A look at innovative and thought provoking photographer, Sam McAdam-Cooper!

Sam McAdam-Cooper is a talented photographer based in Sydney Australia.  She does both commercial and editorial work as well as portraits.  She was recently among honorees from the  National Gallery for a portrait of actor Nathan Page (DI Jack Robinson from Miss Fisher Murder Mystery Series)  for a portrait called “The Chameleon.”

Sam kindly agreed to take part in this interview about her craft;

1. Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?

I studied a Bachelor of Fine Arts at what was then, the College of Fine Arts in Sydney. I went there straight from high school, and I was very focused on this throughout my teens. I had grown up in a house where the arts were celebrated and discussed all of the time, it was our ‘normal’. I 

©Sam McAdam-Cooper

really feel for creatives that grow up in families that don’t understand their vocation, it must be so hard without that encouragement. The idea that we would develop our chosen creative paths was expected and encouraged in my family. I went to art school thinking I would be a practicing artist. It was a very academic degree, and I came out at the end of it, having researched my Honours thesis and receiving an excellent education in critical theory and art history, but with few technical skills. I didn’t really have a stigma about making commercial work, I couldn’t afford that luxury, so I set about learning how I could make a living using a camera. 

2. How did you get into photography, did you have a mentor?

 I was lucky to have several interested and very cool art teachers in high school and they were important in 

©Sam McAdam-Cooper

terms of translating my dreams into a practice. I first started shooting at 14, with an older school friend who was keen too, and we fed each other’s interest. There were so many incredible photographers working in fashion in the mid to late ’80s here in Australia such as Graham Shearer and Grant Matthews, and they influenced me enormously, as well as the explosion of clever, stylish music videos made by visionaries like Richard Lowenstein. Jean-Baptiste Mondino is a real hero of mine, some of my all time favourite campaigns and music videos have been shot or directed by him. I love that he’s still making visceral, passionate work now, though he’s well into his sixties.

 3. What inspires you? 

©Sam McAdam-Cooper

To make work? Graphic, beautiful things. Usually something illicits a response from me, and I just have to explore it. It can be a beautifully designed piece of furniture, or something from nature. Something with form usually more than say, a sunset or the ambiance of a place. Shapes,

©Joshua Witheford

lines, sculptural elements. These can be in objects or people. More broadly speaking, I am inspired by random acts of kindness; great and moving works of art; people getting on with their lives whilst traversing extreme set backs. I think, in a nutshell though, humanity inspires me (and appalls me in equal measure).

4. Can you share what goes into creating your shots?

 That depends a lot on the nature of the shoot. In my  editorial and commercial work, which is how I earn my living, I am working to a client’s brief and collaborating with a team that normally includes an art director, a stylist, assistants, hair and make up artists, maybe an editor or publisher, or an account manager and direct client. Many relationships to successfully

©Sam McAdam-Cooper

navigate. Someone, somewhere has written a brief for the story we need to create, it could be something a bit open ended that the stylist has been left to interpret, other times it will be exacting in the details we have to follow. Either way, there are always a set of expectations to fulfill, and hopefully exceed. Part of my job is to steer the visuals so that they work with the client’s brand, and that could be small things like questioning props or positioning of items to make sure that the narrative we are creating is the right one. I think my art school training helps with this- all those readings on semiotics and simulacra- as well as life experience. I’ll be given reference shots to describe the feel that everyone is going for, and I work with manipulating lighting and the editing process to play with this. It’s a collaboration between all the parties involved. With my personal, or uncommissioned work, it’s a similar collaborative process, but it’s my idea that we’re working to explore and resolve.

5. A lot of your shots are in black and white, do the shadows of it inspire you?

Shadows are enhanced when an image is converted to black and white, and that is one of the reasons I might choose to edit an image that way. As I shoot almost exclusively in a digital format now, the images are automatically captured in colour and I then have the option of later processing the raw file in colour or black and white. Gone are the days of

©Sam McAdam-Cooper

committing to a roll of colour or black and white film. Textures change, and depending on how the filters are set, different colours brighten or recede in the conversion, and that is probably the biggest reason that would sway me to convert an image to BW. Often colours just get in the way of the narrative in a shot. Sometimes the lighting conditions aren’t ideal either, and it’s a way to pull something out of a shot that just wouldn’t make the cut had it been left in colour. Also, the colour treatment can really set in a viewer’s mind when it was taken. Like in the same way when you see a feature film made in the 1960’s, you can always tell from the film stock and styling. It’s not about replicating the past, or re-staging though many photographers embrace that as part of their practice. It’s more about being ambiguous and interrupting the train of thought in someone viewing a work, slowing down that process of interpreting and filing away an image. Having said that, I have no hard and fast rules in my work. Every situation requires something specific to that work.

