tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68248521115228539522024-03-12T18:57:34.376-07:00Writing, Scifi, Paranormal, & Life in GeneralAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15517916086932430489noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824852111522853952.post-32735221095103023172014-04-17T20:50:00.002-07:002014-04-18T04:47:06.974-07:00Steve Byers of "Catch a Christmas Star" Talks about Marriage, Romance, & Family <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love a good story, and it's even better when it's true. I'm also huge fan of </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/@TheSteveByers" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Steve Byers</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> who recently starred with </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002436/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shannon Elizabeth</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in the Hallmark Channel's </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3131532/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Catch a Christmas Star."</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <em>(As shown.)</em> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I asked Steve recently about who his first on-screen kiss was with, and he said it was </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0824359/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jennifer Steede</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, the actress who is now his wife of thirteen years, I knew there had to be an interesting story. Graciously, Steve answered my numerous questions, and I'm sure his interview will leave you smiling as it did <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christina-Williams/e/B0083UT77G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1" target="_blank">me</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Me:</strong> You tweeted recently that the most memorable comment from family or friends the first time you were on television was, “Who is that you’re kissing? Is it special effects?” Was it a girlfriend, friend, sister, or other family member giving you a hard time when he or she said that?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Steve:</strong> Nieces and nephews. They don't get the difference between me and the "guy on TV"...family tends to be the harshest critics anyway.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Me:</strong> Now, as you’ve told me before, that was in the 1997 movie “A Simple Wish” when you and Jennifer were the kissing couple at the very beginning. You’re both from the Toronto area, but given how large the city is, had you met Jennifer before you filmed that show?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Steve:</strong> Yes. We met at school. It was love at first sight for me... I wore her down eventually.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Me:</strong> What attracted you most to Jennifer initially?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Steve</strong>: I wish I could sound less superficial but she was super cute and took my breath away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Me:</strong> At what point did the two of you start dating?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Steve:</strong> After one of our mutual friends played cupid and pointed us at each other one night. Apparently it turned out that there was a mutual attraction (so she says ;) ) and that was that. I am a pretty shy guy and probably never would have approached her otherwise. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Me:</strong> Did the two of you work on the filming of anything else together? I know you were each in an episode of “Mutant X,” but you were in season 3, episode 10 while she was in episode 19 of the same season, so it doesn’t really seem like you’d have run into her while working on that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Steve:</strong> We both worked on the same film in Germany as a matter of fact. Completely unrelated parts and had no scenes together. We were able to spend a short time together near the Rhine in Koln but it never amounted to much more than that. We did get to squeeze in a couples massage while we were there. That was a first.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Me:</strong> How did you propose, or did your wife propose to you?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Steve:</strong> I proposed. I had a garage sale tux my mother had bought me for 10 bucks...it's pretty fancy. Waited for my lady to come home from work...I left out a jar of jewelery polish with a bow on it on the counter for her to find and when she asked what it was, I stepped out in all my ruffled glory.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Zwv9od3HOPkQMSM8RLLmGrev0xiUJb3HwLJZuiQdh_QPSu12ZEnZCHX6vfH5i47zIB9SeP9HumgbrLLuqyazZd4DiFxBCJbpCxNF9ydw_DRAjSaViOWr_BYkfEmey9AT5IQJ7lVoyMU/s1600/steve+byers+wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Zwv9od3HOPkQMSM8RLLmGrev0xiUJb3HwLJZuiQdh_QPSu12ZEnZCHX6vfH5i47zIB9SeP9HumgbrLLuqyazZd4DiFxBCJbpCxNF9ydw_DRAjSaViOWr_BYkfEmey9AT5IQJ7lVoyMU/s1600/steve+byers+wedding.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Me:</strong> Was eloping in Las Vegas planned in advance or was it more of a spur-of-the-moment thing?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Steve:</strong> It was "planned" in advance. Our friends were going and they invited us. We decided that if we were going to Vegas the only natural thing to do was get married.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>(Photo of Steve and Jennifer in Las Vegas.)</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Me:</strong> Did you have any kind of crazy theme for your Vegas wedding, like one of those Elvis guys presiding or anything like that?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Steve:</strong> No theme. It was the $75 special at the "Little Chapel of Flowers" that turned into one of the most amazing pay it forward days of our lives. At every turn we were reminded of the kindness of strangers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Me:</strong> Was your honeymoon in Las Vegas too, or did you go somewhere else?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Steve:</strong> I still owe my wife a proper Honeymoon. We kept cancelling due to work...it'll be a Honeymoon reboot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Me:</strong> I noticed your wife hasn’t filmed anything since 2007, and I know you have a couple of kids. Did she give up acting to devote her full time to motherhood?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Steve:</strong> I'm proud to say that not only is she the best wife ever, she decided that her first passion was now raising two amazing little girls.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Me:</strong> What’s the most awesome thing about your wife you think people should know that most people don’t?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Steve:</strong> She puts up with me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Me:</strong> Have you ever made any crazy romantic gestures you’re willing to tell us about?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Steve:</strong> I'm terrible at the romance game. I did recently order a Lobster delivery to our house from </span><a href="http://maritimelobster.ca/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MaritimeLobster.ca</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://twitter.com/@lobstercruises" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@LOBSTERCRUISES</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> while I was away that took my game from zero to.... better than zero. It was for her Birthday so I guess that takes it back down a notch. The best romantic events are supposed to happen for no reason.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Me:</strong> That sounds really sweet...and delicious. Now my stomach is rumbling :) Thanks so much for taking time to answer my questions. I can't wait to watch you this June in </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3187040/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Rocky Road."</span></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15517916086932430489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824852111522853952.post-55950463546232363982014-04-02T05:33:00.002-07:002014-04-02T05:33:38.032-07:00Spontaneous Teleportation<span style="font-size: large;">Spontaneous teleportation--it's an epidemic! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">...Or at least my kids would have me believe so.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yep, you can tell simply by talking to the youngest of my kids that I'm a big scifi fan. How? Well, just ask her how she got the candy or any other object that was put away that she wasn't supposed to have. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Typical conversation:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Me: Where did you get that? (Knowing the candy was previously wrapped and in the cupboard.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kid: It teleported!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Now the older kids have gotten the idea and whatever it is that is either out of place that they were supposed to put away or that is in their hands that they weren't supposed to be eating or getting into, spontaneously teleported to it's current location.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIef3RMAhAeMiLcnRlGeKdyz1GUZKjNH1DntDqdrSpvgkexjJQxGedKxa4ygMll0coBVWOdceuUN8-E3XS6HqqyZP-IwRcbZ3Ge0hatYU9psAjm3pmUI8qyzlwLojrhvC-GFmEayqKuo/s1600/thor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIef3RMAhAeMiLcnRlGeKdyz1GUZKjNH1DntDqdrSpvgkexjJQxGedKxa4ygMll0coBVWOdceuUN8-E3XS6HqqyZP-IwRcbZ3Ge0hatYU9psAjm3pmUI8qyzlwLojrhvC-GFmEayqKuo/s1600/thor.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">So...either my house is sitting a the entrance to a portal or other such astronomical phenomenon which causes items to magically disappear or reappear in the house, or my kids are very creative liars. I'm relatively sure it's the latter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I reserve the right to change my views on that if I find Thor standing in my living room :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">To read books by the blogger, look </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christina-Williams/e/B0083UT77G/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1396441667&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">here</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15517916086932430489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824852111522853952.post-9050998256361848382014-04-01T18:01:00.001-07:002014-04-02T05:19:50.178-07:00So, I'm not Telepathic-- Steve Byers Would Be a Great Werewolf<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rSdAS1TCWqy1RIbB-ya-DDRSmQFMCUjILntPHFDnjK3IXcxr3m4j9z0-sJsYCPOToBmfNtPwPOQa__7BRJQiA2EkxR2Dxczw79ThyphenhyphenoEK_hQYpnXTwnsqddr-zYFjKiYrlMYwQ9hXWqU/s1600/stevebyersblueeyes+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rSdAS1TCWqy1RIbB-ya-DDRSmQFMCUjILntPHFDnjK3IXcxr3m4j9z0-sJsYCPOToBmfNtPwPOQa__7BRJQiA2EkxR2Dxczw79ThyphenhyphenoEK_hQYpnXTwnsqddr-zYFjKiYrlMYwQ9hXWqU/s1600/stevebyersblueeyes+-+Copy.jpg" height="320" width="217" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">So disappointed. I'm evidently not telepathic. Hopes of a new and exciting career are dashed! :)</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0125847/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Steve Byers</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">, sweet and incredibly tolerant of a silly super-fan (A.K.A.-- me) is not currently auditioning to be a werewolf. Still, he'd make an amazing one. Don't you think?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rSdAS1TCWqy1RIbB-ya-DDRSmQFMCUjILntPHFDnjK3IXcxr3m4j9z0-sJsYCPOToBmfNtPwPOQa__7BRJQiA2EkxR2Dxczw79ThyphenhyphenoEK_hQYpnXTwnsqddr-zYFjKiYrlMYwQ9hXWqU/s1600/stevebyersblueeyes+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;">It was brought up that a blond werewolf would be easy to see, but hey, if he were in the snow, not so much. It could give him a serious strategic advantage. Still, someone really should cast him as a werewolf. He'd be great.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Top Reasons Steve Byers Should Be Cast as a Werewolf</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">7. Having played both good guys like Chris in "Catch a Christmas Star," Jason in "Falcon Beach," and John in "Alphas" he's shown us how he can great he can be as a really sweet, good guy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">6. The personality change though, would be easy for Steve, or at least his excellent acting abilities would make it look easy. We've seen him play evil as Desaad in "Smallville" and he's eerily convincing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">5. He's built for the part. Actors who play werewolves are in great shape and Steve fits the bill to a T there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">4. Steve has a great sense of humor--who wouldn't want to spend hours a day on set with him, whether he's a werewolf or something else? But I definitely think he fits the bill as a werewolf.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">3. Werewolves don't age much (or at all depending on the series) and Steve looks so incredibly young. He'd be a wonderful, youthful, werewolf.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2. He has a scifi/paranormal fan following already. Most recently, fans of "Alphas" loved him and fans of "Smallville" loved to hate him, so he'd be an asset to the cast of any scifi/paranormal show. Cast him as a werewolf and watch the fans tune in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. This is the perfect solution to his raccoon problem at home. Raccoons who try to invade his space would be in for a BIG surprise when they encountered a werewolf instead of the sweet-looking Steve we all know and love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">To learn more about me, or to read my books, check </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christina-Williams/e/B0083UT77G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">here</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fingers crossed. Waiting with baited breath for a reply from Steve Byers via Twitter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Why?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I dreamt that he was auditioning to be a werewolf --the movie kind, or course, not auditioning to actually be transformed into one, though that would certainly be interesting. If werewolves were really, there might be a demand among some for transformation, so I suppose, that barring all reality, there would potentially be werewolf auditions of those who want to howl at the moon and run through the trees, shifting into a wild beast, trying to prove they're worthy. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LJi6SDcaebYsf1xEaYtaVeAqmCmE1vjxmBuUOKePSqzSY0F35fG0yHvhpJY8HZ7bdE-04lnULH295sY7kvLIyLFebH1-Eer-7xygH2DD1HuIpNP9IyETAh5ySgMzXK31_jeVR3tTGYQ/s1600/steve+byers+smile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LJi6SDcaebYsf1xEaYtaVeAqmCmE1vjxmBuUOKePSqzSY0F35fG0yHvhpJY8HZ7bdE-04lnULH295sY7kvLIyLFebH1-Eer-7xygH2DD1HuIpNP9IyETAh5ySgMzXK31_jeVR3tTGYQ/s1600/steve+byers+smile.jpg" height="316" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;">I suppose to be clear I should say that I dreamt he was auditioning to be "cast" as one of the shape-shifting, occasionally furry, creatures. ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Furry...hmmm...those blond curls would make an awesome wolf's coat. Yep, I can see it now, along with the clear blue eyes and sparking white fangs. Maybe Hollywood will show us... (Hint, hint.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">About me: I'm a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Destined-Love-Immortal-Gods-Series-ebook/dp/B00830GEWW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396269776&sr=8-1&keywords=destined+love+is+immortal" target="_blank">young adult paranormal romance writer</a>, Belgian chocolate lover, and huge fan of <a href="https://twitter.com/@thestevebyers" target="_blank">Steve Byers</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15517916086932430489noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824852111522853952.post-4589806190018713622014-03-20T18:03:00.002-07:002014-03-20T18:05:09.696-07:00The Invisible Dragon- A Guest Post from Peter Maxian<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">A guest post from Peter Maxian, author of <u>The Invisible
Dragon Adventures</u>, who interviewed </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christina-Williams/e/B0083UT77G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">me</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> about my 'starring' role in the stories
about </span><a href="http://www.thedragonadventures.com/2014/02/christina-bravestar.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Christina BraveStar</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. I'm posting this on my blog at his request.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em>Peter:</em></strong> Hi Christina. I wrote the Christina BraveStar
adventures on a whim, after reading some of your writing and your tweets. How
does it feel to be immortalized in a fairytale character?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em>Christina:</em></strong> Awesome! Surreal! Like I've stepped into an
alternate reality or parallel universe!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em>Peter:</em></strong> I'm glad to hear that, the stories are meant to
inspire those sorts of feelings. Does the "fairytale you" inspire the
"real you" somehow?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em>Christina:</em></strong> That's kind of hard to say. I'd describe it more
as looking through a mirror where you see things the way someone else sees you.
I'm not entirely certain if I'm making sense. Of course, the Christina
BraveStar stories are based a mixture of my daydreams and real life
experiences. What I find fascinating is what is apparently interesting to a
third party - in this case, you. When I tweet or blog my random thoughts and
experiences, I see them from a completely different perspective than the
Invisible Dragon does. Stuff that I may throw out there because it's running
through my head, that I regard as rather mundane, becomes quite captivating
when incorporated into an Invisible Dragon adventure. I suppose it'd be
accurate to say that Invisible Dragon stories bring to light some of the
splendor of my everyday life and daydreams that I'd miss otherwise. In essence,
the common becomes beautiful. On a related note, however, it is most certainly
inspiring that a fairy tale version of me exists, and the nickname of Christina
BraveStar couldn't possible be better. I love it! </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em>Peter:</em></strong> Writing the stories does something similar for me -
they help me see the world through the eyes of the Invisible Dragon. Have you
got any ideas for your own BraveStar stories?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><em><strong>Christina:</strong></em> This is kind of a tough question to answer. The
best way I know how to answer it is with a cooking analogy, so here goes. You
could ask me if I have ideas for baking a cake. I'd say, "Sure." And
if I were to go to the kitchen I would come out with a delicious chocolate
cake, with homemade frosting. It might have bananas mixed into it to make it
super moist. I'd love eating it. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">However, if I told you that I sure was in the
mood for a chocolate cake, and you went to the kitchen and came back with one,
it might have cream cheese filling and an icing of dark chocolate was poured
onto the cake when it was still hot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
frosting would have permeated all the levels of the cake, but from the outside,
it looked just like a chocolate cake. Then, when I took a bite, I'd have an
explosion of flavor, and it'd be amazing because I had no idea the frosting went
down into the cake and wasn't just on the top. Nor would I know that it had
filling, until it was in my mouth. The combination of the surprise of the
awesome filling and frosting would make it a more dynamic experience than if I
made my own cake. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">You see, I could tell you exactly what I'd like to see myself
do in an Invisible Dragon adventure, but then part of the surprise would be
lost. I'm a writer, and I could write my daydreams, most certainly. I write
magic into the characters of my books each time I write. But there I'm the
magician, not the recipient of the magic. If I were to say what I wanted to see
in an Invisible Dragon adventure, the "secret ingredients" so to
speak, would become known to me. Some of the "magic" that I experience
when I read the stories the Invisible Dragon creates would be gone. When my
hodgepodge of thoughts are filtered through the Invisible Dragon into a unique
story, they become magical, not just for others, but for me as well. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">...At this point in the interview the real Invisible Dragon
offered a comment... ;-)</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em>Invisible Dragon:</em></strong> All that talk about chocolate cake got me
so hungry, I couldn't concentrate enough to figure out what you were trying to
say Christina.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em>Christina:</em></strong> OK. I was trying to make the point that when you
(Peter) write them, they are magical. And since I’m in the 'audience' so to
speak, as the reader of the story, I get to enjoy the magic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I told you what I wanted to read, it’d no
longer be as true for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A magician
creates magic for others, not for himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
When I</span> write, I create 'magic' for my readers, but I’m the magician
in that scenario, so I’m ‘in’ on the secrets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
I can't surprise myself</span>. Am I making any
sense? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><em><strong>Peter:</strong></em> Actually what you are saying gets to the heart of why
I write down the adventures of the good Invisible Dragon. I write them as
gifts, a special kind of gift. And now I'm recording some as audiobooks.
