Welcome to my Sunday Spotlight Graham. What a delight to have this opportunity to catch up with you and have you share your works with us. I’ve not had many guests where I could say “I knew you when.” And that makes our chat special for me because when you took those steps after high school to set off on your creative journey, which led to your amazing career we will chat about today, you helped me take a few bold steps of my own. I’ve always been grateful for that.
So let’s start by introducing you as the principal behind Imperative Pictures, a film company with an exciting and eclectic body of work our readers can check out on IMDb. Your 2018 film I May Regret was selected for the San Diego International Film Festival and won the Grand Prix at the Vienna Independent Film Festival, and Blind Malice did fabulous on the awards front as well. Grace Zabriskie earned a best actress award, which I was thrilled to see. She’s always been a favorite of mine. All the actors gave us potent scenes in that film. It was also a special treat to join your crew to watch it at the Sacramento International Film Festival on the historic Delta King riverboat. And you’ve gone on to win many more international film awards. Congratulations!
D. How long do you work on your story ideas, the writing, before a piece becomes a full-fledged project? Or do they start life as a film concept, then comes the writing?
G. I always start with a subject matter. Usually through the act of general wide-cast exploration I eventually stumble blindly upon a subject matter that I had little or no knowledge of. That’s when I get interested. That’s when I become intrigued. It usually means I’m not alone and the subject matter is worth furthering to educate people like myself.
Then I ask myself is it a big enough subject matter?
If so, the writing process always starts off super fragmented, at best. I try not to focus on a storyline, but instead, I’m usually fixated on an ending; an outcome; a take-a-way. Having a specific ending in my head from the start is essential. It’s the core driver for everything else that will take place for this project for the rest of my work. Even after the film is done this core still drives marketing and promotional possibilities.
Once I know what I wish to say about the subject matter, then I can start creating an actual narrative that takes us on a journey that ultimately lands on that final point or message. I guess you can say it’s reverse engineering.
D. As a writer, I have been interested in the differences between writing a novel or a screenplay, especially since I noticed that many writing challenge platforms offer screenwriting contests along with short story writing. Which means to me, many fledgling writers want to write that next epic screenplay. I think the main thing is creating scenes that build on each other through a story arc. But what other key features are there in writing screenplays?
G. I don’t have a clue about writing a novel but I do know a bit about screenplays. The work is not random. A good story may appear organic and without format, especially done well, but once you strip away all the glitter it is a body of work that usually fits the model of a solid 3-act structure specific to screenplay writing.
The challenge of a screenplay is that, unlike a novel, a screenplay never overtly articulates the inner thoughts of a character. A screenplay can only provide observation. Moving pictures. So glances, body language, choice of words, or lack thereof, emotions you can see, manipulative actions you can witness. Clues like a faint smile. A welling up of the eyes. A nervous clearing of the throat. Those are the visuals an audience relies on to gain insight into their minds.
A screenplay is only a roadmap for the director to get you from A to B. In many ways, unless detail tells you something to actually further the story, it is never included. The roadmap can be widely interpreted and visualised. No two people read a screenplay the same way, and thus a director who embarks on a writer’s work has the opportunity to tell the story from his or her unique directorial perspective. A unique directorial lens.
The same story can appear unrecognisable from director to director. But each story ultimately says the same thing in the end. The roadmap takes the director to the end.
D. Fascinating. Exactly the insights I was hoping you could give our audience and a wonderful glimpse into the creative freedom of a filmmaker.
D. As the writer, director and cinemaphotographer on your films, which would you say is your true calling, or is it a combination? Do those roles change with each film where you might do more of one than the other?
G. I love every stage of filmmaking. If you truly love every creative process, why not do it all. Right? I think of filmmaking as approaching a painter rightfully approaching an oil painting. The painter would never sketch out a drawing, paint half of it, and then hand the brushes and paint over to another painter and say, “Hey, wanna do the rest?” No. A painter usually picks a subject matter, outlines the concept, lays down the base coat, paints in the images, indulges in all the detail work and finishings. Signs it. Frames it. Heck, the artist might even have a strong opinion about how and where to hang it.
That’s how I feel about filmmaking. I enjoy and love doing every aspect of the work.
D. That’s a fantastic analogy. And that passion shows in your finished product.
D. How do you assemble your team? Do you have a crew who is part of Imperative Pictures, or do you recruit for each project? Do you have a system you follow each time, or is it more organic? Feel free to expand on your creative process, how a film comes about from start to finish.
G. It’s a hybrid. We have garnered team members who consistently work with us if they are available. We have others we recruited for one project, and then they go on to bigger and better projects as their careers advance.
Many years ago we created the Imperative Pictures Internship Program in conjunction with Emerson College Film School, Boston/Los Angeles. As a result, when we are gearing up for a production we take on any number of young and inspiring interns who spend the semester learning how we approach filmmaking. Then, timing permitting, they roll into production for an actual feature film production experience. They truly get their hands dirty in the business.
They also walk away with IMDb credits for a feature film. It’s a great program and we love launching bright new students into the film world.
D. What a brilliant program. A win for everyone.
D. I have to say you have a knack for creating a story that has me on the edge of my seat from the start. I loved the opening scene in Blind Malice just as an example. Is suspense a favorite genre and method for telling the character’s story?
G. Yes, I love suspense. I also love psychological thrillers. I guess you can say I like when the mind has to work hard to understand another person’s mind. It’s the human connection I focus on to tell my story. If we can connect with the main character by creating a character who is both flawed and inspirational; undeniably human; the possibilities of where that character can lead us is endless.
D. Beautiful. I can definitely relate to this as a writer, and it’s something I strive for.
D. Your films bring an awareness to challenges many of us face in life, whether physical, cultural, or social. Was that an underlying purpose for making them, or a happy accident that became your trademark?
G. Happy accident. But not without some master planning. Making a film consumes many years of a filmmaker’s life, and after the film is done it runs over and over in perpetuity. So, I always want to be sure I’m making something that has meaning, purpose, and will be relevant and serve to better our society as the story is told. It needs to be worth my time.
The earliest of storytelling was to teach lessons for the community. Feature films have even more of an opportunity to inform its viewer and potentially a wider audience. A film garners a captive audience. What an opportunity it is to make a body of work that can provide insight, perspective, and clarity to a topic that could ultimately change another person’s life somewhere in the world. That’s the power of film.
We take film seriously. It can literally shape a person’s view of the world for a lifetime.
D. Tell us about Imperative Pictures’ latest film, Unfix.
G. Unfix. It’s my newest film. We’re currently doing sound design on it. It’s a story about a 35-year old man named Ari who, at age 11, following a brief encounter with another boy, was forced into the torturous practice of Conversion Therapy. But now Ari is 35 years old and happily heterosexual, and “fixed”. But when the pandemic hits, Ari’s world is turned upside down once again, awakening dormant questions about his fundamental authentic self; casting doubt he was ever really gay.
I stumbled upon the topic during my rabbit hole research phase. I knew a little about conversion therapy but the more I dove into the topic the more convinced I was that this was a topic that needed to break the walls of specific sexual orientation to make it universally relevant. We hope the story achieves that.
D. It’s hard to imagine parents putting their child through such trauma instead of nurturing the child’s discovery of where they fit in the world. Yet, it happens to a lot of us, sometimes in more subtle ways. I’m glad you’re telling the story.
D. I’m going to hark back to high school because for me, the most fascinating aspect of this interview is knowing you back then and having you share how you got here today. There were so many ways you expressed your creativity in those early years; music, art, drama, starting up social groups and small businesses to spread creativity to others, and finally traveling to Japan. When you were exploring all those ideas, did you have any inkling you would end up behind a movie camera?
G. Settling into film took some time. Maybe subconsciously I already knew when I bought my first video camera in Japan in 1980. It was a dinky little compact micro-cassette SONY camera and I took it everywhere and I made so many little movies. And then I started making “Santa Sightings” short films for my niece and nephew every year. Then short films. Then finally bigger and bigger films as my confidence grew.
But professionally, I was working in News. Then LIVE TV work. By being in the field, I was learning that I don’t like the chaos and uncertainty that accompanied that kind of production. I eventually discovered I am more of a planner. I like being organised. My dissatisfaction with LIVE TV and NEWS ultimately steered me toward film. Film is calculated. It is planned. It employs strategy. All the parts of the brain I like to exercise, while still being fully creative. The feature film medium found me.
D. I bet your niece and nephew adored those movies. My imagination is taking off thinking about how you told them.
D. How big a part did living in Japan play in forming your film career? Did you travel there with the idea there might be opportunities for your future, or did you simply set out on an exciting adventure?
G. Japan moulded a great deal of my work ethics. Japan also served as the foundation of my first 20 working years in production. Oddly, Japan also made me feel like an outsider, and I was okay with that. That feeling helped me make decisions for myself, not for others.
I owe so much of my creative autonomy to travelling outside my comfort zone, learning how to survive and flourish in another culture, chipping away at another language, using a part of my brain that would otherwise have gone unused, to who I am today. Especially in the 80s, Japan was as far one could get from the “Western” culture.
I grew immensely from those 10 years abroad and 10 more working for a Japanese TV network back in the states. It gave me a unique sense of confidence as I moved forward in life.
D. A great learning experience to pass on. Thank you for that, Graham. We were fortunate to travel there in an era when Japan was opening up to western culture. Even in my three-month visit, I ran the gamut from dealing with the challenges of being an outsider in a traditional Japanese family to being thrown into the middle of the family’s western growing pains.
D. What would you say is your biggest influence or turning point that got you where you are today?
G. There has never been one big influence or turning point that got me where I am today. It’s always been about achieving productive goals every day. Small bite-sized goals over weeks and years that lead to bigger daunting life-changing goals. Slow and steady progress requires staying on track, and not veering off my course. I did not know how I would get there, just that I wanted to get there. I am still “getting there”.
My father once gave me perhaps the greatest advice ever. I was 16. I was fixated on what I would do when I grew up and how I would get there. He asked me to take out a piece of paper. Fold it into four quadrants. He instructed me: in the first quadrant write DAY. The next one, write MONTH. Next, write YEAR. The last one, write ULTIMATE. He explained, to get to your ultimate destination you just need to set clear specific but small and easy goals that will lead you there.
Daily achievements will result in monthly success. Months quickly turn to years and as long as your ultimate goal is in view, you will move in that direction.
“But remember,” he said, “Set goals you KNOW you can achieve so you don’t set yourself up for failure. Give yourself tasks you know you can check off daily, so you feel like a winner everyday. Use it every day. Keep it folded up nicely in your back pocket. Constantly remind yourself of the ULTIMATE goal.”
I use this method to this day.
D. I love this! Thank you.
D. Who would you say most inspired you, or your works?
G. I love all art. I study art but not necessarily film artists. I am a consumer of movies but never try to emulate work I’ve seen. I try to let it come from within, depending on the story I’m telling and what I’m feeling.
One of my greatest inspirations has always been my father. He was an artist. I learned from watching him work.
D. When you talk to people about getting started in the film industry, what are your top pieces of advice?
G. My advice to anyone who wants to be in film? Get a business degree! Film and art and all the juicy creative things in life we will study our whole life long, but taking the time to get a solid business degree, so you can survive in the real world as you pursue your art is essential.
In the end, if you want to make a living in the arts, you need to remember art is a business.
D. Are there works in progress? Where can we follow you to see what’s coming next?
G. For now I’m still consumed with UNFIX. After sound design, we will go to festivals, touring for a year. Then I will slowly start the cycle again; indulging in research and asking myself what topic is out in the world that I don’t know anything about and is very important to learn more of. That will be the beginning of a new chapter in my life… a chapter that will, again, consume many years, and ultimately last a lifetime.
