Life at Open Heart Publishing

Archive for September, 2009

Here, with an eye that can see beyond (or is that behind?) the grave, is Robert Dean, author of “Blue Eyeliner” from “An Honest Lie, Volume 1: Encouraging the Delinquency of your Inner Child.”

Hi Robert. Thanks for joining us. Let me start this off with a really heavy and important question. What do you think is the meaning of the masthead, “An Honest Lie?”

“An honest Lie,” to me, is an underscoring of life. People tell white lies daily to save face or someone’s feelings. We tell lies with the best intentions possible. So the name is an extension of what we do daily and we don’t even realize it. Go human race!

Go! Speaking of the human race, then, what do you feel is your most important contribution to that human race?

I’d like to say my writing but that would be pretentious and lame. As it stands right now, I’m going to go with nothing. You’ll know my worth after I’m dead. If it is my writing, then score one for the good guys. If not, then hopefully by the time I hit the grave, something will have worked itself out.

I’d like to think that too. Speaking of the grave, Robert, are there any skeletons in your closet that you believe our readers might find fascinating?

It’s all out there. Email me a question and I’ll answer it. Hell, read my blog and you’ll find a graveyard’s worth of skeletons for someone’s sick pleasures to enjoy. I don’t hide anything. It’s a matter of if you’re willing to ask. I don’t do drugs but I’ll drink myself into an early demise. I’ve had sex with girls and I’m left handed. There’s a start. Start your mental engines.

(You can visit Robert Dean at www.twistedworldofrobertdean.com)

Back to the here and now, Robert, here’s another heavy duty question. What do you feel are the important symbols and icons of culture in the 21st century?

I don’t pay any attention to pop culture outside of what is shoved in my face and I have zero ability to deter myself from it. If I had to guess, I’d say Apple/Mac, and now that Michael Jackson is dead, he’s going to get some pretty severe hero worship forever now. Either way, I’m pretty happy avoiding all thoughts about stuff like that. Let me wallow in my own corner of the universe where I could care less what Kim Kardashian is wearing or how we’re continually making ourselves dumber via text speak or Googling everything known to man.

A convincing argument. Let me change directions now. How about a question concerning “way back when.” Were you ever been a bed wetter?

No, I’ve never been one to piss the bed but I have shared a bed with a female who had too much drink and no nighttime pee control. Needless to say, I was not happy with the morning result. I don’t enjoy waking up wet. Ever.

Well put, and I’m sure your sentiments are shared. Changing track again, what other sorts of creative writing are you currently involved in?

Currently, I’m finishing my second full-length novel and I’ve got a variety of short stories written. All the while I continue to be a contributing writer for Offbeat magazine. I also write love poems to all of the women who’ve broken my heart. I cut them into my chest and stand in front of their windows screaming the words (think some serious John Cusack type stuff) … I’m kidding. Seriously, I’d never do that. What if it rains?

Good point. So now, what, or who, inspires you to become a better writer?

Life inspires me to become a better writer. If you’re going to write the life, you better live it. I moved to New Orleans because I knew the gloves would be off and I’d experience things here that I couldn’t imagine elsewhere. I’ve sat in bars next to fat bald guys with beards who happened to be in wedding dresses. I’ve seen a bondage bunny bar hop, zombie parades, homeless street fights. I’ve watched people vomit on themselves and never miss a beat. I’ve heard lovers scream bloody murder at one another in front of my house at all hours of the night and with zero respect for anyone who might have been hearing. I’ve been blind drunk every night for over 40 days in a row. I’ve woken up in strange beds and in the back of cars. I’ve got stories that could be scenes in everything from “Deuce Bigalow” to “Silence of the Lambs.” I’m the master of relationships that end up as flaming balls of ill placed feelings and major depression. I have a severe habit of loving the wrong kind of girls and letting them ruin my life … just another morbid detail in the twisted thing that I’ve been a part of for 28 years and counting. Living life at a million miles per hour is what keeps me relevant. If I’m going to try and capture the dust of what life is on the dark side, I better do my best to know what I’m talking about.

And that’s a wrap for our interview with Robert Dean, author of Blue Eyeliner.

