of Season 8 Idol, Scott McIntyre, was born in Colorado and grew up in Redondo Beach, California. She was raised in an airline family and from an early age loved to travel. She has also lived in Toronto, Canada and now resides in Scottsdale Arizona. A graduate of Biola University in Southern California, she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, minor in Bible, she also attended California State University Long Beach for a minor in Computer Science and Community College in Southern California. She was an exchange student in Japan, and later spent 6 months with the Christian organization Youth with a Mission in Hawaii. She has been married to her dear husband for 28 years. (Both she and her husband were contestants on Family Feud before they were married which, when they both found out about this coincidence, is what sealed the deal and they decided they should definitely get married!).

Carole has three children, (two are special-needs/ blind), all of whom she home educated in the US and Canada for 19 years from Kindergarten through High School. Both her two eldest sons graduated from University Summa cum Laude at 19 years old with Bachelor’s degrees; the eldest son in Piano Performance, and her second son in Musical Theatre and Economics. Recently her youngest 18 yr old daughter moved to Southern California, and attends Biola University on scholarship in Vocal Performance, while her 21 yr old son Todd relocated to Japan and is working as a lead singer/actor for Tokyo Disney. Her eldest, Scott received his masters degree from the Royal College of Music in London England, as a Marshall Scholar, a Fulbright Scholar for the UK, a Rhodes Scholar finalist and USA Today All Academic First team 2005. Carole enjoys lecturing and performing for organizations in the US and Canada including Home-School organizations, the Mayo Clinic, Braille Institute of Los Angeles, Canadian National Institute for the Blind, The Ontario Provincial Ministry of Education, colleges, churches, and charities. She and her husband and daughter have testified in front of the Arizona House and Senate Education Committees with regards to Homeschooling Disabled Children.

Carole recently assisted her son Scott as sighted guide throughout his year and a half long American Idol journey, living in a BelAire mansion and out of a suitcase for over 6 months - even sleeping on the guys tour bus as they travelled through 52 cities on tour. She has been interviewed on the “Today” show in NYC and danced on the American Idol Stage for the Tour Finale. Additionally, she has traveled as alto in the US, Canada and Japan with the "MacIntyre Family Singers" with performance highlights being ticketed concerts at the Kennedy Center in Wash. DC and Tokyo Billboard Live! in Japan. She is a licensed Realtor in the state of Arizona and works in promotion and management with Scott’s music Career and the release of his new album "Heartstrings" announced on American Idol. Carole’s heart is to share her wealth of practical knowledge and encourage parents in their progression of raising their children.
www.twitter.com/idolmom.

Tune in for Jessica Sierra during the second half of our show:
Known for her jaw-dropping performances on the TV phenomenon _American Idol _(FOX), singer/songwriter Jessica Sierra tenacity. After departing _Idol_, Sierra was riddled with constant media attention and controversy. Nearly swallowed up by the severe public scrutiny that followed, it was Sierra's heartfelt passion for music and undeniable strength that enabled her to find her true voice. With the upcoming release of her new single, "Enough," Sierra will once again share her incredible talents with fans and critics alike. Drawing upon the many ups and downs Sierra has experienced in her life, the single stands as an emotional declaration of power and resilience, and paves the way for her highly-anticipated album (Summer 2010).

Since the age of three, Tampa, FL native Jessica Sierra has had an undeniable talent and passion for singing. She began to realize her dreams at only 17 years-old, stunning the audience of CBS' _Star Search_ with her vocal range. Re-emerging three years later, Sierra became one of the stars on Season 4 of _American Idol_. Described by judge Simon Cowell as one of the strongest female vocalists in the competition, she finished in the Top Ten. Following the show, Sierra sang on the 44-city, sold-out arena tour with fellow _American Idol_ contestants, including Bo Bice, Constantine Maroulis and Carrie Underwood. Singing all over the world in unique places such as Kazakhstan, Sierra has had many memorable moments including performing for the U.S. troops in Iraq and Kuwait. Her popular single, "Total Eclipse of the Heart," is featured on the certified-Gold-album, "The American Idol Showstoppers."

