Interview with Author Douglas Brown

You can read up more on Douglas Brown at his blog (here)

Douglas R. Brown is a fantasy writer living in Pataskala, Ohio. He began writing over five years ago as a cathartic way of dealing with the day-to-day stresses of life as a firefighter/paramedic in Colubus, Ohio. Now he focuses his writing on fantasy where he can draw from his lifelong love of the genre. He has been married for 15 years with a son and two dogs. 

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Tamed cover copy

Werewolves are real.

And they make excellent pets.

Owning one of the legendary creatures is the latest fad. The WereHouse insists werepets are loyal, docile, and 100% safe, but what happens when these gentle giants turn on their masters?

While on a routine EMS call, paramedic Christine Alt is attacked by a rogue werepet. She escapes with her life, but the encounter leaves her with more than just scars. As her body begins to change, she discovers the WereHouse is hiding a terrible secret, and they will stop at nothing to keep her from exposing them.

Tamed is a werewolf tale with a twist from the author of the The Light of Epertase trilogy.

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 1.      What made you want to start writing?

     I wrote as a teen-ager because I felt the nagging need to express some measure of creativity and I found that I wasn't too terrible at telling stories. When I became a firefighter, I stopped writing as my life went in a different direction. After nearly 20 years of not writing, I had an emergency call that affected me deeply. (Read about it here. Afterward, I decided to write about that call. In doing so, I rediscovered my love of writing and when I finished, I decided to write something as far away from real life as possible, which is why I went to fantasy.

2.        How do you get the ideas for your characters?

    

     Good question. My characters kind of create themselves usually. If I need an old farmer for a scene, I craft a character by what the needs in that scene are. As that character becomes more involved in the story, he/she evolves into a well-rounded creation (hopefully).

3.        What makes your characters stand out?

    

     Their emotional reactions to terrible events. My job helps me in that department. I like to think that my characters are well rounded and have something that engages the reader. Whether that character is good or evil, I hope the reader has some kind of emotional reaction when they read about them.

4.        Which of your books was the most fun for you to write?

     The Light of Epertase, Book One: Legends Reborn. That's an easy answer for me because my first book (about the fire department) was a hard, depressing book to write. Whereas Epertase was written simply because it was a story I wanted to write. There were no deadlines, no expectations, nothing. I am currently writing Epertase 3 and it is difficult because now I have deadlines and though it is the story I want to tell, it is no longer just for fun.

5.        Was it hard to get a signed contract for your books?

     Yes. I spent nearly 1 1/2 years searching for an agent or publisher. In fact, I wrote most of Tamed during that process. Rejections are tough, but no-replies are even tougher.

6.        How do you like living in Ohio?

     Well, since it is about 17 degrees as I type this, I'd say not too much. Seriously, overall Ohio is alright. There's a saying here. If you don't like the temperature today, just wait until tomorrow. The temperature changes drastically sometimes day-to-day. Last week, I washed my car because it was so nice out.

7.        What is your favorite place to write?

     In my movie theater room. It is quiet and it is in my basement so there are no distractions.

8.        Do you relate any real life experiences into your books?

     Absolutely. As a firefighter/paramedic I have seen people at their very worse and in my coworkers, people at their best. If I write a scene with someone getting injured, or having a life changing event, or whatever, I know how people react in those situations because I've seen it.

9.        Do you read?

     Yes. But not as much as I should nowadays.

10.    What are your favorite type of books and Authors to read?

     I love non-fiction. When I'm not reading fantasy or Stephen King, I'm reading about Steve Jobs, the CIA, or some other nonfiction story.

11.    Would you consider reading new authors?

     It's tough because I talk with new authors quite often and I would love to be able to read all of their stuff. I just don't have time like I'd like to have. Plus, Rhemalda is a little bit like a family. Right now, any new writers I find myself reading are usually new with Rhemalda. We kind of share each others' books on occasion and I'm about six books behind.

12.    If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?

     I'm pretty boring. My favorite trip is taking my son to Disney. That's what I'm doing again this year and I can't wait. I don't have much interest in leaving the country. I would like to go to Hawaii, I guess. (And yes, I know Hawaii is part of the country but I think you know what I mean.)