Speaking of which, does the bad American accent in the audiobooks make you
giggle?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em>Christina:</em></strong> The whole thing makes me giggle, from the stories
to the song. And the giggling has nothing to do with any accent. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">...Following the interview, the Invisible Dragon would not
stop talking about chocolate cake, until Peter went out and got him some as an
afternoon snack...</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15517916086932430489noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824852111522853952.post-57158040063277561742014-02-19T16:52:00.001-08:002014-02-19T16:52:19.454-08:00Can We Capture a Dream?<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
The following is a guest post by editor and writer, <a href="http://prosecraft.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Elizabeth Simons</a>.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;">
Can we ever capture a dream?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;">
Whether it’s a daydream or a night dream, it is ephemeral. It’s a place with an other-worldly quality to it, filled simultaneously with hope and despair. Hope that the best of what we see will come to life and despair that our own inadequacies will always stand in the way and prevent its coming to birth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;">
When I was a child the dreams were so sweet because they took place in a realm that never existed in my everyday life. In my early years I was a fairy tale princess with a pure white horse, living in a castle where suffering was not allowed. Later, I was just a girl who was cherished. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;">
Funny how things change.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;">
Or they don’t change at all. My situation didn’t change, no matter how much I wished it would. The loftiness of my dreams expanded while my life spun out in a carnival ride of hopelessness. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;">
There had to be a better world, and when I was 18 I left home to find it. I was young enough to believe that things could change, but too foolish to realize that fantasies could not transform people and situations. I could not wish a world into existence, no matter how tightly I closed my eyes and longed for it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;">
So I turned to writing about it. I scribbled furiously in my journal every night, analyzing my dreams from every<span style="font-size: 18px;"> conceivable v</span>iewpoint. I was eloquent in my despair but incoherent about hope. Why were things this way and not that way? Why did I feel chained to circumstances I could not control? When did the dreams become the reality while the real world retreated? Why was I unable to control them? More to the point: Why did I believe that, in the end, my world had always been and would always be an irredeemable still life?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;">
I was tired. This kind of writing was not a way out but a retrenchment, a fast track to egocentrism. It was eternally repetitious and embarrassingly boring. And it was too easy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;">
I had to change the dream. I had to step inside it and transform it. As long as I allowed it to shapeshift into unfulfilled expectations I could never hope to see it clearly, not only for what it was but for what it could become. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;">
Again, I turned to writing. I had to look at the dream as a stepping-stone, a paradoxical path to becoming more awake. I could not deny its sweetness nor decry the reality I wanted it to replace. I had to embrace the whole picture of my life as bent but not broken, dream-filled but not oblivious, and hopeful without being in denial. This kind of writing was anything but easy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;">
I am not master of the dream, but I am master of myself. I love that the dream is born outside time but comes to life within it. As I write, its gossamer qualities bloom on the page. I try to bring dream and reality together. Anything is possible.</div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;">
In the end I did not capture the dream. I set it free.<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15517916086932430489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824852111522853952.post-62336886199649424862014-02-11T17:42:00.001-08:002014-02-11T17:42:27.665-08:00The Advantages of Associating with Other WritersI go to a local writer's group. Each time I go to a meeting, I feel motivated anew to write more regularly and to make writing a higher priority in my life. Meeting with other writers is encouraging and gives me new ideas. It also gives me a sounding board for some of the ideas I have running around in my head. Moreover, it's fun. I love getting to talk about one of my passions with others who are just as passionate about it<br />
<br />
With a houseful of kids, however, blessed as I am, it can be difficult to make it out of the house to meet with other writers. Sometimes, the best avenue available to me is the telephone or e-mail. <br />
Occasionally, I'll call a <a href="http://prosecraft.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">fellow writer and professional editor</a> and bounce ideas off of her. Not to mention, I always enjoy hearing how her projects are progressing.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, I shoot an e-mail off to a <a href="http://www.thedragonadventures.com/" target="_blank">fellow author in Austria</a>, an imaginative writer who is also a great sounding board for marketing ideas. Not to mention a person whose unique perspective on things is pretty much always encouraging.<br />
<br />
Occasionally, I simply tweet fellow authors. That also can lead to new ideas, end writer's block, and get the gears in my head turning.<br />
<br />
Basically, whether it's through e-mail, phone, twitter, or a writers' meeting keeping in touch with others who share my passion keeps me motivated and keeps the new ideas flowing.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15517916086932430489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824852111522853952.post-78529703816151498202014-02-08T12:50:00.000-08:002014-02-08T12:50:05.003-08:00Writing Your Author BioCurrently I'm working on rewriting my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christina-Williams/e/B0083UT77G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1" target="_blank">author bio</a>. I have one up on Amazon that's perfectly acceptable, but I'd like to update my information for a website that a<a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/116869421868951920638/posts" target="_blank"> local writers' group</a> is doing, since I've accomplished more since my bio first went live on Amazon nearly three years ago.<br />
<br />
What I don't understand, is why it's so difficult for me to write about myself. I have no trouble cranking out many pages of fiction, be it in the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Immortal-Nobility-Gods-Christina-Williams-ebook/dp/B00DDTNEIU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1391892501&sr=1-1&keywords=immortal+nobility" target="_blank">Young Adult genre</a>, or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Childrens-Picture-Books-Teach-Lessons-ebook/dp/B00GNIJHUC/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1" target="_blank">children's picture books</a>. I equally have no difficulty writing about my favorite actor, Steve Byers. Why then, is it so hard to write about myself?<br />
<br />
Since I naturally know more about myself than anyone else, it seems this should be an easy task--not so. I just got back from my local Writers' Guild meeting were I asked about this and found that I'm not alone. Everyone seems to be in a similar quandary. <br />
<br />
Why? Well, I guess that while I know more about myself than anyone else, trying to figure out what would interest others is more difficult. I'm going to try to focus not only on my writing accomplishments, but also on the more unique aspects of my personal background. I'll write a little about how I've traveled to many different countries, the kinds of subjects that interest me, my hobbies, and my family. It sounds easy, doesn't it? Unfortunately, it's not, at least not for me.<br />
<br />
I won't give up though, so hopefully I'll be sharing a new bio with you soon :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15517916086932430489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824852111522853952.post-16728003571814855542014-02-04T15:22:00.000-08:002014-02-04T15:22:00.495-08:00Making Your Own Book Video Trailer- Part 2I put off making my book video trailer for a long time. Why? Because first, I had no idea what to put in it, I mean, I'm a writer, not a film producer. And it's not like I have lots of actors at my disposal. But I was determined. I already covered the issues of photos, etc. in the a previous blog post. <br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/-RcjTzX9DXQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe>This brings me to a second issue. How do I bring these still shots to life? Music. Now, I had ideas for music in my head. I thought of the movies I've seen and what kind of soundtrack I'd want running in the background. Basically, I thought about the kind of music I'd hear in the background if my book were a movie. <br />
<br />
<br />
I had to think of the mood I wanted to create. For my early reader, I wanted something upbeat, catchy and cheerful for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Childrens-Picture-Books-Teach-Lessons-ebook/dp/B00GNIJHUC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1391555818&sr=8-2&keywords=the+dog+in+the+bog" target="_blank">"The Dog in the Bog."</a> I needed something that would appeal to young children.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/khpFFrSn2cc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe>For my young adult novel, <span id="goog_48087822"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/">"Destined Love is Immortal,"<span id="goog_48087823"></span></a> I needed music of a completely different genre. I was thinking of sword fights in major motion pictures as I listened to a multitude of options of music. The music had to be reminiscent of a sword fight, of action. <br />
<br />
The next issue? Where do I get the music? <br />
<br />
Well, this was much easier than I'd ever thought. I got the music through Youtube. Fortunately, if you make a photo album/slide show through Youtube, they provide a vast array of music you can choose from free of charge to put your photos to. <br />
<br />
I had to listen to quite a few tracks to find the right one, but in the end, I was pleased with the result. There's also an option to fit make the slide show fit the length of the music. I did this and it worked out pretty well.<br />
<br />
I'm certain there are many other avenues for obtaining music to go with your book video trailer, but for me, using what was freely available on Youtube was by far the best solution.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15517916086932430489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824852111522853952.post-36773531346638984852014-01-28T08:41:00.002-08:002014-02-11T17:21:42.835-08:00Making Your Own Book Video Trailer on a Shoestring Budget- Part 1<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ClHNLBhHEkER_gd-DuVtHFsGW7Cxl76PctGPFeF1LuHSKznWDrdQKlTSjUZuN8PIWzylHxAPINmFrBn0eLe0XfcOVxQ32B3WwH-pjz7vpn-OLjTJWk-A8rsHqApgA9jOB16ihyphenhyphen9wu_U/s1600/IMG_4561_crop+modified+c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ClHNLBhHEkER_gd-DuVtHFsGW7Cxl76PctGPFeF1LuHSKznWDrdQKlTSjUZuN8PIWzylHxAPINmFrBn0eLe0XfcOVxQ32B3WwH-pjz7vpn-OLjTJWk-A8rsHqApgA9jOB16ihyphenhyphen9wu_U/s1600/IMG_4561_crop+modified+c.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, you
self-published your novel, and now you need to market it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve read all about how important a good
book video trailer can be, but you have no idea where to start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have practically no budget, aren’t best
friends with any of the Hollywood actors, and you can’t afford to pay
royalties. What now? <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All I can do
is speak from experience. It took me quite a while to figure out how to make a
video book trailer--like many months to figure it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, ideally, I knew what I wanted it to
look like, and every idea I came up with was impossible. The first <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khpFFrSn2cc" target="_blank">video booktrailer</a> I made was for my full-length young adult novel, “Destined Love is
Immortal.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sells as both an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Destined-Love-Immortal-Gods-Series-ebook/dp/B00830GEWW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1390926992&sr=8-2&keywords=destined+love+love+is+immortal" target="_blank">ebook</a> and
a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Destined-Love-Immortal-Series-Volume/dp/1477620133/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390926992&sr=8-1&keywords=destined+love+love+is+immortal" target="_blank">paperback</a> on Amazon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story is a paranormal
romance/adventure that takes place in Belgium and the main characters are a
sixteen year-old girl and an ancient war god.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, if my
book were a movie, I’d cast actor <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0125847/" target="_blank">Steve Byers</a> (“Alphas” & “Catch a
Christmas Star”) as the lead, a war god, Camulos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve no idea who I’d want cast as the
girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously, I can’t film Steve
Byers for my book trailer, and more unfortunately, I’m not best friends with
anyone who looks anything like him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
fact, none of the men I know around here who would willingly do me the favor of
posing with swords for a photo shoot out of the goodness of their hearts are
even the right age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By the way,
did I mention that I live in Missouri?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Moreover, I live in a resort town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We don’t have the older buildings like you’d find on the East Coast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It hardly looks like Belgium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that left me in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>quandary. Who and what would I photograph?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TJ9h_s8ZdrLDdBPjYhlIPd6yFN6QwLE1XbpmFJpEG61TqzisTZEN9WB59hFtS-YeUQklcYUvSqe_7C9ja82HJOIJYKCds3BXJ017EOaGFqL0y003ce_yrPB15MTF4MZA_ZfHSuGBuVg/s1600/scan0009+modified.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TJ9h_s8ZdrLDdBPjYhlIPd6yFN6QwLE1XbpmFJpEG61TqzisTZEN9WB59hFtS-YeUQklcYUvSqe_7C9ja82HJOIJYKCds3BXJ017EOaGFqL0y003ce_yrPB15MTF4MZA_ZfHSuGBuVg/s1600/scan0009+modified.jpg" height="217" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My book
video trailer, which you can find here, is a photo montage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the pictures were taken by either me or
my son, and they span twenty-five years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m
fortunate to have traveled in Europe when I was younger, and for some of the
photos of scenery, I used what I deemed to be appropriate vacation photos as
the base picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By base picture, I
mean the initial, unaltered photo, as most, but not all,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of the pictures in my video trailer have been
heavily modified through photo-modification software that comes standard on
many PCs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTg_opIXFSVMItJkhmBbZo0nPu7Yn8VbIICZdXty5khd0dOXxplWptsmoLaD_qFlhTIsIb_bLhvMIQlQpQppBYDSYvDwetLjTAEbokN1n9VECDVmpkQYniBD-ZuinWYeaV8-6dUfFtlA/s1600/destined+love+video+pics+016+modified+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTg_opIXFSVMItJkhmBbZo0nPu7Yn8VbIICZdXty5khd0dOXxplWptsmoLaD_qFlhTIsIb_bLhvMIQlQpQppBYDSYvDwetLjTAEbokN1n9VECDVmpkQYniBD-ZuinWYeaV8-6dUfFtlA/s1600/destined+love+video+pics+016+modified+-+Copy.jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Other
pictures, like those representing a cave or cliff face required a bit more
creativity on my part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to look at
my surroundings and think of them in terms of close-ups rather than the bigger
picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, the cliff faces
and bare rocks in my video trailer are actually where the rock was cut out
along the highway so that the road could go through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The girl in the pictures, well, that’s me, in
a wig, and photo-edited to look younger. I know I don't look sixteen below, but I certainly look younger and I was trying to show the idea of a younger girl, not exactly how my character would appear. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Destined Love is Immortal" also has a lion-sacrifice scene in it as well as a few mythical monsters. To get photographs for those, I visited my local zoo and clicked away. That's the beauty of digital photography--you can take an enormous number of pictures, hoping to get the right one, without the expense of wasting film. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFuZ4p6QdzwIb6DtEw3LB8o4zlhbm0R2fMeGDh1ONqC7_L6MHawMY0XbCqyW9MOvclp4YqFt5STciyqdGjF2BdEhollESBXaqOieDJMDYbUDKprQ3hSeVhCxsjojz5-D4270gp9ZwRw4/s1600/IMG_4236_crop+modified.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFuZ4p6QdzwIb6DtEw3LB8o4zlhbm0R2fMeGDh1ONqC7_L6MHawMY0XbCqyW9MOvclp4YqFt5STciyqdGjF2BdEhollESBXaqOieDJMDYbUDKprQ3hSeVhCxsjojz5-D4270gp9ZwRw4/s1600/IMG_4236_crop+modified.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After
picking photos, I spent a significant amount of time modifying them in
Paint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously, Photoshop would be
better, but it’s not an inexpensive software, I don’t already own it, and it
wasn’t in the budget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Photoshop is also
much more difficult to use than Paint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, I pulled these photos into paint, cropped them, and played with the
different photo options, like making them look like<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>drawings, paintings, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With enough modification, and carefully
chosen camera angles where the focus is on the action and not the faces of my models,
I think the result turned out quite well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">More later
about adding music, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> To find our more about me, look <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christina-Williams/e/B0083UT77G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15517916086932430489noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824852111522853952.post-42346931983521150602013-12-31T04:58:00.000-08:002013-12-31T04:58:42.904-08:00Wishing Steve Byers a Very Happy Birthday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDn4UXRL-Og3WIKHqa9Szu9jDJ5oNgf8TsG6vazI6hxtCWqDnaGFMPelP75VcmieMr0ZiTUl-xCaDx5tLDDkOW4xD6PXezALf2qD-Kb7rMIviLJ1aYGCVaLy9qWSwYKW5WIfUPwL1eGs/s1600/stevebyerswildroses4b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDn4UXRL-Og3WIKHqa9Szu9jDJ5oNgf8TsG6vazI6hxtCWqDnaGFMPelP75VcmieMr0ZiTUl-xCaDx5tLDDkOW4xD6PXezALf2qD-Kb7rMIviLJ1aYGCVaLy9qWSwYKW5WIfUPwL1eGs/s200/stevebyerswildroses4b.jpg" width="191" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Usually, I avoid singing in public. Singing is NOT my forte. Today though, I've made an exception for Steve Byers' birthday. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Steve--if you're reading this, remember that question I asked you about your stance on mediocre karaoke :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, I wrote an, I'm certain never-to-be-produced music video for Steve. It's to the tune of "I'm a Survivor" as I had the Alvin & the Chipmunks version of the song stuck in my head while creating lyrics.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the end of this post is a "script sheet" listing lyrics, camera notes, & stage directions for what is in my head for all the stuff I couldn't show in the video I put together.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSpiAa9trjN8ehnBZUvPG7ZPVXUAGka74-KtGCA2FMjUVR80tt3M7AcdnYITWZmFSMyQaNi6_9ONMhWmC-OENtOjHETK3KIc77swtsq7t1joi18H1pLcSk_L5HkUNF-kRmn3SzPJ71jo/s1600/cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSpiAa9trjN8ehnBZUvPG7ZPVXUAGka74-KtGCA2FMjUVR80tt3M7AcdnYITWZmFSMyQaNi6_9ONMhWmC-OENtOjHETK3KIc77swtsq7t1joi18H1pLcSk_L5HkUNF-kRmn3SzPJ71jo/s1600/cake.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I figured it'd be hard to imagine how the lyrics went with the melody though, so I broke my long-standing tradition of NOT being recorded singing and went out on a limb to try and make Steve laugh on his birthday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, without further ado, Happy Birthday Steve!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span id="goog_1236657708" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M_Dv0J2SRI" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Here<span id="goog_1236657709"></span> is a video mock-up</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, but please check out the "script" & associated notes below as well :) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">To the tune of “I’m a Survivor”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Verse 1:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>*Steve is standing at the railing of a large ship looking out over the ocean at night, singing*</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">For my birthday</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I just want a dragon <i>*Balloon over Steve's head with image of dragon flying*</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">A dragon I said and not a kraken</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">A kraken would eat me up in just one bite <i> *Kraken rises out of the sea, tentacles wrap around Steve & he's lifted into the air, still singing*</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Even my socks and shoes and skinny jeans that fit tight</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Chorus:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Edge of screen is all fuzzy, dreamy & Steve is riding on the back of a flying dragon*</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">For my birthday</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I just want a dragon</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Yes, a dragon</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">And not a kraken</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">He’d take me flying</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Around the globe</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I’d have a blast</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Just me and my girls <i>*Steve and his wife & kids are now all on the back of an enormous dragon, still flying over beautiful, green landscape*</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Verse 2:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Only a dragon for my birthday will do</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Yes that’s a dragon for me</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Or maybe two <i>*Steve is standing in between two dragons, petting one with each hand, in a forest somewhere. Photography still looks dreamy*</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Above clouds and treetops we would fly <i>*Cut to Steve riding on a dragon again, weaving in & out of clouds, still singing*</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">As fast as sound can travel</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">No need to ask why<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Verse 3:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">My pet dragon<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Couldn’t change the weather </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">*Steve is now standing outside his house and we see his snow-covered yard. Dragon is next to him. Heavy snow is falling on both of them.