Like all my films. Actually making the film takes about 4 years. In 4 years time I can go to college and get a degree. It should be at least that powerful for me.
D. This is the most surprising insight, the amount of time and commitment to each film. Your analogy really puts that in perspective.
D. Where do you see yourself as a creator in the next ten years? Same question for Imperative Pictures?
G. I hope to never retire. I hope I can keep making movies deep into my 90s while I sit poolside in some resort! Haha. The topics that will be important in 10 years time are inconceivable at this time. I am an optimist. I trust the future will be amazing, and I’m sure the world will be, in many ways unchanged and in so many other ways, literally unrecognisable.
Ten years is just around the corner. I hope to have a few more films on the platter. I just want to keep doing what I love. I’m in a sweet spot right now, and I hope to continue this.
D. I have no doubts you’ll be making movies in your 90s. I hope the same goes for writing my stories. I’ve got enough planned to get me there! Poolside. Hmmm. I like it…
D. Thank you so much for visiting, Graham! Any parting words of advice to our readers on following their creative passions?
G. Filmmaking is a very long road to travel to make a film. If you aren’t operating from a place of pure passion you will eventually fizzle out. Find a partner in life that you can travel on that creative journey with. My partner is Alex. He is my producer, my advisor, my manager, my best friend, and the love of my life.
I will close with this. Thank YOU for doing this spotlight, for me and all the interesting stories of the inspiring people you share with your readers.
Like filmmaking, you are providing your own unique platform that can potentially give insight and inspiration to others, shaping a person’s view of the world for a lifetime – all through your Sunday Spotlight.
I have been looking forward all summer to my conversation with this amazing romance author. GiGi Meier not only has three sizzling hot standalone novels in her Cañon Series that I’m enjoying, but she is a tireless supporter of indie authors. Let’s Go Live! with GiGi Meier is an exciting prospect for any writer. I got to join her there Thursday and it was a blast!
To get us started, I’m sharing GiGi’s own words about her writing process, which we will delve into in our discussion.
I dream and write. I daydream and write. I have nightmares and write. See a general theme? I find inspiration everywhere in overheard conversations, magazine articles, social media posts, stunning photographs, and occasionally my own life interactions. Ideas, dialogue, characters, and voices swirl about my mind. It’s magical, unique, and indescribable. Sometimes it’s even lightning in a bottle. The words flow faster than I can type. Then one day, the magic stops, and my mind becomes cluttered with real life. Worry, doubt, anxiety, and insecurity move in. I call them the troublesome foursome…
That is so spot on, GiGi! Before we get more into the day in the life of a dark romance author hinted at above, I’d like to talk about your books.
I’m finishing up Tomlin and can’t wait to read the next installment in Takahashi, but I’m really looking forward to Hamilton’s story in Hamilton because I was ready to know him better as soon as he appeared in Tomlin.
First, you can enjoy getting more acquainted in Hamilton.
Here’s what one reader says about Tomlin:
Really compelling story that I couldn’t put down! Sometimes I wasn’t sure if I even liked Dani, but I love her unapologetic way of being who she wants to be.
Robert Weaver
I selected this because it’s what I’m feeling about Dani. She is a spitfire with a huge chip on her shoulder and a bit much for me, but I keep reading because I want to see what Tomlin sees and you’ve given us enough nuggets to know she has much more to offer under all that bluster… and because their interaction is superbly crafted right from the beginning… and because I want to see what she does with her amazing auto restoration skills. Having spent a day with friends and her stock red 72 Chevy C-10 and his restored red 55 T-Bird convertible at Hot August Nights made that particularly relevant for me. But I digress…
Give us your take on your novels and the dark romance genre they dwell in. What inspired you to write romance? Also, how did you go about giving Dani her expertise in auto restoration?
GM. I love LOVE. As cheesy as it sounds, I love people falling in love, fighting to stay in love, and sometimes losing love. The journey to find love can be dark and moody in my books, as people deal with their past experiences or life trauma that prevents them from feeling worthy of love. I like exploring that theory in my characters, as it’s similar to real life.
I have a very good friend that does car restoration. In fact, he tore down a tennis court to build a warehouse to store all his restorations. After seeing his projects and driving past a restoration place in a small town in Texas, Dani was born. Although my friend and Dani couldn’t be more different, he is very mellow and never cusses.
DLL. Love is never cheesy in my book, so long as it comes in nice dark settings, fantasy or otherwise. I get a sugar overload if I try to watch anything on the Hallmark channel. 😉
I knew there was a great story behind Dani’s creation. Thank you so much for sharing that.
One of my favorite questions is how did your life morph into that of a writer? Everyone has their unique story and I love putting as many out there as possible to inspire our audience, which might include those who want to get started on their own writing journeys.
GM. I LOVE this question! I was celebrating my thirtieth year in corporate America, having reached the top of my profession. I looked at my colleagues, equal in position but mostly twenty to twenty-five years older than me, and thought this will be my life if I continue on this path. Tragically, one of my colleagues passed away on the job, having never enjoyed the retirement his hard work over decades afforded him. Between these two realizations, I peered into two possible futures I could have and thought, I’m not going to die with my music inside. I’m going to pursue my dream of becoming a romance author and left the industry at the end of 2021.
DLL. That is truly inspiring. How long have you harbored that music?
GM. Oh jeez, I was thinking about that the other day and I wrote a children’s series over twenty years ago that has never seen the light of day. I had forgotten about that until my sister reminded me. Instead of following my dream then, I put in another twenty years in corporate America.
Who or what is your biggest influence/inspiration?
GM. Inspiration comes to me in all forms. Interactions with friends and family, my dreams, strangers I encounter when running errands, musical lyrics, and other books. I find people fascinating because everyone has a story to tell. They are a culmination of their past, hopes, dreams, lifestyle, experiences, choices, and beliefs. It provides more ideas than I can write.
Who are your top three favorite authors?
GM. Oh my, there are so many good authors. It’s hard to pick just three. I mainly read in romance, fantasy, and self-help genres, but I will occasionally cross over into suspense, thriller, and biographies. When reading fiction, I’m a sucker for witty banter, clever descriptions, and thought-provoking stories. When reading non-fiction, I want to learn something new or discover a gem I can implement in my life. I want to be a lifelong learner.
I’m sensing you have a few books stacking up in your WIP pile. What’s next for your fans?
GM. Jeez, if I could download my brain, that would be amazing because I have so many ideas. I have ten novels in various states, but none are scheduled for the next two years. I love the cast of characters in The Cañon Series, and once Hamilton releases on 9.1.23, Isla’s novel is up next with an early 2024 release.
I planned six books in the series. Isla will be the 4th, followed by Rico and then Lars. I’ll be sad when the series ends next year, as I feel like they are my family. I’m considering doing a monthly mini-story for readers as they want more of Dani and Tomlin’s story. It would be cute to see them at Christmas or read how he did at his final Olympics from Dani’s POV.
DLL. Absolutely fantastic. And I know what you mean about saying goodbye to your book family. I also really enjoyed that part of our interview on “Let’s Go Live” about waking up in the middle of the night with ideas or scenes playing out in our heads that we have to capture somehow before we lose them. That’s been a constant feature in my life since I started writing. I’m not complaining. It’s been amazing!
Can’t wait for all these to get out in the world, Gigi!
Do you also write short stories?
GM. I don’t write short stories. My romance novels are well over 120K words. However, as a palette cleanser, I’m starting a novella series about older women and younger men that will be exclusive to Amazon. It will be a fun, lighthearted change from the darker, longer books in The Cañon Series. More to come on that!
DLL. Okay. First off, that’s an amazing amount of writing. Second. Now I’m going to have to be looking out for those delightful romance nuggets!
Are there other writing projects you dream about, or other genres you’d like to try? Where do you see yourself as a writer in ten years?
GM. I’m such a planner that I have three, five, and ten-year goals. I’m super nerdy like that. If I could wave a wand, and all would be true, it would look like this. Writing stories that resonate with people, where they change their life somehow, and I get to meet them at book conferences and signings to hear how my characters helped them. I’d continue interviewing authors, book bloggers, editors, and anyone in the indie world to help support, promote, and educate new and upcoming writers interested in pursuing their dreams. It would be magical if my books were made into movies so the stories and characters could reach non-readers and positively impact their lives. At the end of the day, I want to help and serve others through the written word, and however else I can use my gifts to make a better literary world.
DLL. Sounds to me like you not only wake up with scenes in your head but plans! Nice… I’ll be checking back to see how your fabulous goals are coming along.Dani would def make a great movie character.Have you thought about who you would want playing her?
GM. Interestingly enough, I have not. However, my readers have ! Boy, oh boy they have strong opinions about who should play her and DM on my social media to share. It’s hilarious. I’ve gotten everything from Margot Robbie to Britney Spears.
Can you share a little about how you got your books published, found a cover designer, beta readers, editors? That sort of thing. I feel like you might have a team put together. Is that the case? And what advice can you share about assembling one or assembling your resources?
GM. This has been the biggest challenge in my author journey. It’s daunting to publish a book. It seems like a thousand steps, and the process completely overwhelmed me. The journey is so varied that no two authors tackled it the same way. That’s where I got overwhelmed, bought a lot of different courses, and sadly, paid vendors that didn’t perform. It’s part of the learning process and one of the reasons I started my weekly Let’s Go Live! with GiGi Meier series on Instagram to bring interviews with other authors to share their journey to publishing. They are over an hour and packed with gems so listeners can garner new ideas that resonate with them or discover things they want to try.
The book community on Instagram is very supportive, and I found my cover designer, editor, beta readers, and street team on the app. In my experience, if I call for help, I get a good response, with many people from the book community willing to share and connect me with the right people. I’ve been fortunate to have made wonderful new friends who love and support my books and characters like I do. It’s a blessing.
DLL. This is exactly why I love asking this question. Like you said, everyone has their unique journey and the more journeys we share, the more someone will find something that will help them on their own path. I’ve been waiting to hear from someone who utilizes the amazing services for cover designers, arc readers, and editors I see on Instagram or social media because I’ve been hesitant about reaching out myself. And I totally get what you’re saying about wasting money on promised help from vendors who fall short. It’s a morass of pitfalls mixed with the real gems out there. Having a community to vet things through is key.
Your story is encouraging. Thank you!
On the marketing side of things (your website is phenomenal, by the way), do you participate in book signings, or otherwise get out and meet your readers? For instance, conventions or other events.
GM. Awww, thank you! It’s been a learning experience, and I think I have a degree from YouTube in how to build and update a website. I’d love to do conventions and have attended them in the past before COVID. This sounds terrible, but I haven’t been since. I must add that to my to-do list as many are booking for next year.
DLL. I often wonder how differently my book introduction might have gone if I’d had the opportunity to do the old-fashioned book store, library signing circuit. It’s something I keep in the back of my mind for someday. I wrote a blog about my uncle Lauran Paine who became a published author in the 40s. I wanted to compare the industry during his time through his eyes as a prolific author with now, and it was a super fun piece to capture in a blog.
I think COVID changed the industry in good and bad ways. The supernatural fantasy genre really took off for one thing as readers needed exciting ways to escape, and so many authors made their debut. I may not have been able to go out and peddle my books when I launched them, but I would never have started writing without the restrictions placed on us by the pandemic giving me the impetus to read tons of supernatural fantasy fiction and develop a burning desire to follow in those writers’ footsteps.
