Rosaire Bushey's Blog, page 5

Indie TV – Meet the Creator of Penny P’s Backyard

It’s been a while since we had a Q&A with a creative thinker here on the blog, so this week I’ve asked my friend Chris Valluzo to take on a modified Proust questionnaire and at the same time tell us about his passion project, Penny P’s Backyard – a TV show that focuses on four young friends who live in Appalachia who find the intersections of science and folkart. It’s a stunning concept and one that works particularly well for the region, and can help showcase STEM careers in ways that might not always be obvious.

It’s also fitting that this month, Chris has an Indiegogo campaign for the show. He’s trying to raise the money to … well, you can watch the video and see. But there is one more thing I want to mention and that is the way Chris is going about making the show — he’s doing it all green, using solar power for everything – making it the first show of its kind in TV history.  Now, enough of me, let’s hear from Chris.

 

Brief description of your current project and where people can learn more about it.  I am currently developing a new family television show called Penny P’s Backyard.  It’s it a fictional show about a girl and her three friends who make videos and animations about the world around them.  And in doing so discover the interconnections between Science and American Folk Art.  Thanks to a partnership with Solar Connexion in Blacksburg, Virginia, we will be the first show in television HISTORY to be produced using 100% renewable energy.  I’m a video producer at Virginia Tech by day where the Institute for Creativity, Arts and Technology has a mission to fuse Arts and Technology.  I thought to myself what would that look like if it was more localized to the mountains of Appalachia, where Virginia Tech is located.  And the story developed that it would look at intersections between Science and Folk Art/Folkways.

 How can people get involved to help? We are currently raising money for the proof of concept, pilot episode screenplay, and first season outline. The proof of concept has been shot.  Those three things will be bundled together as a Show Concept Portfolio and submitted to Amazon, Netflix, Disney +, Hulu, PBS, etc.  The best way to get involved at the moment is go to our Indidegogo page  and donate to our cause.

Chris’ video from the Indiegogo page is also available at the end of this blog. But you definitely want to go to his page and learn all about the project.

Cats or dogs? Dogs, the unconditional love is where it’s at.
Beer, wine, spirits? Which in particular? Neither, craft soda. Dandelion and Burdock is especially tasty.

