Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd, the film

Charles Laughton teams up with Abbott and Costello in “Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd”, a slapstick musical comedy about pirates.

Abbot, a.k.a. Rocky Stonebridge, and Costello, a.k.a. Oliver Johnson, are waiters in a Tavern and are forced to serve the notorious and mean, Captain Kidd. While serving Captain Kidd, Johnson accidentally obtains the Captain’s map to a very big treasure.

With the treasure map in hand, they devise a plan to get Captain Kidd to take them to the treasure where they plan to abduct the treasure for themselves.

As I watched this film, I really wanted to give it a rave review. But this just isn’t the duos best film. Instead of appearing to be one of their later films, it looks like a low-budget version of one of their earlier films with no new material to speak of.

If you can look past the fact that the storyline makes absolutely no sense, you just might be able to enjoy the slapstick comedic antics for what they were... simple moments delivered to make you laugh.

Still, I have to ask… what is with Charles Laughton as Captain Kidd?

While I enjoyed Laughton’s performance immensely, he was not convincing as a mean, ogre of a pirate. Instead, he appeared to be a demanding, drunken pirate… or what some have affectionately deemed a buffoon.

If you collect Abbott and Costello movies, like my husband and daughter, you’ll definitely want to pick up a copy of “Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd”.

If, on the other hand, you’re looking for another good film by the duo, you just might want to pass this one up. And definitely don’t buy it for the extras because there aren’t any. They didn’t even re-master the film.

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of this DVD to review.

Interview with Douglas Esper

Douglas Esper wrote his first story when he was five years old. It was about the Pickle family and a race against a chopping machine. When he's not busy working his day job to support his family, he is writing reviews for a blog, playing with his son, and dating his wife.

What was your path towards publication like?
With my picture book the first step was chance. I purchased a painting from a former school mate, named Jeffrey Fernengel, and thought the art would be perfect for a book. I approached him about it and he thought that was a great idea. We exchanged emails, as we live about three hours apart, and collaborated on the book.

With my novel I am still in the process of finding the right people to work with, so it is all up in the air. I have gone through dozens of re-writes and edits of the book, and have had some great people give me feedback along the way. Last spring I attended a writer's retreat with author Les Roberts and he really kick-started the editing process with his critique.


What was the first market you queried and why did you choose that market?
Again, with the picture book it was really a happy accident, and I am grateful that Jeffrey was willing to take a chance on me and provide his art for my story. I always wanted to release a picture book for children, but I always thought the novels and short stories would come first.

As a fifth grader I did a project to read a story by memory to the kindergartners, and now as an adult I find myself reading my own story to them!


What is your biggest obstacle when it comes to pitching yourself as a writer and what steps have you taken to overcome that obstacle?
In today's publishing world it is very hard to break into the field without a giant platform, so my biggest obstacle right now is establishing myself as an up-and-comer without anyone helping to open doors. Add to that, my family, a budget of zero, and very little time to devote to my passion of writing, and you can see some of what I am facing. Luckily, I have a very supportive wife who has helped overcome some of the obstacles by making sure I don't add additional roadblocks to my path.


Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book?
"Sammy's Birthday Surprise" is a picture book geared towards 0-4 year old readers. It follows Sammy, a tall purple creature, on a search to find his friends on his birthday.


If you could choose just one thing for your book to accomplish, what would it be?
For the Sammy picture books I already feel like I have accomplished much. Reading to kids at schools and events is fulfilling more than I ever thought it would be. I hope to complete at least three of these books and spread the word as far as I can about them.


How do you balance your life as a writer with your duties as a parent or spouse?
Bottom line is that if it were not for my wife I would not be writing this today. She has aided and supported me along the way and pushed me to continue when I thought it was getting to be too much. I work a job that has weird hours and on call shifts which cause a lot of problems and prevent me from ever having a normal schedule and groove, but I do my best to not let it be an excuse. The thought that I need to be doing more as a father, a husband, and a writer all at once is daunting, but I have found sacrificing many other aspects of my life has allowed me to pursue my passions.


What is your best advice for getting past writer's block?
If you are working on something in particular and you are not sure how to proceed I give you two bits of advice.

The first thing to try is to step away from the story and take a walk or do something to let your mind breath a bit. Think about what it is that is making you stuck. If it is a problem with the story you need to talk out the next steps of the book. If it a problem with distractions you need to find somewhere new to write or find another way to eliminate the distractions.

Another thing you may try is to start working on a totally different project to help clear your head until you're ready to get back to it. The second thing is that writer's block can be used as a crutch in so many ways.

If you are truly stuck see step one, but if you are just pushing off the writing because the work seems to daunting then you need to look inside and see if this is truly what you want to be doing and committing to. If you find that it is then you must eliminate each and every excuse you have and just start writing.

Still… the best advice I ever got was from my wife who told me, one day after I pissed and moaned about roadblocks, that I needed to just shut up and start writing. She told me to stop self-editing before I even write anything. Let the story happen, get it down on paper and then, when finished, then and only then is it time to edit. Since then I haven't stopped working and writing and I feel that I improve everyday.


What do you feel is the single most detrimental thing a writer could do to destroy his/her career as a writer?
This is easy, the single most detrimental thing a writer can do to destroy their career is: Stop writing.


What’s ahead for your writing?
Lots and lots more of it.

The follow book to my children's book, "Sammy's New Neighbor". It is a mystery concerning Sammy's friends and a few missing tomatoes.

I am also finishing my debut novel, "A LIFE OF INCHES". It is a coming of age love triangle story that follows two friends competing in everything they do even for the heart of the same woman.
Also, I am on the lookout for collaborators to work with on a short story mystery book revolving around the city of Cleveland, Ohio where I live. I think it would be very interesting and educational to gather 15-20 authors for something like this. So, if anyone is out there and interested in getting involved just drop me an email!

Visit Douglas Esper at http://www.sammysfriends.com/index.html

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more great articles geared towards authors and writers, check out the Writing Center.

Spoonful of Comfort, Soup review

We were all set to have the homemade enchiladas I made the night before when my package from Spoonful of Comfort arrived.

