Interview with Business Expert, Cynthia Kocialski

Cynthia Kocialski grew up in New York. She did her undergraduate studies at the University of Rochester and graduate studies at the University of Virginia, where she graduated with degrees in electrical and systems engineering. After school, she worked in diverse roles and in a variety of product lines at IBM. Afterwards, Cynthia became the general manager from Matrox Electronics. For the past 15 years, she has founded 3 start-ups and been involved in dozens of others.

She is a big picture thinker, able to figure out how large, complex, interconnected systems and processes work. But is most admired for her extreme attention to detail. Over the years she learned that "if you want a job that you really love and care about, it has to be tailor-made for your talents and aspirations."


What was your path towards publication like?
My original purpose was to build an audience, not write a book. My book started out as an e-book, and grew into a book. I self-published my book because it was the easiest path. I gave little thought to the traditional versus self-publication choice. The publication and marketing process was a lot longer than I would have thought at the onset.


What is your biggest obstacle when it comes to pitching yourself as an author and what steps have you taken to overcome that obstacle?
I think it’s being unique and standing out from among the multitude of authors. To do this, readers have to know about you. I’ve been building an online presence and engaging the services of PR firms, book promoters, and marketing firms. I can’t do it all myself and I need the help of others to break through all the online clamor.


How do you balance your life as an entrepreneur with your duties as a parent or spouse?
Both parenting and entrepreneurship are demanding jobs.

The first trick is to be very good at time management and planning. You have to schedule blocks of time to work on each, and stick to the plan. You cannot be interrupt driven, and change what you are doing every time you get a request for the other side.

Second, you have to come to the realization that you can’t do everything and you need to hire people to help you.


What is your best advice for getting past writer's block?
My book is a non-fiction book so simply going to a business networking event and talking to others seems to jumpstart my thoughts again. Even downloading a business podcast and listening to it on my Smartphone works.


What was the best writing-related advice you ever received?
You don’t have to be the best writer or have the best content to have a popular book. The idea that spreads the most will win.


What do you feel is the single most detrimental thing an entrepreneur could do to destroy his/her career?
I think it’s not talking to customers early enough, even before the product is ready for the customer.


Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book?
“Startup From The Ground Up” explores why an entrepreneur can only go so far with just an idea. There are many people who dream of being an entrepreneur but most don’t know how to realize their dream.

New businesses don’t fail because companies are unable to build a product or offer a service; they fail because the business factors needed to bring that product into the market are neglected, ignored or misunderstood.

“Startup from the Ground Up” provides practical advice for how to get an entrepreneur gets moving down the right path and thinking in the right direction with how to transform an idea into a company.


How did you come up with the idea for your book?
When a few of my colleagues mentioned I should write a book, I had no idea what I would write about. I just knew it would be about start-up companies because that’s what I’ve done for years and the stories always seem to fascinate people over lunch.

So instead of starting with the book, I started a blog.

I wrote about a lot of different aspects of start-up companies, everything from product development to humor about employee antics to advertising. I watched what attracted readers, and there seemed to be three topics that were the most appealing to them: funding, marketing, and customer engagement.


What was the most difficult aspect of writing this book?
The hardest part is the reading it over and over again.


Did you have to do any special research for your book?
I did attend more entrepreneurship and start-up conferences than before. But instead focusing on the content begin delivered, I spent most of my time gauging the reaction of entrepreneurs to the content.


If you could choose just one thing for your book to accomplish, what would it be?
I hope would-be entrepreneurs reframe their thinking to see that a start-up company is about creating a business just as much as it is about creating a new product, and it needs to be done with as much intention, creativity, and deliberate action as the product.


What’s ahead for your writing?
I am in the process of writing a new book about passing on the lessons I’ve learned in the business world to help young girls become successful. Those lessons that they don’t teach you in school and I wish I knew when I got started.

You can learn more about Cynthia Kocialski at http://cynthiakocialski.com


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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 Sandy Steen Bartholomew

Sandy Steen Bartholomew is an author, illustrator, mixed-media artist and a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT). She also runs a Creativity General Store (Wingdoodle), a studio (BeezInk Studio), an Etsy shop (Bumblebat), a teaching studio (The Belfry), and a blog (Beez in the Belfry).

She is inspired by juicy, jewel-tones, rusty-crusty, peeling, earth-covered... things. Magic, mystery, bits, pieces, and weird little creatures. If it sits still, she'll paint it. Sandy lives with her two kids (Alex and Lilah) and her cat, Lilo, in their colorful, mixed-media house in New Hampshire.


How did you get started in your line of work?
I have been an illustrator my entire life. I drew on walls as a kid, did cartoons for a local newspaper as a teen, and started sending out my children's book manuscripts when I was 15. I also wanted to be an Egyptologist (Indiana Jones). I went to Brown University for the archaeology, then dropped out to go to the School of Visual Arts in NYC, then back to Providence for Rhode Island School of Design.


What was your path towards publication like?
I have been sending out manuscripts for most of my life, but one thing or another always happened to throw a wrench into the process. After I had kids, I stuck the ideas in the flat file and tried to "move-on".

After I learned Zentangle, I started working on a little book called AlphaTangle which I self-published with a local printer. I brought the sketches to a Zentangle training workshop, where I met Suzanne McNeill from Design Originals.

After I got up enough courage to actually talk to her, I showed her my sketches and she said, "So tell me about your book." I almost keeled over when I realized she meant a different book, not AlphaTangle; a new book. One I had never really thought about! That new thought eventually became Totally Tangled.


What is your biggest obstacle when it comes to pitching yourself as an author and what steps have you taken to overcome that obstacle?
I am an introvert. Very introverted. When I took the self-test inside "The Introvert Advantage"... they didn't have a score high enough to rate me.

Sometimes one obstacle or challenge can actually provide the solution for another one. For example: I got divorced this past winter. Not a good experience in itself or a great way to overcome introversion, but I found I "needed" to earn money and I "needed" to speak up and ask questions. So, I had to do a lot of things that did not come easily to me and being introverted wasn't an excuse anymore. I feel comfortable on the internet. So I pitch myself with my blog, website, Facebook, etc. I still don't like talking on the phone, though.


How do you balance your life as an entrepreneur with your duties as a parent or spouse?
I don't balance my life. I think my recent divorce proves that I failed as a spouse. Honestly, I think I terrified my ex-husband. I am an idea person and my brain generates new ideas faster than I can breathe.

I exhaust myself, and I can't multi-task. I need an assistant for my business and an Alice (from Brady Bunch) for my home. Then I think I would be a normal-ish human being. I think I am a good parent though.

My secret is to let go of the mommy-guilt. I learned when my son was very little that I could not be a stay-at-home mom. I couldn't be around people, even teeny ones that I adore, for more than a few hours at a time. So I worked very hard at finding other people who actually like playgrounds and story time and are more patient than I am... to watch my kids. And then, when they are with me in the afternoons or evening, I try to really pay attention to them. I listen and talk and play and watch movies with them. My kids seem OK with that set up.


What is your best advice for getting past writer's block?
Writer's block has never been a problem. But there are always two bad "moments" in every worthwhile project.

1. Getting started - but once I finally picture the project and what I want it to be - then things chug along.

2. The Mid-Life Crisis - at some point I panic and think I've messed it all up. I throw things around the studio, scream, stomp my feet, glare at the cat, eat some chocolate, get a new idea, and get moving again.


