ePICK Magazine

2017: THE YEAR AHEAD

Celebrating Talent INSIDE: interviews and close-up looks at books, art, programs, and projects made by creative people.

The Creative Age is Here Today’s writers, artists, and talent-driven brands are building successful businesses out of their creative careers.

VOLUME ONE | ISSUE ONE

www.ePICKmagazine.com

CONTENT 05 REBECCA FORSTER

20 DR. ALEX AVILA

07 TINA GARRETT THE ART OF THE DANCE

22 AMY NEWMAN

09 ED BINKLEY

24 PHIL RINK

10 ROBIN BLAKELY

27 BRYAN ALLEN

12 AMERICAN SOCIETY OF BAKING

29 CAROLYN ARNOLD

15 TIM RAGLIN

31 GLSHF

16 STEVE SCEARCY

33 ROBERT DAVID JAFFEE

THE VERDICT IS IN: HER BOOKS ARE BINGE-WORTHY

OLD WORLD MASTER...HIGH-TECH TWIST

SUCCESS HAS A STORYLINE

THE LEGENDS AND THE ROCK STARS: BAKING

MYSTERIES SOLVED BY DOG DETECTIVES

SMALL TOWN STORIES... BIG TIME LAUGHS

18 FRANK ROBERT DIXON OVERCOMING FEAR

THE PSYCHOLOGY BEHIND TRUE LOVE

SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION

BOOKS BOYS LOVE TO READ

THE PHOTO ARTIST

BIG SUCCESS STORY

#HEALTHYLEESSUMMIT

THE COURAGE TO BE HEARD

34 BIG DREAMS TOUR HELPING YOUNG TALENT

EDITOR'S LETTER Get ready to celebrate real talent.

This issue of ePICK magazine is packed with inspiring glimpses of great artists, writ­ ers, photographers, coaches, speakers, and consultants.

These fascinating individuals are located geographically in spots across the United States and Canada.

Our appreciation to each and every one featured on the following pages.

EDITORIAL TEAM Garrett Stroginis Melanie Geiss SG Johnston Suzanne Helmig Joy Hall

A giant thanks to the passionate team who helped plan, write, and design this issue.

Special thanks to Creative Center of America for believing in the power of dreamers.

Above all, thanks to you, our first readers, for digging into our stories and helping us grow.

inis

Garrett Strog

GARRETT STROGINIS

More than 2

The

Her Bo

CAUTION: this read Yes, binge-worthy.

USA Today and Amazon Rebecca Forster is the c suspense novels that hun devouring.

Her long-running Witnes example. The heroine is lawyer with a troubled pa with courtroom conflicts pins and needles, a nonyou’ll love, and twisting psychologically intense th until you finally run out of

The Witness series offers a for fans who love suspense of the behind-the-scenes l

“I’ve been a serious lega Rebecca explains. “As a w quest for justice often happ of family secrets, blood grittiness. All of my books on where and how ethics, and desperation come into

Rebecca’s interest in jus condition began decades the guy she loves. Her hus

million downloads for best-selling author Rebecca Forster

Verdict is In:

ooks Are Binge-Worthy

ding marathon is more than an all-nighter—it could last for days

n best-selling author creator of 14 thrilling ngry readers can’t stop

ss series is a prime Josie Bates, a smart ast. Josie’s life is filled s that keep you on -traditional family who plotlines that are so hat you can’t fall asleep pages.

a seven-book marathon e and can’t get enough look at the law.

al voyeur for decades.” writer, I know that the pens against a backdrop feuds, and shocking s shed meaningful light morality, desire, greed o the justice equation.”

stice and the human ago when she married sband is a Los Angeles

Superior Court judge with an extensive legal career that has included headline-grabbing cases ranging from murder to organized crime to terrorism.

story of the shunned cop that grabs my heart.

Finn is a man who is trapped by his past in his own justice-seeking maze. The second book hits the shelves in 2017.”

Curiosity about his work led Rebecca to developing a deep passion of her very own for the field. A stickler for realistic details, she has spent hundreds of hours observing trials, researching legal points, traveling halfway around the globe to explore ancient laws, and socializing with the movers and shakers who work in the California law enforcement community and court system.

www.rebeccaforster.com

Behind the compelling storylines, her books cast an educated yet objective eye on what she observes.

Rebecca says, “The search for justice carries an unrelenting pressure. Good people are painfully aware that two sides exist to every story. At every encounter, someone wins, someone loses and lives can be changed forever. The responsibility is colossal.”

That harsh reality helped inspire the Finn O’Brien thrillers.

Rebecca says, “The new series starts with the murders of two children and their nanny. The truth behind the crimes is shocking but it’s the

epickmagazine | 5

THE ART OF

A

F THE DANCE

Artist Tina Garrett stops time to catch the vision of surrender and rhythm of the Tango.