13.    If you could spend the day with someone who would it be? (dead or alive)

     Alive-Trent Reznor, Howard Stern, or Stephen King. Although, if I wasn't married, I think Megan Fox would be wonderful company.

     Dead- One of our founding fathers. I'd love to know what their intentions were when compared to today's world. I don't imagine they foresaw the problems that plague our country today. Or maybe they did and how we interpret what they meant is wrong.

14.   What other hobbies do you have?

     I mostly write as a hobby when I'm not working or spending time with my family. I love watching sports, so that could be a hobby, but I'm getting too old to play them much anymore. Heck, I've thrown out my back just getting out of bed.

15.   What advice would you give to others wanting to become authors?

     Don't write to be published. Write because it is your passion and while you are trying to snag an agent or publisher, keep writing. Remember, not getting a publishing deal doesn't mean you aren't a good writer. It just means the right publisher/agent hasn't come across your work yet. It's luck created by hard work.

Interview with and interesting person who doesn't think she is interesting Blandy Littrell

You can learn more about Blandy at her blog (here)

Blandy is a stay at home full time mother (which really means she is a million of things like cook, maid, butler, repair girl, driver, story teller, protector, etc) she is also a part time writer (hasn't got her story just perfect for her yet even though she has wrote it two times), part time crafter, and more. Also she is one of my best friends, I think of her as my sister.

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1. What drives you to want to write a novel?
It has been a dream of mine since I was about 14. Writing was just a hobby at first, jotting in journals, making up stories to tell my little brothers, and giving life to that bitter teenage depression. I never had drive till my step-dad told me that I had a gift for it and should consider writing stories. That was the only nice thing the man ever said to me and for some reason I have never been able to let go of it.

2. How do you find time to write while you have a child at home?
You would think that it would be difficult but suffering from insomnia it really isn’t. I don’t go to sleep till about 5 in the morning and by midnight my son is sound asleep. So that gives me a solid 5 hours to do what I want with. Now granted what comes out of that time is nothing to brag about but you have to work with what you got.

3. How did you come up with your story idea?
To be honest, I got in a fight with Philip. To vent I just started typing. I liked were it was going and the possibilities it opened up, so I just kept typing. Everything was created moment by moment. The story is Danni’s. I let her tell me where she was going, where she had been and who she would meet. I never sat down and planned it out. There was no outline or notes. When I started writing I had no idea what the ending would be. I was oblivious to where I was going to end up until I got there. Which probably accounts for why it is so freaking messed up.

4. You also sew/knit, how do you find time for that?
That is one of those things that is done off and on. During nap time, lunch, after Daddy gets home, and after everyone goes to bed. It is one of those things I have to make time for.

5. What is your favorite activity to do at home?
Arts and crafts. When inspiration strikes that is. It is always fun to drag out the paintbrushes, charcoal, the hot glue gun or the wood burner and just let loose. It is just neat to watch some of these little ideas to life.

6. How do you manage to keep your sanity while home all the time?
I don’t, lol. Plain and simple I feel like I am going crazy 90% of the time. Home life never suited my personality but here I am. I am lucky enough to have “me time” once a week, which normally consists of music, a facial mask and some type of alcohol and getting away from it all. It does help but it is hardly what keeps me from snapping so I have acquired a million hobbies. I read, write, sew, crochet, do wood burning, movie reviews, personal amateur bartending, drawing, jewelry making, gaming, and still looking for more things to keep me busy and from falling into routine.


7. What is your favorite food to cook?
I hate cooking. I am awful at it so I try to avoid doing anything that consists of more than five step directions and don’t come with the all ingredients already in the box/bag. All that aside, I like cooking French toast, basically because it is delicious.

8. How did you come up with your characters in your story?
Danni, who is the main character, is a strong and brilliant female figure and she is who I aspire to be. She is the woman I wish I had the balls to be. She is one tough girl inside and out who keeps her calm under pressure.
Taylor was how I felt about Philip at the time. I was angry so this vile man, similar in appearance to Philip came out of the mix.
As the story progressed, I fell in love with certain minor characters. Like Dewayne. He was so awkward and honest, he had so much potential couldn’t just let that go to waste. I shaped him a little bit after my dad which may be why I was so adamant about keeping him. I never really sat down and took note of my characters. I just let Danni’s story unfold and let her tell me who they were and what they were like.