What was the best writing-related advice you ever received?
Write what you know.

The best, worst advice came from Natalie Babbitt. She was my hero and a teacher got me an interview with her at her home in Providence. I was thrilled beyond words. Just to bask in her presence... she looked at my work and my portfolio and told me to find another career. I was so mad, I vowed I would keep at it until I was more famous than she was. So, if you were just wondering, "Natalie who?" Then you made my day. If not, that's OK. "Tuck Everlasting" is still a classic.


What do you feel is the single most detrimental thing an entrepreneur could do to destroy his/her career?
I'd say... letting your customers down. That's my biggest fear. I don't want to disappoint people.


Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book?
I love this book! It's only 20 pages but it is packed as full as I could get it. It is called "Zentangle for Kidz " It is a comic book introduction to Zentangle and features my kids and cat. It was so much fun to draw and my son wrote the intro and the bit on Mendhi tattoos.


How did you come up with the idea for your book?
My publisher, Suzanne McNeill, called me up and said put your other project on hold and do a book on Zentangle for Kids. She wanted one that would fit into her Zentangle Basics line, but that was "her" line, not mine... and I am a bit of a pain. So I thought "20 pages. Stapled in the middle. OH! (light bulb!) A comic book!" And I have always joked that my children are more cartoon character than human.


What was the most difficult aspect of writing this book?
Paying the hotel bill. Yes, I am ashamed to say that most of my books are written in hotel rooms. It works out OK when the deadline is "off-season". My hotel of choice is the Beachmere in Oguquit, ME and I can't afford it during the spring and summer!

There is just too much going on around me and I cannot concentrate in any of my work spaces, so I run away to write and draw each book. I need to ask for a larger advance! Or maybe the Beachmere would give me a free room if I put "This book was set in Rockwell type, and designed on a king-size bed at The Beachmere in Ogunquit, Maine." in the book.


Did you have to do any special research for your book?
I did force my children to draw Zentangles. And I convinced my son to do all the research on the Mendhi Tattoos. But most of the information in my books comes from my teaching experiences and my own experimenting with materials.


If you could choose just one thing for your book to accomplish, what would it be?
To give people creative confidence. Everyone can do this type of art and I want my books to empower them. I don't want to show off, I want people to think "Oooh, I bet I could do that with some practice."

I want to get them started and then encourage them to find their own voices and styles and passions... and to keep going!


What’s ahead for your writing?
I have an interactive, Zentangle, coloring book due next week! It's called the "Tangled Fashionista". I can't run away to Maine in the middle of Beach Season so I had better get to work! I have a gazillion other ideas too.

Learn more about Sandy Steen Bartholomew's work at www.beezinkstudio.com

Order Zentangle for Kidz on Amazon.com for just $8.99

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles geared towards creating art, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

Dumbo, the review

Disney's Dumbo was one of my favorite stories as a child. I would spend hours looking over the pictures in my storybook, drawing and redrawing Dumbo and Timothy the mouse. So when I had children, I just had to purchase the VHS version of the film.

But what gets me is that not once in all those years of watching the film, did I ever realize that Dumbo didn't speak... until now. Maybe I was too engrossed in the storyline, but up until today, I never gave it much thought. Do you know how great storyline has to be for a child not to notice that the main character didn't speak actual words?

If you haven't seen Dumbo in awhile, or if you have an old VHS version, you may just want to get the 70th Anniversary 2 disc combo edition because it comes with some great bonus features...

• What Do You See? game;
• What Do You Know? game;
• Celebrating Dumbo featurette;
• Animated shorts: The Flying Mouse and Elemer Elephant;
• Audio Commentary;
• The Magic of Dumbo (the ride);
• Taking Flight, the making of Dumbo; and
• Deleted songs: The Mouse Tale and Are You A Man Or A Mouse?

You can read my full review of the film on The Dabbling Mum

Order Dumbo Today!



Get downloadable printable Dumbo activity sheets at http://www.approvecreative.com/disney/DUMBO/DUMBO_Puzzler.zip



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

The Lion King, the review

The Lion King is available in a Blu-Ray and DVD combo pack and a Blu-Ray, DVD, 3-D, and Digital Copy pack on October 4, 2011, and I had the opportunity to view the 2-disc combo pack early.

And I can say that I really enjoyed the bonus features. It's always nice to get a behind-the-scenes look at how the films were created, and to hear about how it all came together.

The DVD/ Blu-Ray combo pack comes with:

• 4 never-before-seen deleted scenes,
• never-before-seen bloopers turned into a fun "lost takes" reel,
• deleted song,
• extended scenes,
• a memoir with Don Hahn, and
• sing-a-long mode.

The Lion King was first released in 1994 and I can still remember taking my son to see it. I loved everything from the plot, to the imagery, to the music. And that hasn't changed.

What has changed, however, is the quality of home viewing! My VHS version has nothing on the high definition picture quality or the crisp, clear sound.

My favorite bonus feature has to be the behind-the-scenes stuff. I really get a kick out of discovering how they come up with concepts, what the creative process is really like, and in this case, I was really surprised to discover the drama over the original music selection.

Read my full review of The Lion King on The Dabbling Mum.





On a side note, my daughter saw The Lion King in 3-D this week-end and loved it. She said it was very well done and well worth the price of the ticket.

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the DVD to review. The reviewer's daughter paid for a ticket to see the film.

Interview with Tami Butcher

As a child, Tami Butcher grew up with what she lovingly refers to as her "bonus mom," a nurturing, caring woman many in society would refer to as a "stepmother." Butcher's parents amicably divorced when she was 11, and for the sake of Butcher and her three sisters, decided to keep each other fully involved in their children's lives despite the divorce. Eventually both her parents remarried, but they continued to share birthdays, holidays and special times together with their children, as well as with their new spouses. Because of her parents' efforts, Butcher and her sisters grew up feeling blessed for having two moms and dads instead of "stepparents."

Reflecting on her own family dynamics, Butcher realized that if she could plant a seed in children's minds that having a stepmother or stepfather can be a "bonus," then their minds and hearts might grow to accept their parents' new spouses instead of automatically thinking of them as evil as many childhood fairytales portray them. The product of that revelation was My Bonus Mom! Taking the Step out of Stepmom.


What was your path towards publication like?
It’s constant procrastination. How many manuscripts will I send out today? They won’t like it, I have too much of a niche market, I don’t want another rejection note, why would they want my book?

Half of the battle is putting everything together, your manuscript, your pitch letter, your illustrations, all the reasons why your book will be the next “big one” and then heading to the post office. Once you do that, half the battle is done. And, I am surprised how many don’t even muster up the courage to do that.

For me, once I got those manuscripts out, it was the biggest relief in the world.

Then the waiting game begins. I went to my favorite local bookstore one day and just got to talking to the checkout guy. I asked him if he knew any local publishers, I would really like to use someone here in town. He told me about Linda and Five Star. She had just released local radio show host Dave Pratt’s book and this young man said Five Star had a great reputation in the store.

Perfect, I looked her up and emailed her a note. She got right back to me. I liked her already. I sent her my manuscript and she loved it. What? Loved it? Was I ready though? That was in 2009. Obviously I was not ready to take the plunge. She kept in contact with me for over 2 years, kind notes, updates on authors, leads. She did not have to do that.

In 2011 we started working together and just last week I got the first hard copy of the book I had dreamed about for so many years.


