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Sumi Mukherjee
Author and Speaker Sumi Mukherjee published his first book titled “A Life Interrupted – the story of my battle with bullying and obsessive compulsive disorder” in July 2011. A new version of his book was published by Mountain Springs House in Jan 2014. His second book, published by Mountain Springs House in July 2014, is titled “Father Figure – my mission to prevent child sexual abuse”. His third book titled “How to stand up to workplace bullying and take on an unjust employer” was published by Marfa House in Jan 2017. His fourth and the newest book titled “Minority Viewpoint – my experience, as a person of color, with the American Justice System” was published by Crimson Sparrow in December 2020. Since October of 2011, Sumi has been speaking to hundreds of people around the country so others can benefit from his stories. Sumi has spoken to mental health professionals, caregivers, service providers, students, teachers, counselors, administrators, social workers, parents, and the general audience. He has spoken at schools, colleges, religious organizations, bullying prevention conferences, other professional conferences, domestic violence/sexual abuse/mental health awareness events.
Kacey Kowars
My first book,”A Celebration of Words”, is the result of a life-long love affair with books. I have always had an unnatural attraction to books. I started my website, www.kaceykowarsshow.com in June 2004 at the age of 47. I had spent the past 25 years working as a stockbroker. I created a website that offers 30-40 minute ‘live interviews’ with authors. The website is a labor of love- I have never made a penny from it (in fact I have spent thousands of dollars developing and maintaining it).
I knew I had to have a strong opening line-up to establish my weekly audience. I attended the Sewannee Writer’s Conference (held each July) on six occasions. The first four as a writer, the second two as an interviewer. I studied with Tim O’Brien, Alice McDermott, Ernest Gaines, Horton Foote, and many other talented writers. In 2002 Ernest Gaines told me that I had become a talented writer, that I did not need to come back anymore. I was thrilled, but was unwilling to take the risk of leaving a career I loved to pursue my writing career.
In 2003 the seeds of The Kacey Kowars Show began to grow in my mind. I decided to use my contacts, mt love of reading, and my marketing skills to create a new ‘genre’. My first guests were Andre Dubus lll, Nelson DeMille, Tim O’Brien, and the poet Anthony Hecht, and Lee Child. I offered listeners the chance to listen to their favorite writers discuss the craft of writing. The website grew beyond my wildest dreams.
In 2005 I began interviewing my literary heroes: Michael Connelly, James Lee Burke, Lee Child, Alice Hoffman, Harlan Coben, Robert Crais, Jeannette Walls, David Baldacci, and many others. I developed relationships with publicists and timed my interviews to coincide with the release dates of the authors I interviewed. The rest is history. I interviewed Michael Connelly twice in 2005. We discussed “The Closers” in the spring, then talked about “The Lincoln Lawyer” in the fall. We talked about Harry Bosch and Mickey Haller. Neither of us could have imagined that “Bosch” would become the first Amazon Prime original (because it did not exist). My interviews were listened to all over the world, and author’s began using the audio interviews on their own websites.
In 2008 I made a career change and moved to Orlando, Florida to become an English teacher at the age of 50. Smartest move I ever made. I teach 17 year old students how to read and write, and I love it. I slowed down on the number of interviews I did on my website out of necessity.
Three years ago I began writing my stories about meeting Michael Connelly, James Lee Burke, and my literary hero, Andre Dubus. I corresponded with Mr. Dubus for 15 years, from 1984 until his death in 1999. An essay I wrote about our relationship was published in a book of tributes published by Xavier Review Press in 2001.I integrated excerpts from my interviews and wove these interviews into the story of how I developed relationships with these three writers. I also included the relationship I developed with Andre Dubus lll into the essay about his father. The book is filled with anecdotes from my literary journey. One of my favorites is when Michael Connelly came to my school and taught my classes for a day in 2009.
“A Celebration of Words” is published as a paperback, an ebook, and as three separate downloadable essays. I have begun work on Volume Two that will be published in 2018. The second volume will follow the same format. I am currently working on an essay about Jeannette
Walls, the author of “The Glass Castle”. I interviewed Ms. Walls in 2006.
All net proceeds from my books and essays will go to fund literacy programs in Central Florida. I am working closely with local community leaders to help develop programs to help our children where it most needed.
I asked James Lee Burke for a ‘blurb’ for the book. Here is what he sent me:
“Thanks, Kacey for the great tribute. It has been an honor to be interviewed by you all these years. You stand behind your authors, partner. I like to think that our bunch is a bit like Wyatt and Doc and Virgil and Morgan strolling down to the O.K Corral in order to chat up the Clantons. Thanks for having me aboard. Keep on rocking in E-major, your bud out in Old Montana”-
-James Lee Burke
My goal is to continue to promote literacy and support authors. I appreciate your support.