Press

“Local Author Mary Saner Talk and Book Signing March 31” from the Chestertown Spy, March 17, 2019.

Head to Wind Publishing is delighted to announce the release of What Else You Got? Freelancing in Radio by Kent County resident, Mary Saner. Her award-winning documentary on teen pregnancy, Babies Having Babies, helped launch her radio career, but it’s her smoky voice and her fascination with people – from tennis star Boris Becker to presidential candidate Bill Clinton to the woman whose pet bat lives in her sleeve – that’s kept it going and sent her around the nation producing shows for NPR, Voice of America, CBS and more. But Saner didn’t start out in media. Like many, she hadn’t known what to do when she graduated from college, so she continued her studies until something came up. A Master’s degree in history followed by studies toward a PhD at George Washington University, with an eye to teaching would seem an unlikely preparation for a career in radio. But not for Saner, whose love of sports and nose for offbeat stories like the circus camp for kids and the luxury cat hotel in Maine have had her working alongside some of radio’s greats, including CBS’s Charles Osgood. In this her first book, she not only unfolds the trajectory of her career, but generously shares what she’s learned along the way. A fun read that’s also a must-have primer with timeless tips for anyone entering the media today. Saner will be at The Bookplate in Chestertown on Sunday, March 31 at 2PM for a talk and book signing about her off-the-beaten-path career.

Reviews

What Else You Got? was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and I was hooked from the first page. I was very curious to learn about radio journalism—not traditional news reporting but the sharing of stories about ordinary people and places that are off the beaten path, stories that are quirky, amusing, poignant, authentic, and fascinating in their own humble ways and such a tonic for the stresses we deal with in our everyday lives. They are little treasures that remind us what a vast and varied place our country is, and they broaden our outlook in a unique way.

Mary Saner is a great storyteller, and on one level the book reads like a collection of short stories. It is also the author’s personal story of how she developed a career in radio journalism, and along the way she teaches us how that media form works. She engages you by writing in the present tense, including you in her journey as it unfolds. As I finished each chapter, I was keen to read on to find out what totally new adventure or subject area she would pursue next. It’s quite a range, and I’d love to read more!

—Susan Garratt, Freelance Editor

Ms. Saner bases her radio stories on clear, clean scripts and a bemused take on human foibles and tribal diversity. She plies the complications of life with NPR-like stories that make you revel in the eccentric jumble of life.

—Gerald F. Sweeney, Delmarva Review

About the Author

A longtime figure in American radio, Mary Saner’s distinctive voice and her natural curiosity about human stories sent her around the nation producing shows for NPR, Voice of America, CBS and more. Known for her award-winning documentary on teen pregnancy, Babies Having Babies, Saner’s work took her to interviews with notable Americans, from presidents to sports icons.

 After earning a Master’s degree in history, Saner pursued a PhD at George Washington University with an intent to teach history. This interest in the broad context of the past shows through in her fascinating interviews, which find a compelling story even in unlikely places. This is her first book.