6. The wonderful actor Nathan Page is in a lot of your pictures, is he your muse? In the National Gallery Photo of Nathan you called him “The Chameleon,” do you like the challenge of that? That he never looks the same twice?

I was really compelled to photograph Nathan because having seen his work, I was quite simply fascinated by his physiognomy. As a photographer one tends to study someone in person or on film, and you are able to pretty quickly understand their bone structure, how best to light

©Annette O’Brien

them, what their flaws and features are, but I found myself unable to get a handle on what he actually looked like. That became an interesting idea to me: that I could see hours of someone on my television but still be left curious as to their attributes. Especially in this age of information overload, that someone in the public eye could be so ambiguous. That idea became the starting point of our collaboration. I wouldn’t say that Nathan is comfortable being photographed, it’s certainly not his natural comfort zone and he’s quite an un-actorly actor in that regard. It’s a lovely, unfolding process of trusting each other and being willing to play and explore things that wouldn’t otherwise sit so comfortably for either of us.

7. How did your creative partnership with Nathan Page begin? Did it start as a process of experimentation for art (since he is an art lover) ?

©Sam McAdam-Cooper

It took me a good 18 months to get the courage to even approach Nathan, and though the initial response was positive, it took us almost another year to schedule the first shoot. We live in different states and both have young families, as well as work commitments. From the outset we discussed this as collaborative project, quite open ended in how it might develop and open to where it might go. There is a real generosity of spirit with him, and a natural willingness to have a play. I think that comes from him being an actor, and being open to new experiences. It was a bonus that we get on quite well with each other too.

8. How do you balance work and family?

Badly most of the time.

9. Anything exciting coming up that would like others to know about?

So many exciting things in the pipeline. In the next few weeks though, Nathan and I will release a new portrait, signed by him and in a limited print run. Still tweaking the details but we’ll let everyone know on his and my Instagram when it’s ready to go.

Sam’s work has regularly appeared in leading Australian and international lifestyle magazines. Some of these titles include Inside Out, Vogue Living, Country Style, Masterchef, and Delicious.   Check out all her work at; http://www.sammcadam.com/

All photos copyright ©Sam McAdam-Cooper unless otherwise noted. 

 

 

 

Special for the anniversary of Fantasy Time Inc!

I am gong to have a special for my novel Fantasy Time Inc. for the two year anniversary of it’s being published. So please send me an email at rithebard@Yahoo.com if you would like an autographed copy of my book for the low price 10.00.   Here is a review of the book; http://www.valleyscenemagazine.com/archives/july82011/book/…

This week author Mitzi Szereto will talk about her book;  NORMAL FOR NORFOLK (THE LONIOUS T. BEAR CHRONICLES).Pub landlords are being murdered in quaint Norfolk villages – and the light of suspicion shines on hapless ursine photojournalist Thelonious T. Bear, whose only supposed “crime” is that he happens to be a… bear. #BlogTalkRadio  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rithebard/2013/08/06/chatting-with-sherri …

 

 

Jim Musgrave author of the Pat O’Mally Historical Mystery Series chats on novel Forevermore;  http://contempinstruct.com/Forevermore/ . We had a great time on my show Chatting With Sherri on Teusday. We talked of his book, his series and History as well as the importance of reading. Please listen to the great chat!  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rithebard/2013/07/30/chatting-with-sherri …

 We had a  wonderful time at the Creative Artists Showcase on Sunday at the Fusion Glass Co. It was a fun time for all 🙂

I am so excited that my movie blog;  “A Fun Spy in Hopscotch!”  http://wp.me/p2MXCg-1r   is in Literary Leanings ▸ today’s top stories   http://paper.li/LynneConstantin/1365689851 … Kind of cool, huh?

