Category Archives: Interviews

#BlogHop 2014…

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Well a lovely friend that I have got to know over this past year, Chris Kuhn, whom wrote her first novel in 2013 “The Muse Unlocked”, has very kindly has asked me to answer these Four Questions below from my perpective as a Poet!

Blog Hop Q & A:

1. If you could achieve anything with your writing in 2014, what would it be?

Hmmm…. This year I hope to develop my knowledge into the different styles of Poetry and gain a better understanding into the processes… therefore I hope to become better writer!

2. What are the top 3 demons you must slay to achieve your goals in 2014?

Geez… Time is the biggest problem for me! Allowing myself to unwind from real life at times, feeling free to explore and unleash the words and creativity, at the moment it happens in sporadic waves.

3. Name three things that inspire you to write.

Life, feelings and experiences!

4. What advice do you have to give a new writer who is considering writing fiction and/ or poetry?

Wow ok…. well I don’t write Fiction at all and I consider myself a complete novice when it comes to writing Poetry as I am only really learning myself… but I suppose what I would say to someone who asked me about writing Poetry would be for them to imagine a feeling or picture… and then for them to close their eyes and let the words flow from their mind on how they want to express it and then as I write, I edit by reading it back to myself out aloud to see if its sounding right and that it has a type of flow to it!

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Ok so now I get to tag a few other people to answer these questions too… so… I’d like to give these wonderful writers a chance to share their own perspective on those four questions.

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BLOG TOUR STOP: “The Muse Unlocked” by Chris Kuhn

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I am honoured and excited to be sharing something new with you all today….a Book Blog Stop with Author Chris Kuhn and her Debut novel “The Muse Unlocked“

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I met this Author earlier in the year via Twitter and reviewed her book, The Muse Unlocked, back in August!

Chris is currently holding a “Holiday Book Blogger Tour” visiting numerous Blogs across the 5 Oceans…

Today I am interviewing the two lead characters from her book – Cate Mullen and Oliver Sand! Plus the talented Author has written a new and original poem inspired by her novel… as she knows how much we love Poetry!

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(Picture created by PJ Bayliss)

THE INTERVIEW 

DEB: Welcome :-) It’s so great to have this opportunity to get to know you a little s’more! Firstly may I just say how much I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and how inspiring your love tale is!

Cate & Oliver: Thanks, it’s great to be here!

DEB: Ok Cate your up first…

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Q & A with Cate:

DEB: Cate, at the beginning of the story, you mention about being braver on FB than in real life! Why do you think that this is so?

CATE: I think the distance that’s usually between people on social media encourages you to be bolder, and I’ve been known to reserve my boldness for the characters I write about. *chuckles* For me, Facebook has been a place I can drop some of the pretense of everyday life and say what I really mean without standing there to see the reactions. Some people find that really attractive, a person being so blunt and honest. It can lead people to make strong connections because they feel like they’re based on truth more than some of their “real world” relationships.

DEB: You originally had a different actor in mind to play the role of Michael Bennington in the Movie “Madly” you’re working on in the story – could you name an actor to give us an idea of the type of character you were thinking about at that time?

CATE: Oh gosh, that’s not putting me on the spot now, is it? *laughs* I’d rather not say who I had in mind, because Oliver has more than made up for any of my expectations as a writer. When I wrote the part, I may not have envisioned someone so outwardly handsome and charismatic in the role but now I couldn’t see anyone else other than him play it.

DEB: <swoons> Yeah totally understand! What attracts you to Oliver the most?

CATE: Have you met him? *chuckles* Aside from the obvious, that he’s unfuc—, um, sorry – unbelievably sexy from head to toe, there’s this sweetness about him. He’s the most genuine person I’ve ever known, cares only about what’s happening with the person across from him and will do whatever it takes to help someone he cares about. I’ve heard that true gentlemen are hard to come by. Well, they’re not if Oliver’s standing in the room.

DEB: Lol ah yeah I hear you girl! Ok back to the interview… Why then in love relationships do you think some people are most vulnerable and internally blame themselves if it goes wrong?

CATE: I think, for many of us, it’s in our nature to apply blame internally when something doesn’t go as planned. I find it interesting that we’d never dream of taking the credit for it if it goes right and that’s the sheer irony of it all – if it truly is all about us as we seem to think it is, then why can’t we accept when some fantastic person wants to spend time with us? We see this is implausible but if a relationship goes sour, we have no problem with taking credit for being the cause of it. Chalk it off to human frailty and our natural inclination to shy away from embracing self-esteem or self-belief. We’re often taught it makes us vain or self-centered when it actually makes us strong and confident.

DEB: How would you describe yourself as a character in one of your screenplays?

CATE: Me? I’d be the bystander. If a scene took place in a restaurant, I’d be the woman sitting in the booth next to the characters listening in on the conversation. I am an observer, always have been. I think that’s why I’ve been able to take that and translate my tendency to hang back and watch and listen into scripts. I’d rather present that scene than be a part of it. I’ve been like that my whole life.

DEB: Have you experienced a major turning point in your life? If so what was it?

CATE: Professionally, it had to be meeting up with B.T., Benjamin Tuttler, our executive producer on Madly. As you probably know, he and I have been working together for many years now, first in television and then eventually film. I wouldn’t have been fortunate enough to experience any of the success that I have without B.T. entering my life. I owe a lot to him. And I’m excited that we have a new project we’ll be working on next together, this time abroad. Personally speaking, I would say that getting to meet Oliver and working on this current film have also been quite pivotal for me in my life. I’ve gotten a chance to get to know myself better and connect again creatively so I could begin writing my next book, so that feels more invigorating than any box office figures or award I could win.

DEB: What’s your pet peeve? What do you love most?

CATE: My pet peeve? I’m not a huge fan of delays on the movie set. I like to keep things moving along there. I’m not crazy about smoking. I’ve seen what it can do to people. What do I love? Oh, so much – gazing up at the stars, strolling through an art museum, sinking into the tub with a tasty glass of wine and a book that’s just as delicious.