With auto focus precision, the right shutter speed and aperture, a camera can capture a dancer’s leap at its apex. But even photographic precision only captures what is physically in the scope of the lens. The gift of master painter Tina Garrett is to see beyond the photographic realism to reveal the essence of the moment. Tina’s oil paintings capture a mesmerizing world, transcending static reality through paintings that breath and even sing.

Lately, Tina has focused her attention on the art of the Tango dance.

Tina says, “My intention in each brushstroke is to show the viewer what I see and what I feel when experiencing these remarkable dancers. It is their spirit and the mystery of the dance itself that I strive to reflect in my Tango Nights series. To capture that magical, almost-invisible something that makes you feel you yourself are in that passionate moment.”

An award-winning Master level artist, she has been recognized by the National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Society Signature Member Guild as a Master and the prestigious Art Renewal Center recognized her with an ARC Associate Living Master designation. Determined to finally follow her dream, Tina began painting less than 5 years ago but now finds herself in the art capitals of the world showing her work and teaching others. In that short period of time she has gained a family of collectors across the U.S and in the U.K. Upon first glance, viewers of her art often express their own emotion as they catch their breath enraptured. One art collector notes: “The portrait Tina painted for us is pure joy. I love the way the light falls on our faces, it takes me right back to the moment there on the beach where we were married. I can almost smell the beach when I look at it.

The night after my husband’s heart attack, I came home, put the kids to bed and looked at that painting on the wall…it brought me so much comfort and joy.”

Tina remains modest. “You know, I absolutely love what I do. When I paint, I play music and dance as I work. In an interesting sort of way, my paintings reflect a dance of a different kind—between my heart and my work, between my work and my collector. It’s such an honor to create both my art work and so many loving relationships.” www.tinagarrett.com

Tina

Garrett b.1974

In 2012, based on her self-taught pastel portraiture, the Scottsdale Artists’ School awarded Tina the first of two merit scholarships and she began working in oil immediately falling in love. And that is precisely what happens to Tina with every piece she paints.

In the few short years since Tina’s introduction to oil painting she has studied intently the Selective Start Method described in Alla Prima by Living Master Artist and Author Richard Schmid, studied in workshops and private lessons with Romel de la Torre and workshops with Casey Baugh, Aaron Westerberg, Lisa Gloria, Jeremy Lipking, Tim Deibler, Michelle Dunaway, Stanka Kordic and others. In the course of her serious pursuit of fine art mastery, the love Tina pours into each work pervades her imagery, helping Tina create a growing family of private collectors and commissioned clients throughout the U.S. and U.K. Tina can be found painting and teaching private lessons at her Lee’s Summit, Missouri studio and teaches workshops across the U.S. and in Italy in 2017 and South Africa in 2018.

Tina is proud to accept Master Artist designation through the National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Society Signature Member Guild and an ARC Associate Living Master designation by the Art Renewal Center.

epickmagazine | 7

Old World Master.

8 | epickmagazine

High-Tech Twist.

WACOM WIZARD

Fairytale Moments by One of the Best Digital Artists on the Globe Ed Binkley draws almost entirely with a medium-sized Wacom tablet in Photoshop. He has a small array of custom brushes – maybe a dozen that he uses often, but only two that he uses 90% of the time. Ed works digitally but his sketches and finished illustrations look like old world masterpieces— created with tools that seem so high tech and futuristic that they might as well be magic.

But it wasn’t always that way.

Like many artists, Ed got started with ordinary pen and paper.

He switched his craft to fully digital about 2005. He says the computerized approach makes him bolder and able to focus even more deeply on the imaginary world he loves.

To Ed and his fans, the stories he imagines are as amazing as the mysterious process he uses to create them. Ed explains: “I write the stories in my mind before capturing the best scene. The

story behind the images drives everything I do. It’s always the story that helps me make my decisions about the finer details and subtleties of each drawing.”

Like ‘Anna Stealing the Dragon Child.’

Ed’s extraordinary illustration is so detailed that it deserves a bestselling novel to accompany it.

Ed explains his original inspiration: “I’ve read multiple stories of dragons abducting maidens, and for this drawing I changed the traditional tale. In my story, I imagine a maiden’s younger sister planning a counter-abduction in order to negotiate her sibling’s return. It’s a dangerous business, dragon-stealing…but Anna is a fearless and savvy girl.”

One look tells you his assessment is true…and it also explains why Ed Binkley has been named one of the world’s best digital fantasy artists. www.edbinkley.com epickmagazine | 9

WHAT CREATIVE TYPES NEED FOR SUCCESS FROM A TOP COACH How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice.

