Carey Parrish's Blog, page 4

My 2013 Oscar Predictions

Okay...Here we go...Once again I'm posting my annual list of Oscar predictions. Sometimes I'm right and sometimes I'm wrong. LOL. I have seen every film nominated and every film in which the nominees have starred. So here are my picks for this year: Best Picture: Argo. Best Director: Steven Spielberg for Lincoln. Best Actor: Daniel Day Lewis in Lincoln. Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook. Best Supporting Actor: Tommy Lee Jones in Lincoln. Best Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway in Les Miserables. Best Original Song: Skyfall by Adele and Paul Epworth. Argo should easily win Best Picture because of the immense and overwhelming backlash the Academy received for not giving Ben Affleck a Best Director nomination. He certainly deserved the nod, but I believe Spielberg still had the edge in the event the Academy hadn't pooped in its nest and honored Affleck as well. Although never count out a Steven Spielberg film in this category. Lincoln could still upset the odds on favorite, Argo. Steven Spielberg is my hands down pick for Best Director. I cannot foresee an upset in this category. He deserves it. Lincoln is a masterpiece. Ditto for Daniel Day Lewis as Best Actor. His performance in Lincoln is his opus. No other performance in film this year can rival his turn as the 16th President of the United States. Jennifer Lawrence looks to be the shoe-in for Best Actress. Her performance in Silver Linings Playbook is outstanding. The only possible upset for her would be if Naomi Watts takes it for The Impossible, another standout job well done. The Academy has surprised us before, but I'm still betting on Lawrence. Tommy Lee Jones deserves a second Oscar at this year's ceremony. His role in Lincoln is easily the best performance in the category, but Academy voters just might give it to Christoph Waltz, whose also a past winner and who gave a knockout punch in Django Unchained. This is quite possibly the best chance for an upset this year. Best Supporting Actress. My odds are on Anne Hathway to take it home for her work in Les Miserables. She was sensational and her transformation into a waif like, poverty stricken child makes her the best of the lot in this category. Yet I still can't rule out two other actresses who just might upset her. Emmanuelle Riva is the closest contender to take the honor away from Hathaway. Her role in Amour as the aging music teacher who suffers a stroke and deteriorates through the course of the film is breathtaking. And then there's always Sally Field who just might pull off a third win of her own with her turn as Mary Todd Lincoln; it was an inspired performance and a likely upset in this category. If Skyfall doesn't win Best Original Song there is no justice in this world at all. So who's with me or against me this year? Ha ha. We shall see tomorrow night! Cheers!C

Book Review: Out of the Past by Jeffrey Ballam

When love goes wrong, sometimes things get even more complicated. Such is the case when Paul loses his lover, Eric, and then falls for a dashing lawyer named Javier while on jury duty. Paul is reeling from Eric’s departure, something he can’t find closure from since Eric won’t speak to him. So it is with reluctance that he pursues a new relationship with Javier. But the works get gummed up with the trial on which Paul has been chosen for the jury and also by the sudden and unpleasant reappearance of Eric, who has an agenda of his own. First time novelist Jeffrey Ballam creates an enjoyable and consuming tale of modern romance that displays characters on emotional journeys which are converging in unexpected ways. The result is a story that people will remember. Well written and with a cast that runs the gamut of human conditions, "Out of the Past" is a winner any way you look at it. 5 Stars.

Book Review: Dizzy by Arthur Wooten

Novelist Arthur Wooten's latest release is another masterpiece from this multitalented scribe. "Dizzy" is the story of Angie Styles, a hugely successful Broadway actress. At the pinnacle of her career, Angie is stricken with an illness that changes her entire life. Diagnosed with bilateral vestibulopathy, Angie has to adjust to constant dizziness and the myriad of cohort symptoms which accompany her condition. Her existence is changed forever by this debilitating illness. As Angie begins to deal with her situation, she finds herself on a personal journey of self-discovery that is pure Arthur Wooten magic. Angie's story is one that readers will not forget. Inspired by true events in the author's own life, "Dizzy" tells a tale that is uniquely gifted and inspirational, written with heart, humor, and tears. Mr. Wooten always delivers with his work and he's proven once again that his talent is for the ages. 5 Stars.

Spotlight Interview with Author Gabe Berman

Every now and then I pick up a book that not only touches me but causes me to rethink a few things about myself. Such is the case with Live Like A Fruit Fly by Gabe Berman. I read this book after meeting Gabe on Twitter and I have to say that his unique look at life and what drives – or doesn’t drive – most people was a breath of fresh air. Gabe’s book isn’t your usual “self help” fodder, or even a formula memoir. He gives the reader a look at his own life while imparting the lessons he himself learned by making most of the same mistakes we all do, but which multitudes never have the insight from which to learn. His experiences paralleled my own in many ways but Gabe told his story with a candid, revealing lens aimed directly at himself, and the result is a book that was endorsed by Deepak Chopra.
Gabe relates to his readers through his wit, his charm, his down to earth dialogue, and more than a sprinkling of pop culture references that most everyone will recognize. As usual, whenever I read a book this eye opening, I feel the need to know as much about its author as I can. So I wrote to Gabe and asked him for an interview. He happily accepted and we had a very nice exchange. He’s open, honest, and extremely engaging. I came away feeling that I’d made a new friend. And ready to try to “live like a fruit fly” myself.
 
