Creative Minds #11: SIOBHAN ANTONIOLI

Posted on February 1, 2016 by Nina Mansfield

This month I am thrilled to interview one of my closest friends and one of the most creative people I know, Siobhan Antonioli. I met Siobhan when I was teaching Theater and English at Bronx Theater High School. I had the  privileged of directing several plays during my two years there, and Siobhan supervised the amazing costume program. We collaborated on some really spectacular productions. Siobhan and I, along with a fellow teaching colleague, formed a little writing group that met for a couple of years. Over the years, she has been a real creative inspiration to me.

Siobhan Antonioli is a New York based writer, filmmaker and painter. She earned her MFA in playwriting at Brooklyn College under the tutelage of Mac Wellman and Erin Courtney. Siobhan has had artistic residences at the Brighton Film School, Can Serrat Spain and LaMaMA Spoleto. She has worked in print design, stop motion, 8mm, 16mm and has directed site specific theatre pieces. She is a member of Film Fatales and the Beehive Playwright Collective.

Siobhan, thank you so much for joining me this month on Not Even Joking. You are one of the most creative people I know. I know you as a costume designer, playwright, film maker, visual artist… etc. How do you define yourself as an artist?

Writer, film auteur and painter. I am inspired by artists such as Fellini, Tim Burton and Julie Taymor who have defined this trifecta. I wrote my first collection of short stories and poems when I was fourteen and developed, performed a monologue “Have you seen my hamster?” for my elementary school. I was “in the zone” expressing my creativity without fear.  I shifted to behind the scenes work in high school and college working as a designer. That took me to exciting places like Williamstown where I saw how a theatre flipped turnovers and how the profession worked (blessed to work with the next generation of Broadway designers). I was good at finding historical props and making folk art sheep for Gwenth Paltrow. My attraction to set design carried me back to story making. A Sarah Lawrence Playwriting Intensive lit the match to my writing passion and I fell down the rabbit hole for good. For the fifteen years I have been writing plays with elements of magical realism. Luckily, I took a Pataphysics workshop with Mac Wellman and he nurtured some of my “wild” work. Sometimes words didn’t serve the emotions I wanted to communicate to an audience and I found myself painting when I wasn’t writing. My mother showed me the work of fashion designer Ruben Toledo and she said, “Look, you can draw in your own style just like this.” Visual art reflects a universal dimension that words can’t reach. I feel “complete” when I paint. It lives on a wall.  

Character paintings at Can Serrat.

This is when it gets interesting!  I was at LaMaMa Spoleto director’s symposium and John  Jesurun taught us how to use video with live performances. POW! Suddenly I could see a story frame by frame and had the best time filming it. That planted a seed, alright. After checking out the New York playwright-read a play-workshop a play-submit a play scene I got a little bit ants in the pants and wished I could see my plays on a regular basis, similar to viewing my own art. I kept waiting for a fairy godmother to land and make my pages come to life on stage. Who has time for that? I directed (I was afraid at first) a scene “Insect Ballet” starring Eliza Bent, Paul Ketchum and Alaina Ferris at Dixon Place. A man turns to an insect on stage. Something didn’t feel right when I was walking around Brooklyn with giant insect wings. Maybe I should animate characters instead of torturing actors this way. So I studied film making at Brighton Film School and animation at SVA and have been in love with it ever since. When I was at Brighton, the film class was divided into smaller groups and did “selected” projects. I rebelled, combined the crews and actors and filmed a vampire spoof with a cast from Romania, Russia, Paris and Switzerland. Totally into the international scene. I love to get out the United States and work with people who have never been to New York. It’s refreshing. Now I write mostly screenplays and shoot my own projects. 

Site Specific Theatre Piece, Can Serrat

Wow! That all sounds so incredible. A couple of years ago you came to my house for Halloween dressed in the most amazing costume. Since them, Swampira has been developed. What can you tell me about Swampira?

Swampira was inspired by Vampira, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Catwoman and an illustration I drew in grad school. 

Swampira. Woodcut on rice paper.

I have always loved monster movies and gothic horror novels. I watch Tim Burton’s “Ed Wood” on a regular basis(and 8 1/2). The cinematography in Burton’s films is outstanding and Ed Wood was a B director who would not let go of his dreams. I was interested in the Ed Wood character of Vampira and read a wonderful biography of her by Scott Poole. She was only on the air for a year but her persona has outlived her. Vampira lured her viewers in a witty way. Where are the strong sci-fi female character/comic book characters that are of a different world ? The ones I have read feel underdeveloped.  We need more Catwoman!

I was researching the Creature of the Black Lagoon and discovered that the female costume designer of Gillman was shoved out of the limelight and not given proper credit for her contribution to the character. Likewise, I wondered about the absent female creature of the Black Lagoon. How she would feel about her mate running after a blond woman ?

I drew a host of characters when I was at Brooklyn College and one of them is now the template for Swampira. She is a female swamp “element” who appears as a woman after a hiker falls into a polluted swamp. The journey into civilization addresses her need to be reunited with her male counterpart and take revenge on a polluted corporate America.

The original treatment of Swampira is about an actor’s journey in the creation and production of Swampira, the film, a la Ed Wood. I am also developing it as a tv host and comic book character/screenplay. How did I make the leap to put on the costume instead of hiding behind a camera? My desire to film a character was stronger than my fear to be the character. I wanted to go on the actor’s journey and failure would be part of the storyline. I felt that I had no business directing film unless I experienced life in front of the camera. 

I filmed a Christmas special and New Year’s Eve special hosting as Swampira. The Christmas special featured LLOP “The Wolf”. I shot it in Spain this past summer at Can Serrat. I was working on a novel, painting and starting post on my feature outside of Barcelona in the Montserrat region. The landscape is breath taking and I filmed wolf skulls that come to life and plague a town. I realize that my films have a Tales from the Crypt, Twilight Zone feeling and that Swampira is an appropriate platform host. Hence, I become my own curator and commission myself to do regular work. Sounds odd but feels empowering. 