DEB: Do you have a motivation in life?

CATE: I used to set all kinds of goals in my life and I’d achieve them, but I’d find myself still searching for happiness. I was with someone else at the time who was very helpful in keeping me focused and driven to pursue my career goals, and at the time it was what I needed. But now, my greatest motivation is I just want to be happy. And I don’t care what I’m doing. If I’m with the right people, the right friends and loved ones, that’s all that really matters to me. I know it probably sounds simplistic, but that’s really how I feel.

DEB: Okay, name five items in your purse, briefcase, or pockets.

CATE: Let’s see. *starts foraging through handbag* Pens, always some of them in there, and a notepad. You never know where or when your next idea will arrive. Lipstick. My wallet. Duh. Oh, and my Kindle. I never travel anywhere without bringing with me my little portable library. Sometimes on movie sets, we’ll have long delays and I enjoy sneaking away to a few favorite hiding spots to catch up on some reading if I don’t have other plans or people to see.

DEB: Lol it’s amazing what we carry in there! Ok, What are the last three books you read?

CATE: I recently finished reading a historical romance for which I’m currently adapting the screenplay, and that should be a very exciting project to tackle next summer. I also just finished this fascinating biography on Jim Henson. I did grow up on “Sesame Street” and “The Muppet Show.” Before that, I finished this book called The Controversy of Renaissance Art by Alexander Nagel. Really intriguing stuff.

DEB: Oh haven’t heard of them, cool! How do you envision your future?

CATE: Wow, Deb. That’s a really tough question. I stopped looking ahead to the future a long time ago. Now I take things day to day. Oliver’s taught me that. I find that I’m much happier living in the moment instead of planning everything. It’s a big departure from the way I used to live but I guess as we get older, we start to make some sense out of things. A little bit. *chuckles* I see a future that is full of possibilities, new places to visit and things to see. I’m going to keep an open mind.

DEB: Ok thanks Cate see you later, can you send Oliver in please! 

CATE: Sure!

Q & A with Oliver:

DEB: Ok Oliver, What initially drew you to Cate? And when did you develop real feelings for her?

OLIVER: I’ve told Cate this but I fell in love with her the first time I read her words. It was her first book. I loved the way she used language. Felt every single sentence, you know? When I got the script from my agent and learned that it was written by THE Cate Mullen, I couldn’t wait to read it. Then I met her. I was struck by the way she carried herself, such a smart, beautiful, funny woman who didn’t seem to have a clue about how smart, beautiful and funny she was. When you’re surrounded by people all the time who are told all their life how beautiful and talented they are, it’s like walking through a pageant hallway 24/7. Cate was a breath of fresh air. So I guess I fell in love with Cate’s words long before I met her but once I did, it didn’t take long to realize this was an incredible woman in front of me and I wasn’t about to let her get away.

DEB: Early in the story you talk about feeling fake… why did those few changes you made as an actor bother you so much?

OLIVER: People might assume that actors love to be in the spotlight, and it’s not true at all. Not for all of us anyway. We find out when we’re younger that people react a certain way around us and that it can help us get things or gain certain access. But when you make changes to make other people happy because they tell you it’s smart business, you start to wonder who people are admiring when they tell you they love you and your work. Do they like you – the real you under that disguise – or the only one they know, the pretty face with those features that may or may not be who you really are?

DEB: Oh ok I see what you mean! Do you think the author portrayed you accurately? How would describe yourself? What’s your strengths and weaknesses?

OLIVER: How you met me in the book – that’s me. I don’t pretend to get everything right. Sometimes I might take a wrong step and think I’m helping someone out when I’m actually hurting someone else I care about. I don’t do it maliciously; I just don’t always think everything through. I know this about myself. I can be a bit…rash. Make decisions in the heat of the moment. Hell, all you have to do is look at the ink to figure that out. *laughs* So I guess that’s probably my biggest weakness but I try to be a good person. I like to give someone the benefit of the doubt and be friendly to anyone I meet. Life’s too short to be miserable all the time. I’m usually a pretty pleasant person to be around.

DEB: Hmmm Readers certainly think so! You’ve mentioned before that you’re a Patrick Swayze fan. What is your favourite movie that he starred in?

OLIVER: Definitely Ghost. That may surprise some people, that I didn’t pick more of an action flick like Red Dawn or Point Break but I’m a romantic at heart. Well, I think readers have probably picked up on that by now. *chuckles* I don’t think Patrick did any finer work than that film or that performance. He lets his vulnerable side show in Ghost and it pays off – for the actors, who all turn in very strong performances and for the viewers who get caught up in a really beautiful story.

DEB: Yeah mine too! Ok, What is your most prized possession? Why?

OLIVER: I love my Harley. It’s no secret. I like the freedom of being able to hop on and clear my thoughts, feel the breeze on my face and ride. And it’s even better when I can invite someone special to join me. And I really love my album collection. Cate has tried to move me to the digital age and so have other friends, but nothing will ever beat vinyl.

DEB: Lol I understand, I love both! The book mentions that your relationship with your mother is strained, why do you think that is?

OLIVER: *sighs* I don’t really want to talk about that. It’s not something I feel good discussing. We’re two people who have never seen eye to eye on a lot of things. I don’t go out of my way to keep us at a distance but we just lead separate lives and look at the world in very different ways. That’s all I feel like saying about that. Sorry.

DEB: That’s okay. I understand. If you had a free day and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?

OLIVER: Anything with Cate. It doesn’t matter what we’re doing. We could just ride out to the beach and spend the day reading. Or head over to a park and walk around. She would make every minute worthwhile. What can I say? I’m hooked on that lady.

DEB: That’s truly wonderful! Ok, When you’re driving down the road, what music do you listen to?

OLIVER: This always surprises people but I like listening to soul and R&B. Al Green, Ray Charles, Otis Redding. But when I’m on my bike, I don’t listen to any music. I like hearing the wind near my helmet and the sound of my bike and my surroundings as I’m traveling.

