June 15, the release date of the book, officially kicked off a media tour for the book. Below are links to all of the book tour events, as well as all media coverage on The Weight of Silence including newspapers, magazines, radio, websites and blogs. All times are Central Standard.
Click here to read Book Reviews for The Weight of Silence! You can also view all Weight of Silence events on facebook.
October 2009
1: KOOP Radio 91.7 interviewed Shelley and Caroline Boudreaux, founder of The Miracle Foundation, on the hour-long program “Idea Lounge” with host Khotan Harmon.
2: Wandering Educators features a Q&A with Shelley about Volunteer Travel. Find out what voluntourism is all about, what it’s like to volunteer in India, and her experiences with the beautiful children there.
10: Peter Greenberg’s Worldwide Travel – Radio Show, 11:40 am. Join author Shelley Seale as she is the guest on the nationally syndicated Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio show. Peter is one of the most well-known travel journalists; he is the Travel Editor for CBS News, and appears on The Early Show and across many CBS broadcast platforms. An Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter and producer, Peter was named one of the most influential people in the travel by Travel Weekly, along with Al Gore, Bill Marriott and Richard Branson.
22: Take On Life Now – Mark Lewis’ blog that shares stories of people who take on life every day with passion and purpose. Read Shelley’s interview about “Traveling with a Purpose.”
25: I Just Finished – The website that is a “conversation for books,” talking to authors about their recent work and the books that have been life-changing for them.
September 2009
5: A Book and A Chat Radio Show
16: She Knows, a news and lifestyle portal aimed at women, features an important story about child trafficking and slavery. Corie Russell writes a compelling report on the horrors of children being sold, with author Shelley Seale quoted as one of the source experts. An important read on a topic of vital importance.
18: Places We Go, People We See, about travel that preserves cultures and community, features a story from the book about the experience of being confronted by child beggars. What do you do when faced with this heartbreaking situation? In a post titled “When Slumdog isn’t a Millionaire,” the emotions and realities of children begging is explored in a personal story.
19: Authors Read Radio – Shelley reads an excerpt from the book in a 10-minute segment:
23: Mommy and Me Days, the website focused on quality parenting time, spotlights the book and Shelley’s “Travel with a Purpose” mantra.
29: Travel’n On Radio Show featured Shelley as a guest, discussing responsible travel and the poverty of India’s children. Travel’n On Radio Show empowers travelers to have fun while leaving positive footprints by fostering global citizenship and creating cross-cultural understanding.
August 2009
1: AOL’s Gadling Travel features a review in its Travel Reads section. “While Seale doesn’t flinch from the uglier side of Indian life, she focuses on the children’s resilience and dreams. The Weight of Silence is part travelogue, part expose, and gripping reading. The fact that this book shows deep respect for India’s people while not ignoring their faults sets this book apart.”
1: Austin Woman Magazine ran a review in their August issue. “Seale’s one wish is that a reason never existed for her to write this book – that there aren’t 25 million children living in orphanages or on the streets of India, but we are sure glad she did.”
2: The Mother of All Trips, a website dedicated to traveling with children, published a wonderful review of the book. “The book is a thoroughly researched, well-documented account of a very large and complex problem. The strength of the book is that even as she reveals her own internal struggles with despair, the overwhelming message is one of hope.” And, reviewer Mara Gorman was so inspired, that she donated $5 for every comment posted on the review, to the Miracle Foundation!
7: India Abroad Magazine ran an incredible 3-page spread about Shelley and The Weight of Silence, with photos, an in-depth interview, and excerpts from the book.
17: NPR Affiliate KUT Radio featured an interview with Shelley, about the book, her experiences in India, and the situation affecting vulnerable children there. Listen to the 5-minute interview – wonderful photos of the children are also included! The broadcast was also picked up and aired by many other NPR affiliate stations around the country.
19: Power Women Magazine Radio Show
25: Conversations Book Club, which featured The Weight of Silence as its August Book of the Month, conducts a “Take Ten” interview with Shelley.
26: Professional Destiny, a book and blog dedicated to finding the career you were born for, featured Shelley as one of its “Professional Destiny Heroes.”
29: Conversations Book Club radio show
July 2009
1: KOOP Radio 91.7 fm in Austin features guest author Shelley Seale on the show “Writing on the Air.” Shelley and host Dillon McKinsey talk about the book and the process of writing it.
1: A Traveler’s Library asks Shelley about her 6 Favorite Books for travelers to India.
6: The Matador Network published a photo essay in its Change section, with photos of the beautiful children written about in the book, along with quotes from The Weight of Silence.