*</i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">But my dragon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Could do even better</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would fly straight south <i>*Cut to image of Steve in shorts, barefoot, riding dragon over a tropical paradise*</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">That much is true</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I’d hang out on the sand</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">With a cold beer or two. <i>*Dragon lands. Steve lounges on beach, drinking beer*</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>Verse 4:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">My dragon would have shiny scales <i>*Cut to Steve and dragon in a huge dragon stable. Steve is polishing the dragon much like you'd shine & polish a car. Dragon is smiling, looking goofy*</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I’d groom him every moment that I'm able</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">My commute would be so more much fun</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">When I show up on the set <i>*Dragon flies downward with Steve on back. Steve is dressed like a 1940's movie star with the silk scarf, sunglasses, & hat. Dragon lands. A hundred old-fashioned cameras with the big, bright bulbs flash.*</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">My dragon would be the only one<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Verse 5:</span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">For my birthday I just want a dragon</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">He wouldn’t eat me up like would a kraken <i>*Cut to Steve back at sea, kraken pulling him under water. He's still singing even though this is technically impossible since, well, you can't sing under water.*</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I’d be the talk of the town</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I’m telling you</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I’d be the hit of the party</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Mobile barbecue <i>*Cut to neighborhood block party scene. Dragon is breathing fire & people are roasting hot dogs & marshmallows & making s'mores*<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><o:p><b>Verse 6: </b></o:p></span></div>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Party scene continues, but in background. Now we have a second singer out front, yours truly, only I look like I did at age 18 & I'm wearing a black & green cheerleader uniform*</span></i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I’m not a singer</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I am a writer</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">A little crazy</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">But then you know that<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">And now I wish you</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">A happy birthday</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Hoping I made you laugh</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And that you have a great day!</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Get your daily laugh following Steve on Twitter @TheSteveByers and you can also keep up with when he'll be on TV, etc., by following @SteveByersFans (a fan Twitter thing run by yours truly.)</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15517916086932430489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824852111522853952.post-33466166792718253672013-12-06T08:46:00.003-08:002013-12-06T08:46:56.061-08:00Toronto, Natural Disasters, TV Shows, Aliens & MiscommunicationHad an interesting conversation with my husband last night.<br />
<br />
I heard him say, "Rain is shooting on Toronto."<br />
<br />
What went through my head? Well, first, if my husband is talking about the weather in Toronto it must be really, really catastrophic, since we live in the heart of the USA. Moreover, it's not like we have family or anything up there. In fact, the only person the word "Toronto" brings to mind is my favorite actor, Steve Byers. So, unless my husband thought the city would be wiped off the map, he wouldn't bring it up. (Keep in mind that this conversation happened late in the evening when I was exhausted, so I wasn't at my best.)<br />
<br />
Next thing to go through my mind (and all of these thoughts just kind of fly through my brain in a few seconds) was, "Wait, it's too cold for up there. It'd have to be sleet or snow." But he said, "rain."<br />
<br />
After that I'm thinking, rain "shooting?" Really, unless there's been an invasion of aliens with some sort of weather machine that shoots out viscous weaponized rain, that's kind of a strange term to use describing weather.<br />
<br />
Finally, I say, "What?"<br />
<br />
This, of course, does not help. My husband repeats, "Rain is shooting in Toronto."<br />
<br />
Now, I'm really, really confused.<br />
<br />
My husband at this point is convinced that I'm either only half-listening to him or maybe I've been replaced by an unintelligent android version of myself.<br />
<br />
I say, "I don't understand."<br />
<br />
He replies, again, "Rain is shooting in Toronto. Well, the castle is in Ireland so they shoot there some too."<br />
<br />
At this point the light bulb came on, "Oh, you mean 'Reign' the TV show." <br />
<br />
He says, "Yes. What else would I mean?"<br />
<br />
At this point, I sunk onto the couch, glad the kids were in bed and realizing that I seriously needed to relax.<br />
<br />
We'd been talking the day before about where the actual castle in the TV show "Reign" was located, so it was sweet of him to look it up, but when he brought it up out of the blue, well, confusion reigned, pun intended :)<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15517916086932430489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824852111522853952.post-67664842128610487972013-11-09T19:37:00.001-08:002013-11-09T19:37:10.486-08:00John Wayne, Lucille Ball, Steve Byers, & MeFirst, let me start by saying that if you haven't seen John Wayne in "Three Godfathers" or in the episode of "I Love Lucy" that he appeared in, this blog contains SPOILERS. <br />
<br />
You can click <a href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/438141" target="_blank">here</a> for a free online link to the "I Love Lucy" episode guest starring John Wayne. <br />
<br />
I digress. What does all of this have to do with actor Steve Byers (Smallville, Immortals, Catch a Christmas Star,) much less me? Simple, in one of those college prep tests with the analogies, it could read, "John Wayne is to Lucille Ball as Steve Byers is to Christina Williams"---at least as far as this one particular episode of "I Love Lucy" goes. Well, I'm not quite that bad...I don't think :)<br />
<br />
You see, even though Lucy doesn't want to adopt John Wayne, like <a href="http://www.immortalswriter.blogspot.com/2013/04/i-told-my-favorite-actor-i-want-to.html" target="_blank">I want to adopt Steve Byers</a>, no matter how crazy, silly, or ridiculous Lucy is, John Wayne is always very gracious, just like Steve Byers has been to me. No, I haven't met, him, and I sincerely doubt I ever will, I mean it's 16 hours to Toronto from here and farther to California, so it's not like I'll round a corner one day and find him walking down the street opposite me in the heart of the USA. It could happen, but I think I probably have a better chance of being hit by lightning.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I think you'd be hard pressed to find a star as gracious, humble, and funny as Steve. And while I'm not a big fan of Westerns myself, I know Steve is quite the John Wayne fan. I'd love to see him star in a remake of my favorite John Wayne movie, "Three Godfathers." Steve could, of course, play any sort of role, but I love the idea of him walking across a desert, while a fugitive from justice, to help this orphaned baby. I'm pretty sure he'd do the same thing in real life, though I don't know under what circumstances he'd be a fugitive from justice.<br />
<br />
Both in his tolerance of at least one crazy fan, and his generosity, Steve Byers reminds me of John Wayne in the previously mentioned shows, and if you want to know why I relate to Lucy, well, just keep reading my blog. It'll become evident before too long :)<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15517916086932430489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824852111522853952.post-84737438176100205532013-11-07T18:09:00.001-08:002013-11-07T18:09:21.308-08:00You Don't Ask You Don't GetYou don't ask, you don't get. I try not to be pushy. In fact, I make every point not to box people into things, push them, or make them feel in any way obligated to me. That would be manipulative, undesirable, and just plain wrong.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, I've also found, through the years, that people are NOT telepathic, and sometimes, in fact, oftentimes, the best thing to do is to politely, kindly, ask for what you wish to happen, while giving the other person an "out." <br />
<br />
How do I know this? From many, many years of being so very painfully shy when I was much younger an never speaking up for myself. Yep, hard as it may be to believe, I was incredibly timid until the time I entered college, and then, for some strange reason, I metamorphosized. It was around that time, and even years later in life, that I found that often I was sure some other person would intuitively understand what I thought would be awesome, desirable, or cool, but more often than not, they had no idea, and I missed out on many cool things. <br />
<br />
So, nowadays, I do my best to "take the bull by the horns" so to speak and make my wishes known. Yes, this leads to more rejection, but also to more cool results, and the good, By Far, outweighs the bad, so it's a philosophy that I do my very best to live by. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15517916086932430489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824852111522853952.post-84275492697427511062013-10-23T15:36:00.003-07:002013-10-23T15:36:59.497-07:00Movie Star & Dreams- Dreamt I Met Steve Byers of "Alphas" Last Night
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Dreamt last night that I got to
meet my favorite actor, Steve Byers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was really cool!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like all dreams, it was
a bit fuzzy in my mind after waking up, but hey, since I’m relatively sure that
I’ll never meet him in person, it was pretty awesome!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides, I was much more articulate in my
dream that I most likely would be were I to ever actually meet him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s one of the great advantages of dreams,
at least for me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Odds are, that if I
ever did actually come face to face with him, I’d almost certainly babble
nervously and he wouldn’t be able to get a word in edgewise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That, however, is not what happened in my
imagination as I slept.</span></div>
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</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 128.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">My son had recently checked out a
book about dog sled racing, a fictional kids’ book, and I’d read it to him and
his little sister, a couple of times in the last two days, so I’m pretty
certain this is where the imaginary film plot came from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve no idea how I ended up talking to him,
but regardless, in my dream, we were just hanging out, watching this imaginary
film of his and he was talking to me about all sorts of stuff that went into
making it, kind of like when you listen to the director’s and actors’
commentary version of a DVD movie, except that in my dream, he was actually
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t even nervous, which is a
shocker, and overall, remembering this as I woke up was a great start to my
day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And of course, he looked as
handsome as always.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His hair was all
curly like it was in episodes of “Falcon Beach,” as opposed to being straighter
when he was in “Alphas.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he was
wearing a red muscle shirt with black trim and black pants and sneakers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I woke up happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who wouldn’t?</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 128.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Do I sound a little obsessed or
crazy? Probably.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if I were worried
about sounding crazy, I never would’ve tweeted him in the first place and
certainly wouldn’t have mailed him an excessively long fan letter. In my
defense, I AM a novelist, so I’m verbose by definition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And at this point, I’ve said enough crazy
stuff to him that I figure he must be amused, since he has quite a sense of
humor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I were driving him crazy, I’m
sure he’d find a way to tactfully let me know, as he’s too sweet to be anything
but tactful.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 128.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">So why did I dream about him last
night?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was talking a about him to a friend pretty
late last night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d been at meeting
about the disastrous Common Core educational initiative, which needs to be
stopped. The meeting had just ended and it was a pretty serious and heavy
topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My phone is set to vibrate the
same for calls, texts, tweets, or any kind of acknowledgement of my
tweets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d gotten a text from my husband
not too long before with a question about a kid’s medicine, so when the phone
vibrated, I picked it up and glanced at it even though I was talking with
friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact that Steve had just
favorited one of my tweets rolled across the screen and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t help cracking a wide grin, which I
then, or course had to explain because it was out of sync with the overall mood
of the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe that’s why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But virtual reality, of which dreams are the best kind, can sure be fun :)</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15517916086932430489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824852111522853952.post-73964370788253594022013-10-18T17:20:00.001-07:002013-10-18T17:21:34.702-07:00Ugly Masterpieces --Creativity Makes Life More Fun<span style="font-size: large;">I suppose you could say I'm an artist, of sorts. I'm certainly creative. From throwing huge kids' birthday parties on a shoestring budget, to framing autographed pictures of my favorite actor, to sewing, I put a unique twist on most stuff. This is probably also the reason I'm so messy. Or at least the reason I have so much trouble getting rid of stuff because everything has potential.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Woven wool is $30/yard, which is INSANE. I wanted to make my dad a really nice wool scarf last winter, so I took apart a clean kilt that no longer fit, and it did the job great. The wool was such a high quality that it looked brand new. I get pretty creative with used Christmas decorations and sweaters. In fact, I sew just about anything onto an ugly Christmas sweater, from lights to ornaments, stockings to stuffed animals--you name it. It doesn't fall into the category of "beautiful" art, but it is art, of a sort, and it making the stuff does a lot for my need for a creative outlet. It's fun, relaxing, and yes, it felt pretty good when a fellow Twitterer and someone I admire called one of my works an "Ugly Masterpiece." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Sure, I like to do the more traditional art forms like painting and drawing, but those a are a bit harder to do with little people underfoot. Sewing ugly Christmas sweaters, however, since by nature they're supposed to be imperfect, is something I can actually do while my kids are around. When the seam isn't perfect, or the thread doesn't quite match, it just adds to the charm and "ugliness" of the sweater, whereas, if I were trying to do something in a specific manner, the many little distractions which make my life such a joy would be problematic. That's not an issue when decorating ugly sweaters :)</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15517916086932430489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824852111522853952.post-88884776890346770342013-10-05T07:22:00.003-07:002013-10-05T07:22:47.815-07:00Hoarders, Ice Road Truckers, & Extreme Makeover Home Edition-- Jay Hix Jones Interview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidz5IWecUM_8_jakla5Rb1qoZ23HksckqaZ0ts6pWorAYmW7p2ETQ36d19fHP3TIF9Mv3oMVQNQVIwNSvb_eOuk0bO3JmeftN4DrTxwF4FOyWsY-w1tiwBnUXNxAN5yaTZzry0SGfk-Co/s1600/Jay+being+interviewed+on+the+red+carpet+for+the+season+9+premier+of+Extreme+Makeover+Home+Edition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidz5IWecUM_8_jakla5Rb1qoZ23HksckqaZ0ts6pWorAYmW7p2ETQ36d19fHP3TIF9Mv3oMVQNQVIwNSvb_eOuk0bO3JmeftN4DrTxwF4FOyWsY-w1tiwBnUXNxAN5yaTZzry0SGfk-Co/s320/Jay+being+interviewed+on+the+red+carpet+for+the+season+9+premier+of+Extreme+Makeover+Home+Edition.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You've seen his work countless times and today I'm privileged to interview <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2165381/" target="_blank">TV Field Producer Jay Hix Jones</a> of such popular shows as <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1497563/" target="_blank">"Hoarders,"</a> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1068912/" target="_blank">"Ice Road Truckers,"</a> and "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Photo on left of Jones being interviewed on the red carpet for the season 9 premier of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0388595/" target="_blank">"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."</a></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christina-Williams/e/B0083UT77G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1" target="_blank">Christina Williams:</a></strong> You’ve been involved in a large number of
successful television productions, including being a field producer for such
shows as “Hoarders,” “Ice Road Truckers,” and “Extreme Makeover: Home
Edition.” My understanding is that a field producer works on site with
all involved, from the actors/subjects of the show to the filming crew and
everyone in between. Is this correct and what is the most challenging
project you’ve worked on so far?<o:p></o:p></em></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 13pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #3c0042; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>JONES:</strong> Yes, the field producer is responsible for both the
creative aspects and logistics of a production in the field. Every show I’ve
been a part of has had it’s own unique set of challenges. “Ice Road Truckers”
definitely posed the biggest physical challenge I’ve faced so far. Trying to
direct crew and talent in -50 degrees in white out conditions tends to get a
little scary. I got caught off guard without my balaclava once and my face felt
like cardboard for two days. Luckily I didn’t get frostbite as I hear it’s
extremely painful and can be dangerous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFZXP_0NRKh9bEsHt0e7CcNk-CLAlXVaqnZpA0hufQ-ufUMsGsdPy2csYqyLLmoZGG6kzLclrCrMrMxYoWJ8dqTxyH3nh_ChIIDQqnCNipjxGnArp6ArH7TKz5JD1m-P1v7wYgcynUAw/s1600/Jay+praying+before+before+the+reveal+on+Extreme+Makeover+Home+Edition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFZXP_0NRKh9bEsHt0e7CcNk-CLAlXVaqnZpA0hufQ-ufUMsGsdPy2csYqyLLmoZGG6kzLclrCrMrMxYoWJ8dqTxyH3nh_ChIIDQqnCNipjxGnArp6ArH7TKz5JD1m-P1v7wYgcynUAw/s320/Jay+praying+before+before+the+reveal+on+Extreme+Makeover+Home+Edition.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: black;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><em><strong>Williams:</strong> What’s the most rewarding show you’ve worked on thus far?<o:p></o:p></em></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>JONES:</strong> That’s a tough one. I’d say it’s a tie
between “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and “Hoarders.” Both were very
rewarding to be a part of, and both had the similar theme in helping people
live better lives. “Extreme” was on a much larger scale. Building a home in 7
days is no joke. Our crew would literally take over an entire city. We’re
talking dozens of wheelers of supplies and thousands of employees and
volunteers. It was like living and working in an ant farm. Everyone had very
specific jobs in order to make it happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have very fond memories of my time with “Extreme” and met some really
great friends on that show. Shows like that don’t come around very often.. I’ll
never forget what the Executive Producer (George Verschoor) told us on one of
the last shows: Don’t ever forget the feeling you get from working on this
show, because you will be chasing it for the rest of your careers. And he was
right! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><em>Photo above of Jones (middle in stocking cap saying a prayer of thanks before the reveal on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.")</em></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eso-DraQ64q8yMYmzC7JDXXO9GYXIgFo_oXRkAkYL60pHTCcR7L68JRuZj4g7SfQcZJC6TWPaTa92whT3ZyzpTPOycJI-imEjCr3Kkrx_gNHGB8UrADE5zFjLGZ4mq9FYEJmGhXmQjc/s1600/Hoarders+family+member+interview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eso-DraQ64q8yMYmzC7JDXXO9GYXIgFo_oXRkAkYL60pHTCcR7L68JRuZj4g7SfQcZJC6TWPaTa92whT3ZyzpTPOycJI-imEjCr3Kkrx_gNHGB8UrADE5zFjLGZ4mq9FYEJmGhXmQjc/s320/Hoarders+family+member+interview.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">My “Hoarders” experience was very similar but on
a much smaller scale. We had a field crew of about 6 or 7, which allowed us all
to become very close, both with the crew and the families we were helping. “Hoarders”
definitely had its own challenges- mostly mental and emotional. How do you keep
your composure when you’re trying to help a lady who hoards dead cats in her
house? There were a few times throughout the season where I had to step away,
wipe the tears and regroup. Part of me believes most reality TV shows exploit,
but I quickly remind myself the majority of the shows that I have worked on
actually help and make a difference in people’s lives. That’s how I justify my
career choice anyway</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Photo above of Jay Hix Jones interviewing a family member of a hoarder.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><em><strong>Williams:</strong> How did you become interested in television production?<o:p></o:p></em></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>JONES:</strong> I have vivid memories of me sitting on the
couch watching TV with my grandmother. She loved television. It was ALWAYS on
at her house. I didn’t pursue it as a career until I went back to school at the
age of 27 to study Film and Video Production. Unfortunately, she passed several
months before I made the decision to pursue it as a career. I think remembering
how much TV made her happy definitely played a part in my decision to make a
career out of it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><em><strong>Williams:</strong> You’ve mentioned your <span id="goog_153584486"></span><a href="http://www.hungryfishmedia.org/#!jay-and-kara-bio/cax4" target="_blank">“Hungry Fish” project<span id="goog_153584487"></span></a>, which is an
intensive three-day camp for teens that teaches them not only about television
production but how they can use media to share their Christian faith.