DEB: What have you always wanted to do but haven’t done? Why?

OLIVER: I don’t have a long list or anything. Usually if I want to do something, I do it. But one thing I haven’t done that I want to try is Broadway. I did some live theater when I first moved out here to Los Angeles but every actor looks at Broadway as the big challenge, so someday…

DEB: Hmmm interesting! Do you have any fears and if so what are they?

OLIVER: Not really. I’m sure there’s something I haven’t faced yet that will test me and I’d answer that question differently then. I guess the only thing I’m afraid of is losing someone special, people that mean a lot to me, like my sister, my brother. And Cate.

DEB: Where do you see yourself in the future?

OLIVER: I don’t have a crystal ball or anything. *chuckles* I just follow where life takes me. I do want to try other parts of moviemaking, maybe behind the camera, too. But I don’t have any special plans in mind. I want to be spending time with the woman I love and doing something for a living that makes me happy. That’s it.

DEB: Cool….ok that’s it, let’s go find the others and have lunch!

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A Poem inspired by “THE MUSE UNLOCKED” by AUTHOR Chris Kuhn

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Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Blog

Tipping Point

A telling glance,
The brush of a hand,
So small a flirty gesture
Yet leaves a lasting brand

What was that moment,
The single word or move,
That pushed two strangers
To merge into one route?

When did a pair of eyes
Lining up across from mine
Launch a new compelling vision
And boldly reset time?

Where did we finally uncover
The truth behind the smile
To beckon each heart forward
And abandon myth or guile?

Both simple and complex
Romance is to deftly dissect.
Often ignored and rarely planned,
Love arrives when you least suspect.

So I thank you for flirting back,
First a stranger, now a friend.
How great is a returned advance,
Where lives can change, hearts can mend.

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Thanks again gang for visiting us downunder it was a real honour and pleasure! Can’t wait to read the next Book “The Muse Unguarded“, which is to be released in the USA Summer of 2014!

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Interview with Author Lisa Fulham

