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What a couple of weeks! Not unique to me, I’m sure, but I am pleased to post this interview. I promised a few weeks ago that I was going to interview a neophyte writer. Not just new to the site, but new to expression through words. Since CJ and I started, she progressed to Apprentice by her own writing diligence, which has been very well received. She comments on others work, she participates in community projects, and she is completely delightful....
The next EXPOSED! will be a round table discussion between three very active members on the site, so stay tuned....
I know this interview is long, but I do not edit my interviewees, since the way you know them is by their words....I give you CJ....and know you will enjoy her perspective, the glimpses into her life, and what drives her as much as I did....
Q: You say in your bio that you are a self taught expresser of literary and artistic talents...why did you choose the literary road..
A: I have always felt more comfortable expressing myself literally. I was not necessarily shy but quite on the contrary from a very early age I was both a friendly and adventuresome child. I guess it started way, way back in elementary school. I was an avid reader right from the start. My parents used to find me under the bed covers, flashlight in hand reading when I was supposed to be sleeping. Does anyone remember the Bobsey Twins? I read all of their adventures under my bed covers. .And so much more.
My love for art and my imagination was another factor, it was always working, and I mean always. I loved art, books, or letting my imagination provide a scenario for me to play out. So I would have to say that my taking the literary road was more of a mutual joining rather than my choosing it; I think it instead chose me as it has always been with me.
Q: You mention that writing is a "healing balm"...was there a particular catalyst in your life that started you on the path of expressing yourself with words?
A: Ya know this is a tough one.....I am reaching deep into the gray matter of my long-term memory blowing off the dust and cobwebs. By the way I do like your questions very much. They are helpful for me to remember past events, emotions and fond memories. Okay I think I found somewhat of an answer there.
As I stated in elementary school I learned to read and write. Combined with my imagination I headed on to the higher grades of education. The normal curriculum was offered and I was a teen whom lacked a great deal of confidence in myself. I did not have much opportunity to write aside from required assignments. Until High School that is.
My sophomore year I was in the English class of a particular teacher, Ms Barbara J Boland. All the kids used to call her BJ Boland, I don't think I need to say what the BJ stood for. She was a tough cookie let me tell you. It was my unfortunate circumstance that my brother, 4 years older than I, had her as well. He failed her class. Eeeeekkkk!. She put two and two together and I was a marked young lady. She came down very hard on me as it was her assumption and mine that I was like my brother and she in turn made my life a living hell! Anyway the point here is first I passed her class with a C. And then during our senior year the school offered mini courses. So our scheduling was set up much like a college curriculum.
I was able to take some classes for fun. Creative writing, mythology and I had Ms Boland once again. It was not as hard, as I was enjoying what I was learning instead of having nouns, adverbs, adjectives, prepositional phrases, and verbs pounded into my head. To sum this up, she left a parting note in my year book, that was so kind and I will never forget "I have never seen such a positive change with one of my students in just two short years. And I have no doubt that you will succeed at whatever comes your way." Her statement touched me in such a positive way as in all that time I thought she was tormenting me due to my involvement with the Johnson gene pool, when instead she was pushing me as she saw my potential.
I then left school, found myself working full time and engaged so my writing was put aside for a good many years.
Sometime in the mid nineties when PC's started to become available and we purchased one did I start up again. I wrote a story for young adults. Presently it sits on a shelf with tons of editing to do, but someday I hope to have it published. The title is The Adventures of Cody and Lance. It is about a young boy and a ghost and their battle of good versus evil and having to save the day.
A couple of years later is when I wrote Down East Dawn, my first attempt at poetry since high school probably. Since then I would occasionally pop out a poem now and again. I fell victim to poetry.com, then realized that I was being taken for a ride.
And it was not until a couple of years ago that I again turned to poetry to express feelings I was experiencing while I was recovering from my first bi-polar event. This past summer I discovered you all at lit.org and it was a shot in the arm for me. I cannot seem to stop writing, nor do I want to. My creative juices are flowing and I seem to be in a much better mind set these days due to the fact that I am writing so much. It is my space and time every day that is aiding in my recovery.