CP: Welcome, Gabe. Thanks for visiting with me.
GB: Well, I owed you for saving my life at Normandy. 
CP: (Laughing.) I’d like to begin by asking what was the impetus behind the comparison with a fruit fly for your book?
GB: Fruit flies are born, buzz around a bit and then are gone. Usually within ten days.  They don't have time to sit around and worry. Neither do we.
CP: Tell me what motivated you to write this?
GB: The Fruit Fly concept came to me during one of my lame sales jobs. The boss was pissed at me for figuring out the path of least resistance in the sales cycle. I honestly thought I was going to get a pat on the back. But alas, such is life in Corporate America. I then knew it was time to start following my passions.  And, for the record, I was fired before I had a chance to quit. The Universe was looking out for me.
CP: You’re very revealing in the book. Were you hesitant to talk about your personal life so extensively?
GB: I wasn't hesitant at all. And I'm convinced that's why my book works. People connect with it. If not, it would just be another bland, preachy self-help book. And we've all read enough of those. And by "read" I mean skimmed through. 
CP: What was your goal with Live Like A Fruit Fly?
GB: My goal was to write the best book I could. To cut no corners. Only then would it help people to live the lives they hoped for.
CP: Do you feel  you achieved this?
GB: Yes, it's my Catcher In The Rye.
CP: You use several pop culture references in the book. Were these things that meant something to you personally?
GB: How could I not make references to Star Wars? It's become part of our collective consciousness. Luke Skywalker was just a farm boy with a bad haircut who ends up saving the universe from evil. We're all capable of greatness.
CP: Deepak Chopra endorsed Live Like A Fruit Fly. How did that come about?
GB: I saved his life at Normandy. Actually, the nationally syndicated radio host Alan Colmes found my book on Amazon. Thankfully, he loved it and gave it to his friend Deepak Chopra who thankfully loved it as well.
CP: And did this add to the validation of your mission?
GB: Yes it certainly added validation to the mission. If you build it, they will come (if it doesn't suck.)
CP: What do you see as the most important tenant for others in Live Like A Fruit Fly?
GB: Forget about "seize the day.”  Instead, seize THIS day.
CP: What do you hope readers take away from the book?
GB: Life is too short not to be extraordinary. And if you're just a little more kind to yourself and to others, that's extraordinary enough.
CP: Are you working on another project at the moment? And if so what can you share about it?
GB: The Fruit Fly Strikes Back. I thought I'd get the pop culture reference out of the way from the get-go.
CP: (Laughing.) What other publications do you write for?
GB: I wrote for The Miami Herald for eight years. And now I write for www.Alan.com from time to time.
CP: Any regrets about Live Like A Fruit Fly?
GB: I have no regrets about anything.
CP: What do you like to do in your ‘Gabe’ time?
GB: You can find me in a Starbucks, in a bookstore or on the beach. One day I'll get around to sleeping. I've heard a lot about it.
CP: Married/Single/Divorced/Involved?
GB: I'm holding out for Diane Lane.
CP: Any children?
GB: How can I have children when I'm still a kid? Wait, I'm almost forty? Really? You're joking, right?
CP: (Laughing.) What are you reading right now?
GB: A Thousand Names For Joy by Byron Katie. For the seventh time.
CP: Favorite place?
GB: The house I grew up in. I visit often. And the new owners are always like: "Who the hell are you and why are you naked in our kitchen?" (Joking - my parents still live there and I'm never naked in the kitchen).
CP: (Laughing out loud!) Favorite food?
GB: Hotdogs (although I've been a vegetarian for five six years - I remember the taste well).
CP: Favorite movie?
GB: Just one? Dead Poets Society. And Tree Of Life. And Good Will Hunting. Caddyshack.
CP: Personal preference: long sleeves or barefoot weather?
GB: I live in flip-flops. 
CP: What advice or wisdom would you like to pass along here?
GB: Follow your gut. It will never lead you astray.
CP: And what are you most proud of?
GB: Following my gut. Always.  Gabe’s book does what few others like it do: it delivers. Live Like A Fruit Fly makes the reader feel that he’s right there with Gabe, learning the lessons for himself, instead of simply reading about them. It’s that good. So how about it? Are you ready to “live like a fruit fly?” You won’t regret it and you won’t look back either.
 
