Five Free Apps » writing

Blogging On iPad: A Do Or A Don’t?

Brian Mongold — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:00:12 +0000

Dale Henry has blogged about the pros and cons of a biblical counseling degree and is working towards becoming a sonogram tech

When the iPad debuted just a few short months ago, many said it would change computing forever. Some predicted that like cell phones did to land lines, it would make computing a portable venture and would eventually render traditional computers obsolete. Whether that happens still remains to be seen, but its potential to be taken on the go and do many of the functions of a regular computer certainly is enticing, particularly for a specific group of computer users who would benefit from being able to compute anywhere — bloggers. Does this potential actual pan out? Currently, it’s a little bit each of yes and no.

Blogging on the go

When inspiration strikes, being able to take advantage of it — and scoop the competition — is key for most bloggers. The iPad does, to some extent, allow for users to work from almost anywhere. Composing in Notes or similar word processing programs is no problem. To me, the iPad keyboard feels natural, but for those who do not like it, compatible keyboards (including some that fold up nicely for portability) can be purchased for as little as $30. Shop around and try one that fits you the best.

The iPad’s image capture capabilities are also appealing; wouldn’t it be great to have your word processor and image/video capture device all in one reasonably compact and portable device?

As for actually blogging, more and more blogging platforms have created apps for the iPad (and some even for the iPhone) that allow users to access their accounts from these mobile devices. WordPress was the first, but most of the other popular blog hosts have joined the fray as well.

Can you actually use it to blog?

Well…it kind of depends on what you want to be able to do while away from a traditional computer. Though the iPad has made several big improvements to its operating system since its debut to make it more intuitive and user friendly, it simply is not as good of a platform for blogging as a laptop or PC; you just can’t do as much on it as easily or as quickly. Something as simple and essential as adding links can be a chore, as switching from the Safari web browser to a blogging app still leaves something to be desired. Editing audio and video is generally out of the question as well, unless a user wants to splurge on expensive apps, and even then the quality of the finished product does not match that of a laptop or PC and really isn’t worth the time that most likely will need to be invested.

Use iPad as an on-the-go complement

That said, the iPad is still a great tool for some blogging functions that complements well the work needed to be done on a traditional computer. If a blogger has to truly get something out there in a timely fashion without access to a computer, the iPad is there for them. Serious bloggers can also use iPad blogging apps to follow comments on posts and respond in a timely fashion as necessary. Those who head up large blogs and look over staff work can do so on the iPad and publish work already in the drafts folder from iPad as well. Truly tech savvy and creative bloggers can sync their iPad with their home computer as well using programs like LogMeIn Ignition, which allows users to in effect work from their home computer using the iPad as their computer’s monitor. However, such a program is somewhat expensive ($25 and up) and requires some deal of technical expertise — and a computer left on all day at home.

The iPad and similar devices are not going to replace traditional computers anytime soon. Nor will blogging be done exclusively from mobile devices in the foreseeable future. But for right now, the iPad does present some appetizing options for bloggers on the go who want to use their mobile device for certain blogging functions.

Interview Archives – Three Authors & a CEO

Brian Mongold — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 21:33:53 +0000

It’s been a few months since the last Q&A session, so I thought I’d take this opportunity to highlight each of the outstanding interviewees from the last two years. In the Q&As below, you’ll learn about the founder and CEO of a startup, get incite into an author’s first publishing experience, learn a few writing tips and find out how a writer juggles family life, while promoting a book and writing two others. Enjoy!

10 Questions with Mr. Dushyant Bhatia, Founder and CEO of Blogertize World - Last January, Blogertize World was a brand spanking new startup site that was buzzing around the Blogosphere. As my very first interview, I approached the founder and CEO of Blogertize World for this interview and he didn’t disappoint. Mr. Bhatia had immediate success with the site, but unfortunately it never lived up to expectations in the end. He has since moved on to focus on a new startup in Gozoop.

10 Questions: Author, Editor Kathryn Magendie – Early last year, I had a very entertaining guest post by Kathryn. She was so much fun in her guest blogging post and the southern charm that translated so well that I had to find out more about her. This interview was published leading up to her debut novel, Tender Graces, which displayed the brilliance that is Kathryn Magendie. Her book did amazingly well and she’ll be publishing her latest book, Sweetie, next month.