Looking at the large box sitting on our kitchen table my husband asked, "What did you get?"

I, of course, wasn't sure myself as I'd just set the box on the table without looking at the address label. "I don't know," I replied.

Upon opening the box, he looked bewildered. "Chicken soup? What did they do? Send it in a powder? I can't imagine that tasting good."

Realizing who the package was from, I just giggled. "He's in for a real treat," I thought to myself.

You see… I just cannot make a good pot of chicken soup. My mom never taught me and unfortunately she died before ever having the chance. Now, my mother-in-law can make a mean pot of chicken soup, but try as she might, I just never got the hang of it. Mine is either too salty, or too bland. And sometimes it just has a weird after-taste.

That's why this particular review was so exciting to me! I couldn’t imagine homemade chicken soup arriving ready to eat and tasting good. But I sure was going to give it a try.

Upon opening the package I was in for a real treat… it was packaged as though I were celebrating a birthday or something. Just beautiful!

The food came carefully packaged in brown strips of crinkled paper with a decorative paper placed on top. And on top the paper was a lovely card welcoming me to the company and offering good thoughts. Inside the card was another card, a much smaller card, telling me all about the company.

Each parcel of food had a nice yellow bow tied around it, which ironically just so happens to be our "family" color.

The first thing I removed from the package was the bread, 6 buns in all. Then out came this space-aged looking wrapper labeled, "Chicken Soup". I had to giggle at the sight of this packaging. It reminded me of something that would have come straight out of that old television series, "Lost in Space".

After removing the space-aged wrapping, which was really insulation, I discovered a large glass jar wrapped in bubble wrap—and it was cold, really cold. Next to the jar was a "Cold Ice" gel pack. (Which I immediately put into the freezer, realizing it will come in handy this summer.)

Then I found them…

Six large oatmeal-raisin cookies—and I couldn't help myself. I just had to eat one. I haven't had a good oatmeal-raisin cookie in years and I was really curious to see how these guys tasted. And all I can say is, "Oh my! These are the BEST oatmeal-raisin cookies I've tasted in years." They were very moist, had a nice smooth texture, and there was absolutely no graininess... which can sometimes happen when using brown sugar.

After succumbing to the oatmeal-raisin cookies, I pulled out my grandmother-in-law's old metal soup pot (just seemed fitting) and poured the soup into the pot. As I poured the soup into the pot, it got stuck in the jar. The soup was slightly frozen so I needed to gently break the ice pieces apart with a fork, then pour the rest into the pot.

One thing I noticed right off the bat were the nice chunks of real chicken—not processed chicken, not imitation bits, but real white meat. Then I noticed the noodles. The noodles were large and thick, which was a little bit of concern for me since we don't normally eat pasta in this house. Then I saw the bits of carrots and celery—just small enough to taste and add substance to the meal.

As the soup began to warm, I turned the stove on to 325 degrees… a good temperature for heating a few buns. Then I dug right back into those cookies, but shh… don't tell my daughter…I always make her wait to eat her dessert.

Once I began smelling the soup, I plopped the buns on a cookie sheet and baked them for about ten minutes.

By that time the soup was warm and ready to eat.

To be honest, I was a little nervous about eating the chicken soup. It looked really good, but I'd never ordered freshly made food over the Internet before, nor have I ever received such a treat. I'm not sure what I was expecting but one thing I wasn't expecting was how yummy it actually tasted.

The broth was not thin, but it wasn't thick. It was somewhere in the middle. The noodles were definitely thicker than any I've ever bought but the flavor was mild and a welcome treat. The noodles were what I would consider tender-firm. They were not mushy and they were not hard, they were in the words of Goldilocks, "just right".

As for the flavor, it was subtle. But if you find it a little bland, like my husband, just add a little salt and pepper and it'll fix it right up!

You can order your very own all natural, preservative-free chicken soup at www.spoonfulofcomfort.com or you can contact them via phone at 1-877-404-7678

The cookies are 6 for $6, the buns are 6 for $6, and the soup is $34 for a family-sized jar, with shipping costs varying based upon location and carrier service. And one more thing, if you're not going to eat it the same day, it can be refrigerated for up to three days.

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary package for review purposes. This is an unbiased review.

© Alyice Edrich, All Rights Reserved. www.alyiceedrich.net


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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles geared towards busy parents, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

Interview with Sheri Fink

Sheri Fink grew up in a small town in Virginia and graduated from George Mason University and earned her Bachelors degree in Communication and her Masters degree in Telecommunications. She began writing as a child and continued throughout her successful marketing career. In 2010, she decided to pursue her passion for making a difference in the lives of others through writing and, in 2011, her first book was published.


What was your path towards publication like?
I did a lot of research and talked with authors who had been traditionally published as well as self-published. Based on my findings, I chose to self-publish and decided to use Lulu.com for my printing, payment processing, and order fulfillment.

As a result, I was able to have my first book, "Dreams Come True: Your Daily Journal for Maximum Success & Well-Being," on the market within a few weeks. The Journal is based on Jack Canfield's book, "The Success Principles."


What was the first market you queried and why did you choose that market?
The more I learned about the traditional publishing industry, the less I wanted to be a part of it. I was anxious to get my message out much faster and wanted to have more creative control in the process, so I self-published without querying any traditional publishers.


What is your biggest obstacle when it comes to pitching yourself as a writer and what steps have you taken to overcome that obstacle?
The biggest obstacle was meeting other writers and learning from their experiences. It can be hard to be taken seriously if you don't already have a book out on the topic and it can be difficult to finish a book if you don't have the friendships in the writing community (your tribe) already in place.

I attended the Southern California Writers' Conference for the first time last year and that's when I started having conversations with successful writers. When I have the privilege to speak with writers, I often ask if there's anyone else they recommend I talk with. That helps open the door to a conversation with another writer and I learn so much for every conversation. Also, social media networks make it a lot easier to initiate conversations and keep in touch with writers you admire.


Aside from magazine articles and book contracts, how can someone earn money writing?
I've found that ghostwriting for blogs and social media sites for businesses can be a good way to earn money writing. A lot of businesses don't have the internal resources to dedicate the time and energy that are necessary for their social media presence. These companies need writers who can represent them professionally and also be personable to their customers online.


Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book?
I'm really excited about my latest book, "The Little Rose."

It's a story about a little rose who grows up in a weedbed and believes that she's the weed. Teased by the weeds around her because she's different, the Little Rose nearly gives up but then learns to accept and love herself for what she really is, a beautiful rose. The story inspires children to embrace who they are despite their immediate environments. "The Little Rose" is a beautifully illustrated picture book for children ages 5-10 and shares a message about self-esteem, overcoming bullying, and believing in yourself.


If you could choose just one thing for your book to accomplish, what would it be?
It's important to me for children to know how precious they are and that they don't need anyone else's approval or permission to be happy and healthy kids. It's especially relevant right now with all of the bullying that's being discussed in the media.


How do you balance your life as a writer with your duties as a parent or spouse?
I'm very fortunate to have a wonderful husband who supports and encourages me on a daily basis. I run my business from home and do my writing during the 8-10 hours that he's at the office each day. Author events often take place in the evenings and on weekends and he is almost always able to join me. I feel very grateful for his help and his ongoing belief in my book and it's message.


What is your best advice for getting past writer's block?
I have two tips:

1 - I like to use Dragon NaturallySpeaking software to speak my ideas and have the software type what I'm saying into Word. It helps me keep moving forward on days when it's hard to get started. It's a lot easier for me to talk than it is to write sometimes. Then, I can go back and edit it, just like I would normally do.

2 - Sometimes it's better for me to stop what I'm doing and go do something fun and inspiring. Changing it up helps take the pressure off and releases the block. When I get back to my desk, I feel energized and the ideas start flowing again.


What was the best writing-related advice you ever received?
The best advice I received was to talk with people who are successful at it. You get so much more insight into the world of a writer when you talk with people who are already doing it. I've spoken with several best-selling authors to get ideas on what worked, what didn't, and what they would do differently. Most people are happy to talk with up and coming writers who are polite and appreciative. Their insights are invaluable.


What do you feel is the single most detrimental thing a writer could do to destroy his/her career as a writer?
The most detrimental thing would be giving up on their writing and/or putting their work down. No one else will want to read your work if you don't believe in it. Having a positive attitude and optimistic view of the future can make a big difference in the level of success and longevity of the writing career.


What’s ahead for your writing?
I'm really focused on launching the book tour and promotional campaigns for "The Little Rose." After that, I'm working on an eBook on how to "Publish and Start Selling Your Book in 10 Days or Less" based on my successful self-publishing experience. I want to help other writers bring their books to life so they can share their message with the world in a big way. I also may write my next children's book this year.


Visit Sheri Fink at http://sherifink.blogspot.com or http://thelittlerosebook.blogspot.com/

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more great articles geared towards authors and writers, check out the Writing Center.

Accidentally On Purpose

The first time I saw Jenna Elfman act was in “Dharma and Greg" and I was instantly drawn to her acting abilities and her character…whose free-loving spirit was the complete opposite of me.

Jenna did a fantastic job as the quirky hippie loving Dharma but to be honest, I wasn’t so sure she could do as great a job as an uptight older woman. And to top it off, I didn’t think a show about an older, successful woman having a one night stand with a much younger, just-starting-to-build-his-career, man was going to be all that interesting, let alone comical.

But here I am rethinking that thought.

Jenna plays Billie, a 30-something San Francisco movie critic who breaks up with her rich boyfriend because he won’t commit. Determined to forget her problem, she gets drunk and has a one-night stand with a 20-something guy named Zack.

That one-night stand turns into two more one-night stands, which ultimately end up with Billie getting pregnant and asking Zack to move in with her. At first, the two try to do this whole “baby thing” as “friends” as they go about their dating lives.

But the more the two get to know each other, the more they discover just how much they belong together. Eventually, they begin dating and ultimately fall in love. But of course, their new relationship isn’t without complications and it’s those complications that make the storyline interesting, comical, and yes, entertaining.

After watching all of season one, I can say that it’s not the best comedy on the face of the earth, but it’s not all that bad, either. There were several times throughout the season that I laughed out loud, and a few times that I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

If you’ve missed seeing Jenna in a comedy, you need to give “Accidentally On Purpose” a try. You can watch it on Netflix instant stream, or you can purchase a copy on Amazon.com for just $30.

Interview with Janet Morris Grimes

Janet Morris Grimes is the author of The Parent's Guide to Uncluttering Your Home, scheduled to be released early in through Atlantic Publishing. She launched Abbandoned Ministries late in 2010, which leads others through her writing and speaking to seek God, as Abba, during times of abandonment. She currently writes monthly for Christian Woman Today, The Christian Pulse, the grief website Open to Hope, and Mamapedia.

What was your path towards publication like?
Slow, and not what I expected. My first article was published on Father's Day, 1990, in a local column in The Tennessean, our newspaper back in Nashville. I fell into a rhythm with that column, getting published every few months and thrilled that my friends and family could read it. But raising kids and keeping up with life took over and my writing was placed on the back burner. It wasn't until we relocated to Detroit in 2009, through my husband's job transfer, that I considered writing as a career, since it was all I ever truly wanted to do.


What was the first market you queried and why did you choose that market?
Probably a greeting card company, because I have always read them and often chose to write my own, never finding something that said what I truly wanted to say. Though I still don't have any greeting cards actually published, it is still on my 'to do' list.


What is your biggest obstacle when it comes to pitching yourself as a writer and what steps have you taken to overcome that obstacle?
Understanding the industry.

I approached it, at first, as if I would write a book, then find a publisher to publish it and everything else I hope to write. But it doesn't work that way; at least not in the beginning. As a writer, you must find out what publishers need to be written, and fill that void for them. That's how I ended up being the author of a book on uncluttering the home.

As for pitching myself, there is no overcoming the learning curve. It takes an investment of time, research, and learning craft to present myself as a professional. There are no shortcuts. If I hope to be a writer, I must write, and keep writing, using my rejections as stepping stones to the next project.