  (Click Here to purchase.)(Click Here for Kindle Edition.)  Gabe's Websites: www.OMGabe.com
www.gabeberman.com   Carey Parrish
 

Spotlight Interview with Novelist Eric Arvin

Over the past few years, Eric Arvin has been amassing a large fan base which simply adores his work. This novelist continually thrills his fans with one hit after another. No matter what he writes, the results are the same: readers and critics alike praise his books. Eric has the gift of a true storyteller and he’s always working on his next release. Fans don’t have to worry about being disappointed either.
With SuburbaNights, Eric has returned with a new entry in his Jasper Lane series. Bringing back the escapades of these quirky, delicious characters, he’s scored yet another gem. Preceded by SubSurdity and Suburbilicious, readers have embraced this series and SuburbaNights has been anxiously awaited for some time.
Eric has been quite prolific in the last couple of years. His award winning Woke Up In A Strange Place was succeeded by the popular She’s Come Undone and Miss Locks. He also penned another erotic piece, Roids, Rumps & Revenge. Eric is one of my closest pals and I can never resist asking him for an interview. He’s witty, charming, and absolutely addictive…just like his books.
CP: Welcome back, Eric.
EA: Thanks, Carey. It’s always great to be here.
CP: You’ve got a new book out, I see.
EA: Yep. The third book in my Jasper Lane series. This one is titled SuburbaNights.
CP: What can you tell me about it?
EA: There’s kidnapping, religious zealots, murder, bodybuilders, drag queen cheerleaders, sex, and a vicious fucking machine.
CP: These characters and this series have been really popular with your readers. Why do you think this is so?
EA: Well, they’re all very sarcastic, and in this day and age sarcasm is what gets a lot of people through the day. You have to laugh at the world around you else you’ll go nuts. I think these characters do and say what many people wish they could.
CP: When you first wrote SubSurdity, did you expect it to become a series?
EA: No. It wasn’t even intended for publication. I wrote it on a dare, but then found such encouragement from friends that I was all, why not?
CP: Are you going to continue the escapades from Jasper Lane?
EA: If the sales warrant it. I have a fourth book outlined in my head, and have already had readers ask when the next one will be out.
CP: You’ve had a couple of other hit titles lately as well.
EA: Galley Proof – a memoir-ish travel comedy – was released earlier this year, as well as three short stories available on-line: She’s Come Undone and my thriller Miss Locks through Untreed Reads, and my filthy erotic piece Roids, Rumps & Revenge through Seventh Window.
CP: You’re quite versatile in your writing style. Do you simply write what comes to you or do you target certain audiences with your work?
EA: I write whatever I’m inspired to write. I can’t force myself to sit down and come up with a comedy or a thriller. I’ve tried that before and the result was a disaster along the lines of Ishtar.
(Click To Purchase)
CP: I hear you’re heading out to Albuquerque for this year’s GRL in a couple of months.
EA: Sure am. I’m excited about that. I’m staying at a fancy dancy lookin’ prancy hotel too. It’s supposed to be haunted. I hope I don’t get molested in my room…tee hee…
CP: What are you most looking forward to about the event?
EA: Being molested in my room by a ghost… oh, and meeting writers I’ve only ever talked to online. I also would like some day trips to Roswell and Santa Fe.
CP: What are you working on now and what can you share about it?
EA: I have my fingers in all types of pies, but right now I’m focused on an erotic comic book with Absolutbleu for Patrick Fillion’s Class Comics, and a large epic piece of speculative fiction called Terms We Have For Dreaming.
CP: What have you been doing in your ‘Eric’ time lately?
EA: Working out and taking care of three new kitties. They’re very bossy, those kitties.
CP: What are you reading?
EA: This has been my SUMMER OF ICE & FIRE (echo echo echo…). I’ve read nothing but George R. R. Martin’s Song of Ice & Fire series. I’m on book 5, A Dance With Dragons, and it’s just amazing stuff.
CP: And what music are you listening to these days?
EA: So far 2012 has been a disappointing year in music, but I am loving the new Dar Williams CD.
CP: Seen any good movies?
EA: Um…no.
CP: How are you keeping cool during this sweltering summer heat?
EA: I finally had an air conditioning unit installed. Now I can sit and feel guilty for using more electricity.
CP: And what are you most proud of right now?
EA: I’m still super proud that my book Woke Up in a Strange Place won an award earlier this year.
CP: Eric, thanks for another great get-together.
EA: You bet! Next time I’ll bring the potato salad. I loves me some potato salad!
Carey Parrish

Spotlight Interview with Novelist Arthur Wooten

Without question, Arthur Wooten is one of the most talented people I know. His writing is a national treasure. The list of hit titles from this man is stellar and just keeps right on growing. On Picking Fruit, Fruit Cocktail, Birthday Pie, Wise Bear William, Arthur Wooten’s Shorts, and most recently Leftovers have all found their way onto bestseller lists with ease. Arthur writes with a flair that is truly original and he is an inspiration for anyone looking to spread creative wings.
Arthur is also a very good friend. We’ve known each other for years now and about a month ago I had the great pleasure of seeing him again in New York City. I feel that Arthur is one of those special people who are just meant to be a part of my life. He encourages me to keep reaching for my own dreams by making his come true, again and again. Our mutual friend Charles Casillo once remarked to me that “Arthur is an angel.” I have to agree.
Whenever Arthur releases a new book, I always beat an email path to his door and ask for an interview. He always obliges as well. This time was no different. With Leftovers an Amazon bestseller, I was intrigued about how Arthur came to this book and I must admit that the amount of research and time he put into it is amazing. Like the man himself, Leftovers is an original. And that doesn’t have to be preserved in Tupperware either!