After run-ins with the law, the media quickly targeted Sierra as the "bad girl," of Hollywood. Realizing that millions of fans looked to her as a role model, Sierra knew she had to take action. In 2008, Sierra joined Dr. Drew Pinsky for VH-1's _Celebrity Rehab_, where she underwent the grueling healing process with other troubled celebs. With the help of Dr. Drew, Sierra made a full recovery and triumphantly returned to her music. After her treatment, she released her "Deepest Secrets" EP featuring the hit single, "Unbroken."

With two years of sobriety under her belt and the birth of her first child, Kayden, in December of 2009, Jessica Sierra is a new woman. Volunteering at the Santa Anita Family Services Center in Monrovia, CA, Sierra works as a mentor for children motivating them to stay away from the path she once traveled. Currently living in Los Angeles, Sierra continues to embody the spirit of a courageous winner, soaring above her mistakes to new heights of success.

AND Carole has shared a yummy recipe for Dolmates with us. I'm making my shopping list right now! Check it out {HERE}.

Join Margaret every Friday at 11:00 CST for Kitchen Chat!

This week on Kitchen Chat: Jill Hart and Mary Byers

I'm excited to introduce you to our guests this week: The Work at Home Gals! Both Jill Hart and Mary Byers have successfully navigated the Work At Home waters. We'll be talking about business strategies, what worked for them, what didn't work and of course FOOD! Busy moms on the go are desperate to find recipes for good food, fast! So don't miss the show on Friday, May 14th.



About The Work at Home Gals: Most Businesses Fail Within the First Five Years

Here’s a simple secret that can make YOURS a success!

For your business to succeed you need to find a specific need and fill it. Successful business owners are very focused and many (if not all) have a mentor they can turn to with questions and challenges.

If you work from home—or want to—the Work at Home Girls can be your mentors. Together, Jill Hart and Mary Byers have over 20 years combined experience running a business from home. One is a techie (Jill, founder of Christian Work at Home Moms and author of So You Want to be a Work-at-Home Mom) and the other is a wordsmith (Mary, freelance editor and author of five books, including Making Work at Home Work). They’ve teamed up to share what they wish mentors had shared with them when they started their businesses over a decade ago. Check out the 'Gals' webinars at the website.

About Jill Hart: Jill Hart is the founder of Christian Work at Home Moms, and co-author of So You Want To Be a Work-At-Home Mom. Jill is the co-host of the live internet radio show, “The CWAHM Network,” and the publisher of RadiantLit.com.

Jill has published many articles on sites like DrLaura.com and MomLogic.com. She is a contributing author in Laundry Tales, The Business Mom Guide Book, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, and Faith Deployed.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies. She resides in Nebraska with her husband and their two children. For more about Jill visit her website: www.cwahm.com

About Mary Byers: Mary M. Byers successfully juggles both a freelance writing and speaking business and her responsibilities as a wife and mother of two school-aged children.

She is the author of Making Work at Home Work, The Mother Load: How to Meet Your Own Needs While Caring for Your Family and How to Say No . . . And Live to Tell about It.

She is also a columnist for two professional trade journals and edits two others. Byers lives in Chatham, Illinois. Learn more about Mary at her website: www.marybyers.com

Join Margaret every Friday at 11:00 CST for Kitchen Chat!

Guest Blogger ... Beth Pattillo

4 Things I Learned from Jane Seymour or My Night of Glamour

at the Morgan Library and Museum

On February 8, I had the chance to experience every author’s dream. My publisher, Guideposts Books, hosted a fabulous launch party in New York City for my newest book, Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart. The evening event – a cocktail reception and reading – surpassed all my wildest expectations. (Watch a video montage of the event here: http://bit.ly/cqO8s0.)