Aside from magazine articles and book contracts, how can someone earn money writing?
Book packagers hire people to write books. I knew nothing about that before I did it. I bid on the project, submitted some writing samples, and came away with a contract. Though I consider it to be rather low-paying, and I won't receive any royalties on this book, the experience is invaluable. I am also getting into writing for blogs, again for little pay, but if you find the right ones, the ones that already have a great amount of traffic, it is another way to learn the business while writing, especially the way the search engines rule the internet world.


Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book?
The Parent's Guide to Uncluttering Your Home covers everything from getting the family to buy in, making them a part of the process, and learning to let go of so much stuff. The less you have to manage, the easier it is to do. I interviewed ten different experts during this process, and what I learned above all else is that we have an attachment to our stuff, but you can teach yourself to let go, and must model this for your kids as well, so they can learn to manage their own belongings. It is not the parent's job to do it for everyone.


If you could choose just one thing for your book to accomplish, what would it be?
That it would be well-received, and lead to other speaking and writing opportunities.


How do you balance your life as a writer with your duties as a parent or spouse?
I've always worked outside the home, so the greatest struggle now is learning how to be "off duty," and pay attention on my family when they are home.

I have to view this as launching a career, and honestly, the writing is the easy part. Marketing and publishing do not come as easily, and there are always so many loose ends to tie up. There are a million details running through my head and I'm not sure how to turn them off. Most days, I wish I had a boss to tell me whether or not I am doing this correctly. But still, I understand enough to know that if I don't take the time to live and enjoy life, I will soon run out of things worth writing about.


What is your best advice for getting past writer's block?
What is the opposite of Writer's Block? I think that's what I suffer from more than anything else.

After putting my writing aside for so many years, now that I've unleashed the beast, I can't write fast enough to keep up with all the stories oozing to get out. If I come across a stumbling block, I usually jot down a few ideas and then take a shower or take a walk. Then, a title might pop into my head, or my mind works through the transitions without me being aware of it.


What was the best writing-related advice you ever received?
Most advice I received didn't mean as much when I first received it, but it was because I was not ready to hear it. When I heard that the average author gets their fifth book published, I didn't want to be that person. I wanted to be the one who zoomed to success the first time. But it takes years to grasp how to do this; an investment of 10,000 hours as it's been estimated, to learn the craft of writing in such a way that people will want to read it. I am getting there, I believe.

It's like the story of The Tortoise and the Hare, I want to be the Hare, but if you take time to read the story, the Tortoise wins every single time. So, now I'm a tortoise, and some days I wonder if I'm getting anywhere at all, but I suppose he did too, on his way to the finish line.


What do you feel is the single most detrimental thing a writer could do to destroy his/her career as a writer?
Give up when they get rejected. There was a time last year when I received more rejections in a one month period that I could handle. They hurt, and I doubted. But I took a few days to regroup, read what the rejections were actually saying, (some are laced with golden tidbits of exactly what to do differently), and then launched in an entirely new direction, tackling my toughest project yet. And it proved to be my best.


What’s ahead for your writing?
I have several personal book projects that I'm working on; a non-fiction book about growing up without a father, and how that pushed me toward a relationship with God. There are numerous stories from my fifteen years as a 9-1-1 Operator that beg me to share them, once I determine the proper format.

General fiction is my current genre, but I feel pulled toward Young Adult and Children's Literature as well. I've written a series of children's stories based on the Character Counts Series, though I'm still seeking a publisher for those. Like I said before, now that I've unleashed the beast, I have a tough time keeping up with it.

I'm heading to some writing conferences this summer, to pitch my book ideas and hope to get these proposals in the right hands. Attending a writing conference is like taking 40 writing courses at once. It saturates me with knowledge; and it takes a while to process it all. But my writing changes when I do this, and I can't unlearn any of it.

If I had a theme for 2010, it would have been "I'm amazed by what I thought I knew," because what I thought I understood about writing simply exploded last year. And I'm better for it.

My theme for 2011 is "My tongue is the pen of a skillful writer." It's found in Psalms 45:1, and speaking is clearly where I'm headed next. I feel at home there, at the lectern or on the stage, speaking the same words that ooze out all over my pages at home. Toastmasters, International has taught me how to do this, and my goal is to do it well. Though my journey as a writer started when I was 11, it is really only just beginning. Just like my 8-page-story back in the sixth grade, I can't wait to see how this one ends.

You can visit Janet Morris Grimes at http://janetmorrisgrimes.com  or http://abbandoned.com 

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more great articles geared towards authors and writers, check out the Writing Center.

Interview with Erin MacPherson

Erin MacPherson lives with her husband and their two (make that two-and-a-half—baby #3 is on the way) adorable children in Austin, Texas. She was an editor and staff writer for a popular parenting and pregnancy website for years, where she spent hours each week researching pregnancy, talking to obstetricians and midwives, and giving out tips and advice to new and pregnant mamas.

What was your path towards publication like?
I sometimes cringe when I think about all of the mistakes I made in my path to publication. I was so naïve! I am impulsive—as evidenced by the empty carton of Ben & Jerry's sitting in front of me right now. So, when I had the idea to write a Christian Pregnancy book, I impulsively started querying agents without any thought to research or best practices or anything. When one agent wrote back and asked me for a proposal, my response was "What's that?!" Fortunately, that same agent took me under her wing and really showed me the ropes. Seven months later, she secured me a book deal with Guideposts.


What was the first market you queried and why did you choose that market?
I queried several Christian agents in a short, one-week period and got a response from two of them. I chose the Christian market because I wanted my book to be targeted towards young, Christian moms and I knew that since it was a niche market, I needed to find a niche agent.


What is your biggest obstacle when it comes to pitching yourself as a writer and what steps have you taken to overcome that obstacle?
I think my biggest obstacle has been platform. I write non-fiction, so publishers are typically looking for someone with a radio show or a huge blog following or amazing credentials. But, I'm a simple stay-at-home mom from Texas with none of those platforms, so I really had to get creative to convince publishers and agents that I was the author to write this book. I have to admit that I still haven't overcome this obstacle. My blog audience is growing but it's nowhere near what a lot of other authors have, and I'm still the same Texas mama that I was before.