Visit Robert Dean at
www.twistedworldofrobertdean.com

Robert Dean is a freelance writer, author, and poet from New Orleans, LA. Born on the Southside of Chicago in 1981, he studied English and writing throughout his formative school career but never considered it something more than a hobby. After taking a compositional writing class his senior year of high school and meeting a teacher that changed his perspective on the art, he decided to take up writing as a career, for better or worse. Graduating with top honors from the Chicago Center of Broadcasting, he learned the journalism side of writing. While the other students were busy getting ready to look good on camera, he was busy reading books. Dean has worked for NBC, ABC, The Michiana Entertainer, and has had freelance pieces published in online journals. He has also contributed to various independent ‘zines’ that have came and gone throughout the years. Currently, he is a staff writer for the world-renowned Offbeat music magazine and has gotten to write about and interview some of the most exciting musicians to come out of New Orleans. Leaving Chicago to pursue his writing career, Dean moved to Louisiana to seek out new ways to expand his mind and dive into a life where fiction meets reality. Since the move, he’s written a full length novel titled “In the Arms of Nightmares” that is currently being shopped for publication. He is also writing a collection of short stories titled “The Snakes in the Garden.”

strong>Joining us today is Will Terry, author of Situational Dyslexia from “An Honest Lie, Volume 1: Encouraging the Delinquency of your Inner Child.“

<

Hi Will. The title of your story “Situational Dyslexia” conjures many questions. What is that exactly?

Situational Dyslexia is a make believe illness, similar to sequential order deficiency. The character who has it does things and doesn’t remember doing them until after its over. It depends on the situation. Sometimes his brain tries to protect him like this.

Have you had other pieces of work published or is “Situational Dyslexia” the first?

I have some work published in Dallas by The Pannhandler, in Philadelphia by The Vivid Literary Journal, and in Florida by The Corporal. This will be my first piece published in a book.

You strike me as the kind of guy who could make a success out of any endeavor. What made you want to become a writer?

My favorite teachers were always English teachers. My fourth grade teacher submitted a poem of mine and it was published when I was very young. People in my school just referred to me as a writer from then on and I got used to it.

Okay. I need you to put on your imagination hat. If you could be any character from any story, who would you be and why?

I would be Case from Neuromancer by William Gibson. He lives in a cyberpunk world of permanent night and that sort of thing agrees with me.

Very interesting, Will. Henry Dorsett Case is an impressive character. Let me ask you about a different kind of character, one from around the house, say, a pet. Have you ever felt as if your pet held you in contempt?

I had an epeleptic cat who had have seizures whenever people would come over. It made dates interesting.

What else might our readers find in your house? Are there any skeletons in your closet that we might find fascinating?

I sometimes use what I call the writing process dartboard. It’s a complex system of swinging hula hoops from the ceiling and aiming at different genres, character ideas, and plots with a dart. There are pictures of it on my website at www.philosopherdown.com.

Getting back to your writing, what other sorts of creative writing are you involved in?

I manage a website for aspiring writers in Austin. It’s www.philosopherdown.com. I’m working on a manuscript for a novel called “Trash Librarian”.

Well, there we have it, a brief look into the mind of Will Terry. Look for his exciting story in “An Honest Lie, Volume 1: Encouraging the Delinquency of your Inner Child,” coming this fall to a bookstore near you!

Visit Will Terry at
www.philosopherdown.com

Will Terry is twenty five year old writer from Austin Texas where he is a student at Austin Community College . He is currently working on a bachelors degree in Social Work with aspirations for a masters degree in English. His work has been published by The Panhandler in Houston , The Vivid Literary Journal in Pennsylvania , and the Armageddon Buffet E-zine. He maintains a website for aspiring writers at www.philosopherdown.com. His writing centers on humorous exaggerated interactions between men and women. “Situational Dyslexia” focuses on the tendency for people to set themselves up for confusion and only figure out after why. Some authors that he admires are Louis Ferdinand Celine, Charles Bukowski, and J.G. Ballard. His philosophy to writing centers on embellishing personal experience.

Becky Warner, featured author for “An Honest Lie, Volume 1: Encouraging the Delinquency of your Inner Child” is here to share with us some interesting things about herself, her work, and this very interesting book coming soon from Open Heart Publishing.

The floor is yours, Becky!

 
Hi Becky. Can you tell us what was your favorite book as a child and why?

Huckleberry Finn- I read it when I was fifteen and related to Huck so much so that after I finished the book, I did some checking on the author. I was shocked to find out he’d been dead a while and that someone could write something so emotionally charged that it reached out from the pages and touched me so dramatically.

What made you want to become a writer?