Q: You were billed as a neophyte poet, but have since been elevated to an apprentice at lit.org....you have been writing diligently...how do you have time to write so much?
A: Well I am one of those people who do not require that much sleep. I seem to rise very early, and put in about 3-4 hours of writing before my partner gets up. Just me, the dog and my cup o' Joe! I am not working presently thus I can dedicate myself to my craft.
I am going to be completely honest here and say that I am out on a disability, brought on by being diagnosed with bipolar and depression in December of 2002. However please do not judge me due to this disability, as it is not a stigma. Instead open the mind and look back through history and you will discover that Virginia Woolf, Beethoven, John Keats, Tennessee Williams, Vincent Van Gogh, Ernest Hemingway, Isaac Newton, Charles Dickens, Patty Duke Astin Michael Angelo........and the list goes on; all suffered from mental illness. And some of us are of genius intelligence and or extremely creative and gifted people. Emotionally we may think and feel differently but it is that thinking differently that makes us diverse and allows our minds to create many differing shades of art and beauty. And by my feeling so productive with these creations I make sure that I make the time. It is truly my therapy and healing balm.
Q: Carol, tell me what your aspirations are with regard to writing...just as a personal expression...to be published?
A: Writing serves mostly as a personal expression at the present time. I love the feeling of release that it gives to me when I have created some new piece. Be it full of emotion, or challenging, or even whimsical. I never know at what given time what idea might be sparked in my mind, flow down my arms, and then to my fingers as they fly across the keyboard and then the vision I am trying to create appears before my eyes as a painted picture of words on the monitor..
However, I think that with time, education, and dedication I shall pursue being published. It is an extremely difficult market to break into. However just sitting at your computer and saying I don't think they will like this and not send it, does not get one any closer to publishing. One needs to take the extra step and chance and just submit it, as you will never know if you don't try.
My life presently still has strife to overcome as well as recovery. I need to survey what paths lie ahead of me and then choose, like Robert Frost, the road to take.
Q: As a relatively new member to lit.org...tell me how important feedback is to you in your writing as well as your enthusiasm (or not) for writing.
A: I absolutely love feedback. Be it complimentary, constructive or negative ( I have not yet rec'd any negative from my friends here at lit.org , thank you very much).. All feedback is good. That's one of the reasons why we write isn't it? We as writers like to know if we have struck a chord with the reader. Be it a fond memory, or a negative one. We may have given someone the strength to make a change in their life, as they read a piece that inspired them to do so. Or we shed a new perspective on a subject that perhaps a reader had not thought of prior to reading that piece. When I receive feedback I can then know what my piece has done for someone, or how I could in turn gain a new perspective myself from someone else’s opinion of my work.
Q: We all remember being “new” writers...but remind us what some of the hurdles are...coming into a site of every level of writer...were you apprehensive at all to post your first piece?
A: Yes I guess I was a bit apprehensive the first time that I posted here at lit.org. As I had mentioned somewhere I had fallen victim to poetry.com. After I realized that they were just a money making sight, I doubted whether my pieces were actually good or not. I had positive feedback from my partner and family, but I still had a tiny bit of self-doubt. I said to myself: "Self. You won't know until you try. And deep down you do possess some talent, so go for it girl!" And I did just that. And I have met some wonderfully talented and very nice people already in just the short time I have been on board. Lastly I have to say discovering lit.org also acted as a catalyst for my creative juices. The timing was impeccable.
Q: I was impressed with your writing from your first poem (or the first one posted) Dawn East Dawn. You may be a self-taught expresser, but your language skills aren't self-taught...where do they come from?
A: I guess I have just been blessed with the ability to express in words. I do not know where it comes from...it has always just been there. I am thank you to the education dept of Saugus Mass. LOL! You should see what I can write in regards to complaint letters, etc! The pen is indeed mightier than the sword!.