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It’s my pleasure and honour folks to support and share a little further insight into the up and coming new Indie Author Lisa Fulham…. Erotic Romance Writer & Poet!
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For those of you whom don’t know her she has recently written and published her first novel called out “Out on Business” which you can purchase via Amazon!
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I came across this young Lady at the beginning of this year via Twitter and started following her Blog. Through Reading her Poetry and Short Stories I could see that she held a lot of promise with the Novel she was writing! Over time with chatting on there our connection has grown and we have become good friends! She is full of fun and is truly beautiful soul!
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# Debs: Ok so on with the Show….Hello and welcome Miss Lover of Nylons I am so excited to be your first Interview!!! Tell us a bit about Yourself?
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So you would like to know more about little old me, well I’m many things all at once. I’m a Mum, Wife, friend, manager and writer. There’s no real order to that list, I think every aspect of my life is just as important as another. I love to walk a little off centre to what is considered the norm and I guess one of the biggest things I can tell you about myself is that I have a big mouth. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not obnoxious, I just find it hard not to fight the good fight and I wear my feelings on my face. This last bit can make for a few awkward times in life I can tell you. Mostly though I’m just the kind of person who loves to see others happy, I like to encourage and support my friends and I truly believe that giggles make the world go round.
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# Question: Have you always wanted to be a writer or is this a newly discovered desire?
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Well, I’ve loved books from a very young age. As a child I HAD to read before I went to bed otherwise I couldn’t go to sleep. When I was about fourteen/fifteen years old I read a book called ‘In the Deep End’. It was about a pair of teenagers about the same age as me and it was based on their romance. It was relevant to me and I connected with the issues these two people were going through and I remember wishing that I could write something like that. I guess you could say my dream started from there, but I never really thought it would come true. I tucked it away inside myself and got on with life. I carried on my passion for reading, but a desire to write didn’t come back to me until almost a year ago. Oh dear twitter, however can I thank thee? Yup joining twitter was the thing that rekindled my dream and the rest of the story is forever on my blog for all to see.
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# Question: In your novel I love how you describe in detail the places that your character Lucy Hunt is viewing, what inspired you?
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Haha, it’s funny you should ask. Out on Business did not start out as my first book; it was supposed to be a short story for my blog, around three thousand words or so. I had been tweeting a lot about #SuitPorn and a few guys even sent me pictures. One of my followers decided that the story was about him and he lives in Edinburgh. I already had the main character formed in my head so it was never actually about him, but I decided to do a little research about Edinburgh as I’ve never been and the moment I found The Dome I knew I had to base my story in that majestic building. I completely fell in love and I have promised myself that one day I will be seeing it for myself. People always find it funny that I’ve never been to the places I describe in the book, believe me a lot of research was done. The Vivienne Westwood shop she bought her dress from though is in Manchester and I have been to it, it is a beautiful store. The dress itself is completely my own creation; I can picture it exactly and even feel the material between my fingers.
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# Question: On your blog you have posted some wonderful Poetry! How do you define Poetry?
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How do I define poetry? I don’t. I don’t think that anyone really should. Poetry is an emotion, an expression and the same piece of poetry can mean something different from one person to the next. When I write poetry I never use full stops or commas, this is because I personally think that each line, each word is just as important as the one before it and the one after it. It may surprise you that I’ve never really taken an interest in poetry. I love Shakespeare and my all time favourite poem is Stop all the clocks by W H Auden. Other than that,before I began following writers on twitter I didn’t read poetry. I stumbled upon writing it by sheer coincidence. My first poem ‘To write is to’ came to me because someone asked me what writing meant to me. I was working on writing a book (something I was nowhere near ready for) when I was asked why I wrote and what it meant to me. The more I thought about it, the more my thoughts became that poem. I almost didn’t share it with anyone, but a very dear friend convinced me. Poetry is whatever you want it to be whether you’re the writer or the reader. We have all lived different experiences and so words will stir different memories and emotions in each of us.
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Thank you by the way for calling my poetry wonderful, that really does humble me.
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Debs: You are very welcome, you’re very clever! 
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# Question: Do you have a motto in life?
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I don’t have a motto as such, but I do have a few things I live by:
  • Giggles make the world go round
  • Haters will always hate
  • Fight the good fight
  • Speak your mind
  • Be the best you can be no matter what the circumstances are
  • Love and be loved
  • I also like to sign off with this: Stay kind, Stay kinky, Stay True
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# Question: Who or what inspires you? Do you have a Muse?
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Life inspires me, be it pain, love, passion or loss. I think that as people we draw from those around us and the experiences we live through. Don’t get me wrong, I write fiction, but there is always an element of myself or my emotions within my writing. My poetry is a different story, some of the poems I have written have literally been written through my own tears.
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# Question: Do you have a creative process? Like writing at a certain time of the day; listening to music or prefer silence? And how do you like to write – Phone, Computer or Journal?
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As my life is so busy, I write when, where and on whatever I can. I have notepads and post it notes in every bag I own. I utilise the notes section on both my ipad and iphone and Out on Business was the first time I have written straight onto my pc. I used to write everything longhand, but it took forever to get anything out there for people toread. I still write all of my poetry longhand, but my stories a predominantly written on my pc.
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While I’m writing I listen to the band oasis, being a Manchester lass born and bread I grew-up listening to the local boys and their songs are embedded into my soul. I can have them playing in the background and I don’t have to listen to hear them. I can’t sit in silence, I’m too noisy a person for that and too long alone with my own thoughts isn’t always such a great idea.
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# Question: Do you ever get writers block? If so do you have a remedy?
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I’m actually just coming through the other side of the biggest writer’s block I’ve ever had. I had a crazy two weeks back in July; I published my first book and lost a fellow writer and friend. Hitting such a highand then experiencing something like that rendered me incapable of creating anything. What was the point in my writing? What difference did it really make to the world in the grand scheme of things? For almost eight weeks I couldn’t read or write. I managed a few small pieces here and there, but my passion had left me. I couldn’t concentrate for longer than ten minutes and the blank screen with its flashing cursor simply mocked me. I’m not really sure what changed in the past few weeks, but I’m finally beginning to write again and I’ve never felt such relief. I know that without the support of my friends there is no way I would have made it though and for them I am forever thankful.
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# Question: Many writers describe the road to their first published work as a great learning experience. Would you agree? And if so, what do you feel is the most important thing you learned about yourself throughout the process?
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Of course it’s a learning curve, life’s one big learning curve. What’s the biggest thing I’ve learnt about myself? I hate editing and I am not actually superwoman. I put huge demands on myself and all that happens is I’ve ended up setting myself up to fail. Writing should be fun, an escape from the humdrum of real life. When it’s not fun you need to step away and take some time for yourself.
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# Question: What excites you in life?
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I’m a big goon, I honestly got really excited the other day because I found a chocolate bar in my bag that I’d forgotten about. Hubs thinksI’m hilarious. I believe that the little things in life are what we should get excited about; spending time with friends, your favourite comic book superhero movie coming out or simply getting THAT LOOK from someone in a bar. The big things come and go, the little things happen everyday and should be cherished.
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# Question: What attracts you to a Man? And/or people?
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I like a man who can make me laugh, can laugh at himself and who I can argue with. I know that last one probably sounds silly, but I did warn you I like to walk a little off centre to the norm. I love arguing, it’s just so much fun and it’s even better when you do it with someone who pushes you.
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# Question: What does Erotic Romance mean to you?
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Erotic romance means something that will get your pulse racing while allowing you to connect with the characters.
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# Question: If you could make-out with anyone Famous who would it be?
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Robbie Williams as I have had dirty thoughts about that man before I knew what dirty thoughts were lol
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Debs: Hmmmm nice choice!
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# Question: If you could posses a super power what would it be?
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Time travel I think so I could go back in time and save the baby before the truck hit it, or go to the future and make sure that the lessons of today helping the world of tomorrow.
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# Question: If you could invite anyone famous over for dinner who would you choose?
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Boris Johnson the mayor of London. Not because of his politics (which I disagree with) but because he is a total fruitloop and I have no idea how he was voted to be our capitals mayor.
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# Question: Do you like interaction with your readers? Ever had a bad experience?
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I love talking to people (as you can see, you can’t shut me up once I get going). I’ve never had a bad experience with a reader, but on twitter I think they are inevitable. The haters will always hate, but it’s our duty to ourselves to rise above it.
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# Question: What are your future projects?
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I am currently working on a story for my blog called “lust through a lens“. It’s about a curvy redhead who has self image issues and asks her friend to take photos of her looking sexy. It’s inspired by the work of @justarandomscott and I’m really enjoying working on it now I’ve got past my block. I hope to start work on my next book towards the end of this year or beginning of next year. That one I’m keeping under wraps for a little bit.
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Debs: Oh cool, I love his Blog!
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# Question: Do you have a message for your fans?
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Fans? I’m sure I don’t have any of them. Anyone who has been gracious enough to give my words their time, become my friend. As for a message, I’d just like to thank each and every one of them from the bottom of my heart. I’m still very new to writing and I still haveso much to learn, I love the people I’m meeting on this journey.