 

 

 

Also if you know any musicians I would love to talk to them. I have a contest going and I would like a short peppy theme song for my show Chatting With Sherri! What I need is short cute song that lasts less than 1 minute. It should reflect my happy positive view of the show. There is a dead line, I will need to get your emails by August 30th. Please send me your entry to rithebard@yahoo.com with Theme Song in Subject. The winner will be a guest on my show to plug their music! Since I am now booked up till next year this will be a special show with just you, it will be a great chance to reach an audience so send in those songs. http://www.rithebard.com/?alt_id=0H0NG-D1A23-4W5&ts=1335411499574

I decided I needed help I have so much work to do with all my different business’s that I would like to hire an intern. I think a virtual intern would be best but I really need some help. So I signed up with an intern site. If you know anyone please have them sign up and check out my link on the site; Social Media & Community Management Intern Job at Ri The Bard Publications – http://Internships.com

Contest For Theme Song For Chatting With Sherri!

I am very excited to hear from all you talented musicians out there. I would like a short peppy theme song for my show Chatting With Sherri. What I need is short cute song that lasts less than 1 minute. It should reflect my happy positive view of the show. There is a dead line, I will need to get your emails by August 30th. Please send me your entry to rithebard@yahoo.com with Theme Song in Subject. The winner will be a guest on my show to plug their music! Since I am now booked up till next year this will be a special show with just you, it will be a great chance to reach an audience so send in those songs

Hudson Leick and I had  a great time on my show Chatting With Sherri for our special broadcast on Wednesday. It was my first time doing an hour show and I was nervous but once I got in the flow the hour flew by. Hudson was wonderful, down to Earth and so much fun! I have already received a lot of emails and IM’s about it and it seems everyone was enchanted with the lovely Hudson. We had so many people call in I had time to ask the questions I collected and the questions were so interesting. Hudson had a good time too, it was a great hour! We talked about Callisto in Xena, Warrior Princess and about how she got the part. We also talked about her wonderful yoga retreats(which sold out) and her wonderful cd which guides the listener in all kinds of meditations; Here is the link for Hudson’s site so you can check out her retreats and buy one of her amazing CDs;   http://www.hudsonleick.com/   please listen to fascinating hour at; http://tobtr.com/s/5003953 .

 

This week I also chatted with the lovely Dianne Gardner about her novel Deception Peak. We had a wonderful time talking about fantasy and science fiction. We also discussed where inspiration comes from that her stories were inspired by the children in her family. Deception Peak, Ian’s Realm Trilogy it is a best-selling YA adventure fantasy saga. It follows the adventures of a teenage boy as he travels into an alternate realm filled with wonder and excitement! Please listen to the wonderful chat at; http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rithebard/2013/07/16/chatting-with-sherri .

 

 

 This  Tuesday on Chatting With Sherri I will be interviewing award-winning journalist Doug Smith will talk about his first novel, Same Same! He will also chat about his 30+ years of successful achievement as an editor and writer with three of the most influential newspapers in the United States – Newsday, The New York Post and USA Today. Please listen in this Tuesday to listen to this talented writer;  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rithebard/2013/07/23/chatting-with-sherri

 

 

I am working on getting more and more artists of all kinds. This week I am proud to let you know about artist Kathleen Kite-Powell with an amazing display of pottery will join us at the Showcase.  I have more wonderful artists that are coming to the show and I hope to let you know who really soon. I hope if you’re in the San Diego area you will drop by and take part as a patron to our first Creative Artists Showcase. It will be on Sunday, July 28, 2013 at 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Fusion Glass Co. This will be a great time for all everyone is invited, if you’re in the area please stop by. We will showcase all kinds of wonderful creative projects. Art, Books, Performing Arts, Music, Food… So come one, come all to our first showcase! http://www.meetup.com/La-Mesa-Creative-Types/events/123334742/?a=ra1_te

 

 

My Spring Issue was a real success for me!  I received a lot of wonderful feedback about the beauty and wonder of the jewels in that issue My next issue will be at the end of August so please read this issue of my beautiful magazine Sherri’s Jewel Box while you can still see this amazing issue. http://sherrisjewelbox.weebly.com/

Finding a Hidden Treasure in Your Files…

Did you ever look at something,  see it in your handwriting but you don’t remember doing it? A little hidden treasure of your very own.  I just had that happen. I saw all my notes, scribbles and story but thought, “What is this about?”  After I read it, I remembered it,  but isn’t strange how the file system in the brain works? How can you labor on short story and then forget it? And it is a good story. So strange. Did that ever happen to you?