At least, that’s what the old adage says. But many a talented writer and artist have practiced only to find success elusive. Most will blame it on never getting the proverbial big break. Many will silently lament that they just weren’t good enough. But Robin Blakely, CEO of Creative Center of America and a member of the Forbes Coaches Council, knows that talented people labor in obscurity for one simple reason: they don’t have a clear plan for success—their creative brand is missing its storyline.

With over 20 years of deep experience, Robin’s life work centers around crafting the custom storyographies that writers and artists need to bring structure---and a sense of peace---to the common chaos of creative careers. The proof is in the results. Robin has guided hundreds of successful creative entrepreneurs up the road less traveled to reach professional achievements that once seemed impossible. From best-selling authors to high-demand speakers, fine artists to graphic designers, Robin has the magic touch that puts her clients on a clear, defined, achievable track to creative and financial success.

“I help creative people understand who they are, calculate where they want to be, and then decide what they need to do to reach the success they want,” Robin explains. “It’s a special kind of plotting and planning that blends business with creativity. So, of course, it’s fun.”

Fun because Robin ignites the same parts of the imagination used to create a novel or begin a painting. Her STORYography Cards illustrate choices that make ideas tangible so that creatives of all kinds can work through the ‘x’ and ‘y’ formula of success in a game-like environment. The concept is innovative and Robin’s work has not gone unnoticed. Robin was recently named to The Forbes Coaches Council, signifying recognition of her own success.

“I am an expert at goal attainment for talented people.” Robin says. “The magic part is knowing how to craft the unique storyline for the success that is authentic to you.” www.creativecenterofamerica.com ROBIN BLAKELY

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SUCCESS H

HAS A STORYLINE

The Legends & The

BAKING

THERE’S A WHOLE LOTTA BAKIN’ GOING ON During the Great Depression, a woman whose son suffered from allergies figured out a way to make bread that her boy could eat. She shared her recipe with the world and raised sales of that bread from 100 loaves per week to 1 million loaves per week over the next 25 years. Her story is part of the legacy of a once-small company that is now globally known—Pepperidge Farm.

The American Society of Baking (ASB) knows the incredible stories of the baking brands. As the professional organization for the wholesale baking industry, ASB preserves and builds upon the history and the heritage of the pioneers and innovators behind the brands that have been feeding the country for decades.

“Our members are America’s leading experts in grain-based bakery products,” said Kent Van Amburg, Executive Director of American Society of Baking. “ASB members include commercial baking professionals; food technologists; and engineering, equipment, and ingredient experts who are dedicated to advancing baking and 12 | epickmagazine

baking science technology.”

The American Society of Baking is also the creative force that produces BakingTECH, the baking industry’s annual technology conference and marketplace exposition. Van Amburg explains: “BakingTECH is the best opportunity for the baking world to come together as a community to share cutting-edge information about the industry, discover new technology opportunities, and collaborate with experts industry-wide.”

Recognized as the industry’s ‘Best Week in Baking,’ BakingTECH is scheduled in Chicago in late February each year and is attended by more than 1000 baking professionals. The conference features lectures and educational workshops from iconic business leaders, top motivational speakers, and industry experts. It also showcases special awards ceremonies to celebrate outstanding innovation and entrepreneurial spirit by those who have reached legendary status in the field and those who are showing rock star potential.

e Rock Stars:

ASB’s Baking Hall of Fame honors the industry’s legends.

Awards are given for outstanding achievements in organizational growth and development, equipment design and modernization, advancements in ingredient technology, processing and related services for America’s commercial baking industry. Van Amburg says, “Our Hall of Fame recipients are truly iconic in the industry. The contributions, innovations, and leadership of these people are incredibly inspirational.”

ASB also shines the spotlight on the industry’s upand-coming rock stars. The ASB Product Development Competition is open to teams of college students nationwide. Finalists compete for $20,000 in scholarships. Van Amburg says, “Our competition is an extraordinary way for the baking industry to discover and help launch the careers of exceptional individuals.

It’s education and networking at its best.”

BakingTECH 2017 will be held at the Chicago Hilton on Feb 26- 28, 2017. www.asbe.org/bakingtech

epickmagazine | 13

MYSTERIES SOLVED BY

DOG DETECTIVES

Top Illustrator Tim Raglin brings style and sophistication to fun mystery series.

Tim Raglin started drawing as a kid. Now, his work delights the child in everyone...no matter what age.

Tim is the illustrator behind more than two dozen children’s books that have won multiple awards. He has created bestselling greeting cards and provided illustrations to clients such as The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Sports Illustrated, Smithsonian, Rolling Stone, Time, Newsweek, Sesame Street, Walt Disney Productions, Boston Children’s Theater, and more. Tim’s work has also included turning his illustrations into children’s videos one narrated by Robin Williams and another by Jack Nicholson—both won Grammys.