I’ll take the opportunity here to provide the tip of my 2020 reading list: Two of my favorites who inspired the more recent surge, Stephenie Meyer (Twilight) and Charlaine Harris (True Blood). And the surge… Cassandra Clare, Laura Thalassa, Kresley Cole, Stephanie Hudson, Jeaniene Frost, Ilona Andrews (husband/wife team), Grace Draven, and for paranormal romance with humor and spice, Carrie Pulkinen.
You have such a fun, energetic vibe on Instagram. What got you started on your Let’s Go Live feature? What advice can you share about social media engagement? And what are your key benefits/ takeaways in chatting with authors and sharing your videos on YouTube?
GM. You’re so sweet, and I’m very relieved to hear that. Social media is challenging as you want to connect with your target audience, but it’s subject to the algorithm. I genuinely enjoy connecting with people and hope that shows. Connecting is what got me started going live on Instagram and the desire to create friendships with beautiful people all around the world. How neat is that!
Whether discussing my books in comments or DMs or supporting other authors as they market their books, I love it all. I try to have a good variety of posts about my books, author interviews, and recent live writing sprints. It’s important to meet people where they are, and social media is it for me. My biggest advice is to do what is natural for you when creating and posting content and enjoy the process, as it’s a long game.
DLL. Good advice. You were brave going live to the world, but I’m glad you’re out there for us. 😊
I decided to love what I’m sharing in my posts first, algorithms or not, because it’s a creative outlet for me, and I started my Instagram journey as a crafter and planner sharing those creativities. Writing was just one more outlet I tacked on to a list of them. I find it fascinating to see such a huge variety of aesthetics on users’ accounts either by design and careful content selection or because their tastes and personalities come through organically.
Now, let’s get into your writer’s life. When the “troublesome foursome” are not plaguing you, how and where do you like to spend your time creating? What is your process? Do you have favorite tips or techniques for getting your creativity flowing?
GM. I write every day, some days are brutal, and others are creative, flowing magic. It bothered me that everything wasn’t creative genius out of the gate, but that’s unrealistic. You can always rewrite and edit a brutal writing session. Sometimes, a better idea presents itself during those rewrites. I think about my story all the time, what the next scene would be, did the characters respond how I thought they would, or do I need to change something in the last scenes. Some days I write. On other days I dictate.
I find my best creative flow dictating when I’m outside, staring up at the trees, and the story flows through me. Now dictating means a lot of editing as I don’t always speak clearly, and then I’m like, what the heck??? But at least the story is coming out, and I can fix it from there.
DLL. You are the first person I’ve talked to who uses dictation! That is so awesome. Makes me want to try it. And when you say brutal, are you talking about writer’s block or other challenges when things aren’t otherwise magical?
GM. Brutal as in writing blocks or the words don’t flow as artistically as I want, then doubt and worry creep in that I’m losing the story or it’s not intriguing enough. Sometimes brutal can mean, being at the bottom of the daunting mountain of writing another book. It’s a labor of love, that us writers pour our hearts into and when it’s completed, I’m at the top of the mountain, enjoying a breathtaking view of where my blood, sweat and tears has gotten me. Once the book is released to the world, it’s no longer mine. It belongs to the readers, and it’s back to the bottom of the mountain to make the journey once again.
DLL. That is a great analogy. Thank you for digging into that tough aspect of a writer’s life.
Time management is such a challenge for us all. What tips do you have for balancing the foursome with pursuing your creative passion?
GM. I use Timular. (not a paid promotion, haha). It’s an app that keeps me accountable for my time. I created over fifteen categories to monitor how much time I’m spending per activity to measure my productivity. Leaving the confines of corporate America, I had to implement some structures for myself not to be an amoeba all day and actually get some books written.
I also set weekly goals, some repetitive, others one-time, to keep me on track to meet my goals we discussed in the earlier question. They are tracked in a paper planner with stickers and different color pens because I need the validation to add my check marks or notes of what changed on the goals or if I decided not to do them and why.
DLL. Fantastic. I love talking to super organized people and so wish I could stick to a system with my planners. But like my stories and writing schedule, they’re stuffed with everything but organization. 😉
I’m wondering if you follow YA Fantasy author Sarra Cannon’s YouTube channel, Heartbreathings?
For our readers: Sarra is up to 472 videos with a wealth of content on productivity and a writer’s life, covering a variety of planner systems and providing tips and challenges on what to do with those stacks of pretty notebooks. (These are a few of my Hobonichis.)
GM. I’m an avid subscriber to her channel and even joined her Publish and Thrive course, but haven’t made it through all the modules yet.
DLL. I knew it! Awesome!
This has been a blast, Gigi, and I wish you the best. Any parting words of advice for those who would like to pursue their creative passions?
GM. Believe in yourself when no one else does. If you are lucky to have a strong support system, you’re already ahead of the game! If you don’t, and many people fall into this category with negative home lives, non-supportive spouses and family, or naysayers whispering into their fears and doubts, join Bookstagram. You will find like-minded individuals who will not only root you on but care for you simultaneously. Everyone is worthy of pursuing their dreams, and everyone is worthy of the happiness that achieving their dreams brings. Be brave, step out with careless abandonment, and pursue yours. Don’t die with your music still inside you!
Thank you!
Follow Gigi at gigimeier.com, YouTube, Instagram, and on Goodreads to keep posted on her new releases. So much is coming your way from this dark romance writer! Leave us your questions in the comments, and thanks for joining us.
It’s a great treat when I get to interview someone I haven’t seen in a long time but knew way back when. Not only did we go to high school together, but Tracy Foote lived in my neighborhood. Even back then, all he wanted to do was play his music.
My best memory of hanging together was a jam session at my house after school. Well. Tracy was jamming. I was doing a poor job of playing the opening to Stairway to Heaven on my flute. What Led Zeppelin fan who played the flute in school wouldn’t want to play that gorgeous piece of music? But that was my struggle, band music didn’t translate well into Rock, for me anyway. I also wanted to play like Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull. I had big dreams.
Mostly what stands out was that Tracy was full of smiling conviction and a model of patience, and it was a lot of fun giving it a go.
The other thing that stands out is that he’s still jamming (I won’t say how many) decades later, and gets to make a living out of it.
Q. So Tracy, first let’s talk about your bands, your mates, and what you all hope to accomplish through your shared music.
TF. Hey Darci – what a great memory!
Imagine … today we could’ve recorded that for posterity on our phones!
OK – the bands:
I’m currently playing in a pair of bands that evolved from one (band).
THE BREAKERS is made up of guys I’ve been playing with in various lineups for about ten years now. DEVON GALLEY AND THE HEAVY HOLD (DGHH) is a group of guys who are all about ten years younger than I am – I still like to run with what the “kids” are into 😂
I’ve been with both bands for about six years now, which, come to think of it, is about the longest run I’ve maintained with a group of musicians, ever.
My situation is unique to me, and so I don’t know how helpful my story can be to anyone else, but I am not alone. I have a wonderful family, and a wife who is eternally patient and has always been my foundation, along with our daughters, who are now all grown up. Not that I’m old, or anything!
So while I am happy to discuss the nuts and bolts of playing music, and the rigors of keeping in shape for live performances, I have to disclose that I couldn’t have done any of this without my family.
——-
I was living in Los Angeles (where I met my wife, Cecilyn) long ago, and at that time was active in the local scene. A good example of what we were doing can be seen here:
“ALL SO SIMPLE” – Dead in Spain (w/David Lindley)
This song featured David Lindley (who recently passed away), playing lap style slide guitar.
Once I returned to Northern California – Sacramento – and started a family, I stopped performing, and really went on about a 15-year hiatus. I never stopped playing, but I devoted my time to raising our daughters. After fumbling around with some other friends I met through my kids’ school, I decided to aggressively search for some guys who were performing on a somewhat professional level … which led me to where I am today.
I should add here that prior to my looking for others to play with, I spent a few years teaching myself the art of recording using all of this wonderful new technology.
And that would have been a lot of fun preserving that dive into Led Zeppelin in my living room. Hmmm. Now you got me thinking about what our selfies might have looked like back then... Nope… Never mind. I’m glad we don’t have to suffer our teenage mugs coming back to bite us. 😄
Your bands are both fabulous. Here are more great recordings on Spotify:
Q. Pinning you down for our chat provided a lot of insight into the busy schedule of a musician. Can you give us a rundown on what it’s like keeping up with all your performances? And maybe an idea of the geographical scale you cover in a week, month, or year?
TF. I’ve always been a regular commuter up and down California, but mainly because my wife’s family is down in Los Angeles, as well as many of our friends, etc. The bands I play with now cover mostly Northern California. I’ll be in Quincy this fall with THE BREAKERS, for instance. With DGHH, I was just way out in Wilseyville – I think – playing at OwlFest.
DLL. Ah. Calaveras County, and Plumas! This makes me want to get out to all the fabulous music festivals going on in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I’ve neglected that activity. My books are set smack in the middle of them, starting in Quincy. I forget what rich music offerings and fun venues abound practically in my backyard.
Q. What kind of time investment is there in practicing with your bands and preparing for your appearances?
TF. I’m always in favor of time spent practicing and working on performance art, etc., but most of us have families and are involved in other commitments as well, so we get good at flying by the seat of our pants, as they used to say. It’s all about being as professional as you can be.
DLL. Perfect! And pretty much how I imagined it. 😊
Q. What would you say are the differences between a 9-5 job and working with a band? Is it like going to work with any other coworker or team? Along with that, playing with two bands must add an extra layer to the work dynamics. Does it merge together, or are there additional challenges, or benefits?
TF. Clearly those two things aren’t the same. I think (with the band) everybody has to be somewhat equally vested; you’ve got to have a dedication to the cause. If one doesn’t, it will work itself out eventually.
The benefits are getting to play with a variety of other band members, who all contribute to a sound, which works what the band sounds like …. and I get to do it twice!
Q. I’ve always had the idea that traveling a circuit playing music gigs is equal parts hard work and equal parts play. What’s your take on that? More of one over the other?
TF. I have never thrown myself “all-in” for a life on the road. But I know it’s brutal – especially the older we get. Talk to a Triple A Ballplayer … I’ve known two friends in my life who seemed to be perfectly suited for their life on the road – and they were (are) very successful with it, but that’s rare, I think. I wouldn’t want to be away from my family all the time.
DLL. I can imagine how tough it would be. There’s a draw to that nomadic lifestyle but it does require a lot of sacrifice. I’m really happy you’ve worked out such a great formula, thanks to your supportive family.
Q. How much does audience feedback feature in the above equation?
TF. Audience reaction/participation is always fun. After all, most of us playing up on a stage are just trying to get your attention … lol
DLL. I envy that direct feedback for sure, especially after spending the last several years trying to reach an audience with my stories. On those rare occasions when I do, it is such a boost!
Q. Any tricks you like to share on balancing it all with life and family?
TF. For all the guys I play with, and myself, family always comes first. So there’s not much balance necessary.
DLL. I’d say that might even be the definition of balance. Again, so happy you struck the right notes, Tracy!
Q. What are your favorite methods for staying organized and keeping energized?
TF. Ugh … you got any, Darci? Please share!
DLL. 😂 I ask all my guests this. I’m always hoping for ideas. But I think you’ve given us a sense of how you manage it.
Q. I’ve always thought it fantastic that you stuck with music and made it part of your life from such a young age. Can you describe a little of what that’s like? Is it the lifestyle you envisioned when you were a teenager?
TF. When we corresponded about this last week, I mentioned that I saw my life as 3 or 4 distinct “eras” – apologies to T. Swift – and it almost seems unreal to me. I knew that I wanted to use art in one form or another throughout my life – and hopefully figure out a way to earn a living without sacrificing that. I also knew that I really wanted to have a wife – which, no matter how much I saw myself happily married, that was no guarantee I would ever have it. Once I did, I knew I had what mattered most, and everything else became icing on the cake.
