And I Thought Literary Magazine by andwethought

FOUNDER'S NOTE

EDITOR'S NOTE

Fall means shorter days, and cooler weather, but it is the beginning of writing season.

The best stories start with unlikely heroes ill- equipped to overcome the problems before them. The odds are stacked impossibly high against them, and only a thin sliver of hope for his success can be seen.

This Fall we will have an artful array of brightly colored articles. In addition to the normal articles about writing, we also present a little about music and acting inside these pages. We hope you enjoy.

Jade Dee and Wilnona Marie The And I Thought Ladies.

Quite often, heroes donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ask to be heroes. They are ordinary people who, through unexpected circumstances, find themselves on a journey to becoming extraordinary. That unexpected circumstance is the herald of the story. 2020 is our herald. You are the hero. This is your story. Creativity is your superpower, and your journey demands that you learn to use it effectively. You matter. What you do matters. Even when the world doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t appreciate it. May the words on these pages encourage you to move forward, keep going, and keep creating.

Brandy M. Miller, Mistress of Portals & 40 Day Writer http://www.andwethought.com

CONTRIBUTORS Tonya Todd, Author & Actress Tonya Todd is a Las Vegas author, actress, and screenwriter, who advocates for diversity and inclusion in the entertainment world. When not on stage or on screen, she serves as Education Chair for Henderson Writers Group, co-chair for The LGBTQ Writer Workshop, and a submissions reader for Black Mountain Institute’s literary publication, Witness. Find her on social media @MsTonyaTodd and follow her weekly intimacy blog, 52 Love.

Diane Glazman, Editor, Author, Artist Diane Glazman is a writer and editor. Her works have appeared in VICE LGBTQ, Calyx Journal, the NonBinary Review, Blood+Milk, and several other print and online publications. She holds an MFA in fiction from San Francisco State University and was a Student Artist-in-Residence at Recology, where she created a gallery show of visual and text-based artwork constructed from recycled and repurposed items brought to the dump’s public disposal area. She lives with her family in the San Francisco Bay Area and volunteers with the National Park Service’s Mounted Patrol in the Marin Headlands.

Wren Ivy, Artist

Jeanette DiLouie, Editor, Author,

The works of Instagram artist Wren Ivy can be found at:

With over a decade’s experience in creative editing, nine years in professional editing, three in collegiate editing, and additional time spent working with magazine copywriting and copyediting, Jeanette is more than confident at navigating the editorial world. With a B.A. in English from Messiah College and a history minor, she is also a self-motivated scholar in areas such as politics, religion, psychology, philosophy and certain scientific studies.

https://www.instagram.com/eink.studios/ She is this edition’s cover artist and was also selected for the June edition of the And I Thought Literary Magazine.

Brandy M. Miller, Author & Speaker Award-winning author and international speaker, Brandy M. Miller has over 10 published titles available in both fiction and non-fiction. In her persona as the Mistress of Portals, she combines her love of gaming and her love of writing into one channel. Catch the live stream every day from 10 am - 12 noon at:

Ariele Sieling, Author Author of over 20 books and vice president of the board of Yellow Arrow Publishing, Ariele facilitates a writers group for a retirement association and teaches English as a Second Language. Find Ariel online at http://arielsieling. com

https://twitch.tv/mistressofportals

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Interview with a Director..............49-54

Founder's Note................................................3

Casting Director Danielle Eskinazi................51

Editor's Note....................................................3

Poetry..........................................55-60

Contributors.....................................................5

Morning Mist.................................................57

Writing Advice & Tips....................9-19

First Introductions........................................59

Write naked.....................................................9

Making Rapid/Jet Set Jello...........................59

Reading Like a Writer.....................................11

Thoughtful Book Awards.............60-67

Creative Writer, Know Thyself.......................13

Gina Fattore...................................................62

The Author's Target Audience.......................17

Corrina Lawson.............................................63

Music To Listen To While Writing..23-29

Rochelle Alers................................................64

TayTay Starhz.................................................23

TJ McKay........................................................65

Jack Rose.......................................................25

Thoughtful Perspectives Award.....................65

Boyz On Block.................................................27

Thoughtful Non-Fiction.................................66

Meet the Writer’s Room of “Intersection” .............................................30-38

Books To Read..............................67-77

Meg Messmer.................................................30

Pulpwood Queens Founder: Kathy L Murphy...................................................................69

Jennica Hill....................................................31

The Fog Ladies: Family Matters....................71

Karen Ceesay..................................................33

The Paris Hours.............................................73

Jacinte Blankenship.......................................34

A Place At the Table.......................................75

Muretta Moss.................................................35

Whispers.........................................................77

Inspiring Podcasts ......................39-45 Interview with Laura Buckles from "Says Who ?"......................................................................39 Interview with Joy Sutton from the Joy Sutton Show.................................................................41 Behind the Scenes of The Managers...45 B.D. Watkins..................................................47

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WRITE NAKED BRANDY M. MILLER I've been writing books since 2004. I've allowed people to read my writing. They tell me I'm good. They ask me what I do. I tell them my secret: I write naked. Not physically naked. I don't like the way the chair sticks to my behind when I'm naked. But emotionally naked. I strip myself of all the masks and the pretenses of polite society and I get as real with myself and the reader as two human beings can get. I let them take a look at my life in all its inglorious messiness and examine with them the things that led up to it. Every story is an aspect of my life put under the microscope and examined for its meaning. Layer after layer of stinky, smelly garbage is peeled back one page at a time until I find the gem of beauty hidden inside it -a message for my readers that will give them something to hold onto when dark days come. My writing is how I make sense of my life and my world. It is what I do to take that mess and turn it into powerful messages that can help others make sense of their own messes. It is a challenge to be that open and vulnerable with other people. There is always a risk of being judged and found wanting. There is always a risk that people will misrepresent me or misinterpret my meaning.

To my surprise, I disccovered the truth: until I find the courage to be honest with others about who I am, where I am, exactly as I am I can never truly be loved. They will love the illusion I create for them, but they will not love me. I am a recovering narcissist and I still struggle against my tendency to want to create the rough equivalent of a mental junk closet where I shove all the things I've done that I'm ashamed of and where I put those painful moments of my past, hoping to hide them from the world, hoping they will stay in the locked area where I've hidden them. I am a hot mess. A walking disaster. A work in progress. I do the wrong thing, say the wrong thing, and make mistakes all the time. I have a thousand regrets about things that I have done or failed to do, and I would like to hide them all from my readers, but that would be doing them a disservice. In my writing I began to see that the things I was most embarrassed and ashamed about were some of the richest treasures I can offer my readers. Hidden inside those moments are gems of wisdom that might help someone else make sense of the seemingly senseless or allow them to see why the decision I made was a mistake so they do not need to repeat it to learn for themselves. Those things make me real and relatable to my readers. They are what give my writing its strength and power. If I write about heroes with no flaws, if the struggle to be heroic isn't as difficult as the struggle to overcome the villain, I have set my readers up for failure. I have given them expec-

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And I Thought Literary Magazine WRITE NAKED (CONT.) tations that the hero's journey should somehow be effortless or painless, with the only challenge being to defeat the villain or not. In reality, the greatest villain isn't the monster outside, but the one living within. That's the true danger the hero must overcome if they are to defeat the threats they face on their long journey to grow-ing into the hero they were born to be. When I find the courage to be open and vulnerable, to be naked with my audience, I find something magical happens. Rather than condemning me for my weaknesses and rejecting me for my faults, they see those things and it endears them to me. Suddenly, I am not an untouchable entity outside of the realm of mere mortals, whose journey they cannot relate to or comprehend, but I become real and I become one of them. I descend from the pedastal where readers tend to place writers, coming down from on high to enter their realm. In revealing my fears, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities, I give them permission to own their own weaknesses and their own fears and their own vulnerabilities. The journey I share with them becomes an instrument of encouragement, giving them hope that they, too, can conquer the monster within so that they can rise up to defeat the villains they face in their own hero's journey.

October 2020

Here is another truth I have discovered: None of us were born to be ordinary. We are all on a hero's journey to move from ordinary to the realm of extraordinary. We are all here to serve a purpose and only we have what it takes to do the thing which we were born to do. We are all heroes in the making. My writing is my sword. Authenticity is my shield. Vulnerability is my armor. These are the tools I use to fight the battles that must be fought for me to accomplish that which I was born to do: to inspire and motivate others with the words I write and the thoughts I share. So to my fellow authors, I say: Write Naked. Pour out your heart onto the page. Shine a light so bright over the top of the messiness of your life that those who wander in darkness will be able to see it and find their way forward, and those seeking wisdom will be drawn to it. Let your readers into the deepest and most intimate spaces of your heart, mind, and soul. Not only will your writing be better for doing that, your readers will gain more from reading it. Create naked. Perform naked. Live naked. Gather your courage and let yourself be loved. The world needs you. It needs your stories. It needs your willingness to step into the fire and let all the layers of masks be burned away in its heat.