CP: Arthur, welcome back! Nice to chat with you again.
AW: Carey, it’s always a pleasure to visit with you. And our recent literary dinner in NYC was too much fun. What a great group of people, including yourself.
CP: Arthur, you make me blush. (Private joke.) You’ve had a major success with your new novel Leftovers. How do you relate to its popularity?
AW: Well, I’m thrilled of course. Leftovers was a big risk for me in that it’s a totally different book from all my others. I hoped that my followers would enjoy it but I also worked hard to find the target audience. I met lots of new “chic lit” bloggers/readers and because Leftovers is also based around Tupperware, I received the blessing of the company itself and I reached out to the top dealers around the world. And I’m so happy that they’ve all loved the story and are spreading news of the book at their Tupperware parties. Everything about Tupperware, including the creator of the home party plan system, Brownie Wise, is historically correct in Leftovers.
CP: Tell us a bit about Vivian Lawson and how you created her.
AW:  Leftovers is a riches to rags to riches love story. Vivian Lawson was born with a silver spoon in her MOTHER’S mouth. The novel takes place between 1954 and 1956 in a fictitious New England town, just north of Boston. Vivian’s father made millions with his woolen factories but his wife, Vivian’s mother, made sure that her daughter barely saw a penny of it, particularly after her father died.
   Thinking he loved her and wanting to get away from her mother, Vivian marries the wrong man. And being born into such wealth, Vivian’s life was orchestrated by a series of maids, each called by their number. Ex: Maid 1, Maid 2, etc. Vivian was not only ignored as a child, she wasn’t allowed to learn how to do anything domestically.
   End result, once she was married, she hadn’t a clue as to what to do. And in the mid-50s, being the supreme housewife was a goal many women strived for. Nor did Vivian know how to dress or apply make-up. She was a mess…but with a heart of gold and much too forgiving.
   She struggles with her marriage and her dream to have children just isn’t working out. And when her degrading husband goes one step too far Vivian shockingly throws him out. She’s left to fend for herself in a man’s world with no money and no skills.
   After hitting rock bottom and with the help of two good friends, Vivian has nowhere to go but up. And it’s Tupperware that allows her to discover her self-esteem, create financial security and ultimately find true love.
CP: Why do you think this character so resonates with readers?
AW: I think people relate to her because her struggle is timeless. Most of us have been in ill-fated romances or marriages. And I don’t know anyone who hasn’t had a dream and worked hard to achieve it. Some succeed, others don’t, but it’s a universal yearning for things to work out. To reach your goal – on all levels. Who doesn’t love a story where the underdog wins?
CP: Did you expect Leftovers to be such a hit?
AW: Carey, at this point in my writing career I try not to think of whether or not a project is going to be a hit. But when the reviews started coming in…and they are glowing…you do whisper to yourself…They like me. They really like me. (God bless Sally Field.)
CP: Are you planning another story with Vivian?
AW: Actually I haven’t thought about that. Hmmm…you have my gears spinning.
CP: Leftovers comes right on the heels of your successes with Birthday Pie, Wise Bear William, and Arthur Wooten’s Shorts. What do you have in store for your fans next?


AW: Next up, once again, is a totally different novel with a working title of Dizzy. Based upon a true story, it’s about a beloved Broadway diva who is struck down by a mysterious disease at the height of her career and is forced to reexamine her life and the people in it as she fights to survive. A story very close to my heart…literally.
CP: Let’s skip back to On Picking Fruit. There was talk of Curtis coming to life on the screen. What’s going on there?
AW: Sadly, nothing. I was in talks with Warner Bros. but ultimately they thought it was too edgy. Then Showtime came knocking but felt it wasn’t edgy enough. I’m hoping one day soon, whether it be On Picking Fruit or someone else’s project, that a show with a lead gay character appears on television again but right now we’re still just seeing them as supporting characters. You have to admit, we are in a very tentative and heated situation across the country when it comes to gay rights and I think Hollywood is nervous right now.
CP: And Birthday Pie? It was also talked of in film circles.
AW: Birthday Pie was in preproduction with Phylicia Rashad to star and her sister Debbie Allen to direct. Then the recession hit and the production company folded. Both Phylicia and Debbie are excited to stay with the project but as of yet, we haven’t found a new home for it.
CP: How about Leftovers? It would make a great film.
AW: Funny you say that, Leftovers was originally a screenplay and optioned by the same company that was producing Birthday Pie. Producers told me Nicole Kidman was interested in the property for several months but that seemed to fizzle out about the same time the company folded.
CP: What’s next for you, Arthur?
AW: Taking my time writing Dizzy. It’s also going to be written in an entirely new and different format for me. I’m breaking away from my traditional linear timeline of writing and exploring new concepts. As you know, I tend to write very quickly but I need to nurture this project very gently.