The business of music – writing, recording, performing – has completely transformed since I first set out on my life’s journey. The “lifestyle you envisioned when you were a teenager” could never have included carrying around all the knowledge in the history of the world via a smartphone. I wish I could have predicted it. Imagine what the year 2040 will be like … or, maybe don’t.
But back to “Retro”, I would be remiss if I failed to plug THE BREAKERS LP (a real VINYL LP!) :
DLL. That is a fantastic perspective. Thanks for sharing. I hadn’t really thought about comparing my dreams back then with how they might be affected by technology. It’s a totally fun exercise. I suppose when you get to be our age, it is easy to look back on life as separate layers. Love this! And wow! Love this vinyl! 🤩
Q. I remember some of your influences from our high school days, like the aforementioned Led Zeppelin, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, and I’m sure there are so many more guitarists who are my favorites too. But what or who was your biggest influence, the one that set you on the path to being a musician?
TF. THAT is a loaded question … those bands were big for me in high school, but when I was really being energized, and drawing inspiration from others, I would have to list Paul Westerberg (The Replacements), Tom Waits, and The Rolling Stones (1969-73, the Mick Taylor era) as my primary influences. I’m a big old-school blues and country guy, too. Think Hank Williams Sr., John Lee Hooker, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, etc.
DLL. This is why we hit it off so well, Tracy. I’ve gone on to appreciate so many fantastic blues guitarists like the ones you mention and love the Mississippi Hill Country artists like R. L. Burnside. I’m always anticipating new material from the musicians influenced by them all, like The Black Keys.
Tom Waits… hardly enough words for his amazing body of work. If you want a modern day interpretation of Robert Johnson, think Eric Clapton, who of course is a legend in his own right.
😄I’ll stop here. Thanks for letting me meander through my music list with you, Tracy…
Q. Besides music, what other interests or hobbies do you enjoy? I remember you traveling to Washington D.C. after high school and visiting the political scene. Did a fascination with politics stick with you?
TF. No.
DLL. Okay. I get it.😉Playing Music, and family. What more do you need?
Q. What advice would you give to young musicians about choosing a career in music? Looking back, would you do anything differently? Any other parting words of advice?
TF. I don’t even view it as a “career”; it’s not something to do, it’s more like something you are. Those who successfully navigate their way through life with only music are possessed with talent, ambition, and a healthy dose of luck along the way. However, I refer back to how the world has so radically changed – and the way we communicate and express ourselves has evolved right along with it.
Kids today would never believe the excitement that was once present when a big album was released – the last time it happened was probably when the last Led Zeppelin LP came out in 1980. There were lines around the block and down the street at Tower Records; I remember that same year waiting in a long line at Wherehouse Records in Sunrise Mall to buy AC/DC’s “Back In Black” album ($3.99 LP!) … our media is now so spread out far and wide, these scenes are likely never going to happen again.
Nevertheless, I would say practice and play, play out, and do it all again, and again.
DLL. I’m going to quote you on that first line. Love it!
I’m both fascinated and a little saddened by your second point. It is so true. I remember waiting for those record releases, too and spending hours in the record stores just browsing. It was a great place to spend a Saturday afternoon. The same for the movies… like Star Wars. There was nothing like waiting in a line that wrapped around a movie theater complex and getting jazzed about the experience with all the other fans. Now you plop something in a search engine and have it in your possession in seconds… all alone with your treasure…
That is why having bands like yoursto go see and hear in person at all the great venues is today’s saving grace.
Thank you so much for visiting my Spotlight, Tracy. All the best to you, your family, and your bands.
Last December I shared an inspiring chat in the world of art with my friend and artist Audrey Markowitz. Since then, she launched a new website and got busy creating a whole new portfolio of mixed media art sensations. Let’s check back in for some inspiration.
Thanks for dropping by my blog Audrey! I can’t believe it has been a year. I’ve been watching your collection of stunning pieces grow and wanted an opportunity to check in and find out what this past year has brought you.
Can you share the highlights?
AM. It’s been an awesome year! Created a website: audreysmixedmedia.com; had a wonderful first show at the Silver State Art Festival where I sold a number of pieces; and had the opportunity to go to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and take a 3-day abstract painting workshop.
I also just found out that one of my pieces “Birdwatching 101” was selected to appear in the Depot Gallery of the Sierra Art Foundation’s “Mixed Matched, Made Whole!” exhibit in January. This exhibit runs from January 6th through January 28th. Gallery hours are Friday-Sundays 12 to 5. And there will be a reception for the artists on January 20th from 1 to 4 pm. (Photo of the piece on the next page.)
DLL. This is charming and so fun to delve into. I love the quote, and I wonder who is watching whom? I’m so exited you have an art show this month! I can’t wait.
I’ve learned that each decade brings new growth to my creativity. You’re my model for that and it’s a theme in your teaching. This last year had you transition from teaching art to focusing on your personal creativity. Has it gone as you expected, or brought even more surprises?
AM. It has gone even better than I expected. I discovered a joy and happiness in creating art I have never experienced! Mixed media is definitely my calling: Here are a couple that I will bring to my shows next year.
I took a couple of months to study and experiment with abstract painting when I went to Santa Fe and worked with an amazing abstract painter and teacher. I have found that abstract art liberates the artist from traditional norms and encourages one to play with color and texture and shape in different ways. It has invited me to break away from the limitations of realism, where my own individuality and personal expression can thrive. As Dr. Eric Kandel explains, abstract art challenges our brains to create our own explanations, thereby stimulating higher-level areas of the brain that are responsible for imagination and creativity. The process increases our tolerance for less familiar and even completely alien situations, making us more flexible. I wonder if my husband would agree that I’m more flexible!
Here are a few abstract paintings that are part of my Andromeda Series:
DLL. This is exactly the thing you instilled in me. Never quit learning! I’m thrilled you had this experience and brought it home to take flight. Lovely, lovely pieces. Mixed media is my favorite way to express art as well because of the endless possibilities and combinations of mediums. I’m happy to say the same for writing fantasy romance.
I can picture you smiling in your studio, lost in your art. You had an opportunity to build a new creative space this year. What improvements have you made, what’s different or the same, and how much has it played a part in your productivity and satisfaction?
AM. I have improved the lighting in my studio over my easel. And I continue acquiring more art supplies (if possible!!) I think the wonderful space I have created for myself plays a huge part in my productivity and satisfaction. It’s definitely my “happy place!”
DLL. I’m happy just looking at it! Especially when your fluffy sweet studio pal is in residence!
Part of your experience this year has been attending shows. Can you give us the highlights? And what’s coming up / planned for next year?
AM. As I wanted to build up a body of work, I participated in one show this year. It was the Silver State Art Show at Fuji park. As it was my first, I didn’t know if I’d even sell one painting. As it turned out, I sold 4! One of the highlights was the sale of one of my favorites, “Big Hugs!” It’s a 24” x 24” piece.
Next year I plan to do three different shows (One of them being the Silver State…). I will announce these shows on my website when I solidify my participation.
DLL. Fantastic! Congratulations on the success of your first show.
There are so many wonderful pieces for sale on your website. And I’ve watched so many more being sold. Has this also met your expectations, or exceeded it?
AM. Yes, website sales have exceeded my expectations. In fact, I need to add more paintings and make some cosmetic changes which will separate the pages by type of art and pieces sold. It’s starting to get crowded!
DLL. That is so inspiring to hear. Congratulations again!
Do you have any plans to return to teaching? Can I put a plug in here for at least one class a year? 😄
AM. LOL! I have been asked by a number of you wonderful people, (who I miss dearly) if I would maybe do one class a year! I am thinking about some sort of mixed media class!
DLL. That is exactly what I hoped you’d say. Yay!
Thank you so much for visiting, Audrey!! All the best to you in the next year and I can’t wait to see your next body of work.
You can follow Audrey’s work, support her art, and join her community on her website and Facebook page.
The best New Year to all of you and thank you for visiting!
Reached 46 of 50 in my annual reading challenge. It was easy this month with four great reads. Lovin’ another fabulous urban fantasy series from Lindsay Buroker. Death Before Dragons. No one does page-turning, urban fantasy set in the PNW, featuring witty banter and fascinating, relatable MMFs better!
Tried a new author, Dianna Love. I really enjoyed this no-nonsense, direct writing style with great action and compelling characters. Glad I tried this book out on a deal. I’ll be going on to the next book in this Wild Wolf Pack series set in the urban fantasy world of the powerful Gallize shifters—Corbin.
Check out my September Spotlight interview with Jade Griffin if you haven’t already—lots of great insights and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the life of a TTRPG writer.
Looking forward to more fun books in October, a lively interview with northern Nevada YA author Sue C. Dugan, and at least two short story writing challenges. Oh, and my last two chemotherapy treatments! I should say, I’m looking forward to the end of my treatments. Until radiation that is.
The spicy scent in the air is enough, but then there are the crisp, warm colors, both bringing the coziness that lends itself to all the activities I enjoy—writing, reading a good paranormal romance, knitting, walking with my dogs and husband, taking a drive through the mountains, maybe on a yarn crawl, or going to Apple Hill to pick up a deep-dish apple pie. I’m missing those this year. But my friend and I are already planning for next year.
I mention a drive through the mountains (only miles away) because from my house, the colors are somewhat absent. But it’s only minutes, and I find myself immersed in color. That’s life in the high desert. I’m situated at 5,000 feet amid scrubby sagebrush and elm trees, looking across at Mt. Rose with its tantalizing streaks of orange and yellow. I do have a single pistachio tree that tries to do its brilliant thing before the frost hits or the winds blow off all the leaves. Still, I can’t complain about the views from my two acres.
Fall is also when I order my calendars and customized weekly planner from Personal Planner, an activity I eagerly look forward to all year. Setting up a new planner is the best part. When I need a break from writing, I turn to my neglected cross-stitching, knitting, and crochet WIPs while listening to books or watching movies. I also enjoy coloring in my planner inserts or doing a little Zentangling. So cozy! I signed up for the fall Writing Battle Short Story Contest because I haven’t participated in one of their seasonal challenges in a while, and I miss them! I’m also thinking about writing a flash fiction piece for a contest with Fractured Lit.
Here are a few photo collages to spread the cheer.
My crafts are never carried out alone. This is Fernando, the chihuahua, and Harley the… Well, your guess is as good as mine. Both rescues and my best writing buddies. These are a few of my favorite fall cross stitch projects, two finished, and one I’m hoping to get done by Halloween.
How about a cozy paranormal romance for your fall reading enjoyment? Follow me to stay posted on my October sale.
I’m a big fan of pulp fiction—noir, westerns, horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. You know, hardboiled stories with gritty characters. I’m working on one that blends these genres. The idea was inspired by a ’90s rock video by The Toadies and my collection of Edgar Rice Burroughs paperbacks, which I received from a thoughtful boyfriend way back when I was 19. I’d like to share the opening scene.
Let me know if it grabs you. I might just serialize the story in installments for you and subscribers of my newsletter. After all, that’s how pulp fiction is meant to be shared.
Visit this awesome Pinterest Board for more fabulous pulp magazine covers.
Meetings at the Edge
Detective Charlie Driver knelt among the charred beams on the blackened stone floor, a cigarette unlit and dangling from his lips as he examined the scene. Ash and smoke were all that remained of the old boathouse at the edge of Stem Pond, which had a dark history of burning down and then rising again from the ashes. Each time, people died in the blaze, just like now.
As with previous incidents, there was no sign that anyone besides the victim had entered or been near the abandoned building when it caught fire, nor was there any evidence of how the fire started or why it only affected the small structure before burning out, despite witnesses a mile away describing flames shooting above the trees like Roman candles. It was as if it had taken place in a vacuum.