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# Rapid Fire Questions:
Married or Single?  Married
Tall or short?  A Tall 5ft 6 inches lol
Torso, Legs, Arse or all?  I love backs & all of those mentioned ;-)
Vanilla or Kinky?  All flavours of Ice-Cream please
Nylons or Garter Stockings?  YES and knee high socks
Batman or Superman?  Batman, he fights the best baddie of all time
Chocolate or Ice Cream?  Chocolate
Meat or Seafood?  Meat all the way baby
Beer, Wine or Spirit?  Yea please and a body shot of Sambucca
Books or Kindle?  Books in the main, Kindle for all my smut
Camping or Hotel?  Hotel! There are bugs on the floor
Beach or Rainforest?  Beach for relaxation, Forest for exploration
Spirituality or Evolution?  I feel they go hand in hand
Favourite Poet?  Shakespeare
Favourite Books?   Anything where I forget the world around me
Favourite Music?   I’m very eclectic when it comes to music
Favourite TV Show?  DR. Who
Favourite Movies?  You may as well ask me – breathing in or out
Favourite Sport?  Lisa: Football  (Debs: Er so that would be Pommie for Soccer lol)
Favourite colour?  Purple
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Lisa: I’d really like to take this opportunity to thank you Deb I am truly humbled that you would wan to interview me. More than that, I want to thank you for all the support you give to so many writers. It warms my heart when people like yourself do such wonderful things for other people. Last and certainly not least I want to tank you for your friendship and cheering on. The comments you leave me always touch my heart and make me want to keep writing.

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Debs: Aww hunny thank-you so very much for that!!! You melt my heart :-) I am like you, I love meeting people and finding precious little indie gems out there, it enriches my heart, mind and soul, ;-) your Awesomesauce!  ~ Debs xo

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Interview with Author Kat Bastion

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It’s my pleasure and honour folks to support and share a little further insight into the very talented Kat Bastion…. Author of “Utterly Loved” and Debut Novel “Forged in Dreams & Magick“, which is being released in September 2013!
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I came across this Lady’s work towards the end of 2012 through our mutual admiration of the Author Sylvain Reynard, as he wrote a Foreword in her Poetry Book “Utterly Loved“….and thus our connection has grown!
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Debs: Hello Kat. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview with me. I truly appreciate having the opportunity to support and speak with you about your writing and Debut Novel “Forged in Dreams & Magick” which I am very excited about…oh how I love a man in a Kilt! ;-P

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Kat: Thank you for inviting me to be here, Debra. And I’m very excited that you’re very excited! {vibrates}