It’s a really cool idea. How did you come up with it?<o:p></o:p></em></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>JONES:</strong> It’s definitely been a passion project of
mine for a very long time. The idea first came to me in 1999. It of course has
developed into Hungry Fish over the years, but I first called it FaithQuest. I
was young and didn’t have a lot of experience, but I knew I wanted to make a
difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wrote up my idea/plans and
discussed it with my grandfather, who also happens to be one of my heroes. I
respect his opinion so I wanted to know what he thought about it. His
reaction/advice changed my life. He looked me right in the eyes and told me I
was nowhere near (professionally, spiritually, emotionally) ready to embark on
this journey. At the time I resented his opinion, but I ultimately agreed,
postponed my plans to create FaithQuest and started gaining experience. And now
here we are, 13-14 years later and it’s actually happening. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">Over the years I’ve prayed for an answer on when
I should revisit FaithQuest. It wasn’t until just recently that my prayers were
answered and I was called to go for it. “There is no better time than now.” If
there is one thing I have learned in my life, it is when God calls you to do
something, you drop everything and do what it is he has called you to do. That
is what I’ve done. I did recently ask my grandfather if he remembered giving me
the advice back in 1999 and he did not but approves of it now. He is now 93 and
still one of my heroes. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><em><strong>Williams:</strong> What’s been the most interesting aspect of working with
“Hungry Fish?”<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>JONES:</strong> It’s all interesting to me... but I gotta
say that some of the visions I have for it are pretty
interesting/revolutionary. Imagine a group of Christian students on stage accepting
an Oscar for a Gospel-centered project they shot during one of our camps. Never
been done. Imagine the students giving the glory to God. Imagine the reach.
Imagine the impact. Imagine the possibilities. Imagine the souls saved. If you
can dream it you can achieve it and with it all being to help spread the Gospel
of Christ that scenario is a high probability in book. I’m not setting out to
create a camp where kids come to just have fun... I believe I’ve been called to
change the world,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and that mindset
effects everything I do now.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><em><strong>Williams:</strong> When you first started the “Hungry Fish” camps, were there
any unexpected reactions from teens?<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_qVKGHRRKygmEebPsNyGhZab8VK1YPvgskIp0NJAPr2p8D-obA7mufvkPW9jOEyGW7IZg0lyQfCoOtVyzu3cRIlC6gSf9NqQsyN77UWCikEReroHmDGbkFkX6ShjauOw45edt1SitFk/s1600/Hungry+fish+camp+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_qVKGHRRKygmEebPsNyGhZab8VK1YPvgskIp0NJAPr2p8D-obA7mufvkPW9jOEyGW7IZg0lyQfCoOtVyzu3cRIlC6gSf9NqQsyN77UWCikEReroHmDGbkFkX6ShjauOw45edt1SitFk/s320/Hungry+fish+camp+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>JONES:</strong> Just one. I didn’t think the students
would open up as much as they did as quick as they did during the camps. But
I’m discovering that this young generation wants to be heard, recognized and a
part of something much larger than themselves. When you give them that
opportunity they grab onto it and won’t let go. We are getting request from all
over the country, and I think it’s partially due to pastors/youth leaders
recognizing that our children are the church and the future of the church and
want to help them take the focus off of self and put it on Jesus. That is what
we do.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><em>Photo above of Jones working with teens at "Hungry Fish."</em></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><em><strong>Williams:</strong> What’s been the most rewarding part of working on “Hungry
Fish?”<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWOXggKlieQ6zam2J5vdNURbelyEhBrEtoy_SmqqkH6Y7Ox2W8gVATDzivC9ABy00Gxo1AjlfrpjFBrQ-ZNRmvhYEZ9qpTUVJEAa96yUb1_qhUjRsMybPjzHUt5d8Xp3PiNRrN1gLhvE/s1600/hungry+fish+camp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWOXggKlieQ6zam2J5vdNURbelyEhBrEtoy_SmqqkH6Y7Ox2W8gVATDzivC9ABy00Gxo1AjlfrpjFBrQ-ZNRmvhYEZ9qpTUVJEAa96yUb1_qhUjRsMybPjzHUt5d8Xp3PiNRrN1gLhvE/s320/hungry+fish+camp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>JONES:</strong> Simple. Accepting what God has called me
to do with my life. Also, knowing I’m doing my part to help mentor students,
who live in a culture where they are bombarded with things that can easily harm
and distract the soul.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><em><strong>Williams:</strong> What’s it like as a Christian to work in television
production, which my understanding is a field where you don’t typically find a
lot of Christians?<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>JONES:</strong> You are absolutely right! Most of the time
I feel like a lone wolf on set. I had an executive producer once warn me about
one particular actor and how much of a Bible banger she was.. said and I quote,
“You better watch it or she will have you in a prayer circle everyday.” That
saddens me terribly. I wanted to say, oh that would be fantastic! But at the
time I wasn’t strong enough. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">Unfortunately, I think certain people don’t get
hired as much in Hollywood because of their Christian beliefs. And I believe
it’s going to get a lot worse and branch out into other areas of the workplace
in America soon. So, I’ve made a commitment to be conscious about what projects
I work on and who I work with. I plan on doing my part to help raise up the
next generation to be God-fearing and Christ-loving individuals. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><em><strong>Williams:</strong> You filmed, at least partially, an unaired documentary of
the notorious pirate, Jean Lafitte. I know that there’s some evidence
that your family, as well as my husband’s, may be descended from him. It
must be fascinating to be in a position to be able to unearth such a cool
family history and put it on film. What’s the status of the project right
now?</em> <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><strong>JONES:</strong> So cool! To learn about how my family has
saved and passed down all of these old documents from one generation to the
next for the last 200 years in hopes one of us will solve the mystery someday
is amazing. The history of Jean Laffite and our country has been misrepresented
to the public and I believe it will be corrected some day soon. Without Jean
Laffite the US would have lost the Battle of New Orleans and who knows what
else. But yet he is only given one or two sentences in our history books. I
could go on and on and on but I will spare you all of the conspiracy theories
for perhaps another interview. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">The project is currently not able to move on
right now. I am not legally able to say much about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will say this, there are tons of
concepts/ideas that production companies/networks steal from producers and when
that happens attorneys take over. Hopefully, I will be able to give you more
information soon.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><em><strong>Williams:</strong> What’s the most interesting thing you discovered while
working on the Jean Lafitte documentary?<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><span style="color: #3c0042; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>JONES:</strong> The most interesting thing we’ve discovered is that
there isn’t any real hard evidence that a man by the name Jean Laffite lived at
all. No birth certificate, no death records, no business records. It’s as if he
was a ghost. And our research is discovering that in every location there is a
Laffite legend we find records of our ancestors but none of Laffite. At some
point it will stop being a coincidence and the dots will be connected. We still
have a very long way to go before irrefutable proof can be presented.</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><em><strong>Williams:</strong> What’s been your biggest obstacle to the Jean Lafitte
documentary filming?</em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>JONES:</strong> Our biggest obstacle has been money and
schedules. I now live in Seattle, my producing partner Tyler Townsend lives in
Los Angeles, and the Hix brothers (hosts) are in Texas. We are spread out all
over and have busy lives, so it can be difficult getting us together to film.
And well, budget difficulties always pose obstacles. We do have plans to move
forward with our research and filming soon. Hopefully in 2014. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><em><strong>Williams:</strong> How exactly do you go about getting a project like the Jean
Lafitte project off the ground, and was this your idea initially, or did you
pursue it at the behest of other family members?<o:p></o:p></em></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqryHR883Ze-p8N-5FEobPFsv67CLq1i-wl1ABEuqN-p5wdJu90ZFCYh8Vp2BnXaebeXzO28bhxmbs3FVvaQhDQ845NzvDXE0Ds9By_A5y5WP9puc3woJODINIJiKkdGfA0z8umcyscuw/s1600/lafitte+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqryHR883Ze-p8N-5FEobPFsv67CLq1i-wl1ABEuqN-p5wdJu90ZFCYh8Vp2BnXaebeXzO28bhxmbs3FVvaQhDQ845NzvDXE0Ds9By_A5y5WP9puc3woJODINIJiKkdGfA0z8umcyscuw/s320/lafitte+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>JONES:</strong> We are still in the process of getting it
off the ground. It has been a very very long road. My family has been working
on proving our theory the name Laffite was just an alias our ancestor created
to protect his true identity, family and business for a long time. Turning it
into a documentary/TV show was my wife’s idea. Some colleagues and I were
brainstorming on TV concepts and my wife chimed in and said why don’t you
produce a show about your pirate ancestor. From there the Laffite project was
born. However, we are now pursing it on behest of all the family members who
have kept the secret and passed the story down for the last two hundred years.