My first year back to college in the late 90's I signed up for a basic communications course to freshen up on my skills before I delved into any heavy duty research papers. The English dept. required that we all take a test to see what levels we were at so as to know what to focus on in the curriculum. And lucky me scored highest out of everyone at the college. My instructor was like "what are you doing here? You don’t need us, instead we need you in our tutoring dept“. I declined and stayed in the class as I needed the basic education as to how to write a thesis paper and I have always had problems with those damn commas....I always put them where I don't need them and leave them out when I do need them.
Anyway I had returned to school again, and then withdrew again while going through my divorce. I am now just about one year away from my earning a BA in what major I am not sure??. I was pursuing marketing, then management and now I would be happy with liberal arts. My remaining credits are the general ones which is good in a way.... English, history so I shall concentrate on some writing classes when I am able to attend school once again.
Q: In “My Sword of Words” you talk about anger, yours and others...can you share your suppressed anger with me, it obviously worked to make you a better writer...
A: My sword of words I wrote in April of this year. When I get into a bipolar event I experience intense anger. This anger has been receding slowly, with many medication adjustments and much mindset on my part. My first year was absolute hell and I will not go into the details there. I have so much anger bottled inside of me for differing reasons. TO name a few, at my ex for being such an SOB and how he is brainwashing the kids, and how I have not said one bad word about him in front of our children ever, despite his actions. Anger at my old employer for what they did to me. I was with the medical center for fifteen years and they turned me out like I was toxic material. Anger about getting sick, and just barely supporting myself and almost losing my condo behind on my bills....etc; angry at my parents for not understanding that this is me now and for the rest of my life. My Mom seems to think that by taking my meds I am going to be well again over night. I came to terms with the fact just two years ago of my being molested when I was about ten, and the feelings of shame and guilt that I had carried with me for so long because of it made me very angry too. Put all of that together and you have the equivalent of Hiroshima every time I have an event. My events would come on me and I would do and say such terrible things to Chris, who was always there despite my actions. None of it was directed at her for a reason, none of it was her fault. Yet there she was, ALWAYS to get me through EVERY TIME. I would then collapse feeling so sorry for my behavior and sink into a sobbing depression, and she would hold me and get me through that as well. And so the quest is on for me to find some sense of peace within myself, and with all of the writing I have been doing I feel I am on my way to doing just that. With baby steps, one foot in front of the other I move forward.
Q: Is "Where Is the Light" autobiographical? You talk about how your lifestyle affected your children. Do you mind talking about that?
A: Domino Effect, and previous questions in this interview. Having been involved in a twenty year marriage with an SOB of a husband and my being depressed, and probably bipolar, but I was pretty much stoned all the time to escape my pain and as well covered my symptoms. We went through some rough times as our oldest son, Michael became ill with a kidney disease that required a transplant. Thus my feelings and emotions were put aside, as a mother usually does, in order to get the family through this frightening ordeal. The plan was to have his father donate a kidney for him if they matched. They were a match however his father would not listen and continued consuming alcohol, drugs. We both were ....but I was so worried that they would eliminate him as a donor and no matter what I told him he would not listen to me. So began a journey for me that caused much stress, worry, depression. I did not have time to write. However the following June the surgery was done and successful. And I began to look deep within myself and discovered that I had been hiding alot of feelings. I had an addiction problem and could not kick it as my now ex was an enabler. I have been living in the closet for the first twenty years of my life, always feeling like i was not comfortable within my own skin and once I embraced the fact that I was gay I felt so much better. However I had to get out of the marriage as I was sinking more and more into depression, drug use, and I was not able to cope and be there for my kids.
