Arts & Culture

By George Olsen

Sand Sharks - Margaret Maron

New Bern, NC – INTRO - Mystery lovers and partisans of the old North State can have two itches scratched at the same time. George Olsen has more.

If you've read any of the 15 books in the Deborah Knott mystery series you may have received a surprise along the way. Join the club.

By George Olsen

Vibes, Straight Up - Steve Hobbs

New Bern, NC – INTRO - Vibraphonist Steve Hobbs of Raleigh has a new CD that seeks to re-inject the South's jazz heritage back into the public perception of jazz. George Olsen has more.

If there's an over-riding theme to how Steve Hobbs chooses tunes to perform, it goes back to his collegiate days.

By George Olsen

Wild Times at the Bed & Biscuit - Joan Carris

New Bern, NC – INTRO - It's children's book number 16 for Beaufort author and Public Radio East commentator Joan Carris with the release of "Wild Times at the Bed & Biscuit." It's a sequel to book number 15 but also shares a common goal with each children's book Joan has authored in her career. George Olsen has more.

By George Olsen

Conquering The Sky: The Secret Flights of the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk - Larry Tise

By George Olsen

The Last Song - Nicholas Sparks

New Bern, NC – INTRO - New Bern author Nicholas Sparks will try to make it nine New York Times #1 fiction bestsellers with the release Tuesday of his latest novel. George Olsen has more.

By George Olsen

Haven - Eliza Lynn

New Bern, NC – INTRO - The Ashville-based singer/songwriter Eliza Lynn recently released her third CD. It does what artists do best in to misquote another artist taking a sad song and making it better. George Olsen recently spoke with the performer about her new disc "Haven" and has this.

Time to Grow - The Lovell Sisters

Calhoun, GA – Free music from The Sound by the Lovell Sisters... Time to Grow.

By George Olsen

Scattered Ashes - Scott Nicholson

New Bern, NC – INTRO - Ten years worth of short stories by a Boone horror writer have been collected under one cover. George Olsen has more.

Scott Nicholson says he's not a violent man, that he couldn't even "kill a chicken." But still

"Sometimes you can get cheap revenge in stories that way. I don't know how many bosses I've killed off in stories."

By George Olsen

"American Spectrum" - North Carolina Symphony

New Bern, NC – INTRO - The North Carolina Symphony and its music director is introducing itself to the international CD buyer with a disc of primarily never-recorded works by American composers. George Olsen has more.

Civil Rights Memorials and the Geography of Memory

New Bern, NC – INTRO - A new book written in part by an East Carolina University geography professor provides an overview of Civil Rights Memorials in the United States and what they say about the ongoing cause of civil rights in this country. George Olsen has more.

By George Olsen

Deepwater - Molasses Creek

New Bern, NC – The members of Molasses Creek celebrated 10 years as a performing unit with the release of their "Deepwater" CD... originally aired in August 2005

By George Olsen

Calm in the Chaos -- Someone's Sister

New Bern, NC – INTRO - As much as the Greenville band Someone's Sister is about music, they're also just as much about mission which comes out on their new CD release. George Olsen has more.

By George Olsen

The Long Ride Home -- James Dunn

New Bern, NC – INTRO - Most people dream of a life in the spotlight, and when that doesn't come about settle into the work-a-day life. A musical late bloomer is trying the opposite tack. George Olsen talked with Raleigh's James Dunn about his latest CD and has this.

By Marion Blackburn

Strangers in the Night... commentary from Marion Blackburn

Greenville, NC – As the season changes, regular commentator Marion Blackburn is saying 'So Long' to those unexpected encounters that happen under the blazing sun.

By George Olsen

The Lucky One - Nicholas Sparks

New Bern, NC – INTRO - New Bern author Nicholas Sparks has just released his 15th novel The Lucky One. Like his other writing, it's a love story, but unlike the bulk of his work it takes place amidst current world events. George Olsen has more.

By Marion Blackburn

New Bern, NC – You would think as a freelance writer, Marion Blackburn wouldn't encounter many prima donnas. But, she spends most of her time with them.

By George Olsen

The Last Days of Black Beard the Pirate - Kevin Duffus

New Bern, NC – INTRO - On the cover of the new book by Raleigh author Kevin Duffus The Last Days of Black Beard the Pirate is the line Within Every Legend Lies a Grain of Truth, pointing toward what Duffus believes are some vast differences between the actual history of Black Beard and the history we grew up with. George Olsen spoke with the author and has this.

By George Olsen

A Thousand Curses upon Love -- Jennifer Licko

By George Olsen

The Rising Shore - Roanoke -- Deborah Homsher

New Bern, NC –
INTRO - A new piece of historical fiction examines the legend of the Lost Colony, working off of historical record to create a narrative of what brought them to the North Carolina shore and what happened once they got there. George Olsen has more.

Some historical fiction can be easier than others. The more recent the time, the more records there are to build your story around.

By Ana Gonzalez-Porto

New Bern, NC – Fidel Castro recently resigned as President of Cuba. For thousands of Cuban exiles who escaped Castro's Communist rule, the resignation was a dream that would never come true. Ana Gonzalez-Porto was five years old when she and her family fled Cuba.