Essential Writing Tools: Q&A With David Pereda – Last April, I was approached by a friend who spoke very highly about a fine writer and teacher, David Pereda. I approached David Pereda requesting an interview and he was happy to oblige. In this interview, David shared some essential tools to help beginning writers.

12 Questions With Brian O’Mara-Croft; Author of Lost in Hive – Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to interview talented funny man, Brian O’Mara-Croft. Brian is author of Lost in Hive: Confessions of a Reluctant Drone. In this interview, he shared his life as an author and a family man, while showing how both aspects affected his life and career.

What did you think of the interviews? Were you one of the bloggers to advertise with Blogertize World or have you read any of the author’s work?

12 Questions With Brian O’Mara-Croft; Author of Lost in Hive

Brian Mongold — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 15:52:22 +0000

It’s an honor and privilege to present today’s Q&A session.

Please give a warm welcome to the talented and always funny Brian O’Mara-Croft, author of Lost in Hive: Confessions of a Reluctant Drone.

In this interview, Brian discusses his life as an author and a family man and the impact both have on his life.

Q: Tell us a little about your background.

A: For the longest time, I believed my formative years were “normal”. I thought public nudity, foot fetishism, punching myself in the face for attention, having my mother blow-dry and curl my hair every morning and indulging a two-pack-a-day smoking habit were just “kids will be kids” behaviors—what you’d expect of any fourteen-year-old.

When friends registered shock at my stories (like when they found out my mother bankrolled this smoking addiction for years), I realized my entire history to that moment had been an exercise in becoming as accomplished an idiot as humanly possible. I was okay with this. Everyone likes to know they’ve arrived.

I’ve always been happiest when making others laugh. If any joke fails to inspire gales of laughter, I presume my “audience” is grumpy—that’s always preferable to critical self-examination. When my wife was in the hospital being evaluated for a heart transplant, she was stingy with her chuckles. I guess life-threatening illnesses make people especially grumpy. Still, as one chapter of Lost in the Hive demonstrates, even in the darkest hours one can find ways to lighten up. With so many things in the world to bring us down, I want to be one of the people who shoves a ray of light through the clouds, if only for a while.

Q: Describe Lost in the Hive and how the title came about.

A: Lost in the Hive is a celebration of the insane yet glorious moments that punctuate everyday life. While I use my own experiences to shape the chapters, readers will see themselves and their own questionable decisions in many of the stories. Lost in the Hive is full of what most of us think but may be hesitant to say aloud. It’s all good, naughty fun. A hive works well as a metaphor for the life I’ve been living, because as one person in a household of seven strong personalities, in a world that is increasingly crazy, it’s no stretch to picture oneself as an inconsequential drone.

Q: Who inspired you to write Lost in the Hive?

A: Every strange and wonderful person who has crossed my path inspired me. I would never have written the stories were it not for people who laughed when I shared these experiences with friends and family. And, of course, without my wife telling me she would read the book even if she wasn’t married to me, I don’t know I’d have found the confidence to see it through. I am so, so glad I did. I hope readers will agree.

Q: Lost in the Hive is a collection of humorous essays. When did you begin your very first essay?

A: Well, the coy answer would be to say I started these stories when I started living them, because the chapters capture moments from my childhood through to present day. I wrote the first story in the collection, “Shoo Fly Try,” two summers ago. It remains one of my favorites. My wife despises the insect world; by contrast, it loves her. The existence of Patty and houseflies in the same space makes for very compelling humor.

Q: You write what many men will only think. What’s the secret to speaking your mind without getting in trouble with the wife?

A: Who says I’m not in trouble with my wife? Patty has shuddered, twitched, choked, snarled, sighed and gasped as she’s read drafts of my stories. Who can blame her? Two of the chapters are titled, “My Wife Told Me Not to Write About Sex” and “I Thought I Told You Not to Write About Sex.” But, as she cringed, she also laughed. At the end of the day, she knows my best voice is an unfettered one. I adore her for this.

Lost in the Hive is not just a story for men. Any woman who has ever known a father, brother, husband, son or male friend will find my voice familiar, if outrageous. To date, any time I’ve shared a chapter at a book club or other event, women were laughing just as hard as the guys. If I didn’t reach all tribes of people, I would feel I’d missed the mark.

Q: Give us three reasons we need to pre-order Lost in the Hive today.