What is your biggest obstacle when it comes to pitching yourself as an author and what steps have you taken to overcome that obstacle?
Pitching yourself is a tough thing. It’s like standing up in front of your high school classmates and telling them why you should be the next class President. Bragging, boasting, convincing, pleading. It’s not my cup of tea, but necessary when you have something you believe in.

Once I got over the fact that it was alright to pat myself on the back for the many years of hard work I had put into this book the flood gates opened. I am now almighty, “expert” in my field, passionate about the lesson this book teaches and excited to share my experience.


How do you balance your life as an entrepreneur with your duties as a parent or spouse?
This is where I may brag a little and say “really?” to some of those who complain about their husband’s 1 day trip out of town, or their children who are in 2 different sports or their nanny who showed up late. I am a single mom of 3 from April until October, I have 3 children at 3 different schools that play 5 different sports and are in 3 different other activities.

My morning begins at 6:00 am with 3 trips to schools before your alarm is even going off. I work for the family restaurant business, Vice President of the East Valley Women’s League, member of the National Charity League, teach Art at my children’s school due to budget cuts and when I have time, try and write or have a regular life. I don’t tell you all this to boast, I tell you because you need to know it can be done. When folks tell me they don’t have time, I quietly laugh to myself, not in a mean way, but know otherwise. I would not live my life any other way.

If you want anything done, ask a busy person. That is my motto.


What is your best advice for getting past writer's block?
Stop thinking about it and put the pen to the paper.


What was the best writing-related advice you ever received?
Become an expert in your field. If you become an expert, you can do anything with the media, magazines, interviews, blogs because you will never be afraid. Knowledge is power. Once I realized that the experiences I lived made me an expert in the area of changing the perception of divorce, I became more than my book, I became a discussion panel and a topic expert.


What do you feel is the single most detrimental thing an entrepreneur could do to destroy his/her career?
Not relate to the people who surround you. You have to gain trust, loyalty and commitment from them. If you lose that, you are done. If you are not kind, open-minded and treat others with respect, nobody will want to help you or take ownership of your success.


Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book?
I would love to. My parents divorced when I was 11 and for the sake of me and my 3 sisters, they decided to keep each other fully involved in our lives despite the divorce. My mom and dad put their egos aside and shared birthdays, holidays, and special times together for the sake of us girls. Both parents re-married and we grew up with what we lovingly referred to as our “bonus mom” and “bonus dad”.

I realized that if I could plant the seed in children’s minds that having a stepmother or stepfather could be a “bonus”, just as it was in our lives, then they might grow to accept their parents’ new spouses instead of automatically thinking of them as evil as many childhood fairytales portray them. “My Bonus Mom: Taking the Step out of Stepmom ” is my way of telling the world how blessed we were for having two moms and dads instead of “stepparents”.


How did you come up with the idea for your book?
I lived it.


What was the most difficult aspect of writing this book?
The most difficult aspect was really the illustrations. My illustrator was in Syria. We never met, we never spoke on the phone, everything was via email or snail mail. It was morning here when it was night there and now, because of the uproar in Syria, my illustrator, Feras Nouf, cannot be located or found. He does not even know the book has been published. This has been very difficult for me because even though we never met, I had a special bond with him and we worked together over a year to get everything right. He had all the pictures of my family and he took those and turned them into what I think are fabulous illustrations. I am sad but hopeful we will find him for “My Bonus Dad” and “My Bonus Sister”


If you could choose just one thing for your book to accomplish, what would it be?
I would love to show children and families of divorce that there can be a very happy outcome. Often times people focus on the negative side of divorce when in fact, there can be a positive side. Nancy has been an incredible mother and grandmother to me, my sisters, and our children!


What’s ahead for your writing?
Bonus Dad, Bonus Sister.

You can learn more about Tami and her books at http://tamibutcher.com

You can order Tami's book, My Bonus Mom: Taking the Step out of Stepmom , on Amazon.com

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles geared towards authors and writers, check out DM's Writing Center.

Interview with Jazz Singer, Jada Kelly

Jada Kelly is a sultry, soothing, and passionate singer. Her style is reminiscent of those smokey jazz singers like Sarah Vaughn and Ella Fitzgerald from the 1940s. Jada writes of love, and the many varied emotions that loves inspires.

When did you realize you wanted to be a professional musician?
I was in my mid-20s.

I had always had a nice natural singing voice and I had performed songs at the weddings of family members, but it wasn't until I sought out a voice coach and learned that I could write my own songs that I really felt like I could be a professional singer.

I was in a voice lesson with my voice coach in San Francisco. I was doing vocal scales with my voice coach and as we worked our way up the piano notes, before I knew it we had run out of high note keys! I had no idea that my voice could go that high!

My voice coach gave me the confidence and taught me how to relax my voice and how to use my vocal chords properly. It was then that I realized that I really had a gift that I wanted to share with the world.

It has always been so natural for me to express my emotions through music, it is just like breathing for me. I also really love the fact that I can express my passion and joy in life through my singing.


How long was it from the time you decided to be a professional musician to the time you got your first paid gig as a musician?
It was about 2 years ago. My sister was the director of fundraising events at the Triton Museum in Santa Clara, CA and I was hired to be the singer for the event. I had a backup band that was very relaxed and easy-going so it was easy for us to all work together and have a good time. It was a beautiful event and I got to sing out on the back patio of the museum. It was a gorgeous, sunny day.

I remember feeling so natural and comfortable once I got on stage, which surprised me because I felt pretty nervous before I got on stage. So we (the band and I) performed a number of old standard jazz songs like "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "I've Got A Crush On You", as well as some old favorites like "Stand By Me". Everyone there was in such a good and charitable mood and a great time was had by all!!


What was the most difficult aspect of getting started as a paid musician?
Prior to performing, I had only done studio work; writing and recording my own songs in my producer's studio. So in order to do live performances, I had to get used to being on stage, memorizing my songs, and getting them right with the band, and also having a stage performance and filling the spaces in between songs with casual talk.


How did you get started recording music professionally?
After my voice coach taught me how to write songs, he recommended that I contact a local demo producer so that I could record my songs. It turned out that this producer and I worked very well together and we have since recorded 3 full-length CDs of my original songs together.

He is a very talented producer as well as a musician. He plays the piano and guitar for all my songs and then does the rest of the instruments on his computer, then I do the vocals and he mixes it all together and we end up with a very professional finished song.


What is your biggest obstacle when it comes to pitching yourself as a musician and what steps have you taken to overcome that obstacle?
Music is an extremely competitive industry and it is all about who you know. There are now many more options for solo artists and bands to promote themselves, like all the social media sites and groups who look for independent artists to submit songs to industry for use in movies and Television shows, etc.

The current market is so much more supportive of the independent artist than it was even 10 years ago, so I take advantage of all of these new methods to promote myself as an artist.


Can you tell us a little bit about your latest album?
My latest album is the self-titled smooth jazz CD "Jada Kelly".

It is a collection of 8 original songs in the style of the old 40's jazz singers. My CD has been described as a cross between Diana Krall and Norah Jones in style and flavor, and it is an excellent choice for anyone who loves the reminiscent songs of George Gershwin and Cole Porter. It's a smooth and sultry compilation of good old-fashioned love songs as well as some bluesy songs about heartache and longing.