Swampira has three different costumes, a host of skeleton friends and her own logo I designed. I transformed my living room into a studio and recorded myself. Very “Wayne’s World” but it is better to DIY and have a product then to be talking about a project that never happens. 

I have shared the concept with fellow female playwrights at the Bee Collective and film makers at Film Fatales. Everyone is excited for Swampira and that is encouraging.  

I can’t wait to see more of Swampira! You can watch the SWAMPIRA CHRISTMAS SPECIAL BY CLICKING HERE.

You’ve also made some very interesting short films. What are you working on right now?

I hope to shoot “Dino Love,” a dinosaur love story for Valentine’s Day. I have set up the dinosaurs and their rocks. 

I am in post production for my feature “Antomia.”It is inspired by the art/performance art of Montserrat Vargas. We met three years ago when she was developing “La Morida,” a piece that addresses the violent and sensual nature of the mouth and its significance in a life-altering event. I filmed Montserrat for ten months on weekends and vacations. The film uses live action footage and After Effects animation. Antomia takes the viewer through the fantasy life and fears of the protagonist so I had to wrangle the plot in order to show reality, memory and subconscious. I might be in crazy “Eraserhead” land with this one. I stayed away from heavy dialogue because the visuals take the lead and I want make a film for humans,not nationalities. Side note, Montserrat sings in Spanish and it is wonderful so that may be the only dialogue part.  

Montseratt Vargas acting as the Queen in the Antonioli's film ANATOMIA.

What else gets you up in the morning?

My cat. I think she needs to be in one of my projects as the oracle with my Dad’s voice. Besides Marmalta, I get up when I have something new to learn such as a new class in tv writing, animation or fashion branding. Working with others puts a project into high gear even if it is one or two people.  Most of all, the promise of the next step on a project gets me up in the morning. That could be a painting, a novel chapter, a film shoot or an edit. 

What are you passionate about? And how does this influence your creative life? (or does it?)

I am passionate about being in the moment, whether that is finding the real heart of a scene I am writing, discovering the best camera movement or being a good friend. That covers everything, right ? Observe to create. That helps to create forward. I am passionate about many topics such as monsters, outsiders and secret histories. Those are tools to think about the unthinkable.

You are also a teacher. What advice would you give to a young person who is considering a career in the arts?

I am passionate about this topic. I read biographies/autobiographies of artists looking for a map or path. This is what I have come up with.

 1. Create your own Golden Ticket: In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory a golden ticket is hiding in the candy bars. Could a grant, residency, paycheck or contract feel like a golden ticket ? Perhaps. The best golden ticket is the one who create yourself, the personal goals you have met or standards you are reaching for. This also means events and platforms of your own creation. Some artists “made it” because they literally “made it”- made the work before there was a frame, stage or organization for it.

2. Listen to the Little Voice: “I should really go to….”, “What if I…”, “I think I am more of a ..” I totally go for gut feelings and listening to your inner voice. This lead me to make costumes in India, film a vampire film in England, paint in Spain and chase after childhood dreams. Your dreams will chase you, listen to them. 

 3. Build your own education: After college, build your own education. There are so many resources and ways to cross-bred disciplines.

 4. Find the Freak Show: Everything changes when you find others like you. It doesn’t take away the hard work but it helps the path. 

5. Fill the Tank: Go to a museum,a concert,Barneys or a toystore. It is easy to run on empty and a good book,change of scene can fill your creative tank.

6. Don’t Be Bullied: Don’t let people bully you out of your dreams. Listen for helpful feedback but don’t be bullied.

7. Show Up

8. Do the Work no matter where you “work”

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I hope every creative person out there reads this advice. I know that I needed to read it today. I really look forward to all of your creative projects.

You can connect with Siobhan at on her website http://www.siobhanantonioli.com/  and on Swampira’s YouTube Channel.

 

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Can I Write About THAT???

Posted on January 27, 2016 by Nina Mansfield

One fear that writers often have is that their writing will offend someone or hurt someone’s feelings: A family member, a friend, a lover. Perhaps we are afraid of writing something too personal. This might be especially true of memoir, but it is an issue with fiction writers as well. Or maybe it’s the evening news where we find our inspiration, and we worry about the legal implications. Often our stories borrow little bits and pieces from real life. Sure we soak them, strain them, and boil them up until they are hardly recognizable, but what if someone recognizes those tidbits?

I had the “can I write that?” fear with one line from SWIMMING ALONE. Oh, there are plenty of scenarios in the YA novel that were inspired by my life, silly teenage stuff mostly. But if you’ve read the book, there’s this one line about a thong. (You can find that line in the first chapter, which, btw, you can read here.) I wondered if that line would anger the friend whose divorce had inspired it.

A couple of years ago, I had a reading of six of my ten-minute plays. Usually, I watch just one of my short plays alongside plays written by other people. But seeing them all together, I felt naked. I’m NOT EVEN JOKING! My short plays tend to be wild, wacky comedies…but it felt like someone was reading my diary up on stage. It occurred to me that maybe I shouldn’t have delved into my own psyche quite so much. And yet, these were my most successful short plays, so clearly divulging my deepest darkest secrets had paid off.

Here I am at Ticket's Muse, 6 Short Plays by me, produced by Ticket 2 Eternity Productions in 2012,

After seeing KING CHARLES III on Broadway, I sort of feel like anything is fair game*. I saw it earlier this month, and loved it. Great dialogue and great acting. Parts were actually written in iambic pentameter. So funny, and so moving. And the type of play that really makes you think. In this case, I left the theater wondering about the place in the modern world for a royal family and what it means to have power, among other things.