A: Because I have an extensive directory of where everyone reading this lives. Okay, that’s not a real answer. Here are three reasons:

There just aren’t enough books out there that devote entire chapters to the finer points of both masturbation and gardening. Some may consider this dearth a good thing. Apparently, I do not.
My publisher is a growing, independent publisher that is really great to independent bookstores. That’s a gentle way of saying that without a huge publicity budget behind my book, the chances of my ever being called “the heir apparent to David Sedaris” (I came up with that one myself) depend a great deal on grassroots, word-of-mouth enthusiasm from readers such as fans of this blog.
You’ll laugh. You DO want to laugh, don’t you?

Q: When you received word that your very first book, Lost in the Hive, was being published, describe this experience.

A: I think I peed a little.

Q: How has your wife and five kids influenced your writing?

A: They didn’t just influence it; they lived it. They are all over the pages, and they’ve been great sports about it. They bring humor to my life. In the book, I pass this along.

Q: Lost in the Hive will be published in just over a month! How has it changed your life thus far?

A: Well, we just installed the gold-plated and diamond-encrusted hot tub…and I get dressed more often than I did in the past. Oh, and we’ve made a clean break from most of our friends. I’m lying. In truth, my world is pretty much the same. I’ve enjoyed meeting more people in the publishing world, which has been wonderful, and I feel very loved by all the people who hope the book will be a big success, but I’m still the same guy. Our phone number’s still in the book. I still put my spandex pants on one leg at a time.

Q: Your book will be published soon, a second book of humorous essays is in the works and you’re also co-authoring with your wife Patty. What’s next?

A: That’s not enough? Between promoting this book, writing two others, being a husband and father and trying to pay the bills with a day job, I have plenty on my plate. Any more and I wouldn’t have time for drinking and television.

Q: What advice could you give authors looking to catch a break and take their work to the next level?

A: Xanax…lots and lots of Xanax. If you want to be a successful author (says the writer whose book hasn’t even hit the shelves yet), I believe you must write in a compelling way, have a unique voice, take responsibility for spreading the word about your work, and do just about anything to make it succeed. Oh, and grow a thick skin. You’re going to need it.

Q: You’ll be a very busy man with your book publishing soon. Can you provide the schedule for your book tour?

A: Sure. Oh, wait. Book tour? I’m going on a book tour? We’re launching the book with a fun party in my hometown (Old Towne Books & Tea, Oswego, IL) on June 18, and I’m doing a signing on June 19 at the Glen Ellyn BookFest. I’m sure there will be other events; I just don’t know what, when or where they’ll be just yet. I keep people posted on my activities on my Facebook fan page, on Twitter and on my humor blog. I hope to meet lots of you; thanks for thinking about my book.

About the Author

Brian O’Mara-Croft is author of soon to be published Lost in the Hive: Confessions of a Reluctant Drone. Lost in the Hive is a collection of true stories which focus on the “self-deprecating and laughably unfiltered view into the daily mishaps of a man who wants to rule his suburban family, but is little more than a drone in the hive” as Brian says it best.

Brian is maintaining a busy schedule, writing his second book of humorous essays and co-authoring with his wife Patty about the struggles with heart failure.

I wanted to give a special thanks to Brian for taking the time to share his experiences with us today. To learn more about Brian O’Mara-Croft, be sure to become a fan of his Facebook Fan Page, follow his Lost in the Hive Blog and pre-order Lost in the Hive, which will be published June 1st.

Freelance Writing – Tools, Resources & Job Boards

Brian Mongold — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:14:14 +0000

I recently received my very first freelance writing contracted job, writing an iPhone App article for an upcoming iPhone Magazine App. The experience was very enjoyable, rewarding and I can’t wait for the next opportunity.

Freelance writing is dependent upon your previous work, level of experience and skill level. It can be a nice way to make a few bucks or an excellent source of income. It all depends on you and what you bring to the table. Of course, finding the right opportunity is just as important. I wanted to use this entry to provide a helpful listing of tools and resources to help you progress as a freelance writer.

Before highlighting a few sites and services below, I highly recommend taking a look at Mashable’s 85+ Tools & Resources for Freelancers and the Freelance Switch 101 Essential Freelance Resources.

Guru – Basic Membership = Free or $29.95 to $99.95 per quarter or 50% discount for annual membership

Guru provides a site to market your skills to a large audience. The site provides online video profiles, skills and experience highlights, and a quality score that identifies both your strengths and weaknesses. Find projects, submit bids on projects, manage and track all your projects.