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READING LIKE A WRITER BY DIANE GLAZMAN

I've often heard the advice that writers should read a lot. I've also been told that writers who claim not to read are somehow suspect, as if their work is of dubious quality because they don't read the work of other authors. Now, I am a voracious reader and always have been. I have read everything from canonical texts like Gilgamesh, The Odyssey, and Shakespeare, to modernists like Virginia Woolf and James Joyce, to commercial fiction like romance. The first grown-up book I read, when I was twelve, was Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, and I went on to devour my father's library of classic science fiction which included Asimov, Heinlein, Clarke, Le Guin, as well as many others I've

forgotten over time. There are few things I enjoy more than a day spent on the couch with a cup of tea and a book. While I've learned a lot about writing from all the reading I've done, I don't quite agree with the adage I opened with. Far more important to me is the idea of absorbing stories in whatever form a writer can. To me, this includes all forms of storytelling from movies and television to gaming to Broadway musicals and You Tube videos. The storytelling world is vast and the ways in which humans have told stories is not, nor should be, limited to the written word. Humans are storytellers, it's how we make sense of our world and how we communicate our experiences to others. Wherever you find stories, however you like to access them, is more important than simply reading. What I think is most important for writers, no matter what form your consumption, is learning to look at stories, not just as a reader/viewer, but as a writer/storyteller. In other words, engaging with the work, asking questions of how itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s put together, investigating why something works for us or doesn't, rather than passively receiving the story. Books and movies have taught me a lot about my aesthetic as a writer, especially the kind of stories that resonate with me. I'm not a great one for language driven stories. If all that's happening in a story is deft turns of phrase and verbal pyrotechnics, I get bored pretty fast. I need, first and foremost, a good story with an interesting plot and a compelling and complex cast of characters. I like stories that take me on a journey, especially one in which the main char-

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And I Thought Literary Magazine READING LIKE A WRITER (CONT.) acter learns and grows. I've also learned I am a total sucker for the damaged boy trope (think Harry Potter). Understanding the type of stories I like and respond to, has helped me understand what I like to write more thoroughly. More than this, though, I read and watch with an eye towards how the basic storytelling elements of narrative and character arcs, pacing, and conflict are handled and learn to use those techniques in my own work. When I watch a new series on TV, I pay close attention to the opening show to see how they introduce the show's premise, the main characters, and the essential conflicts. The shows I fall in love with are the ones that do an economical job of getting these important elements clearly defined within the first show. Even when there's an ensemble cast, the shows I love do a good job of introducing the important characters and the ba-sics of their conflicts in a

October 2020

controlled and compelling manner. Rather than throwing everything at me at once, there is logic to how these elements are presented, and it creates a pattern of ever-increasing complexity. The shows or books I don't fall in love with are as important to me as the ones I do, if not more so. When something doesn't resonate for me, I analyze why that happens by asking what elements are out of balance or missing, what's off in the story's development? What isn't com-pelling about the characters, and what I would change to fix that? Again, this helps me recognize and fix issues in my own work. I think it's the process of engaging with the work of other storytellers, both those whose work we love and those we don't, that teaches valuable lessons about our own work. No matter where you find stories, taking a moment to think about how they work and your reactions to them, can payoff in what it teaches you about your own writing.

Diane's Current Work In Progress xploring issues of racism, history, white privilege, and the American self, What You’ll Know ToE morrow focuses on Matt, a seventeen-year-old with near-perfect recall who has never forgotten anything until the night his older brother dies in a car accident. Questioning his involvement in the accident and inability to recall details of that night, he uncovers a truth about his brother he never suspected: Denny’s father is not the abusive alcoholic who abandoned them, but the African American Iraqi vet their mother married three years prior. As the police investigation leads to Matt as the driver of the car, he discovers he did not truly know his brother nor understand the privilege he has experienced as a white male in 21st century America, a privilege he may need to rely on to stay out of jail for killing his brother. This novel was in workshopped in the 2019 BookEnds program, a year-long novel finishing program run by Meg Wolizter (The Interestings, The Female Persuasion, and The Wife) and Susan Merrell (Shirley). My mentor in that program was Fiona Maazel (A Little More Human). The short story on which it is based, “Choice,” received development grants from the Sierra Arts Foundation and the Nevada Arts Council. “Choice” was also twice named a finalist for the NAC’s Liteary Arts Fellowship.

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CREATIVE WRITER, KNOW THYSELF BY: JEANETTE DILOUIE

get us past a bout of writer's block. Consider the following: For the subject of history – Alexander the Great was taught by Aristotle For the subject of politics – The U.S. government intentionally acted to poison alcohol during Prohibition. To lethal degrees. For the subject of science – A single average strand of DNA is about 40,000 times thinner than human hair. For the subject of business – Overnight success stories do happen every once in a while, but they're rare and should be treated with extreme caution. Mathematics – The Fibonacci sequence, a progression of numbers created by adding the last two numbers of the sequence together (i.e., 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, etc.), can be found in everything from spiral seashells to the Great Pyramid at Giza.

Creative writers can learn a lot from studying other subjects, from history to politics to science to business.

Look up that last one especially. It's fascinating!

Even dreaded mathematics, which so often seems antithetical to what we do, can enrich our stories.

How can you use those in your creative writing? Without knowing something about your specific story, I don't know. That's ultimately up to you.

They all present new worlds to explore and utilize, regardless of whether what we're working on in the moment directly deals with the subject at hand.

But I'm absolutely certain they can be worked in somehow, someway, as can hundreds of thousands of other facts and figures out there just waiting for you to find them.

Details can still jump off the page that pertain to specific characters or specific points of the plot. Perhaps even random bits of dialogue that

Though perhaps this is nowhere more true than with the subject of psychology.

Psychology: The Study

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You

and

Your 13

And I Thought Literary Magazine CREATIVE

WRITER, KNOW (CONT.)

THYSELF

Creative Writing Characters Psychology, you see, is the study of human behavior and the mind. What do we do and why do we do it? We could go into intense detail about the different divisions of psychology, such as cognitive, forensic, social, and developmental. And maybe that's exactly what you should do as you write out your particular plot, characters, settings and dialogue. But psychology is going to rule them all regardless. If you're an unsophisticated creative writer, it's going to rule you, with all your characters turning out to be exact replicas of yourself – your hopes, dreams, desires, fears, understandings, experiences, assumptions, prejudices. And if you're a more advanced creative writer, it's going to rule you, with all your characters turning out to be moderated replicas of you – your hopes, dreams, desires, fears, understandings, experiences, assumptions, prejudices. If you want to delve into philosophy – the study of knowledge, reality, and existence – you could make an argument that we are what we create. That what we practice serves to further shape us into individualized personalities with specific expertise, understandings and expressions. You could probably make a psychological argument for that too. But there's absolutely no argument to be made when it comes to this statement: We create what we are. As in, there's no way we can produce anything that is separate from ourselves. Creative writers, in other words, work with limited resources.

October 2020

That's just flat out fact. So it stands to reason that exploring what we are is a better way to understand what we create. And how to do it well.

Where Creative Writers Can Turn About Psychology

Learn

So where do we begin to learn about psychology? If you want to dive in really deep, really fast, you can start by analyzing yourself in a direct and purposeful fashion. Make lists of your typical emotions and habits throughout the week. Then ask yourself a whole lot of whys. Why do you stay in bed 30 minutes extra after your alarm goes off in the morning? Because you'd rather be asleep for as long as possible? Okay. Why? Because you always stay up too late the night before? Okay. Why? Because you feel freest in the evening. After work. Where you waste far too much of your life away? Okay. Why? See where this might be going? Keep following it until you get to a bottom line emotion or motivation, and its ultimate conclusion. What you realize about human nature by studying yourself might be groundbreaking and page turning – for you and your writing. Or, if that sounds way too daunting, you can approach yourself in a more round about way by reading books and articles on the subject of psychology. Psychology Today is one example that holds countless fascinating articles. It definitely has a political bias, for the record, and one I personally don’t always agree with. But even when we’re on the opposite side of the ideological fence, we

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And I Thought Literary Magazine can glean great tips on how we or our fictional characters could display our own opinions. For instance, on the morning of September 14, 2020, here are some of the headlines: •

Why Narcissists Love Chaos

•

The Dark Side of Boredom

• Can the Online Proliferation of QAnon Be Stopped? • What Do You Think Makes a Relationship Work? • How Vagus Nerve Robustness Is Linked to Depression Risk •

Why Savoir-Faire Is a Key to Social Suc-

October 2020

cess • Three Reasons It Can Be Hard to Know What You Really Want. Pick a title. Any title. Or, if you think Psychology Today is beneath you (which, who knows, it might be), do some research on more academically acceptable sources. Just, one way or the other, give yourself ample room to study the subject of psychology regardless. It’s well worth the effort from a personal growth perspective alone. And you might quickly find your creative writing reading a lot more realistically too as a direct result.

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THE AUTHOR'S TARGET AUDIENCE BY ARIELE SIELING

work. What do you absolutely, for sure, beyond the shadow of a doubt, know about that person? Don’t worry—I’ll answer the question for you: they like to read. As a result, your broadest, most vague target audience description might look like this: My target audience is a person who likes to read. Of course, you can make that a lot more specific by adding one tiny detail: your genre. Your new target audience might look like this: My target audience is a person who likes to read science fiction.