[image error]I guess this is a real thing – and I’m not sure if this is the brand Chris drinks, but I thought it would be useful for people to see such a thing exists – and there are several companies who make it.
Manual or automatic? Manual all the way. Man I wish had a stick shift.
Favorite band you’ve seen live? That’s tough, I’d say The Meters or Toots and the Maytalls.
Band you wish you would have been able to see? The Velvet Underground.  B/c it would be so weird and like 20 people standing around.  One of which is Warhol.
How do you take your caffeine? I’m 46, until 6 months ago I didn’t. Now, coffee choked with cream and sugar.
Smoke? Not currently.
What’s currently on your mind? Keeping the momentum of our fundraising going.  And what this chance will bring to the show, and the idea of saying that’s a wrap on the Pilot episode.
Best job you’ve ever had? The time when I was a video producer at Virginia Tech and owned a production company on the side. Shooting documentaries and directing Song of the Mountains, nationwide on PBS.  That was a sweet couple of years.
Favorite place you’ve lived/visited?   St George’s Bermuda, bar none, discussion closed.
Define happiness for you. Being able to support myself as a video producer, live a little comfortably, surrounded by friends and family that I love, with dogs and cats and chickens around me.  And a week on the beach with my wife and kids. More specifically, I already am happy.
Greatest achievement … so far. Personally, my kids.  Professionally, Song of the Mountains.
Describe yourself in a couple words. I’d say I’m a funny, kind, creative day dreaming hippy in suspenders and a fedora.
What pisses you off? Being unkind for unkinds sake.  And not using your turn signal.
What keeps you up at night? My 8 pound dog Lola.  And how can I provide a better life for me family than we already have.
What is your greatest extravagance? With some tax return money I took the family to Florida for spring break.  Crashed at a friend’s house.  Drove his car.  Pretty much plane tickets and food money.  Can you define, extravagance.
Talent you’d most like to have? I wish I knew how to play the piano. [image error]
Talent you have that you don’t think about much. I’m a funny mother fucker.  I’m certain I could make a living as a stand up.  But that life is way too much on the road.   My wife and I will do it in a Winnebago when I retire.  I’ll have more material that way.
You would be miserable if you couldn’t … Make a living making video.
Favorite hero of fiction? Snoopy, that dog is blissed-out as fuck.
Favorite book /writer. Probably Catch 22.
Favorite book not your own – why? Catch 22.
Favorite book of your own – why? John Stewart’s book Naked Pictures of Famous People (Note: not actually a book Chris has written…)
Give an example of a ‘hero’ or two you’ve met in real life – what story of theirs made an impact on you? My wife and the child whisperer that she is.  Our son, who has autism…she is the perfect mother for him. No other could be his mother.  The way she has nurtured him and helped him grow and succeed…she is my hero.
How has being an indie author/creative changed your perceptions of what it means to be that? Nothing is easy, you’ll work for free more than you will for pay.   But if you keep plugging away someday you’ll break out.  I feel Penny P’s Backyard is that opportunity for me.
What advice would you give to authors/artists etc., who are working the 9-5 but still want to create? Nights and weekends. That’s all I’ve ever known for my art. Documentary and Television. Sometimes it pays off financially, but as long as it pays off emotionally and artistically, keep doing it. Find  time for your art, even if it’s late at night after the kids go to bed. You can find an hour. 1 hour x365=You’ll have something to be proud of.
Where can people find your work – what have you done? Three of my films are available online. Hokie Nation: A Team, A Town, and the Best Darned Fans in College Football is available on DVD on Netflix.  Why Old Time? and The Henry Reed Legacy are available to rent on Amazon prime.
What are your goals for your project? To become the first television show in history to be produced using 100% renewable energy.  While entertaining children and families across the country. All while portraying my area of Appalachia as the gem it truly is.

[image error]A recurring character in Penny P’s Backyard
Your turn – what do you want people to know about you the creative, trying to make their way in the world? I’ve never known anything but hustling for my art on the side. I always had mouths to feed. But I found a way to produce 6 feature length films, that have won festivals, been invited to festivals, played regionally on TV and had state-wide theater releases. And now, everything that I am is represented in Penny P’s Backyard. Please support our effort.
One last opportunity for messaging – what did I miss? Look at your penny jar, estimate how much is in there, and donate that to our cause. If you need that money, it will be waiting for you in the jar.

The very real condition of a character dying without your permission

Hello and welcome back to the blog – glad to have you here.

It’s been a busy few weeks here – between doing Indie Author Day events in Blacksburg and Radford, and the NRCC Comic-Con, and being on Jason Tudor’s 

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Dollar Box Reads podcast, and getting new T-shirts made using the awesome logo so lovingly crafted by Chris Eder Design (see the shirts in the shop section on this page), and opening an unexpected box from Rosies Beef Jerky – wow, I’m amazed I’ve had any time to write! But I have!

As I get this blog post done, I’m about 60% finished book 4, which now has the very official title of Red Priest Rising. It’s so official that I actually have the book cover for book four already as well, which means I’ve got to really start getting it together and finish.

[image error]Over the course of the summer I’ve gotten a lot of really good feedback on the cover and so I’m happy to report that OliviaProDesign, a designer from the Ukraine I found on Fiverr.com has agreed to do the work on book 4 as well and I’m very happy with what’s she’s done. The feel is the same, but the color scheme is a little different, and I’m in early conversations with Enoch Creek Productions to do a very short Cover Release Trailer here probably sometime in November, so be on the look-out for that!