And talk about being inspired by real people and real events! Subtitled “A Future History Play,” KING CHARLES III imagines what life would be like for the British royal family after Queen Elizabeth II’s death.  Camilla, Kate, William and Harry all make an appearance. And, needless to say, it’s not all flattering.

Me and hubby, taking our obligatory selfie, before seeing KING CHARLES III on Broadway.

OK, I do suppose this is a little different than my short plays or my thong scenario. Satirizing the lives of such public figures can hardly be compared to satirizing one’s own relationships or borrowing a tawdry detail from my friend’s messy divorce for my novel.

But I do wonder if playwright Mike Bartlett** ever asked himself, “Can I write about that?” Well, I’m glad he did.

 

*Some things actually aren’t fair game. Be sure you are clear on what constitutes defamation, slander, libel, etc.

**Bartlett also wrote COCK, which I saw off-Broadway in 2012, and also loved. Stay tuned for a future blog post: Can I title it THAT?

 

 

 

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Thoughts on justice inspired by MAKING A MURDERER and SERIAL

Posted on January 24, 2016 by Nina Mansfield

A few years ago I was called for jury duty. Normally, I would have been thrilled. I would love to sit on a jury. I’m NOT EVEN JOKING. I believe, in most cases, I could be impartial. I could objectively look at evidence to decide a verdict. I understand the concept of “innocent until proven guilty” and “reasonable doubt.” And as a mystery writer, I find the whole idea of being on a jury intriguing, even if most actual court cases aren’t nearly as interesting as the novels we read.

Alas, I was happy not to be selected that one time. Ironically, I was currently the faculty supervisor for a student directed high school production of TWELVE ANGRY MEN (actually, TWELVE ANGRY JURORS, since more than half the cast was female). I needed to be there for my students.

A little plug for TWELVE ANGRY MEN. I’m speaking of the Reginald Rose play, but the original 1957 film is pretty awesome too. I haven’t seen the more recent version of the film. In any case, it should be required reading for any student going to public school in the United States. It demonstrates very clearly and dramatically how personal bias might color our presumption of innocence.

I wonder if any of the jurors in the MAKING A MURDERER or SERIAL (Season One) cases read the play, or at least saw the movie.

Because I’ll be honest: After watching the Netflix documentary and listening to the podcast, I don’t think there was enough evidence in either case to convict. Of course, I have not read the trial transcripts. I wasn’t there, and I don’t know. After the one episode of SERIAL in which the jurors were interviewed, I totally understood why they found Syed guilty. There didn’t seem to belittle doubt, at least for them.

But this isn’t about Steven Avery or Adnan Syed. I do have my theories about both cases, but I am not going to share those right now.

It’s no secret that most people would do anything to get out of jury duty. OK, if you really are a racist, or hate all law enforcement officers, or you’re just a self-employed gal or guy whose business will crumble if you are away from it for too long, I get it.

But for the rest of us, don’t you want to make sure that justice is done?

Because anyone, and I do mean anyone, could be accused of a crime. Wouldn’t you want to make sure that justice is done for you or your loved one?

When there is an absence of physical evidence, including but not limited to DNA, in this day of sophisticated evidence collection techniques, that speaks volumes to me. Especially if the prosecution’s theories involve buckets of blood being spilled. Because it’s actually really hard to get rid of blood.

My second quibble isn’t with our national reluctance to be a member of a jury; it is with our legal system. Is it really true that the prosecution is looking to convict rather than to find the truth? Please someone tell me that this is not the case! If cell phone records don’t match, or the key witness’s testimony has some big holes, I feel like the prosecution should have a problem with that, especially if someone might spend the rest of his or her life in jail.

I know people who have been accused, and in some cases convicted of major crimes, while maintaining their innocence. I know people who served hard time for crimes that they did commit, but are now working hard to get back on their feet. I know people who have been set up by friends, but had really good lawyers and got off.

I don’t think I know any murderers.

I know some people who have been treated fairly by the system, and others who were not. I know a lawyer who fought pro bono in her spare time to get a man out of jail, and one former prosecutor who told me, “Everyone is guilty of something. Even the witnesses.”

There seems to be something broken. I am not even touching on the racial and economic disparities that abound. There seems to be something broken, and I think we need to figure out how to fix it.

 

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BOOK BITES: Ocean City Cover-Up

Posted on January 20, 2016 by Nina Mansfield

I had the pleasure of meeting author Kim Kash at Deadly Ink 2015. At one panel, I enjoyed hearing her discuss how she conducts hands-on research for her Jamie August mystery series, set in Ocean City, Maryland. Today, Kash shares a little bit about OCEAN CITY COVER-UP (Capri House, June 2015) and also a recipe for crab cakes!

Who is your main character? Tell me about her.

Reporter Jamie August covers arts and entertainment for a free weekly paper, but she has a nose for crime stories and a talent for unearthing more than her editor wants. Firefighters, Bon Jovi, sparkly undies, and Kohr Brothers frozen yogurt on the Ocean City boardwalk are a few of Jamie’s favorite things.

What would Jamie choose for her last meal?

Easy: A slice of pepperoni from Piezano’s, a large tub of Thrasher’s Fries, some Dolle’s salt water taffy, and a giant waffle cone from Kohr Brothers—all from the boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland. (If it’s her last meal she’s not going to be worrying about calories, is she?)

How about you? What would you choose for your last meal?

If I ate like Jamie I’d be big as a house, and have constant indigestion. However, I do love local Maryland foods. I’d probably want a grilled crabcake, a big salad full of fresh tomatoes, and slices of ripe cantaloupe for dessert. My last meal would have to be in August, in Maryland.