We feel we owe it to them to finish what they started. And we will.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><strong>Williams:</strong> To see the project video for Jean Lafitte, which is narrated by John Schneider (my first television crush as I never missed an episode of Dukes of Hazzard,) click <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRak3LYFWx0" target="_blank">here</a>.</em> <em>Thanks so much Jay for taking time to do this interview. I really appreciate it. God bless.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><em>About the blogger:</em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><em></em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/@immortalswriter" target="_blank"><em>Christina Williams</em></a><em> is the author of the <span id="goog_806669481"></span></em><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><em>War Gods series<span id="goog_806669482"></span></em></a><em>, a series of clean, young adult, paranormal romance novels. She also writes </em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Cabin-Stranger-Childrens-ebook/dp/B009PGGGVC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380923552&sr=8-1&keywords=dragon+at+the+cabin" target="_blank"><em>rhyming picture books</em></a><em> which teach life lessons to younger children.</em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15517916086932430489noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824852111522853952.post-42376213483442636942013-09-26T13:21:00.001-07:002013-09-26T13:21:30.754-07:00Steve Byers of Alphas --Filming<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivha1lQNFQW_oXH2rADIKXiWtrfAesa_dUSCxd5DUnmXmdchraQz47wbc-vhxM3D-c_e9xZhX5KSCtUULCA8Ga1S5QKixX7AG75YWuqtbS7t_eXalWbyKBTjbMk_ozRoILTadcoJpuia8/s320/dragonfly.jpg" width="320" /><span id="goog_1097650320"></span></a>Cobourg, Ontario<span id="goog_1097650321"></span>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobourg" target="_blank">a picturesque town</a> where the people are nice, the dragonflies are friendly (photo on right tweeted by Steve Byers of dragonfly landing on his leg in Cobourg) and the hotel coffee pots are suspected to have been taken over by evil Transformers, a.k.a. the Decepticons.<br />
<br />
Okay, maybe it's only Steve Byers' coffee pot that was taken over by Decepticons...or perhaps he was the only one to publically acknowledge the incident. Which is it? All we can know for certain is that his coffee maker did, in fact, go haywire. While we're at it, is it really a dragonfly? Is it attracted to him because he's a Fire Dragon under the Chinese Zodiac, causing it to feel a kinship with him, or is it a cleverly disguised Autobot sent to make sure the Decepticons don't sabotage more than his hotel coffee maker? We may never know.<br />
<br />
I loved watching Steve as John Bennett on <a href="http://www.syfy.com/alphas" target="_blank">Syfy's "Alphas."</a> A show which should have remained on the air. I mean really, doesn't Syfy know that they shouldn't take off stuff I love to watch? I digress...<br />
<br />
Like a little kid in December I've been eagerly awaiting the release of <a href="http://www.redarrowinternational.tv/fiction/movies/romantic_comedy/catch_a_christmas_star.php" target="_blank">"Catch a Christmas Star,"</a> a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie starring Steve Byers and Shannon Elizabeth. In the meantime, just when I was about to go crazy waiting for his new film to come out, I was thrilled to learn he was cast in another TV movie, this time for the UP network (stands for Uplifting network,) formerly known as the Gospel Music Channel. Still, I'm getting off topic.<br />
<br />
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What does all this have to do with Cobourg, friendly dragonflies, and Decepticons, you ask? Well, the movie we can now look forward to seeing Steve Byers in, titled "Rocky Road," was filmed in Cobourg. <br />
<br />
Photo on left of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0125847/" target="_blank">Steve Byers</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4653974/" target="_blank">Rebecca Dalton</a>. The photo was tweeted by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0758597/" target="_blank">Mark Salling</a>.<br />
<br />
"Rocky Road" is not a remake of previous movies by the same name which come up when you Google the title. It's also, fortunately, not a joke by Steve. Let's face it, he's funny, and while I know that anyone would be crazy not to hire him for whatever role he desires, I was a little concerned at first when I asked him what he was working on and he referenced a film called, "Rocky Road," because of course the phrase "rocky road" could also refer to a long haul and rough time finding work. But no, fortunately, this wasn't one of Steve's cleverly-worded Tweets, the kind that make a person think twice (or three times) before they begin rolling on the floor laughing. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3J4Rr6mJjE4sVs02Mkpwp09hPUnLAjNuPvJXSVUw-a3CAVSg6TrwBBTlT84ji9EggcdQmJt_fpglr4eK1K0pqOzhQZLagVvLrLq7Z61kIGO1JFh6TA_VPKtjhfgNxdIFkcCri075S2E/s1600/stevebyersmarksallsrebeccadalton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3J4Rr6mJjE4sVs02Mkpwp09hPUnLAjNuPvJXSVUw-a3CAVSg6TrwBBTlT84ji9EggcdQmJt_fpglr4eK1K0pqOzhQZLagVvLrLq7Z61kIGO1JFh6TA_VPKtjhfgNxdIFkcCri075S2E/s320/stevebyersmarksallsrebeccadalton.jpg" width="240" /></a>Photo on right of Mark Salling, Rebecca Dalton, and Steve Byers (tweeted by Mark Salling.)<br />
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So what's the film about, you may be asking? Rather than re-invent the wheel, I'll quote from Pete Fisher's article, "TV movies to film scenes around Cobourg" which appeared online in the "<span id="goog_1812105594"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Northumberland Today<span id="goog_1812105595"></span></a>" on <time datetime="2013-09-08T16:41:41Z" title="Sunday, September 8, 2013 11:41:41 AM">Sunday, September 8, 2013 12:41:41 EDT PM:</time><br />
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"Rocky Road is a story about a young hot shot Wall Streeter named Harrison (Mark Salling from Glee) who loses his job and expensive lifestyle due to a failed merger. He's forced to move back in with his parents in the small town he’d fled, and take over his old ice cream truck route in his father's dwindling business. Having spent a lifetime looking up to the power brokers of Wall Street and looking down on the simple ways of his small-town father, Harrison starts to appreciate his father's values and find the faith that he lost along the way. Sometimes the best road is the Rocky Road home."<br />
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Certainly we'll all be cheering on Mark Salling's character, who pretty clearly sounds to me like he's set up to be the good guy. Rebecca Dalton, who we've seen on screen before with Steve in "The L.A. Complex," also stars in the film. Steve Byers is cast as Rick Johnson, a character who is, he tells me, aptly named as he's quite the jerk. Since Steve's such a nice guy we'll get to see him showcase his great acting skills in this as he's obviously nothing like his character in real life, well, apart from being super handsome. :)<br />
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Steve being super handsome brings me back to the opening of this post. I imagine the Decepticons are targeting the actor because he's such a good guy, as we know from his tweets that his hotel coffee maker went berserk and brown liquid when everywhere other than in the coffee pot. <br />
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It was suggested to him that he could've gotten coffee in the hotel lobby. Now, apparently he wanted his java quickly as he tweeted, "Lobby coffee in your underwear is frowned upon." Though in his case, I think (and if you read my tweets you already read this) that the reaction would be one of dancing and great rejoicing from the women of Cobourg which I'm sure would have led to a female stampede the likes of which had never been seen before. So, I'm certain that the owners of the hotel as well as hotel security appreciated Steve's good judgment in delaying coffee consumption until he was fully covered and could make it out of his room without causing a riot :)<br />
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More about Steve Byers:<br />
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You can follow him on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/@thestevebyers" target="_blank">here</a>. You can read his interview with me <span id="goog_1097650364"></span><a href="http://www.immortalswriter.blogspot.com/2013/08/steve-byers-of-alphas-fascinating_15.html" target="_blank">here<span id="goog_1097650365"></span></a>. You can find my letter telling Steve I want to adopt him <a href="http://www.immortalswriter.blogspot.com/2013/04/i-told-my-favorite-actor-i-want-to.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Or for a good laugh you can read my post, "Am I Part Alpha?" <a href="http://www.immortalswriter.blogspot.com/2013/05/am-i-part-alpha.html" target="_blank">here</a>. To follow Steve's unofficial Twitter Fan group go <a href="http://twitter.com/stevebyersfans" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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About the blogger:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0eNAhKKxr4hLVYnd2WizJlG8jrlU8o37g5ZkKRIZyuM2Qy8OW8E8evymuhzmrdPtm04qX9ES2V17hmK_koc8pktuAPHjL2QKsQ3TWaCL36FEDmTjKgzach8v8SUjRUOqXK8RM8wm03s/s1600/earthsaturn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0eNAhKKxr4hLVYnd2WizJlG8jrlU8o37g5ZkKRIZyuM2Qy8OW8E8evymuhzmrdPtm04qX9ES2V17hmK_koc8pktuAPHjL2QKsQ3TWaCL36FEDmTjKgzach8v8SUjRUOqXK8RM8wm03s/s1600/earthsaturn.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christina-Williams/e/B0083UT77G/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1380225449&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Christina Williams</a> is the author of the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Destined-Love-Immortal-War-Gods/dp/1477620133/ref=la_B0083UT77G_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380225461&sr=1-1" target="_blank">War Gods</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Immortal-Nobility-War-Gods-ebook/dp/B00DDTNEIU/ref=la_B0083UT77G_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380225491&sr=1-4" target="_blank">series</a> as well as <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Cabin-Stranger-Childrens-ebook/dp/B009PGGGVC/ref=la_B0083UT77G_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380225735&sr=1-3" target="_blank">children's picture books</a> which teach life lessons. Last, but not least, you can see my photo with Steve...as seen from Saturn. :)<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15517916086932430489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824852111522853952.post-17037763681049100482013-09-21T20:33:00.000-07:002013-09-21T20:33:01.461-07:00Weddings- Oklahoma-styleSo, I went to a wedding yesterday-- an Oklahoma wedding, and it was awesome! I got to dance the night away with my sweetheart, and I had a blast. There was plenty of great Mexican food and chocolate to go around too :) In fact, I think it was the most fun I've ever had at a wedding. Why? Because things were arranged so there wasn't any of this "waiting around" business, like I usually experience at weddings. <br />
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What made this "Oklahoma" wedding different though? Well, most notably, the footwear, at least at first glance. It's not uncommon there to see men in nice dress shirts with suit jackets and jeans sporting cowboy boots. It may sound odd, but in Oklahoma, it fits. The men in the wedding party were all dressed to a "T" and had 1950's style tennis shoes on with their dress clothes. Knowing my family as I do, this fits and they pulled it off with class.<br />
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The bride looked like she'd stepped out of a fashion magazine and the ceremony was outdoors with white Christmas-style lights. As soon as it was over, there was great food and wine and when we'd finished that, the photo booth in which one could sport funky fashion accessories, was something fun to do while the dancing got going. <br />
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All-in-all, a great time, and we didn't even get lost on our way to Luther, Oklahoma traveling the red dirt roads. Red because of the high amount of iron oxide in the area. Hats off to my cousin and his new wife for throwing a great party, a beautiful ceremony, and a wonderful, memorable evening. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness! :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15517916086932430489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824852111522853952.post-69967272949704654672013-09-07T14:22:00.001-07:002013-09-07T14:22:06.925-07:00My Daydreams-- A Dragon's Take<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I try to have an entertaining </span><a href="http://twitter.com/@immortalswriter" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Twitter feed</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, and a lot of what you'll read there is my daydreams. </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Peter-Maxian/e/B00BKLJW66/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Peter Maxian</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, AKA </span><a href="http://twitter.com/@thedragonadvent" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Invisible Dragon</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, has taken my daydreams to the extreme and created the <span id="goog_1617338459"></span></span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Christina BraveStar books</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <span id="goog_1617338460"></span>based largely on some of my goofiest ideas. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you're amused by my desire to </span><a href="http://www.immortalswriter.blogspot.com/2013/04/i-told-my-favorite-actor-i-want-to.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">adopt my favorite actor, Steve Byers</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, or if you just enjoy reading funny humorous stuff, you should like this. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is a excerpt of what he wrote, and I hope it makes you smile as much as it does me.</span><br />
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An Entirely Different Timelord by Peter Maxian <span class="blog-admin"><a class="edit" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=768806776106653637&postID=7162145125882699040&from=pencil" target="_self" title="Edit"></a></span></span> </h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was one of those days. The invisible dragon and the magician were circling lazily over a house near a forest in Missouri, amused by the antics of Christina BraveStar. She was voicing thoughts inspired by her day. "It's a crisis -- I'm stressed out & there is no chocolate in the house!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The young dragon had good intentions. "Shall I offer to fly her somewhere?"</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">His father, the magician, sensed other possibilities. "Not yet. Let's wait and see."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few moments later Christina BraveStar voiced an unusual possibility for adventure. "I need a Timelord to take me somewhere for about an hour to unwind…"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The magician was pleased. "You wish is my command, young Ms BraveStar!" He cast a very small spell, and she suddenly felt very tired. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She yawned, and her words slumped together. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>"NowIAmOverwhelmedByAFeelingOfFatigueSoStrongICanHardlyKeepMyEyesOpen..."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She lay down on the sofa, and was soon asleep and dreaming. Dreams, as we all know, are governed by an entirely different Timelord to the lord of time which governs our waking moments. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With a wave of his hand the magician projected her dream out in front of himself and his hovering invisible dragon son.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Christina BraveStar found herself again on a tropical island. The nearly deserted beach was the perfect landing spot for the invisible dragon. She searched the sky for him. "Are you coming to visit, dragon?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But he did not come. A small black dot appeared in the clear blue sky, far out over the crystal blue ocean. It grew in size, and soon Christina realized it was a large winged creature flying toward her. As the creature zoomed in over the shallows, she saw the creature was a winged horse. "A black pegasus! And…"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She recognized the young man seated astride the winged horse. "...my favorite TV star!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The young man dismounted, and introduced himself. "Hi! I'm <a href="http://www.twitter.com/@TheSteveByers" target="_blank">Steve Byers</a>."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Christina BraveStar was grinning, trying to think of something cool and impressive to say. It didn't happen. "Yeah, I know…"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The magician was seated on the enormous shoulders of his invisible dragon son, giggling heartily. "This is wonderful! I think I'll help her out." He cast another spell, and in her dream a table laden with a feast of tropical fruits and Belgian chocolate appeared on the beach nearby.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Christina realized she now had something slightly cool and impressive to say. She gestured at the table. "Would you like some Belgian chocolate, Steve?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The young actor looked quizzically at the feast laden table on the beach. "I didn't think </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Belgian chocolate was tropical…?"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She tried to explain. "You're in my dream. My dreams are a bit unusual."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now he was curious. "In your dream? Who are you?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She introduced herself. "The Ancient Ones call me Christina BraveStar. <i>She who boldly dreams what no-one has dreamed before…</i>"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This was very confusing for the young man. "What am I doing here? A few moments ago I was playing a role in a TV show like Quantum Leap where I am a completely different character every week and…" He realized what had happened. "Oh my God! I've Quantum Leapt into your dream!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Christina BraveStar grinned again, and tried to think of something cool and impressive to say, but the same thing happened as before. "Yeah, I know…"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The invisible dragon looked at his father. "Are you going to help her out again?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The magician thought for a moment. "OK, I've got an idea." He waved his hand.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A wakeboard appeared at the feet of the young actor, and tropical huts with a jaccuzzi materialized over the water. She now had a perfect cool and impressive thing to say. "Would you like to go wakeboarding, or perhaps take a jacuzzi?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Steve Byers was very impressed. "Cool! I love wakeboarding!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She was very satisfied with this dream. "And I love to sit in a jacuzzi and sample belgian chocolate..."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He picked up the wakeboard. "Your dreams are amazing! Unusual, but amazing."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Christina BraveStar grinned again. "Yeah, I know…"</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIzm63EQ4lW5OL9LRrxHnspyl0MjDc-fVMw5FYh7YCPbu5IaYhqE3I_DHKjGycfyjbrMQpYAgj80IRuM_2GTIpijFarwgiaq1nDTUx2qEb6Li9XIUN6V_EaBRkmNPoTsmCxEs-xWNhxe7/s1600/Jacuzzi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIzm63EQ4lW5OL9LRrxHnspyl0MjDc-fVMw5FYh7YCPbu5IaYhqE3I_DHKjGycfyjbrMQpYAgj80IRuM_2GTIpijFarwgiaq1nDTUx2qEb6Li9XIUN6V_EaBRkmNPoTsmCxEs-xWNhxe7/s1600/Jacuzzi.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The magician tapped the invisible dragon on the shoulder. "We have to leave, good son. Adventures await."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">His son was still gazing at the scene in front of him, with Christina in the jacuzzi and </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0125847/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Steve Byers</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> wakeboarding in the shallows. "Shall we wake her up?"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The magician smiled warmly at his son. "Let her dream."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With a beat of his enormous invisible wings, the dragon carried his father onward to new journeys and adventures.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Christina Williams: If you haven't already, you can read Steve Byers' interview </span><a href="http://www.immortalswriter.blogspot.com/2013/08/steve-byers-of-alphas-fascinating_15.