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Debs: Ok first off what’s there to know about Kat Bastion?
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Kat: I’m happily married to the man of my dreams . . . my alpha male! We live amid the beautiful Sonoran Desert of Arizona, in the USA. I’m an eternal optimist who loves getting lost in the beauty of nature. I stumbled into writing in the spring of 2010. Since then, I’ve drafted three full-length paranormal novels and have been fortunate enough to win two contests and final in three others with the first three chapters and synopsis from Forged in Dreams and Magick.
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Debs:  Have you always wanted to write – Poetry and now Fiction?
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Kat: No. Both were a complete accident.
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The fictional writing discovery came first. I was a Type-A business mind, restless because my creativity wasn’t being nurtured and hadn’t been since childhood. Three years ago, after an extended illness during which I read dozens of romance books, I had a sudden burst of creativity. {grins broadly} Now, I can’t imagine not writing. It’s like oxygen to me.
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The poetry also took me by complete surprise. One day, triggered by the Robert Frost poem “Fire and Ice” and inspired by the love I felt for my husband, words started flowing from my heart into expressive words on the page.
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Debs: What inspires you with your writing?
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Kat: Sensual experiences evoke emotion within me. Getting lost in a scent, a taste, or a feast for the eyes has so many rich layers. The first poem I ever wrote, “Heaven . . . Found” is a perfect example. One euphoric moment caused a cascade of words, enabling me to capture the feeling forever.
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Debs:  Who are some of your favourite authors and poets?
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Kat: I love poetry by Robert Frost, John Keats, and William Blake.
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My favorite authors capture my interest with their complex stories and unique writing style. Their eloquently spun stories pull me into vivid worlds where I’m happily lost for hours on end and include: Karen Marie Moning, JR Ward, Julie Garwood, Judith McNaught, and Sylvain Reynard.
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Debs: What is the perfect writing environment for you?
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Kat: I write best in the early morning in total silence, and it all happens at my desk, in my ergonomic chair, with my desktop computer. Nearly all of the poetry for Utterly Loved, however, was written into the Notes app on my iPhone.
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Debs: How do you define Poetry?
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Kat: Poetry is pure emotion set to words.
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Debs: Words are the essence of story-telling, do you think Music and Pictures enhance that and why?
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Kat: I do, in so far as music and pictures evoke the same emotion. The written word pulls the reader into a moment, and if music adds further depth or a photograph adds beauty, then they enrich the written experience with another dimension.
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Debs: Do you have a motto?
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Kat: I do. It was created while learning to snowboard, and I apply to my life:
Always the student, seeking to master.
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Debs:  What excites you in life?
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Kat: Enjoying the beauty of simple things in life, experiencing the richness of the world as if through the eyes of a child, is immensely rewarding. When talking about my hopes and dreams? I’m most excited to be using my author platform to boost awareness and increase the support of those charities fighting against the tragedy of human trafficking.
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Debs: What does Charity Support & Awareness mean to you?
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Kat: To me, Charity Support and Awareness embodies giving of the heart, sharing what we have with others, making a difference one act of kindness at a time. I’m incredibly grateful for the blessings I’ve been granted in my life, and Charity Support and Awareness is my way of giving back before receiving.
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Debs: What’s the story behind the concept for your Blog ‘Talk to the Shoe’ ?
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Kat: A professional photographer took an amazing photo of our shoes while my husband held me in his arms, and I chose that shoe photo as my social media avatar. When creating my blog, I tried to think of something funny and memorable. “Talk to the Shoe” seemed the natural choice. :) My blog is the way I share my writing and publishing journey with friends and followers.
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Debs: What do you think about Social Media as an avenue for getting independent writers out there?
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Kat: I think it’s unparalleled.
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Debs: How involved have you been in the publishing and marketing for your books?
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Kat: I’ve been completely involved in every aspect from a decision making and directional standpoint, however, once the manuscript was ready, I researched out and assembled a team of professionals who excel in their fields to assist me in their given areas.
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Debs: Your Debut Novel is set in the Scottish Highlands! Why did you choose this setting?
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Kat: I didn’t. {smiles slowly} It chose me. I’ve read many wonderful Highlander novels, the first of which I’d stumbled across while devouring everything Judith McNaught had ever written. But just like writing came to me without warning, so did the story of Forged in Dreams and Magick. The scenes kept unfolding in my mind, and I accepted the gift by documenting the amazing story.
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Debs: Your main characters are based on Alpha Male Highlanders and Feisty Heroines….can you tell us a little about your Highland Legends Series?
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Kat: Thank you, Debra. I’d love to. The Highland Legends Series revolves around three siblings within Clan Brodie (the clan commander in the holiday novella) and how a very special type of magick affects their lives. The themes in the first two stories center on faith, hope, and love. The last two stories also have integral elements of forgiveness and redemption. All the stories in the series have a common thread of the heroine/hero finding inner strength in the face of incredible adversity.
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The book description of Forged in Dreams and Magick can be found on its Goodreads page.
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The Highland Legends Series is unique in that Forged in Dreams and Magick is told in first person POV by the heroine. The holiday novella, Bound by Wish and Mistletoe is told in third person (deep POV). The third story, Born of Mist and Legend, and the fourth story, Found in Flame and Moonlight, are both told in first person POV from the hero’s POV.
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Debs: …Sounds amazing Kat I can’t wait to read!!!
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Debs: What are your future projects?
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Kat: If only I could write faster! Vibrating constantly within me are not only the last two novels of the Highland Legends Series, but also a spinoff series, which will incorporate the storyline, characters and world from my first two unpublished manuscripts. I also have a unique contemporary erotic romance that is waiting for its time in the spotlight.
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Debs: Do you have a message for your fans?
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Kat: Thank you. Every kind word, email, like, mention, and review is heartfelt and appreciated. Your support fires the courage within me to take that leap and trust I’ll fly.
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# Rapid Fire Questions:
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  • Debs: If you could invite anyone famous over for dinner who would you choose?
  • Kat: Only one? Hmmm… I’m not sure I could invite only one person. I would love to have a dinner party with a collection of those in this world who use their gifts to change this world for the better. A long list of ambassadors of great charitable causes come to mind.
  • Debs: Favourite Book Genre?  Kat: Paranormal Romance
  • Debs: Favourite Movies? Kat: Romantic Comedies and Action Adventure.
  • Debs: Favourite Music?  Kat:  Rock, alternative, jazz, dance and . . . flamenco. {sighs}
  • Debs: Favourite colour? Kat: At the moment, purple. No wait, green. Is it what I’m wearing? Black. {laughs} I’m drawn to dark jewel tones.
  • Debs: Twitter or Facebook? Kat: TWITTER!
  • Debs:  PC or Mac?  Kat:  PC
  • Debs: Books or Kindle? Kat:  Kindle, although I love holding a book.
  • Debs: Pens or pencils? Kat: Pens.
  • Debs: Tall or short? Kat: Tall.
  • Debs: Coffee or tea drinker?  Kat: Tea!
  • Debs: Dogs or cats?  Kat: Cats.
  • Debs: Superman or Batman? Kat: Batman! He’s got all the cool rides!
  • Debs:  Chocolate or Ice Cream? Kat: Chocolate.
  • Debs: Meat or Seafood? Kat:  Meat.
  • Debs: Beer, Wine or Spirit? Kat: Wine.
  • Debs: Camping or Hotel? Kat: Both. A camping trip that ends in a spontaneous, pampered hotel stay, complete with a room-service buffet. Been there. Done that.
  • Debs: Beach or Rainforest? Kat: Both! Sugar-sand beach on the edge of a butterfly-filled rainforest. What? It’s my fantasy!
  • Debs: Spirituality or Evolution? Kat: {dies laughing} Girl, you saved the heavy question for last, didn’t you? I can’t wait for you to read Forged in Dreams and Magick and Bound by Wish and Mistletoe. Our heroine is an archaeologist and her journey and beliefs touch on the paradoxes between science and spirituality.
  • Debs: …Oh really how fascinating!!!
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Thank-you again Kat it was a real pleasure getting to know you a little s’more! And to those who read I hope you all enjoyed as much as I did 😊 ~ Debs xo
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# Please click on the Links to check-out Award-Winning Author Kat Bastion:
  • Books:
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  • Bound by Wish and Mistletoe – releases 11/2013
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Interview with Author PJ Bayliss