This week while writing chapter 22 I had one of those moments that you hear about and don’t believe – especially before you start writing. It was one of those, “I didn’t know that would happen” moments. Before I wrote my first book, (and I know I’ve said this before, but it bears mentioning again) I used to think that was a silly thing to say.

How could a writer not know something was going to happen? But it’s true, you have an idea in your head and the characters do what they do and before you know it, someone is dead on the floor and frothing at the mouth and all you can do is stare at your keyboard and go, ‘what the hell just happened there?’ Totally unplanned and unlooked for but that’s the beauty of writing without a plan – sometimes stuff happens.

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I considered for a minute undoing the damage I’d done, but then as I looked at the whole sequence of events in context, I realized it made a lot of sense and so I had to scrap whatever mental plan I had for the character and move to plan B (or plan K, if I’m honest). So, that’s been a lot of fun, and it keeps me interested in seeing how this is all going to turn out. I’d by lying to you if, at this point 60% in, I could tell you what happens to every character by the end of this book. I know the generalities but not the specifics.

In other news, the new season of Peaky Blinders is on and if you haven’t made that part of your viewing routine, you’re missing a great show. And if you like British stuff, Amazon has a couple seasons of a quiz-style show called Mock the Week, which is just hilarious – but even better if you have a live-in Brit who can fill in some blanks for you. If you don’t have your own Brit, give it a try anyway and let me know what you think.

And once again, a special shout out to Rosies Beef Jerky. After the Dollar Box Read podcast aired, and Jason asked about my first name, I mentioned that I know

of a few guys named Rosaire, including the owner of Rosies Beef Jerky. A week later there was a box by my door so I’m super grateful to Rosie and Shannon – they didn’t have to do it, but I really appreciate it here in the writing cave. If you like Jerky or beef sticks, check out their site and get yourself a sample – they do an 8-flavor gift pack for only 15 bucks and they also have flavors such as maple, maple and bacon, jalapeno cheddar and a lot more.

[image error] And finally, if you haven’t already – please take a moment and leave my books a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. Reviews are super important – be honest, be fair and if you can leave one for every book you’ve read in the series, that would be fantastic. Thank you so much.

The Podcast to end all podcasts has arrived

Just a quick note with a link to the Dollar Box Reads Podcast with yours truly which dropped this afternoon Oct. 18.

Click the link, listen to what Jason has to say, listen to what I’ve got to say, and leave your comments in DBR and here. Easy peasy.

Also, name dropped in this podcast, check out Chris Eder Design and Rosies Beef Jerkey

T-Shirts and Podcasts

This has been a pretty exciting week in the old writing cave. First, I’ve passed what I consider to be the halfway point on book 4. Second, I think I’ve sorted out the name for book four finally – Red Priest Rising. I’ve also just gotten my first batch of t-shirts with my logo (crafted by Chris Eder Design, thank you very much),

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and to top it all off, I’m going to be the guest on Oct. 18th’s Dollar Box Reads podcasts hosted by my friend, comic book artist of Vorpal (by Crazy Monkey Ink), and Air Force veteran Jason Tudor. Whew!

[image error] [image error]

The dragon logo on the back is tastefully about 4.5 inches deep – just

enough that people will be interested to see what it is – and when they

ask about it, show them to the website on the front.

Last weekend at the Radford Public Library Indie Author Day event, I met several local area authors and it was a great time. I hope to share with you some information about several of those authors in the coming weeks, so I won’t say much now other than stay tuned to see a collection of interesting reads – just in time for the holidays!

As ever, I want to thank you for checking in with me here and I ask that if you’ve read any or all of the 30 Stones Saga, please take a few minutes and leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads!

Coming up this weekend I’ll be at the Blacksburg Public Library from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for another Indie Author event so if you’re in the area, there will be several authors you can come talk to. And Oct. 26 I’ll be at the NRCC Comic Con in Dublin, Virginia.

Talk to you soon and let me know what you think of the shirts – all feedback is welcome. And, of course, if you’d like one, you’ll find them on the ‘shop’ page on the website. $20 plus $3 shipping or look at my Patreon site to see how to get one.

