January 2009: Veronica Craven

1) What is the most challenging thing facing writers today?

The most challenging thing writers face right now the the fact that every time you think you have something original that no one has ever thought of or done before or said quite how you've said it, you find out it has. And better.

2) Where do you find your inspiration to write?
I find my inspiration in my life experiences or fantasies I could never act out other than on paper. There will always be some of my reality in everything I do. I think that's true for most writers.

3) What current projects are you working on?
Right now I am in pre production on a film I wrote called "Zombie King". Michael Norman Mann helped me on the screenplay. It's a post rapture party story of a lonely little zombie trying to hold on to her humanity while going on a 'Wizard of Oz' type journey to find the Zombie King who can 'cure' her.

4) Who are some of your favorite writers?
I love Stephen King. Love, Love, Love him. If I were a man, I would be Stephen King.

5) What's your favorite genre/medium to write in?
I tend to gravatate towards Erotic Horror. My writings have always been dark and pretty graphic. I've had to edit them significantly to fit an outline or treatment.
Now if you are talking about what do I like to use to write with. I have my note pads, shiny pens and pencils. I have tons of notes on scenes or characters, or general outlines. Only when I have somewhat of a complete item, will I use electronics.

6) What is your ideal writing sanctuary?
In my bedroom, or on BART. Love BART for writing. Much fodder for the mind.

7) How has working in cable influenced your writing?
Writing for television is much different than writing for the silver screen or a publication, or even a webzine for that matter. It requires a different skill set, or, rather, the force of you developing one fast! You have to be able to divorce yourself from your 'baby' it is not yours and they will tell you when they want it changed. They always want it changed.

8) As of right now, what are you most proud of with your writing?
Two peices pop into my mind: an horror erotic short titled "Sam Knew Better", it was published in a San Francisco underground magazine last year; and the "Zombie King" script. Those two I am very proud of.

These UnUnites States

My oldest nephew sometimes likes to sit with a journal and compose his thoughts...he read this to me on Christmas Day. I thought it amazing coming from a 14 year old.

These UnUnited States

This word is an overpopulated mental hospital
Everyone walking around like zombies with chains
Everyone is thinking with invisible brains
We have all these
Damn poets who need to play with words to keep themselves sane
Another activity.
Another Activity!
Is what they need
So caught up in their so called work
If they stop they hypothesis that they'll bleed
Another elixar
To stop the contimplation
So stand united in this so called nation
It used to be
Now its just an age old apparation
A ghost
An excuse to boast
From coast to coast
Even the most
Intelligent raise it to a toast!
What will it take
To make this nation true
Its enevidible
Everyone is fake!
Everyone is saying how their so special
What the fuck am I supposed to do
Bake them a cake?
Now we have the government liein'
They're not even tryin'
They say they care but take a look at all the soilders
They are all dyin'
This shithole nation is so caught up in war
The population dont even know what they're fightin for

TJ Baumchen
Dec. 25, 2008

You Can Call Me Eve

I called up my graphic designer Armin and asked him to create a new book cover for me. I've been contemplating the idea of turning my full length play into a book. I am in the process of finding a theater in which to workshop the play and as I research information on the Latino community in the early 80's to sort of bring depth into the play I thought having the cover done could give me the inspiration I would need.

As always he did an amazing job!

What do you think?:

December 08: Erik Powell, Sr.

1) What is the biggest challenge facing writers today?
The biggest challenge writers face is discovery and acceptance of their masterpieces! I tried to skirt snobbish editors and money-grubbing publishers by self-publishing Chicago Love Tapestry. I still had creative differences with them, however, because they wanted a dollar to correct THEIR mistakes! My colleagues at Genre expressed shock at sweet ole Erik chewing nails and spitting battleships with my publisher. I will never use them again and have told them so several times.

2) Where do you find your inspiration to write?
I am inspired by personal pain. That's why I prefer writing comedy--or dramedy: laughing makes me feel evuh so much bettuh. My son told the play audience he believes I should write drama, however, because he knows I can.

3) What current projects are you working on?
I am researching and writing a Civil War novel, Devour the Widow's House, the reason I moved to northern Virginia four years ago. It's about a German-American farming family in the Shenandoah Valley during Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign of 1862. It's about disinheritance and ostracism by one's family and by one's government. It's all caused by forbidden love between a planter's daughter and a German farmer, and between two closeted rebel soldiers loved by a discerning belle trying to choose between them. All of them detest the federal government which has displaced them.

4) Who are some of your favorite authors?
I have an eclectic choice in writers. I particularly love the nineteenth century American Romantic era: Mark Twain and Louisa May Alcott and Harriett Beecher Stowe. Dickens is a favorite. My favorite popular novelists are my cousin Gore Vidal, Frank G. Slaughter, MD, and Herman Wouk. David McCullough and Stephen Ambrose are top history writers. I can chow down on Carson McCullers and Flannery O'Connor.

5) What's your favorite genre/medium to write in?
My favorite genre is comedy. Plays are fun to write for the dialogue. Woody Allen and Neil Simon are two of my influences. You can still pack in serious themes via sudden pensive, wistful monologues, like a piece of noisy classical music winding down, before cranking it up again with the fun. The comedy must go on!