Freelance Switch Jobs – $7 per month membership required to apply for most jobs

Freelance Switch is a community of expert freelance writers. It’s a great source to learn from other experienced freelancers. The Job board provides daily freelance jobs, many of which require a monthly membership to apply for.

Triond – Free Membership

Triond takes the tough work out of freelancing. All you do is write content on a topic of your choice. Triond then markets your work and publishes it on relevant websites. Once your work is published, it begins generating revenue from various income sources (i.e. contextual advertising). You received 50% of the revenue paid to you monthly.

iFreelance – Basic = $4.69 per month, Silver = $6.75 per month, Gold = $9 per month

iFreelance gives you two options to find freelance jobs. You can advertise your services directly to interested buyers or search the project database, submitting bides for available projects. You get online portfolio hosting, various personalized marketing tools and more.

In addition to the sites above, you can always find freelance gigs via job search engines like Simply Hired and Indeed.

David Pereda Writes Second Mystery-Thriller with Cuban Setting

Brian Mongold — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:03:55 +0000

You may remember Author David Pereda from a Q&A session last year. He’s back with a brand new book and wanted me to share the details with you. Take a look at the press release below.

Local author David Pereda, a former Latin American government consultant, has just released his latest thriller. Havana: Killing Castro, published by Eternal Press, is a 2009 Readers Favorite Award Winner with an intriguing story line. When an old fisherman is gunned down on a Mexican beach, prominent Miami surgeon Raymond Peters becomes the prime suspect. The dead fisherman is believed to be Fidel Castro whom Dr. Peters had helped disguise through clandestine plastic surgery on a trip to Cuba two years earlier. But is the body really that of the Cuban leader? In order to save his own life, the beleaguered physician must solve the murder, find the killers and retrieve a mysterious journal. And this has to be done while outwitting a sensual but ruthless assassin named Marcela, sent by Castro’s brother Raul.

Havana: Killing Castro, the second in Pereda’s fast-moving series of mystery-thrillers set in Havana, has received rave reviews. Here is a sampling:

“The work is indeed a masterpiece of entertainment…” Gary Sorkin, Pacific Book Review

“The suspense grabs the reader from the beginning and holds it to the end…If you like a good mystery filled with espionage, you will enjoy this book.” Readers Favorite

“David Pereda has done it again. In Havana: Killing Castro, he continues intriguing readers with the story begun in Havana: Top Secret.” The Laurel of Asheville

David Pereda is an award-winning author who enjoys writing political thrillers and mainstream novels. Before devoting his time solely to writing and teaching, Pereda had a rich and successful international consulting career with global giant Booz-Allen and Hamilton, where he worked with the governments of Mexico, Venezuela, Peru and Qatar, among others.

“What I learned then,” says Pereda, “has helped me enrich my novels with exotic places and credible characters.”

Pereda has published five novels. Havana: Twin Powers – the third novel in his mystery-thriller Havana series — is scheduled for publication next year. His non-fiction work regularly appears in publications like The Laurel of Asheville and Pasajero magazine.

A member of MENSA, Pereda is the regional director of Florida Writers Association’s Western North Carolina division and the founder of AWE (Asheville Writing Enthusiasts). He lives with his family in Asheville, North Carolina.

Havana: Killing Castro is available through Eternal Press, www.eternalpress.com, www.amazon.com , www.fictionwise.com , and in selected Asheville bookstores.

Proud Collection of Interviews & Guest Blogger Posts – Eazy Cheezy’s 1st Birthday

Brian Mongold — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:15:46 +0000

In my first year of blogging, my proudest moments have come via guest blogging posts and the interviews I’ve been fortunate enough to land. The interviews were so much fun and the responses to each of my questions were very well thought out and I learned so much from each. In addition to the interviews, the guest bloggers were amazing. Each were special and unique and brought something special to my blog, sharing their expertise and point of view. I attribute both the interviews and guest blogging posts to helping me grow as a blogger. I hope you enjoy the collection of interviews and guest blogger posts that are some of the finest posts on Eazy Cheezy.