9. Is your story based on any real life experiences you’ve had?
Yes, couple parts of it are based off my experience. Like Danni running from the cops, where she is jumping fences and running through random peoples yards. Been there, I tried my best to make the readers heart race just as fast as mine had that night. That cabin in the woods was based on a real place. Of course I did not give the real directions but it does exist and her flashbacks I pulled from my own memory banks. I tried my best to let everything, even her own memories stay unique to her but some things were so powerful I needed that real life experience to fuel it and in a small way, to feel connected to the story on a personal level. Even if it was just in my own secret way.

10. What is your favorite part about being a mother?
It is the little things I enjoy the most. Watching him learn and grow. Everyday he figures out something new. A new word, new trick, new game. Something as silly as him saying thank you in Chinese or as simple as watching writing his name for the first time just brings this burst of joy bursting through. The greatest part though would have to be hearing him laugh. It don’t matter how bad your day is or how bad things are falling apart around you, when he laughs the world feels like a beautiful. You can’t beat the happiness that brings.

11. What is your least favorite part about being a mother?
The guilt. I know it sounds weird but it is there, constantly. It is a demanding job being a full time mom. You need those breaks and that pampering to screw your head back on right and make you feel normal. You wouldn’t think that would be an issue but every time you call in a babysitter or buy something for yourself you get this overwhelming sense of guilt. “I just left my baby so I could do something I wanted to do.” or “I just went and spent $15 dollars on a new shirt, I should of taken that and got my baby a new toy.” It is an awful feeling that I try to avoid. People say it’s okay and it is good for you but it sure don’t feel like it.

12. How often do you read?
I try to keep it at one book every couple weeks. I am the worlds worst becoming obsessed with whatever I am doing and not putting it down till I am finished. Example. I read the last Harry Potter novel before the movie came out, I finished it in less than two days. That’s with me taking care of Wayne and cleaning house. I did not sleep till it was finished. Phil gets on to me a lot so I try and space them out the best I can and force myself to stop and go to bed or clean the house.

13. What is your favorite type of stories and Authors to read?
I am a criminal suspense junkie. I don’t draw the line there though. I love Faulkner, Poe (stories, not poems), Salinger, Bradbury and the list goes on. I have to say though, my favorite author is Jeffery Deaver. He is a genius.

14. Would you consider reading new authors?
I would. I think everyone has the potential to write a grade A story/novel. It takes a great deal of dedication to write something of that magnitude, especially for the first time. I think every author deserves the chance to be discovered even if it is by one person at a time and I am more than willing to support that group of people who have the courage to put themselves out there for scrutiny.

15. What advice would you give to others about being a stay at home mom?
No matter how bad you feel about it, you need that time. The last thing a mother needs to do is to forget who they are. You’re not just Mommy, you have a name. Just because you take a breather don’t mean you don’t love your kids. Couple hours a week is not going to scar your children. Also realize you will never be a perfect parent. Don’t beat yourself up over something silly like missing a bath or running out of milk. As long as you do the best you can by your kids, then that is good enough.

Interview with Designer and Author Mark Montano

 You can follow Mark's Blog (here)

Mark Montano is perhaps best known for three series on the Style Network and The Learning Channel: 10 Years Younger, which he hosted, While You Were Out, on which he frequently appears as a designer, and My Celebrity Home on which he is both host and designer. Montano can currently be seen on WE TV's new show, "She's Moving In". Montano has a flamboyant design sense that homeowners on While You Were Out are sometimes less than enthused about at first, but he usually wins them over with his boisterous personality. On My Celebrity Home, Mark tours a celebrity's home and gives their style to a fan. Mark's latest filming was for MY HOME 2.0 that aired in April 2010 on FOX.

Some of Mark's Craft books are:

• "The Big Ass Book of Crafts 2" (2011)
• Pulp Fiction: Perfect Paper Projects (2011)
• The Big-Ass Book of Home Decor (2010)
• The Big-Ass Book of Crafts (2008)
• Super Suite: The Ultimate Bedroom Makeover Guide for Girls (2002)
• Window Treatments and Slipcovers for Dummies (2005)
• Dollar Store Decor: 100 Projects for Lush Living That Won't Break the Bank (2005)

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ME: How did you get started in the craft field?