Aside from magazine articles and book contracts, how can someone earn money writing?
Most of the money I've earned from writing has been through my two web writing and editing positions. Both of these staff writing positions were part time, work-from-home gigs that I found on Craig's List.
My advice to people looking for writing gigs is to search Craig's List and Media Bistro on a daily basis and apply, apply, apply. Even if you don't have all of the credentials, companies may hire you based on writing samples alone (that's how I got my gig at Nickelodeon—I had none of their desired credentials).

I also encourage you to get your writing out there—whether it's via a blog or magazine articles or on websites. The more access people have to your work, the better chance you have to eventually getting paid.


Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book?
Of course I can! A few years ago when I was pregnant with my second baby, I was a bit tired of all the medically-centered (read: boring) books there were on pregnancy. I went to the bookstore to find something more light and fun and found that while there were a lot of books on the shelves, there weren't any targeted at young Christian moms. My book, "The Christian Mama's Guide to Having a Baby" fills that void. It's a complete pregnancy guide—with information on everything from morning sickness to labor and delivery to weight gain to maternity clothes—but it's written in a light, girlfriend-to-girlfriend tone.


If you could choose just one thing for your book to accomplish, what would it be?
I hate being pregnant. Absolutely hate it. So, my hope for my book is that it gives pregnant moms—moms who are experiencing the gamut of pregnancy symptoms—a light-hearted and fun escape that's also educational. If I can make one pregnant woman laugh—and enjoy their pregnancy a little bit more than they otherwise would have, then my job has been accomplished.


How do you balance your life as a writer with your duties as a parent or spouse?
I wish I could read everyone else's responses to this question because I feel like this is the one area of life that I struggle with most. I have (almost) three kids under 5. Plus, I work part-time from home and try to write on the side. As you can imagine, a lot of balls get dropped. One thing I've learned is that it is 100% impossible to write or work when I'm responsible for my kids. I've tried that—and failed miserably. I'd start writing only to get interrupted by a kid who wanted a drink. I'd start playing Candyland only to get a call from my boss. I learned really quickly that if I was going to be a successful writer or mother, I had to get good childcare. Now my kids go to preschool two days a week and I have a nanny for one additional day. That's my writing time—when the house is quiet and I have no distractions. Then, on the other days, I make my kids a priority. I turn off my blackberry and shut down my computer and focus on my kids. This has brought some balance.


What is your best advice for getting past writer's block?
Coffee, chocolate and sugar—and maybe a little bit of wine. Seriously, whenever I reached a point in my book where I had no clue what to write, I got up and made myself an iced mocha or--if it was after my kids were in bed-- a glass of wine. The change of pace and treat often helped me to clear my head and figure out what to write next. If that didn't work, I'd grab my trusty Golden Retriever and go for a walk around the neighborhood.


What was the best writing-related advice you ever received?
When I got my book deal, I was given two months to finish my entire manuscript. I panicked. My agent told me to just relax and trust myself and let the words flow. That really helped. I think sometimes writers (myself included) try so hard to get eloquent words on paper that they overwrite. But each writer has a unique voice and if you sit back and let that unique voice flow, your work will be better for it.


What do you feel is the single most detrimental thing a writer could do to destroy his/her career as a writer?
Write a million annoying query letters to agents claiming to be the next John Grisham and demanding a six-figure contract based on query alone. You laugh, but it's true. I think it's so important as a writer to be teachable. I've learned so much from my editor, other writers and agents and I know I wouldn't be even close to where I am today had I not heeded their advice. I think a lot of writers get overly confident and lose that teachable spirit and in doing so, miss out on some great opportunities for growth.


What’s ahead for your writing?
I'm working on three follow-up books in the Christian Mama's Guide series: "The Christian Mama's Guide to Actually Having a Baby", "The Christian Mama's Guide to the Terrible One-and-a-Halfs" and "The Christian Mama's Guide to Eating Chocolate and Still Being (Kinda) Skinny". I also still work as an editor and writer for We Are Teachers.

Visit Erin MacPherson at http://www.christianmamasguide.com

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more great articles geared towards authors and writers, check out the Writing Center.

Chinese Brush Painting, the dvd

I have always been fascinated by Chinese art. It's so beautiful to gaze upon and often provokes a sense of calm. Some days I can just sit and stare for hours. But the idea of Chinese brush painting always eluded me.

On the one hand, it seemed effortless and poetic. On the other hand, it seemed difficult and hard to master. So when I saw that Netflix had the dvd of "Chinese Brush Painting" by Jane Evans available for rent, I just had to check it out.

The video is created for absolute beginners which is rather nice. Jane takes you through the various materials needed and why she feels certain materials are more important than others. Then she walks you through practice steps designed to teach you to master the various brush strokes--concentrating on the plum blossom, bamboo, orchid and chrysanthemum.

Once she's accomplished this task, she shows you how to peony and follow it up with a tea wash. Finally, she talks about observing nature in its natural habitat and then painting these subjects from complete memory.

The one drawback—and in my opinion it is a big one—is that the cameraman seemed to keep at a distance. So while the instruction was top notch, the taping wasn't. I could see the brush strokes in action, but because of the angle of the camera, I wasn't able to get an up close and personal look at how those strokes were actually made.

It definitely would've made for a stronger presentation if we could get closer to the brush itself. Still, it's not a bad dvd for beginners--especially not for those thinking of giving Chinese brush painting a try.

You can rent this dvd on Netflix, or purchase a copy of it on Amazon.com for just $18.

Interview with Kathleen Pickering

Kathleen Pickering is an award-winning author with more than just a story to tell. Her goal as a writer is to inspire readers in every aspect of their lives. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, and Thriller Writers. When not writing, Kathleen conducts workshops on writing and assists colleagues with their conferences and workshop presentations.

What was your path towards publication like?
Rocky, at best. I began in an environment where the only one sharing my dream, was me. Unfortunately, the confidence I lacked at an early age stayed with me as I swam against the tide of criticisms and rejections as an adult. Let’s just say, I beached my writing intentions for way too long before the unquenchable urge to write set me afloat once more. (I’m a boater, can you tell?)