Although Tim’s designs usually feature animals, his longstanding love for history and old films give his work a distinct feel of humanity—at its most stylish.

a Hollywood casting director. So, a brave Scottie and an inquisitive West Highland Terrier are natural heroes in his dog detective series. A blustery but soft-hearted bulldog has the starring role in his Uncle Mugsy franchise, written by bestselling author Eric Metaxas.

Tim’s artwork has received multiple honors that include the Silver Medal from the New York Society of Illustrators, appearances in “The Original Art Show: The Best in Children’s Books,” the Reader’s Choice Award, Parent’s Choice Awards and “Notable Kansas Book” by the State Library.

Tim’s latest book is Footsteps in Katmandudu. It’s the second book in his Scott and West series. www.timraglin.com

He imagines that if animals could choose their surroundings, they’d enjoy the sophistication of the 1930’s era. They would certainly have tailored clothing and impeccable manners, which, he explains, is why his dogs are drawn with their tails tucked politely in their perfectly tailored pants.

In Tim’s world, animals are the character actors that can physically convey the emotions and expressions visually needed for Tim’s funny tales.

He approaches his artwork with the skill and intensity of

epickmagazine | 15

HOMETOWN HUMORIST SMALL TOWN STORIES. BIG TIME LAUGHS. Some of this guy’s stories can make you laugh out loud.

Others will touch your heart. All lead to little gems of unexpected wisdom about enjoying the moment—every moment.

Hometown humorist Steve Scearcy is brimming with small town stories about the life and times of living far, far away from the city. He is some kind of Jeff Foxworthy and Robert Fulghum powerhouse, except Steve sings, plays a ukulele, and has a wildly distinctive laugh.

“I love the tiny speck on the map where I grew up.” Steve says. “Everything I need to know about life, I learned in my small town. Small towns are where real ‘characters’ are raised. If you come from a small town, you carry that special light with you the rest of your life.”

And, that special light doesn’t go away no matter where you wander—and Steve has wandered to some very interesting places.

From the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC to stages and ballrooms in London and Edinburg, Steve Scearcy has entertained and inspired audiences around the world.

He is an award-winning playwright, author, and professional speaker. His extensive background in entertainment includes writing and producing with Academy Award-winner Earnest Borgnine, working with sports legends Mohammad Ali and

16 | epickmagazine

Hank Aaron, writing comedy specials with comedian Marty Allen, and much more.

Steve’s books have been endorsed by people like comedian Jeff Foxworthy and Chicken Soup for the Soul author Jack Canfield.

Steve’s hometown humor has some big city fans for a reason.

Steve explains, “Small towns make sure you have a special connection to those around you. I wholeheartedly believe you can take the character out of the small town but you can’t take the small town out of your character. In fact, don’t even try! Small towns make this world pretty great.”

Timeless lessons for the good life.

Steve’s brand speaks to audiences in a uniquely personal way.

His love of people is felt and audiences respond. Entertaining and informative, his warm style lets any audience relax and enjoy the moment.

This connection allows Steve to share information and messages that motivates people to action. Steve is on point entertaining, educating, and motivating from message to product Steve hometown style connects with audiences and delivers smiles and results.

w w w. S t e v e L a u g h s . co m

epickmagazine | 17

The fearful questions: Am I good enough?

Will they like me?

Will I look stupid?

Will I look dumb trying?

Do I have to do it all?

Can I do any of it?

How do I even start?

O V E R C O M I N G

FEAR Every writer and artist knows that conquering the troll is not easy.

In most areas of life, fear is the absolute biggest barrier between where you are and where you want to be. Fear can literally stop you from living the life you desire.

It’s the same thing in marketing. Metaphorically, the Troll represents all the fears, difficulties, and obstacles that separate you and your fans. The Troll personifies fears that are connected to the marketing of yourself and your work. Fear can hold you back from the success you deserve. For most writers and artists, these fears are some kind of monstrous mix about who you really are, who you think you should be, what you need to say about your work, how much valuable time you have to ‘waste’ on marketing, how to overcome shyness or modesty to do social media, and, for many of us, how not to press the wrong button and accidentally share the wrong things with everyone on the Internet. Somehow these common fears transform themselves figuratively into one monstrous troll that keeps you apart from your audience.

Crossing The Troll Bridge is a book about that troll. It was created by two old friends—a nationally known coach and an internationally known artist. Their big idea was to share the realities of the creative profession in an effort that might help creative people find a better and more enjoyable way to market themselves and their creative works. The project took three years for them to complete.

In the book, readers meet fantasy artist Frank Dixon and experience his artwork. When Frank was a kid, his mom read him the classic folktale about three billy goats who needed to cross an important bridge to reach the land of prosperity. The classic story unlocks a powerful lesson for building a successful creative life. Frank explores his concerns about marketing with business coach Robin Blakely, who has guided hundreds of artists through the mysterious space between big idea and marketing success.