“Know your target audience.” If you you’ve ever been to a writing conference, attended a writing workshop, or read an article about marketing a book, you’ve probably seen that phrase thrown around. But what does it mean to “know your target audience?” And how are you supposed to figure out who they are? Well, the good news is that you don’t have to have the perfect picture to get started—or even to be useful. Every new detail that you gather can help you refine your marketing, writing, and business to be more efficient and effective. So where to start? Wide. Imagine the most generic, boring, vague detail you can about your target audience, the potential person who is interested in reading your

Already, you have something you can work with. You now know that there is no point in marketing to everyone on the planet. You don’t need to market your books to people who are mountain climbers or bicyclists. You don’t need to market to movie buffs. You don’t need to market to romance readers or historical fiction readers or non-fiction readers. You want to focus on people who read, and who read science fiction in particular. That eliminates a lot of possibilities, and with hardly any effort, can help you narrow down who you’re trying to market to and save you both time and money. A few other things to consider when you’re trying to create a broad image of your audience. What type of device do they read on? What type of books do they prefer (e-book, audiobook, paperback)? Do they enjoy other genres besides science fic-

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And I Thought Literary Magazine

tion? Or maybe they enjoy your particular subgenre: dystopian, post-apocalyptic, or first contact for example. Every single one of these details should be easy to figure out—you’re literally just describing the type of product you have available. My broad target audience looks like this:

October 2020

book or Amazon ads, or have a complex marketing plan that involves multiple approaches for multiple types of readers, this will probably be sufficient. But if you want to narrow it down even more, here are a few other tactics you could use to find out more details about your potential audience: • Ask other authors in your genre what their target audience looks like.

My target audience enjoys reading science fiction and fantasy in an e-book format.

• Sift through your website data and see what information you can gather.

Next, you’ll want to draw some conclusions about your target audience. Make some assumptions. Be presumptuous. In other words, start with what you know (your broad target audience) and ask yourself: what else?

• Dig into your Facebook Insights on your public pages.

For example, I would suggest that a person who enjoys reading science fiction also enjoys watching science fiction movies or TVs. Perhaps they attend comic cons and like to buy art related to their favorite series. A person who reads ebooks is more likely to be comfortable with technology. They’re more likely to spend more time on social media. They might like using Goodreads or Wattpad, or even sign up for services like Freebooksy or Bookbub. My new target audience description might look like this: My target audience enjoys reading science fiction and fantasy in an e-book format. They also enjoy science fiction TV shows and movie, and attend the occasional comic con. They like to wear t-shirts with their favorite characters on them, and probably have a Goodreads account. Let me pause here for a moment. I’m going to be honest with you—I personally think that this is as much of a picture as most authors need of their target audience. Unless you’re spending thousands of dollars on super-targeted Face18

• Look through your newsletter service’s email campaign reports. • Pick people in your reader group and read the information they have publicly available. • are.

Do a survey—ask your readers who they

• Read the reviews on your book and see what information you can pick up. Anywhere data is being collected, you can find information about your potential target audience—or even who it is not. And these days, data is being collected everywhere. Finally, you can always look for research that has been done by an external organization. For example, if you write romance, the Romance Writers of America has paid to have analyses done of romance readers. You can also dig into industry publications. Sign up for Kristyn Katherine Rusch’s Hotsheet, or dig through the Pew Research Center’s reports. Bowker puts out a report every year you can pay to read. You can also follow some of the big names in publishing or listen to their podcasts, to find out exactly what information is going around currently.

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And I Thought Literary Magazine The information is there—you just have to look. As you do all of your research, no matter how deep you decide to go, never forget that the #1 most important characteristic of your ideal target audience is this: they like your books. They like books like yours. Know your own books. Know what’s unique about them and what’s similar to other books. Know the common tropes. Know your main character. Have your blurb and your elevator pitch crafted perfectly. Make sure you have a cover that represents your genre, your style, and your brand. Make sure the story is a good story. Well-written. Edited. With a high-quality, genre-specific cover. And make sure that all of the things that you choose to do—your social media posts, paid ads, videos, website, public appearances—point back

October 2020

to your books. Ariele Sieling is a Baltimore-based writer who enjoys books, cats, and trees. Her first love, however, is science fiction and she has three series in the genre: post-apocalyptic monsters in Land of Szornyek; soft science fiction series, The Sagittan Chronicles; and scifi fairytale retellings in Rove City. She has also had numerous short stories published in a variety of anthologies and magazines and is the author of children’s books series, Rutherford the Unicorn Sheep. She lives in Baltimore with her husband, a dog, and two cats. You can follow Ariele on by signing up for her newsletter, checking out her website, or on the social media of your choice. Visit www.arielesieling.com for more information.

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Music is the Language of Love Music To Listen To While Writing Dance to the sound of love

TAYTAY STARHZ BY WILNONA MARIE

Can

you tell us a humorous story about get’

ting to the completion of this song?

There is a “Ding” in the song and we went back and forward on this “Ding” and the idea is of someone flicking their hair and it makes this “Ding” and all you could hear in the studio was the sound “Ding” and the word “Ding.” Listen out for the “Ding in the track “Taking Over.”

What

do you want your fans to take away from your songs?

The Chorus we want that hook stuck in their heads all day and all night.

What

can we expect from you in the future?

I think K-Pop industry has the right idea of putting people together and then the same individuals going off doing solo projects and then the group still doing their thing together and I can see that happening, a solo project of some sort.

Where

Why

did you start in the music business?

can we find your single?

You can find Franklin Lake music on all digital platforms including Spotify, Deezer, Youtube etc.

I started officially in 2010 was singing before as a youngster in the front room entertaining guests.

What

keeps you motivated after hours in the studio?

Once leaving the studio I can’t wait to go back in the next day I am self-motivated and always have been, music is built in me so it is very easy for me to stay motivated.

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JACK ROSE By Wilnona Marie

track from the writing to the video. Of course, when filming the video there was a few out takes which I am sure will make people laugh as we certainly did.

What

do you want your fans to take away from your songs?

I just want them to enjoy the music and have as much fun listening as I did making, them.

What

can we expect from you in the future?

I am currently working on a couple of new tracks trying new things so lots to look forward to.

Where

can we find your single?

My new single is available on all digital stores can be pre-ordered using the following link. https://link-tube.com/jackrose connect with jack

OnLine:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jackrosereal Facebook:

Why

did you start in the music business?

I entered a talent competition when I was in year 5 so about 9 or 10 I sang Fire Flies by Owl City, I knew then that music was my true passion.

What

keeps you motivated after hours in the

https://www.facebook.com/jackjohnrose Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackrosereal Twitter: https://twitter.com/jackrosereal

studio?

I love to listen to music chill and vibe.

Can

you tell us a humorous story about getâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

ting to the completion of this song?

We always have a lot of fun when making a http://www.andwethought.com

BOYZ ON BLOCK BY WILNONA MARIE

that love and friendship is everything. We’ve realised even amongst ourselves that no man is and island and that we need each other. It’s important to check in on those that you love just make sure they’re doing ok a simple text and five minute conversation can make a difference to someone’s day or week. Life looks different to us all when we know that someone cares.

What

PHOTOGRAPH BY OWEN VINCENT

How

did the group come together?

We came together on stage at Bolton pride in the UK. We’ve all been in different bands in the 90s so we have a history of friendship but in july 2019 after drinking a bit too much adult lemonade, we decided to join each other on stage for a impromptu performance and rest is history.

What

motivated you to write this song?

We chose the song All my Life by Kci & JoJo because it’s one of the great R&B classics from 90s that resonated with u. The beauty of the melody to the meaning of lyric. To quote the song : ” And I hope you feel the same way too“

How

do you want your fans to take away from your songs?

We want fans to take away 3 and half minutes of escapism. Music is a time machine and our first album is a covers album based on great songs from the 90s and Noughties era. A song is the only thing that can transport you back to when and where you were when you first heard it and keep you there for the duration of the song and then at the end drop you right back to the here and now.

What

can we expect from you in the future?

From Boyz on Block you can expect an album a tour, and a mini movie to accompany both.

Where

can we find your single?

All my life we be available on all DS platforms. From the 13th of November onwards.

Connect

with

Boyz On Block Online

Twitter: @BBlockofficial Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boyzonblockofficial/

we can everyday citizens help others during covid?

We learnt more than ever during these times

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Meet the Writer's Room of "Intersection"

MEG MESSMER

That dichotomy provides obvious tension that we play with every single day. As far as getting it off the ground, I remember pitching the idea to a few different collaborators, but nothing stuck. It wasn’t until I got together with Jennica and Muretta that things started to fall in place.

BY WILNONA MARIE

How

long did it take to bring the project to fruition?

The three of us had been researching and developing the show for almost 2 years before we did an initial treatment. We outlined what we thought the structure and characters might look like…but we all agreed that we didn’t want to write this show as three white people. We wanted to make sure we were adequately honoring the Black experience because they are often the ones most disenfranchised by gentrification.

How

Intersections be?

did the idea of

come to

Intersection has been a long time coming. It started with my own inner reflection on being a gentrifier. When I moved to Atlanta from Los Angeles, I started to do a lot more research as to what gentrification was and what it meant to be on both sides of the equation. At the time, I was only reaping the benefits. The subject became even more charged living in a historically Black neighborhood in Atlanta. Telling this story in ATL makes it undeniably unique. Not only does being in the South have the history of slavery and the Confederacy, but also Atlanta is known as the birthplace of Civil Rights and the rebirth of the modern day KKK.