Why should someone bite into OCEAN CITY COVER-UP?

Reviewers keep comparing this book and its predecessor to Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series, which is a-okay with me! Coastal Maryland locals may have recently caught the world premiere of my very first dinner theater script, called DEATH OF A DIVA. A local dinner theater group called Murder For Hire produced the play in the Ocean City area over the holiday season. OCEAN CITY COVER-UPdeals with a very different sort of a diva. Our hometown heroine, Jamie August, befriends a spoiled heiress who is being pursued by Russian mobsters—and a chart-topping rap star. Meanwhile, a raging crime spree is keeping Jamie busy—and so is a hot new boyfriend and a strict jogging and frozen custard fitness plan.

Do you have a recipe you’d like to share?

Southern Living includes a recipe on their web site for crab cakes from the inimitable, epically wonderful Faidley’s in Baltimore’s Lexington market:

http://www.southernliving.com/food/kitchen-assistant/crab-cakes-recipes

Gourmet enthuses, “The single greatest thing that must be eaten at the market – the most delicious dish in all of Baltimore, maybe the most beautiful hunk of seafood anywhere on the East Coast between Maine and Charleston Harbor – is a Faidley’s crab cake.” I can’t imagine you’ll be able to recreate their masterpiece at home, but it would be fun to try!

Thank you so much! I love crab cakes! And I think we discussed my Maryland connection at Deadly Ink…my dad lives in Maryland, so it is really about time I read a mystery set there. This series is sooooo on my To Read list! And I hope to see you at another mystery conference very soon.

You can connect with Kim Kash on her Website. And you can find Ocean City Cover up on Amazon, or ask for it at your favorite indie bookstore!

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How Audio Books Saved My Life

Posted on January 15, 2016 by Nina Mansfield

Fifteen days into 2016, I thought I would check in about how I am doing with my resolutions. Because, let’s face it: usually, by this point I’ve dropped the ball and reverted back to all of my old habits. But so far, that has not been the case.

For one thing, I’ve actually figured out a way to accomplish two biggies on my 2016 To Do List: READ MORE AND EXERCISE.

The answer: audio books.

I’ll be honest, I have always preferred to read a book rather than listen to it. I used to occasionally pop in an audio book during my commute, but these days, I no longer have a commute. Whenever I’m in the car, I’m generally forced to listen to something that my toddler will enjoy. However, recently I won an Audible audio book of DEATH AND WHITE DIAMONDS by Jeff Markowitz. I had heard Markowitz read from this book some time ago at a Mystery Writers of America, New York Chapter event at KGB Bar in NYC, and I was really, really interested in taking a listen. And that’s when I realized that audio books just might be the answer to one of my dilemmas: How can I possible read more in 2016 AND spend more time at the gym?

I took DEATH AND WHITE DIAMONDS (well, actually, just my i-phone with the Audible App) along with me to the gym. And boy oh boy did I have an interesting workout. I don’t want to spoil anything, but this book is darkly delicious, and terribly funny. I managed thirty minutes on the bike, and put another thirty in on the elliptical. If you saw my play GYMNOS: A GEEK’S TRAGEDY a few years ago, you might have suspected that I am not unlike the hero in the play who is mildly terrified of the gym, so this was quite a feat!

I know it might look like actor Brett Thomas Miro, but that geeky, out of shape playwright being accosted by beautiful, well toned bodies is actually me.

OK, so no, audio books haven’t actually saved my life. But maybe, just maybe, this discovery is helping me prevent the onset of heart disease. And it’s certainly going to help me get rid of that baby weight that lingers nineteen months into new motherhood.

DEATH AND WHITE DIAMONDS is also helping me accomplish some other tasks that in the past have been less than entertaining. I seriously just scrubbed down my bathroom and enjoyed every minute of it!

I have to say, I am super excited about this discovery (or rediscovery). The thing is, there are so many books I want to read, and only so many hours in the day. I have about four “free” hours each day, and I’m not even joking. During those four hours, I have to clean, exercise, read, shower, and, oh yeah, actually work on my writing. Multi-tasking is a must.

Audio books make this possible.

Now as for my other resolutions…More on those in a future blog post 😉

In the mean time, if you have a favorite audio book, please post it in the comments. I’ll be looking for something new to listen to very soon!

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No Father? No Problem: One Boy’s Success Story

Posted on January 13, 2016 by Nina Mansfield

I first “met” BJ Bourg on the Short Mystery Fiction Society listserve when he helped me to answer a question I had while writing my latest short mystery story. He went above and beyond, and actually provided me with a video demonstration that helped me make sure that I was “Righting” my crime fiction. (You should check out his blog, “Righting Crime Fiction.” It is a great resource for crime writers.) Since then, I have had the pleasure of being “interrogated” by him. I am excited to have him as a guest blogger today. He shares an amazing story about his success. Seriously, it blew me away. What an inspiration! And what a testament to the power of the written word. Thank you so much for sharing this story with my readers.

NO FATHER? NO PROBLEM: ONE BOY’S SUCCESS STORY

by BJ Bourg

Hey, Nina, thank you very much for inviting me to write a guest post for your blog. It’s indeed a pleasure to be here and I appreciate the offer.

I was three or four when my mom left my biological father. My memories of those early years were surprisingly vivid. I remember my father arguing with my mom and hitting her on a regular basis. I remember throwing marbles and green army men at his back in a feeble attempt to intervene. I remember when he caught me urinating in the neighbor’s garden and slapped me full-force across the face, nearly knocking me off my little feet and leaving my left ear ringing like a gun had exploded near my head.

Although we were still very poor, things improved when my mom left him. She got a job as a secretary at the elementary school I attended and we lived in a trailer on my grandparents’ property. Food was scarce, new clothes even scarcer, and luxuries such as toys, treats and sodas almost nonexistent.

