Books du Jour, "Of Power and Executives," #103, 03-17-14

EPISODE #103  “Of Power and Executives” broadcasting tonight 03-17-14, on LIFE 25 at 9:30 pm. 

This week host, Frederic Colier, looks into the nature of executive power and the power of executives.  His first guest is Mike Offit, “Nothing Personal,” a first time thriller writer who wrote a coming of age story about a wiz kid on Wall Street who learns how far he can get away with the power he has been entrusted with.

Historian Harlow Giles Unger looks at George Washington’s presidency and the US constitution that left him pretty much a lame duck to rule in “Mr. President.”  To pursue his own agenda Washington made ample use of his executive power and set up a precedent for all the presidents thereafter.

Finally, Judith Glaser “Conversational Intelligence” deals with a new aspect of the digital society where the hierarchical power structure is quickly eroding, and communication no longer works from the top down.

The Books du Jour  and Book Case Team

Books du Jour, "Give Peace Freedom," EP #102, 03-10-14

Dear All,

Books du Jour, EP #102, "Give Peace Freedom,"  will broadcast tonight on LIFE 25 at 9:30 Pm. 

This week, host, Frederic Colier, invites Lodro Rinzler, “Walk Like a Buddha” .  Director of the Center for Compassion, Lodro tackles the everyday issues normally not discussed in spiritual circles.  What about drinking, smoking and sexual desires? 

Stanton Peele, “Recover” goes against the 12-step program and discusses his PERFECT program, which empowers substance addicted individuals.  Stanton teaches personal responsibility and self-acceptance. 

Finally Billy Hayes, the very maverick who wrote the story of his ordeal in Turkish prison, “Midnight Express, comes back with “The Midnight Express Letters,” a book about the letters he wrote while in jail and which show his individual grow and spiritual journey.

As always we look forward to your feedback and support. 

The Books du Jour Team

Books du Jour, World Premiere 03-03-14 on LIFE 25, "Across the Universe and Back," #101

Dear All,

The team of BCTV is pleased to announce that our new literary TV series, Books du Jour, will premiere tonight on LIFE 25 (TWC) at 9: 30 pm.  While Frank Debonair is gathering new cases to investigate for "Book Case TV," we thought in the meantime that we would come up with a new exciting format to promote the publishing industry and its massive rank of authors.  We created "Books du Jour" in a co-production with NYC Media and landed a nine-episode deal for a first season.

"Books du Jour" has a simple premise: the host, Frederic Colier, invites three authors to lunch to talk about their books and life at large in one of Manhattan's finest restaurants. 

The first episode, "Across the Universe and Back," shot at the Riverpark restaurant, overlooking the East river, had on its menu, Joshua Henkin (The World Without You), Ayana Mathis (The Twelve Tribes of Hattie), and Gary Shteyngart (Little Failure: a Memoir).

We understand that 30 minutes is not much time to have lunch and appreciate the food, but the guests had fun, and no one complained about bad indigestion.

We need your support and feedback as we migrate quickly towards syndication.

The Books du Jour and the BCTV Teams

"People in Strange Lands," EP #314

Episode #14                        “People in Strange Lands”

Broadcasting Feb 10^th, 2014. on LIFE 25 (channel 25 on TWC)

This week Frank Debonair investigates the fascination that some crime writers have with dark psychological characters.  What does it mean to write about the dark corners of the human mind?  Are these new grounds to gain a better insight into our psyche?  Do they say something about our true nature? Or are they a reflection of society at large?

Crime authors Andrew Gross, Mark Rubenstein, T. Jefferson Parker, Linwood Barclay, and Jon Land undergo extensive cross-analysis under Frederic Colier's razor-sharp curiosity.

The last Pick Of The Week of the season takes a different turn and showcases books by authors whose characters are trapped in existential and moral dilemmas: Daniel Woodrell, “The Maid’s Version.”  Martin Fletcher, “Jacob’s Oath.”  Andre Dubus III, “Dirty Love.”  And Javier Marias, “The Infatuations.

As always thank you for your support.

The Book Case Team

"In the Dustbin of History" EP#313

Episode #313                        “In the Dustbin of History”

Broadcasting Feb 3, 2014, NYC Life at 9:30 pm

We are resuming our series for the first time this year with an episode on historical thrillers. Frank Debonair notices that the dustbins of history are replete with losers, merely because the winners of conflicts get to write the history books and dispose of their opponents in the dustbins of history.  But Frank is interested in history writers, their weight, how their narration shapes consciousness and society, and how it becomes the material for countless thrillers.  What right do they have to question the past? Can their audacity teach us something? Or can history first of all teach us anything?

 The Interview segments shot at Thriller Fest include Steve Berry, Alan Topol, Greg Dinallo, and Michael Gear and Kathleen O’Neal, and Andrew Kaplan.

For the Pick of the Week, Frank Debonair settles for an anthology special.  He features Elena Shubina, editor of “Read Russia;”  Otto Penzler, for “Kwik Krimes,”  Gardner Dozois,  for “The Year’s Best Science Fiction,” and David Henry Sterry & R.J. Martin Jr., for “Johns, Marks, Tricks, and Chickenhawks.”

The Book Case Team

"Tougher Than Mothers" Ep #312 Dec 2nd at 9: 30 pm, Life 25

Episode #312  "Tougher Than Mothers."

Tonight at 9: 30 pm on NYC Life, channel 25, Dec 2nd, 2013

Frank Debonair talks about alternative voices. What are they in an age when the Civil Rights movement no longer occupies the headlines of news?   What are the new trends?  What does “coming out” mean? Is it still relevant in those days of gay rights?  Can a male writer truly impersonate a female character?  What about women who meddle in men’s territories, such as war? What kind of writers are they?

To find out our Private Book Investigator interviews:  Christopher Shinn, about his new play “Teddy Ferrara;” Deborah Copaken Kogan, about her modern version of Harvard “The Red Book," and Alan Jacobson, “No Way Out,” a new Karen Vail story.

 
The Book Worlds segment is a special on actor-turned-playwright-turned-author: Jason Odell Williams, and his first YA novel, "Personal Statement."

Molly Haskell, “My Brother, My Sister;” Dr. Joe Wenke “Papal Bull;” Lionel Shriver, “Big Brother;”  Norman E. Rosenthal, “The Gift of Adversity,” are this week part of the Pick of The Week.

The Book Case Team