Eventually, we had an initial meeting with two Black writers, but it was clear we still had work to do with our outline. So we kept researching and developing, interviewing real people with real stories. We shot a sizzle and met Jacinte. Then, we reached out to friends and colleagues in the ATL film community who introduced us to Karen. We did an initial meeting together and it was MAGIC. That’s when the show was really created. We’ve been writing as a writer’s room now for almost a year and a half. We’ve gone back to the drawing board on several characters and storylines and outlined the show TOGETHER, which has been such an incredible experience. The story has morphed and changed, gotten deeper and richer.

How

did you find the financing for

http://www.andwethought.com

Inter’ 30

JENNICA HILL

even know where to begin. It’s soooo complicated!

BY WILNONA MARIE

I had learned about the kind of systemic inequality and gentrification through helping students edit their academic college essays, since many of those essays were about topics within sociology and also delved further into U.S. history in ways I hadn’t been able to do in high school or in my own college career as a theatre major. Intersectionality was a term I learned while researching the feminist movement and civil rights movement, when I learned that those movements had largely excluded women of color and LGBTQ+ individuals from the conversation in really important ways.

How

were you introduced to the project?

I had actually asked Meg Messmer to meet for coffee so I could ask her tons of questions about producing. I wanted to help produce a friend’s script, and I knew Meg was already a producer extraordinaire. When we did meet, we got to talking about so many other topics, and after hearing about my previous job and passion for all things sociology, she told me I’d be a great fit to help her write this show about gentrification that she’d been thinking about for years. And then I was hooked.

What

were your initial thoughts of section?

Inter’

I was so excited to write about gentrification, though the topic seemed looming, and I didn’t

Our show was originally called “Gentrification,” but since it’s a comedy, “Intersection” felt more fitting. And, our goal has always been to really delve into the ways that people intersect when gentrification comes to a city, both literally by living in intersecting homes and on intersecting streets, and figuratively, by experiencing each other’s cultures, desires, and struggles. Now, intersectionality remains such an important word as I continue activism in any way I can through volunteering and trying to engage folks in the political process.

What

do you bring to the writing room?

Why?

Since I’ve done a good deal of academic writing, I’m a huge fan of research. I bring former knowledge and my super nerdy love of research to the table. I also review essays as one of my side jobs, so I’m a whiz when it comes to writing up a quick description but making it sound structured.

http://www.andwethought.com

And I Thought Literary Magazine MEG MESSMER (CONT.)

JENNICA HILL (CONT.)

section?

I originated the character Emory, since her experiences are largely based on my own, and I’d like to say I bring energy and fun! Ha. We all do, though.

We did a Seed n Spark crowdfunding campaign to raise the money for our first six episodes. It was hard, but incredibly rewarding. We ended up getting fully financed and if you’re one of our contributors, THANK YOU!! We are excited to get these episodes out into the world because we have so many more stories to tell. We want to find our audience so we can continue to get financing and continue to make the show.

Are

October 2020

there any special hardships to being the show runner?

Hardships? No. We are still super privileged that we get to tell stories and make art. Challenges, yes! But that’s what the show is ALL about! When something comes up in the room that is touchy, icky, hits a nerve or volatile, I say – let’s write about that! If we’re having those issues in the room, then they definitely exist in our greater society and we want to explore them.

What

serious cultural issue using comedy?

I’m hoping all of our scenes will find a blend between tackling a serious issue and using comedy. I can’t think of one scene I’d like to highlight, plus - no spoilers! But I especially like that we have found ways to bring comedy to a really serious issue by telling stories that feel true to us and also being willing to look at the ways we, and maybe people with our similar experiences, have made mistakes or judged others unfairly along the way.

Where

can we find information about you?

You can find me on Instagram (though I’ve been trying to clear my life of it a bit more lately) at @JennicaHill. My website is www.jennicahill. com.

I knew, building the writer’s room, that all of us had to be open, vulnerable, outspoken and tenacious. We challenge each other every single time we meet, not only in our writing but also in our personal lives and views. We’ve had disagreements, we’ve cried, we’ve laughed hysterically, we’ve walked out…but we’ve stuck together. And I hope somehow, that because we’ve done it, that other people will be brave enough to also sit in their discomfort to learn about a person’s experience in order to amplify their own understanding. If we change one person through the making and distributing of this show, I know for a fact that it was all worth it.

scene do you find perfectly comes at a

http://www.andwethought.com

KAREN CEESAY

25 years. I’ve seen & experienced Gentrification first hand and don’t view it as positively as others.

BY WILNONA MARIE

Also, I have a wicked sense of humor and am great with punching up the comedy.

What

scene do you find perfectly comes at a

serious cultural issue using comedy?

All of our scenes do that. The name Intersection is to imply varied cross cultural experiences - not just dealing with issues of race, but generationally, financially, LGBTQ+ issues... etc. Where can we find information about you? @karenceesay on IG/Twitter; https://www. karenceesay.com

How

were you introduced to the project?

A mutual friend knew they were looking for a writer with my background to come on board, so she introduced me to Meg.

What

were your initial thoughts oN section.

Inter’

Mixed. I liked the concept but was a bit suspicious since the project was about talking about race.... with white people I didn’t know.

What

do you bring to the writing room?

Why?

Truth, authenticity and a great deal of knowledge from my personal experience having been a resident and homeowner in Atlanta for over

http://www.andwethought.com

JACINTE BLANKENSHIP BY WILNONA MARIE

a Black Woman, who was educated at a HBCU in Atlanta, who has watched and lived with the changes in the city for over 20 years, and knows and loves folks from all kinds of backgrounds who are also being affected by gentrification. I’m generally very thoughtful in my creative process. I do a lot of listening, reading, and exploring of the everyday precious nuanced ways of life and the challenges people without privilege face at the same time.

Why? I love my people and our and culture and want to represent it honestly, first and foremost.

What

scene do you find perfectly comes at

a serious cultural issue using comedy?

How

were you introduced to the project?

I was first introduced by fellow writer Jennica Hill, when asked to act in the original sizzle produced by Meg, Muretta, and Jennica. After working with them we saw an opportunity for me to contribute as a writer and here we are! I initially felt it was an important story to tell about what’s happening not only in Atlanta but many major cities across America. And the show’s intent of exploring all the different players, not just one side, and perspectives in one of the city’s biggest social and economic issues.

What

We have a scene where the interracial couple in our show is having an argument over complicated personal issues around race and injustice, but in public. What we’ve come up with so far is so damn funny, because people trying to argue privately in public will always be funny, always.

Where

can we find information about you?

I’m on social media, I have accounts on Instagram and Twitter. Both handles are @jacinteb. Although I don’t post a lot, when I do its usually an update on my work. I also have have an IMDb profile, where you can find my credits, contact info, etc.

do you bring to the writing room?

I can best say that I bring myself to the room. This includes my awareness and experiences as

http://www.andwethought.com

MURETTA MOSS

character and storyline have so much more dimension and depth. So I guess you could say I had no idea what I was in for as a writer and I’m really glad about that because I don’t know at the time if I would have believed I could have handled the challenges.

BY WILNONA MARIE

What

do you bring to the writing room?

Why?

I, like all the women in the writers room, bring my own perspective and experiences with gentrification. I feel like that’s all we can bring, the full self. I also consider myself an “idea” person. I need the team for follow through and accountability so on top of ideas I also bring procrastination!

What

scene do you find perfectly comes at a

serious cultural issue using comedy?

How

were you introduced to the project?

I lived this project as a realtor and selling homes in gentrifying areas. As ignorant as I am I was learning as I was going the impacts on the community. I was friends with Meg and Jennica and when all the roads diverged I inserted myself nicely in this project. We’ve been researching and working on this project for so long it seems like it always existed.

What

were your initial thoughts on section?

This whole show hits that mark in my opinion. It’s funny cause it’s true and you’re either gonna laugh or cry so let’s have a little chuckle as we’re shaking our heads.

Where

can we find information about you?

IMDB me! You can also find me on instagram @MurettaMoss

Inter’

My initial thoughts were whew, this is complicated. The baseline of Intersection is the g-word, gentrification and I initially wanted this story to offer solutions, come to simpler conclusions. Everything is so layered, which makes every

http://www.andwethought.com

Look for the And I Thought Ladiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; New Audiobook:

Find out more about the And I Thought Ladies at http://andwethought.com

Inspiring Podcasts

INTERVIEW WITH LAURA BUCKLES FROM "SAYS WHO?" BY WILNONA MARIE

tions with…, Vogues celebrity interview series. I thought to myself, it’s too bad that people only interview celebrities, I’d love to hear from every day working actors. That thought became the podcast and videocast that is “Says Who? Conversations with Actors”.

What

can your audience expect to learn from each podcast?

I think overall I’m hoping to that my audience gets some real insight into what is to be a “working” actor. Not just the glamour and the assumptions that people have about actors but what the day to day experiences we, as actors, go through. Plus, a career is a career so I believe anyone who listens can find useful insights and thoughts that they can apply to their own lives. Mostly though, I want to introduce my audience to interesting, entertaining people in an accessible way.

Why

did you start the podcast?