8: KOOP Radio’s Inner Views show featured guest Shelley Seale, with host Abigail Mahnke discussing the children and issues behind The Weight of Silence.
12: Writing Mamas Austin, a writing group for women, featured Shelley as the keynote speaker for their July meeting.
14: Conscious Discussions Podcast
18: Creative Soul Radio Podcast
19: The Austin American-Statesman runs a feature in its Sunday Books section about The Weight of Silence and Shelley’s journey with the children.
21: BookWoman bookstore hosts author Shelley Seale, discussing the book as well as doing a reading and signing.
21: The Seattle Times lists The Weight of Silence in its list of new books of interest!
June 2009
13: Eye For Film, the UK site that takes a fresh look at film, DVD, features and filmmaking, published an article about Slumdog Millionaire, quoting Shelley. The article takes a hard look at the truth behind the movie, for millions of other Indian children.
14: Human Rights Defence ran a nice feature announcement about The Weight of Silence and its work to bring to light the issues affecting the invisible children of India.
15: Wandering Educators is the first stop on Shelley’s virtual book tour! WE features an interview with Shelley, including a discussion about how travelers can give back on their journeys, and what we can do to help these children.
16: Hot Mommas Project conducts an interview with Shelley about writing the book, balancing life, parenting and work, and following your passions.
17: The Lost Girls, three twenty-something New Yorkers who ditched their media jobs to embark on a yearlong, round-the-world journey, interview Shelley about her inspirations, and why India.
18: Wanderlust and Lipstick’s Beth Whitman talks to Shelley about the book, traveling to India, and taking her teenage daughter with her.
18: Linda’s Yoga Journey ran a feature about The Weight of Silence.
19: Launch Notes features an interview with Shelley in which she discusses how she started writing, the pivotal moment in writing The Weight of Silence, and her feelings about being a non-Indian writer on this subject.
21: Lit Media Reviews Radio Show
22: Surface Earth interviews Shelley about how the book got started, how to turn thoughts into action, discusses contributing without judgment.
23: Talk Radio Europe, which interviewed Shelley in July 2008, invites her back as a guest on the Boland Show to talk about the book and the real life of kids behind Slumdog Millionaire.
23: My Work Butterfly – Join Shelley at this portal aimed at working mothers, where I talk about how having my own child impacted my experiences in India and tips for parents who wish to engage their own children in community service.
23: Soul Lab Radio
24: Mothers Fighting For Others features The Weight of Silence. Imagine what an army of inspired mothers could do to change the world!
25: A Traveler’s Library interviews Shelley about traveling as a volunteer rather than a traditional tourist, and what she thinks about slum tours.
26: Brave New Traveler ran an interview with Shelley, talking about Slumdog Millionaire, poverty tourism, and how travelers can make a difference.
26: Giving City Austin interviews Shelley about why she started going to India, what she expected, and if this type of journey is for everyone.
29: The Travel Editor features a lengthy interview with Shelley. Bonus feature includes links to other articles by Shelley published at Travel Editor, that are excerpts from the book.
29: Ask Wendy profiles Shelley as the featured author in the “10 Questions For” series.
30: Stop Child Slavery blogger Jeff Turner interviews Shelley via webcam about the book and her experiences with the invisible children of India – and what others can do to help uphold their rights and give them a better future.
30: The Miracle Foundation – Book Launch Party! 6 pm at 1506 W. Sixth Street, Austin
May 2009
The Voluntary Traveler Book Project hosts an online discussion with Shelley Seale, author of ‘The Weight of Silence: Invisible Children of India’ and contributor to The Voluntary Traveler. The topic of the discussion is volunteer travel. Click here to read the transcript.
March 2009
Wanderlust & Lipstick features Shelley’s story about the children of India, Lost and Found, winner of the Intrepid Travel writing contest.
St. Edward’s University Novus Magazine ran a feature article on alumni Shelley Seale and the book, in the Spring 2009 issue.
January 2009
The VolunTourist weekly webcast on volunteer travels featured me as one of three guest speakers on the role that voluntourism plays in addressing issues such as those written about in The Weight of Silence.
July 2008
Talk Radio Europe, the largest English language radio station in Spain, featured me as a guest on The Boland Show. The producer of the show contacted me after researching child labor in India and coming across my website and book. The twenty-minute interview was a discussion about the various sides of child labor in India and the conflicting issues surrounding how to get children out of the workforce.
December 2006
KXAN News in Austin, Texas did a feature story on The Miracle Foundation and how it is helping uphold the rights and improve the lives of hundreds of Indian children. The spot featured interviews with myself and Caroline Boudreaux, founder of The Miracle Foundation, and extensive video footage from our trips to India.
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