If someone were listening to you for the first time, what song, on your album, would you recommend they listen to?
For a first time listener I would recommend my song "All Into You". It really captures my sultry and sweet side. I am a real romantic idealist at heart and I LOVE to sing those drippy love songs, "All Into You" is about as sweet as it gets.


What are you hoping to accomplish with this album?
I am hoping to share my voice and my music with the world. Whenever I perform, so many people come up to me afterward and tell me that when they listened to me sing they really FELT something, they got chills, and that my singing changed them and inspired them somehow. To me that is the greatest compliment, to be able to touch a person's soul like that is such a gift and I am humbled and so grateful to have a talent that allows me to do that for people.


What was the best writing-related advice you ever received when it comes to writing lyrics?
My voice coach taught me that when you write a song and then sing it back to yourself out loud, if there is a word in the song that doesn't "feel" right when you sing it, then you have to take that word out. That word may have a perfect rhyme and it may seem fit into the theme of the song, but if it doesn't flow with the whole song and you don't feel great when you sing it, then take it out or replace it.


What influences the type of music you write?
My first great influence was from musical theater when I was young and my parent used to take me to musicals that my brother would star in when he was in high school. I instantly fell in love with the sounds of Gershwin and all of those romantic songwriters of the 1930's and 40's and luckily my voice is naturally suited to those smoky, lilting kinds of songs. Then I heard Ella Fitzgerald sing those old songs when I was in my twenties and I knew that would be my chosen style of music. I went out and got an "Ella Sings the Oldies" CD and I listened to that over and over, I just love that heartfelt, simple kind of music.


What do you feel is the single most detrimental thing a musician could do to destroy his/her career?
To not follow their heart.

The whole point of being an individual is that we each have something unique to bring to the world, and we have to follow our own path and find out what that is. We, as artists, have an incredible opportunity to change people's lives for the better, to allow our listeners touch a place in themselves that they may never have touched before, or feel something that heals their soul or makes their heart soar. This is an incredible gift.


What do you think music offers to the world, as a whole?
Music is the universal language, it breaks all the barriers between different people and cultures. It can bring together people that may not have previously thought that they had anything in common, but if they can enjoy the same music together, then that barrier no longer exists. Music heals.


What’s ahead for your music?
I will continue to write and sing music that comes from my heart. I am definitely moving more towards creating music that really moves people to their core and gives them chills. I think my music will continue to take on more and more of a spiritual element that will uplift people and allow them to touch their inner joy.

Learn more about Jada Kelly at www.JadaKelly.com

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles geared towards business owners, check out DM's Business Center.

Author Bio Updates Needed

With the new changes to The Dabbling Mum website, I have decided to create some fun author bios for the bottom of the article pages. And with the new CSS coding, I can actually link directly to the website listed in the author bio; in other words, it will be clickable!

If you have written an article for the main site (not the blog), and would like to update your author byline or head shot, please email the changes to me now... as I am currently in the process of making the new bios.

Here's how they'll look:

Slow Week And A Few Goodies

Hey everyone. I know this has been a slow week for posting... please hang tight.

Aside from working on a few big projects for some clients (YAY!), I've been using my spare time (time usually devoted to this blog) to learn how to use my new web design program, Expression Web 4.0.

It's been my goal to get The Dabbling Mum website updated for quite some time, but up until recently CSS, DWT templates, and all that other behind-the-scenes code talk that's necessary to meet the new web standards just threw me for a loop. I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to pull my hair out just trying to learn it.

I'm happy to report that I finally understand how to create a web page using dividers instead of tables, and then turn that into a DWT template! So excited... I just cannot tell you how excited I am!

What this means is that when I want to make a design change, or a change to the header, footer, or side bars, I can do it in one swoop instead of having to manually change 900 web pages!

It also means I can add new category pages just as easily!

As soon as I get the site changes done (will still be a few months down the road), I'll be adding a few new features, so stay tuned!

In the meantime, I'm working on adding the remaining of the interviews in my que, as well as sharing a few reviews along the way.

Thanks for reading this blog... and sharing it with your friends. It's greatly appreciated.

Have a great week-end everyone...

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Interview with Children's Author, Patsy M. Henry

After spending 25 years in the bank industry, Patsy M. Henry retired and began her second career as a children's storyteller. Though she enjoys her career change, she admits that it's a bit more challenging than she anticipated.

What was your path towards publication like?
I mailed a manuscript to several publishers, then I waited, and waited. When the day came that I received a contract on my first book, I was excited beyond words. Then I waited and waited, again as each step of the process takes time. The day I finally had the finished product in my hand was like I had given birth, but then I forgot about all that happened to get to that point.


What is your biggest obstacle when it comes to pitching yourself as an author and what steps have you taken to overcome that obstacle?
By far, marketing has been my biggest hurdle. I can't say that I have overcome that hurdle. I have explored all sorts of avenues from book signings, readings at public libraries and elementary schools, interviews, advertising, blogging, festivals and will continue to do so to spread the word about the book.


How do you balance your life as an entrepreneur with your duties as a parent or spouse?
Being retired has helped in this area. My husband has been really supportive. If anything, he is at least as excited as I am. I have had a couple of bookings that interfered with visits with grandchildren. When that happens, I make sure I spend time with them later.



What is your best advice for getting past writer's block?
When I am too busy, I find that I can't concentrate and the ideas just don't come. I get my best writing ideas when I take time to be still and listen.


Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book?
All four of my books are about my bunnies. I use photos of them to help tell the stories.

While the last book is fiction, it is based on actual events that occurred. The story is told from the bunnies' prospective.

This is the teaser for the book, "My Hare Line and the Hat". After the tree fell and knocked the fence down, Brownie asked Rascal if anyone escaped. Rascal thought this was the silliest thing he had ever heard. As usual, Rascal talked to Aunt Paula Rabbit about what Brownie had said to him. That’s when he learned about his adventurous family.


How did you come up with the idea for your book?
In the previous book, a dead pine tree snapped and fell. It knocked down the corner post in the rabbit pen. So in this book, Brownie asked if any one escaped while the fence was down. That's when my imagination took off.


What was the most difficult aspect of writing this book?
I use photos of my real live bunnies to help tell the story. Charlie Squirrel was a new character, and it was hard to come up with a photo of him.


Did you have to do any special research for your book?
For the most part, I observe the bunnies and try to think like they do.


What’s ahead for your writing?
Bunnies keep doing things, so I'll probably keep writing about them. My husband and I have had so much fun with the bunnies. My biggest reward has been seeing the expression on the faces of children when I share my photos and stories.

You can learn more about Patsy M. Henry at http://patsymhenry.tatepublishing.net

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles geared towards authors and writers, check out DM's Writing Center.

Interview with Author, Joseph Rinaldo

By day Joseph Rinaldo works as Credit and Financial Manager for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning distributor. At night, or whenever he can find the time, he writes. When he first started writing, he thought being a numbers guy would make him an oddity as an author. That’s proved to be wrong, as the more people he met in this industry, the more he ran across accountants and CFOs. Today he refuses to be categorized, and writes stories that traditional publishers can't fit into a neat little box, but readers seem to enjoy.

How did you get started writing?
The actual impetus for me to begin writing came while I was reading "Three Weeks With My Brother" by Nicholas Sparks. When I got to the part where he received a million-dollar advance, I thought, “Holy cow! He’s a good writer, but I know I can do this, too.” I’ve been writing since that day in 2004.