A few years ago while doing work for Self Management for Actors program through Bonnie Gillespie I was trying to gather information on career “pace cars”: actors who were a little further ahead of me in the industry whose careers I might be able to learn from. Given the level I was at, that meant actors who were booking multiple day co-stars or small guest star roles. Other than a few websites and their info on IMDb I really couldn’t find out much about them. At the same time, I went down the rabbit hole of watching 73 Ques-

do you feel we need this show right now?

At its core “Says Who” is an introduction to a lot of interesting people who do interesting things. That kind of connection and thread of commonality is more important than ever. Being able to listen to someone talk about their life and being able to connect to them in way that helps you realize that people are more alike than different, is powerful. I hope the realization that all of us, whether we’re working in front of a camera or serving coffee or sitting at a desk, are just trying to live our best lives, creates a certain amount of empathy and understanding.

What

makes your podcast stand out from the

http://www.andwethought.com

https://thejoysuttonshow.libsyn.com/

INTERVIEW WITH JOY SUTTON FROM THE JOY SUTTON SHOW BY WILNONA MARIE

Question 1: Why

did you start your podcast?

The world needs more women who believe in the power of their dreams, who relentlessly fight for what they believe in and who stand firm in who they are and their purpose, especially during these uncertain times social injustice and inequity. I want this podcast to be a foundation and launch pad for women across the world and a source of hope and encouragement. For the woman who needs to hear her own voice, I want this podcast to give “her” a voice. The podcast brings female listeners a tribe of successful, supportive and encouraging women in their lives. We are the sum of the people we surround ourselves with, and this is the time that women are needed to step up and shine their light in the world.

Question 2: What

can your audience expect?

Through joyful conversations, they will be inspired and get insight from women who’ve turned their passions into purpose and profit! Plus, get practical advice from coaches and experts to push them forward into action and on the path to living their best lives. The first season features 12 curated episodes on the latest topics impacting everyday women.

Question 3: Why

is the show needed right now

During these unprecedented times, it’s easy to

feel as if all hope is lost. When you turn on the news you are often bombarded with doom and gloom. “The Joy Sutton Show” is quite the opposite. It is a pillar of hope and inspiration. It’s a reminder to women that now more than ever we need them to own their shine. The world is counting on us to show up and make a difference and an impact.

Question 4: What

makes your podcast stand’ out?

“The Joy Sutton Show” is more than a podcast, it’s a movement of women who are owning their shine. The podcast also provides much more than inspiration, it’s a resource. You walk away with practical tips and wisdom you can implement today in your own life. If you find you need some additional support on your own journey, my guests are available after the show to help you get to your next level of success. I’ve also launched my SheShines Academy for women who want to work with personally and have a desire to own their shine by becoming influencers in their niche.

Question 5: What

do you bring as the host?

I believe my parents named me Joy for a reason. My mission in life is to bring more joy into the world and my podcast is one of the vehicles God has given me to do this. I have always had a way of inspiring people into action. I love seeing people go after their dreams. I’m also relatable and authentic about my own personal struggles and journey to success.

Question 6: What

http://www.andwethought.com

journey led you to this place?

And I Thought Literary Magazine INTERVIEW WITH LAURA BUCKLES FROM "SAYS WHO?" (CONT.) others?

I think that first and foremost, the fact that “Says Who?” is both a podcast and videocast allows people to experience it in two distinct ways. Secondly, there just aren’t that many resources where you can learn about actors who aren’t household names, or at the very least, easily recognizable to the public. “Says Who” lets you meet real people who just happen to be acting actors by profession. Third, our format distinguishes us; we have three sections to each podcast, a freeform, get to know you section, a lightening round where we fire off questions and answers and finally every actor gets to answer the Bernard Pivot questions that James Lipton asks at the end of Inside the Actors Studio.

What

do you bring as a host that makes it extra special?

I absolutely love actors and I think it shows in every interview. Plus, you get a little window into my life and a serving of my sometimes quirky sense of humor.

What

journey led you to this place and how

tener?

I touched on this in one of the other questions. As a working actor myself, I’d been struggling with the dichotomy between the perception of what a working actors life was (big pay checks, red carpets, fancy everything) and what I was finding the reality to be (not so much with any of the things I listed). I think busting those myths open in fun, funny and interesting ways and hearing from the people who are actually doing it, is entertaining and informative to everyone. Coming from a place where I know what it’s like to have to balance auditions and filming things while still having to get groceries and pay the bills allows me to pull back the curtain on the entertainment industry and let others get a glimpse of what it’s really like. Where can we listen to your podcast? We’re on Podcasts, iTunes, Stitcher and host of other sites. Plus you can watch it on YOuTune! https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/says-who-2 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sayswho/id1366451801 https://www.podcasts. com/says-who-d5649b792 https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/says-who-laura-bucklessvfI-1PuY3H/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChQt0X2O3uiFWra7CYs

does it add to the experience of the lis’

October 2020

http://www.andwethought.com

And I Thought Literary Magazine

October 2020

INTERVIEW WITH JOY SUTTON FROM THE JOY SUTTON SHOW (CONT.)

put my show in flux. I decided it was time for a change and moved to Nashville to be closer to my family.

My show started as a local television talk show in Virginia and taped before a live studio audience. After airing for four seasons, tragedy struck at the station where I was taping and airing the show. Two of my colleagues were murdered on live television.

After four years on hiatus, COVID-19 was my wake up call. I realized that it was time to bring my show back. I decided a podcast was the best platform to reach even more women from around the globe.

Within a matter of weeks, I also learned the station was being sold. My business partner and I also decided to part ways during this time. This series of events caused me to pause and to

You can listen to â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Joy Sutton Showâ&#x20AC;? every other Tuesday on your favorite podcasting app. To learn more, visit https://thejoysutton.com/ podcast.

Question 7: Where

can

listen?

Drink like a lady...

http://www.andwethought.com

Behind the Scenes of The Managers

B.D. WATKINS BY WILNONA MARIE

a set of challenges.

of yet what is your favorite role?

My favorite role is the role of Tyler in the previous REVRY Original Series “3030”. (Season 1 is now available on youtube!)

What

character do you play in managers and

what do you like or don't like about your role?

I play the role of Grace in “Managers” and I loved everything about her until recently i discovered she was a grandmother, which made her significantly older than me lol...I felt i was being aged prematurely.

How

did you start acting?

Looking back I guess i have been acting all my life. Church and neighborhood plays count right? My first documented acting job was in 2013 in the short film “Shirts VS Skins”. I happened to be at the right place at the right time.

Why

is acting such a big part of your life?

As a filmmaker, its so rare you are in front of the camera. I am a writer by profession, but I have moments when it’s fun to think about being on the other side. I’m fortunate enough to only take roles that I know I will have fun with so that the allure of acting always remains fresh.

What

have been the challenges artistically or personally you have overcome?

Everything about life is a challenge, and the longer you live the more challenges you have to face. As you elevate in your career, or even in your day to day life, you will face adversity, push back, self doubt, fear, and so many other things. It is hard to pinpoint when at every level there is

What

part of the show have you most enjoyed and why?

Because we don’t see each other, I’ve loved pretending that it’s the 1940’s and enjoying the idea of the radio story and how it allows you to use your imagination on how all of this plays out while being guided by the voices.

What

do you hope happens in the next epi’ sode of

Managers?

I don’t know!? I like the element of surprise. If Managers came to the small screen what would you dress your character in? If I am no longer a grandma...lol... Grace would be business casual and fly at all times. She plays no games and respect is given naturally. She would be sassy and business savvy visually.

you could work with anyone in the indus’ try who would it be and why?

I have been in love with Patrik-Ian Polk, and the moment “3030” was compared to Noah’s

http://www.andwethought.com

And I Thought Literary Magazine B.D. WATKINS (CONT.) Arc I felt that my goal had been achieved. Working with him would be something I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even express. Everytime he responds or likes something on IG I think I am that much closer.

When

will you feel you have met ultimate success in your career?

If that ever happens I need to find another career.

Where

can

people

find

information

about you?

www.bdaniellewatkins.com Facebook, YouTube, IMDb, and Linked in : B. Danielle Watkins IG and Twitter: @blacbutterflii

http://www.andwethought.com

October 2020

Interview with a Director

CASTING DIRECTOR DANIELLE ESKINAZI BY TONYA TODD

director? I was very young, obviously, when I lived in Egypt and then moved to Paris and then New York. My roots really come from the Bronx. And I knew that I didn’t want to settle for a job that didn’t make me happy, and I didn’t know what that was. And when I came to LA and I started working in the retail business, I thought that was my niche. And then I realized that it wasn’t. So as time grew and I started going to movies and started being around the entertainment business, I asked myself, “What does a casting director do? How fun would that be?” And I just put my sights on that and my focus on that and it came into fruition because that’s what I wanted to do. I was so focused. And then a month later, I got my first job with the top casting directors in New York and LA, did two films with them, and worked with amazing casting directors, who are my mentors. And after about 3 years, I started getting my own assignments.