CP: What have you been doing in your free time lately?
AW: Living in NYC – museums, restaurants, theatre, travel. I just had three books come out in three months and I’m exhausted. This is a well-deserved and necessary break.
CP: Reading anything good?
AW: I’m enthralled by Brian Selznick’s Wonderstruck. You may recall he wrote The Invention Of Hugo Cabret that was then adapted to film and won several Oscars last year. I went to see One Man, Two Guvnors on Broadway recently and he sat next to me. We had met years ago when he was a puppeteer with Basil Twist and seeing him and catching up with everything reminded me that I wanted to get his latest book. It’s simply magical.
CP: What music are you listening to these days?
AW: Adele. Who isn’t? I love her, her music, her lyrics, her voice, her look. And I love her just as much in interviews. She’s so real, down to earth and relatable.
CP: How’s the shiatsu practice?
AW: Still going strong. This is my 28th year as a practitioner. I should give myself a gold watch. Or at the very least, a pair of gold knuckles – to give my hands a rest!
CP: Next time I’m in New York, I definitely want to have dinner with you again.
AW: Oh for sure, Carey. It was glorious to see you again.
CP: Arthur, thanks so much for this time.
AW: As always, the pleasure’s all mine.
Carey Parrish

Spotlight Interview with Novelist Gregory G. Allen

Gregory G. Allen has been making quite a name for himself in recent years. His debut novel Well With My Soul garnered him much acclaim and admiration, not to mention an enviable fan base, and he quickly rose to prominence in the GLBT community. Now he’s returned with a new book, this one from a different angle and an entirely different protagonist, that is thrilling his fans and increasing his recognition in literary circles.Patchwork of Me is Greg’s latest novel and it was an instantaneous success. One of the more satisfying books I’ve read in the last year, it gives us the story of a young woman with a fractured past who must come to terms with herself, and the traumas that have shaped her life, before she can move forward. He also recently released a children’s book focusing on a young boy with autism who is a superhero. An unqualified success, Chicken Boy has increased Greg’s readership in grand style.I asked Greg for an interview to get a look inside what inspired him to write these stories. He’s a good friend and just last month I got to meet and have dinner with him in New York City. So I was more than pleased when he agreed to be my guest again.
CP: Welcome back, Greg. It’s good to chat with you.
GGA: It is always wonderful to meet up with you…here or in NY when you visit!
CP: Thanks, man. You’ve got a couple of really popular titles out right now. Let’s begin with Patchwork of Me. Tell me how this book came about.
GGA: A few years ago I decided to try the “NaNoWriMo” where you write a novel in a month during November. Just to challenge myself. That was the first draft of Patchwork. I started with the character’s past in Maine (what she discovers as she patches her life together) and created this woman around that actual moment. How she was put into foster care and ended up in Arizona now as a woman in her 30s.
CP: Did you expect it to become such a favorite with readers?
GGA: I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’m not a specific genre writer, so I walk into the waters with trepidation that people will say ‘this is not like what we’ve read of his before’ and throw the book across the room. (Laughs.) Would people take to a man writing a female protagonist in first person? But I’m thrilled with the comments that I have received (especially from women) and was absolutely overjoyed when it won the 2012 International Book Award for Women’s Lit.
CP: Why do you think it appeals to such a wide audience?
GGA: I think people can relate to Sara. A woman who doesn’t feel she quite fits in, trying to hold it all together. Making wrong choices. Fighting with herself in her own head. Plus hanging out with two fun gay guys and one chick that has no problem ‘speaking the truth’ – their ‘family’ definitely has an appeal to audiences who long for or relate to that kind of camaraderie in their own lives.
CP: Any talk of a film adaptation of Patchwork?
GGA:

CP: And Chicken Boy? Where did this one come from?
GGA:  I honestly never intended to write a children’s book. I spend every Wednesday night with my godson (who has autism) and his sister and mom, eating at his favorite place. Many children with autism need that routine and he always orders the same meal which consists of chicken fingers, French fries and ketchup. So his sister and I started making up a story one night about him being a superhero. He sometimes just screams out the word “BAHCAAAAAAH” for no reason, so we decided that was his battle cry. Thus our superhero was born and I wrote this story about autism awareness told through the eyes of the child that lives with it every day. I entered it into a contest with four hundred other stories and it won the People’s Choice Grand Prize award and was published by MeeGenius in March on their digital platform.
CP: Chicken Boy has caught the attention of many readers, including celebrities who’ve helped you promote it. Why do you think its message is so well received?
GGA: I think so many people know someone with autism in the day and age that we live in now that it is on many people’s minds. The story is told simply so that a child can understand it: don’t fear someone who is different. People love the simplicity and want to help spread the word…and I’m eternally grateful for it! We have to love social media & those celebrities who re-tweet!
CP: What did you hope this book would accomplish? And in your view, has it succeeded in its mission?
GGA: The book became something so much larger than “Greg wrote a children’s book” during the two rounds of voting. I truly felt I was on a mission to be a voice - one SMALL voice - in making people aware that kids with autism are not so different (inside their own heads). So don’t be afraid just because someone makes a sound or you see them fidgeting. They can’t help what they are doing. Once the book was out (and then also in print,) I’ve been
traveling to local schools and reading it, discussing it with ages from PreK to sixth grade. It has been an amazing experience for me and one I really treasure. And when I see a kid ‘get it’ (especially if there is also a child with autism in the room making a noise or something) and can say “oh, it’s like what Chicken Boy did in the book” … yes, I completely feel the mission was a success. 