While I was constantly writing during my quiet years, I treated it as a hobby . . . or worse, a secret escape from the mundane realities lapping at my world. Don’t get me wrong. I have lived a wonderful life, raising my now-grown, and on their own, sons and married to my husband of thirty-something years. But, anything that was not writing seemed mundane to me.

Sadly to say, not even with my first sale, or winning awards for my works, did my confidence return. It was not until the past five years when I realized (at my ripe age!) that I am the only one who really matters in the decisions of my future. So, I stopped pleasing the people around me, which confused and irritated many!
However, I’m back on track, attending conferences, submitting to publishers, making friends with fabulous authors. I’ve landed an agent, and in the meantime, am putting my works on Kindle because, damn it all, it takes too long to get read and ultimately, rejected, by the publishing houses. Today’s new technology has opened doors to publishing that didn’t exist back when I began writing.


What was the first market you queried?
The first market I queried was the romance industry. I sent GODLEN DAGGER (historical romance) to Harlequin. They had it for 9 months before finally rejecting it. I chose (and still choose) romance writing because I believe it is LOVE that fuels mankind’s motives above and beyond all else—even if it’s a love of power and/or money! I love reading and watching romance stories and will always include a romance, even as a secondary plot, in all of my stories. Love is the fiber that binds us all. I can’t imagine ignoring it.


What was your biggest obstacle when it comes to pitching yourself to the media and what steps have you taken to overcome that obstacle?
That confidence issue comes back to haunt me so I don’t do pitch sessions well. I choke up and can’t describe the story in those few precious lines that are required in pitch sessions.

I have overcome this obstacle by keeping myself available for networking opportunities, i.e., meeting editors and agents at conferences, workshops, in bars or at parties. I find it much easier to talk about myself and my work in a casual situation than in that “spotlight” moment of a one-on-one interview. I have gotten more requests to see work through casual conversations than pitching.


Other than book contracts and magazine articles, how can writers make writing?
The first answer that springs to mind, for me, is to establish yourself as an expert in some form of the writing world and present workshops at conferences or conduct on-line classes.
I am in the process of working with other authors creating “how to” videos for beginning writers. Also, if you have a craft you can share (I have marketing tips and vision-creating workshops to keep focused as a writer), money can be made offering on-line classes through various organizations. One, for example, is Romance Writers of America (www.rwa.org). They have hundreds of chapters, many of which offer on-line classes and are looking for teachers.

Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book?
I’m very excited about my urban fantasy, MYTHOLGOICAL SAM. This book, “The Call,” is the first of a comical, demon-busting trilogy of man vs. Lucifer. The premise had divine inspiration for me. (I’m embarrassed to mention it, really, but the vision Sam has as a boy in the book’s prologue actually happened to me as a 24 year old woman in a Catholic church. This is the first time I’m saying this out loud.) I’ve been puzzling for thirty years over what I should do with the information I um . . . inherited . . . from that moment. Just two years ago, Sam Wilson emerged as my character and the story has practically been writing itself. This will be a trilogy that ends with man’s ultimate triumph against himself (Ego versus spirit) told with humor and a boat-load of imagination and fun.


If you could choose just one thing for your book to accomplish, what would it be?
Dare I answer this? My one wish to accomplish from this book is that the reader, by the time he/she is finished, will begin to think with his/her spirit instead of his/her mind.

Harry Potter takes readers deep into the dark side of the soul. I want to lift everyone into the light. Maybe Sam Wilson can help make this world a better place for us all.


How do you balance your life as a writer with the real world?
I did such a lousy job over the past 25 years, in supporting my writing life, that now it really has all my focus. My sons are grown and living their wonderful lives which has freed up my focus completely. My husband now understands the give-and-take of honoring each other’s needs and supports me in every way possible to achieve my goal as a professional author. He, too, has his passion which is astronomy. Now with our free time, he goes star gazing all over the country (and the world) and I attend my writing conferences. Our relationship is solid enough that we can go our separate ways and return to share our adventures.
As for the day job. I’m lucky to work from home. I split my day: Writing from 6 am to 11:30 am. Work: 1pm to 5 pm. If this gets altered, I make up the writing time as needed.


Do you have any advice for writers?
Most precious? Honor and protect your calling. If you even think you should write, well then, you’re a writer. We all have our talents and reasons for being on this earth. Don’t deprive the world of your talents—your stories.

Make the time to write/research—no matter how often—just be consistent. Realize if you write one page a day, you’ll have a book in a year. If you can recruit the folks in your life to support your dream, all the power to you. If you cannot, just know your dream is all you need. Write. Period. And, never give up.


What is your best advice for getting past writer's block?
Research! Writer’s block comes for me because I don’t have enough information on my subject. Once I immerse myself in more information, new ideas emerge and I’m back to writing.


What is the best writing advice you have ever received and how has it helped?
As keynote speaker at a Florida Romance Writers conference, mega-author, Christina Dodd, said (and I paraphrase), “All writers have that road to publication outside their door. The beautiful thing about that path is that you can step onto it, or step off it, at any time. The road will always be there.”

This has helped me because I realized that it’s never too late to achieve your dream—as a writer or whatever it may be. It does no good to criticize myself for wasting time all these years in achieving my personal goals as an author. Those years weren’t wasted. I did other amazing things, like raise kids, love a man and make friends for life. Now that my time is more or less my own, I’m not only stepping on the path, I’m running full speed wearing high-tech sneakers. I’d take my Ferrari (if I had one!), but I don’t want to miss a thing along the way!


What is the single-most career killer for an author?
Being a pompous ass. Success as an author is a huge responsibility. It doesn’t make you royalty, more important, or entitled. It makes you a success at your craft; someone to be emulated.

An author should be as excited and generous with his/her achievements as are their family, friends and fans. There is enough success to go around for everyone. If an author becomes self-important and rude, it kills good will from readers, other authors and ultimately, publishers and agents. No one wants to spend their good money and time on a difficult personality.


What is ahead for your writing?
Well, book two and three of MYTH SAM. I’m hoping to spend time in Hawaii where I’ll set the final book. It’s tricky writing this trilogy as I don’t want to preach and yet want to make a marvelous call to adventure to which everyone can relate. So, I’m up for the challenge and loving it!