As an actor, I’m well-versed in the fears of facing an intimidating casting director. Danielle Eskinazi more than defies that trope. Despite the necessity of the Zoom format, her warmth and kindness draw you in like you’re in her living room chatting over tea—evidence of her years setting actors at ease. Here’s what she had to say about her life, her journey, and life in 2020. You were born in Egypt, lived in Paris and New York, and now you call LA home. How have your travels and your exposure to such diverse environments, informed your decisions as a casting

It blows my mind. I wasn’t forcing it. It’s just something I was breathing in and I knew that it was going to happen. I wasn’t like, “If I don’t get this job I’ll die.” It’s just, “Okay, well try the next one.” And I think that’s what a lot of people and actors do. They think it’s the end-all-be-all if they don’t get a job. Then they take that negativity into their next audition. We can see that desperation when you walk into the room. So you just have to breathe through and just know that it’s not the end of the world.

http://www.andwethought.com

And I Thought Literary Magazine CASTING DIRECTOR DANIELLE ESKINAZI (CONT.)

Tell

us about the workshops you teach.

I decided a while ago when actors were coming in and not understanding what was going on in the commercial world that that space needed to happen and because a lot of casting directors have their assistants teach, I wanted to teach. I wanted to teach the right way. And my classes were filling up and it started becoming really popular for a casting director teach their own classes. A lot of people don’t know the interscope of what goes on in a call back, when you leave the room, before you come in, how to prepare, what classes to take. They just didn’t know what to do and how to accomplish these goals. I wanted to help them out. And it honestly made my life so much easier because when they do come in for my audition, they know exactly what to do and the preparation that they needed. Even if it’s a word or sentence. If you use buttons. If you don’t use buttons. And just to feel like they own the room when they come in as opposed to being intimidated by all these people watching you. That’s really, really important to know.

a sense, it helps you do better too.

Completely. It was amazing how it worked both ways. Because as casting directors, we don’t want to intimidate you. That would be a bad on my part to intimidate an actor because they’ll never perform right. You make them as relaxed as possible, play around, be human, and it’s two human people with the same goals. It’s I want you to get the job and you want to get the job; let’s get to work.

That’s 52

a great way to look at it.

October 2020

Yeah.

How

has lockdown affected your classes?

Not at all. We are thinkers. We think ahead in the entertainment business, and nothing ever stopped us to go like, “Well I guess my classes are done until we can proceed again face-toface.” Zoom was great, and it has been great. I only take eleven people in my class. I don’t want a thirty-people class because I can’t work with everybody. And so I hone in on every individual and I have a Q&A in the beginning. What do you want to accomplish in this class? Let’s work on that so everybody has their individual attention.

What

is the secret to drawing audition-

nailing performances out of people?

You know it’s not complicated at all. I think a lot of actors make it complicated, and they derail themselves in the lobby when they look around and see people that don’t look like them. I bought you in for specific reason and just know that you are there for a purpose. Just be there on time, look the part, ask if there’s any dialogue or get dialogue beforehand, even if it’s a line. Just be completely prepared and then leave and forget about it, and don’t take it with you.

In our last How did his

Lee Daniels. you, and has it

chat you mentioned mentorship help

armed or influenced with regard to mentoring others?

He was a manager back then. I was doing a film—I was casting a film assistant casting to Risa Bramon and Billy Hopkins—and Lee Daniels was a manager there. And managers would always get to the assistants to try to get people in, and he was always really, really kind with me. I would be honest with him. I’d say, “Lee, this is my first job. I think I know what I’m doing, but I’m really not sure.”

http://www.andwethought.com

And I Thought Literary Magazine He’d be like, “Girl you got this. Don’t worry about it.” He’d listen and try to tell me these little tidbits of advice that really, really helped me along in life. He just made such an impression on me because he was so kind. And that’s what I wanted to do for others is just be kind.

For

actors who want to find your casting

notifications, where do you typically post your breakdowns?

I post my breakdowns on LA Casting, on Casting Networks. That’s the best place for me.

How

many submissions do you typically

receive for lead roles when casting a project?

For a SAG job, for a Hero role, I’ll probably get about 1200. For non-union Hero role, probably about 580.

That

is quite a number. your

What list?

helps narrow

I talk to the director and the ad agency and see what their vision is for this character and then I get something in between because I have to make everybody happy. I bring a little of both to it, and then I pick someone that they’ve never even thought of, and I prepper that in and sometimes without works. What are some of your casting pet peeves, both in the room and for video submissions? Overacting. If I bring in a group of actors together for a scene, if they try to outdo all the other actors, it’s just not professional. You want to be in the scene, not out of the scene. That’s just going to take away from you and not focus in a positive way. Another pet peeve is coming late, not calling, not reading the dialogue, not being prepared. It’s your only twelve to fifteen minutes that you

October 2020

have. And we want to feel like you want to be there.

What

information are you looking for in a submission cover letter?

As short as possible. “Enclosed is my submission. Thank you.”

Tell

us about a time someone surprised you in the casting room?

When I was casting a film and it was like a serial killer or robber or whatever. But this guy came in to the room and looked really disheveled and I was a little nervous about it. I don’t remember if he busted into the room, but I couldn’t find his name on the sheet. I was getting a little nervous and I looked at my partner, and she was like, “What’s going on here?” He looked the part. And then he pulled out a gun and pointed it at us. It’s like 7 at night, my office was on La Brea. There was nobody around and my heart just dropped. You have to warn people before you pull out a gun.

Did

he get the role?

Uh…no.

What’s

the best way people can connect with you?

Postcards just get thrown away. I’m on Twitter all the time. If you want to ask something, I’m always there to answer.

What

causes and charities do you support?

All animal charities. Children’s hospitals. Anything to do with animals and kids. I’ve also given money to Vanderpump Dogs.

What

is your dream project to cast?

Different characters. I love doing different kinds of characters. I have a director named Ulf and he does the edgiest commercials. He’s known for that, so whenever I get a job from him, I know the weirdest looking people the

http://www.andwethought.com

And I Thought Literary Magazine CASTING DIRECTOR DANIELLE ESKINAZI (CONT.) better for him. When an ad agency hires them, they know that it’s going to be like completely left field. I’ve been working with him for the past like twelve to fifteen years, and every project has been amazing and fun. He’s just such a great director with such an incredible eye. He’s with Smith and Jones.

Last

question.

there anything else you’d

like people to know about you?

I love to laugh. I do a lot of comedy spots. And I have a great five-year-old kid that I love so much. And those are the things that rock my world. Before the interview began, Danielle and I caught up and chatted about the many blessings and challenges in this business. And even though we weren’t yet on the record, this brief conversation provided my favorite Danielle moment in the interview: “You have to humble out in this business. Be humble with every job and everything you’re doing and also getting paid for, and more importantly, loving everything that you do. We’re finding our niche in the world. We created this. This is what we created in our lives.”

Find Out More For more information on Danielle Eskinazi or her commercial workshops, check her website www.daniellecasting.com/ or follow her on Twitter @DanielleCasting. You’ll find Tonya Todd her social media @ MsTonyaTodd and her website www.mstonyatodd.com.

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October 2020

Poems

MORNING MIST BY DAVID DRIVER

Maybe I will see you in the morning mist The music of the woodland ignites with the first rays, Birdsong relaxes and sooths Weaving, winding, hypnotically, magically mesmerizing wonderful wispy tendrils of enchantment effortlessly dance lightly across a carpet of fallen branches, twigs and leaves Maybe I will hear you in the morning mist Vanishing to that magical realm which I am yet to know, The last ethereal veils linger around slabs etched with names and dates Red roses bring warmth to the cold stone

Last sip of coffee and a taste of toast,

Maybe I will taste the scent of your body in the morning mist

Another day awaits without sunlight I`ve beaten the dawn Maybe I will find you in the morning mist Smiles, memoriesâ&#x20AC;Ślaughter flood As I watch my breath exhale Deciduous stand like naked shadows Maybe I will touch you in the morning mist Boots kick up autumnal confetti in a myriad of seasonal colours Sunlight traces the edges and I am trapped within stained glass

About David Driver I am a writer, poet and broadcaster born and bred in Yorkshire. My poetry comes in a multitude of genres. Short stories are also a passion of mine and I have also written a Sci-Fi novel for younger readers. My books are available from Amazon and Bradford Libraries. Every Tuesday, 7pm â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 10pm, I broadcast `The Writers Bookshelf`. You can listen on 103.5FM or online at Drystoneradio. com The show gives a voice to writers, authors and poets at all levels in their career and helps promote their work.

I dance lonely to the rhythm of two

http://www.andwethought.com

FIRST INTRODUCTIONS

truly an enemy invited you here. Where is here?

BY WILNONA MARIE

No one knows but scenery is great and the Indian Ocean sparkles like the towel boys sweat glistening in the sun after a quickie is done.

Do you wonder when it was that you met the World—really met the World? When did the World stick out its hand and say hello? Were there awkward stares in an elevator until someone broke the silence on a twenty-onefloor ride? Was the introduction in a waiting room with nothing to do but glance at one another? What happened to the traditional sit down chat or the cordial “Nice to meet you, too”? I mean, before it came for your college dreams or asked for money you didn’t have, did it ever have the courtesy to say, “Hi my name is World, and you are?” Yes, before the IRS made you a number. Why didn’t I get introduced before you asked for yours?