So needless to say the ex- now scorned has made my life a living hell upon learning that his wife was attracted to woman. Never would he accept the fact that I had to put up with his verbal abuse and beratement as well as other types of personality disorders for the past twenty years. I decided to divorce and get on with my life. The kids all told me they were okay with us. I was only moving across town, and I would have my daughters every weekend, and all three of them every Thursday for dinner. We did not wan to upset their school or social schedules we wanted to cause as little stress as possible for them.
I purchased a condo within a newly renovated building by the beach. We, the girls and I went shopping and I purchased all new things to make their room beautiful, computer, stereo, television, dvd player, they wanted for nothing. Nothing except their Mom, I guess. Little did I know that while they were home with him he never missed an opportunity to push into their heads that I was the one that left them. He refused to leave, and would not even consider letting me stay at the house with the kids and he be the one to leave.
I had a good job at a local medical center. And I was seeking care for my depression. I was still struggling with an addiction problem at that time. And the long distance relationship I was involved in did not help. I was living in a surreal world. At work several reorganizations were occurring and the new director came in with her own team. I was trying very hard to keep on top of things but was as always understaffed. I was in a leadership position with no assistance to back me up. All of the stressors in my life finally cam crumbling down and instead of having a supportive managerial team to help me they instead put me out to slaughter like the sacrificial lamb. So within the first year of my being out on my own I found myself with out a job and in the middle of a bipolar/depression crisis.
So began a journey similar to Alice in Wonderland going down the rabbit hole, except of course my rabbit hole was a hell of a lot more frightening and darker than her's was. Here I am almost three years later. It has been hell with the kids and me. Despite their actions I know they have been hurt, even if not intentionally. I love them all so very much and I pray that things will improve with all of us. There was almost a six-month time period when I did not see them at all. My youngest Caitlin (14) finally called me and asked to come over, so I have been seeing her weekly. She is wonderful, likes Christine, and it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about her and how accepting and sweet she is. My oldest daughter, Lindsey (17) is daddy's girl and I have not spoken with her in months. I was not even invited to her high school graduation.
Lastly my son, Mike, is warming up towards to me. And I know it will take time, but I am the same mom who loved them before I left and being partnered with Christine (who also loves them all) does not change who I am So I shall tread slowly there and hopefully all things will improve with time.
Q: In “Choices” you talk about finding a soul mate long distance....so how has that worked out?
A: That did not work out. The entire situation was a double-edged sword. Perfection and beauty on one side and keenly sharp and hurtful on the other. We saw each for ten months but there were hurdles to overcome one-hour drive, misleading innuendo and half-truths on her behalf. Our relationship ended in a bad way two years ago at about this same time. We no longer speak. In the beginning I was told information that led me to believe there was potential there for a long-term relationship. So I being the trusting one and so totally taken with her....I was played, and I have learned my lesson the hard way.
On the positive side the end of that relationship brought on a change within me to straighten out my act and get clean for good. And I then met my partner Chris two months later who further gave me more reasons to clean up my act. We were totally taken with each other. And so here I am, smarter and better off for the hard lesson I learned.... Incidentally Chris and I also met thru an online dating service. We live closer together and it was pretty much Wow at first sight for both of us. And come October we have been together for 2 years and are partnered for life....:-)
Q: I know you are working on some prose in addition to your poetry...tell me about “Betty Bimble and the Golden Thimble”...where the idea came from...the differences you perceive in writing prose as opposed to poetry...
A: Upon graduation from high school I went on to one year at a local community college. I was required to take a literature course, so I signed up for children's literature thinking it might be an easy course. Well it was not exactly as easy as I thought, but it was certainly educational. One of our assignments was to write a fairy tale and thus came about the creation of Betty Bimble and the Golden Thimble (If it were not for my &^%$ grammar errors I would have scored an A, but I managed to squeak out a B.) I also managed to receive a glowing yet chastising compliment, 'great story, wonderful imagination, but please work on your grammar', from the instructor. She loved it!
And with that I gained some confidence to add to what was instilled by my high school teacher. So as I have always known my imagination is quite active. Thus the sensation of writing fiction is alot of fun and a challenge. Trying to keep plot lines synchronized, developing characters, etc. its all good.