CP: How do you feel when you see Patchwork of Me win an award or Chicken Boy take flight with so many people?
GGA: You feel a sense of accomplishment and validation. Look, we all want to be loved in this world, but I’m aware not everyone is going to love everything I do. And I’m okay with that. (He says after years of therapy.) J Those one star reviews are washed out of my mind when something I’ve written is acknowledged by a panel or group for what it brings to the literary world. It makes you feel you haven’t been writing in vain. Do I still wish I could sell those thousands of copies of books that I read about others doing? Absolutely! But I’m truly honored every time someone buys a copy and tells me what they thought. It’s a wonderful feeling. 
CP: Your writing really resonates with your readers. People respond to your work. How do you make your brand of magic?
GGA: Wow, Carey. That’s a really sweet thing for you to say. And I’m not certain how to answer you. I don’t think in terms of ‘trying to write a certain way’ or ‘if I do this, then people will think that.’ I just try to stay as true and honest to myself and my characters as I possibly can. CP: How do you handle or respond to criticisms of your work?
GGA: I turn to my modern day Algonquin Round Table friends and ask them to join me for a virtual drink! (Laughs.) As I mentioned before, we all strive for acceptance, but sometimes we’re just not going to get it. And that’s because not everyone likes all of the same things. I’ve had people tell me I write such realistic dialogue and others say my dialogue is flat and untrue. It’s hardest when it is something to do with editing or a misspelled word makes it through (and my books have gone through editors and proofers and STILL some errors made it into print). Those are rough because the person is right and it can’t be disputed. But if that word took them so far out of my storytelling then obviously I wasn’t really the storyteller for them, was I? But I don’t respond to the criticisms. It’s just not worth it.
CP: Are you working on any new projects right now? If so, what can you share about them?
GGA: I seem to have too many projects going on in my head! I actually have sequels to both of my first books that are brewing and a few chapters/outlines have been written. But first I’d like to get out a novelized version of a musical I wrote several years ago called Invisible Fences about a biracial woman living in Dalton, GA in 1964. If I can get that book out sometime in 2013, it will show the arc of my writing as someone who simply loves to write about diversity and how different my first three novels are in genre and tone. Then I’ll really mess with people’s minds about who I am as an author! J    

CP: What have you been doing in your “Greg” time lately?
GGA: Living right outside of NYC, I spent May attending several Broadway shows (and blogging about them) before the Tony awards. And then the first week in June was relaxing with the family in Punta Cana to share my sister’s small beach wedding. 
CP: What are you reading?
GGA: I just finished Benjamin Wretlind’s Sketches from the Spanish Mustang to give him a quote for his July release. Completely different type of reading for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it! 
CP: Seen any good movies?
GGA: I don’t actually get to the movies much. I wait for them to come on cable. Not sure if that’s being lazy or just thrifty. I think the last movie I had going in the background while I was busy doing my social media stuff was the alien flick Paul.
CP: You recently went to Sedona for a birthday break. How was that?
GGA: Amazing. Everything they say about it and more. Spiritual. Relaxing. Slower. We drove to the Grand Canyon, took a train through the Verde Canyon…and ate LOTS of good food!
CP: What’s next for you?
GGA: Heading to Maine in late June for an “author road trip” just like my characters in Patchwork of Me. Can’t wait to share both of these books with the people in that state at a few book signings. I worked up there in 1989 doing summer stock theater and I just love it! (So it’s work AND fun.)
CP: And what are you most proud of these days?
GGA: My mother. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in early May and had the strength of an army as she faced it. Never once having a pity party…only figuring out what comes next. That’s another reason I loved the Punta Cana trip to be able to spend a week with her before she goes home to Texas for her surgery and starts her treatments this summer. But she is awesome and as we say in Texas: “She’s gonna whip its ass!”
CP: Gregory G. Allen, thanks for this wonderful chat.
GGA: Thank you, Carey! I always love chatting with you. Either here on your blog, email, or online. See you out on twitter!