MAKING RAPID/ JET SET JELLO

Step

two

Jet set is Jell-O when the powder is poured in and hot water added. The steaming delights of the beautiful life in exotic settings, smells so delicious. The olfactory picks up strawberry as fake as dehydrated mixture being stirred. Round and round recycled Women with stick figures of glamour. Disposal Men beautiful in the second on toys dispensable like pen. Done with one, pop in another.

Step

three

Jet set is like Jell-O when the cold water and ice hit it. The aromas that whet the whistle dissipate as the true nature of the beast dehydrates the youth required to mix in this crowd. Free flowing movements slows as skin slacks and cellulite shows. Doors close behind the set and a sweet final landing to the jet is all that is left. Somehow it feels artificial.

short cut

Jet set a Jell-O by sticking it in the freezer of memories past, the has been days relived glory.

BY ALEXIS ROSE & WILNONA MARIE

Step

one

Jet set is Jell-O. Wobbly, like your friends that crowd you on a boat, a friend of a friend that is

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Thoughtful Book Award Winners

GINA FATTORE THOUGHTFUL HUMOR AWARD

ten the eighteenth-century writer who invented the chick lit novel and inspired Jane Austen to greatness.

Buy your copy of The Spinster Diaries at all bookstores

Gina Fattore is a television writer and producer whose credits include Dare Me, Better Things, UnREAL, Masters of Sex, Parenthood, Californication, Gilmore Girls, and Dawson’s Creek. Before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in television writing, she was an assistant editor at the Chicago Reader. Her essays, reviews, and comedy pieces have appeared there and also in Entertainment Weekly, Lit Hub, Salon, and McSweeney’s Internet Tendency. Her TEDx talk on being a spinster — “Become What You Believe” — has more than 16,000 views, and her debut novel, The Spinster Diaries, was released in April 2020 by Prospect Park Books. A semi-autobiographical unromantic comedy, The Spinster Diaries is a laugh-out-loud Hollywood satire about the TV business—as well as the true tale of Frances Burney, the forgot-

https://www.amazon.com/Spinster-Diaries-Novel-Gina-Fattore/dp/1945551739

http://www.andwethought.com

CORRINA LAWSON THOUGHTFUL POINT OF VIEW AWARD

stitute series, with some revisions and brand new covers; revised and updated editions, again with new covers of the three books in the alternate history Seneca series; and The Curse of the Brimstone Contract, book 1 in the Steampunk Detectives series. It also includes two brand new books: Love’s Inferno, an erotic standalone romance, and A Hanging at Lotus Hall, the Steampunk Detectives book 2.

Corrina Lawson is a former newspaper reporter with a degree in journalism from Boston University. A mom of four, she now works from home writing romance novels with a geeky twist, as a sci-fi and fantasy blogger for Barnes & Noble, and is a founding editor of GeekMom. com. THE BOOKS OF CORRINA LAWSON: STEAMPUNK, SUPERHEROES AND STRANGE NEW WORLDS! All of Corrina’s past stories are available again for readers! This includes all six books in the Phoenix Inhttp://www.andwethought.com

ROCHELLE ALERS THOUGHTFUL ROMANCE AWARD

in print, Ms. Alers is a regular on the Waldenbooks, Borders and Essence bestseller lists, and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Gold Pen Award, the Emma Award, Vivian Stephens Award for Excellence in Romance Writing, the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and the Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award.

This years best selling, award-winning nominee has a long and illustrious career writing romance. She built a career on being the best and was writingromance when the industry was not to kind to romance writers. Rochelle Alers has been hailed by readers and booksellers alike as one of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most prolific and popular African American authors of womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fiction. With nearly two million copies of her novels http://www.andwethought.com

TJ MCKAY THOUGHTFUL PERSPECTIVE AWARD

most famous (and fun) authors and celebrities but was increasingly becoming aware of all the very talented and interesting authors that were not afforded media exposure simply because they chose to self or small publish rather than accept the strictures of the large mainstream publishers. InD'tale magazine was founded to meet this ever growing need. Since its launch in May of 2012, InD'tale has grown at an incredible rate and is fast becoming THE place to look for cutting edge information, top echelon interviews, honest and professional book reviews, interesting and entertaining articles, even educational columns to answer any questions one might have. InD'tale also offers a variety of promotional opportunities geared to help authors gain added and important exposure. From the "Book Bargains" flyer, to the "InD'tale suggests" highlights, along with the "Rising Star Spotlight" or even the "InD'Introduces" column, there is truly something for everyone and a way for all to shine.

Thoughtful Perspectives Award TJ is the founder and publisher of InDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Tale Magazine, devoted to Indie authors, and to improving the opportunities for the Indie author. Each year, they give indie authors a chance to be acknowledged in the Rone Awards. For their continuous promotion of those that would go unseen, she received the perspective award.

About InD'Tale

i s c o v e r

about

InD'tale Magazine at https:// indtale.com/

InD'tale magazine was conceived while I was working as the Special Features Editor and a book reviewer for a traditionally published magazine. There, I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting and interviewing some of the industry's http://www.andwethought.com

KEVIN E. WEST Thoughtful Non-Fiction

and dozens more found on IMDB. In the Summer of ’18 Kevin wrapped shooting on The UnHealer, starring Lance Henriksen and Natasha Henstridge. Kevin has been a public speaker since 1991, with more than 1500 appearances and began his career as a Stand-up Comic and Improv artist. Kevin, is also a bad-ass walking paradox — being equal parts creative Pisces and redneck third-baseman tough. Sure, Kevin has spent three decades working in Hollywood but his humble beginnings looked far more like Tom Sawyer at 12 starring in the movie, Deliverance. From the rural woods outside of Nashville (’69) to shooting Emmy-Award Winning television shows, with multiple accents, Kevin speaks unabashedly from his core about the importance of clear communication, proper preparation and the core of your skills.

The recipient of the thoughtful book Awards for non fiction Kevin E. West. Kevin writes about life and politics, giving the reader a new perspective on both subjects through anecdotes.

About Kevin Kevin E. West is both a Hollywood veteran television actor and a bad-ass Keynote speaker with over 65 plus credits including Guest Stars on Hawaii 5-0, Criminal Minds, Aquarius, Bones, Castle, Touch, CSI: Miami, Justified, Leverage, Lost, 24, Desperate Housewives, NCIS, Alias, CSI, Judging Amy, all the way back to Matlock

In November of 2019, Kevin’s third book was published, by TitleTown publishing. Politics…in a Word is a companion book in the Gift Book series entitled Kevin’s Dictionary. The original publication, Kevin’s second book, is Life…in a Word which was published in the fall of 2018. Life…in a Word is a creative, unique, poignant and endearing perspective at how we define a word based on a vignette of life. Both of these publications follow Kevin’s initial author effort, 7 Deadly Sins: The Actor Overcomes, published in June of 2016 and is an expert educational culmination of Kevin’s 30+ years of expertise in the business of show business, for actors.

http://www.andwethought.com

Books You Should Read

PULPWOOD QUEENS FOUNDER: KATHY L MURPHY

should entertain, enlighten, and educate without being preachy. “We don’t want to be a homework book club. We want to read books that help us entertain.”

BY BRANDY M. MILLER

The stack of books that Kathy goes through to find the 12 books that she will recommend the following year is at least two feet tall, if not taller. “It’s getting to be so hard because everybody’s sending their books. You want to help everybody, but I can only pick 12 books of the month.” Her recent solution has been to pick bonus books that she recommends.

While Oprah Winfrey’s book club is the largest, Pulpwood Queens is the largest international meeting and discussing book club, spanning 15 countries with over 800 chapters in the United States alone. “It’s been kind of insane. I had no idea this would happen.” She started the club because books saved her, and she wanted to get together with others who loved books the way she did. The books the club reads are diverse. “You can’t really put us in a box. We read books from all over the world, across all genres. The only thing we do not read is erotica.” Her goal for the books she selects is that they

The coming year’s selections will focus on including more foreign authors. “We’ve always been global and diverse, but we’re even going more so because we’re spreading so far.” Some of the first people to wish her happy birthday this year were from Calcutta, India and West Australia. While she will still have just the 12 books of the month, along with 12 bonus books for her more voracious readers, she will also be offering 12 international books. She’s found that different parts of the US like different types of books. “The Pacific Northwest loves suspense, murder, and murder mystery. The South loves their southern tales, their Pat Conroy’s. I’m trying to get everybody to read everything, because that’s really what helps authors.” Encountering diverse view points doesn’t just benefit authors, though. It benefits readers, too. It literally changes the way they see the world, which is something Kathy strives to do with her book selections. “Growing up in a small town in Kansas that didn’t even have a book store, we had the library. I read every book in that library.

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And I Thought Literary Magazine PULPWOOD QUEENS FOUNDER: KATHY L MURPHY (CONT.)

October 2020

You can find out more about the Pulpwood Queen’s Book club at https://www.thepulpwoodqueens.com/.

Books saved me.”

Connect with Kathy online at

That’s something she talks about in her book, The Pulpwood Queens’ Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life. “Books are so important to me. They saved me. I have literally devoted my entire life to promoting authors, books, literacy, reading, and anything that pertains to storytelling because storytelling is what connects us as a community.”