On Tuesday I chatted to the wonderful Terri Morgan about her book; Playing the Genetic Lottery. We had a very interesting talk about why and how she wrote her first fictional book; Playing the Genetic Lottery.  As a reporter she interviewed Hillary Rodham  Clinton but the urge to write a fictional book about schizophrenia became her passion. It is all very diverse and very interesting. Her book provides an illuminating look at schizophrenia and how it impacts people and those who love them. Here is her website;  http://terrimorgan.net/ and please listen to our chat at; http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rithebard/2013/07/09/chatting-with-sherri .

 

This Tuesday I will chat with Dianne Gardner about her novel Deception Peak, Ian’s Realm Trilogy it is a best-selling YA adventure fantasy saga. It follows the adventures of a teenage boy as he travels into an alternate realm filled with wonder and excitement! http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rithebard/2013/07/16/chatting-with-sherri .  It should be a fun talk.

 

I am not the only one who is  excited about this special episode of Chatting With Sherri with Hudson Leick! I have received a lot of emails and IM’s about it and it seems a lot of people are really jazzed about having the one and only Hudson in an interview. And a few brave souls are really excited about calling in and speaking to her live and in person!  She played the complicated and fascinating Callisto in Xena, Warrior Princess. She started a series of wonderful Yoga Retreats all over the world. She is an amazing Spiritual Counselor. And she has just come out with a cd that we will talk about on the show. She has graciously consented to answering fan questions during the last 15 minutes of the show. So get your questions ready.  Remember this special episode will be at 6pm Pacific Time on Wednesday at; http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rithebard/2013/07/18/hudson-leick-on-chatting-with-sherri

 

I’m also going to have a contest for the theme song for my show Chatting With Sherri. What I need is short cute song that lasts less than 1 minute. It should reflect my happy positive view of the show. Please send me your entry to rithebard@yahoo.com. The winner will be a guest on my show to plug their music 🙂

 

 

If you would like to keep in touch and follow all the newest updates on my show please check out my yahoo group at; http://groups.yahoo.com/group/chattingwithsherri/?yguid=64414577  or Facebook page at; https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Chatting-With-Sherri/411791375544465

 

 

 

 

I am working on getting more and more artists of all kinds. I have more wonderful artists that are coming to the show and I hope to let you know who really soon.   I hope if you’re in the San Diego area you will drop by and take part as a patron to our first Creative Artists Showcase. It will be on Sunday, July 28, 2013 at 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Fusion Glass Co.   This will be a great time for all, everyone is invited if you’re in the area please stop by. We will showcase all kinds of wonderful creative projects. Art, Books, Performing Arts, Music, Food… So come one, come all to our first showcase! http://www.meetup.com/La-Mesa-Creative-Types/events/123334742/?a=ra1_te

 

 

My last issue was a real success for me and I hope my guests got a lot of business from it. I had a lot of hits and I am very proud of the issue.  My next issue will be at the end of August so please read my beautiful magazine Sherri’s Jewel Box while you can still see this amazing issue.  http://sherrisjewelbox.weebly.com/

Great Events and Interviews!

I attended the San Diego Book Awards 2013 on Saturday night. It was a lot of fun.  There were many writers from all kinds of fields. I had a lot of fun at my table talking to other writers from the area and their families. My new banner looked really beautiful as you can see. The picture to the left happened during a period when the lights went out. I was surprised that the lights went out and the flash made me burst into giggles as the picture was taken. That is why I look I am about to burst out into laughter.  There was a great diversity in  the winners. And I loved my red velvet cupcake 🙂

My brother and I went to the San Diego County Fair. We had a great time. There was so much to see and I think we walked every mile of the Del Mar Race Track to check it out.  I have the aching legs to prove it.  We went to all the craft shows, checked out all the art displays and ate a lot of fattening food. At the end of the day I did something I always wanted to do but was a little afraid.  I put it all in my blog called; I Rode An Elephant at the San Diego County Fair http://wp.me/p2MXM9-C via @wordpressdotcom