Carey Parrish

Journey To A New Kitchen Floor

Unknowingly, and unwittingly, I began the journey toward a new kitchen floor about six weeks ago. Some of you are aware that two years ago I moved to a smaller condo in my neighborhood. It was a move I made to simplify my life. Well, it was less than simple.
Every few weeks during the hot months the air conditioning would flake out. Dalton Service was called out again and again to fix it. There is no present accounting of how much money has been paid out to Dalton Service in the last two years to keep me in air conditioning. Summers in Northern Georgia can be brutal, which makes A/C a necessity. This is something you just can't do without.
Well, the first time this spring I needed my A/C, guess what? There wasn't any. Dalton Service was called and I gave specific instructions that they were to repair the issue so that it wouldn't be an issue anymore. They proceeded to rebuild the entire system for me. From the unit outside to the hardware inside. They even replaced some duct work that was old and in need of repair. The outcome? I had air conditioning to die for! It was wonderful.
Then, one evening, about two weeks later, I went through to the kitchen, passing over a small corridor between my living room and kitchen, and the carpet was wet. The next morning I called the maintenance man for the complex and he phoned me later in the day to tell me what the problem was. He had called Dalton Service to come out again and when they rebuilt my A/C unit they failed to install a drain for the condensation unit. So...during the ten days I had such wonderful air conditioning the drainage was pouring out under my kitchen floor, between the linoleum and the floor boards until it had no place else to go and was backing up into the carpet in the hall I spoke of.
Now, I'm no expert on air conditioning and heating but even I know you have to have somewhere for the condensation to go. But they left me with none.
And, to make the situation even more interesting, the man they sent out that morning to see what the problem was, took a hammer and beat open a drain in the piping, which only served to crack the entire drainage line back to the inside unit.
I was livid.
I gave more specific instructions as to what was to be done to rectify the problem. Dalton Service said they would have to work with their insurance company about replacing the flooring, linoleum, and carpet in my hallway that was damaged by their substandard work.
Three weeks passed. No word on anything. In the meantime the flooring under my linoleum was bucking up and the linoleum itself was splitting in places. Not to mention the rotting carpet and padding in the hallway. I was getting irritated by the entire situation.
Yesterday, after I got to work, the maintenance man text messaged me that Dalton Service was here to replace the flooring. I came home to find bare wood floors in my kitchen and hallway. The message was that this morning they would be back to replace the floor covering and the carpet. This they did. And I now have a new, beautiful kitchen floor. The carpet has been replaced. All they have to do is get the rest of my downstairs carpet cleaned so that it will all look the same. This is planned for Thursday.
In spite of everything I cannot recommend Dalton Service. They did come and eventually fix the issues they caused but it took longer than I wanted to wait. Plus I had three weeks of my home looking like a hoarder's house. I love the new floor covering in the kitchen but it was also an unnecessary expense.
Be careful who you hire. Check out their references. Don't be afraid to go to the Better Business Bureau if needed.
So... my new kitchen floor...and it was all totally unnecessary.