Twitter: @PulpwoodQueen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ thepulpwoodqueen/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ kathy-l-murphy-2b13168/

Connect

with the

Pulpwood Queens

https://www.thepulpwoodqueens.com/

Sign

up for the book club. of the

http://www.andwethought.com

Sisterhood.

part

THE

FOG

Interview

LADIES: MATTERS

with

FAMILY

Author Susan McCormick

BY WILNONA MARIE

can count on San Francisco early morning fog burning off by midday. I wanted older characters because I have always enjoyed meeting older women, hearing their stories, understanding their point of view, since that first apartment building in San Francisco, to my mother’s dining table at her retirement community, and as a doctor with my many elderly patients. I created the Fog Ladies, with all their quirks and idiosyncrasies, then concocted murders around them and set a killer loose in their building.

2) What

advice do you give to writers who

want to write their first novel?

Do it. As a doctor and an author, time is my enemy, as it is for most people. I write in the early morning hours, and any time I have available to write, I write. If the words aren’t flowing, I try another angle or a different scene, anything to excite me.

1) Why

did you write your book?

Years ago, I lived in an elegant apartment building in San Francisco similar to the one in the book, and being the cozy murder mystery lover that I was, I thought it would make the perfect enclosed-type setting for a cozy mystery, where tenants of all ages live together and know each others’ secrets and where there is nowhere to hide when a killer is afoot. The name of the book and the idea for the group of women came instantly, before anything else about the story. They call themselves the Fog Ladies because you can count on them like you

This is a secret to life no matter what your profession. Show up, with enthusiasm. A cruder way to say this is “butt in seat.” As a doctor in a training hospital, this secret applies to our medical residents trying to further their medical knowledge base. It applies to students in college, to my first job as a shopping mall Easter Bunny, to my second job as secretary, to my weirdest job as a mate on a sport fishing boat (which required showing up at five a.m.), and to my jobs as a doctor and author. Putting in the time and looking forward to putting in the time (or pretending to) go a long way to a successful career. For writing, it also helps to have imagination and a talent for storytelling.

http://www.andwethought.com

And I Thought Literary Magazine THE FOG LADIES: FAMILY MATTERS (CONT.)

3) What

can readers expect to glean from your book?

The Fog Ladies books are cozy murder mysteries with spunky senior sleuths and an overtired, overstressed young medical resident who find themselves up against murder, in this book discovering that marriage can be deadly. The book touches on grieving and loss, diminished abilities, cricked toes and hearing loss, all with deference and humor.

4)Why

October 2020

dp/1509233075/ https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ the-fog-ladies-susan-mccormick/1137457639 https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-fog-ladies-family-matters/id1526067766

Find

the book at

Major Bookstores

online

is your book important in this day and age

With their special bond of friendship, we can all aspire to have a group like the Fog Ladies to see us through hard times. They have experienced life together, from young wives watching their husbands go off to work, to parents of teens with troubles, to retirement with their husbands underfoot, to growing old with ailments and walkers and hearing loss, to widowhood and grieving and emptiness and loss, to wanting more from life and grabbing it with gusto. I explore themes of growing old, love among people of all ages, mistakes - some serious enough to end lives -, even parenting as the Fog Ladies try to mentor an uninterested teen mother and meet families in distress, and of course, murder. Though it all, the Fog Ladies know they can count on each other to help them through.

5)When

does your book come out and where

can readers purchase your book?

Release day for Book 2 is Oct 7! The book can be ordered from your local bookstore, or purchased through these links. The audiobook can be ordered through the Amazon link (Audible). https://www.amazon. com/Fog-Ladies-Matters-Francisco-Mystery/

http://www.andwethought.com

Connect with Susan Online At: https://susanmccormick.com/

and

THE PARIS HOURS Interview

with

Author Alex George

BY WILNONA MARIE

editing process. Can you say: tax deductible plane ticket?

2) What

advice do you give to writers who

want to write their first novel?

First of all, a caveat: I know a lot of writers, and no two people work in the same way. So all I can tell you is what I’ve found to be effective for me. I have no idea if it will work for anyone else. Basically it’s this: slow and steady wins this race. Find a time and a place where you can write regularly, and without interruptions. Once you have done that, defend it with your life. Show up and put your butt in your seat and write, and don’t worry too much about whether it’s any good. You can always edit it later – but only if there are words there to edit. Turn off the internet. Seriously. And read as much as you possibly can. There’s a book called The War of Art by Stephen Pressfield that demystifies the process quite well. I recommend it.

1) Why

did you write your book?

I write because it’s the only reliable way I’ve found to keep my head on my shoulders. Telling stories grounds me. Diving into the details of other, imaginary lives is a way to find some much-needed distance from my own, and it’s how I discover truths about myself. Plus, you know, it keeps me out of mischief. This particular book arose from a long-harbored obsession with Paris. I went to school there when I was a kid and worked there for a year in my early 20s. I’ve always wanted to set a novel there, and it was fun to do all the research needed to make the thing ring true. I also went back a couple of times during the writing and

3) What

can readers expect to glean from your book?

I hope, in addition to telling a really good story (actually four really good stories) that this book offers readers a fresh perspective on Paris. People imagine that they know the city – after all, its symbol is the most recognizable piece of architecture on the planet – but of course Paris is about so much more than the tourist destinations. Real people live there! I hope people will gain a better sense of what the city is really like. I chose to set the book in the 1920s because of the explosion of mind-boggling artistic creativity that took place there after the First World War, and some of the real-life

http://www.andwethought.com

And I Thought Literary Magazine THE PARIS HOURS (CONT.) characters from the period make an appearance, which I hope people will find interesting.

4)Why

is your book important in this day and age

Good books should hold up a mirror to readers and show them something about their lives. I hope the stories contained in The Paris Hours do that – the characters that inhabit its pages are flawed and human, as we all are. And as most of us continue to practice self-isolation and we miss our friends and communities, the book reminds us that we remain, in some essential way, all connected. Also in these Covidian times, when we’re all more or less stuck in place, I think the book offers readers an opportunity to do some armchair travel to Europe. I think we all need to escape a little bit these days.

5) When

does your book come out and where

can readers purchase your book?

The Paris Hours was published in May this year, and is available in all good bookshops. If you can, please support your local independent bookstore. If you can’t get there in person, most of them have online e-commerce and will happily ship. The book is also on amazon, of course, but please don’t buy it from there. If you purchase from Skylark Bookshop in Columbia, MO, I’ll sign and personalize it for you.

http://www.andwethought.com

October 2020

A PLACE AT THE TABLE An Interview

with

Laura Shovan

BY WILNONA MARIE

sidering collaborating on a project, my advice is to go for it – with the understanding that it will be a different process than working alone. Saadia and I came up with a general plot together, then wrote an outline, clarifying which scenes would be told in which one of our protagonists’ point of view. We gave ourselves permission to stray from that outline. Saadia and I came up with new ideas for scenes when we were chatting on the phone. Those real conversations enriched the fictional friendship between our two eleven year old characters.

3. What

should readers expect to get from this book?

We hope that readers will gain new insights into the joys and stresses that are specific to being a first generation American kid. There is a lot of food in A Place at the Table, because our characters are kitchen partners in a cooking club.

1. Why

did you write the book?

When I was growing up, I was a big reader. But there were no stories that reflected my experience of being first generation American (on one side). I wanted to write a middle grade novel about what it’s like to be an American when your parent comes from another country.

2. What

advice do you want to give writers about writing a book?

I collaborated on A Place at the Table with another author, Saadia Faruqi. If writers are con-

Expect to be hungry! But we won’t leave you hanging. There is one recipe in the back of the book and additional instructions for dishes the characters make are available on my website. (Try the tahari rice to start.)

4. Why

do you think your book is important in this day and age?

The characters of Sara Hameed and Elizabeth Shainmark are Muslim (Sara) and Jewish (Elizabeth). One of the most important themes in the book is how faith traditions are a source of comfort for many kids, but also something that they wrestle with. The two girls see common ground in their

http://www.andwethought.com

And I Thought Literary Magazine THE PARIS HOURS (CONT.) marginalized religions, rather than differences.

5. Where

can people get the book?

A Place at the Table is available at all retailers, in stores and online. If you would like a bookplate signed by both me and Saadia, they are available from Brazos Books in Houston, The Ivy Bookshop in Baltimore, and Politics & Prose in Washington, DC

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October 2020

Dress Like a Lady

WHISPERS Interview with Author & Director Bonné Bartron INTERVIEW BY WILNONA MARIE

trary to what society wants to hear

What

did you learn while writing the book?

I spent countless hours on the CIA’s website (yes, I’m sure I’m on a number of lists now lol) as well as blogs, different news sources, propaganda sites and I even ventured the dark-web… lite version. I discovered how susceptible we are to brainwashing if it’s wrapped well. We all need to help each other.

What

inspired you to write this book?

I discovered a massive conspiracy that’s happening right now. I was so transfixed by this narrative and what it represented to the American people as a whole, I dove deep into the information surrounding it. I have done my own research and feel an urgency to share it

Can

you tell me about the book?

Three sisters must learn to see through fake news to discover who kidnapped Tilly, Emily’s daughter. Along the way they encounter a group of “truth tellers” formed for the sole purpose of exposing a ring of high-profile pedophiles. Mister Tasty Treats tells children he “hears every whisper”. It’s also a play on the whispers surrounding predatory “open secrets” as well as how we treat information we think runs con-

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