What was your path towards publication like?
I am self-publishing my books now because they were rejected by traditional publishers and editors because traditional publishers or agents expect every book to fall into a tidy little category. To date, my wife and I submitted all nine of my books to approximately 800 publishers and agents.

I proudly say that you will have a hard time categorizing my books and here’s why I say that… a romance novel will end with a tidy bow, all conflicts neatly resolved with the hero coming out on top. When you read A Spy At Home, the reader will have to guess the ending. I’d be surprised if you “saw it coming”.


What is your biggest obstacle when it comes to pitching yourself as an author and what steps have you taken to overcome that obstacle?
The hardest part for me has been reaching people through all the congestion of the Internet.

Trying to convince people that I am offering a high-quality book even though they have never heard of me seems like an insurmountable obstacle.

The first attempt to get the word out involved buying advertising space on the book review web pages of newspapers. The idea was to hit a very targeted group that would be likely to buy an e-book. That netted zero books sold and was a great expense.

Next we focused on social media, and that has turned out to be helpful. Books are starting to sell, and we hope to reach the tipping point where the book sells itself through word of mouth, not solely due to contacting individual buyers through Facebook and Twitter.


How do you balance your life as an entrepreneur with your duties as a parent or spouse?
For the most part we keep during the day on the weekends just for the family. This helps keep us balanced.

If you’re serious about writing, then it will cut into your family time. While I was writing most of my nine books, my wife worked full-time, and I worked part-time as an adjunct college instructor. Now that we’re publishing the books online, she works part-time, and I’m the full-timer. She’s so much better at the Internet, blogging, and so forth that we’re trying to play to our strengths.

Also, doing it together helps keep us close. We work together very well. With only one of us working a full-time job, this frees up time for the family. Our daughter hasn’t noticed a big change since we started this, I think. I do most of my jobs associated with writing and publishing in the evenings when she’s watching television anyway.


What is your best advice for getting past writer's block?
Honestly, I have never experienced writer’s block.

My problem is keeping myself in the seat and typing. As a matter of fact, at this moment, I have three books rolling around in my head. With a full-time job, I simply don’t have the time to write them. My wife supported the family while I wrote my first nine books as mentioned above. Now I have a terrific job, and that’s where I need to be, so I struggle to find time to write.

Though I don’t suffer from writer’s block, I have trouble turning off the voices in my head. Once characters take up residence in my mind, they stay there until their book is finished.


What was the best writing-related advice you ever received?
Advice probably isn’t what helped me the most. In my opinion writing is similar to singing; either you can or you can’t. Of course, one might improve, but writing requires talent.

The most important outside help for me came when reviewers said they enjoyed my books. I’m talking about reviewers that would be willing to say it was terrible if they thought so.

Most people will not be honest when the news is bad. When was the last time you told someone with an awful haircut what you really thought? It’s important for writers to find someone, or better yet, several people who will tell you if your story stinks. Unfortunately, that’s harder than you probably think.


What do you feel is the single most detrimental thing an entrepreneur could do to destroy his/her career?
In America today if you have a good product, you probably can’t destroy your career. Michael Vick mutilated dogs, and he’s still a professional quarterback. His jerseys still sell. His brand, if you will, is on the rise. A few playoff appearances, and he’ll be back in commercials for pet flea collars. Sounds sick, but you know it’s true.

If people like your books, they’ll probably keep on buying them. In fact, what’s the old saying, any publicity is good as long as you spell my name right? That’s never been more accurate than it is in this day and age. I don’t know how a person can destroy a career unless the person simply quits trying.


Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book?
A retired CIA operative comes to believe he wasted his professional life not only promoting questionable American policies, but missing life with his family. To ease the pain, he diverts millions that the CIA expected him to use funding a coup attempt that would establish a pro-American government in an African country. Seeing the coup would fail, Garrison decides to save the money for himself. You, the reader, can decide if he's a villain with evil intent, a hero with altruistic motives, or a regular guy sick of working for peanuts in a dangerous environment.

Back at home he and his wife look forward to their golden years being luxuriously comfortable and opulently relaxed. Unfortunately, after his wife dies in a tragic accident, he must learn all that she knew about caring for Noah, their mentally retarded son. After a life of planning for contingencies, the former spy must deal with the possibility that he may die before his son. Who will care for the son when the dad spent a life out of the country and now has no one to lean on?


How did you come up with the idea for your book?
My wife wrote a short story about a single woman with a mentally retarded daughter where the mother was worried about dying first. I wrongfully and maliciously stole her story and added about 230 pages and a spy, stolen millions, a beach house on a Caribbean island… in what became A Spy At Home. As for how Garrison’s and Noah’s specific story came to me, I honestly have no idea. I guess it’s a combination of reading too many fiction and nonfiction spy stories mixed with wondering what would happen to my own daughter if my wife and I died.


What was the most difficult aspect of writing this book?
Like Garrison, I have a child with Down syndrome. People with Down are living much longer than ever before, which means my daughter might outlive my wife and me. Who would take care of her as well as we do? This question haunts every parent with a dependent child. As mentioned above, my wife addressed this concern in her short story. The worst part of writing this book was thinking, what if my wife and I are in a car wreck where we both die? Our daughter’s waiting at home, and we never return. What would she do? Who would she call? Will she remember how to use the pre-programed numbers in her cell phone? Those kinds of thoughts made this a difficult book to write.


Did you have to do any special research for your book?
A Spy At Home recounts the life of a CIA operative which means I cannot answer any questions about a career as a spy that I may or may not have had. Did I research people with Down syndrome? Inadvertently. I live with my daughter, which may not count as research in the traditional sense, but it is a part of my life experience that facilitated the writing of this book. The part where Garrison, the protagonist, and his wife live on a Caribbean island was completely imagined, over and over and over again in my mind.


If you could choose just one thing for your book to accomplish, what would it be?
I enjoy books that I continue to think about for days or weeks after I’m done reading them. If A Spy At Home has this effect on a reader, I consider it a success. I’d like to have this effect on lots of readers, but people are hard to reach. Garrison, the spy who comes home, has a dependent son (due to mental retardation) who might outlive him. I have a daughter with Down syndrome. How do you provide a loving, caring, warm home for your child after you’re dead? Maybe readers will see themselves as players in this drama. Would you take in the child? Help find him a home?


What’s ahead for your writing?
Our plan is to have my next book, Hazardous Choices, available as an ebook on Amazon in the near future. After that we’ll have my other six books professionally edited and release those. If I’m ever fortunate enough to write as my full-time occupation, I will get the three books rolling around in my head out in book form. This is a vague sketch of what I would like to see happen. As for definite plans, after Hazardous Choices I really don’t know what I’ll be doing next. That makes this point in my writing endeavor exciting and nerve-wracking.

Learn more about Joseph Rinaldo at www.josephmrinaldo.com and http://wwwjosephmrinaldocom.blogspot.com

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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.

Daddy's Little Girl, the review

I always have problems reviewing children's books. The stories are often so short that to talk about the plot would mean giving away the entire storyline. Saying too little, and you can't convey what makes it a great children's book. Can you?

Still, this storybook crossed my desk last night and I couldn't help but share it with you. It's about a father and his love for his daughter, and it's called "Daddy's Little Girl".

It was written by songwriter and storyteller, Peter Wilson. And illustrated by Carol Matsuyama; a twenty year veteran of children's book designs. It is also written in a style similar to Dr. Seuss's rhymes, but the imagery is far from Dr. Seuss.