My mom joined this church that attempted to control every aspect of our lives. We couldn’t go to doctors, or associate with people of other religions, or watch television, etc. When I was in second grade, the preacher started his own school and we all had to enroll. My mom left her job and began working as a monitor for the church’s school, which believed in corporal punishment. When we’d do something wrong, the principal would make us bend over and grab our ankles while he hit us with a large wooden paddle. I often let go of my ankles and grabbed the floor to keep from falling over—that’s how hard he hit us.

My mom made me stay with the principal several times while she attended religious retreats. On one occasion, he made me wash his van and then beat me because I left streaks. Well, the first three strikes were for leaving the streaks—the next nine strikes were because I refused to cry. And there was the time he and another member of the church tied me up and dunked my head in his toilet repeatedly, because I didn’t use the “correct” language when asking for rolls at dinner, and then I doggedly refused to apologize.

The abuse at the hand of this principal lasted two years. I had just finished fourth grade when the preacher shut down the school and told the parents they had to teach their children at home. My mom got a job as the church’s secretary—the pay was meager—and this allowed her to work from home while “teaching” us.

When I was around twelve, I convinced my mom to let me go to work on a full-time basis, promising to do schoolwork at night. I worked as a carpenter’s helper for a man from her church and it allowed me to help her pay bills and put food on the table. I didn’t do much schoolwork after that, but I did start reading…a lot. I eventually discovered an author who would change the course of my life forever.

Thirty-one years later, I found myself happily divorced, the father of two amazing children, and in a new relationship with Amanda, a single mom and a psychologist. As Amanda and I got to know each other, we exchanged stories about our lives. She looked at me one day and said, “I’m surprised you’re not messed up.” I laughed it off, but she went on to explain how lots of children would have been scarred from some of my experiences. She said she was surprised I’d been so successful, considering the scant opportunities I’d been afforded and the seemingly insurmountable obstacles I’d faced.

I’d never reflected poorly on my childhood. It hadn’t mattered that the principal beat me, or that we were poor, or that I didn’t have a dad. I’d rolled with those punches and remained a happy kid, growing stronger with each challenge I faced. However, Amanda’s words prompted me to consider my past. Statistically speaking, I’d been destined to fail. My brother, who grew up right beside me, was scarred by our past and had turned to alcohol and drugs to cope, essentially ruining his life. So, then, how was it that I was able to work my way from police cadet to chief investigator? Or develop and command a successful police sniper team? Or become a traditionally published novelist? Or achieve my dream of being a professional boxer? Or publish my own magazine?

As I pondered this, I suddenly realized all of my successes could be directly attributed to one activity: READING. Every time I’d wanted to learn a skill or embark upon a new endeavor, I turned to books to be my guide along the path of knowledge. While I owe a debt of gratitude to the authors of the many instructional books I’ve studied over the years, the one author who has influenced me the most is Louis L’Amour.

I tell everyone who’ll listen that Louis L’Amour raised me. During those impressionable years of my youth, I learned more about real life from his fiction than from anywhere else. I learned how to treat a woman with respect, to persevere even in the bleakest of circumstances, and to be courageous in the face of grave danger. I learned to be loyal to my family and friends, and to “ride for the brand”. I even learned to stand on my own and achieve my goals through hard work and dedication, and to never give up on my dreams.

Later, as a father, I would always encourage my children, Brandon and Grace, to read…a lot. At worst, I knew they might discover an alternative means of entertainment. At best, I knew they might partake in an activity that would enrich their lives and change them for the better. (Thankfully, I’ve witnessed the latter.) One thing is certain; had I not started reading as a young boy, I would’ve been a statistic—the one that suggests fatherless, uneducated boys who come from poor households almost never succeed in life.

BJ Bourg is the chief investigator for a Louisiana district attorney’s office and the author of four mystery novels. Through the course of his law enforcement career, he’s worked as a patrol cop, detective sergeant, police academy instructor, SWAT operator, and sniper leader. In addition to his published novels, he’s written for Law and Order, Tactical Response, Boys’ Life and Writer’s Digest, and his short stories have appeared in dozens of venues, including Woman’s World and Over My Dead Body Magazine. Above all else, he’s a father and husband, and the highlight of his life is spending time with his beautiful wife and wonderful children. For more, please visit his website at www.bjbourg.com.

BUT NOT FORGOTTEN by BJ BOURG

Clint Wolf’s life has been dealt a heavy blow, thanks to the anti-cop sentiment and policies of Governor Lester Katz. Alone and utterly lost, Clint trades his detective shield for a framing hammer and puts homicide investigations as far in his rearview mirror as he can—that is, until he’s asked to serve as police chief for a quiet little town deep in the swamps of southeast Louisiana.

While the job seems uneventful, the tranquility of the sleepy town is shattered when the severed arm of a missing businessman is found in the jowls of an alligator. Drawing upon his experience and training, Clint sets out to investigate the case with the assistance of Sergeant Susan Wilson, a no-nonsense cop who moonlights as a cage fighter. When they finally locate the body of the businessman, they discover he’s been murdered—shot pointblank in the forehead—and things begin to get uglier from there.

As the investigation ensues, Clint battles secret demons from his past while trying to get to know a local reporter named Chloe on a personal level. Chloe proves to be an asset to the case when she shares information from a confidential informant who says the murder was part of a larger plot.

Will Clint and Susan unveil and foil the larger plot before it’s too late, or will the citizens of Louisiana awaken to a horror worse than any in their state’s history?

 

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BOOK BITES: Edisto Jinx

Posted on January 6, 2016 by Nina Mansfield

Back in November, I was delighted when C. Hope Clark joined me here on Not Even Joking to share about her experience at Killer Nashville. I am excited to welcome her back to share about her mystery novel EDISTO JINK (Bell Bridge Books, Oct. 2015). If you know me, you know I love beach settings. Add a possible serial killer to the mix…well, that’s right up my alley!