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It’s my pleasure and honour folks to support and share a little further insight into the very talented Author PJ Bayliss aka Yr Mon Ami…. Twisted Procreator of Poetry, Short Stories, & Aspiring Erotica Writer!
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For those of you whom don’t know him he has written and published two Poetry Books to date called Restraint & Taboo which you can purchase via Amazon!
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I came across this Gentleman’s work at the end of last year, then in the beginning of this year he was one of the first people to read and support my Blog! It was through one of my posts on Books that we discussed Sylvain Reynard’s Novels – Gabriel’s Inferno & Rapture, and how he hadn’t been able to purchase them where he lives in New Zealand…I had recently won a competition and had received signed copies of these Books …and so offered my old copies to PJ….And thus our connection has grown!
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Hi Neighbour from across the waves …I’m very excited and grateful to have you as “My First” ever interviewee :-)  Ok lets get into it…
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# Debs: So who is PJ Bayliss & Yr Mon Ami?
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PJ: Phew! An easy one for starters…PJ Bayliss is my official non de plume for my writing and I’ve secured things like the @PJBayliss twitter handle and web domain name just in case something substantial comes out of this writing lark. I have the occasional Tweet or update from here, but it’s really reserved for bigger things later on if they ever eventuate.
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I’d hate to be in a position of buying my own name off from somebody at the end of the day.
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Your Mon Ami is a ‘gifted name’ if you like: A small group of lovely ladies I met online came up with the idea after I provided ‘a service’ for them. They wanted to call me “Sir” & “Master” and a manner of similar names, but I rather liked this one.
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# Debs: Have you always been into writing?
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PJ: It’s only been the last six-months that I’ve started to write from a purely fictional perspective, although I spend a lot of time writing for my day job. I guess it is plausible that my clinically detailed approach in writing has been influenced by my career.
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I also dabbled in writing as an Art student a long, long time ago. There’s something I find very appealing about painted artwork and printed media with writing on it.
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# Debs: How do you define Poetry?
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PJ: Ouch! That’s quite a question. I’m sure scholars have this one in their “Poetry 101” final exam questionnaire…
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If I had to define Poetry, I would be inclined to say “Powerful, suggestive words within a verse creates one persons’ poetry.”
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Months ago I was self-critical about Poetry and really struggled to appreciate the poems of others. I grabbed books by the dozen online and in paperback to try to bring myself to terms with it. All I found was numerous examples, methods, and frameworks for poetry around the world.
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The personality of a poet really permeates the verse on any occasion. It’s important for the reader to acknowledge and accept that before drawing any deduction about it being poetry, or not.
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# Debs: Do you have a creative process? Like writing at a certain time of the day; listening to music or prefer silence? And how do you like to write – Phone, Computer or Journal?
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PJ: I believe I have a ‘Mind’s Eye’ when it comes to writing poetry and I almost enter into a complete trance when doing so. It’s quite difficult to explain other than being on another spiritual level in some sense so I can normally shut off distractions or surroundings to write what I wish to. Music, and time of the day, certainly helps though.
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My earlier poems were written into a book first, then tidied up and published. Some would take me months before I felt comfortable with them. I guess through practice & frequency I have been able to create them a lot easier these days.
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# Debs: Who or what inspires you? Do you have a Muse?
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PJ: Inspiration has come in so many various forms, from different people, or personal situations. I borrow emotions from others and try to capture the human spirit whenever I can and I’d like to think my work helps others to heal in the process.
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There is one thing that generally does the trick… a Hamburger. Yeah… It’s strange what a Burger King Whopper can invoke in my mind.
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# Debs: Hmmm….#FoodPorn strikes again. <giggles>
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# Debs: How did you get into Haiku & Tanka styles of Poetry?
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PJ: Last November I was asked to do a Haiku as part of a Blogging award. I was intrigued by the idea of creating a strong mental image with just 12 syllables. I found the Haiku format so easy to use with Twitter, so it became a bit of a habit generating a Haiku each day until I decided to produce a book with 365 Haiku’s for a year.
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Tanka poetry pretty much came with the territory. I must admit, I do prefer them over Haiku due to the extra content and vision they bring to the party.
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# Debs:  Words are the essence of story-telling, do you think Music and Pictures enhance that and why?
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PJ: Music & Pictures would enhance practically any situation in my opinion.
Basically I place music & pictures on my posts because the music normally reflects the mood I’m in when writing, or what I think the reader would enjoy listening to. Likewise with the pictures. I guess you can think of them as both being the perfect Wine to complement the meal.
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# Debs: O.o. good answer!!!
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# Debs:  Do you ever get “Writers block”? If so, do you have a remedy?
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PJ: I’d imagine practically every writer gets stuck once in a while, and yes; I’m in a bit of a bind right now in fact with my poetry. I think that is a case of wanting to out-perform myself each time based upon the last.
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The sad reality is that Writers Block occurs for such a variety of reasons and specific causes are usually to blame. Some of these causes are simply a condition of the environment. The only thing I could possibly suggest for any writer out there experiencing this is to first acknowledge this condition. Only from there can plans be drawn to resolve it.
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# Debs: Of all the poems you’ve written, do you have a favourite and why?
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PJ: …Why did I agree to this again?…    # Debs: Cause we’re mates 😉
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Such a tough question. All of my works are like children & I favor them in different ways. I know myself that you can’t favor one child over and above the others though.
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OK, here goes…. Dreamscape possibly stands out to me for being one of my first poems to really explore the sexual act of lovemaking. As you know, I desperately seek to avoid words of a sexually explicit nature in my writing as I prefer to have the reader discover the scene along the way. Dreamscape comes to me as one of those poems that certainly works well to uncover the scene towards the end while avoiding the typically smut-filled words so familiar to readers these days.
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# Debs: Yes one of my Favourites too…very hot!!!
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# Debs: What do you think about Social Media as an avenue for getting independent writers out there?
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PJ: When I first looked into attending local writing classes the courses were comprised of 50% of Social Media and technology material. I’ve also seen the evidence of an author going the complete opposite direction with local door-knocking, snail-mail, and networking. That didn’t seem to be working so well in that situation to be honest.
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There is a real stigma over Social Media use for anything, let alone writing. It is something that can completely overtake your life and become futile in the endeavor to brand yourself as a writer. I know myself that book sales have not increased dramatically during campaigns where I’ve increased social media advertising content. There is a correlation between the two, but at some point I’m sure the benefits fade away.
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The best advice I ever saw about this subject was from Sylvia Day; in one of her blog posts she simply stated that Writers should to be able to assess the impact of their Social Media effort has against sales and creating content.
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#Debs: Interesting…
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# Debs: What does Sensuality, Lust & Romance mean to you?
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PJ: Where on earth are you getting these questions from?…  # Debs: 😇
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OK, Lust is easy. It’s just pure, animalistic instinct that pours from your body when making love. Lust is ‘to die for’ and nothing can get in the way of it. It’s simply physical magnetism.
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Romance is the ‘woo-ing’ phase for me. Setting the scene for establishing love & creating, or strengthening, those intimate relationships we all seek and crave.
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Sensuality is possibly the above two combined, and more. It’s the complete package when it comes to sexuality and love-making I guess. It’s definitely not something that’s expected or predictable in a relationship and I believe sensuality is as much about being spontaneous, a little kinky, and perhaps a smidgin of being twisted when it comes down to it. Above all, it’s a total commitment of the soul.
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# Debs: mmmm…..spot on!!!
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# Debs:  If you could make-out with anyone Famous who would it be?
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PJ:  Jessica Rabbit… <remember Roger Rabbit’s wife>
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# Debs: Hmmm…kinky fantasy hey!
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# Debs: What attracts you to a Woman? And/or people?
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PJ: A sense of humour & being happy in oneself are possibly the biggest traits that attract me to anybody. I love making people smile and prefer it if they can do the same to me.