C

A Getaway to New York City

This past weekend I sneaked away to one of my favorite spots in the country for a three day vacation. I've been to New York City before but I can honestly say that this trip was by far my favorite. As usual, I plan out an itinerary for myself before I go any place and this time was no different. There were certain people I wanted to see and specific things I wanted to do while I was in The Big Apple, and nary a one went undone.
My cousin Samantha Floyd is a tremendous artist. She's been living on Staten Island for some time now and indulging her passion for her work all the while. On Friday evening I met her and her fiance Mark Altmann in Times Square. Mark works in Manhattan and Samantha took the ferry over. I walked up from my hotel at Lexington and 30th, something which seemed to surprise them, but I walk a lot so it was no big deal to me. The sights you see in NYC are always a blast and this trip we saw a man in a business suit in Times Square holding up on a sign that read: "Need money for weed." Only in New York!
The three of us proceeded to Basilica restaurant on 9th Avenue between 46th and 47th Streets and had a fantastic Italian dinner. We talked and talked and I realized what truly gifted people Samantha and Mark are. They are so much in love and their devotion to one another is easy to see. I liked Mark immediately. After dinner they took me to the Discovery Museum on 42nd Street where we saw the Chinese terracotta warriors. It was a breathtaking exhibit. Samantha and Mark are history buffs like I am and we had a wonderful time chatting as we explored the museum. After we left, they took me to Mark's office building, which happens to be the Internal Revenue Service, and I got to see the national debt clock. Here we parted for the evening and I strolled back to my hotel down 5th Avenue.
I had a great night's rest that night and spent Saturday morning getting ready to take the Staten Island Ferry across the harbor where Mark and Samantha met me for an afternoon of exploring. I had never ridden the Staten Island Ferry before and I can happily report that it was a great experience. I took a couple of really cool shots of Manhattan from the ferry. The ride also boasts some incredible views of the Statue of Liberty. It was breathtaking.
On Staten Island they took me to an estate sale. A little old lady had recently passed away and she was a hoarder, but a neat hoarder, and many of her belongings were being sold by an estate agent. I saw a splendid set of Royal Albert china that I would have loved to buy but not knowing how I'd get it home, and not being sure of shipping on the part of the agent, I had to leave it on Staten Island. Sad, but true. We next went to Snug Harbor, which was originally a haven for sailors, but is now a cultural center. Samantha works here and her art is prominently displayed. The campus is adorned with historic buildings and beautiful gardens. Lady Gaga filmed a video there. It was all lovely to behold. I was introduced to Samantha's friend Gustavo Galvan, who designs dresses made from everyday items like shopping bags and such, and he's planning a fashion show in the coming weeks. It was a real treat and Gustavo is a very warm, welcoming guy.
After this Samantha and Mark took me to their apartment so I could see where they live. It's a delightfully spacious place with nice views and lovely appointments. I easily saw why they love it so much and I was so happy for them. They took me to a great pizza place for lunch where Samantha went healthy and ordered a grilled chicken salad while Mark and I split an order of garlic knots and had a slice of pizza each as well. Then it was back to the Ferry and a return to Manhattan. Such a whirlwind afternoon but one I'll never forget.
I am nourished by my relationship with my "writer" friends and I couldn't go to New York without seeing them. A month in advance we planned a dinner together and it was absolutely splendid. Arthur Wooten, Gregory G. Allen, Alina Oswald, Brian Centrone, and Bud Santora were a great group of friends to spend the evening with. We met at Lasagne restaurant in Chelsea, on the corner of 8th and 20th Streets. I was almost late as I couldn't get a cab after departing the ferry and had to walk all through Lower Manhattan until I was finally successful in hailing a taxi in front of the statue of Fiorello LaGuardia, and arrived at my destination with just two minutes to spare before the appointed time.
The evening was spectacular! Great food, fantastic conversation, (I had three glasses of wine!) It was a soul enhancing experience. Alina gave me three of her books to bring home with me - Journey Through Darkness, Infinite Lights, and Vampire Fantasies -  and we talked and talked. Alina is a tremendous photographer to boot and she was as lovely as I thought she'd be. Arthur is author of the bestsellers On Picking Fruit, Fruit Cocktail, Birthday Pie, Wise Bear William, and Arthur Wooten's Shorts. He and I had met before, two years ago when I was invited to the finale of Survivor: Heroes vs. Villians and Arthur accompanied me to the show. He's one of my oldest pals and spending time with him is always a delight. Greg is the author of the critically acclaimed Well With My Soul and his latest release is Patchwork of Me, an unqualified success. He's a sweetheart of a guy whose company I truly enjoyed. Bud Santora is a writer and illustrator (Wise Bear William) who won an Emmy for his work as costume designer on Guiding Light in 1986. He's a warm, welcoming person who I felt like I'd known for years just five minutes after we met. Brian Centrone is a terrific writer who has more than once flattered me immensely by asking me to edit his work for him and his friendship online easily transferred to in-person.
I treasure these people. Their friendship constantly inspires me to become a better writer and I cannot believe how fortunate I am to be a part of this ultra talented group of individuals. It's humbling for a simple guy from Georgia. I cannot wait to be with them all again.
Sunday was for me. I slept in and then after breakfast I strolled up to Bryant Park where I enjoyed the fresh air and got to see the statue of Gertrude Stein. Her life and work have inspired me in my own pursuit of a literary career. I felt a communion with her spirit gazing upon her likeness. I couldn't leave New York without spending those minutes with her.
After shopping for souvenirs for my family, I went back to my hotel and rested until time for the piece de resistance of my day. A matinee of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at the Palace Theater, Broadway and 47th Street. This show was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. Tony Sheldon, Will Swenson, and Nick Adams were superb in this production. Bette Midler is a producer of the musical and the star power this play packs is breathtaking. Nick's performance of Material Girl, Will's rendition of MacArthur Park, and Tony's stellar rendering of Bernadette are the highlights of the play. The story of a trio of drag queens travelling by bus from Sydney to Alice Springs, Australia to perform at a casino is a modern masterpiece. I cannot say enough good things about it. The arrangements, the choreography, the story, the comedy, the heart wrenching climax, they're all a part of the triumph of this Tony Award nominated production. If you're in New York, don't miss it!
After the play I walked up to Central Park where I sat in the evening sun and enjoyed the breeze. I love sitting in Central Park. It's so very calm and peaceful there. I could have stayed for hours if I hadn't wanted to do some shopping on 5th Avenue. Plus I had to have dinner and get back to the hotel to prepare for the trip home. Altogether, the Sunday I gave myself in New York was just as wonderful as the previous two days with family and friends.
All good things must come to an end and so did my wonderful vacation to New York. I came home with a feeling of time most splendidly spent and enough soul nourishing energy to keep me stoked for a long to come. It was sensational. I loved it!
Thanks to everyone who conspired to make my long weekend getaway a smashing success. I can't wait for the next one!
To learn more about the people and places I mentioned in this post, click the following links:
http://www.facebook.com/Samanthafloydart
http://www.arthurwooten.com/
http://www.ggallen.net/#/
http://www.alina-arts.com/
http://budsantora.carbonmade.com/
http://www.briancentrone.com/
http://www.facebook.com/GustavoGalvanJr
http://www.priscillaonbroadway.com/
http://www.snug-harbor.org/

C

Or Do I?

I don't belong here.
Or do I?

If I left
Where would I go?

I don't have anyone
Anywhere else.

Although really I do.

I feel comfortable here.
But I could be comfortable there.

Whereve there is.

My dreams aren't rotting
Like fruit unpicked on a vine.

Why am I insecure?
I should be happy.

But I am happy.
Aren't I?

Do I know happiness?
What it feels like?
How it satisfies?

I think I do.
I think I have.
I think so.

Maybe I do belong here.
Or do I?