Mark Montano: I was a fashion designer for many years and decided that working with fabric was just too limiting.  My friend Atoosa Rubenstein (who started Cosmo Girl! magazine) hired me as an editor to do an article called Cool Room and from there I was able to make tons of different craft projects to show girls how to decorate their rooms.  I'd always sewn and glued things together but now I was getting paid for it.

ME: Was it hard to get your crafts in the public’s eye?

Mark Montano: Writing and publishing certainly helped a lot.  Being an editor at a Hearst publication didn't hurt so in a lot of ways I was very lucky.  

ME: When did you decide to become an Author and make your craft books?

Mark Montano: I turned my first 2 years worth of articles into my first book and named it Super Suite: The Ultimate Bedroom Makeover Guide for Girls.  From that point on I was hooked on publishing and have tried to write a book every year.

ME: Which of your past crafts has been your favorite one to make?

Mark Montano: I don't have favorites because the others would get jealous.  But, I try to make a paint chip art piece in every book I write.  It's just "my thing".

ME: Where do you get most of your crafting ideas from?

Mark Montano: I lock myself up and experiment using readily available materials and come up with them myself.  I know lots of things have been done, but not the way I do them.

ME: What type of craft do you enjoy the most?

Mark Montano: Projects with a little bit of sewing in them.

ME: What type of craft do you enjoy the least?

 Mark Montano: Anything to do with crochet or knitting. I love the craft but I'm not good at it.

ME: If you had only 10 minutes to pack and leave your house forever what would you take?

Mark Montano: My pillow case full of cash.

ME: Out of all the people you’ve helped design for who was your favorite client and why?

 Mark Montano: Carly Simon because she once gave me a 1 hour private concert while she was rehearsing and dedicated it to me and Mike Nichols (the director) while I waited to give her a fitting.

ME: What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

Mark Montano: Drink a cup of coffee, with my FB friends good morning and then head out for a run.

ME: Do you have other hobbies?

Mark Montano: I love to read and dare I say it, I love to watch TV. There I said it.

ME: Who would you like to spend a day with? (alive or dead)  

Mark Montano: Coco Chanel would be wonderful to hang out with.

ME: Is your house a crazy array of design and organized chaos or are you a neat and tidy person?

Mark Montano: Neat and tidy with tons of boxes of stuff hidden everywhere.

ME: How do you like living in LA?

Mark Montano: I'm still on the fence about it.

ME: What advice do you have to others that want to get started in the craft and/or design field?

Mark Montano: Do what you love, ignore the people who try to "critique" you and keep your eye on the prize.  Whatever that prize is for you.

Movie Review: Leap Year

What a better time to review this movie then actually on leap year. I remember when this came out I was so excited to see it. I begged my now husband to see it, so he finally rented it and we watched it.

My first reaction is this....It wasn't as amazing as I had pictured in my head it was going to be... HOWEVER it was still a very delightful movie that I enjoyed. It was humorous and still managed to sneak in a bit of thinking. Watching the two fall apart and fall together and finally opening of the eyes to the truth was great. Also does it help that I really want to visit Ireland?

I give this a 4 out of 5 stars. Could be improved but still a great movie. Which reminds me I want to add this movie to our movie collection...*runs off to buy movie* ENJOY!

History Of Leap Year

 (Information found via Wikipedia)

           A leap year (or intercalary or bissextile year) is a year containing one additional day (or, in the case of lunisolar calendars, a month) in order to keep the calendar year synchronized with the astronomical or seasonal year. Because seasons and astronomical events do not repeat in a whole number of days, a calendar that had the same number of days in each year would, over time, drift with respect to the event it was supposed to track. By occasionally inserting (or intercalating) an additional day or month into the year, the drift can be corrected. A year that is not a leap year is called a common year.

          For example, in the Gregorian calendar (a common solar calendar), February in a leap year has 29 days instead of the usual 28, so the year lasts 366 days instead of the usual 365. Similarly, in the Hebrew calendar (a lunisolar calendar), a 13th lunar month is added seven times every 19 years to the twelve lunar months in its common years to keep its calendar year from drifting through the seasons too rapidly.