Interviews

10 Questions with Mr. Dushyant Bhatia, Founder and CEO of Blogertize World – In January, Blogertize World was a brand spanking new startup site that was buzzing around the Blogosphere. Blogertize World offers affordable advertising space for bloggers for a period of 3 years. The business model consists of micro-blogging, a gaming portal, podcast publishing, profit sharing, quizzes and contests, a shopping portal and exposure for bloggers via a newsletter. They officially launched this month and it was exciting to land my very first interview with it’s CEO and founder. This interview is one of my most proudest moments.

10 Questions: Author, Editor Kathryn Magendie – In March, still having her fabulous guest blogging post on my mind, I decided to approach Kathryn for an interview. She was so much fun in her guest blogging post and the southern charm that translated so well, I had to find out more about her. This interview was published leading up to her first debut novel, Tender Graces, which displays the brilliance that is Kathryn Magendie. Her future is bright and I recommend getting your copy of Tender Graces.

Essential Writing Tools: Q&A With David Pereda – In April, I was approached by a friend who told me about a fine writer and teacher, David Pereda. I approached David Pereda requesting an interview and he was more than happy to oblige. In this interview, he shares some essential tools to help beginning writers. His latest novel is Havana Top Secret and you can find out more about his work at David Pereda Books.

Guest Bloggers

20 Easy Ways to Change the World by Small Footprints – One of my favorite authors, which I was so happy to meet when I started blogging was Small Footprints of Reduce Footprints. She blogs to make a difference in the world as she simple things we can do in our every day life to make a difference as her 300+ followers and readers will tell you. The post was very well received and her site Reduce Footprints will remain a staple on my sidebar. I was also lucky enough to publish my very first guest blogging post at Reduce Footprints, Technological Innovations that Will Change the World.

Guest Blogger, Author Editor Kathryn Magendie – As mentioned in the interview above, Kathryn Magendie is one of the most interesting people I’ve met in my year of blogging. Prior to this guest blogging post, I didn’t know Kathryn. She used this guest post to share her experiences leading up to and once she received her contract for her very first novel, Tender Graces. She writes in a way that makes you feel as if you’ve known her for years. The experiences she shared are some that writers rarely share. I was honored to publish my very own guest blogging post at Tender Graces, Guest Author, Brian Mongold of Eazy Cheezy.

If You Write It, They Will Come Back by Brian of The New Author – Another guest post by a great author, Brian from The New Author, who uses his blog to share writing tips and techniques with his group of 190+ followers. He used this guest blogger post to inspire bloggers to keep writing about your passion, while showing some great tools to use along the way. Brian also invited me to guest blog at his site, so please do checkout Guest Blogging Your Way to More Readers.

Guest Blogger: Marcy Gaston of The Cooking Rut - Marcy is a former chef and caterer who uses The Cooking Rut to write about her cooking passion, sharing her favorite recipes and many helpful tips with her readers. She makes cooking fun and easy and in this guest post, she shared the basic essential cooking tools with us all. Even veterans of the cooking world will learn something at the Cooking Rut.

Want to Guest Blog?

If you’d like to guest blog at Eazy Cheezy, here’s the information to provide:

Your Name
Blog or Article URL ( if applicable)
Ideas for a post to publish on Eazy Cheezy
Approximate date you’d like to publish your post

Please e-mail this information to Brian@EazyCheezy.Net.

As you can probably tell by my posting, I’m very proud of each and every interview and guest blog post that’s been published. It’s helped to give my blog a different voice and point of view. These posts are also some of my favorites and each are very special in their own way. I wanted to thank all my fine readers, those who were kind enough to allow me to interview them and the great group of guest bloggers who shared their expertise and point of view in the fine articles they published.

Interview Archives; The Q&A Sessions

Brian Mongold — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:40:14 +0000

Some of my favorite and most rewarding posts have been the interviews I’ve conducted. I couldn’t have been happier with the Interviewees as each were quite special and unique in their own way. The interviews below feature Dushyant Bhatia, founder and CEO of Blogertize and Authors Kathryn Magendie and David Pereda. If you haven’t seen the interviews, I highly recommend them. Each were thorough, informative and very enjoyable with their responses.

10 Questions With Mr. Dushyant Bhatia, CEO of Blogertize

Exclusive interview with Mr. Dushyant Bhatia, founder and CEO of Blogertize. Established September 1st, 2008, Blogertize offers low-cost, pixel-based adspace to both rich content blogs and forums.