Sherri’s On Line Book Club will be this Sunday on June 30th! I hope you all have read my book; Fantasy Time Inc. and will be ready for a friendly chat about it. The club will meet up at 1pm pacific time and we will chat in a special group I am going to set up in Facebook. Please email me and I will add you to my special Facebook group for the Book Club. If you have any questions at all please drop by on Facebook;  please RSVP to; https://www.facebook.com/events/474453272631513/  or on Goodreads; http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/892000-sherri-s-on-line-book-club and let ask me. Please don’t forget to RSVP on either Facebook or Goodreads.

I am so excited I have added several  wonderful artists of all types to the showcase. It is starting to really shape up.  Creative Artists Showcase will be on Sunday, July 28, 2013  at 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Fusion Glass Co.  This will be a great time for all everyone is invited if you’re in the area  please stop by. We will showcase all kinds of wonderful creative  projects. Art, Books, Performing Arts, Music, Food…This is a chance for  new artists to show off what they have to offer and new patrons to  marvel at the work and of course buy it.  So come one, come all to our first showcase! http://www.meetup.com/La-Mesa-Creative-Types/events/123334742/?a=ra1_te

Author Barbara Froman will chat on her writing and her new novel; Shadows and Ghosts.  Shadows and Ghosts is a filmmaker’s tale of artistic passion, fierce sibling rivalry, failed love affairs, substance abuse, and the magical redemptive power of cinema.  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rithebard/2013/07/02/chatting-with-sherri …

My guest author Patricia R. Blumhagen chatted about her wonderful  book, Winter’s Mystery. It was a chat about life and how to reach out toward your goals. Her  book combines spirituality, psychology, transformational poetry and Nature’s healing photos.  Please listen in at;  http://tobtr.com/s/4899387 .  She is an  Interfaith Minister, Spiritual Coach and Certified Nutritional Consultant Indie Author, please check out her website; http://www.reinventinghealthpublishing.com

On-Line Book Club Will Be Here Soon!

It is coming soon! It’s only nine days  away till  my own on-line book club called; Sherri’s On Line Book Club. I hope you all have my book; Fantasy Time Inc. and have started to read it. Please try to finish it by June 30th. I am really looking forward to talking to all you readers out there.   This will always be a nice talk. No mean, harsh talk will be accepted. I am not talking about just my novel but all novels in the book club. This is for readers who are friendly and fun!  Please drop by on Facebook;  https://www.facebook.com/events/474453272631513/  and on Goodreads; http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/892000-sherri-s-on-line-book-club

 I had such a great time talking with Melissa Good.We will talked about fan fiction, her Tropical Storm series and its newest addition Moving Target. We will also discuss her brand new book; Partners which sounds like a really interesting novel about our future and the future of the oceans. She also talked about her day job as an IT expert and the cruise industry that she works in. It was a lively fun 45 minutes with her answering your questions and being so open and quite fun. Please listen in to this interesting and talented woman; http://tobtr.com/s/4856513    Also please check out her website with all the latest stories and information about her books; http://merwolf.com/

 I had a lively chat with Tasha Donahue on Tuesday, she talked about her book, her love of adventure and family. She also talked about her son and what a challenging but rewarding road they have traveled together. In fact she is going to write a new book on motherhood and would love your contributions so please check out her; www.MeetMeUnderTheEiffelTower.wordpress.com for more information. Her book; Meet Me Under The Eiffel Tower; is about retaining balance in life as a woman a very important issue for all of us. It is a book about coming into your own please listen at; http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rithebard/2013/06/18/chatting-with-sherri 

My guest this week is the wonderful author Patricia R. Blumhagen  about her book, Winter’s Mystery.This book combines spirituality, psychology, transformational poetry and Nature’s healing photos. Please join us on Tuesday at; http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rithebard/2013/06/25/chatting-with-sherri

 

 

 

 I am so excited I have added several  wonderful artists of all types to the showcase. It is starting to really shape up.  Creative Artists Showcase will be on Sunday, July 28, 2013 at 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Fusion Glass Co.  This will be a great time for all everyone is invited if you’re in the area please stop by. We will showcase all kinds of wonderful creative projects. Art, Books, Performing Arts, Music, Food…This is a chance for new artists to show off what they have to offer and new patrons to marvel at the work and of course buy it.  So come one, come all to our first showcase! http://www.meetup.com/La-Mesa-Creative-Types/events/123334742/?a=ra1_te

Please check out a new venture that’s  called Book Fanatix;  You can get FREE stuff by using social media to discover, talk, and buy books. Authors are rewarded too for the more they do. Let the book revolution begin! Please check it out, here’s the link igg.me/at/getfreestuff

 

 

 

Interviews! I Love To Do Interviews!