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">.</span> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15517916086932430489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824852111522853952.post-91483466970812501652013-08-30T09:34:00.000-07:002013-08-30T09:34:01.499-07:00The Day I Met Aaron Ashmore- Guest Post<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1co4R2nz1h39Ctvub2k_IGG7e9koAymBJb7OOBk1s8mL1UOsVNNxdfvqczqa3MNtI5A77bMyEMWY1wyVLuwmar8DSu_DmNokOh4RBPyxE-DMzobS8WrSGzHMSiJm97T5rD2b7QB6K7KA/s1600/tiarn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1co4R2nz1h39Ctvub2k_IGG7e9koAymBJb7OOBk1s8mL1UOsVNNxdfvqczqa3MNtI5A77bMyEMWY1wyVLuwmar8DSu_DmNokOh4RBPyxE-DMzobS8WrSGzHMSiJm97T5rD2b7QB6K7KA/s1600/tiarn.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Today's guest blogger is Tiarna Lehmann, a 19 year-old Australian whose enthusiasm for the actors she loves reminds me a little of myself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I don't know if I followed Tiarna first on Twitter, or if it was the reverse, but I do know that I started reading her posts the same week that I got the "<span id="goog_1777325535"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/">My Brother's Keeper<span id="goog_1777325536"></span></a>" DVD, starring <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039148/" target="_blank">Aaron Ashmore</a> in the mail. <span id="goog_467500999"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Steve Byers<span id="goog_467501000"></span></a>, whose interview with me you can read <a href="http://www.immortalswriter.blogspot.com/2013/08/steve-byers-of-alphas-fascinating_15.html" target="_blank">here</a>, also has a significant role in the movie. I'd bought it in my quest to watch as much of Steve Byers' non-scary stuff as possible. Not to mention I'd thoroughly enjoyed watching Aaron in previous roles, including Jimmy on "Smallville."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://twitter.com/thestevebyers" target="_blank">Steve</a> saw my tweet about getting ready to watch it and informed me via Twitter that his role wasn't as a very nice guy in the film. He also joked about having to wear spandex in the film, but said that at least Aaron Ashmore did too, and being a jokester, he was teasing Aaron about it. Somewhere amidst the banter, Tiarna or I saw the other's comments and started Tweeting. I informed her that as a big fan of Aaron's she absolutely had to watch the film, since Aaron is in almost every frame of it since he plays both lead roles as twins.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'd noticed the photo of her with stars of "Warehouse 13" on her Twitter page and asked her about it. She was so enthusiastic about meeting Aaron Ashmore and Eddie McClintock, that I asked her to write a piece about what it was like meeting them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is part 1 of 2, and in it, she talks about several performers she's passionate about, and about Aaron Ashmore. I asked about Eddie and she assured me she'd address what it was like meeting him in a second part to her guest blog post at a later date.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Since I haven't met Tiarna, I asked her a few questions of my own to get an idea of the perspective from which she wrote her post. She's a pretty interesting person herself. Here's what she had to say:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Christina Williams:</strong> Your twitter name is <span id="goog_837825296"></span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">@InspiringCamels</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> <span id="goog_837825297"></span>which is pretty unusual. Would you be willing to share the story behind that? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Tiarna Lehmann: </strong><span style="color: black;">Well, the full name is 'inspiringcamelsofmilwaukee'. Now, anyone who knows me would know I'm a massive fan of the band, Hanson. There is a silly story behind it:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"> <em>Interviewer: "Who is the most inspiring person you've ever met?"</em></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><em> Taylor: "I don't know about person, but I did meet an inspiring camel once."</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Now, I wanted a place name and I remembered they have a song called "Man From Milwaukee", so BAM! 'inspiringcamelsofmilwaukee' was created.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Aaron actually asked me to explain it to him! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>CW:</strong> Are you friends with, or just a fan of the two guys you talk about at the beginning of the post? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #8c0095;"></span><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>TL:</strong> No, I don't personally know them, I'm just a massive fan of them. After seeing them in the <i>Les Miserables</i> film, and realising they've both been in the West End stage production of it, among many other productions, I just fell in love with them and their beautiful voices. But I have received a fair amount of tweets from them both! They're both Irishmen, living in London and not very many people in Australia know of them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>CW:</strong> Other than Warehouse 13 and Animorphs that you watched as a kid, are there other scifi shows you're wild about?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #8c0095;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><strong>TL:</strong> Weirdly enough, there's not very many other sci-fi shows I can get into. I have a massive mix of genres of I'm into. At the moment, it's the crime genre (<i>The Following, Breakout Kings</i> and <i>Graceland</i>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>CW:</strong> I've noticed that you have quite a few photos of you in costume on your Twitter page. Are you an actress? Professional or community theater? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #8c0095; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>TL:</strong> I wouldn't really consider myself an actress. I danced for 11 years in a local dance club, did all five school productions while I was in high school, plus two class drama productions, the most memorable was a play called "Juvie", by Jerome McDonough. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><i>"Set in a juvenile detention center, Juvie depicts the life of kids that are scared, lonely and locked up. Some are drug offenders, some have killed and some are just misfits...Although the set never changes, the 'juvies' venture out of their cells to tell why and how they were caught. The barren cell and lack of props are effective and in keeping with each character's desolation" ~ San Jose Spartan Daily</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Source: </span><a href="http://www.stageplays.com/products/juvie/Jerome%20McDonough" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: black;">http://www.stageplays.<wbr></wbr>com/products/juvie/Jerome%<wbr></wbr>20McDonough</span></i></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">But this year, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to be a part of the Riverland Musical Society's production of "Anything Goes", where I was a chorus member and what I like to call "Screaming Fangirl Number 1". Suits me, don't you think?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>CW:</strong> I think "Screaming Fangirl Number 1" suits her perfectly, and like I said, she reminds me of myself. That's just about the same part I had in a high school production of "Bye Bye Birdie" quite some time ago. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #8c0095;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>CW:</strong> Following we have what Tiarna wrote about the day she met Aaron Ashmore...as well as her take on a couple of other performers she loves.</span></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Day I Met Aaron Ashmore</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">By Tiarna Lehmann<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It’s
no secret to those who know me who my favourite actors are, whether it be the
West End stage actors Fra Fee who played Jean Prouvaire, as well as first
covers Marius and Enjolras in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Les
Miserables</i> as well as Coufeyrac in the highly successful<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2012 film, as well as roles in the stage
versions of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dirty Dancing</i> and<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Fame </i>or Killian Donnelly, who was
second cover Javert and Enjolras, later moved to principal Enjolras, plus third
cover Jean Valjean in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Les Mis </i>as well
as Combferre in the film. He was also Raoul in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Phantom Of The </i>Opera and Tony in the West End’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Billy Elliot: The Musical, </i>finishing
earlier this year and is soon to be starring as Deco in Roddy Doyle’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Commitments</i>, both of these actors, both
Irish, are fantastic, trained singers and some of their works can be found on
YouTube.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Fra Fee-- photo from </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fra_Fee" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">http://en.wikipedia.org/<wbr></wbr>wiki/Fra_Fee</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLp6D7Y2AUOsvDaQDJFbHQFG1AqszI8t8XTIl2T3mpQdjqPes6GIuk7K-3wqazKaDxY4xTofy75tiTeonXIPFgNIygqIGODogohu-C3MvM2HENeJ3gsmy2hzw0ZmWK0UVn62SvMmSaOU/s1600/Fra_Fee_in_2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLp6D7Y2AUOsvDaQDJFbHQFG1AqszI8t8XTIl2T3mpQdjqPes6GIuk7K-3wqazKaDxY4xTofy75tiTeonXIPFgNIygqIGODogohu-C3MvM2HENeJ3gsmy2hzw0ZmWK0UVn62SvMmSaOU/s1600/Fra_Fee_in_2009.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Killian Donnelly- Photo from a web link no longer up</span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxieiezaink2f-7154SDB-oDyTzx3vShyphenhyphenENUj-RgnU3f5QhIZ7V9fzoLZ7G1LeZifKdIt_O-nwdtGFwXWjEShyphenhyphenyPZvjr9HZpL5Pd-JEVbQs_iySmgsYIdBfVoXblAnBNSqpQ2A-s4Pk04/s1600/Killian+Donnelly_2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxieiezaink2f-7154SDB-oDyTzx3vShyphenhyphenENUj-RgnU3f5QhIZ7V9fzoLZ7G1LeZifKdIt_O-nwdtGFwXWjEShyphenhyphenyPZvjr9HZpL5Pd-JEVbQs_iySmgsYIdBfVoXblAnBNSqpQ2A-s4Pk04/s1600/Killian+Donnelly_2a.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: inherit;">Fra Fee – The X-Mas Factor</span></b><span lang="EN-AU"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-AU"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFChtk_Vwfs"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFChtk_Vwfs</span></a></span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: inherit;"> (a silly parody
video showing Fra’s comic talents)</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: inherit;">Empty Chairs at Empty Tables
(Fra Fee - Live on BBC Radio Ulster)</span></b><span lang="EN-AU"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-AU"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcLh70fS6ns"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcLh70fS6ns</span></a></span><span lang="EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU">Killian Donnelly – I Heard It
Through The Grapevine (Live on “Saturday Night With Miriam”)<br />
</span></b><span lang="EN-AU"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z38a4BCPHag"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z38a4BCPHag</span></a></span><span lang="EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU">Killian Donnelly – Bring Him
Home<br />
</span></b><span lang="EN-AU"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxb-LImjGJ8"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxb-LImjGJ8</span></a></span></span><span lang="EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">I’ve
also had two Twitter interactions with Killian and three from Fra :)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Okay,
enough about these two amazing stage actors-slash-singers, you’re probably interested
in my experiences meeting </span><a href="http://twitter.com/@AaronRAshmore" target="_blank">Aaron Ashmore</a>, <span style="color: black;">the equally as amazing older half of
the gorgeous Ashmore twins, aren’t you? <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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</span><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-AU">Yep.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-AU">Well,
okay. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">So,
backstory cut short, I’ve been a fan of Shawn since I was four years old and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Animorphs </i>was airing and, well, like
many people, I didn’t realise he was a twin. Terrible person, aren’t I? I’m
sorry. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVipqcKB4ZFwVA-oA9zbMUHAwOBHoPMAUFV_PabsNoGkmMkojg6HuFG-cadNGZXh_qZprSBxKg8t95ZPkFS9LEBumk8Hv5G-O6MOhDwDg0BwBgsZBfXbSaP510BTmo8PVxMlezfZU90o/s1600/aaronashmore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVipqcKB4ZFwVA-oA9zbMUHAwOBHoPMAUFV_PabsNoGkmMkojg6HuFG-cadNGZXh_qZprSBxKg8t95ZPkFS9LEBumk8Hv5G-O6MOhDwDg0BwBgsZBfXbSaP510BTmo8PVxMlezfZU90o/s320/aaronashmore.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
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</span></span><span lang="EN-AU"><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Anyway,
I decided to check some of his works and I stumbled upon <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Warehouse 13</i> which I fell in love with instantly. I also checked
many of his other films and shows, including those crazy <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Servitude</i> shenanigans including being thrown into a dumpster with a
licence plate reading “STD MFN”, Playing a set of rivalling twins by himself in
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My Brother’s Keeper</i> and one of
Veronica’s bad-boy boyfriends, Troy Vandergraff in a few episodes of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Veronica Mars</i> as well as playing another
bad-boy, Matt “Hutch” Hutchinson in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Skulls II. </i>All of these were awesome but of course it was his portrayal of
Steve Jinks in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Warehouse 13</i> that I enjoyed
most. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">I
remember seeing a tweet from Eddie McClintock announcing that he’ll be going to
Oz Comic-Con, so I checked out the website, not only he was going to be in
Australia, but he was going to be in Adelaide – just a two-hour drive from
where I live, and Aaron was going to be there too!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">The
two-month wait was painful. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">It
was the morning of the 16<sup>th</sup> of March, 2013. My best friend, Lizzie
(a fellow nerd) and I had travelled to Adelaide the night before (my first time
driving through Adelaide – you’re welcome). Trust me, when you’re on public
transport at Comic-Con time, you can tell who is an attendee, usually because
they’re in costume. Lizzie and I didn’t bother dressing up, mainly because we
ran out of time before we could organise anything. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">The
day was going off to a interesting start. After purchasing my tokens at around
9:30am, after a HUUGGGEEEE wait, I went and lined up at the second photo booth
which is where I believed Eddie McClintock would be and the volunteer up the
front asked the group, “Who’s here for the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Warehouse
13</i> double photo?” I put my hand straight up and they let me straight through,
even though I was at the back of the line of about 20 or more people. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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will admit, my heart was beating rapidly and I was a little nervous, and I was
running through the things I’d say to them in my head. A few weeks earlier, I
woke up to an Instagram notification saying that Aaron was following me, even
though I hadn’t asked him, even though I’d asked Shawn’s wife Dana to as we’d
been having many a conversation on Twitter. That was pretty exciting. I walked
through the curtain and there Eddie and Aaron were, being them smiley selves. I
walked up to Aaron and gave him a hug and introduced myself and then said, “So,
you probably recognise me as InspiringCamelsOfMilwaukee on Instagram.” He knew
what I was talking about </span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span lang="EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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went and hugged Eddie, and he actually mispronounced by name as ‘Tiana’, rather
than ‘Tiarna’, but I really couldn’t bring myself to correct him. After Eddie
hugged me, I turned around and Aaron had his arms out, looking for another hug.
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>I
FELT LOVED!</u></i></b></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christina-Williams/e/B0083UT77G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1" target="_blank">Christina Williams</a>:</strong> Thanks Tiarna. Can't wait to read more when you send me part 2 of your fan encounter :) For evidence of my being a "crazy fangirl" you can read <a href="http://www.immortalswriter.blogspot.com/2013/04/i-told-my-favorite-actor-i-want-to.html" target="_blank">post</a> about wanting to adopt actor Steve Byers. </span></o:p></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15517916086932430489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824852111522853952.post-13845966494612004172013-08-25T13:49:00.001-07:002013-08-25T13:49:49.422-07:00Illustrating Your Books--The Invisible Dragon's Take<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJ66RjeNykKtPP53O4_AkPevbouYDmlvhSoS-0gwRqtDF1U5kEInGMmbc74lE4wmS5xQEP-ev2waU5oUrMOsk-XHRTrVs9hT_4uvEsQBSt3GezOWu5rRIJ2ywgXX2avPtYn0mwt_QOjE/s1600/petermaxian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJ66RjeNykKtPP53O4_AkPevbouYDmlvhSoS-0gwRqtDF1U5kEInGMmbc74lE4wmS5xQEP-ev2waU5oUrMOsk-XHRTrVs9hT_4uvEsQBSt3GezOWu5rRIJ2ywgXX2avPtYn0mwt_QOjE/s320/petermaxian.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Author </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Peter-Maxian/e/B00BKLJW66/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Peter Maxian</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, of the <a href="http://www.thedragonadventures.com/p/books.html" target="_blank">Invisible Dragon books</a>, has written several illustrated stories. What makes these so unusual is that many of his books are more along the genre beautifully depicted, almost poetic, daydreams for adults. These all have very dream-like photos to accompany them. I asked Peter how he got the idea of illustrating these with modified photos. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Below is what Peter has to share on the subject. Some of this information originally appeared on the "books" page of his </span><a href="http://www.thedragonadventures.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">website</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">. The photo shown is from his <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Peter-Maxian/e/B00BKLJW66/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1" target="_blank">author page</a> on Amazon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em>How did you come up with the idea of using modified photos to illustrate your books?</em> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I wrote 15 stories about Ryn, the son of some friends of mine. Everyone who read those stories said they would make a perfect children's illustrated book. I asked a few artists to do illustrations, but no-one came up with anything satisfactory. So I created digital illustrations myself for the stories I wanted to publish.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Creating pictures that portray an invisible dragon is not easy.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How does an artist paint the invisible?</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have asked artists here in Vienna where I live, but no-one could do it. </span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So how did I paint the invisible? </span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I created the illustrations by listening to my heart, and daydreaming of the invisible dragon.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Like magic, I re-created the "magical realism" landscape of the stories by enhancing photographs, and the dragon is a lighting effect. While working at a computer, the right effects all came together to tell the dragon's story in pictures. </span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One theme of the invisible dragon stories is that we can "see" the invisible in our heart and our dreams. (The same theme is in "The Little Prince" by Antoine de St Exupery.)</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I could "see" the invisible dragon, and he appeared in illustrations on my computer...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGiM4dNgsFTpZZsDga48MA_deZJ-rhA_QoHiO6QVH_IUU1yafjyeRf7eDgf7stRtcYFCDCkzvPcQcFcBoeTFsfvw7M_3hLRhWdseK-UHloPWZwEVUaGv_fYESxoo9fTD5Mr6aeYt-X-E/s1600/Christina+BraveStar1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGiM4dNgsFTpZZsDga48MA_deZJ-rhA_QoHiO6QVH_IUU1yafjyeRf7eDgf7stRtcYFCDCkzvPcQcFcBoeTFsfvw7M_3hLRhWdseK-UHloPWZwEVUaGv_fYESxoo9fTD5Mr6aeYt-X-E/s1600/Christina+BraveStar1.