I’m also working on a Time Travel romance for a woman cursed in love who happens to live in my home town of Amityville, NY. Amityville has received enough attention as a horror. (Halloween in Amityville is a nightmare. Tourists arrive by the bus load!) I’m going to give the friendly Bay Village a love story!


Visit Kathleen Pickering at http://www.kathleenpickering.com/ or read her blog at http://killzoneauthors.blogspot.com/

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more great articles geared towards authors and writers, check out the Writing Center.

Interview with Cinnamon McCann

When the economy struck the real estate market, Cinnamon McCann allowed herself time to grieve, then she picked herself up and reinvented herself. Today, she uses the skills and lessons learned in running her own businesses to help other women develop a sexy confidence in themselves; a confidence that empowers them to take back control of their lives and follow their own dreams.

What was your path towards publication like?
The path to publication was initially pretty rough because it was something I had never done before. And with the surplus of information out there, it was hard to determine which direction to go with self-publishing. I had an idea to create two separate book series. I figured since I was a new writer most publishing companies wouldn't take me seriously and I would be responsible for doing my own marketing, anyway. So since I figured I had to do all the work, it made sense for me to retain all of my intellectual property rights and do it myself.


What inspired you to start writing?
With the downturn of the economy, I found myself in a horrible position. I had been an entrepreneur my whole career and suddenly I was faced with my businesses failing at a rapid pace. I wasn't bringing in any income and depression hit me like a ton of bricks!

I had always associated my success with how much money I made and now that I wasn't bringing in any income. I took it personal. I processed it as being a failure. It was an extremely rough time in my life. I couldn't eat and I spent entirely too much time in the bed sleeping and crying.

I typically read books to get inspired and the type of books that I needed at the time didn't exist so during the less draining days of depression, I decided to create it.


What was your biggest obstacle when it comes to pitching yourself to the media and what steps have you taken to overcome that obstacle?
The biggest challenge when pitching myself to the media was finding the appropriate angle. Sending an email to the media saying , "Hey I wrote this book, please interview me," doesn't get attention. I had to determine how my book was newsworthy and relevant. The media get tons of requests so I had to make sure that my pitch showed the relevancy immediately, so it wouldn't be trashed upon arrival.


Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book?
My latest book is the first book in The Stiletto Series; a series of non-fictions books and guides geared toward women. It is entitled "Self-Publishing in Stilettos: A Woman's Guide to Publishing With Confidence." This book is a concise guide that will show readers how to make their publishing dream a reality.


If you could choose just one thing for your book to accomplish, what would it be?
My goal is to be the leading guide to self-publishing. I am a non-fiction junkie and I hate reading books that give more fluff rather than practical useful information. So I hope readers will feel that they were encouraged and enlightened.


What is your best advice for getting past writer's block?
Try running away to a quiet library. I always found myself to be too nosey to get anything done at coffee shops or others places that have a ton of people and frequent activity. You can also speak you ideas into a tape recorder and have the file transcribed, then edit the transcription.


What do you feel is the single most detrimental thing a writer could do to destroy his/her career as a writer?
Being shy can destroy your writing career. You have to let the world know about your writing. You can't sell books if no one knows about you.

Use social media to plug your books, but don't forget about the power of actually meeting people in person. Plan to attend networking events which relate to your book niche or reader demographic. You should also consider getting business cards made that have your book cover on the back.


What's ahead for your writing?
I am continuing to add more non-fiction guides for The Stilettos Series and I am in the process of completing the first book for my second book series, "You Made It: Mom Entrepreneur Edition". It will be released October 2011.

You can learn more about Cinnamon McCann at http://www.selfpublishinginstilettos.com/

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more great articles geared towards authors and writers, check out the Writing Center.

New Business Card

Did you know that aside from running The Dabbling Mum eMagazine and this blog, that I am a freelance writer? I even offer my services as an artist's assistant and writer's assistant.

Over the last two years, I've been keeping it low-key, but all these author interviews have really inspired me to get back out there and start pitching myself again.

It's funny, really.

I started interviewing authors again because I wanted to help the writing community. You see, I had lost my passion for writing, and with the down economy and hard times the writing industry, as a whole, has been experiencing, I was hearing more and more writers were feeling the same way.  That's when I realized that we've all been so consumed with just trying to stay afloat and get by that we've lost that "community" that made writing so joyous and fun. That community that encouraged and inspired each other and pushed each other to be better.

And I missed it. Now, that's not to say that the community of which I speak isn't still out there somewhere... it just hasn't been in my little circle.

So I thought I would be fun to bring it back. And I thought promoting other writers by asking them to "pay it forward" by sharing some of the lessons they've learned along the way while they promote their books would be a good place to start.

What I didn't expect was to become so inspired, and definitely not so fast! The more I edit the interviews and schedule them to go live on this blog, the more I find myself wanting to get back into the industry full-time again.

So I went out and created a new business card. What do you think?

Interview with Joan Meijer

Joan Meijer wrote her first novel when she was eight years old—all ten pages. Today, she's a professional writer with 15 books under her belt, including "MetaFitness: Your Thoughts Taking Shape", which was co-authored with Suzy Prudden and featured on Oprah.

What was your path towards publication like?
Hugely frustrating. I guess I didn't hear what my agent was saying when she told me that she thought she had anthrax every time she coughed. My book is very real, it addresses the "it can't happen here" question. I finally just decided to do the publish-on-demand route since I knew I would have to do all the marketing anyway. I like the publisher. I love the marketing - which is a surprise.


What was the first market you queried and why did you choose that market?
The market for me is the thriller market. That's what I've written - a medical thriller. I have been compared to Tess Gerritsen and Robin Cook in reviews (and Stephen King because the book is scary) so I see that the market agrees with me.


What is your biggest obstacle when it comes to pitching yourself as a writer and what steps have you taken to overcome that obstacle?
The internet is HUGE. There are many sites available to talk on. I had to get acclimated to what was available. I found other people's blogs were a great place to start because that enabled me to find other outlets and other outlets to find me.