His department and the fire investigator officially cleared the scene the day before, and the remains were with the coroner. Every piece of evidence had been collected and sent to Charlie’s understaffed but capable crime lab, and he’d returned to the scene alone.
After the yellow tape came down, there was no one around to crowd his thoughts or question his methods. He would draw a cigarette, brush it beneath his nose before setting it between his lips, and let the ritual stir the instincts he trusted more than evidence. It often helped him get a bead on the victim.
His methods weren’t working today.
While the victim’s presence felt tangible in the lingering scent of smoke and damp earth, their voice remained as silent as the surroundings.
A crow had been lurking nearby for the past hour, occasionally shifting branches as if to remind him it was there. When it finally cawed overhead, Charlie nearly bit off the tip of his cigarette. He palmed it, squinting at the bird, then let the silence settle back in. Was the nosy creature reminding him that he was the only human on this Sunday afternoon, left in this cold, neglected 20-acre park? A gust whipped up unexpectedly, finding its way down the back of his fleece-lined coat, and Charlie stood, pulling his collar tighter.
Feeling as if the pond somehow held answers, Charlie took one last look around. The water wasn’t very deep, and beneath the frost lay a thick layer of moss. Centuries-old ash, oak, and elm trees stretched upward from its shore like twisted skeletons, interspersed with ghostly stands of fir, creating a dense, somewhat gloomy woodland. Frost covered the branches and glittered on the charred ruins beneath his feet—all signs of winter in this rangeland county. Yet, one detail puzzled him: all the green stalks poking through the snow. The park was overrun with wild onions.
He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was very strange about it, not because they grew in winter (onions can tolerate cold temperatures), but because this proliferation was unusually early. And why this place? He rolled his shoulders. Strangeness was increasingly the theme of this investigation, but what that meant for the victim…
Another blast of cold air swept over him, but this one carried something more—something inexplicable—making him want to light up his smoke and take a deep drag. The crow let out another loud caw as it took flight. Clenching his jaw, Charlie slipped the cigarette into his breast pocket and headed for his car. It was time to meet with his partner and go over the facts she’d been gathering.
Want to find out who died in the mysterious fire in a park overgrown with wild onions? Let me know in the comments.
I played my first tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) ever at my first-ever writing retreat in Virginia City in May. This month’s guest convinced me to give one a try on our Saturday evening in the cozy, haunted St. Mary’s Art Center, along with my friend and retreat roomie (and last month’s guest) Dee Beardsley. Jade authored the riveting Cthulhu mythos-based story and was an excellent teacher.
We started after dinner in the sitting room on the first floor, before taking a break for movie night in the theater on the 4th floor. Then, we retreated to the airy second-floor veranda, with its low lighting and the stars twinkling over Virginia City, which had us resorting to our phone flashlights to roll the dice and read the scenes. That only made the experience delightfully more gothic. And wow, was it ever the most complex, imaginative, and compelling way to immerse oneself in a story! I was Mr. Wabash, through and through, living in 1890s Chicago, discovering magic, and making some scary decisions. I would truly love to roleplay again, if I ever get a chance.
Join me for a chat with Jade today to discover what you’ve always wanted to know about TTRPGs and the stories and writers behind them, as Jade shares insights into the life of a TTRPG author.
Let’s Meet the Author
Though her usual genre is sci-fi and fantasy, discovering the tabletop roleplaying game Call of Cthulhu lit Jade Griffin’s imagination down a darker path of Lovecraftian horror. She has published six adventures so far in a series of Call of Cthulhu TTRPGs, starting with Taken For Granite on DriveThruRPG, and the collected campaign Embraced Fate: Amor Fati 1-4 is her newest TTRPG publication.
The most recent, Mr. Smith Who Works The Front Desk, is another companion novel to her Call of Cthulhu TTRPG series, which are therefore both player handouts and minor mythos tomes.
Jade Griffin lives in the high desert of northern Nevada with her family and an array of pets from several Phylum of Animalia.
Let’s Get Started
Thank you so much for visiting my Guest Spotlight, Jade. While I thoroughly enjoyed your introduction to TTRPGs, as mentioned above, I am woefully ignorant of the basic elements, having sadly missed out on this fantasy world-building craze in all its manifestations. So, to help ground us in the genre, what are the basic elements and objectives of a TTRPG from a player’s perspective? Are there other or different goals from a writer’s perspective?
JG: Very glad to answer! First, no matter if you play Call of Cthulhu or Dungeons & Dragons, or Star Wars, or any of the other tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs), they are all driven by the same factors: dice, character sheet, theater of the mind, and a group of friendly people. Dice have been around for millennia and are key to the random generation of events and results at the table, which are also affected by the skills and traits on an individual’s character sheet. These, combined with theater of the mind, where the person running the game describes the situation, scene, and all non-player characters (characters controlled by the person running the game and not the players). Keep in mind that a table and the group of people that you are with could be in person or even a virtual tabletop (VTT). I have run and played both ways. The connection is still there with a VTT, connecting with people from anywhere in the world, but the more intimate nature of sitting at a physical table surrounded by other people with a similar or the same goal–to go through a story together and make it your own–is immensely satisfying from my perspective as a writer. I am, first and foremost, a writer and not a gamer.
DLL:Fascinating, Jade! ‘Theater of the mind’ really captured the essence for me, and why it’s so fun to own the story and character. I went and looked up the history of dice. I’m not sure why I haven’t considered their enduring history before.
We caught a glimpse of your writing journey in your bio, but could you share more about how you became a writer and what led you to where you are today? Who or what was your biggest inspiration along the way?
JG: My biggest inspiration continues to be life and everything in it. A color, a smell, a sound… I am constantly reminded of my characters, and this puts a smile to my lips and prods me to make even more scenes and characters to delight myself and others. Initial inspiration came from reading Anne McCaffrey’s ‘Dragonriders of Pern’ series. I also enjoyed the autobiographies of Zitkala-Sa, Benjamin Franklin, and Frederick Douglass, the Little Fuzzy series by H. Beam Piper, the Quintaglio series by Robert J. Sawyer, and the classic ‘Frankenstein.’ For someone like me with a huge imagination, they all get catalogued in my brain warehouse and continue to inspire. As for how I became a writer, I would write little poems, then fan fiction, and finally original stories. The dialogue was always there, audible to me, and I crafted scenes and settings around what I hear and see my characters doing. It is such fun!
DLL:You made me smile, too. I can easily see your method in your sensory writing. And what great recs!I read ‘Dragonriders’ years ago. I might need to revisit it. I also love ‘Frankenstein,’ the story behind its creator, Mary Shelley, and all its media adaptations, including a movie I watch often, ‘I Frankenstein,” which features other fantasy themes I enjoy like Gargoyles vs. Demons. And of course, there’s the iconic satirical and hilarious version, my favorite Mel Brooks film, ‘Young Frankenstein.’ I went on a bit of a tangent, but the remarkable themes in Shelley’s brilliant horror story resonate in so many ways.
Did you play other TTRPGs before Call of Cthulhu? What interests you most about the gaming aspect, generally? What interests you about the Lovecraftian mythos?
JG: My goodness, yes. I never roleplayed in any system before meeting my husband. Divorced now, but he was a full-on gamer of everything and anything, so I did quite a bit of boardgames, card games, console and computer games, and of course TTRPGs. It was my greatest joy amongst the games, because any playthrough stays with me forever, just like crafting a story, whereas boardgames always reset and start over. I like things that stay. As for others, I have played: White Wolf, Star Wars, The Strange, Dungeons & Dragons (1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th Editions), and so many more. Why do I tabletop roleplay? As stated, the stories stay with me. They continue. Then I write novels based on stories not played through. Everything’s gloriously connected, and I love it. And I greatly prefer the Lovecraftian mythos and Call of Cthulhu over any other TTRPGs for the sole reason that you are playing a normal person. Not a hero, not a chosen one, just a person trying not to go insane but driven by the need to know or solve a mystery or even get revenge sometimes. It is fantastically human with the situations and consequences players find their characters in.
DLL:This is really helpful to me as a non-gamer, and now I understand the appeal I felt, thanks to the Lovecraft legacy and hisCosmic Indifferentism theme, which really came through in yourstory.
It seems to me that writing for TTRPGs with an established mythos and fan base would present its own unique challenges as well as benefits. Can you share what you’ve found to be the case?
JG: I find writing for Call of Cthulhu to be so much easier than other systems. You are dealing with the real world and not needing to know every rule of someone else’s fantasy world. I typically write in the 1920s and have been having loads of fun researching the era. I love to put as much history as I can into my works, to bring that world alive! As for already writing in an established mythos and fan base, the benefit is that you have fans craving more. The challenge is finding out if you need to create your own creatures and villains to tantalize them, or if it is in the public domain to use creatures already established. I love that there is a large Discord community of fellow creators, consumers, and even employees of the company that owns the rights to Call of Cthulhu, and they all welcome new creators, creations, and provide feedback.
DLL:I can see the appeal of the setting! And that’s exactly what I expected the community to feel like. Very fun.
Fantasy writers are often accused of loving the journey through their created worlds so much that they don’t want to leave them, which is why fantasy novels tend to be lengthy and often become series. Fortunately, readers also enjoy this aspect. It seems that writing for TTRPGs offers an author multiple ways to expand their worlds within the established mythos, including role-playing. Can you elaborate on that idea?
JG: Interesting question. Some have even asked me why I serialize my games if they are considered one-shots–a one-and-done where a group comes and plays that particular game once. There is no continuation for them… Except that I write with the endgame in mind, and it has always been a campaign–a lengthy story that you can do in sections. Don’t have time to play a whole campaign? No problem. The adventures I write are in small chunks, so you can just buy one; however, my goal is to tantalize the players to ask for more, and I feel successful in that regard, as it keeps happening at my own table! I have run games online and at local conventions for over three years now, and for many friendly strangers, and at least half end up asking, “What happens next?” Such a great feeling! It isn’t for everyone, however. Many TTRPG writers just do one and then move on to the next story they are inspired to do, but for me, everything – and I mean everything I write – eventually is connected together ;)
Along with your fascinating response above, how would you compare the experience of writing a novel or a single short story with creating a TTRPG?
JG: Excellent question, as there are similarities and differences. A novel is a set path, a set story. In a TTRPG, many things can happen that change the outcome of the game. Some characters even die. I try to write in contingencies for the most likely happenings and tell the person running the game that sometimes things happen, so make sure the play-through is fun and you can never go wrong – even if that means changing aspects of a story, altering a die roll, or simply saying a thing is so. The person running the game is a storyteller, referee, and observer all in one go. With a novel, though, you are judge, jury, and often executioner–of not just ideas but of your characters. I write what is there. My characters have lives. I am their scribe. Those paths are set when they go to print, and there is no deviation from their main timeline. Some deviations happen during gameplay because you can encounter the same characters you’ve read about in the novel, or you will read about a character you have just played with in a game. It was both a challenge and an experiment to see if I could write the same scene for a game as well as a novel. In my third and final novel in the series, titled “The Death of Lacy Moore: Monster Hunter of the 1900s”, this turned out to be the climactic scene. It is also the climax in my 4th TTRPG adventure, “Amor Fati 4: Ebon Roots”. They are the same scene, but I wrote them with certain fixed points in mind, points that could not be shifted in the game. I think I succeeded in my experiment and ended up with a very engaging and shocking conclusion.
DLL:Again, this is fascinating! And choosing a path by rolling the dice is exactly why playing the game was so compelling to me as a newbie, even as I felt a sense of awe over the complexity.