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><em>Christina's Note:</em> I should also mention that Peter is the author of the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christina-BraveStar-ebook/dp/B00D7FL2OI/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377463213&sr=1-1&keywords=Christina+BraveStar" target="_blank">Christina BraveStar</a> book, based on me, which, I think is quite cool and highly entertaining. I told Peter that his writing a book about me makes me feel like a movie star, and I'm relatively sure that's partly where the name "BraveStar" comes from. (Photo is from the Peter's website, <a href="http://www.thedragonadventures.com/">www.thedragonadventures.com</a> and is a modified photo of me on top of the French Alps. This photo appears on the cover of the previously mentioned book.) </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">For more information, check out the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christina-BraveStar-ebook/dp/B00D7FL2OI/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377463213&sr=1-1&keywords=Christina+BraveStar" target="_blank">book</a> :)</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15517916086932430489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824852111522853952.post-50456288976343161402013-08-15T08:39:00.004-07:002013-08-16T12:40:59.740-07:00Steve Byers of "Alphas"-- A Fascinating Interview<table cellpadding="0" class="cf adz"><tbody>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5adoYxAkmwVb3kYfwgvQOUXL-0ClUoJKrVO5G_O4K-kw8ke5ns4TF87Ab7GGD7zChEdac7l2Y7qTDn9v3sS1L4USqiF5xK9aePGiMLllCsVcEJ_8aTvIFk4Xj4TDrZy2ui4mCYLmU1Z8/s1600/stevecowboyhat.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5adoYxAkmwVb3kYfwgvQOUXL-0ClUoJKrVO5G_O4K-kw8ke5ns4TF87Ab7GGD7zChEdac7l2Y7qTDn9v3sS1L4USqiF5xK9aePGiMLllCsVcEJ_8aTvIFk4Xj4TDrZy2ui4mCYLmU1Z8/s320/stevecowboyhat.png" width="217" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you follow me on </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/immortalswriter" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, read my blog, or know me personally you already know that I love to watch Steve Byers act. I first watched him as John on Syfy's "Alphas" and have since watched everything he's been in that I can get my hands on. Well, everything but the really scary stuff because non-scifi horror gives me nightmares. And if you haven't seen star him yet in the science fiction/horror film, "</span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1283906/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Static</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">," (also known as "Glitch") you should be sure to check it out next time it airs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anyway, Steve's a blast to watch on screen and it didn't take me long to discover he's also an unbelievably funny and nice guy. (Photo at right is taken from his </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0125847/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">IMDB page</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've read a lot of interviews of Steve, but being a naturally curious person, I still had more questions. A lot more in fact. He's generous enough to have taken the time to let me interview him. Below you'll see what he has to say to questions that I hope he hasn't been asked a </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">lot, if ever, in previous interviews. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/author/christinawilliams" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Christina Williams</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">:</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <span style="color: black;">If you could have any fantasy/mythological creature as a pet, </span></span></em></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em>what would it be and why?</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><strong><span id="goog_764901301"></span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0125847/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Steve Byers<span id="goog_764901302"></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">:</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <span style="color: black;">Dragon because...well Dragons.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>CW:</strong> Is it correct that “Game of Thrones” is your favorite television show, and if so, </span></span></em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em>what is it that you love about it?</em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> Did I mention the Dragons?</span></span></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> What are your hobbies?</span></span></span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> I wish I could say grooming my Dragons but alas no. If I ever have free time (usually once kids are asleep) I like to spend it on my Playstation 3. Escapism.</span></span></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> I'm sensing a trend here... Who are your all-time favorite actress and actor, alive or deceased, and would you please elaborate?</span></span></span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> </span></span></span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000198/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gary Oldman</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">.<span style="color: black;"> The guy is like a chameleon. A talented and human looking chameleon.</span></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> What is your dream vehicle?</span></span></span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> Okay, I'm beating a dead horse here but would a Dragon be okay? Worst case, I hate traffic so maybe a helicopter?</span></span></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> Would you tell us about your pets?</span></span></span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> Used to have two cats. They both passed this past year. Taking a break from pets for awhile..</span></span></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> I'm sorry to hear about your cats. Losing pets is hard. If I could make a pet dragon appear, I'd certainly send you one for Christmas. My oldest kid is very literal and for the longest time, since the dragon books are located in the mythology section of the library and are therefore classified as "non-fiction," he was convinced that dragons existed here and now and that if he looked hard enough in the forest around here he'd find one. If he does, I'll be sure to let you know.</span></span></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">On a different note, where is your ideal locale to film a movie, and have you ever filmed there before?</span></span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> I love shooting in Toronto as it's where most of my family is. Going home at the end of the end of the day makes the job more "normal". Don't get me wrong...I've never shot in a tropical location and I think Daddy likey.</span></span></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> I’ve read before that you love beer and burgers. What’s your favorite kind of beer?</span></span></span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> I like trying new craft beers. I'm not a stout fan though. I like a Rolling Rock or Sleeman Cream Ale<em>.</em></span></span></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> Do you have a favorite ethic food and what is it?</span></span></span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> Love authentic Mexican food. All of it. Gimme some.</span></span></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> You’ve said before that you love to play video games and that “Skyrim” is your current favorite. What do you like about it?</span></span></span></em></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> Oh, I don't know...ummm Dragons? I love that it does not restrict you on how you play the game. Not a linear storyline. I hate rules.</span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><em><strong>CW:</strong> </em><em>I’ve found you to be a very funny guy on Twitter, yet you generally play serious roles. Is this intentional? Do you have plans to do comedy in the future?</em></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>S</strong><strong>B:</strong> Comedy is a very specific art and I'm just a wise-ass. If I ever have the opportunity to play a another comedic part and it seems right, for sure! </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><em><strong>CW:</strong> If you had access to the Tardis, Dr. Who’s time-traveling spaceship, when and where would you go?</em> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> I'd probably go back to last week when I forgot to pay my phone bill. </span></span></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> Is it hard for you to sit back and relax when you watch television or movies without analyzing what’s going on since you work in the industry?</span></span></span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> Like most people in our business (I think), it's hard to ignore glaringly bad elements of a production but if something is great, I love to get lost in it.</span></span></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> What’s your all-time favorite movie?</span></span></span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> "Seven," "The Fifth Element," "Blade Runner," "True Romance."</span></span></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> What is the strangest, weirdest, most uncomfortable, funniest, or most memorable costume you’ve worn?</span></span></span></em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNrhfg-l9IF1WHHME5Cn804hyphenhyphen2edWkokf86Ay03zC_bvV3f07q2JF-zKyMt_Jo5L2QcTvVFpEcJYoeUOuF3wvUoPi2ldZ9DENJOWMXYdWER4ElCdkWl6Ty5S7im7wucXWRxywrHNc7Ew/s1600/immortals_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNrhfg-l9IF1WHHME5Cn804hyphenhyphen2edWkokf86Ay03zC_bvV3f07q2JF-zKyMt_Jo5L2QcTvVFpEcJYoeUOuF3wvUoPi2ldZ9DENJOWMXYdWER4ElCdkWl6Ty5S7im7wucXWRxywrHNc7Ew/s320/immortals_10.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> By far... Heracles in</span> "</span></span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1253864/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Immortals</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">". <span style="color: black;">Most valuable (especially for it's size) and uncomfortable wardrobe I've worn.</span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em>(<strong>CW Commentary</strong>: Later on, I asked Steve which guy he was in this picture. His reply, "Back left. In the skirt.)</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><em><strong>CW:</strong> </em><em>I’ve read that some actors shy away from watching their own shows. Do you enjoy watching programs you’ve been in and seeing how the final product turned out, or do you prefer not to watch yourself on screen?</em></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> NO. Sadly, no.</span></span></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> You’ve been married 12 years. How do you balance family life with filming schedules, which I would imagine cause long absences from home?</span></span></span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> My wife does it all. Rock solid.</span></span></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> Does your wife have a favorite show she’s enjoyed watching you in?</span></span></span></em></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: black;">SB:</span></strong> "</span></span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1794147/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">LA Complex</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"... she likes that genre.</span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> Do you have kids?</span></span></span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> Yup 2.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><em><strong>CW:</strong> When you read bedtime stories to your kids, do you get into doing all kinds of crazy voices and stuff to make the characters come alive? I have this vision of you as the ultimate story book reader </em>:)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> Sometimes.... depends on the energy stores. I also hate to work 'em up before sleeping....it happens pretty easily.</span></span></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> What’s your favorite book you’ve read to you kids recently?</span></span></span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> "Lucky Duck"</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> Back in 2002 you were in </span>“</span></span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0282171/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Slap Shot 2</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">” <span style="color: black;">in which you portrayed a hockey team member. You’ve mentioned before that you did your own skating in the film. Did you play hockey growing up?</span></span></em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QZD8C5amW3L1wR-uyWc3R8CBEll5veM2Wo7zfU-aY4PY4Z7lDLzeUvGazCm7HEWncCvhDsfmmH-ZlQdSKy4wWUdZgguTDWHF8hE2DmZW8wDkV_Dh08AOCD5gvBRvGc92SUQT0m7DkU4/s1600/steveninadobrev.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QZD8C5amW3L1wR-uyWc3R8CBEll5veM2Wo7zfU-aY4PY4Z7lDLzeUvGazCm7HEWncCvhDsfmmH-ZlQdSKy4wWUdZgguTDWHF8hE2DmZW8wDkV_Dh08AOCD5gvBRvGc92SUQT0m7DkU4/s1600/steveninadobrev.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> I'm Canadian... so Yes. Loved it.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> You and Nina Dobrev were great on screen together in</span> “</span></span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1052349/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My Daughter’s Secret</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">.” <span style="color: black;">What’s Nina like to work with, and has there been any talk of casting you on “The Vampire Diaries?” I, for one, would love to see how you look with a set of fangs</span></span></em></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> Thanks. We had a lot of fun. There have been a few roles that I've been considered for on the show. Ultimately, it hasn't worked out thus far. We'll see ;) </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> In</span> “</span></span></em><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0491601/" target="_blank"><em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Falcon Beach</span></em></a><em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">” <span style="color: black;">you played a very sweet wake boarder. You’ve mentioned to me before that some of the filming where you were so cheerfully jumping wakes behind the boat was done while it was snowing outside and you were, essentially, freezing. Would you elaborate on what it’s like to work in such adverse conditions? Personally, I can’t imagine how you could even hold onto the rope if it was that cold much less look like you’re having fun doing so.</span></span></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> It was certainly tough to work up the courage to get in the water on those days. They were very kind though and had a portable hot tub for us to jump in after those scenes. A couple people actually went to the hospital for treatment of hypothermia on that set. Scary stuff. That "acting like I was having fun" was just the acting part.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9j4bRkIZX2CWYlMFLGUeQgS0Gz0n4zmFmu4fick6PjUATP0XB7di0qB8pPmnr-TFRnFKqmvHJLL_TdoDx770PjVGX5iUmA9jdbYK0YNJNb3-19LNMXiaaTokJW1G_gW_uGM3-dPTfyCg/s1600/alphascast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9j4bRkIZX2CWYlMFLGUeQgS0Gz0n4zmFmu4fick6PjUATP0XB7di0qB8pPmnr-TFRnFKqmvHJLL_TdoDx770PjVGX5iUmA9jdbYK0YNJNb3-19LNMXiaaTokJW1G_gW_uGM3-dPTfyCg/s320/alphascast.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: black;"><em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> I loved watching you as John on Syfy’s</span> “</span></span><a href="http://www.syfy.com/alphas" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Alphas</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">.” <span style="color: black;">Do you have a favorite episode? (Note: "Alpha's" cast photo at right taken from </span></span><a href="http://summerglauwiki.com/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">summerglauwiki.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">)</span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> Loved running around with guns. Still a kid at heart.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> Rachel, played by </span></span></span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1671257/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Azita Ghanizada</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, <span style="color: black;">was your love interest in “Alphas.” What’s Azita like to work with?</span></span></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> Azita is great. She was very kind and wanted to make sure I felt at home coming into a show on it's second season.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> Did anything particularly funny happen on the set of </span>“</span></span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1183865/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Alphas</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">?”</span></em></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> Not one thing in particular stands out but there were certainly lot's of laughs. </span></span></span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1406239/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Warren</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <span style="color: black;">and I had a lot fun and were comrades in stupid jokes and buffoonery.</span> </span></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> You’ve recently completed filming “Christmas Star,” a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie which you star in. Is it a drama or comedy, and would you tell us a little about the movie?</span></span></span></em><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> It's a sweet film about a family struggling with the loss of a parent and the need to continue living life. A flame from his past sparks up and helps the family learn that life and love can go on.</span> </span></span></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> What kind of character do you play in “Christmas Star?”</span></span></span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> I play a Dad who is Basketball coach and a little disconnected with the real world. He's a little dorky... so there's a whole lotta "me" in this guy.</span></span></span><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> Was there anything particularly memorable or unusual that happened on set while filming “Christmas Star?”</span></span></span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> It's always tricky to shoot winter movies in the summer. It is kinda surreal when they have the snow machines running in the middle of the night and everyone is in winter clothing and it's about 80 degrees out. Shannon and I had a great time all the same.</span></span></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> It seems like, since at least from an audience perspective, Hallmark movies don’t look like they rely much on special effects to make them good, that they would be more rewarding to work on from an actor’s perspective than a film which uses a lot of blue or green screens and CGI. Is that a correct assumption?</span></span></span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> Just different really. I love it all. </span></span></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> Do you know when “Christmas Star” is set to air? </span></span></span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> Not yet. I imagine around American Thanksgiving. </span></span></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> Any news on future films and television series fans can look forward to seeing you in?</span></span></span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> There are a few irons in the fire right now but I don't want to give too much away until it's signed and sealed but stay tuned ;)</span></span></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>CW:</strong> Are there any particular roles you’d like to play future?</span></span></span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>SB:</strong> I love the fantasy and sci-fi genres so anything in that realm I'm game. Also would love to do an epic Western. Spaghetti or otherwise ;)</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thank you for all the support and my best wishes to you and all who might read this. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><em><strong>CW:</strong> Thanks for letting me interview you and for making me laugh so much! </em> :)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You can follow Steve on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/thestevebyers" target="_blank">@TheSteveByers</a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> and look at his <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0125847/" target="_blank">IMDB page</a>.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> To avoid any confusion based on my blog address and Twitter name, I should clarify that while I write <a href="http://amazon.com/author/christinawilliams" target="_blank">paranormal/fantasy books</a>, and I'd love to see Steve star in one, were it ever to become a movie, I'm (unfortunately) not associated with the writing of the "Immortals" movie Steve is in. I chose my <a href="http://twitter.com/immortalswriter" target="_blank">Twitter handle</a> based on what was available that was related to the genre I write, and what sounded cool :)</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15517916086932430489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824852111522853952.post-74221681027927824232013-08-13T12:12:00.000-07:002013-08-13T12:26:28.345-07:00How to Design a Book Cover- Part 2 of 2<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1376407137936_21405">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_TXnfq1xZz7-NPG9tv75xi1sjK37H6SpeIpbWFOutcjrhDXkhSKi7s2ndEVfg6mBchSUxVXnvcYTimQ-TiiTNbzLnMDLLhems4FcsG0IFMnm41366uWg-lP7oP3mcEk53JZeP7Ih5EI/s1600/racheltaylor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_TXnfq1xZz7-NPG9tv75xi1sjK37H6SpeIpbWFOutcjrhDXkhSKi7s2ndEVfg6mBchSUxVXnvcYTimQ-TiiTNbzLnMDLLhems4FcsG0IFMnm41366uWg-lP7oP3mcEk53JZeP7Ih5EI/s200/racheltaylor.jpg" width="142" /></a><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1376407137936_21404">This post is a continuation of yesterday's guest post by Rachel Taylor, a professional photographer and owner of R. Taylor Concepts. I have a few additional questions for Rachel regarding book cover design and she was gracious enough to answer them. </span></div>