I use the social networking extensively both as sources for communication and as places to display my successes. I listen to any suggestions people make to me without exception.


Aside from magazine articles and book contracts, how can someone earn money writing?
I have been paid to write copy, brochures, descriptions of businesses, Ad copy, PR, scripts (sort for ads, long for movies), website copy - I have found that I enjoy writing everything as long as the people are nice.


Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book?
"Tranquillity Initiative" starts when President Charles Anderson is facing a tough reelection campaign in the middle of an unpopular war. He authorizes the use of illegal germ warfare weapons on the enemy to stop the war. Two of the bombs are taken off our base in Turkey and smuggled back into New York. One of the bombs is opened in an attempt to gain access to explosives for an IED. When no explosives are found the contents are dumped into Times Square.

Within days an anthrax plume erupts in New York. Dr. Cassandra Williams, the CDCs anthrax expert is sent to New York to find the source of the outbreak. She is joined by Junior Senator from New York Richland Powell who has learned of the other bomb. From that point on it is a race against death to prevent the proper launching of the second bomb and the infection of millions of New Yorkers.


If you could choose just one thing for your book to accomplish, what would it be?
I would like people to get the point that our foreign policy - in particular these useless wars in the Middle East - are creating enemies with nothing left to lose in their lives if they attack us.


How do you balance your life as a writer with your duties as a parent or spouse?
I am basically retired and don't have to balance much. I find that my writing takes me out of the flow of our household and let's my daughter be a complete wife and mother without interference from me.

My contribution is to fill in where needed. To always be available in case of emergencies. And to turn my grandchildren into readers. When I was married and parenting I found the balance very difficult. Once my children got into school I found it easier.


What is your best advice for getting past writer's block?
Another hat I wear is as a hypnotist. I made myself a hypnosis process (it's on my site) and I listen to it whenever I can't write... which is rare. In lieu of hypnosis I just start writing something - anything - and that usually gets the flow going. I usually don't edit as I go along which helps the flow.

What was the best writing-related advice you ever received?
The best advice of any kind, and it applies to writing as well as business and relationships and life is, "Keep Walking." Don't let anything or anyone stop you for any reason.

In today's market where you can publish your books on Smashwords and get them up on every single epub delivery system, there is no reason for holding back. There's a lot of criticism for going the self-published way because a great many bad writers show up in that venue. I've found bad writers in the conventional publishing venue as well - so I no longer listen to any negatives.

I write, I publish, I talk, I give my writing away, I charge less for it than a big publisher would and I figure that eventually I'll break through to mega-success. The big test was to send it out to a bunch of reviewers and to get really good reviews. After that it's all marketing.


What do you feel is the single most detrimental thing a writer could do to destroy his/her career as a writer?
Not writing is the worst. A writer may not be writing at a publishable level in the beginning, but they get better with practice. Reading and writing is how you learn your craft.

The other thing is never to get discouraged by rejects. Remember Amanda Hocking as an example. She was rejected by all the big publishers and she kept on writing. She self-published online - charged very low prices - developed a following and in January sold something like 450,000 copies of her books. Big publishers aren't even looking for the next Robin Cook - if they were they would have taken "Tranquillity Initiative," which gets rave reviews not only for the story but for my writing. So don't get discouraged by rejections.


Write and read and self-publish. If you sell your books for a dollar and you sell 100,000 of them, pretty soon you're talking real money. JK Rowling of Harry Potter fame was turned down by a dozen publishers. Don't let rejects stop you.


What’s ahead for your writing?
My next book, "Accidental Consequences" is another thriller with a medical twist that starts with the outing of Valerie Plame. After that I have a thriller with a medical twist, "Full Circle" that starts with the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan. I like mixing politics with scary medical plots and that's where I'm heading.

I generally blog tips for people who have questions about writing - like "Do I need an agent?" which was just published on self-growth.com. I take much of that material from a short book I wrote as a text for my classes in writing called "How To Write A Book That Positions You As An Expert In Your Field." I've spent years accumulating information about writing and I love sharing it. I'm still doing tons of writing projects outside novel writing. Suzy Prudden and I are nearly finished with a new book, I'm working on two new websites, I just sent in the written material for a Suzy Prudden workshop. I just keep writing every day.


Visit Joan Meijer at http://www.joanmeijer.com/

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more great articles geared towards authors and writers, check out the Writing Center.

Glee, the t.v. series

Before we dropped cable, my daughter and I used to set aside one evening a week to watch "Glee" together. It was one of the few teen shows that I actually liked. This week, my 79 year old father-in-law came to town to visit, and of course, my daughter had to introduce him to "Glee", season one.

To my surprise, he rather enjoyed it. Which got me thinking...

As a tween, I was hooked on a television show called "Fame". It was a much tamer version of "Glee" as it dealt more with everyday life and less with sexual drama and tension. And it was more dramatic in nature, more serious...whereas "Glee" is more humorous, light-hearted, and quirky.

Still, I can say that I am quite fond of "Glee".

I love the musical numbers, I love the theatrical performances, and I get a real kick out of hating Sue Sylvester who seems to have nothing better to do than try to destroy Glee Club.

Oh, and incase you've been living under a rock somewhere... here's the lowdown on "Glee".

Will is an underpaid high school teacher with a deep love of music. His number one goal is to help teenagers see their full creative potential while making Glee Club cool.

Sue is an overachieving high school teacher who has won numerous competitions and received outrageous monetary contributions for the high school cheerleaders, known as the Cheerios.

For reasons I still haven't figured out, Sue hates Will and does everything in her power to undermine him while working towards destroying Glee Club for good.

Aside from the back and forth banter of these two high school teachers, we get an up-close-and-personal view of the life of a high schooler and experience the stereotypical high school scenarios where jocks and cheerleaders are cool and band, drama, and choir are not.

And inbetween all that drama, there are some amazing musical numbers!

You can now watch the first season of "Glee" on Netflix instant streaming, or you can purchase from Amazon.com for just $34.99 for the first season. You can also watch the trailer to season one of "Glee" on YouTube.




Disclosure: I rented this series to review.