When Carl Raymond, the marketing director, told me the guest of honor for the night would be Jane Seymour, I did my best not to faint. I do confess that I cried a little. Can you think of a more iconic figure when it comes to romance than Ms. Seymour?

Now, I live in Nashville, and I routinely see famous people at Starbucks, the grocery store, soccer games, etc. But this was my first up-close-and-personal moment with a genuine star. I decided before the evening even started that I was going to watch and learn from Jane Seymour. She has been an actress, artist, and mother (among other things) over a long span of time. I wanted to know the secret to her continued success. What I observed is good advice for writers but also for anyone who wants to present themselves in a positive light.

So here’s what I learned from my evening observing Jane Seymour:

Be gracious. Jane Seymour engaged everyone who was introduced to her. She paid attention to them. She smiled. She was patient with their questions and especially with me, in my moment of fangirl delirium, when I told her that one of the best moments of my life was having the huge movie theatre to myself during a screening of “Somewhere in Time.”

Be prepared. Ms. Seymour knew she would be asked a lot of Jane Austen-related questions, since she was helping to promote my book. She had ready answers for interviewers and party-goers who wanted to know when she first read Jane Austen (“at school”) and what she had in common with the great author (they were both one-time residents of Bath). Her reading of the first chapter of Pride and Prejudice left everyone wanting more.

Be polished. I expected that Jane Seymour would look like a million bucks, and I wasn’t wrong. I was especially impressed by her off-white dress with a short-sleeved jacket. I assumed it was a designer outfit until I was back in Nashville, shopping at Macy’s, and saw it on the rack there. It was a moderately priced dress from Jones New York, one of my favorite brands. So that’s proof that looking polished doesn’t have to have an extravagant price tag!

Be yourself. Ms. Seymour was at her most charming when she was showing us photos of her paintings on her iPod Touch. Like most artists (and writers!), she was both proud of her work and a little vulnerable when it came to others’ response to it. One of the things I most admire her is that she pursues the things she loves with lots of energy. Like most of us, she juggles a lot of roles.

So I’m back home now, trying to be gracious, prepared, polished, and myself with sometimes mixed results. But an amazing event like this book launch was not only a celebration – it was a great learning experience. I hope I have the opportunity for more!

________________________________________

Beth Pattillo currently resides in Nashville, Tenn., with her husband and two children. Her passion for all-things Jane Austen began when she studied abroad for a semester at the University of London, Westfield College. She has made regular trips across the pond for the past 20 years, the most recent of which took her on a pilgrimage through Hampshire, where she visited many of the sites featured in her popular book, Jane Austen Ruined My Life. Pattillo is also the author of The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society (WaterBrook Press, 2008), Earth to Betsy (WaterBrook, 2006) and Heavens to Betsy (WaterBrook, 2005), for which she was awarded the RWA RITA (Romance Writer’s Association) award for Best Inspirational Romance.

Tomorrow on Kitchen Chat: Dallas Woodburn

I can't wait for you to meet our guest tomorrow! At the ripe old age of 22 she has dedicated her life to making a difference in the lives of others! She is so inspiring. She has created an orgainization called Write On Books which is dedicated to encouraging kids to discover joy, confidence, and a means of self-expression and connection to others through reading and writing endeavors.

Dallas is a 2009 summa cum laude graduate of the University of Southern California with a B.A. in Creative Writing and a minor in Entrepreneurship. She published her first book, There's a Huge Pimple On My Nose, when she was ten years old, and has been hooked on writing ever since. She is the author of a second story collection, 3 a.m., and has signed with a New York literary agent to represent her first novel manuscript.