Robin says, “Frank Robert Dixon is a true treasure. In the book and in real life, his focus is to give back to other creatives. He shares his deepest fears and his biggest worries openly. He illustrates the path so others can find their way faster. Working on this book with Frank was one of the best experiences of my life.”

The book is an illustrated marketing guide for artists and writers. It provides a big-picture view of the most important parts of building a creative career, which include honoring the creative identity, developing natural talent and skill, and taking solid control of your own professional dreams.

An award-winning artist, art instructor, and author of several art books, Frank Dixon studied art and illustration at Art Center College of Design and received his MFA in fine arts from California State University at Los Angeles. His background ranges from portrait artist on the Queen Mary, to award winning graphic designer/ illustrator for NASA, to a popular art instructor in Southern California. Most of Dixon’s paintings are created using watercolor and color pencils — sometimes adding glazes of oil paint to unify colors or drop them into shadow.

Robin Blakely is the CEO of Creative Center of America, the author of several business books, and a member of the Forbes Coaches Council. www.crossingthetrollbridge.com

www.frankrobertdixon.com

From the best-selling author of the cla

The Psychology Behind True Love Looking for true love?

If so, then it’s not just any guy you want, but the one who is completely and totally compatible with you—that dream guy who can help bring happiness to your life.

How do you find him?

Now, there’s a new scientifically proven way to find true love that has been developed by Dr. Alexander Avila, renowned love type psychologist. Dr. Avila explains, “It’s possible for every woman to find the true love of her life…if she takes steps to ask the right questions and recognize the compatible type of man who will resonate with who she is, at the deepest levels of a happy and harmonious relationship.”

So how does a single woman begin to do all that?

In Dr. Avila’s latest book, GuyTypes, he teaches you to quickly and efficiently identify your ideal man from four distinct Myers-Briggs personality types. GuyTypes is devoted to helping women understand how to clearly identify compatible mates in today’s timecrunched, mobile society. This modern manual helps you use social networking tools, as well as offline tips and strategies, in the new dating innovation known as “personality networking”—an efficient, yet hassle-free, approach to find lasting love for today’s on-the-go single.

GuyTypes lays out the love finding game plan in easy-to-follow steps. First, Dr. Avila focuses on pinpointing your own romantic style. The next step is defining what your love style actually looks like in a compatible guy. That’s where GuyTypes shines. Dr. Avila helps steer you past the superficial surface characteristics that can derail you from taking the best path toward real love.

Dr. Avila explains: “We all know it’s confusing out there. All types of guys are great! But this is about you. Your true love is a specific type of guy who shares, embraces, and adores your most important personality features. GuyTypes can help you find the longterm mate who resonates with you in the deepest level of love and commitment.” www.guytypes.com

Here’s a sneak peek at the four GuyTypes: Meaning Seeker:

Knowledge Seeker:

Excitement Seeker:

Security Seeker:

Intuitive and sensitive, and often creative. He will inspire you to achieve your greatness.

A brainiac. A problem solver. Insightful. His mind is one of his sexiest traits.

All about fun, excitement, and adventure. Journey to the mountaintop of pleasure and exploration.

Steady, reliable, familyorientated—the perfect loving man you can bring home…and keep.

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assic relationship book LOVETYPES

Shameless Self-Promotion Self-promotion isn’t easy. It can make you feel like you’re on trial; every word analyzed by a judge.

Ask Amy Newman about that…she knows what it’s really like.

Amy is the president of a California private dispute resolution company where she recruits and manages high power judges and justices—legal professionals who deal with celebrity divorces, probate and high-end business deals, and court cases that often are big enough to merit the title of breaking news. Amy works with them to individually promote their talents, skills, and career histories as they retire from Superior, Appellate & Federal Courts to build their private practices. Not an easy task!

Amy says, “Judges don’t like selfpromotion any more than you do! In fact, as an industry, they abhor it. But, like it or not, in today’s competitive business world, you must tell people about yourself to be remembered. It’s important—and completely possible-for you to stand in the spotlight with style and grace. That’s what selfpromotion is all about.”

AMY NEWMAN 22 | epickmagazine

Amy Newman is an exceptional selfpromotion coach. She has a passion for people, is highly creative, and has a degree in occupational therapy.

She loves teaching women and men how to stand out in their professional worlds without crossing the lines of decorum and protocol. She helps you become comfortable promoting yourself to the people who can make the biggest impact in your life—your boss, your clients, the headhunter.

But, self-promotion misunderstood.

is

often

Amy explains, “It is important to realize that self-promotion is more than a one-time thing. Sometimes it is as simple as finding the courage to sit up front in a meeting. Sometimes it is about introducing yourself to a group with clarity and finesse. Sometimes it is wearing a necklace that makes a statement. The reality is you have to be noticed! You have to stand out.”