I love doing interviews, it is really interesting and you get to see what really makes people tick. You get to peek behind the mask that we all wear in our day-to-day lives. It is really to borrow a word from my favorite Vulcan, Fascinating.

 

Tomorrow I will be having a special edition of Chatting With Sherri! I am very excited to interview the wonderful bard, author, screenwriter writer Melissa Good . Melissa shot to fame with in the Xenaverse with her series Tropical Storm. We will talk about fan fiction, her series and its newest addition Moving Target. We will also discuss her brand new book; Partners, This special expanded edition will include a chance to speak directly with our guest during the last 15 minutes of the show. Please ready your questions!  http://tobtr.com/s/4856513

 

 

On Tuesday we will have Tasha Donahue who is a food editor, travel writer and syndicated columnist on family issues. She also hosted and produced a seven-part television series on food, wine and lifestyles. To check out her work please go to her website; www.MeetMeUnderTheEiffelTower.wordpress.com . She will be chatting about her book; Meet Me Under The Eiffel Tower; Her Adventures Living in Paris and The Importance of Regaining and Retaining Balance in Life. It is a book about coming into your own, please listen to us chat on Tuesday at 1030am PST;  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rithebard/2013/06/18/chatting-with-sherri 

 

I really enjoyed my chat with Gary Beck this week,  we talked about theater and books. It was a lot of fun. Of course we also discussed his book Extreme Change. Extreme Change is about a strong woman determined to help her family survive the horrors of the homeless system. Please listen to the recording of the show at; http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rithebard/2013/06/11/chatting-with-sherri

 

My kitty Xena was at my computer writing her blog this week. It has been a while but she has been very busy. Please enjoy her hard work; I Am The Mighty Bug Hunter! http://wp.me/p2Ljyb-G  via @wordpressdotcom

 

I love classic movies and classic stars so as I watched these two movies I was deeply affected. So I had to of course run to my computer and write these happy blogs 🙂 Please check out my movie blogs; The Wonderful Short Film Hollywood My Home Town http://wp.me/p2MXCg-1l  as well as The Magic Was Always There! http://wp.me/p2MXCg-1h .   Please tell me what you think 🙂

 

It is coming soon in only a few weeks I will be having  my own on-line book club called; Sherri’s On Line Book Club. I am looking forward to having a fun and lively chat about Fantasy Time Inc.  Please read the book by June 30th that way we can chat about it, this will always be a nice talk. No mean, harsh talk will be accepted. I am not talking about just my novel but all novels in the book club. This is readers group for a friendly and fun exchange. Please drop by on Facebook;  https://www.facebook.com/events/474453272631513/  and on Goodreads; http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/892000-sherri-s-on-line-book-club

 

Well my showcase is coming along nicely. I have some wonderful artists of all types that will take part. As you know I am calling it Creative Artists Showcase; I called it that so artists of all types can take part. It will be on Sunday, July 28, 2013 at 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Fusion Glass Co. This will be a great time for all of us. We will showcase all our wonderful creative projects. Art, Books, Performing Arts, Music, Food…This is a chance to show what we can do and have a great place to do it.  So come one, come all to our first showcase! http://www.meetup.com/La-Mesa-Creative-Types/events/123334742/?a=ra1_te

A  fellow author Chris Salisbury has started an interesting new venture. It’s called Book Fanatix;  Get FREE stuff by using social media to discover, talk, and buy books. Authors are rewarded too for the more they do. Let the book revolution begin! Please check it out, here’s the link igg.me/at/getfreestuff

My special guest on my blog this week is author Brian Francis Heffron, He has a written a new book called; Colorado Mandala. Welcome Brian!