 

Cheers

Rosaire

 

Writing is work – but it’s also awesome

Creating a story isn’t that hard – it really isn’t.

Creating a story that has multiple moving pieces, more than one main character, interesting antagonists, a storyline that moves and is moving, drama, intrigue, romance (if you’re into that kind of thing), credible threats, satisfying outcomes — having all those disparate pieces come together to form a cohesive and enjoyable tale – that’s work. Actual work. It’s not lumberjacking, to be sure, but it’s head-throbbing, gut-wrenching, ‘what the hell am I doing here’ certifiable work. If airplane mechanics had the same self-doubt that writers have – and if they had to change their work as often – you would never step foot on an airplane. Ever.

Everything that makes a story can also be true of being an Indie Author. There are multiple threads to this job – and again, I reiterate, it’s a job. It’s officially work if you want to do more than share a story with your immediate friends and family.

The first thing is, of course, the story itself. The book or short story, or play, or whatever it is you happen to be writing. Then there is engagement – social media, blogs like this, setting up a website. Each of those things on their own isn’t that hard, but making it work together and trying to build a community around the stories, that’s a much tougher nut to crack.

Part of the reason for the difficulty is that so much of what happens after the story is printed is beyond the author’s control, but it is still something the author needs to remain connected to. The biggest example of this is getting reviews. The writer has absolutely zero control on this. Some people love to review things. Other do not. Maybe they liked your book but just don’t like reviews. Maybe they didn’t like your book and feel they are sparing your feelings. Here’s the thing, the reviews matter. A lot.

If you support Indie Authors, and many people do, thank you. From the bottom of the same soul that giggles when I write a bad guy doing something horrible, I thank you for your patronage of my story and of any story that supports independent artists. But buying and reading the book are only the first two steps. To complete the communication cycle, you’ve got to review it – provide some feedback either in the form of an Amazon or BookBub or Goodreads review, or send the author an email or a private message on social. I don’t know an author that wouldn’t welcome hearing from a reader.

There are other parts to this – the worst/hardest/most time-consuming perhaps, is the marketing. Creating a mailing list, finding venues to share your story, letting people know through the social channels what it is you’re all about, doing the research to figure out Amazon ads, Facebook ads… the list goes on. Writing a book is one thing – letting people know about that book is another matter entirely.

Other than the actual writing of the book, the marketing is the hardest part because as a writer I want to:

Let people know what I’ve done
Help people find and buy what I’ve done
Encourage people to read what I’ve done (even if you don’t buy it – go the library, download a free e-book, borrow it from a friend – it doesn’t matter because of No. 4…
Encourage people to review it. It’s impossible to overstate how important this is to Indie Authors.
Take every ‘legitimate’ opportunity to create a sales pitch
Don’t want to be seen as always giving a sales pitch
Engage my readers through posts and responses. If you comment on something on a social post or my website, I will answer you. If you send me a private message, I’ll answer that too.
I also want people to know that I don’t expect everyone will like what I write and that’s okay. Did you know there are people out there who don’t like The Hobbit or Harry Potter!? There will always be people who like what you write, but as an Indie Author especially, it’s (another one of) my job(s) to go find them.

With my mailing list, I honestly try not to send emails unless I’ve got something to say – usually that something involves a new release. So, if you’re on my mailing list and you want more, let me know what you’re looking for. I guess I could send you a picture of my cats.

The writing of a story is really only the first step on a long road, but it’s so much fun and so well worth it when you connect with someone who really enjoys what you’ve done. Having a reader come up to you at an event excited because they can get the next book is a great feeling. It validates the work you’ve put in. It doesn’t need to be universal validation – it only takes one reader to make all the hours feel well spent.

I hope that in the coming months and years, we can grow this little community as I grow the story world between the pages.

Cheers to you all.

 

Progress Report and New Events!

