About Me

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J is an unpublished author, represented by Carrie Pestritto of Prospect Agency. J's first novel is a YA fantasy horror, regarding a siren who must choose between the haunting life and humanity. J draws on occasion, reads quite often, and is a founding member of the critique group 'Thoughtical Verbosity.'

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Killer Bees!

Hey Internet!

I've been holding off on a new post because there is a lot of media I wanted to share with you that is taking a while to get finished off. The very first Phil Innis monologue, some drawings, some photos--including a gorgeous necklace my best friend Kayla made for me--and a bit of writing, of course. I know, it's my own fault for expecting to get all of that done whilst also keeping my thumbs stuck in pies labeled 'work' and 'school.' So, I'll apologize for the unintentional hiatus and we'll just move on with our online relationship.

Well, I still don't have any of those cool things above ready to post. So I thought I'd center this one on music.

Music is a big part of what I do (meaning, in my mind, writing). For each project I undertake, there is a song that cements the feel of it into my mind. I call this the 'Coffin Song' because it signals the end of the mushy-gushy-sculptable phase of the project, and the beginning of the actual work on it. I may have blogged about this before. If so...well, repetition is the mother of...something, I forget.

The Coffin Song for Ze Book is Chambermaid Swing, by Parov Stelar:



Listen to that beauty and you'll get a good feel for Ze Book's world. Or maybe you'll get a completely different feel for something else. That's fine, too.

The Coffin Song for The Phil Innis Adventures is Film Noir, by Venus Throw. Sadly, I cannot find a link to this epic song, but let me put this into perspective for you...hearing it for the first time affected me so much, I made a previously run-of-the-mill hardboiled detective Southern. Yes, the entire reason PIA has a Southern edge to it at all is because of Venus Throw. They describe themselves as noirbilly! There's nothing better I can say for them than that. Hop onto iTunes and buy their stuff.

End advert.

Going from that vein, though, the entire reason I was inspired to make a post about music is because I discovered a new wonderful addition to my 'Phil Innis' playlist. They fit in perfectly well with Venus Throw and Imelda May. I would like to share them with you: Kim D and the Killer Bees!

A sample of their great old timey, jazzy, rocky sound can be found in "Hot Blooded Woman":



They're not available on iTunes, but their music can be purchased on the ReverbNation link provided above. It's worth all 596-or-so pennies, in my humble opinion.

And that's about all I have to say for now. Give me a little more time and I'll get another post up with all those cool pictures and sound files that I promised. Until then, take care!

-J

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Painting and Philing Again

Hey Internet :)

So, those of you who follow me on Twitter (which is, at least inadvertently, all of you that read my blog) may have seen this, but I thought I'd share it here:

Finished painting! Gift for Mom: picture of the bunny she was... on Twitpic
I painted a tiny picture on a tiny easel.
It is a bunny. The bunny's name was Bunny.

The painting was a birthday gift for my Mom, who was very fond of the bunny. There are a few other of her 'favorites' in the painting, but I won't go into that right now :) For those wondering: she seemed to really like it, in spite of the fact that due to scheduling issues it didn't reach her until about a week after The Day.

But the mini-bunny has got me all geared up for more painting. I'll post pictures of whatever else comes up in the near future, but the next two I have planned are also gifts, so I won't post them until they've reached their targets ;)

Some more art, which I don't think I've posted yet:

Left to Right: Celia Reese, Edgar Rhodes, Phil Innis, Detective Sloane, Jasper South, and Agatha Helmsley
This lovely banner (it's rather small to fit on the blog, but believe me, it is lovely) work includes all of the finished vector portraits for The Phil Innis Adventures. It was printed out onto a super cool mug which I now own; I have another mug with only Edgar, Phil, Jasper and Agatha. I consider one of them to be the Season 1 main cast, and the other to be the Season 2 cast. Which is which will, hopefully, be made clear as time goes on.

I've spent a lot of time recording my own vocal talents for Phil's monologues (of which there are many in each episodes), which has been fun. There have been a few people who expressed interest in letting me steal their voices Ursula-style, so the dream of having at least one complete episode before I go gray seems kinda-sorta possible! Yay!

Maybe I should post a snippet...who wants to hear a Phil Innis monologue? If I get at couple 'aye's that would be hugely encouraging :P

Well, I'm off to do that thing I do! Cheers!

-J