What was the first book you remember loving? Do you still own it?

My Mom ordered the Dr. Suess books in a series when I was in first grade and I remember waiting at the door for the post man to bring each new book. Go, Dog, Go! was I think the first one I read all by myself and I loved it then, and I love it now. The repetition and silliness were wonderful and the dogs all running around made me very happy!

What kind of books do you like to read? Do those books have an effect on your own writing?

I read Literary Fiction and classic books from the past mostly. Also, as a poet, I also read a tremendous amount of poetry. My favorite authors are Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, William Faulkner, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Kurt Vonnegut, and Mark Twain.

Do you remember what is the first book that touched you deeply?

I do remember that when I got my first copy of Winnie the Pooh, that was the moment I decided I wanted to be a writer. In fact, I cut out paper the same size as A.E. Milne’s Book and copied, word-for-word every syllable of Winnie the Pooh onto my own paper in my childish scrawl. Then I stapled it all together and I remember that eventually the stapler would not go through all the pages, and so I had to staple it to the last few pages and it kust turned into quite a mess…But still…I took it to my sweet Mother and told her I was now ready to publish my first book. Darling soft creature that she was, she let me down easy, explaining very slowly that in order to publish my own book, I had to write every word in it all by myself. This did not phase me at all, in fact, and I immediately began writing down my own stories.—And the truth is I have never stopped

I think that would have to be On The Road by Jack Kerouac. It hit me like a semi-truck and I was never the same. It was like a guide to growing up without the fetters of societal norms oppressing you and keeping you “Normal”. It was written in such a way that you actually went on the journey with Neal and the other characters. I soon hit the road myself and hitchhiked all over America, inspired by that book to meet new people, learn new things, and see new parts of the country.

 Is there an era of writing that affects you? 1920, 1800’s so forth?

I seem to respond to the 1800s. I love and collect art and the art of that period is the art that most inspires me. Painters like JMW Turner and Thomas Moran were geniuses at representational art. Modern Art leaves me cold as I find it inaccessible and therefore not art.

 Where do you like to write? Is there a favorite nook or corner?

I have built an office with two sets of French Doors along its back wall which, when all four doors are open, makes it seem like I am actually writing outdoors. The movement of the air and the sound of the birds soothes me and help me to focus and concentrate. I love my office and my home. They are a strong comfort zone for me.

Do you prefer one genre to another?

I prefer Literary Fiction, but am currently exploring the myriad new genres that have emerged in the last decade. There are so many new approaches to storytelling!

 Do you like the feel of a book in your hands or do prefer an electronic devises?

I love books and collect antique books of art, but I also can see the future and how the digital revolution is so inevitable. Brian’s rule is that: “If something can be delivered to the customer digitally, then eventually it will only be delivered to the customer digitally.”

 Can you tell us about what your working on now?

My new book is an irish family history set against the turmoil of the Irish Revolutionary period from 1900 to 1980. My ancestors were integral to the Easter Rising in Dublin in 1916 and were part of the early revolutionary forces that fought Britain to a standstill and finally sent them home.

Author Website: http://www.brianheffron.net/brianheffron.net/Welcome.html

Facebook Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/brian.heffron1

Facebook Colorado Mandala Page: https://www.facebook.com/ColoradoMandala?ref=hl

Twiter: @brianheffronnet

Aboutme.com: http://about.me/bheffron

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4529432.Brian_Heffron

YouTube Book Trailers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpCb8osbXXg&list=PLvYFjtwAAqXIevJYHVtb5JirJDJJkfcV6&index=1

My Poetry CD: http://spokenwordinc.com/somethingyoucouldtouch/

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/coloradomandala/

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=12911176&trk=tab_pro

Poetry Blog on FB: https://www.facebook.com/brian.heffron1/notes

Link to Colorado Amazon Book page: http://www.amazon.com/Colorado-Mandala-Brian-Francis-Heffron/dp/0615760406/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370707867&sr=8-1&keywords=colorado+mandala%27

 

Link to Barnes and Noble Book Page: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/colorado-mandala-brian-francis-heffron/1115288022?ean=9780615760407

Book Club Press release: http://pressreleaseshq.com/colorado-mandala-has-been-added-to-book-club-reading-list/