Both your passion for writing your stories and playing the game was evident in Virginia City, but which excites you more: playing or creating? I know you mentioned it above, but I would love more. Would you consider yourself a writer first, a player second?
JG: Always a writer first. Always. I play to experience the creation and revelation process as it happens in a TTRPG environment.
I’ve interviewed fantasy authors who heavily draw from their past world-building experiences in TTRPGs, and I envy them for that valuable skill. How much does playing the game influence your story creation? Build those world-building muscles? Do you think up new characters, stories, or scenarios even while you’re playing?
JG: For me, they play off of each other, and fuel each other, honing and sharpening the skill of world-building due to the sounding board of feedback from players, and of their own concepts brought into play. For example, one player randomly asked, in character, “I wanna go see the Ada K. Damon.” They were in Ipswich, Massachusetts, but I had no idea what she was talking about. I told her the storm was too bad so she could go another day. She accepted that reason and gave me time to look it up. Turns out it is a shipwreck that I happily integrated into a huge plot twist, which changed the whole course of that particular adventure and therefore the story. And, yes, I also get ideas from a thing spoken, a sound heard, a mispronunciation, or a mistype. Inspiration is everywhere, and my smile just lingers.
DLL:What a great story, and I caught that very smile at the retreat. This just expands on my love of writing and the many places we find inspiration.
Click on the photo to learn more about the shipwreck of the Ada K. Damon.
As we delightfully wandered through your latest story in draft form, you were able to address those few spots where something was missing as it came up, making notes in that huge binder packed with vivid, dark fantasy scenes, which suggested that this step (playing your draft story) is an important part of your process. Is that the case?
JG: Yes. And thanks again for being a part of that. Playtesting a game is important, but what you helped me with is one of several steps of THAT particular type of game. See, it is a playable Choose-Your-Own-Adventure-style TTRPG called a solo adventure. I need many, many playtests to iron out anything that doesn’t fit.
It is so hard to see what doesn’t work without a lot of playtesting and people trying different avenues in each playthrough. Even now, after 20 or so playtests, I still feel I need to do some more before it can go to print, even though I have published it digitally.
DLL:Wow! 20 playtests. That’s a lot of editing in the writing world. But I can totally see how that process needs to play out, while also being totally fun.
Which takes up more of your time, playing or writing? I imagine it’s a challenge not to let one consume the other. What organizational tips and techniques can you share about how you achieve your publication goals while running games and honing your player skills? How do you balance the world of TTRPG with everyday life?
JG: Writing! But also in “writing” is creating the story, characters, how they get in and out of dilemmas, the actual physical writing, and of course, marketing/publicity! I put all of my goals in my scope for each month/each year and refine it as I go. I also track any writing accomplishments in a Word document for easy reference and have a folder on my computer for photos. I also keep any bios I have typed up, printed out, or sent off, like for this interview, for easy access. I am definitely a planner and keep notes both in hardcopy and digitally in the file associated with the story or game they pertain to. As for how I balance? My creative space is my computer and the table where I game. My computer is not in an office where I can close the door and be alone. I share the space with my kids. I play instrumental music to drown them out or write/create/revise while they sleep.
DLL:Excellent! Thank you.
And speaking of organization, the layered complexity in your game staggered the imagination. You not only create a compelling mystery with numerous scenarios for each roll of the dice and player decision, but you basically have to deconstruct the story and assemble it like a giant jigsaw puzzle. Can you share more about your process and the challenges of assembling such huge projects?
JG: Yes, that was exactly it! I wanted to write a solo adventure and had to think up how. Yes, there are some tutorials out there, but really doing it, there are several ways to get started, and no good way to organize it the way my brain works, except to write it and go down each path as I write. The challenge was keeping track of them all, both in my head and on paper. It took 5 months to write a playable draft, as opposed to 1-2 months for a normal adventure. The sequel is taking even longer. I know there is something missing when I sit down to write it. There are little bits, little nuggets of awesome, and I am not finding them yet. Makes writing it difficult.
DLL:You write fast. I wish I could write at that pace. Based on all the techniques you’ve discussed, your nuggets of awesome will come. 😄
What would you say are the top skills needed to get the job done, to make a story a game, and a game a story?
JG: A very organized mind rife with creativity. I describe myself as a creative firestorm and have not met someone like myself before: bubbling with creative energy, bursting with fiery, excited bits of joy when I speak of my work. Secondly, you MUST be able to set a goal and achieve it. Do not look at roadblocks and setbacks. Those are mere challenges. These are self-imposed deadlines, but I imposed them to meet them, not to have them beat me. Third, you are your biggest champion and your loudest cheerleader for your work. You must be this. People must see your excitement. If you are not happy with it, why should they be? Fourth, develop the skill. Take part as a player, then purchase a game and read through it, and run your own. You can’t write what you have no experience playing. There are some rules for how a game is set up, its flow, and how stats and character sheets are set up. There are necessities and there are accessories, just like in writing a novel or short story. And if you want to do both, you must be inspired. Either driven by the book or, preferably, driven by the game, they fuel one another like nothing I have ever heard of.
DLL:So much great stuff, and I definitely caught that bubbly, energetic excitement at the retreat, which is why I was so happy to have you visit my Spotlight and explore it further.
What advice can you share about getting started in the TTRPG world as a writer and publisher of those games?
JG: Start with Storytelling Collective and their Write Your First Adventure workshop. They also tackle subjects and genres of novels and short stories. Highly recommend them. That is where I got my start. There is also a huge presence on Discord. That is where I find my playtesters and my beta readers/critiquers. Go find them.
DLL:Excellent again! Thank you.
You’ve published many stories with more on the way. Can you share a sneak peek of what’s coming and the best way to find you and your works?
JG: Absolutely! First, a cover reveal of the 5th adventure in the Amor Fati series, which I just published. And following is my social media info to see my progress, and where I will post sneak peeks as well as snippets of writing that I am working on.
10/13-10/16 – BLFC (Biggest Little Furry Con) in Reno, Nevada – running my various games
10/17-10/19 – Miskatonic Repository Con (online Discord convention, running my games)
11/1-11/2 – SNAFUCon in Reno – running my various games
11-8, 15, 22, and 29 (every Saturday in November) – Kobold’s Keep in Reno – running my games in person
Jade’s DriveThruRPG published stories with affiliate links.
DLL: Excellent, and on the topic of sneak peeks, I would love it if you could share a snippet of a favorite scene featuring one of those harrowing decisions a character must make.
JG: Sometimes it is hard to pick! I am in the middle of a short story horror adventure anthology featuring all of my own characters from the TTRPG series Amor Fati. I just published ‘Amor Fati 5: Hound of Fate.’ I started the sequel to the solo adventure. I started ‘Amor Fati 6: Lone Stars & Pinewood Boxes.’ Here are some bits from several of the anthology stories:
“Happen Stance” (“Touch Of Paisley” anthology)
Summer 1841
With dark of night above, cold ground beneath, and agony in between, Mr. Arthur Arctus Paisley did not ask if Death were coming for him; but instead fiercely wished for an answer on when. Death was well-deserved at the point he found himself, tossed and discarded in a barren landscape, broken and bleeding. He deserved to die. He wanted to die. Why did Death refuse to claim him?
“Origin of Mr. Doud” (“Touch Of Paisley” anthology)
1903
He could run faster than anyone in school and had proven it in track time and again.
That didn’t matter to the nightmare creature effortlessly gliding after him.
“Mr. Midsommer Meets His Match” (“Touch Of Paisley” anthology)
Merely fear, or the start right before the rush of the chase, and nothing more. Harold Midsommer had never experienced actual precognition, nor any validation that an impulse or feeling led to a better outcome for himself. He ignored the odd yet insistent apprehension and signaled Agent Foster to his left and Agent Dane to his right. He entered the abandoned building through the front door, easing it open slowly lest the rusty hinges give way and the door crash to the ground, alerting the creatures inside that their pursuers were closing in.
“Possessing A Sound Mind” (“Touch Of Paisley” anthology)
Nothingness. Familiar, in a way. So familiar, in fact, that he could function within it. Most could not, or so he assumed. A nexus in which his demiconsciousness resided, not unlike what he dwelled in as a captive for decade after decade after decade after…
Nothingness. Focus. Yes. This was different. This state of being contained an absence of feeling anything emotional as well as physical. Grasping that pinpoint of awareness, so elusive…
Nothingness.
Focus! Yes. I am Mr. Smith. I am…
Nothingness.
It is empty and full but I am Mr. Smith.
“The Bowers Ring” (“Touch Of Paisley” anthology)
“Christine, I believe you’ve taken some sort of issue with me and I’d like to know what it is. Feel free to speak candidly without reproach.”
The young female relative gave a little sigh, set the book down, faced her grand-aunt, and said, “The reason is simple: You are a liar.” Blunt, unexpected, but Virginia did not have feathers to ruffle. She herself was all scales and saw much of her own calculating coolness in the girl.
Easing onto the bed, she regarded her grand-niece with a clever smile. “What specifically do you believe you’ve been lied to about?”
Christine scowled, as if Virginia should already know the answer and it angered her to point out the facts. “Not counting the lie you just told about our family history, I overheard you talking with my dad last year, telling him where you’d been and what you’d done. All that stuff about magic and old gods and monsters. It’s all lies.”
“Origin of Mr. Grummond” (“Touch Of Paisley” anthology)
Is wonderful to sit at little café table in Autumn and drink delicious, hot coffee from tiny porcelain cup, to relax and survey all people so busy in coming and going, but is much more enjoyable to sit across from man in nice suit and let him watch me prepare tools to extract information from him. Perhaps he will tell me why I am told to assassinate him. Perhaps not. Cannot yet tell. Either way, drink coffee and read people, or clean tools and read one man, is enjoyable afternoon for me.
And here is a look at the premise for my newest TTRPG, “Amor Fati 5: Hound Of Fate” – Investigators are invited to sniff out answers to a pack of questions at the philanthropic Paisley Foundation and are allowed the full run of the building – with a few caveats surrounding Mr. Smith, the organization’s mysterious front desk man. Their curiosity has them chasing more than their own tales, interrupted by the arrival of an otherworldly predator hunting Mr. Smith.
And the premise for my upcoming TTRPG, “Amor Fati 6: Lone Stars & Pinewood Boxes” – On the eve of the new year, December 31, 1922, investigators are sent to Fort Worth, TX seeking the occult knowledge of an elusive carpenter when stars align not only for an alcohol-fueled family reunion but the arrival of a terrible creature which leaves destruction in its wake.
DLL:Absolutely awesome!! I so enjoyed reading these. Thank you so much.And thanks again, Jade, for chatting with me. Do you have any parting advice for those who would love to try their hand at writing stories for a TTRPG?
JG: Again, start with Storytelling Collective. It is where I got my start. Sign up for one of their Write Your First Adventure workshops, but they also have workshops, etc., for creative writing, short stories, flash fiction, romance novels, fantasy novels, poetry, and more. They are self-paced for some categories and a month long for others, and are geared toward getting you motivated, staying motivated, hitting attainable goals, and cheering you past your expectations. Some have contests or the end result to give you a place to submit your work. Others, like Short Story September, happening now, usually end up in an anthology. Short Story September is free. No need to pay for anything to get published, either. Just buy the book when it comes out!
DLL:Ooh, I will definitely sign up for Short Story September next year. What a great resource. I also registered for WorldAnvil, a platform to help authors build their worlds. All the best to you, Jade.
Questions and comments are welcome. Thanks for visiting bydllewellyn.com and supporting indie authors.