Who is your main character? Tell me about her.

Callie Jean Morgan, a former Boston detective, is a woman accustomed to a faster pace and stringent law enforcement, but after losing her husband in a vengeful murder by one of her criminal targets, she resigns and relocates to Edisto Beach, her childhood vacation home, to regroup and recover. Though she strives to leave law enforcement behind her, she finds that her keen, trained eye catches more criminal activity that the folks of Edisto knew existed. As she fights to fit in on Edisto Beach, she likewise fights to solve cases while still healing from a painful, scarring past . . . a flawed yet skilled criminal investigator transplanted from urban to a laid-back tourist town . . . who occasionally hits the bottle.

What would Callie Jean Moran choose for her last meal?

Shrimp and grits, a South Carolina Lowcountry must . . . Callie grew up a coastal girl and has come home to the people, the water, and most definitely the seafood, and while any shrimp meal would be fine, shrimp and grits properly fixed is remarkable in cool or hot weather, even breakfast.

How about you? What would you choose for your last meal?

Fried chicken livers, homemade mashed potatoes, and something green for balance because it’s comfort food, a treat I remember as a kid, having grown up with farming grandparents and a mother who learned to cook fresh off the farm, but to be decadent and different, crème brulee for dessert!

Why should someone bite into EDISTO JINX?

A woman drops dead at a beach party, and in listening to the natives, Callie recognizes the signs of a serial killer, signs the locals brush off as accidents, laughingly a jinx. EDISTO JINX takes a flawed detective in a sleepy beach town and prods her to save not only the beach, but herself, digging deep to use the skills she once excelled at as a big city detective. The beach setting defines this story, inserting the waves, salt, wildlife, food, and laissez-faire attitude of beach combers, but it also teases the reader with a taste of ghosts and spirits, some dating back to the Civil War, pitting the believers against the non-believers, with a killer taking advantage. The Edisto books are featured in tourist guides in all the SC tourist centers and in most of the rentals on Edisto Island, SC, a very popular local read.

Do you have a recipe you’d like to share?

I’d like to share Callie’s last meal preference, Shrimp and Grits. Every dignified South Carolina eatery has shrimp and grits on the menu, each with a spin or twist of its own, some almost too rich to finish. This recipe is one I learned on Edisto Island, which I’ve adjusted a bit for my own taste so that you never fail to lick the bowl clean.

Callie's Shrimp and Grits. Photo courtesy of C. Hope Clark.

CALLIE’S SHRIMP AND GRITS

Serves four.

FOR SHRIMP ROUX:

1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and whole

3-4 tablespoons lemon juice

Salt (by taste)

Black pepper (by taste and optional)

Cayenne pepper (by taste)

6 tablespoons bacon drippings (or half bacon droppings / half olive oil)

½ cup diced onion

½ cup diced pepper, sweet banana or bell

4 tablespoons flour

2 cups chicken broth or chicken bouillon

Crumbled bacon

FOR GRITS:

2/3 cup grits (regular, not quick 5-minute grits)

2 cups water

½ cup cream (preferably the heavy stuff)

No salt

Peel the shrimp, careful with removing all shell and legs, and place in bowl. Drizzle with lemon juice. Salt, pepper and cayenne to taste. (NOTE: the saltiness in the shrimp and roux is the reason you avoid the salt normally cooked into grits.) Let set so flavors mingle.

In a skillet, cook enough bacon to make 6 tablespoons of drippings, 6-10 slices depending on the fattiness of the bacon. Remove bacon. Sauté onion and banana/bell pepper in the grease, medium heat, until translucent. No more than 10 minutes.

Gradually sprinkle flour over vegetables, stirring in one tablespoon at a time to avoid lumpiness. Stir constantly. Stir all for 2-3 minutes until browned.

Add shrimp, liquid and all, to skillet. Add 1 ½ cup broth gradually, stirring constantly, letting liquid mix well with the browned flour. You’ll see the soft brown gravy start to happen. The shrimp should turn opaque and pink after 2-3 minutes. Add remainder of broth, if needed, to thin the gravy and avoid lumping.

Either start grits halfway through this process, or complete roux and set aside to remain warm, but do not fix grits in advance of the roux. You want the grits to be fresh, hot and creamy. Bring water to a boil then add grits. Lower to medium-high and cook for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally to avoid sticking. Once completed, add the cream and stir for another 2 minutes. Remove from burner.

Put grits in a bowl. Ladle roux in the center. Sprinkle with crumbled bacon.

To die for!

This really is a recipe to die for as I have a life-threatening shrimp allergy, which is unfortunate because I used to really enjoy shrimp. But even though I won’t be able to sample this recipe, I absolutely do plan to add EDISTO JINX to my “to read” list! Now that the winter has finally arrived, it would be nice to get transported to a beach setting!

You can find out more about C. Hope Clark and EDISTO JINX on her website www.chopeclark.com and on Amazon and Bell Books.

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Creative Minds Profile #10: JOEL HABERLI

Posted on January 1, 2016 by Nina Mansfield

Happy New Year! Today, I bring you Not Even Joking’s 10th Creative Minds Profile. Today’s creative mind appeared in my short plays MISSED EXIT and TEXT MISDIRECTED, and directed the original production of my 10-minute play for youth, ERASING THE BRAIN. I couldn’t get rid of him, so I decided to marry him…and I’m Not Even Joking!

Joel Haberli

Joel Haberli has been in “the business” for more than thirty-years. He is an actor and voice talent who can be heard, well, pretty much any time you turn on your television or radio. He also occasionally appears on stage and on film, and he recently shot roles for GOTHAM, PERSON OF INTEREST and A CRIME TO REMEMBER.