Self-promotion should be shameless but for many people, it’s not. Many are afraid of the process.

Amy admits that she had to overcome some significant fears before she could promote herself shamelessly.

“As a young woman, I struggled to find my own place in life. I was fortunate to receive help from successful women mentors. They guided me to believe in myself, discover my strengths, overcome my fears, and define and focus on my abilities! Over time, I began to develop self-confidence.

Eventually, I started taking risks in my life. When I began to believe in myself, my life took off! The more I became empowered, the more I became inspired to do and accomplish things I never imagined! Early-on, I couldn’t even write a sentence, yet recently I published my first book, Eternally Single, A New Generation of Women!

‘I CAN’T’ is no longer a phrase in my vocabulary! Believe it or not you can feel this way too. You can do it. I can guide you!” www.eternallysingle.com

Books Boys Love TO

READ

Girls read; boys don’t. Except that boys can read and boys do read...when they have books that are appealing.

Enter author Phil Rink and his Jimi and Isaac series written especially for middle school boys.

Like parents and educators around the globe, Rink is keenly aware of a troubling epiphany that traditional publishers may have spent the last two decades shortchanging today’s boys in a well-meaning but ill-fated effort to right an old wrong for today’s girls.

Rink says, “There’s no shortage of research on the reality that boys and girls read in different ways, for different 24 | epickmagazine

reasons, with different skill levels at different ages. But therein lies the rub. A multitude of changes in K-12 literature since the 1990s have surely played a devastating part in why many of today’s boys simply don’t like books. Gone are the inspiring boy heroes, the do-it-yourself boy thinkers, the boy inventors, the boy friendships, and the boy amazing adventures. If I were a boy, I wouldn’t read either.”

Rink is determined to stop the literary exodus of male readers by writing and publishing one page-turning book at a time.

“Instead of giving up on boys who don’t read, I decided to write stories that directly

appeal to boy readers on every level.” Rink explains.

This is how he does it. Rink, a professional inventor with a degree in engineering, creates his books the same way he approaches all his successful creations—by focusing on sound structure, choosing quality ingredients, and paying careful attention to the real needs of individuals who will use what he’s making.

“With the Jimi and Isaac series, I started with funny and strong male characters who are active and noisy and smart and silly—you know, real boys.

I placed these kids in real-world settings like school and home and soccer practice—the real

PRAISE FROM

“...Highly recommended for both its quality of writing and its superb handling of difficult subject matter...”

world of middle schoolers. Then, I gave them fun things to do and real problems to solve—like suddenly dealing with a new coach who wants a team to win at any cost.” Rink says.

“Readers are right there with Jimi and Isaac as they feel inspired and hopeful and irritated and amused.”

But Rink’s work offers more than great characters and realistic dialogue. He has paid attention to engineering high-level plots that easily unfold with strugglefree vocabulary and grammar.

“Boys need stories that grab their imagination. They need lead characters that reflect their own dispositions. They need all that engaging story stuff comfortably described with words that are in their reading development space.

So, I did that. My books are all short.

They are full of simple sentences and complex ideas. The protagonist is the antagonist, and all the important conflict is internal. It’s not what happens to the 10-to-12-year-old boy

that matters, it’s how he reacts that’s important. His friends and enemies and teachers and parents all help him when they’re hurtful and they get in his way when they try to be kind.

Success comes when the boy learns to think for himself and adapt advice and circumstance to fit his own plans.”

Rink wants his readers to say ‘the main character in the book is a kid just like me and there was another kid in the book that is just like my friend and they did something that was just like what me and my friends do except it was just a little bit different and it turned out great and now there’s this thing that I’ll try doing again because I think I know just what I need to do differently this time and maybe it will work.’

“My books help boys think things through.” Rink explains. “The boys I write for are planning when they stare off into space, not dreaming. My reader is the boy who thinks about the how-to. My reader is the kind of kid who will say to himself: ‘I’ll put

my shoulder into that guy and kick the ball with the outside top of my left foot and then my shot will curve into the corner of the goal.’ My readers are the guys who have spent their lives dropping pebbles into puddles to make ripples. They want to throw boulders into oceans, making waves that reach around the world.”

Rink know his readers. And, his Jimi and Isaac books are written for boys without short-changing the reader who might be a girl. Rink agrees.

“It’s true. My books are for boys and about boys, but girls like my books, too. That makes me happy because my books are specifically designed to offer a safe place for self-discovery. All kids—boys and girls—need a stable place to stand while they write the stories of their own lives. That’s what I’ve created.” www.jimiandisaacbooks.com

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The Photo A

Wonder of Make-Believe Meets Power o

Artist

of the Camera For an instant, you know anything is possible. That’s the magic of photo artist Bryan Allen.