The story starts out with the little girl being born, and progresses as she ages. Then one day he discovers she's engaged and getting married. With tears in his daughter's eyes, she reminds him that she will "always be daddy's little girl".

Listening to the story being read online, I couldn't help but think this would make a great present for dads to give to their little girls on their wedding day, or perhaps to their sons and sons-in-law on the birth of their granddaughters.

Now wouldn't that be a fun tradition to start?

This book is available for your listening pleasure on YouTube.

Or it can be purchased at http://www.daddyslittlegirlbook.com/Buy.html

This review was based on the video reading.

Interview with Children's Author, Karen Mueller Bryson

Karen Mueller Bryson, Ph.D. is an optioned screenwriter, produced playwright and published novelist. She has published three novels, a non-fiction book and a collection of stage plays. Her most recent work, a middle-grades adventure novel, was just released by Zeta Comics. Karen is also a National Certified Counselor, Distance Credentialed Counselor and university educator.


What was your path towards publication like?
When I completed my first novel, I made the decision to independently publish before it was “fashionable”.

I learned a lot about the world of book publishing and marketing and did my best to promote my work. I followed my first book with the publication of four others. Now fast-forward almost a decade, and the eBook market has made it “cool” to self-publish and I just got my first contract with a small press (Zeta Comics) to publish my middle-grades novel, The Incredibly Awesome Adventures of Puggie Liddell.


What is your biggest obstacle when it comes to pitching yourself as an author and what steps have you taken to overcome that obstacle?
My biggest obstacle is having enough time to market and promote my work. I work a full-time job as a university professor so my writing has to be done in my “spare” time.

Finding time to also market and promote my work isn’t easy. I think most writers would rather be writing than selling themselves or their work. However, the only way to be successful is for readers to know about you and your work. Writers must be willing to promote themselves and their work, otherwise they will languish in obscurity and readers will not have an opportunity to enjoy their work.


How do you balance your life as an entrepreneur with your duties as a parent or spouse?
It’s much easier to have a spouse, who enjoys his own free time. My spouse loves golfing so that’s at least four hours of writing time! I think it’s important to set time aside for writing and not allow anything to interfere with that writing time.


What is your best advice for getting past writer's block?
I don’t believe in writer’s block.

I think people procrastinate because writing can be emotionally and mentally draining. It’s much easier to watch television or read a book than to write. My best advice is to sit your butt in your chair and not allow yourself to get up until you complete a certain number of pages. I usually set my goal at five or ten pages depending upon how much time I have and I sit and write until I complete my goal for the day.








What was the best writing-related advice you ever received?
There are only two pieces of advice that I think matter. First, read a lot. I think the best writers are also big readers. Second, write a lot. If you want to do anything well, you have to practice. No one expects a person to sit down at a piano the first time and play well.

Why would anyone expect his or her first piece of writing to be a masterpiece?


What do you feel is the single most detrimental thing an entrepreneur could do to destroy his/her career?
I think it’s important to produce quality products. If you put inferior products into the marketplace, I think it could be extremely detrimental to your career. You always want word-of-mouth to be positive not negative.


Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book?
The Incredibly Awesome Adventures of Puggie Liddell, is the first in a series of fast reads for tweens, entertaining and educational action-packed adventure stories. Here is a synopsis of the story:

When whiz kid Puggie Liddell’s modified Gameboy activates a time portal, he lands in the 1890s with his sibling rival, annoyingly prissy teen sister, Gigi, who thinks history is like-totally-gross. The kids must learn to work together to find a time portal back to the present before the eccentric scientist, Nikola Telsa, or his arch nemesis, inventor Thomas Edison, can steal the Gameboy and use it to complete a death ray machine, an invention powerful enough to disturb the very fabric of space-time and create an instantaneous world disaster.


How did you come up with the idea for your book?
I’ve always been fascinated with history. When I was a kid, I loved going to living historical sites like Colonial Williamsburg, where the history of the American Revolution is recreated. I thought it would be really cool if kids could actually travel back I time and see history as it is happening and meet great figures in American history. So, I created the main characters, Puggie and Gigi Liddell, who are similar to me and my brother, when we were young, and made them travel back in time. In their first adventure, they get to see the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, visit P.T. Barnum’s great American Museum, and ride with the Underground Railroad during the Civil War.


What was the most difficult aspect of writing this book?
Even though the book is a work of fiction, I wanted it to be as historically accurate as possible. Creating every detail of the historical periods depicted takes a lot of research. For example, when the kids catch a ride on a stage coach, along the way, the stage coach is held up. What kind of guns would be robbers use? What kinds of guns were used in the 1890s? Getting those details correct takes time.


Did you have to do any special research for your book?
The entire book required extensive research.

For example, I knew a little bit about the Chicago World’s Fair but the kids spend a significant amount of time there. I read several books about the Chicago World’s Fair and I watched a documentary. I also viewed hundreds of photos on the Internet and also read first-hand accounts from people, who attended the fair. I also did a tremendous amount of research on Edison and Tesla. I tried to use their actual words from historical documents and incorporate it as dialogue in the book.


If you could choose just one thing for your book to accomplish, what would it be?
I would like for kids to become more passionate about history. The book is a fun, adventure story but it also introduces a lot of history. I’d like to motivate kids to want to learn more about the historical figures or events that are touched upon in the book. It would be great for a kid to say, “I wonder if Tesla really did want to create a death ray machine” and then do research to find the answer.


What types of marketing strategies are you using to promote your work?
Anything and everything! I am networking on Facebook and Twitter. I created a fan page for Puggie and I have a blog for Puggie and Gigi. I’ve tried releasing interesting tweets like Back in Time Fun Facts. I also created a book trailer, which I posted to YouTube. I’m also trying to do as many interviews on guest blogs as possible, like this one!


What’s ahead for your writing?
I plan on creating more Incredibly Awesome time travel adventures for Puggie and Gigi.

I am also working on a fast reads series of novels for adults. I came up with the concept on my last trip out of state. I bought a book at the airport and read it on the plane. The book was too long to finish on the flight and it’s still sitting half-read on my night stand because I have not had time to finish it. I am creating a line of books, fun, fast reads, that can be finished in one sitting, like on a plane flight or on the beach. Readers don’t have to feel guilty about half-read books any longer!


You can learn more about Karen Mueller Bryson, Ph.D. at http://www.ahorsewithnoname.com or http://puggieblog.tumblr.com

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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.

Pumpkinhead Studio, the review

Sometimes there are advantages to reading the art blogs of artists you admire… and on September 1st, I had one of those moments.

You see, Kitty D, of Pumpkinhead Studio, had just posted some gorgeous photos of her latest artwork (photos by the way that had me drooling for a new camera, or at the very least the background paper she was using!) and instantly, I knew I wanted that piece.

I immediately jumped on over to her etsy shop and, with fingers crossed, hoped it hadn't already sold. Thankfully, it didn’t!

I ordered my little hand sculpted "Inspiration Bird" on September 1st, and on September 6th, it arrived.

When it arrived, I desperately wanted to open it, but I kept thinking that the weather would clear up and I'd have some nice sunlight hitting the kitchen, then I could take a few natural light photos and do this little guy the justice I knew he would deserve…

But time got away with me until finally, I decided no more! I couldn't wait any longer. I wanted to know, I wanted to see, and yes, I wanted to rate the artist on etsy.