Joel, you recently appeared on GOTHAM and you have an upcoming appearance scheduled on PERSON OF INTEREST. Can you tell me a little bit about what it was like working on these shows?

I can’t say too much about PERSON OF INTEREST as it has yet to air, but I can say that it was an enjoyable, active shoot.  The director was Tim Matheson who played Otter in ANIMAL HOUSE and the Vice-President on THE WEST WING as well as a lot of other roles over the years. It’s kinda cool when someone well-known addresses you by your first name!  It should air this coming Spring or Summer.

GOTHAM was shot at Steiner Studios in Brooklyn and for me personally it was a bit nerve wracking.  Small roles don’t really allow for any rehearsal… you’re expected to know your lines and have an idea as to what the character is about when you’re called to places.  Series lead Ben McKenzie was already there and was totally focused on the scene so he didn’t even look at me!  As I say a bit nerve wracking.  But after the first couple of takes we started talking and turns out we had something in common… he went to UVA and I lived in Virginia for 20 years so that broke the ice.  A nice guy and a good experience.

Joel with Ben McKenzie on the set of GOTHAM.

You’ve appeared on screen, on stage and in many, many voice overs. Which projects from your past are you most proud of and why?

Funnily enough some of the projects I’m most proud of have never been seen!  I shot a short film back in 2009 called TRUNK about a down on his luck guy who gets paid $100.00 to lug a trunk across Manhattan for delivery to people unknown.  He has no idea what’s in the trunk but it’s implied it may be a body.  I got a rough cut from the director and thought it was brilliant but they never finished it.  In my opinion it would have done well on the festival circuit.  I also did a commercial for Jamaican Tourism a few years back that was funny as hell and very clever but the client never signed off on it.  It’s disheartening when this stuff happens because you think it may be your big break!

Conversely, I did a short film two years ago called WHAT’S EATING DAD? directed by Michael Goldburg (whom you’ve also interviewed) that has just killed on the festival circuit and is still going strong.  It’s the film that won’t die!  It’s gratifying to be part of a project that is well done, well liked, and successful.  You can see clips from all of these projects on my website:  joelhaberli.com.

Production still from WHAT'S EATING DAD? Photo by Peter Olsen. Joel Haberli and Barbara Miluski pictured.

You also wrote and performed in your own solo show a few years ago. What was that like and do you plan to do any more writing in the future? (Why or why not?)

It was a great experience.  My friend Jeannette Bonner took Matt Hoverman’s “Create Your Own Solo Show” class, and after seeing her show I decided to sign up.  I had never written anything long form before (my writing was limited to :30 and :60 radio commercials) but I did have an idea of what I wanted to write about so I started there.  Matt offers input and pretty much changes everything… for the better!  About a year later I was accepted into the Plus 1 Solo Show Festival and worked with my acting teacher Rob McCaskill to tighten up the through line and make it a little more solid.  I performed it twice and that’s the last time I did anything with it.  For some reason I enjoyed the writing part of the process better than the performing part!  But I don’t have any plans to continue writing at this point… in some respects I think I only had one good story in me!  But who knows… I could change my mind tomorrow.

What else gets you up in the morning? What are you passionate about? And how does this influence your creative life? (or does it?)

I’m pretty passionate about my 18 month old daughter!  My wife usually puts her to bed so I get her up in the morning so my wife can sleep an extra hour.  I change her diaper and feed her breakfast… I make coffee and we clean the cat box!  I really enjoy the bonding time we have, just the two of us.  Does it influence my creative life?  I don’t know.  I’ve had a lot of good things happen career wise in the last year and sometimes I think it’s because I became a father.

And, my standard drama teacher question: What advice would you give to a young performer who is considering a career in the biz?

Keep plugging away and approach it as a business.  Prospect.  Take classes.  Network.  Don’t be afraid to look foolish. Be a joy to work with.  Be on time!  I’ve been doing this a long time and in many respects feel like I’m just hitting my stride.  Stay focused, have fun, enjoy the ride.

Thank you so much! And thank you for letting me sleep that extra hour each morning 😉

You can connect with Joel on his website JoelHaberli.com, on IMDB and on Facebook.

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2015 Reflection…and Looking Ahead to a Creative 2016

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Nina Mansfield

Wow…another year ends! And what a year it has been.

2015 was a pretty major year for me creatively. Here are just a few of this year’s highlights:

  • JANUARY: My 10-minute play CLOWN THERAPY is translated into Spanish and performed in Peru.

The poster from the Peru 10-minute play festival in which CLOWN THERAPY was performed.

  • FEBRUARY: My 10-minute play THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF GREENING is performed in London.
  • MARCH: My full-length comedy LOSING OUR HEADS: THE GUILLOTINE PLAY is produced by Harlequin Productions in Auburn, NY.

Losing Our Heads: The Guillotine Play presented by Harlequin Productions at Cayuga County Community College, Auburn, NY. Feb. 2015. Dir. Robert Frame. Featuring: Donovan Stanfield, William Mosier & Ryan Baldwin.

ALONE IN THE GOLDFISH BOWL, produced as part of the Six Women Play Festival in Colorado Springs, CO, April 2015. Featuring Crystal Carter and Anna Faye Hunter. Directed by Marisa Hebert. Photo by Brian Kwan.

  • SEPTEMBER: I celebrate the launch of SWIMMING ALONE at the Byram Shubert Library in Greenwich, CT.

Byram Shubert Library September 2015.

Donna Andrews handed me my debut novel ribbon at Crime Bake. It was so wonderful to get honored with other debut novelists!

  • DECEMBER: My 10-minute play SCULPTING PERFECTION is performed on Spokane Public Radio.