He holds the wonder of make-believe in one hand and the power of his camera in the other. The challenge is to produce and blend images so convincingly that your imagination accepts the flight of fancy and literally sees what it wishes could be true.

Bryan is a master of mesmerism. And, as with the greatest of magicians, a lot of behind-the-scenes work is involved so that the audience can experience the full effect of his carefully orchestrated show.

Take the glowing fairy queen in the glass jar filled with fireflies.

“The captured fairy queen is real.” Bryan says. “The boys are real. The tiny crescent moon in the night sky is real. So is the house. But, not every element of the photo happened with one click of the camera.”

Nor did every element happen in the same location or on the same day. In fact, his concept required several photo shoots to tell the charming story that Bryan first pictured in his mind. When real fireflies weren’t cooperative enough, Bryan created a realistic model from clay, wood, and paint—part of the photographic magic to make it real.

It’s part of his artistic signature. Like his iconic “Lightning Catchers” illustration (featured in the filmstrip above).

When people first see the image, they often think that it is a painting—but everything is painstakingly real. The seed of the idea simmered for close to a year before a lightning storm triggered the final germination of the concept.

Then, Bryan pulled together the perfect characters to bring the vision to life.

And, as fantasy-focused as the image appears, it is based in realness. From the lightning in the jars to the strange lightning pole that the old woman uses to pull the electricity from the sky. All of it.

“That image represents the more complicated part of what I do.” Bryan explains. “I enjoy the production part of pulling ideas together seamlessly, so some of my work requires very elaborate planning.”

Other work is more straight forward.

“I do commercial photography.” Bryan explains. “They tell me that I have a style that captures the meaning of the story. A way of underscoring a brand message to evoke the feeling that words alone can’t fully express. I do have an active imagination and I know how to use the camera to persuade viewers to see what I see in my mind.”

Bryan also creates stock images that art directors can license or buy.

“I spend a significant amount of time every month traveling so I have the opportunity to capture the images of some very amazing people and places.”

Bryan says. “When I am on location, I like to work with local folks to shoot the native imagery that is often taken for granted. Sometimes my client is local and sometimes I serve as a correspondent for an outside entity that wants the image. My visitor’s eye can be very valuable for understanding what is really there.” www.bryan-allen.com epickmagazine | 27

She wants nothing more than to entertain the world with her words...

BIG

SUCCESS STORY

...She is crafting more than a caree putting together the pieces to crea

28 | epickmagazine

er; she is ate an empire.

Multiple Books

CAROLYN ARNOLD

Carolyn Arnold has rocketed to publishing success in just five years, accomplishing what many authors have taken much longer to achieve.

That is, if they ever do. From May 2011 through December 2016, she’s created twenty-six published books and four continuing series. While she is known primarily for crime fiction, she added a light-hearted mystery series in 2014 and an action adventure series in 2015, expanding her genre diversity.

By 2014, she was writing and selfpublishing full time, and in 2015, she incorporated her own publishing company, Hibbert & Stiles Publishing Inc.. At the start of 2016, her husband joined her company full time.

Her road to success began with her first novel. Ties That Bind was published in 2011 with the intention of it being the first book in a series starring a strong female detective—Madison Knight.

The book quickly gained popularity on Amazon, and by the fall of 2011, it was climbing the police procedural ranks. By the end of 2011, she’d added two more titles to her credit— the next book in the Madison Knight series and a novel entitled Eleven.

Initially released as a standalone title, Eleven’s popularity became such that

Carolyn dubbed it the first book in the Brandon Fisher FBI series. This series remains one of Carolyn’s bestsellers and has garnered rave reviews. In the spring of 2012, Ties That Bind was in the top five of the police procedural genre.

In less than two years, she’d published four books. From May 2011 through the end of 2012, Carolyn had four books under her belt, but she was just getting started.

In the spring of 2014 she launched the McKinley Mysteries series.

By the end of 2013, her release count had jumped to six, and in February 2014, Eleven officially became the first in the Brandon Fisher FBI series.

Due to her publishing success, Carolyn reduced her hours at her day job in 2013, and just a year later she was able to leave that employment entirely. This decision was the right one for her and was followed by even more success. Carolyn incorporated her own publishing company in June of 2015. June 2016 marked Carolyn’s fifth year as a published author. www.carolynarnold.net

Multiple Series

SPOTLIG HT on GLSHF

Our Super Power is working Together for Good Health.

“Focusing on good health as a community means that steady steps are taken annually toward healthier living.” ~Terry Trafton, Board President of GLSHF.

30 | epickmagazine

#HealthyLeesSummit

MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR EVERYONE

E

very year, The Greater Lee’s Summit Healthcare Foundation focuses on working with nonprofit organizations across the Missouri community to make one end of Jackson county a healthier place for everyone to work, play, learn, and live.