6) What is your ideal writing sanctuary?
My ideal writing sanctuary is the bungalow I rented atop a cavern at the northern terminus of Virginia's Skyline Drive. There, I completed Tapestry and began the play within a play for the sequel. What a view: the mountains, the river, the wildlife! The drinking water was from the cavern below me and had so much calcium, it eroded the hot water element at least once a month! My cabin was well-stocked with replacement elements.

7) What s your next project?
My next project is a Tapestry sequel, The Merry Dancers, title derived from the Scottish Highlanders' term for the Northern Lights. Michael's play is performed in song and dance at the Shubert in New Haven, and the minor characters in Tapestry are featured.

8) As of right now, what are you most proud of with your writing?
I'm most proud of a surprise phone call Friday from my publisher, who said they'd gotten a good response from my book appearance at the recent Frankfurt International Book Fair. Consequently, they want to place Tapestry in the major book store chains. I got my first royalty check last month! YAY!!!!

Lit and Music Review

I was published in this month's issue of Lit and Music Review! (page 7)

Get your own - Open publication

When Hate Reigns

Inaugural day.
The crowd gathers; people clamor
as Hate steps up to the podium.
He is calm, collect.
The weather is cool, brisk.
The people are excited and alive from the commemoration.
Hate is poised over the calamity of noise
as onlookers stare up at Him in awe.
Tall, almost elegant with His grand gestures.
His voice thunders in everyone’s head.
He speaks:
“People! People! I am here today –
before you –
as a symbol of a new beginning that is about to take place.
We are on the threshold of a new era,
an era free from the destruction of obscenity;
the infestation of affectivity.
At the forefront of this populace
I shall begin the absolution to freedom.”
And Hate smiled.
And the people cheered
for they had a leader who was brave.

Then there was a dark cloud that loomed above - -
fat and swollen with rain - -
but the people didn’t care
for rain was good
it fed the ground,
which nourished life
so it mattered none that it was murky mysterious rain.

And the rain fell,
and Hate smiled,
and the people cheered
for they had a leader who provided for the people.

Then a might wind rose
and carried with it the spirit of transformation,
the embodiment of change.
The wind was good because it brought change –
change was good because it is fundamental
so it mattered none that the wind eroded the land
that the rain had cultivated.

And the wind blew,
and the rain fell,
and Hate smiled,
and the people cheered
for they had a leader who pioneered growth.

Then the land trembled
and it shook with the force of a thousand secrets never revealed
and the rumbling of truth that none believed.
But it was good because it carried the knowledge of the beginning of time,
so it mattered none that time tumbled away under the roar of the soil.

And the Earth shook,
and the wind blew,
and the rain fell,
and Hate smiled,
and the people cheered
for they had a leader who promoted the sovereignty of faith.

And Hate stood motionless at the pulpit.
The crowd trampled over one another
for a glimpse of His auspicious demeanor,
that flicker of something almost sinister in His eye,
which they knew meant that He was a man of great power.

And Hate smiled
and the people cheered
for they had a leader who would lead them through a revolution –
and the Earth shook,
and the wind blew,
and the rain fell,
and Hate smiled;
but the people
the people quailed from this future
for it was different
it was unfamiliar.
And Hate stepped away from the platform
as the onlookers stared up in awe.
The silence echoed through the heart of each spectator.
This was, indeed, the commencement of a new instigation of life.

Written by: Michael Coulombe
© 2008

November '08: Jason Stuart

1. What is the most challenging thing facing writers today? Especially a comedian?
New material that’s original and where you can’t see the joke coming. I work at that all the time.

2. Where do you find your inspiration to write?
My Family who is insane! My every day life and Sarah Palin! You know I can see her house from my terrace, so I guess I'm ready to be governor of ALASKA. If I can see the moon does that make me an astronaut!

3. What current projects are you working on?
My DVD of my stand up special JASON STUART: MAKING IT TO THE MIDDLE comes out November 18th and you can get it http://www.ariztical.com/filmsAZ/jason_stuart.html
shameless plug

4. Who are your biggest influences?
Scott Thompson, Sandra Bernhardt, Joan Rivers, Louie Anderson, Richard Lewis, Lily Tomlin, Don Rickles and so many gay folks who came before me and who opened the path like Kate Clinton and Harvey Fierstein,

5. In your opinion, what makes your comedy different from others?
I'm not really masc. or fem.. I'm not the best at anything...I'm like Cher!

6. What is your ideal writing sanctuary?
When the joke works and it comes easy the audience loves it!

7. Do you feel that being an actor influences your writing?
I am great at improv. I have used that skill when I was on MY WIFE & KIDS, my film 10 ATTITUDES, A DAY WITHOUT A MEXICAN , FAT ACTRESS and so many more. Its really helped me make my work come alive.

8. As of right now, what are you most proud of with your career?
That I am still here and able to make a living. Also that I got out of bed this morning and my face didn't drop