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# Debs: What excites you in life?
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PJ: Oh vey!…..
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I’m one of those guys where any bound in enthusiasm is usually immediately cushioned through self composure. This is such a hard question to nail…
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I’m pretty much a people pleaser and love to obtain reactions from others through my generosity or effort. I’m the guy who shelters the injured in the rain when I don’t have a raincoat, and certainly wish to be the writer that leaves you with an abandoned sigh of relief when you put my book down.
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# Debs: If you could posses a super power what would it be?
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PJ: Well an obvious one would be the ability to stretch parts of my body into various shapes and sizes, but I think I’d prefer not to have any Super Powers. I’m thinking of Batman here; who’s just a regular, but fit, guy with lots of great gadgets.
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Hope that’s fine with you?
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# Debs: Oh. My….Sounds Perfect to me 😍  <swoon>
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# Debs: If you could invite anyone famous over for dinner who would you choose?
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PJ: Another bruiser of a question…
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I’m gonna have to say Roger Waters from Pink Floyd. That guy seriously rocks plus he has so much to say on the side of humanity and world issues.
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I’d hope he hangs around for a bit after dinner to chill out over a port or three…
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# Debs: Do you have a motto in life?
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PJ: Live and Love as if Life is a Crescendo
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# Debs: Do you like interaction with your readers? Ever had a bad experience?
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PJ: Most definitely yes. I love it, but I am inclined to bring conversations to an end if they’re becoming quite long or if I sense they should be getting off to sleep etc. I think this is because my real-life situation is chaotically hectic and busy, so I become critically aware of taking someone else’s time as they may be in a similar situation.
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I have had a couple of bad experiences many months ago, which I won’t dwell upon much. Let’s just say that the word ‘Gun’ cropped up a couple of times which prompted a quick end to the interaction. It was very unpleasant for me at the time and I ended up loosing sleep or sleeping with one eye open in case they’d tracked me down at home.
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# Debs: What are your future projects?
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PJ: “A Chemical Romance” still remains on my “To be written” list, as always. The first book, Admission, is getting a lot more attention from me lately to bring the whole project forward in time. This is taking a lot longer than anticipated, but it is also something I really want to be rememberable by the reader as well.
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While I’d love to move on from Poetry books to short stories, I think I have at least one or two more poetry-orientated Books ahead of me. One project being a physical paper-back based upon Restraint with the more popular poems included to ensure the price-point is right. The other poetry-based project I’m considering would be called “The Devil Owns a Halo” & will incorporate short stories with various poems. I’m really uncertain about this approach though…
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As you’re aware I’m also working on Chronicle, however, that has been place on hold for now as it’s such a delicate subject to deal with and I know the Chemical Romance stories will thrill my readers.
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# Debs: Do you have a message for your fans?
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PJ: “Fans” – what a novel idea.
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My humbleness aside :) –  I really do appreciate every effort to read my material and pimp it out to others. I know just how hard it is to find time for anything these days, so I sincerely understand what it takes to do so in your time.
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Just keep those smiles & great remarks coming as they become the fuel I use to produce more material.
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# Debs: Oh we definitely will Hun 😊
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# Rapid Fire Questions:
  • Married or Single?  PJ: Married
  • Tall or short?  PJ:  Tall
  • Tits or Arse?  PJ: Neither, Arse is closet
  • Missionary or Doggy style?  PJ: Depends who’s on top
  • Boxers or Undies?  PJ:  Boxers
  • Batgirl or Superwoman?  PJ: Batgirl (Duh!)
  • Chocolate or Ice Cream?  PJ: Chocolate
  • Meat or Seafood?  PJ: Seafood
  • Beer, Wine or Spirit?  PJ: Spirit
  • Books or Kindle?  PJ: Books
  • Camping or Hotel?  PJ:Camping
  • Beach or Rainforest?  PJ: Beach
  • Spirituality or Evolution?  PJ: Evolution
  • Favourite Poets?  PJ: Edgar Allan Poe & Robert Frost immediately come to mind.
  • Favourite Books?  PJ: I can’t say as my recent discovery of fiction novels is responsible for creating new favorites every week.
  • Favourite Music?  PJ: Rock as a Genre, Pink Floyd as a band, however; I have a huge variety in music tastes.
  • Favourite TV Shows?  PJ: Kitchen Nightmares, The Big Bang Theory, Breaking Bad
  • Favourite Movies?  PJ: The Wall, The Matrix, Tron Legacy, … I’m sure these & more are on my FaceBook profile ;)
  • Favourite Sports?  PJ:  All about the same. (Somebody needs to turn me into a fan…)
  • Favourite colour?  PJ: Blue
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Wow very cool PJ …loved getting to know you a little s’more thank- you SO much 😘 your Awesomesauce!
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And to those who read I hope you all enjoyed as much as I did 😋 ~ Debs xo
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An Interview with B.L. Ronan

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# Brilliant Interview with Author/ Poet B.L.Ronan ~ Debs xo

So The Story Goes

We are fortunate to have had the pleasure of sitting down for a chat with friend and writer B.L. Ronan, author of saudade.  Join us as we discuss inspiration and her journey into self publishing…

So The Story Goes:Have you always wanted to write?

B.L. Ronan: i have always been a dreamer – creating and living stories almost constantly.  so in the essence of creating as a writer does, yes. i love words but it was not until middle and high school that i used it as a form of expression.

STSG:Have you always been drawn to poetry as a medium?

B.L.: my mind tends to be lyrical and i therefore have an immediate connection to the medium of poetry and prose. i find i get the most fulfillment out of it because i am able to essentially breathe my heart onto the page.

STSG:Where do you…

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