Q: You have been experimenting with different forms of poetry...haiku, for one (Summer Rain)...have you found a particular form you like better than others in expressing yourself?
A: No one particular form is better than the other for me. I like them all. I had never tried haiku before so I thought I would give it a whirl. And then thanks to Serenum I received some constructive criticism which I always welcome. So being the Virgo that I am, I had to then go on and improve and build on my haiku experience. What ever I am feeling at that particular time about any given subject is what affects the form that I write in. Though I do tend to use free form quite a bit.
Q: Where do you find your inspiration? Are there certain subjects to which you find yourself drawn?
A: Pain and angst seem to show through at times. I have had an extremely rough couple of years. Going through a divorce with 3 children who stand divided against me is very hard on my heart. I am tired I am sorry, as I did what I had to do to save myself and I hope that someday they will understand that. They all live with their father and he spares me no compassion at all. I cannot imagine what they have to listen to.
And as you can see I also enjoy nature, and of course I have the love of my life. Whatever feelings I am dealing with at that time is usually what comes out in my poetry.
Q: Is happiness or sadness more instrumental in putting your pen in your hand?
A: Usually sadness or anger. Yet I am known to be whimsical or nature focused at times. I have written poems for all of my children to explain what I am feeling and hoping someday they will understand. And I have written several personal love poems for my partner that are hers to keep.
Q: You are such an active commenter on other's work, which is appreciated by all. Do you read to learn, to enjoy, you have definitely developed some bonds with others by your diligent commenting...
A: I read to learn and enjoy. There are so many brilliantly talented people here. From the first time I posted I felt at home. I am embarrassed to say that I fell victim to poetry.com a few years back and when I received one of their anthologies with my poem in it, I was so dissatisfied with the quality of other's works. Now I know better. And I have found my new home away from home. Yes I made new friends here and that is a wonderful feeling that makes me joyful. It is unfortunate that when I left the fold, so to speak, I lost a great deal of friends. Firstly because of the divorce and my ex paints a very negative picture of me, and secondly I am clean and no longer participate in recreational activities that my friends have and still do. So here I stand with my partner living the good life. I had to live for myself and not by anyone else's standards. I wish I could spend more time on line but my partner says she feels like I have a part time job as it is. :-) And so I acquiesce.
Q; What do you consider the best poem you have submitted to lit.org, and tell me why?
A: Yikes that is a tough question!!! They are all special to me as they allowed me to vent alot of pent up emotions. But since you are making me choose, I will go with the first one, Down East Dawn. Firstly, I wrote it in Maine. A beautiful little spot that we rented a cottage at. I had arisen early and had the place to myself. And upon gazing outside at the new day dawning and all of Mother Nature waking up it just popped into my head.
I can no longer go to that particular spot, but there have been many joyous memories made there of my children and I. I guess you could call me a tree hugger and I would proudly stand up and say Yay! It is where my children first learned to swim, fish, pick blueberries, gather around the camp fire and the list goes on....
Q: Are you a scribbler on napkins...or do you actually sit down and write whole pieces at one time?
A: Chuckling here Claire. As yes I am a scribbler on napkins, in my journal, or just sitting at the computer and pounding out in MS Word....If the brain is brewing then the fingers are spewing either scribbling or typing.. I keep all my work on disc and also on hard copy. So my files are overflowing and something to look at. Small pieces of paper here and there, and an occasional napkin or paper towel thrown in for good measure.
Q: Do other works you read ever inspire you to write something? Can you give me an example?
A: Yes at first I was a little shy at sharing the fact that I was gay. Then I stumbled upon Catlesfemme's bio. And her honesty and directness inspired me. I then read the comments she received and saw how unbiased and accepting everyone was. It was then I decided to come forward and post a few of my poems( Questin for Rainbows, Who I Was, Who I Am, With Disdain From Me To Him) and lyrics ( Choices). I am very open about my gayness, as I am a newbie as my partner calls me, having only been out for less than five years. The world is a little more accepting of our diversity than it used to be. As opposed to my partner who chose her path more than twenty years ago. she has had to be less candid for a long time. She said I came out with my flags waving, and she had to slowly creep out from the closet inch by inch.