Dallas Woodburn, 22, is the author of two award-winning collections of short stories and a forthcoming novel. Her short fiction has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and has appeared in numerous literary journals including Monkeybicycle, The Newport Review, and flashquake. She has also written articles and essays for Family Circle, Writer's Digest, Motherwords, The Los Angeles Times, and eight Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Dallas is the founder of Write On! For Literacy, an organization that encourages kids to discover confidence, joy, self-expression and connection to others through reading and writing. She teaches writing workshops, holds essay contests, and organizes an annual Holiday Book Drive that has donated more than 11,000 new books to underprivileged youth. Her latest endeavor is starting a publishing company, Write On! Books, that publishes anthologies of short stories, essays, and poetry written entirely by young writers. The first anthology, Dancing With The Pen, features more than sixty young writers from all across the U.S. and is scheduled to be released this summer. Learn more at www.writeonbooks.org and http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/

Dallas has shared this scumptuous cookie recipe with us!

Magic Cookie Bars

1 stick melted butter
1 cup crushed graham crackers
1 cup chocolate chips
1 and 1/3 cup coconut
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a 9x13 inch pan, pour the melted butter to cover the bottom. Crush graham crackers in a plastic baggie, then pour into the pan in a thin, even layer. Add a layer of chocolate chips, a layer of pecans, and then a layer of coconut. Pour the can of sweetened condensed milk evenly onto the coconut. Bake for 25 minutes. When cool, cut into bars.

Join Margaret every Friday at 11:00 CST for Kitchen Chat!

Guest Blogger ... Bonnie St. John

I'm sitting here in my cabin in the Catskills mulling over the the kinds of questions I am asked as I travel around the country. There are several that keep coming up, but the one I get most often goes like this: "I'm interested in writing a book and speaking. Can you give me some advice?"

This question keeps coming up from a variety of people I know - senior executives, business owners, government officials, non-profit executives, college professionals, and even a major magazine editor! Just in the last two weeks, I've been approached by senior leaders in pharma, finance, government, and insurance. They all want me to help them crack the code for doing what I do - either as a new career or just to enhance their current stature. I always want to answer this question, but I know it takes more than a brief discussion at a cocktail party or even an hour long meeting. If you're serious about this, you need to know how to position your message, how to get an agent, how to write an effective book proposal, develop a marketing plan etc. All the stuff I wish I had known when I got started!

So for the last two summers, I have gathered a small group of my friends and actually sat down with them to go through all this in practical ways that have been really helpful for them. While I do one-to-one coaching on this, the group dynamic (with a few talented people) actually spurs individual creativity. As I sit here, gazing out over the lush springtime blossoms on the mountains, it occurred to me that this would be a great place to come together for this kind of discussion. So, I was wondering if you wanted to join me up here this summer to swing on the porch, walk in the woods, and sit by a campfire while we delve into the lessons I've learned in my 15+ years of doing this. If you do, just email me to let me know--I'll get in touch with you so we can make a plan. Even if you don't think a trip to the Catskills will work into your summer schedule, I might be able to link you in virtually so you don't miss the discussion. Let's talk!

The book I'm currently writing with Darcy is coming along even better than we ever imagined. Since I last sent you an update, we've met with Hillary Clinton, fashion designer Eileen Fisher, Deloitte Chairman Sharon Allen, and Condoleezza Rice. The insights we've gotten into their lives have taught us life-changing lessons about becoming a leader, dealing with high-profile
pressure, and the importance of having women in leadership roles. We grow and enjoy life so much through writing--it's why I want my friends to be able to do it, too! Last week, for example, we got to hang out with EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson backstage in the green room as she was about to appear on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart for Earth Day. Lisa is a
fascinating person to talk to and Jon Stewart, who burst in on us, was hysterically funny even off camera (big surprise!).

By the way, in April I also got to go to the White House with the Vancouver Olympians and Paralympians--I hugged the President and Michelle as well as Joe and Jill Biden. Life sure is amazing sometimes!

Don't forget to email me (bonnie AT bonniestjohn DOT com) if you want to find out more about joining me this summer (literally or virtually) to talk books and speaking. I need to get an idea of the dates that work for you and what you most want to know. I have to keep the group very small so that I can give personalized support and advice, so please let me know as soon as you can if you want to be included.

Cheers,

Bonnie