Some people do special things on 29th, me I got to wish my husbands awesome amazing cousin a happy birthday.... she turned  7 today :) (she is really older then that but when you get a birthday only every 4 years its rough). Anyone else born today? How do you celebrate your birthday?

Mark Montano: GLITTER BLAST TUESDAY.......IT'S HERE!

Mark Montano: GLITTER BLAST TUESDAY.......IT'S HERE!: Is it really GLITTER BLAST TUESDAY ALREADY? It's time for you to enter to win a set of GLITTER BLAST spray paints with an ongoing contest every other Tuesday from here to eternity. Rock on Krylon!

Winners not only get my NEW book,
THE BIG ASS BOOK OF CRAFTS 2,
they'll get all of the colors of glitter blast sent right to their front door.
Just a few simple rules to enter.

GOOD LUCK!

And may the glitter be with you....

RULES
1. SHARE this on your FB page (by pressing SHARE)

2. LIKE and COMMENT on the KRYLON FB page that I sent you!

KRYLON LINK

3. JOIN my blog.
BLOG LINK (HERE!)

4. COMMENT here that you've done it AND what your favorite spray paint project is.

5. Join me on TWITTER if you haven't.
TWITTER LINK

Keep an eye out for the winner. I'll post it here and on my FB page.

It helps if you can leave a way for me to contact you, too!

Why do we do _____.....Because your human....

I must admit that I have questioned multiple things in the past and present and probably will in the future also. I am use to the common answers of because, tradition, I said so, I dont know and other things people say that really dont want to take the time to answer. But I must say the answer I got one time just blew me away. "Because you're human..." really? So if I was a dog I wouldn't do it. I can't remember 100% what it was that I asked but this cartoon made me think about that response I got some time ago.

What are some questions you've asked and what are some of the off wall answers you got as well?

Here are some: 

Why do we have to have Turkey every thanksgiving? Can't we have steak?
No, it is traditon

Why can't I go out to the movies with my friends? You use to do it.
Because I said so.

Why do we people feel the need to fight over everything?
I don't know

Why do I always end up so upset when I lose the wrong girl/boy?
Because you're human.

March Madness 2012

MARCH MADNESS BLOG INTERVIEWS

With only 4 days until March 1st I am really anticipating my awesome line up of friends I have interviewed for my first (hopefully of many) March Madness Blog!!!! 

Here is the wonderful lineup!!!!

March 1st: Designer and Author Mark Montano
March 2nd: Upcoming Author and stay at home mom Blandy Littrell
March 3rd: Author Douglas Brown
March 4th: Author J. B DiNizo
March 5th: Author Larisa Biyuts
March 6th: Harlem Ambassador member Tiffara Steward

March 7th: Author Vanessa Wu
March 8th: Author Xavier Axelson
March 9th: Author Lee Brazil
March 10th: Author Emily White
March 11th: Author Cherie Reich
March 12th: Author Shelly Meyer
March 13th: Author Oliver Frances
March 14th: Author, Educator, Book Reviewer, and Talk Radio Host Fran Lewis
March 15th: Author Dorien Grey
March 16th: Author Ruth Cardello
March 17th: Author and Wiccan High Priestess Deborah Blake
March 18th: Author Shay Fabbro
March 19th: Author Cas Peace
March 20th: Photographer, Singer and Writer Cath Barton
March 21st: Author, Poet, Guitarist, Song Writer Jessica Bell
March 22nd: Author G. R. Holton
March 23rd: Author India Drummond
March 24th: Author Karen Dales
March 25th: Model and Author Ciara Ryan
March 26th: Author Susan McGeown
March 27th: Author Sheri Larsen
March 28th: Journalist and National Geographics Society Developer Adnilton Alves
March 29th: Author Gerry Burnie
March 30th: Author D. J. Kile
March 31st: Author Lindsay Downs

What an AMAZING line up. 

I want to again thank all of you for participating and taking time out of your busy schedules to let me do the interviews. Come back each day in March to learn about these amazing people and hear what advice and words of wisdom they have to offer you.