This summer’s Q&As have centered on short story writing, and my friend, Dee, is the perfect guest to round out the theme in a totally fun and unique way. She is a long-time fanfiction short story writer for the classic western television show, BONANZA, plus so much more, as we will discover.
As a Trekkie (Star Trek fan), I’m familiar with fan fiction, having read and passed on to my nephew dozens of fabulous Star Trek novels. I’m also familiar with the show’s bible, a colloquial term for the official, internal production document used by writers and directors to maintain consistency across the series. In the case of BONANZA, the names and likenesses of the characters are copyrighted, and writers must adhere to the brand’s guidelines while publishing their stories within the series community established by the brand. Guidelines vary for classic TV shows with huge fan bases, like Emergency, Adam 12, Stargate, Quantum Leap, Charmed, and more. Check out this forum listing. It boggles the mind.
Some argue that fanfiction does not fall under fair use, as it is derivative work. The issue of whether fanfiction is transformative (profound alteration) or non-transformative (verbatim copying of preexisting works, or plagiarism) has been endlessly debated and fought in courts. Dee will take us behind the scenes in the life of an inspired fanfiction writer and her commitment to the BONANZA brand.
Let’s Meet the Author
Dee Beardsley is a retired legal support professional, current radio show script writer, producer, and director, avid quilter, Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT), world traveler, and prolific BONANZA TV show fanfiction writer.
After a fulfilling career in the legal profession in San Diego, California, Dee knew where she wanted to head next in life.
She packed up her office and all her quilts and quilting paraphernalia and moved to Cartwright Country, aka Northern Nevada, just a few miles from historic Virginia City and the Ponderosa Ranch. She has written 63 stories since 2010, featuring the beloved Cartwrights in these settings, which you can find here.
Let’s Get Started
It’s about time I had you visit my Guest Spotlight, Dee. Thank you so much for joining me today. I want to chat about all the interests you love to pursue, many of which we share, but let’s start with writing. Can you provide the highlights of your writing journey and how it all began?
DB: Thank you for the invitation, Darci. I am humbled that you asked. In college, I was a tech major in Theater—costumes, lighting, makeup, and directing—but didn’t write my first television script until I was working on my Masters in Radio, Television, and Film. It was a 30-minute children’s show titled “The Thief Who Stole Time.” It was unbelievably hard to turn over my first script to a director whose vision of the production was not mine.
A life-long fan of BONANZA, I began writing fan fiction months after attending the 50th Anniversary Convention in 2009. I took a Writer’s Workshop there, devoured every word, and took copious notes (thank goodness for my legal shorthand!). I wrote my first BONANZA story over a weekend and, with a shaky hand and trepidation in my heart, I published it at midnight on the Bonanza World website. The first review said, “That is unquestionably the most powerful, gut-wrenching, amazing story that I’ve read in a very, very long time. Certainly, it’s the first one in ages that has moved me to tears—I kept thinking, “You can’t! You can’t!”—but an author can, because sometimes, that’s how life is.” I framed that review, and it hangs above my computer as a reminder that I can do it even when the writing/editing is hard.
DLL: Thank you for sharing this amazing story, Dee. What lovely feedback to fuel your new passion. And wow, I would have loved to have been at that convention.
What other types of writing do you engage in besides fanfiction?
DB: I wrote professional development articles for various legal publications during my career, and I continue to write content for Douglas-Carson Legal Professionals’ monthly publication as well as serve as its editor.
DLL: Douglas-Carson Legal Professionals (DCLP) is the local chapter of NALS, supporting members in Nevada. Dee does a fantastic monthly newsletter. I was a member from 2010 until I retired in 2023 and created and maintained its website until then.
I just want to add a plug for professional development organizations like NALS. For career-minded support professionals, there is nothing like getting out and meeting others in your field. Participation dwindled drastically during my membership. Maybe a result of new generations valuing meet-and-greet career development and networking less than past generations. While many organizations have adapted and thrive online these days, there is no better way (or fun way) to get the most out of membership than attending the conferences and events. Sit on a board. Run for office. Network in person. The benefits are phenomenal.
What works or authors have inspired you throughout your life?
DB: I love reading historical fiction, mysteries, fantasy, and an occasional biography. And the authors I admire would be (in no particular order): Diana Gabaldon, Robin Hobb, Scott Pratt, Leo Tolstoy, Naomi Novik, James Patterson, Stephen King, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Susan Howatch, Wilbur Smith, and, of course, D.L. Lewellyn.
Favorite books of childhood: Nancy and Plum by Betty McDonald; Pamela and the Blue Mare by Alice L. O’Connell; Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes. From 4th grade on, I would begin every school year by checking out these books from the school library. Other books would get added to the list over time, but these were the core. In 7th grade, I read War and Peace and fell in love with Russian novels.
DLL: 7th grade is the perfect angsty time for Russian literature. And wow, thanks for including me on your illustrious list. I will never see my name so close to Gabaldon or Tolstoy ever again, so I will cherish this forever. 😀
You recently participated in a presentation with Diana Gabaldon, right? Can you share some of your favorite insights from the Outlander author?
DB: I did. She was speaking to a local group in Flagstaff, Arizona, and I saw on Facebook that attendance by Zoom was possible. I love the Outlander series, so I signed up hoping to learn more. Diana has a great sense of humor and is unassuming, even a bit self-deprecating. She not only speaks very fast, but she chuckles while speaking. There was no way shorthand would work, so I turned on the voice memo on my phone to capture her stream-of-consciousness explanation of how she works. Please excuse the length of this answer, but I think it’s an important lesson in our craft.
Diana said she’s a hodgepodge thinker, not a linear one. She shows up every day to work and has no idea what’s going to happen, but she needs a kernel, an image or a line of dialogue that she can see and then she writes down a sentence describing whatever that thing is.
I write the sentence as carefully as I can to describe exactly what I’m seeing or hearing and then I look at it and I take words out and put words back in and I move pieces around and then I add another sentence and think no that’s not right but put a space in because I might want to use it later and I fiddle until that sentence is the way I want it and in the meantime the back of my head is kicking through the rubbish back there and turning up mushrooms and ooh I didn’t think that and sometimes that anchors me where I am what I call a cold day where I have no idea what’s going to happen. I have a lot of books on 18th century clothes and furnishings, houses, whatever and I will often pick up one of those like an old Sotheby’s catalog and go through it. Glass and silver and I’ll think somebody’s going to be eating or drinking something and I think I can describe it so I flip through it and there is this nice Waterford glass with panels in which Jacobite roses were engraved. I was thinking splendid. Well, maybe whoever owns this glass is not Jacobite. Maybe they’re our guest, and somebody who is a secret Jacobite put this in front of them to see how they would react. Anyway, I thought that might be good, so I put it sort of in front of my mind’s eye, so to speak, and started writing, and I said ‘The crystal glass’. Okay. Good beginning, but it’s just sitting there, not doing anything. Maybe something else is going to happen to it. Someone’s going to knock it over, and the crystal glass shattered on the floor. No, no, I don’t want to break it, it’s too pretty. Well something has to happen to it, so okay, it’s just sitting there, and there’s light shining through it, and I can see that, so the window must be open. Okay, the light. The light what? Okay, the light hit the glass a certain way, and it’s going to band, isn’t it, because of refraction and so forth? Do I want to go into that? No. Too scientific. The light struck the crystal glass? What about the roses? Do I need to put those in here? No, I can put them somewhere else. The crystal glass glimmered in the light? No. Wait a minute, I can see that light from my left and it’s blue and it seems cold somehow. What if it’s blue? Why is it blue? And I’m thinking the cold light…yeah, the cold, blue light. Okay, now we’re exploring timing. Well it has to be winter because it’s the 18th century. Why else would it be cold and blue? Okay, so I look out the window and there’s snow, and I think that’s why it is cold and blue because there’s snow, okay, it’s winter, okay. The cold, blue light of a winter afternoon—is that enough?—The cold, blue light of a late winter afternoon—that seems like a lot of words but let’s keep them for the time being. I can always take them out later. The blue light. No, the cold blue light of a late winter afternoon…okay, get the glass in… passed through the glass so the light passed through the crystal goblet…okay it’s a goblet instead of just a glass so we can put that in, giving it more of a nuanced sense…well, and did what? So I can see it…this is where refraction comes in and it bent and went splat on the table… okay, so the cold blue light of the late winter afternoon… no, it doesn’t matter if it’s late…the cold blue light of the winter afternoon passed through the crystal goblet and…I can’t say splat on the table… and cast a pool…I can see it…and cast an amber pool on the polished wood of the table. Okay. There we have it. The cold, blue light of the winter afternoon passed through the crystal goblet and cast a pool of amber light on the polished wood of the tabletop. We’re in Jocasta Cameron’s study and she’s sitting in front of the crystal goblet.
So that’s how a kernel works. It’s all very messy. It’s basically figuring out how your own brain works and working with it, not against it. It’s not what they teach you in fourth grade, i.e., you must have a topic sentence, etc. You just need an idea to start with something that will get you into the page.
Diana Gabaldon
What is it about Bonanza that makes you a huge fan? What themes or elements do you enjoy incorporating into your Cartwright stories most?
DB: As a canon writer of BONANZA fan fic, I stick to the guidelines established by the creator David Dortort:
In the Old West, it meant a lot to be a Cartwright. Being a family, loving the land, being honest and fair. Giving every man and woman a second chance.
More than most television shows, BONANZA has a heart and soul. To protect that heart and soul and to preserve the integrity of the show, the following are the essential values that must be maintained:
1. The Cartwright family, the good father and the good, loyal sons, are the center of gravity around which the show revolves. They may disagree on any number of issues, but always, in the end, they are a family again, all for one, one for all.
2. They stand for tolerance, compassion, and concern for all endangered species, and that includes the stranger in need of sanctuary, the battered mother, the abandoned child, the wounded animal, as well as the forests, the mountain stream, the lakes and ponds. No woman, no child, no animal can be abused without swift and full-bore punishment for the abuser.
3. The Ponderosa, the home of the Cartwright family, should be treated as a special kind of place, a sort of mythical kingdom on the glistening crown of the Sierra. Good people, role models, are in charge here. People slow to anger, but tread lightly or suffer the consequences. Stern, formidable when faced with injustice, but loose, relaxed, fun-loving, a family that can laugh at itself as easy as it can challenge a swindler, a bounty hunter, a slave master, or a robber baron, no matter how high the odds are against them.
David Dortort
DLL: What a marvelous insight into the mind of the show’s creator. No wonder fans still enjoy the show in syndication and the ongoing stories on the fanfic forum.
In the stories I’ve read of yours, the characters come across so vividly and true to their natures that I can imagine engaging with them at the Ponderosa Ranch or Virginia City in the 19th century. Dare I ask, who is your favorite Cartwright?
DB: Initially, when I was 12, it was Little Joe, but I soon realized that it was the whole family that mattered to me. My parents divorced when I was 10, and I didn’t see my Dad again until I was an adult. I had no siblings. Watching BONANZA allowed me to see what men were like, how they thought, walked, talked, and loved. So my favorite is the family.
Dee was given permission by Bonanza Ventures to share this image of the Cartwrights.
DLL: I totally get that, and it shows in your writing.Can you share a favorite scene from one of your stories?
BONANZA was on for 14 seasons. “The Way Home” is set in what I call Season 15. In this scene, Joe has been missing for two years and doesn’t remember that his brother Hoss is dead. Jamie is the youngest Cartwright son who was adopted in Season 13. Griff is the ranch hand who joined the cast at the beginning of Season 14. Billy is an original character of mine introduced in my first story, “My Father’s Heartbeat.”