10 Questions; Author and Editor Kathryn Magendie

Highly talented writer, editor, and co-managing editor of The Rose & Thorn Literary Ezine. She’s published short stories, essays, poems, photography and recently released her debut novel, TENDER GRACES.

Essential Writing Tools; Q&A With Author David Pereda

Award-winning author and college creative writing instructor David Pereda. He is the regional director of Florida Writers Association’s Western North Carolina division and the founder of Asheville Writing Enthusiasts (AWE). His latest novel, Havana: Top Secret, published by Eternal Press, has garnered him rave reviews and will be available in May.

Calling all Bloggers! Looking for a few Guest Authors

Brian Mongold — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:03:36 +0000

Guest blogging is fun, a great experience and an excellent way to cross promote. That said, I’m in the process of moving and am currently looking for some Guest Authors for the next few weeks. In addition, each Wednesday is Guest Blogger Day for those who are interested in future slots.
If you’d like to Guest Blog at Eazy Cheezy, continue reading for more information. I look forward to hearing from you!

Essential Writing Tools: Q&A With Author David Pereda

Brian Mongold — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:00:10 +0000

My guest today is award-winning author and college creative writing instructor David Pereda. He is the regional director of Florida Writers Association’s Western North Carolina division and the founder of Asheville Writing Enthusiasts (AWE). His latest novel, Havana: Top Secret, published by Eternal Press, has garnered him rave reviews and will be available in May.

Brian: What are some of the things beginning writers should do to improve their craft?

David: First thing they should do is know the basic tools of writing and learn how to use them. While a carpenter’s basic tools might be a hammer, nails and a saw, a writer has basic tools too.

Brian: Can you share the basic tools that are essential to writers?

David: Good writers know their tools and know how to use them. The three basic tools are narrative summary, description and dialogue. Those are the basic tools that help writers build memorable stories. The difference in the quality and poignancy of the stories has to do with how well or how badly writers use those tools – the techniques of writing.

Brian: Would you give a brief description of those tools for our readers?

David: Sure. Narrative summary tells readers what happens offstage. It’s a scene that is told rather than shown and is usually used to bring in the backstory – or “the history” of what happened before the story began. To use computer jargon, narrative summary takes place offline. The best use of narrative summary in modern fiction is simply to connect scenes. It should be brief and used with discretion. Too much narrative summary will bog down your story.

Description is the depiction of a locale or person. While well-done description adds color and richness, it should be used sparingly. A hundred years ago, writers – who were often paid by the word — indulged in pages and pages of description. Modern readers, “trained” by TV, film and the Internet, are much more impatient. So, however beautiful you believe you write description, don’t overindulge or you’ll lose your readers.

Dialogue is an invented language that resembles everyday speech. Dialogue in fiction breaks the monotony of lengthy descriptive passages, advances the action and lends insight and personality to characters. Pitch-perfect dialogue involves conflict, either internal or external.

Brian: Thank you for being my guest today, David. It’s been quite informative. Would you consider being my guest in the future again to discuss some of those techniques you mentioned?.

David: It would be my pleasure, Brian. Thank you for inviting me to be your guest today.

To find out more about David Pereda or his new novel: http://www.davidpereda.com/havanatopsecret.html

To become a Pereda Pal and read David’s musings at his Front Porch Chat: http://davidperedabooks.blogspot.co m/

10 Questions: Author, Editor Kathryn Magendie

Brian Mongold — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:18:24 +0000

It is with great pleasure that I introduce the charming, talented and always entertaining Kathryn Magendie. Kathryn is a writer, editor, and co-managing editor of The Rose & Thorn Literary Ezine. She’s published short stories, essays, poems, photography and will soon be releasing her debut novel, TENDER GRACES, which hits the shelves in April of 2009. I’ve pre-ordered my copy and am very anxious for its release! In the past several weeks since Kathryn’s Guest Author Post here at Eazy Cheezy, I’ve learned quite a bit about her and have become a huge fan. I’m privileged and honored to share this interview, so sit back, relax and enjoy the brilliance that is Kathryn Magendie.

BM: Can you tell us a bit about your background?