Q: As a relatively new writer, how important is constructive criticism for you, and do you like it or is it something you take as a “diss” on your art?
A: I love and welcome constructive criticism. How else does one learn and perfect their art? So any advice I receive I consider very important to my growth as a writer.
Q; You have been very active in the poetry threads...which I personally appreciate :) Do you enjoy the creation of a whole with others from the site and would you like them to continue?
A: I absolutely love the threads. I love the way I have to crunch and write a part. I love the subject matter and how it stimulates me down a new path of thinking. I absolutely want them to continue. As a matter of fact I think I mentioned on the SOT one that we should seriously consider seeing about getting them published. They are art in the purest form. Everyone's separate contributions are beautiful and then when they are combined together it renders a magnum opus.
Q: How important is "learning" about your craft to you....do you think learning other forms, other styles, and more about the technical aspects of writing are necessary to keep you growing?
A: Learning about my craft is very important to me. As a matter of fact I am seriously considering attempting to take some creative writing courses in the future. Knowledge is power is what I always say. Technically speaking I have the basics down. I will admit that I am not totally familiar with all types of poetry. To say I did would be blatant bragging, no one knows everything. I do have some trouble with prose at times ie fragmentation drives me crazy when I do spell check. In order to grow than one needs to keep learning.
Q: Do you think you might branch into blogs as well as articles or
opinion pieces in the future?
A: I have been contemplating branching out. Right now the poetry aspect seems to keep me drawn. I do have some short stories too. I have only been here since the end of June so I am still acclimating myself and letting my mind wander and weave. But in the words of Forrest Gump with a little tweak,....."my mind is like a box of chocolates. you never know what yer gonna git."
Rapid fire want to knows.......
Q: Your favorite poet/poem of all time?
Robert Frost's- Sorry but is a tie.....Walking By Woods on A Snowy Evening and the Road Not Taken. I cannot choose between the two.
Q: Your favorite non-fiction author/work?
Vincent Bugliosi "Helter Skelter"
Katherine Hepburn-"Me"
Geoff Dyer- "Out of Sheer Rage (Wrestling with DH Lawrence)"
Suzanna Kaysen-"Girl Interrupted"
Jay Parini- "Robert Frost-A Life"
Irving Stone "Lust For Life" @ Vincent Van Gogh
Q: Your favorite fiction work/author?
This is a very tough question....I have two favorites. The first one being Stephen King. I have been reading his books since his first release, which I think was Salem's Lot, but don't quote me as my memory is like a sieve someday. And I believe I have read every one of his since then. My favorite is The Stand. It represents the traditional stance of Good versus Evil, as well as portrays the frightening thought of what might come of our world if an accident should occur in a laboratory somewhere that could unleash a plague of such magnitude and wipe out most of our population. A very real and frightening possibility these days. Anyways I just love his stuff.
My other favorite is Anne Rice, and her series of the Witching Hour and The Vampire Lestat. She is such a story weaver with incredible character development.
The last couple of years my availability to read has been depleted, unfortunately. It was a passion of mine and I miss it dearly. I heard on the radio last week that a study was done and it was determined that only approximately 53% of the population read for fun anymore. The other 47% do not have time, or are reading for school. Pretty sad if you think about it. Here we are running advertisements on television to inspire our youth to read and only half the population is showing that example. We have become such addicts of the television, or we are working so hard that we do not have time to relax anymore.
Q: Your biggest regret looking back over your life...something you would change if you could.
