Movin' Forward
Writing is my true love, but I've flirted with television and radio.
Starting in February, I'm taking up with radio again. I'll host the "Dead End Jobs Show" on Radio Ear Network. The show, named for my mystery series, is a half-hour talk show about the extraordinary secrets of ordinary jobs, along with offbeat, unusual jobs.
We start taping the radio shows January 18-20.
My first guests include a career server who'll talk about "the Boca cocktail." An urban farmer who grows veggies on blighted land in Fort Lauderdale. His city farms employ local low-income residents.
A historian will talk about a week most people have forgotten – or can't remember. She'll discuss the history of Spring Break, going back to the days when Grandpa got trashed.
The "Dead End Jobs Show" will have a new guest each week. Some guests will sound like old friends, because they are. Big Al the Pizza Dude will tell you about the Dirty Dollar and more insider tips about pizza delivery. He'll be anonymous, but you'll recognize the wit and worldly wisdom of a popular back blogger.
TLC's own Harley Jane Kozak will talk about the ultimate Dead-End Job – how she was killed in a soap opera and became an international sensation.
Radio Ear Network (REN) brings innovative talk and independent music to 6 million listeners around the globe. This is Internet radio, which is even more fun than terrestrial radio.
Talk about easy listening. You can listen to my shows on your computer at radioearnetwork.com
You can click on this link for a podcast. http://www.mixcloud.com/tag/elaine-viets/
I won't be "in the cloud" until the show starts in February. But Doc in CA is right. Podcasts are a blast.
Listen to REN on iTunes Radio, iPod, iPhone, as well as your Nook, Kindle, iPad and other media devices. http://www.encountersouthbeach.com/Cell1.htm
I love the times for my "Dead End Jobs Show." Each week, it's on Mondays at 1 p.m. EST / 6 p.m. GMT. Then it repeats Tuesdays at 10 a.m. GMT / 5 a.m. EST and Wednesdays at 6 p.m. EST / 12 a.m. GMT
GMT is Greenwich Mean Time in England. Is that cool or what?
I have a producer, a luxury in radio. Joseph Dobzynski is more than my show's producer – he's the network CEO and has his own show, "A Cup of Joe." I'm looking forward to learning from a real pro. Joseph asks questions that make his guests want to talk.
You'll find his show, and REN's European and North American schedules, here: http://www.encountersouthbeach.com/
REN isn't garage radio. It's part of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, a network with members in 115 countries including many NPR, AIR and public broadcast stations.
Besides the "Dead End Jobs Show" I'll keep writing my two mystery series, the Dead-End Job and the Josie Marcus Mystery Shopper novels.
And I'm still blogging. I was as stunned as you when I got an e-mail from Sarah that she and Nancy M. were pulling the plug on TLC. I didn't want TLC to end. I offered to keep it going.
But Sarah had more reasons for ending TLC, including, "Nancy is pretty firm about this. She wants it over. She wants TLC retired – for now. And that's another thing. Should Nancy sometime in the future decide to restart TLC again, she should have that option, right? I mean, she was the one who came up with this almost a decade ago and so it's hers to do with as she likes. If she wanted anyone else to run it under the name TLC or TLC2 I think she would. But she really doesn't and I think we have to respect that. After all, she put a hell of a lot of work into it in the beginning. It's her baby.
"Lastly," Sarah said, "it seems to me that if you already have a steady base of readers who return to read your blogs that you can either direct them to one of your existing blogs or start a new one, right? In fact, this might open up a whole new opportunity to bring in new eyes."
Sarah is right. I already blog for the Femmes Fatales. You've heard of Charlaine Harris, creator of Sookie Stackhouse. If you read the Femmes Fatales blog, you'll get to know her as the superstar next door.
Femmes Dana Cameron, Donna Andrews and Toni L. P. Kelner have guest-blogged for TLC. I don't have to tell you about Hank Phillippi Ryan. If you don't know Femmes authors Mary Saums or Kris Neri, you're missing a treat.
So come on over to the Femmes Fatales at http://www.femmesfatales.typepad.com/
Turn on your computer and catch me on radioearnetwork.com. If you know a lively radio show guest email me at eviets@aol.com.
Follow me on Facebook as "Elaine Viets" and on Twitter @elaineviets.
If you have trouble finding the "Dead End Jobs Show," if you want to get my infrequent e-newsletter, or my email blasts, email me at eviets@aol.com. 
You'll be hearing from me – and I hope I'll hear from you.