So I put the box on my art table and gasp, I opened it.

Once opened I could see that Kitty had taken great precaution in wrapping my "Inspiration Bird". First, he was wrapped in small bubble wrap, then he was placed inside a large baggie to keep the bubble wrap from unfolding, then he was wrapped again, in a larger bubble wrap.

As I got closer to unwrapping the little guy, I noticed his feet sticking out of the plastic wrap and I began to get excited… there was so much detail on his little feet, I knew he was going to be just perfect.

Then out he came and all I can say is, "WOW! Exquisite!" My photos simply do not do this little guy justice…

Just look at his beanie! How cute is that? Can you see all the handiwork?

And the shoes… remember the shoes? Can you see how the shoelaces actually go through the hoops?

The tag reads, "Take Flight to the Imagination"…

What a perfect sentiment for someone who is ready to "take flight" herself…

He is made from air-drying clay, then painted with acrylic paints and pastels, and sealed with a protective coating. His sneakers, however, are made with polymer clay and tied with silk ribbon. He stands five inches tall and I absolutely love him!

If you, too, would like to own one of Kitty D's original clay sculptures, I encourage you to head on over to her blog at http://pumpkinheadstudio.blogspot.com, or visit the Pumpkin Head Studio.

Disclosure: The reviewer purchased this sculpture to review.

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Review © Alyice Edrich, All Rights Reserved. www.alyiceedrich.net
Artwork © Kitty D, All Rights Reserved. www.pumpkinheadstudio.blogspot.com
Photos of artwork used for review purposes only.

Interview with singer and songwriter, TaNeal

UniverSoul sensation, TaNeal, emerges as an independent artist through her gifted vocals, writing, production and grabs the world with a progressive force. Her Jazzy style of Anita Baker and Soul of Mary J. Blige only brings more to this industry when she warms every crowd with each performance and leaves a comfort that music can still inspire and touch people!


When did you realize you wanted to be a professional musician?
I grew up singing in the children's choir in church and in the school's showchoir. I've always enjoyed it, it was like an escape for me. It was my happiness and made me feel special.

One Sunday after church my Aunt Katherine said "I just know you are going to be a singer!"

At the time I didn't know what that meant because I felt I already was. I had idols like Mary J. Blige and Whitney Houston but never thought about music professionally… I was just a kid.

I told my high school teacher, Mrs. Elmore, that I wanted to be a singer and she said "You already are! We...just...have..to..get you to sing on key!" LOL! That's when I realized what my aunt meant, I thought, "OK I get it!"

I would say that t was in the 10th grade that I felt I was ready to take my music a step further! It didn't become professional for a few years after high school but this was the moment I felt it, so I started to read and research the business.


How long was it from the time you decided to be a professional musician to the time you got your first paid gig as a musician?
A few months after networking around Columbus, Ohio I started performing singing backup for Hip Hop artists. A few months later I was ready to take the stage on my own. I performed several songs I had written and produced. It was like I should have been out there performing way before now but timing is everything.







What was the most difficult aspect of getting started as a paid musician?
Asking to get paid. Some promoters and club owners/managers try to make you feel like they are doing you a favor by letting you perform in their club; don't fall for this game and especially not for the "For Exposure" trick.

I did my research. I researched who attended these clubs and if I didn't feel I was getting the right exposure or performing for a good cause, I was not performing for free.

Being a woman and not having a solid team (besides the best damn sound guy in the city and two great bodyguards) was the hardest thing… it made it difficult to book gigs myself. So...I put my own shows together at a few venues like Sammy's who gave me the door and the venue for FREE!

But I had to have promotions and advertising so I made it a showcase filled with some of Columbus' finest performers (performers with a following).







How did you get started recording music (or start playing in a band) professionally?
I recorded my first underground project in 1995 on a cassette tape. It wasn't until 2007 that I released my first professional product called Learning 2 Love.

I had been writing for three years prior and had a hard time figuring out a name for the CD. After all the articles and books I read about copyright law and publishing and so on... coming up with a name was the hardest part.

I rehearsed the songs over and over and found a good deal with a studio in Cleveland, Ohio. So when I felt ready I drove to Cleveland and recorded the whole CD (ten songs) in three days. It was the worse experience ever and the only thing that kept me there was that I knew it was time to record and publish some of my work.

What was so bad once I got there to record was the fact that I didn't like the production that I had done, I wanted to change things but couldn't seeing I only had the money to pay for recording and mixing not a co-producer.


What is your biggest obstacle when it comes to pitching yourself as a musician and what steps have you taken to overcome that obstacle?
It's hard to talk about myself in third person, it just feels weird but how could I sell my product if I didn't figure out a way to sell it… so a lot of time I have to remind myself that my music is a product and that it's not weird when you are trying to make a living off of it.

Also, when I'm pitching my music to someone whether it's in person or in writing, anyone around me has to be there to support me because they can be very discouraging if they don't understand how all this works.


Can you tell us a little bit about your latest album?
I just released my first single "Spread Love: Give It 2 U" through CDBaby.com

Spread Love came to me one night while I was thinking about my daughter and how the world is separating from itself. Things are getting bad… from the economy to the environment… and all I could think about was what our kids and their children will have to go through once the world has gone and made a mess of itself.


If someone were listening to you for the first time, what song, on your album, would you recommend they listen to?
I would say "Now or Neva" on my first CD, Learning 2 Love, and is about my decisions to be free and finally doing something to show the world where my heart is. I love the tempo of the song and I think a lot of people can relate to it. The chorus is very catchy, too.


What are you hoping to accomplish with this album?
Once the tour is setup, I'm definitely hoping to create more of a buzz about my music and more demands for shows in various cities. It's time for me to make more appearances because I'm not interested in being just an Internet artist. I love meeting people and I'm really looking forward to travelling again.


How do you balance your life as a musician with your duties as a parent or spouse?
In 2009, my daughter's father and grandmother told me they were moving back to Nigeria. They are my only support with her while I'm pursuing this career so we decided that she would spend a few years with daddy. Even though I saw her a few months ago and I talk to her every other day this is the hardest decision I've had to make in my life so far.

She has finished first in her class, the third time in a row, is very happy, and wants me to live there. I miss her so much. We have never been a part. I wake up sometimes wondering what she would want for breakfast, it's sad and lonely and I miss her!


What was the best writing-related advice you ever received when it comes to writing lyrics?
Jot stuff down even when you are not in a writing mood, you'd be surprise what you discover after going to look at it later. Writing down random thoughts have turned into a verse for me. Plus it helps clear your mind. One time I had a melody stuck in my head that I couldn't get out, it even kept me awake. A few days earlier I had lyrics to that melody, so that's why I write stuff down. You never know when you are going to need a previous thought!


What influences the type of music you write?
Love, life, my daughter and my family.

Sometimes I even people watch in the park but it also depends on what mood I'm in. When I do write I try to keep it as universal as possible. I don't like being in just one area, I like open space. The more people I can relate to with the music the more space I have to work with.


What do you feel is the single most detrimental thing a musician could do to destroy his/her career?
Being out of focus!

If you have too many projects, too many people you are trying to work with and not focusing on one area at a time it will be difficult to complete one.


What do you think music offers to the world, as a whole?
Music is healing, the cheapest medicine you can buy and big part of what keeps this world together. I have a saying, "Our Souls are bonded by a love for one language that we can all understand, Music" - TaNeal 2009


What’s ahead for your music?
More inspirational soulful music and bigger venues is what I'm praying for!