Same reason as question no. 1. It always amazes me how you can reach a total stranger simply through the written word. Every single time someone reads something I’ve written and compliments me on it, I’m absolutely thrilled.

Is “Thompkins Literary Review” your first story to be published?

No. I’ve had several poems and short stories published as well as a fiction novel.

You recently had a book signing that was written up in the local newspaper. Isn’t that right?

Yes. Here’s the link to the article: http://www.norwalkreflector.com/articles/2007/12/16/front/iq_466666.txt

The article goes into detail not only about your struggle to get this book published, but also about how you came up with the story for your book, “And the Bull Saved Me.” How did you come up with “Thompkins Literary Review,” your story in An Honest Lie?”

“Thompins Literary Review” is based loosely on personal experiences and my son and husband’s sometimes humorous reactions to my writing efforts.

It seems your son and husband do influence your work. Let me ask you some questions about your personal beliefs, and I’m starting with a heavy one. Have you ever contemplated committing a crime?

No, for three reasons. First, God would know, my mother would know and I’d know and none of those three would be happy about it.

Well put, Becky. Another question, do you believe in life after death in any form?

Absolutely. Otherwise, what’s the point of living? One’s story doesn’t end with death. A new chapter simply begins.

Back to your writing, what other sorts of creative writing are you currently involved in?

I’m finishing my 9th fiction novel and outlining a play.

We’ve mentioned a couple of your published works. Can you tell our readers what else you’ve had published and where it was published?

My comedy/romance novel “And The Bull Saved Me” (under my pen name- Alex Rose) was published by PublishAmerica and can be found at Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com and Borders.com My short stories “Commuter Trains and Ankle Chains,” and “You Move Me” (under my other pen name- Rose Alexander) were published by Double Dragon Publishing and can be found at Carnaldesirespublishing.com My non-fiction credits include The Scribblers Club newsletter and The Candy Factory Gazette. My poem “God Loves You” was published in the American Poets Society compilation, Reflections, and my poem “The Middle Ground,” published by VoicesNet, Inc., was awarded Special Recognition in the Voices Net Anthology.

Can we have an example of one of your husband or son’s humorous reactions to your writing efforts?

Sure thing. After I’d written my third book, my son accidentally found out that I also wrote ‘Erotica’. He walked up behind me while I was writing at my computer one night and read what was on the screen. His response was immediate and indignant.
“What in the world do you think you’re doing?” he demanded, his tone so uncannily similar to my mother’s, back when I was a girl, that it made me wince. My automatic panic ‘cover my tracks’ mechanism kicked in and I started scrambling, thinking of alibis to get me out of trouble. I’d already come up with a couple good ones when I remembered who I was talking to and came back from nastyolgia lane.
“It’s nothing.” I told him. Then I explained to him calmly, which is something he was not, giving him my reasons for delving into the seedier side of literature. However, the horrified look on his face as I told him made me feel like Clarence Darrow informing the jury at the Scopes trial that they were all descended from monkeys.
Some things are just too upsetting to face.
“What do you mean you were just experimenting?” he said, his face contorting in repugnance.
“I’m working on some erotic short stories.” I told him. “After writing a romantic scene in my last book I wondered if I could write a full-blown sex scene. It’s sort of a writing exercise”
“A writing exercise?” he groaned, rolling his eyes like he was dying. “You’ve got to be kidding me! What do you mean a writing exercise?”
“I thought it would be a way to teach me how to write my characters better. To kind of get inside their heads more. To write something with less dialogue and more..uh…physical and mental content. And since there’s not a lot of talking when people have sex…..”
“Oh my God!!” he bellowed. “I don’t want to hear any of this! Does Dad know what you’re doing?”
“Your father doesn’t care. Besides the two of you never read my stories…..” I stopped in mid-sentence, realizing that I’ve let the proverbial ‘cat’ out of the bag. My days of writing freedom were about to end. Unless my guess was wrong, I’d just pressed him into service as resident ‘writing monitor.’ I quickly tried to cover my tracks, telling him that it was only an experiment and that I hadn’t even saved the story.
“Oh yes you have!” he griped, pointing accusingly at the title bar in the upper left-hand corner of the screen. “You’ve even given it a name! ‘Playing With Passion’? You’ve got to be kidding me! It’s nothing but Porn! What are you planning to do with this stuff?” He paused and a frightened expression filled his face. “Holy Cow! You’re not posting this stuff on the Internet, are you?”
The thought had never occurred to me but I didn’t answer right away because I was now feeling a bit of indignation myself. I wasn’t used to having my teenage son teach me morals so it seemed only right to make him sweat a little.
“You haven’t? Have you?” he said, his eyes now big as saucers.
“No.” I replied, trying hard not to smile. I started to add that it might be worth looking into when he abruptly cut me off.
“Good! And promise me one more thing!”
“What’s that?” I asked, suddenly propelled back in time to a similar lecture by my father on the evils of premarital sex. He should have told me about the perils of postmarital sex instead.
“Don’t ever work on that stuff when my friends are around! Okay? Promise?”