KM: The thing about “backgrounds” is how many are as fishing nets cast out—first in sluggish, murky waters where all manner of useless things, garbage even, is captured within the life net; then cast to a vast ocean where experiences more interesting begin to accumulate and rearrange and the glunk is washed away; and finally, into a cold clear-running mountain creek, where dreams are found and all is clean and shiny new.
Oh, now, did you really think I’d write something simple like: I was born in West Virginia and we moved repeatedly when I was a bare-footed kid and I read voraciously because I was (am) bashful and I love(d) books and libraries were my sanctuary and my mom says I wanted to write since I was whatever cliché here about when writers first knew they wanted to write but I can’t remember that nugget of info…? That after being told I was a “gifted” writer by a teacher, I put away those thoughts for many years until I found my way again? And now the floodgates are open. Nope, not going to say all that boring stuff.

BM: What’s the main ingredient to your writing success?

KM: Success—now that’s a funny word. I don’t see myself as a “success” and I wonder if I ever will. Each goal in my writing journey is met with an “Okay, I’ve done that, but I have to do this next to be a success….” And the rungs in that danged ole ladder keep appearing ever upward. Well, maybe like the rabbit whose fur is rubbed off, that’s when he realizes he’s loved, so it is with me perhaps?—when all my fur is rubbed off, then I’ll maybe know I’m successful (loved)?

BM: You’ve published essays, poetry, short stories, photography and your upcoming novel, TENDER GRACES. What advice would you give aspiring writers who would love to mirror your success?

KM: Okay, here’s the thing: you all have heard it before—be tenacious (don’t give up), believe in yourself, write like the dickens (not Charles necessarily), etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Those old clichés are clichés for good reason.
However, I do want to say this: Do Not let someone, anyone, sway you from your dream or make you feel bad about you or your dreams. If someone makes you feel as if you are lacking or wanting or “bad,” then run from them as fast as you can. No one should have that authority, that right.
Taking critique or criticism is one thing, but having someone turn you away from what makes you happy/healthy/excited/human/loved/successful is quite another. If after a “criticism” you put away your dreams, then do not listen to that voice ever again. Ever again. Never—am I getting through? Never ever hear that voice again. Ever. Keep writing (or painting or singing or dancing or going to school or raising peacocks or knitting …), and learn from criticism or advice, listen to it from someone trusted, listen with a practiced ear tuned to your instincts. Good solid critique should spur you on to do more, not have you throw your dreams away and live life trudging on.
If you sing and you are not the best singer, but that’s what you really want to do, then do it, practice it, work hard at it; however, also be aware of when things lead you to where you were always meant to go: find your Place; you’ll know it when you get there.

BM: Your writing has been described as “poignant, tangy, sweet, loving, wanting, needing and so satisfying” by Ocean Magazine. How would you describe your writing style?

KM: Oh, that sounds so good; I don’t think I could write something better! I become a little itchy when asked to describe my work, but at the same time I have that writer’s weird pride where I want to talk about it. Lawd, it’s hard to both tout oneself because that’s what writers have to do, and to stay a bit reclusive and in one’s own head where I’m most comfortable. Besides that, it’s difficult for me to see my work objectively, so when someone describes my writing in that way, I am surprised and happy and I think, “Me? I write like that? Well, goll-dang it all, teehee and la tee dah!”

BM: Do you have any go-to sites or resources that helped you develop into the writer you are today?

KM: Here are three books to consider that I have on my shelf: The Elements of Style by Strunk & White, Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird, and Stephen King’s On Writing. I wish I’d have had at least the first two of these books when I first wrote that thing that became TENDER GRACES. I fumbled in the dark stumble-bumbling when I began writing seriously for publication instead of writing out of some angst (there is a difference, and when you discover that difference, the skies will clear—I guarantee it). I learned by just writing and a good bit of “natural instinct.” That said, I read A Lot—writers who do not read, well, I have a hard time understanding that but we all have our own ways.
An online site I use is Duotrope’s Digest, a great resource for finding places to submit and track work. If I could tout The Rose & Thorn, we have a Roses & Thorns blog where R&T staff gives excellent advice and guidance to writers. There are good grammar sites out there (doesn’t hurt to learn the technical rules, as I said, so you can sometimes aptly break them); and in fact in one post I write about grammar, Grammar is Our Friend, No Really It Is.

BM: TENDER GRACES is “an unflinching look at how we find our way home.” What inspired this story?

KM: Place. Family. Traditions. Home. Belonging. Friendship. Those things interest me to no end. Maybe because I was (am?) always in a search for those things and want my characters to find what I had (have?) trouble finding. I love their discoveries.