Having my debut novel released was probably the one thing that consumed much of my time this year… aside from raising a very active toddler. From edits, to final proofs, to publicity appearances, it was much more exhausting than I could have  imagined. But the novel’s release inspired me to become much more involved with my writing community. I’ve also had the chance to write a number of guest blogs and participate in a number of online interviews, which has been quite fun.

Funny thing is, I always feel like I should be doing more. Maybe it’s just the world we live in, but it never seems like I am doing enough. So I’ll state my goals here, in this public forum, in order to motivate myself!  Here are some of my goals for 2016:

After that, I think I might take a little writing break. Oh, I won’t actually stop writing, and I do have an idea for my next novel swirling around in my head, but I have been putting way too much pressure on myself. I think I’ll need to recharge. At that point, I plan to:

  • Get my butt to at least one yoga class a week. (2 preferably.)
  • Read many, many more books. I can’t keep blaming my toddler for my limited reading time. I especially would like to find time to read some of the books that have been featured in the BOOK BITES segment on this blog. I also want to read many of the books by some of the authors I’ve met this past year, like the ones listed in THIS BLOG POST.
  • Cook some new and interesting meals. I want to actually cook some of the dishes that have been featured in BOOK BITES, but I don’t plan to stop there. I might even blog about my cooking…or I might not.
  • See more theater! I already have tickets to see New Victory’s HANDA’S SURPRISE and KING CHARLES III on Broadway. But I used to see a heck of a lot more theater, and I want to get back to doing that. Once upon a time I made a point of seeing shows that my friends were involved with, and I would really like to start doing that again.

And while I’m doing all this, I need to find time to potty train the little one 😉 More than anything, I want to have a fabulous, stress free and highly creative 2016. I want to have fun with my family, and stop to smell the roses. I want to support my fellow artists, and maybe spend a little less time worrying if I am selling books, and more time writing new material.

Happy New Year!

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BOOK BITES: Whisper of the Woods

Posted on December 30, 2015 by Nina Mansfield

I have a number of books on my “to-read” list for 2016. One book that I have been eager to read is D.G. Driver’s CRY OF THE SEA. It is a YA novel that has mermaids and deals with the environment. You probably know by this point that watery settings inspire much of my writing, so CRY OF THE SEA is waiting patiently for me on my kindle. I was excited to learn that book 2 in the Juniper Sawfeather series has recently come out. That’s right, another YA fantasy to add to my (and your) “to read” list: WHISPER OF THE WOODS (Fire & Ice YA, November 21, 2015). D.G. Driver joins me here today to share a little bit about the book, and a yummy trail mix recipe!

Who is your main character? Tell me about her.

Juniper Sawfeather is the 17-year-old daughter of environmental activists. She has been raised to be protective of the natural world and appreciative of her American Indian heritage. Her parents’ causes (and the mermaid scandal from book one: CRY OF THE SEA) have made her very unpopular at school, but she is smart, independent, and strong-willed in spite of the hatred that comes her way.

What would Juniper choose for her last meal?

I think Juniper would enjoy a good hamburger, followed by a shake and a large soda. Her parents are vegetarians, but she likes to sneak in her junk food when they don’t know about it.

How about you? What would you choose for your last meal?

A really great eggplant parmesan over pasta with shrimp scampi on the side. I think a tall glass of merlot as well. No one in my immediate family likes eggplant parmesan, so I hardly ever get to eat it. When it’s done right, it is my favorite Italian food, and Italian food is my favorite food. I think going out with a bunch of butter and garlic on my breath would be all right.

Why should someone bit into WHISPER OF THE WOODS?

WHISPER OF THE WOODS was just released a month ago. It is the sequel to CRY OF THE SEA. You could read it without reading the first book, but I don’t recommend it. I don’t spend much time reintroducing everyone. In each of the Juniper Sawfeather books, while helping her parents protest an environmental issue, she encounters a mythical creature. In this book, they are protesting the logging of Old Growth red cedar trees. These trees aren’t just ancient, though. One of them contains a mystical spirit that might be good – or might be evil.

Do you have a recipe you’d like to share?

In WHISPER OF THE WOODS, Juniper finds herself trapped 150 feet up in one of the tallest trees in North America without anything to eat. Her father manages to figure out how to get a bucket of supplies up to her, and they can raise and lower it throughout the time she’s stuck. Mostly what she gets to eat are granola bars and apples. So, here is a little granola recipe that you can serve up as a trail mix type of snack or heat for a morning breakfast.

Juniper’s Granola Trail Mix

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups rolled oats
  • 1 cup slivered almonds
  • ½ cup maple syrup
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • Dried apples
  • Chocolate chips (if you want, but I’m sure Juniper would)

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 250 degrees
  • Mix oats, nuts, syrup, sugar, oil and salt together in a bowl.
  • Spread out evenly on cookie sheet.
  • Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Check every 20 minutes to make sure it’s browning evenly.
  • Chop the dried apples into small pieces. When the granola is cool, mix the apples (and chocolate chips) evenly into it. Eat by the handful.
  • To serve as hot cereal, put in a bowl with ½ cup milk. Heat in the microwave for 1 ½ minutes. Stir and eat. Yum.

Thank you so much! I really enjoy hiking, so this trail mix would come in handy. Um… and it would come in handy for when I am not hiking too! And just for the record, I love eggplant parmesan (although sadly, I am allergic to shrimp). I  can’t wait to read WHISPER OF THE WOODS…although I do plan to take your recommendation and start with CRY OF THE SEA.

You can find out more about D.G. Driver on her website: www.dgdriver.com. You can also find WHISPER OF THE WOODS in both print and as an ebook on Amazon and Smashwords. You can also read the first chapter on the Fire & Ice YA website.

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