Will you tell us what your new novel is about?

My new book is a fiction novel titled, “Lightning Strikes Again” about a man named Gene who gets hit by lightning and afterwards, can read minds. He disappears for about eleven months when he’s poked and probed by a group of scientists. He re-appears in his hometown after he’s lost the unique ability and meets up with his best friend, Aaron. Aaron finds out that Gene lied to the scientists about losing the ability and for the next two weeks, follows Gene around, finding out what’s he’s been doing with his new-found talent. Aaron ends up in one crazy situation after the other as he gets caught up in Gene’s schemes. The zaniness continues as Gene talks Aaron into helping him look for a guy they both suspect might be a serial killer, whom they track down, but only at the cost of possibly being the man’s next victims.

Thanks for taking the time to share some thoughts with us Becky! We’re all eagerly awaiting the publication of “An Honest Lie, Volume 1: Encouraging the Delinquency of your Inner Child,” and reading your short story, “Thompkins Literary Review.”

Becky Warner writes fiction and non-fiction under the Nom de Plumes of Alex Rose and Rose Alexander… Her comedy/romance novel And The Bull Saved Me (Alex Rose) was published by PublishAmerica. Her short stories Commuter Trains and Ankle Chains, and You Move Me (Rose Alexander) were published by Double Dragon Publishing. Her non-fiction credits include The Scribblers Club newsletter and The Candy Factory Gazette. Her poem God Loves You was published in the American Poets Society compilation, Reflections, and her poem The Middle Ground, published by VoicesNet, Inc., was awarded Special Recognition in the Voices Net Anthology. She started out writing personal poems for her friends and then graduated to short stories and novels. Becky resides in Ohio and heads a local literary group called The Scribblers Club. Their goal is to bring together area writers to share ideas and resources, and to promote one another’s writing efforts. One of her happiest writing experiences was when she and a fellow Scribblers Club member had book signings together at the same bookstore. Her friends in the group inspired her so much that she based one of her novels on them, appropriately titled The Scribbler’s Club (a mystery about a local legend and The Underground Railroad- as yet unpublished). She grew up in the Lake Erie area of Ohio and bases many of her story locales there. She also enjoys reading and craft shopping in Amish country.

Darcy Melton, artist for “A Children’s Book of Necromancy” has taken a moment from her very busy schedule to speak with us about herself and this very interesting book coming soon from Open Heart Publishing.

So without much fanfare, take it away Darcy.

Darcy, Art has been called a metaphor for life in so many different ways. How do you feel this is relevant to your own craft?

I feel that it is relevant in that art is a creative process, and within all of us is the power to create the lives that we want to live. I strive to learn from my life to create art, and to learn from my art to constantly create my ideal life.

When creating art, do you have a prefered medium?

That seems to change from time to time. I like many mediums and seeing how they cross into each other. For example, how I am working in a traditional medium will begin to influence how I create images on the computer and vice versa. I enjoy this process because it contributes to the evolution of my work. I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in painting and printmaking, at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, and feel like this background is constantly showing up in my digital work.

Well that sounds like you have a very strong artistic background. From what I understand “A Children’s Book of Necromancy” is going to be a coloring book. I imagine that creating a coloring book has been a very interesting challenge. What can you share with us about the process?

It has been quite nice, actually. Sometimes when I am creating an illustration, I get overly excited about how color is going to be used and have to restrain myself from skipping over some critical steps. Focusing primarily on the line work for something that purposely has no color has given me the experience of fine tuning the line work and appreciating that part of the drawing process even more.

What other areas of the arts do you explore?

Outside of the visual arts, I haven’t explored very much. I am interested in learning how to play the piano and even took some courses while I was in college. I am planning on picking up a keyboard so that I can begin to learn for fun.