Learn more about TaNeal at www.facebook.com/TaNealMusic and www.taneal.com


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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.

Thank You!

It's time for a little "Gratitude, Dude!" (as I like to say)...

I feel so blessed to have had the honor to interview so many amazing creatives this past year!

When I decided to open up the interview process, and interview on a weekly basis, instead of monthly, I had no idea what I was getting into. The interest in being featured was truly overwhelming...

But each day I diligently plugged away at the interviews, reading, editing, coding, uploading... it took hours upon hours of my free time, but it was so worth it!

And after reading the interviews here on the DM Speaks blog, I think you'll agree!

So many men and women (and yes, even a child or two), shared so much of themselves in hopes that they could "Pay It Forward" and help someone else... the way they've been helped.

Because let's face it, the interview questions I've asked haven't been easy to answer...

Nope, this hasn't been one of those, "get free publicity quick" type of things.

So to all of you who have graciously donated your time to be featured here on DM Speaks, and so kindly spread the word about this blog, I'd like to say, "THANK YOU!"

Now get out there and spread the word some more because I am almost out of interviews and will be needing some fresh blood!

Have a great week-end everyone.

Sincerely yours,

Alyice Edrich
www.thedabblingmum.com

P.S.
When I said I am almost out of interviews, I have 40 in the que to read and upload... if all goes well this should give us another month and a half before we're down to the wire for fresh blood. :)

Interview with Children's Author, Barbara Simpson Carducci

Bobbi Carducci, a.k.a. Barbara Simpson Carducci, fell in love with books as soon as she learned to read. Now she is an award winning short-story writer, the author of a book for young readers, a former senior staff writer for a Washington, D.C. area newspaper, a writing coach, and a columnist for About Families Publications.

What was your path towards publication like?
My desire to write started on a rainy summer day when my best friend’s mother got tired of listening to two giggling girls. “Sit down and be quiet. Here are some paper and pencils, write something,” she said. So we did.

Later, as I was preparing to go home, she pulled me aside and told me, “This is good. You should continue writing.” Always a compliant child, I did as I was told and I’m still doing it.

The years flew by and I didn’t try to publish anything until my four kids were grown. Then I joined a writers group and found a mentor.

Lorraine Henderson, of Pennwriters, gets the credit for my first sale. She saw an emerging talent and nurtured it into being. Soon I began publishing regularly and that led to my job as a newspaper feature writer.

After that it was one baby step after another and they continue today with the publication of my book for young readers.


What is your biggest obstacle when it comes to pitching yourself as an author and what steps have you taken to overcome that obstacle?
I am an introvert by nature. I refer to myself as a quiet observer of the world. I prefer to stand back and take things in as they occur and to process them later as I convert them into scenes for a future book.

Because I have trouble pitching myself on the phone, I love e-mail. I use it to pitch my by book, set up author visits, arrange writing workshops and schedule speaking engagements. Yes, that’s right. I often speak at writers conferences. Despite my innate shyness I have no problem with public speaking. I cast myself in the role of public speaker and create a persona just as I do for the characters in my stories and works.


How do you balance your life as an entrepreneur with your duties as a parent or spouse?
I am very fortunate in that my husband is extremely supportive of my work. We make a very good team. He is an extrovert and very detail oriented so his traits balance mine. I create, he orchestrates. It is not unusual for him to scout the area at a book signing, when things get quiet, and bring people to my table. He also handles the business side, dealing with the accountant, paying the bills, etc.


What is your best advice for getting past writer's block?
Hot water. When I hit a wall (when I’m writing) I step away from the keyboard and take a long hot shower. For some reason hot water on my head sparks my creativity. Spending time in my hot tub works, too as long as I’m alone. I immerse myself in the water, close my eyes, and let my mind wander.

Try it.

Even if it doesn’t break through your writer’s block you’ll have had a few minutes of unplanned relaxation and that’s always a good thing. .


What was the best writing-related advice you ever received?
"Rejection means nothing".

And it’s true. I know it hurts to get a rejection letter. Believe me, every time I get one I experience moments of self doubt and begin to wonder what I could have, should have, written instead. But, once I get past that I immediately send the manuscript out again.

Individual publications, agents, and editors can accept only a small percentage of the material they receive. A rejection letter comes when that particular piece was not what that particular person needed on that particular day. Learn that lesson and you will gain the confidence you need to keep going.

One of the biggest reasons many writers remain unpublished is they give up too soon.


What do you feel is the single most detrimental thing an entrepreneur could do to destroy his/her career?
That would be to behave in an unethical manner at any time. It is critical to develop the reputation of being honest and reliable.

For a writer that means reading and adhering to submission guidelines, meeting your deadline and making sure your work is as pristine as possible. It also means being honest and supportive in your critique of other writers. The more good books there are out there, the more people will read. The more people read the more markets will be open to our work. If you ever have an opportunity to help another writer, do it.


Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book?
Eight-year-old Storee Wryter loves to read and loves to write about the adventures she shares with her cat, Critique. In Storee Wryter Gets a Dog, Storee’s neighbor, Kyria, convinces her to adopt a puppy and train it to be a therapy dog. With the help of her parents, and a bit of coaching from Critique, the puppy, named Addie, learns her lessons well and goes into a classroom to help special needs kids learn to read.


How did you come up with the idea for your book?
The concept of Storee Wryter and her cat, Critique, has been with me for a long time. I wanted to create a character that would be appealing to young readers and show them that you don’t have to be an adult to be a writer. Kids are natural story tellers but sometimes the idea of writing the stories down intimidates them. Storee is a kid just like them and at the end of each chapter she shares a comment or an idea for another story she plans to write. There are also writing prompts at the back of the book encouraging kids to write their own stories and send them to her on her website. www.storreewryter.com


What was the most difficult aspect of writing this book?
The most difficult part of writing this book was the rewriting.

Storee Wryter Gets a Dog was originally written as a picture book for a much younger audience. However, after reading it, the concept editor suggested it would work better and reach a larger audience if I expanded it, making it suitable for young readers 8-10 years old.

She said I was a natural when it came to writing for that age group. That came as a surprise to me as I had never written for that audience before. However, it is not often a writer is asked by an editor to expand a book so I decided to take advantage of the opportunity and give it a try. The result is the book I have today and I am very happy I listened to my editor.


Did you have to do any special research for your book?
Yes, I did.

I had to research what the requirements are for a dog to become a Certified Therapy Dog. I also had to find out how and where the training is done and how much it costs, all questions I anticipated the reader would want to know. I did some research online and I visited a dog training school to see a trainer in action. I also had the advantage of being acquainted with Kyria Henry, the founder of paws4people and her dog, Addie. Both are featured in the book. Kyria established her nonprofit foundation at the age of twelve. To read more about her and her work with dogs and veterans go to www.helpkyria.com


If you could choose just one thing for your book to accomplish, what would it be?
For this book and the ones that follow, I hope to capture the imagination of young readers, including the reluctant readers out there, and inspire them to have fun exploring their creativity.


What’s ahead for your writing?
In the coming months I’ll be completing book two in the Storee Wryter series and polishing my creative nonfiction book for adult readers. I’ll also continue to write my book review column and my blog.

You can learn more about Barbara, a.k.a. Bobbi, at www.storeewryter.com and http://storeewryter.blogspot.com