Hi all and thanks for coming over to my little patch of electrons. Pretty busy here and book 4 of the 30 Stones Saga is taking shape. As of this writing I’d say I’m about 1/4 of the way through – maybe a little more. I’m going to use the working title “Black Dragon” for the time being, so if you see that again, it’s in reference to book 4. I’m also going to upload another story to my website, so please check out the ‘Short Stories’ tab. Sorry that doesn’t get updated too often, but most of the ‘short stories’ I’m writing are my 1-Hour Stories on Patreon.

In addition to the book, I’m also working with a vendor on getting some shirts made which I hope to show off as my first video blog on this site. Stay tuned for that – hopefully in a couple of weeks or so.

After a successful summer, most notably at Steppin’ Out in my hometown and Olde Salem Days up the road in Salem, VA, I’ve got a couple of smaller events lined up between now and Dec.

First up is Indie Author Day at the Radford Public Library, Oct. 12 from 11am to 2 pm – you can also find them on Facebook. After that I’ll be at the New River Community College Comic-Con Oct. 26 from 10am to 4 pm in Dublin, VA; and finally there is a really nice holiday craft fair, the Prices Fork Craft and Vendor Show in Blacksburg, and I’ll be there Dec. 7.

Watch this space for a poster from the Radford Indie Author Day event and if you get a chance to stop by one of these events, please stop by my table and say hello.

Finding the groove

Taking time off from writing is like taking time off from exercising. It’s difficult to get back into a groove and reclaim the time you’ve given over to other things. Still, that’s where I sit now, finding the groove again and reclaiming the time I can to put into writing.

Still, I’ve finished up the first few chapters, I’m about 10,000 words in to book 4 of the 30 Stones Saga (There will probably be 9 books in all I think) and I’ve done a lot of revisions of those first few chapters as I poke around with some new characters.

The map I’ve created has been a huge asset this time around. If you look at the image at the top of this article and compare it to the one from mid-August, you can see there have been places added and place names as well. As characters start to discover those places, I’m discovering them too. And, if you’ve read book 3, Magic’s Genesis: Reckoning, you might recognize at least one of those new places. (Oh, by the way, if you have read books 2 and/or 3, please feel free to leave a review on Amazon. Don’t be shy – review it honestly, and I promise I won’t be offended).

Getting book 4 out the door before Christmas will be a 50/50 proposition right now with the smart money betting the over. Just don’t see it happening, but I’d be happy to be wrong. I think the first month or two of 2020 will be a more likely scenario.

In other news, next Saturday is Olde Salem Days   in Salem, Virginia. I’ll be there with my pal Valerie Archual, so if you find yourself in Salem, swing by our booth on North Market Street.

I’m off to do my monthly Hour-Long Story for my patrons over on Patreon. This month’s story will be based on the random line: “She wasn’t happy about it, but she’d been recalled to life for a reason.”

Cheers to all.

Up Next: Olde Salem Days Sept 14

I got the letter this weekend confirming that I’ll have a spot at Olde Salem Days in Salem, Virginia Sept. 14.  This event is the largest in the town with more than 35,000 people walking the streets of this historic southwest Virginia town. The vendors are all there with hand-crafted items – and self-published items too, as it turns out.

If you come to visit, you’ll find me on North Market Street (between East Maine and East Clay Streets) and you’ll find that I’m not alone. Joining me will be Valerie Archual, who aside from having a great blog site, has authored two children’s books and had stories included in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Life Lessons from the Cat, and CSFTS: The Wonder of Christmas! Her children’s books include the Roanoke-inspired Carter’s Star City Trolley Ride, and Tom Tom and Rose. Please stop by and say hello if you’re in the area – and you should be, because it’s shaping up to be a fantastic event. And it’s never too early to get in some hand-crafted (and locally-written) holiday shopping!

In other news, the as yet un-named fourth book in the 30 Stones Saga is starting to take shape and I’m looking forward to introducing you to some new characters, and some new locations in Eigrae, and bringing back some old friends as well.