ONE GOOD MEAL

COLDWATER

CASA

Awarded $2,500 to support individuals unable to pay for meal services.

Awarded $3,000 to support children receiving nutrition sources through school programs.

Awarded $5,000 for matching support for kids in foster care receiving advocacy in court.

LS-R7 SCHOOL DISTRICT

HOPE HOUSE

PEACE PARTNERSHIP

PRO DEO

Awarded $7,500 to help replace aging air conditioners for the agency.

Awarded $7,500 towards partnership offering free counseling to two elementary schools.

Awarded $7,000 to support assistance for teenagers in the social gap.

DEVELOPING POTENTIAL

JOHN KNOX VILLAGE

HILLCREST

Awarded $7,000 to support new laptops for staff to track health-related info for individuals.

Awarded $10,000 to support the I balance system for physical fitness with the aging population.

LS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Awarded $5,000 for summer lunch program for area children.

The Foundation is changing the world …one corner of it at a time.

“Ultimately, when we combine forces with our nonprofit partners, amazing goals are set, accomplished, and celebrated in a matter of months,” said Terry Trafton, Board President of GLSHF. “It’s easier for everyone to make important progress when we support each other along the way. Our annual grants help keep people inspired and moving forward toward wellness and good health. The whole community benefits. Focusing on good health as a community means that steady steps are taken annually toward healthier living.”

Since 2003, the Foundation has awarded over $1.1 million in nonprofit grants and individual education scholarships.

The GLSHF provides grants annually to support health-related projects in the following areas: Research, Education, Public Training Programs, Programs in Schools, Clinics for Indigent Care, Equipment, and Services.

Deadlines for grants are October 31st each year; deadlines for scholarships are March 1st each year. Find more information at www.LSHealthcare.org.

Awarded $5,000 to support the Summit Technology nursing program.

METRO CARE Awarded $10,000 to help connect doctors who donate their time with uninsured patients.

Awarded $5,000 to support health/ wellness checkups for homeless individuals.

The Courage to be H

32 | epickmagazine

Heard

ROBERT DAVID JAFFEE

The road to wellness is paved with love, work and creativity.

It’s been many years since Robert David Jaffee experienced two psychotic breaks but his detailed retelling of his own mental health journey makes him a sought-after speaker on a topic that has historically been stigmatized.

Robert understands how debilitating depression is. He has suffered from it his whole life. He has also endured two bouts of acute psychosis and suicidal ideation.

His personal story includes a family history with three suicides.

A Yale graduate and an award-winning writer, he speaks with candor and eloquence about the complexities of mental illness.

As he once wrote in one of his articles for The Huffington Post, “Psychosis is like living a nightmare...Depression is like not living at all.”

For a time, Robert was personally caught in the vortex of mental illness. In the late 1990s, he suffered a relapse that was so severe he was given a 20 on the GAF (Global Assessment of Function) score.

Thankfully, Robert has been able to tame his major depression, psychosis and

suicidal feelings. But it has taken time.

He credits therapy, medication, writing, exercise, and listening to Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones. Most importantly, he receives oodles of love from his wife, Barbara, whom he met at a UCLA writing class in 1996. In the years since subduing his illness, Robert has written roughly 300 newspaper articles on subjects ranging from sports to politics, arts to mental health policy. He is one of the leading voices on the subject of mental illness and has arguably done more than any male writer in de-stigmatizing psychosis.

A father, grandfather, and loving husband, Robert has helped and continues to help people, especially men, overcome silent fears about mental health issues.

He attributes his own success to love, work, and creativity, as well as a fierce will to survive. As Robert says, “You need to be correctly diagnosed and take the right medicine. It helps to receive good therapy from a nurturing psychiatrist.

And, of course, one of the best things you can do is surround yourself with people who care about you.” www.robertdavidjaffee.com epickmagazine | 33

“Even one glimpse

Creative Center o

Joy Hall, the Director of Big D that everyone needs hope. M engage the most wonderful hope to teens. I planned an Youth Center to meet with 4, The Kaufman Center, Gig Williamson’s art studio, Rea Everyone here at Creative C for creative individuals to di see adults who love what the talent visualize what’s possi

www.creativecenterofameri 34 | epickmagazine

e proves a big dream is possible.”

- Robin Blakely, CEO Creative Center of America

of America Helps Young Talent

Dreams Tour, is passionate about dreams. “We know My role in this amazing project has been to find and l community partners to help offer a special kind of nd scheduled chaperoned visits for teens at ProDeo creative professionals at places that included Fox gi’s Cupcakes, Kansas City Young Audiences, Kevin ader’s World with illustrator Tim Raglin, and more.

Center of America believes that it is very important iscover their own path for the future. Helping teens ey do is one of the best ways that we can help young ible.”

ica.com epickmagazine | 35

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