BM: How long did it take you to complete TENDER GRACES, from beginning to end?

KM: For this first book in the planned trilogy, that’s hard to pin down, for I never thought I’d become a novel writer; I thought I was a short story and essay writer! Then, because of Angie Ledbetter’s comments in the old B&N writer’s group, what was a short story very quickly became this THING of 200,000 pages—within a few months I’d completed that draft, so I guess I had stuff that projectiled out of me. I divided that THING into two pieces and began work on the first book, which would become TENDER GRACES (and I have to say here that each book will stand alone; readers can read one book or all and still feel a “completion”).
Time and circumstance went willy-nilly, until, finally, I got off my butt and said, “I want this bad enough to face rejection and scrutiny and the possibility my dream may not turn out exactly how I may imagine it…or it may, but I’m making it happen one way or another for my Virginia Kate! Ha! Yes! So there! Giddy-yup!”
However, knowing what I know now along with believing in myself (not listening to That Voice of Negativity), I would have no need to let things drag along so long. I’m lucky, I seem to be quite prolific and can slam out work in no time—so, paired with confidence and practice and stubbornness, and hope and timing and luck, and the right place and people and and, oh! … good gawd-a-mighty it’s a wonder any of us become published authors at all.

BM: TENDER GRACES will be published very soon! How has TENDER GRACES changed your life thus far?

KM: I have goals that are much more defined in ways not defined before—including those that come from outward sources (like BelleBooks Publishers). And, I feel as if a life-dream is coming true and when that happens there are all manner of strangeling thoughts and desires and fears and wants and worries that rise up and slap me silly. Maybe I will feel like an Author now? Wouldn’t that be magical?

BM: TENDER GRACES will have hidden nuggets and secrets embedded within the novel. Any hints as to what we may find?

KM: Readers may find little things I’ve hidden in there, both on purpose or those I even discovered myself that I’d written subconsciously, and if they think, “Hey! Did she mean to…” chances are that maybe I did (oh, I’m so coy!). There are some literary references, some life references, some just as little jokes or funnies or insights to family, friends, or even to strangers. And some of the secrets are Mine and mine alone—my own inside secrets that few or none may ever know. There are the more obvious ones, like the Shakespeare references that often relate to that moment or time.
I would love it if readers wrote to me, “I read this and so and found this nugget that meant thus and so to me.” I’d love it if readers wrote to me and told me how they pictured a character or place as they read. I’d love it if readers wrote to me and told me their thoughts about Katie Ivene and Grandma Faith’s “heritage.” I’d love it if readers wrote to me, like one friend did, and said they had a bit of a crush on Micah.

BM: Is Virginia Kate, the star of TENDER GRACES, based on any character that’s played a part in your personal life?

KM: Maybe she is the re-written history of someone who had a need to re-write history. She is most certainly an amalgam of Girls and Women who must find Home, Place, Belonging, Love.
But, really, TENDER GRACES is a Love Letter to all of those who read her—I know that sounds corny and silly, but she is. I wrote it thinking of all the hands that will hold the book; I wrote it thinking of who will love the characters, and how will they see them?; I wrote it hoping that I inspire emotion and love and thought; I wrote it because I had to and wanted to and needed to. For You. All for You, readers.
Maybe my fur will be rubbed all off and I will have proof at last that I am loved.

Kathryn Magendie is a writer, editor, and co-managing editor of The Rose & Thorn Literary Ezine. Her essays, short stories, poetry, and photography have been published in both online and print magazines. Her debut novel TENDER GRACES will be released April 2009. Whenever she writes in third person like this, she begins to think of herself as another person and when this happens, she says, “oh!”

To learn more about Kathryn and TENDER GRACES, be sure to visit KathrynMagendie.com. You can now also pre-order TENDER GRACES, which is due to release in April 2009. I highly recommend you read some of her previously published works and am confident you’ll enjoy them as I have. I’d like to give a big THANK YOU to Kathryn!

TENDER GRACES Guest Post

Brian Mongold — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:10:47 +0000

Good morning everyone. Today’s post is my guest author post, which can be found at TENDER GRACES. Kathryn Magendie, author of TENDER GRACES, was kind enough to invite me to be a guest author and I jumped at the opportunity. I hope you enjoy Guest Author, Brian Mongold of Eazy Cheezy, which focuses on resources that are quite useful to writers.