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<strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christina-Williams/e/B0083UT77G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1" target="_blank">Christina Williams</a>:</strong> What kind of lighting advice would you give an amateur when they are shooting their own book cover photos and don't have access to an elaborate lighting system?</div>
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<strong>Rachel Taylor:</strong> If shooting a person or people, I would suggest using a large white poster board (foam version is nice as it's sturdier) to bounce light onto the subject(s). This technique can be used indoors and out and will ultimately add more life to your subject's eyes by creating a catch light. <br />
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Another option would be shooting in a room full of white or light walls (this works for objects as well), remembering that color reflects (e.g. green walls adds a green hue to the skin/object which may or may not be desirable). If shooting outdoors with the ultimate goal of a softly lit portrait or scene, choose late evening or very early morning to shoot your subjects when the sun's light projects most softly. Overcast days create the perfect soft box free of charge. Should you desire harsher, bolder, more dramatic lighting, use the midday sun of lunchtime as your strobe. Adjust your subject(s) accordingly to create the shadows you desire upon the face or scene in general. I also suggest turning off your camera's flash (this will work best when there is plenty of light overall).<br />
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<strong>CW:</strong> What are your thoughts on the amount of objects shown on a book cover?<br />
<strong>RT:</strong> Speaking strictly in visual terms; the fewer the objects, the more solid and simple the background and the starker the contrast between those two elements, the more visible be your results in my opinion.<br />
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<strong>CW:</strong> For ebook covers, what special attention needs to be taken since they are initially shown often as a 1" thumbnail photo or smaller?<br />
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<strong>RT:</strong> With ebook covers, I would use the aforementioned ratio of fewer objects, bolder contrast in lighting and in color as well as a simple background if it were my cover.<br />
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<strong>CW:</strong> You've mentioned to me before that certain colors make others stand out well. Any advice you'd like to give?</span><br />
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<strong>RT:</strong> High contrast begets eye catching results (think black & white). Lighter colors attract while darker colors recede. Using complementary color schemes creates visually appealing effects (e.g. yellow & blue). If subtlety is your goal, colors closer in tone and/or in monochromatic mixtures will do the trick.<br />
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<em>Example:</em> monochromatic blues… still bold, still high contrast with a nice pop of white to attract & catch the eye</div>
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<em>Example:</em> bold complementary colors… reds/ blues / yellows</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4w4FrYZhoXXD8yvqfv2zK_ysTy-t3vVs94M6ZvNpMGJ6zcSkqL4Rf8iZmGBqgQdd9Y1PGK_9gFpu53hOqKfTsv1ILk_tHivAJmxZfmJwrosQ3G_IZ5zn12V-LJEmieAo7bRzeYfeOXs/s1600/bold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4w4FrYZhoXXD8yvqfv2zK_ysTy-t3vVs94M6ZvNpMGJ6zcSkqL4Rf8iZmGBqgQdd9Y1PGK_9gFpu53hOqKfTsv1ILk_tHivAJmxZfmJwrosQ3G_IZ5zn12V-LJEmieAo7bRzeYfeOXs/s1600/bold.jpg" /></a></div>
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<em>Example:</em> Although not a book cover, this is a great example of the same complementary colors of red, blue & yellow in softer tints. Less noticeable in a line up overall. Taken from <a href="http://www.seasonsforallathome.com/" target="_blank">http://www.seasonsforallathome.com/</a></div>
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<strong>CW:</strong> Thanks so much Rachel for taking time to share your expertise with us. It's greatly appreciated.<br />
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<em>Note:</em> Photos are not examples of Rachel's work but are shown as examples of the concepts about which she is speaking.</span><br />
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Rachel is a freelance photographer based in south Missouri in the Lake of the Ozarks. In addition to her experience as a successful free-lance photographer, she's worked with top designers in the silk floral retail and wholesale industry and has done a wide range of commercial work, including, but not limited to, photography for <span id="goog_1941614659"></span><a href="http://www.evergreenmfg.net/" target="_blank">Evergreen Home Décor<span id="goog_1941614660"></span></a>. If you are in need of professional photography services, you can contact Rachel at <a href="mailto:pureskylight@gmail.com" target="_blank">pureskylight@gmail.com</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15517916086932430489noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824852111522853952.post-77632768590762157232013-08-12T09:14:00.000-07:002013-08-13T08:13:11.515-07:00Creating the Perfect Book Cover Image- A Photographer's Viewpoint Part 1 of 2<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">Today we have a special guest post from professional photographer, and my own book cover advisor, Rachel Taylor of R. Taylor Concepts. <br />
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Rachel is a freelance photographer based in south Missouri in the Lake of the Ozarks. In addition to her experience as a successful free-lance photographer, she's worked with top designers in the silk floral retail and wholesale industry and has done a wide range of commercial work, including, but not limited to, photography for <span id="goog_1941614659"></span><a href="http://www.evergreenmfg.net/" target="_blank">Evergreen Home Décor<span id="goog_1941614660"></span></a>. If you are in need of professional photography services, you can contact Rachel at <a href="mailto:pureskylight@gmail.com">pureskylight@gmail.com</a></span><br />
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The first consideration when selecting a photograph for the cover of my book would be content relevance. What scene, what item, what kind of person, etc… will most quickly help the viewer connect with the title and / or theme of my book; keeping in mind that should I choose to photograph a person, releases will be necessary.<br />
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Once I've decided upon the object(s) to be photographed, my next thought would be how will I light it? Do I want my photo to overpower my text and grab the viewers attention via emotion or do I simply need it to visually break up the space of my cover? If the former, I would choose bold, highly contrasted lighting (think studio strobes or mid day sun for the non-photographer) to create a distinct separation of the object from its background. If using a photograph to break up space rather than to add immediate impact, I would elect a softer approach, using natural light. <br />
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Two examples of high contrast lighting-- bold images that catch a viewer's eye:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOHEWQOL4DMjUs1svQRJXPYxVKjaCL40kS8Wm3ky1KJY6RqPvpFMf8vo9zcvkvK_ZarxxLkWFic7IPqcMPKi3kFMekg52SUcbq2CI9j4lYNxMDj1cqiEsYPT46IPjv-BT7RqL_-zWXQo/s1600/highcontrastlighting1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOHEWQOL4DMjUs1svQRJXPYxVKjaCL40kS8Wm3ky1KJY6RqPvpFMf8vo9zcvkvK_ZarxxLkWFic7IPqcMPKi3kFMekg52SUcbq2CI9j4lYNxMDj1cqiEsYPT46IPjv-BT7RqL_-zWXQo/s1600/highcontrastlighting1.jpg" /></a></div>
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Two examples of more naturally, softer lit images. These images tend to pull the viewer into the text and title:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqOsBqsNLfvsZtLE4pX2Ew8YRL3JKcMfpEALspbiCjlDwNzc-53GBPHFkm4W8SE8ydcZo1ODnqSE1fa6t7gEm0rZvUidmukXc5K_25YEvX_o3fof7EnGtvTWNffQJpK3Hb5yIavtWq0o/s1600/softerlit1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqOsBqsNLfvsZtLE4pX2Ew8YRL3JKcMfpEALspbiCjlDwNzc-53GBPHFkm4W8SE8ydcZo1ODnqSE1fa6t7gEm0rZvUidmukXc5K_25YEvX_o3fof7EnGtvTWNffQJpK3Hb5yIavtWq0o/s1600/softerlit1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgng_FqPfS1Na2gtGHx6DEaMCupLcOp2_LhVyOpC026sy0RxYeRC-kF2U-EacTL-bR3a0dc2qt-vktiAHzY6NdG3qJWTUpT6K1dEiFH4rcz1f8om1vssuNzVufLl73xgBf_ZWkJ-P-JiqQ/s1600/softerlit2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgng_FqPfS1Na2gtGHx6DEaMCupLcOp2_LhVyOpC026sy0RxYeRC-kF2U-EacTL-bR3a0dc2qt-vktiAHzY6NdG3qJWTUpT6K1dEiFH4rcz1f8om1vssuNzVufLl73xgBf_ZWkJ-P-JiqQ/s1600/softerlit2.jpg" /></a></div>
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After lighting is determined, composition of the item(s) would be next in my thought process. Is it just one item or object that I need to shoot or is it more of a scene, thought or interaction?<br />
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If one object, a solid background will be best to again, separate the item from the background and make it stand out. When composing the object, I would consider text placement within my cover design. Placing the item directly in the center of my frame obviously creates balance but is somewhat boring. This may be to my benefit depending upon final intent. If not, off-setting the item, either in my shot or within ultimate cover design placement, can create negative space for text placement as well as increase viewer eye moment, pushing or pulling them into a direction that benefits me. <br />
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When composing a scene or people, my background choice would depend upon my ultimate intention. A solid background will act similarly with people as it does with objects: it will separate them and assist in helping them stand out. A busy background can add mood (think city scape) but will also add some distraction. <br />
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Examples of center-weighted images. Once your eye locks in on the object, you're seemingly finished viewing to some extent.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOkMvsuEiUVz3_ZjCV69hQJI-VCC2zTWOZVk3Jzkog2rsfFqRw7PwM28ZA-mX9e6jGcJ0u-aNRH83qM0USMiKCvMy_zZkyYrIDuWxqK0TX_v6C3yPVg88aAAlHN14HRzWAlWsfEmEyBY/s1600/centerweighted1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOkMvsuEiUVz3_ZjCV69hQJI-VCC2zTWOZVk3Jzkog2rsfFqRw7PwM28ZA-mX9e6jGcJ0u-aNRH83qM0USMiKCvMy_zZkyYrIDuWxqK0TX_v6C3yPVg88aAAlHN14HRzWAlWsfEmEyBY/s1600/centerweighted1.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSpwia42UTD7ZWYBnvD7caSA6kk1-RUe3AdwmADn6tFmDFCAdhP-Md46NB4lwSKDKaWIfWKYfRjEsO-gVfglzip_uOAY8nrnFpScQSgqNaMcVj5TA74xPz7YLZTaTjGCy11GBdO1EztU/s1600/centerweighted2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSpwia42UTD7ZWYBnvD7caSA6kk1-RUe3AdwmADn6tFmDFCAdhP-Md46NB4lwSKDKaWIfWKYfRjEsO-gVfglzip_uOAY8nrnFpScQSgqNaMcVj5TA74xPz7YLZTaTjGCy11GBdO1EztU/s1600/centerweighted2.jpg" /></a><br />
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Examples of off-center images using negative space. Eyes are drawn to the negative space, moving more continuously.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7vk4HQ5T7K6pTQTZsGUFB3Y6MJTaMKgTefAuYSeZr__9zKX6pnzzcouEJapZxUpWKoICYsOGWud3bv4XTNfkJLuPgDzHUF5t9MlNK539jeYFRGmqgXry45wsjMlxI0KyU_8cezEGpeWg/s1600/offcenter1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7vk4HQ5T7K6pTQTZsGUFB3Y6MJTaMKgTefAuYSeZr__9zKX6pnzzcouEJapZxUpWKoICYsOGWud3bv4XTNfkJLuPgDzHUF5t9MlNK539jeYFRGmqgXry45wsjMlxI0KyU_8cezEGpeWg/s1600/offcenter1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIC93egriyTJSqCrQHxTgNJi6bhGEFtz33kbEx2rSKQQxre_TqxsnvtcgnKnSCSMyG6M6lFrGWquONWyuldBhG6vVa1QlBVz753_Lr7kVtg0JBoUndnrPou6IC2QYSSHWi6AxZbFKfhHI/s1600/offcenter2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIC93egriyTJSqCrQHxTgNJi6bhGEFtz33kbEx2rSKQQxre_TqxsnvtcgnKnSCSMyG6M6lFrGWquONWyuldBhG6vVa1QlBVz753_Lr7kVtg0JBoUndnrPou6IC2QYSSHWi6AxZbFKfhHI/s1600/offcenter2.jpg" /></a><br />
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In summary, here are some bits of info to consider when choosing to add a photograph to your cover:<br />
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Subject Matter: <br />
<span class="yiv9868456196Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>* fewer objects, less distraction<br />
<span class="yiv9868456196Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>* people = release forms & more overhead<br />
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Example of a cover with fewer objects. Objects are boldly lit, advancing them while the darker, red background further pushes the sword forward while creating intensity and emotion in its wake.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Destined-Love-Immortal-Series-ebook/dp/B00830GEWW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376349520&sr=8-1&keywords=destined+love+is+immortal" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgFQi_VAYXxx4enVM0zSN68MYwtSciCOdY482_b6yZ6TRazPEdIdjCPnjwzdnBHrpsPHDvc2FhuHiZ9E9B-qYepkIQxtPNhdQAl6okE4ujmZEag0ty0wCBQgWGml0v8cJR4yqEBUXiBc/s1600/destinedlovebookcoverforblog.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Destined-Love-Immortal-Series-ebook/dp/B00830GEWW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376085222&sr=8-1&keywords=destined+love+is+immortal#_" target="_blank"></a><br />
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An example of a very busy cover. Multiple objects and backgrounds can add distraction, ultimately forcing the viewer to the title if properly placed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFp4E9nn_7aE4sV-vcacY3QDeNXwDi6jXas34tev7_U3_9jOX_6QyqnGvqmrOQsXwVnoKKccgRxDa_3vw7TwHVTqhPf6mTZ3eh8Qt4oKWPZuMZOMlMNWaghgOY2lGgbCnN98Jp0RIYjNU/s1600/busybookcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFp4E9nn_7aE4sV-vcacY3QDeNXwDi6jXas34tev7_U3_9jOX_6QyqnGvqmrOQsXwVnoKKccgRxDa_3vw7TwHVTqhPf6mTZ3eh8Qt4oKWPZuMZOMlMNWaghgOY2lGgbCnN98Jp0RIYjNU/s1600/busybookcover.jpg" /></a></div>
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Lighting: (see examples near the beginning of this post)<br />
<span class="yiv9868456196Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>*high contrast lighting is more bold, catching more attention than softly lit objects<br />
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Composition: (see examples near the beginning of this post)<br />
<span class="yiv9868456196Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>* center weighted photographs typically exude balance and neutrality<br />
<span class="yiv9868456196Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>* negative space created when objects are placed to the left/right of or above/below center can add visual stimulation and movement as well as space for text<br />
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Line:<br />
<span class="yiv9868456196Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>*using [leading] lines within either the object itself or within the background can direct viewers to areas of interest within the cover<br />
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Example of leading lines in cover photographs:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVnB-FGP7IBErRHNzGDG5rGGlG87jspJ3d3JTRB0Oe_46vBJLYFj9S0DMcIaDOmx-U5OJjeVrbYxttK0M8bSva8oMWONehcjjxJB27w4hBIriG7URW7e86mNcS8rNidUnIQGWUvJPzQY/s1600/leadinglines1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVnB-FGP7IBErRHNzGDG5rGGlG87jspJ3d3JTRB0Oe_46vBJLYFj9S0DMcIaDOmx-U5OJjeVrbYxttK0M8bSva8oMWONehcjjxJB27w4hBIriG7URW7e86mNcS8rNidUnIQGWUvJPzQY/s1600/leadinglines1.jpg" /></a></div>
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4z2hfZnUz7NYEp3cHLR3KM_TuIwHfOvNkBK4699btNMrNX9HlNlFSRtsAxKD174-vzkmctLEFijv9CHk9-vxqABZHYk2HxOoObseeDuDcvqCnQYNTluj-ZQq9BxWBKPaMDbjVh37aEAs/s1600/leadinglines2.jpg" /><br />
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1376083106164_4406">Background:</span></div>
<span class="yiv9868456196Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>* solid backgrounds create separation ultimately pushing the object photographed forward and closer to the viewer<br />
<span class="yiv9868456196Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>* textured / patterned backgrounds add distraction as well as a sense of place<br />
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Example of a nice, solid background. This is so simple, yet uses many leading elements. It pulls me in. Solid background, negative space and the direction of the model adds a nice leading line while the red color evokes intensity and emotion.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRKQ-UjDLNWH8bV-CilOP4ZY71EWHUJvgs-aKZzpA0mPMX3qbjfgkc8F_VzyHwKP3A_jGhjVt1VY6WIUokOtaXkRU71pkLp717RZMyjvpZ21kzqaQKksyvV_Gs4FEmphGpfpSI9wMEaI/s1600/solidbackground.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRKQ-UjDLNWH8bV-CilOP4ZY71EWHUJvgs-aKZzpA0mPMX3qbjfgkc8F_VzyHwKP3A_jGhjVt1VY6WIUokOtaXkRU71pkLp717RZMyjvpZ21kzqaQKksyvV_Gs4FEmphGpfpSI9wMEaI/s1600/solidbackground.png" /></a></div>
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Example of an object against a busy background. Distracting but does lead viewer towards the title if the object is used as more of a filler of space.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyuppt92-ni2ezBivDS1Ex2SHBE3rf1_a3yrjFnow6kw3FFWpQ83lry0BSvwWmba-61DhE78cUlwk1j2NXoaONiOxrGPXUOki2CsTdwUqfGYnmsfCfVPm0GbvEAWtB4LfwMIAMGHD1ck/s1600/busybackground.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyuppt92-ni2ezBivDS1Ex2SHBE3rf1_a3yrjFnow6kw3FFWpQ83lry0BSvwWmba-61DhE78cUlwk1j2NXoaONiOxrGPXUOki2CsTdwUqfGYnmsfCfVPm0GbvEAWtB4LfwMIAMGHD1ck/s1600/busybackground.png" /></a></div>
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Color: <br />
<span class="yiv9868456196Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>*brighter colors equate with more energy (e.g. red heightens emotion, adding mental energy or subtracting it depending upon how you look at it)<br />
<span class="yiv9868456196Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>*darker shades are typically more relaxing and recede into the background<br />
<span class="yiv9868456196Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>*complementary colors provide the eyes visual harmony (e.g. red/ blue / yellow or green / purple / orange)<br />
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Example of use of complementary colors:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxicm0vR7L01qaDMiZmC3-FDh5e8WpprQKHT67dgpOUg_2Q-1vMLjJKA4vuQK_datLL631DR8rBHKhE3XvGPd05idXqwKR4BgcyqrmIsBbByvT8L7K1zPoTB__Etnvhb4XxF5zvCS7aMY/s1600/racheltaylor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-EiddV5CgwqCgTitpeKouiA6iC6aEtWI_YURPiN3F6CKFLxHqVi2eEg4Vx0kHMvTDV8S5DIm9U7NHvAlkZOOL6C3gr_Yy6D6yFIm5f4Uq3fYfQSykKGvW1x7X1-BqPkhu96Epi4U9TM/s1600/complementarycolors.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-EiddV5CgwqCgTitpeKouiA6iC6aEtWI_YURPiN3F6CKFLxHqVi2eEg4Vx0kHMvTDV8S5DIm9U7NHvAlkZOOL6C3gr_Yy6D6yFIm5f4Uq3fYfQSykKGvW1x7X1-BqPkhu96Epi4U9TM/s1600/complementarycolors.png" /></a></div>
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Example of darker, more subdued tones.<br />
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Note from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christina-Williams/e/B0083UT77G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1" target="_blank">Christina Williams</a>: <br />
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Book covers shown are examples of the concepts Ms. Taylor is explaining, not examples of her work, which is equally impressive.</div>
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Thanks so much Rachel for your expert insight into book cover design and for taking time to write this article. It's greatly appreciated.<br />
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