My biggest regret would have to be that I took a wrong turn down a road in high school that continued into a fast lane of recreational drug use. If I had listened then, but Hell, many teens don't, I would be far better off today. For differing reasons I was trying to prove something at that age. I had been born with no thyroid and got the message at an early age from my parents that I had to be careful, or the other message was they did not know how it would affect me when I wanted to start a family, as the thyroid controls your hormones, development, growth, mental capacities . Anyway, I was then at the age of ten I think, and was the unfortunate victim of molestation that I carried inside until just the last couple of years. So combine those two factors and you have one young lady determined to prove herself, and trying to ease and escape the pain and guilt from within. So......many years later, I made some discoveries about myself. If you read the Domino Effect that I have posted you will get the skinny from there. Bottom Line-----I should have listened! I am happy now, very happy with an extremely supportive partner. My activities as a teen affected my judgment, however I do not regret how my life has finally played out.....just sorry it took me so long to get where I am....and sorry too for the hurt that I caused to my children.
Q: give us the skinny on your play list, the music that makes you happy.
I have an extremely diverse play list. Fingers drumming on desk as I ponder this question...oh where do I begin? At the beginning I guess.
A is for Aerosmith, Louis Armstrong, B is for Beethoven, Pat Benetar, Celtic Folk, Classic Rock ( yikes I am probably dating myself ) Cranberries, Dido, Celine Dion, Melissa Etheridge, Macy Gray, Sophie B Hawkins, Faith Hill, Led Zeppelin, John Mayer, No Doubt, Pink, Pink Floyd, Shania, U2, Vivaldi ( four Seasons), The Who
Q: Three things you are passionate about and why? (I really like this question, which is why I keep asking it! :))
1) My lover and partner Christine.
2) Supporter of Gay Rights, Diversity and Equal Rights.
3) Art (Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh just to name a few....) , Photography and Writing
4)Taking care of our environment!
I know I have listed more than three...but as you know I am a bit of a rebel.....so......I often do not follow instructions to the letter.
Q: If you could know one answer to anything....what question would you ask?
As I mentioned above in the regret question, the one answer that would truly ease my heart and soul is would my children ever accept me back as the Mom that I am, and the Mom I was. Would they understand that I had to do what I did, and let me back into their lives. Especially my oldest daughter Lindsey 17....she does not speak to me at all.
Q: Favorite pastime other than writing?
First would be spending time with the love of my life, secondly, my children. My next choices would be reading a good book or watching a movie (love story, action, comedy, or as a last resort a horror flick. Kind of funny isn't it? I like to read horror but I am not crazy about watching it on film. I guess I prefer to let the author paint the picture for my imagination to finish the canvas.
Q: Pet peeves about others writing?
Typo's .Especially mine! ;-) I am a pretty easy going kind of gal so there is nothing in particular in other's writing that rubs me the wrong way. I believe everyone has the right (I freedom of speech amendment) to express what they want however they want.
Q What would be your perfect life five years from now?
My partner, Chris, and I would be living and renovating a rambling old Victorian on the Maine Coast. With plenty of room for family and friends to visit. A fireplace to build roaring fires to cozy up to on those cold winter nights. And a substantial income from writing so I could stay at home and work and play ( I also enjoy art, painting, sketching, pottery, stained glass) .Lastly a Winnebago in the barn so that we can travel and see this beautiful country, or just take a plane to Puerto Vallarta on a whim.
Q: What one thing would you like to accomplish in this life?
To finally finish my college education, a quest I have been working on for quite a L-O-N-G time, and then to be a best selling author.
" The woods are lovely. dark and deep and I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep" * God how I love that line......it gives me so much inspiration and pushes me onward to achieve whatever I can for the rest of my life.
*(ed. note: Robert Frost, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening)
I want to thank CJ for taking her time with me answering questions for EXPOSED! The enthusiasm of a new writer is catching! And the writing of experienced writers is inspiring....they feed on one another...
Until next time,
Claire
As always, comments, questions or volunteers are welcome at exposedwriters@hotmail.com
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EXPOSED! at lit.org (williamhill)