Do you believe in magic?

Ah! That is a fun question. Yes, I do. I think that I want to believe more than I do, actually. When I think of magic, I think of childhood and how free and open children are to possibilities. I would love to continually exist in that space. I truly believe in the magic of the imagination.

Debrin has kept such a tight lip about this project that I don’t know what to think about it, and neither does a great deal of our audience. The only thing i know for sure about this project is that it’s a children’s book that isn’t intended for children. How did you get involved with it?

I met this crazy redheaded man at Borders and he conned me into it. I had no choice. He was a bit shady, and I didn’t want to cross him.

Just kidding! Actually, I heard from a friend that this nice guy, Debrin, was looking for an illustrator to create images for a story that he had written. She told me the title of it and I thought, “That sounds weird… I think it might be fun!” So, contact information was exchanged and I met Debrin at Borders (that part was true) and he told me about his story and I was impressed about how passionate he was about it and felt that it was something I would like to participate in. That is actually something that I look for in a project. I love to work with people who believe in what they are creating and teaming with them to succeed.

I almost believed you, until you stated that Debrin is a nice guy… anyways, I hear you have a couple of furry children. Cats, if I understand it correctly. Please, tell us more about them.

I have two beautiful, brown tabbies. Prailey is my oldest. I rescued her from the pound. Her name started out as “Praline”, but she was constantly getting into things. Yelling “Prailey!!!” was easier. than “Praline”, so it stuck. My youngest is Fizgig (yes, the name comes from “The Dark Crystal”) and he was the runt of a stray cat that was found in an alley by a friend of mine. He is about 8 lbs., and is 3 years old. He has a really cute personality. If he were human, he would wear knickers and a little cap. If you have seen the movie “Oliver” you will know what I mean.

Cats can be such fickle creatures, Have you ever felt like they have held you in contempt?

My cats? Never! They love me unconditionally. Prailey might sometimes… only because she hates it when I sing. The quickest way to get her to jump into my lap is to sing to her at the top of my lungs. I am guilty of using that at times.

I am so grateful you have finally gotten around to doing this interview Darcy, you seem to be a very busy lady. What other projects are you currently working on?

I work on several projects at a time. Some of my current projects involve logo designs, portraiture, and illustrations for online avatars, mural designs and papercuts. I enjoy creating logos because it is a fun illustrative challenge and results in a product that supports someone else’s dream. I love drawing people and usually create them on paper with grease pencil, colored pencil, or in digital format. I also create online avatars for children and adults (shameless plug here: www.meldy.com), but especially children because they get to imagine who they want to be and I get to bring that to life for them. One of my short-term goals is to also take those illustrations and use them as the subjects of murals for children’s rooms. Or for adults for that matter, my own room is a testament to that. I also love decorative paper and am constantly finding reasons to create with it.

Darcy, who or what has inspired you as an artist?

As an artist, everything and everyone inspires me in some way. I didn’t always see things like that, and it was very hard to create anything. Through experience I have come to realize that what I produce is influenced from what I observe, experience and learn about my world and the people in it. I have to credit my parents for supporting my dream of becoming an artist, something that I proclaimed at age 5. Growing up, I was inspired by children’s book illustrators such as Brian Froud, Jan Brett and Mike Wimmer. In college I loved the work of Toulouse-Lautrec. In the last few years I have added Tim Burton and Neil Gaiman to my list. Currently I still admire and am influenced by the heroes I have collected, but am also inspired and influenced by the smaller, seemingly insignificant things in everyday life. I suppose that is where the magic lies.

So what is the meaning of life, the universe and everything?

42?
*grin*
I haven’t read “The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” yet, but hear that it is as simple as that. This might sound cheesy, but from my experiences I believe that the meaning of life is to learn how to love yourself and others. Ultimately, I feel that my purpose is to inspire others. I spent much of my life being inspired, and it feels only natural to give that back.

So what else can you share with us about this amazing children’s book that is not recommended for Children?

Only that you should buy it. IT’S GREAT!

Darcy Melton is an illustrator and graphic designer currently residing in Dallas, TX. Having completed her B.F.A. in painting and printmaking at the University of Science and Arts in Oklahoma she has continued to expand herself and her skills of self expression, discovery, and mastery.
Check out her amazing work at www.meldy.com, or keep up to date with her latest quips, drawings and inspirational messages at http://meldyd.blogspot.com.