I look forward to seeing you in Salem in September and don’t forget, you’re always welcome to leave a message here, or on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Patreon.

Cheers!

World-Building and the art of Remembering

Writing is a perishable skill and there is no better example of that then not writing for a couple months and trying to jump back in with the same cadence that you left before you stopped. It’s alarming.

And that’s what is happening with book 4 right now. It’s slow moving forward, not only because of the self-imposed break but also because I’ve got more to consider. When Magic’s Genesis: The Grey was in progress, it was pretty free-flowing because Eigrae was a blank sheet. Sword of Wilmamen and Reckoning both were extensions of the first book and it all moved along like a steady current.

Now, however, there is a new dynamic at play in book 4 – one I don’t want to say too much about just yet – and I’ve already written and re-written the first chapter a couple of times. With each iteration, however, it starts to take shape, but now it’s not taking shape on a blank sheet. Now there is an actual world where all this needs to fit together. Some (certainly not all … not by a long shot) of the world powers have been met as have some of the people. As this builds it gets to be a challenge to keep it all sorted.

When people talk about George R.R. Martin, I can’t help but think, ‘man, why does it take him so long to write a book? If my only job was writing a book, I’d certainly be turning them out faster than he is.’ But I’m starting to understand it. There are a lot … a LOT… of moving pieces when you are world-building, and each character brings something with her/him that adds to that list. (That and the fact that writing isn’t his only job. He’s also promoting, talking, doing appearances, meeting with editors etc etc etc)

A great example of this is the Sword of Wilmamen – not the book, but the actual sword. There was, I think, a single line in The Grey that mentioned this sword and an Eifen warrior Wilmamen. Going forward into book two, I remembered this thing and brought it forward so that now the Sword is a ‘big deal’ in the context of the whole story. So, it’s not just plot lines and character arcs, it’s also trying to remember belongings of each individual who matters to the story.

It seems weird to read my own book, but writers absolutely must – just to keep track of what’s going on and who is where and do they use a sword or a hammer or an axe or … the list goes on.

So, that’s what I’m doing now – working on sorting and figuring out how what happens next figures in to what has already happened. I’m thinking it’s going to take a little longer than the last two books to get this into fighting shape, and so I’m going to say book 4 won’t be available probably until sometime in the new year – hopefully before spring.

Thanks for stopping by – be sure to share the link with your friends and feel free to send in a comment or start a conversation – always happy to reply. And if you haven’t checked out my Patreon site yet – please just give it a gander and let me know what you think. www.patreon.com/rosaire

 

Cheers!

 

Next up…Stepping Out

Anyone from around the local area knows what Stepping Out is – it’s two days (Aug. 2-3) of great fun in the middle of town – with vendors and several stages of live music, people selling awesome stuff from all over the place – wood furniture to hand-made ice cream – and this year, books from me!

I’ll have a place down near the acoustic stage at the south end of Main Street so if you’re in the area, I hope you can stop by and say hello. The festival runs from early Friday to about 10-11 pm. Friday and starts back up to run all day Saturday as well.

As I’m going to have so long, I’ll probably be doing some writing while I’m there as I try to get back into a routine after about two months away from the keys. I’ve got pages of notes for book four of the 30 Stones Saga, but I’m spending a lot of time right now working on a YA fantasy that I figure will probably end up being a trilogy, but a little shorter in length than The Grey or even Reckoning. I’m really looking forward to it and on that note…

…I’m looking for a couple people who would be willing to read this new work while its in progress and spend a little online chat time with me talking about it – providing feedback etc. If you’re interested, PM me on my my Facebook site or send a message through the website.

We’ll be back in the groove here soon enough and I hope to share some exciting stuff with you in the future – including some work I’m doing with our local library to set up an Indie Author Day in October – you can check it out at Indie Author Day or the Indie Author Project’s Facebook page!

Thanks for hanging out with me!

Cheers

Rosaire