The door was ajar, but Ben knocked lightly on it anyway out of habit. When there was no answer he pushed it open with his fingertips, but remained standing in the threshold, uncertain about entering. He didn’t know how his son felt about yesterday’s events. It was obvious when Joe drove into the yard with Griff that he knew he had been followed. He had shaken off offers of assistance when he climbed awkwardly out of the buggy, walked somewhat tipsily into the house, and went straight to his room slamming the door, not speaking to anyone. When Ben had checked on him later, he was sleeping with his deaf ear out, a trick he had begun using to avoid conversation. Griff was close-mouthed about why they were delayed.
It was only this morning when Ben was going through the portfolio and saw the Army contracts that he realized Joe must have seen them also. The title after Griff’s name must have been a shock to Joe, but the word “manager” had many meanings and could be changed with no real harm to either man. Ben was more concerned with the title after Billy’s name because he knew that “trainer” held more significance for Joe. No one trained his horses but him—no one.
Joe didn’t hear Ben’s steps in the hallway or the door creak as it opened, but he could feel his Pa’s presence all the same. Doc Martin was right in that his other senses were beginning to compensate for the hearing loss. Jamie had told him about a nitro explosion that left him blinded although he had been lucky and had regained his sight as predicted. The Doc had offered no such assurances this time. No, this time the hearing loss was likely permanent as was the vertigo.
Pa’s been smoking again. Joe knew his Pa had given up his pipe after a severe case of influenza last winter—last winter?—but all that must have changed in the time he’d been gone. It was more than the smell of pipe tobacco which filtered into the room when his Pa entered and sat down on the edge of the bed. It was The Look Joe felt boring into his back. He’s worried.
“I’m all right,” he sighed, not moving from the window.
“Well,” Ben said, “at least you’re not ‘fine.’”
Joe’s eyes flashed as he snapped his head around towards his father, ready to retort, but seeing the smile on Ben’s face, he held his tongue.
Ben could see what that quick movement cost Joe . . . the way he gripped the window frame to steady himself, the beads of sweat that broke out on his brow and lip. He could sense when the wave of nausea slammed into his son. It even appeared as though Joe had stopped breathing for a moment when he closed his eyes against the dizziness.
“Look at me son,” Ben said quietly.
Joe’s eyes opened and—exhaling slowly—he focused on his father’s face. Ben wanted so badly to put his hand around Joe’s neck and pull him close as he used to do, but Joe was keeping him at arm’s length both figuratively and literally.
“Talk to me, Joe. I know you’re angry with me, but we need to talk it out.”
When there was no response, Ben changed tactics.
“Tell me what it’s like.”
“What?”
“These attacks. What do they feel like? What happens to you?”
“What happens?”
“I want to know what you’re going through. Help me to understand, son.”
Joe sighed and stared out the window again. He remained that way for a long time. So long that Ben had almost decided to leave the room when Joe began to speak hesitantly as he struggled to put into words what he experienced.
“It’s . . . like being drunk only worse. Instead of the room spinning, I’m the one spinning. I have trouble hearing, my eyes go haywire, my head weighs a thousand pounds and I can’t hold it up. I sweat, throw up, and then want to sleep for a long time. When I wake, I feel like I was rode hard and put away wet. And I know it will happen again. And I know I’m powerless to stop it. But the worst part,” Joe paused. “The worst part is being treated like . . . like Little Joe.” He turned to look at his father accusingly, “like a child.”
Ben swallowed hard and met his son’s gaze. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Joe. You’ve no one to blame but me. I’m responsible for the way you’ve been treated. I’m the one that kept Jamie and the others away from you—to keep you from learning too much, too soon.”
The raw emotion that passed between father and son crackled like heat lightning. Joe was the first to discharge the static electricity with a simple question that had no simple answer.
“Why?”
A hundred responses went through Ben’s mind in as many seconds, each one rejected summarily. In the final analysis there was only one response required—the truth.
“Fear.”
The word echoed in Joe’s head becoming louder with each ping. Fear. Joe had felt fear many times, but not his father. Not Pa. No matter how old the son is, a father isn’t allowed to be afraid. Fathers are pillars of strength, but even as he thought, My Pa’s not afraid of anything . . . he’s the bravest man in the whole world! He realized it was a child’s voice he was hearing, not a man’s. And a part of him—suddenly a very large part of him—wanted to be a child again.
Instead, he lowered himself into the chair by the window and said simply, “Explain.”
It was Ben’s turn to rise from the bed and look out the window, but there was no joy in his stance.
Joe’s insides clenched. He had a very bad feeling and it wasn’t the vertigo.
“Pa . . .”
“Hush, Joseph. You asked for an explanation. I’m trying to give you one.” Ben turned and sat on the windowsill, his hands gripping the woodwork. He took his time, weighing his words carefully.
“A child is God’s greatest gift. A parent’s responsibility is to see to it that that child becomes a happy, responsible adult, a productive member of society, socially conscious, a caretaker of the environment, and lives a long and fruitful life. When a child becomes more than a parent ever dreamed possible . . . well, that’s a parent’s gift to God.
“From the moment each of you were born—you, Adam, and Hoss, I’ve sheltered, nurtured, cared for you as best as I could. I realize at times I was perhaps overzealous in that duty of care. I’m not proud of that, but it is instinct . . . a parent’s nature to want to protect their children from disappointment; to absorb as much pain and hurt as possible. That a child will experience those things anyway is a part of growing up, I know. But the desire to protect never goes away, even when that child becomes a man.”
“Pa,” Joe began. Ben raised a hand to silence him.
“One constant fear a parent has is that they won’t be there when their children need them; to help them when they stumble, to see them grow up and flourish. But the greatest fear every parent lives with is that they will outlive their children and not be able to fulfill that promise to God.
“Pa, I’m so sorry you thought I was dead. I don’t know—”
“Joe—”
“—where I was. I would have come home if—”
“Joseph—”
“—I could have.”
Ben leaned forward and placed his hands on Joe’s knees. “Son, I never believed you were dead. Roy, Paul, everyone tried to reason with me, but I never felt it in here,” Ben poked his chest. “What they were telling me made sense in my head, but not in my heart.”
“Then . . . I don’t understand . . . what are you talking about?”
“About the information I kept from you. I’ve been trying to shelter you, protect you from learning things that would hurt. I wanted to save you from the pain—” Ben’s eyes began to fill with tears.
“Pa, I’ll get over this vertigo—”
“Joseph—”
“—or I’ll learn to live with it like the doc says. You don’t hav . . . you don’t have to—”
Tears were now streaming down his Pa’s face and Joe was beginning to panic.
“—what? What is it I don’t know? What is it you have to tell me?”
“Joseph,” Ben said, placing his hands on his son’s shoulders. “Hoss is dead.”
For a long moment Joe thought it was his ear that had deceived him again; thought he had misheard. Dead? No. Hoss is on vacation. He’s just takin’ his sweet time coming home, getting even with me for being late. But his father’s anguish was genuine. He gripped Ben’s forearms to steady himself and held on, searching the face he knew so well for a sign . . . any sign that this was all a mistake.
“I am so sorry, Joe. I would give anything . . . my life . . . if you didn’t have to go through this again.”
Again? What do you mean again? “When?” he croaked. “How?”
“Nearly four years ago. An accident. He was . . .” Ben’s voice droned on, but Joe didn’t hear. All that echoed in his head was four years . . . four years . . . four years. He’d only been gone two years, they told him. I’ve lost four years?
Joe stood suddenly, gulping for air. He had to get out of the house. He ran down the stairs, out the front door, and vaulted onto the nearest horse. There was only one place on earth he wanted to be.
The ride to the lake was a blur. By the time Joe arrived his head was exploding with kaleidoscopic visions. He fell rather than dismounted and promptly rolled to his side to empty his stomach. Spent, he crawled on hands and knees to the moss-covered mound where his mother was buried and then he saw it. No! Next to her was Hoss’s grave, the blooms of a climbing rose entwining both headstones. As his fingers traced each letter of his brother’s name one by one, Joe’s heart fractured bit by bit until there was nothing left. Bereft beyond comprehension, he fell unconscious to the ground.
DLL:Thank you so much, Dee, for giving us an exclusive look at one of your stories! What a gut-wrenching scene ending, and beautifully done.
If a writer wanted to try their hand at fanfiction, where would you advise them to start? What skills are needed, and how would they find where to submit their work?
DB: Start with a show where you know the episodes and characters in and out. It could be any show from any era. My website, womenwritersblock.net, has over 2,400 stories in 52 different fandoms. I welcome new authors/fandoms, so contact me at wwbarchivist@gmail.com if you are interested.
Start simply, perhaps with a scene that you feel was missing from an episode. Or write a sequel to the episode—a what happened next, or instead.
DLL: Perfect! Thank you, Dee.And what a wealth of stories to access for free on your fantastic website.
From the perspective of someone involved in the fanfic genre, can you share your thoughts on the copyright controversy mentioned in the introduction? What are your thoughts on fair use and derivative works?
DB: Bonanza Ventures, Inc., the copyright holder for all things BONANZA, has granted Bonanza Brand a license, and we strictly follow the guidelines for the use of the names and images of BONANZA characters.
Fanfic has been around for centuries. Consider the oral and written retellings of the Greek Myths. Jane Austen and Charles Dickens had their share of fanfic writers. Yes, there are authors who have specifically forbidden fanfiction of their work, but there are many more who have embraced it. I would be more concerned about plagiarism.
DLL: That sums up well what I’ve been researching on this fascinating topic. Thank you.
In case you’re curious about the actual copyright language, Dee provided it for us:
The names and likenesses of the characters appearing in BONANZA photoplays, and any images and pictures from such photoplays, are collectively copyrighted and trademark-protected property of Bonanza Ventures and NBC Universal, Inc. (as successor in interest to the National Broadcasting Company, Inc.), and are made available only for private, non-commercial use.
Can you describe the BONANZA fanfic community and how dedicated the writers are to the brand’s integrity? I know the readers are dedicated as well. Can you give us an idea of the volume of readers visiting the Bonanza Brand info site and how they engage with the community beyond just reading the stories?
DB: Our community forum for all things BONANZA is bonanzabrand.info. Included are subforums dedicated to each character as well as each actor, episode discussions, games, puzzles, and more. There is also a subforum, The Virginia City Literary Society (VCLS), for writers, which offers writing challenges, workshops, discussions on the writing life, and research, plus an area for works in progress (WIPS) where a writer can get feedback and encouragement.
Our library site isBonanzabrand.info/library, and it requires a separate registration, but you can use the same password.
At Brand, our desire is to maintain a high-quality library where fans can enjoy a wide variety of stories. Readers come to explore stories about the Cartwrights, their family and friends, and the supporting characters who have come and gone in their lives. Readers do enjoy original characters as well as characters from other fandoms and how they interact with the Cartwrights; however, these characters shouldn’t push the Cartwrights to the periphery or out of the story.
We currently have over 4,350 stories in the library. Since BONANZA has a worldwide fan base, we have an app on the site that will translate a story into any language listed.
Stories are often based on episodes (431 of them!) and are identified in the summary, e.g.: WHN (what happened next); WHI (what happened instead); WHB (what happened before); WHIB) what happened in between scenes; AU (alternative universe—e.g., a Cartwright marries); or Crossover (between, say, BONANZA and The Big Valley). Many are completely original and true to canon.
Our guidelines are designed to provide writers with the opportunity to share their passion for the Cartwrights and the other characters created by David Dortort’s vision. Stories that are not consistent with this aim (e.g., slash, smut, sex with minors) are not tolerated and will be removed.
You asked about traffic. We get over a million hits a year, but of course, a lot of those hits are bots. Our stats for most viewed stories for the period January 1 – August 13, 2025, are 57,814 from the following countries: the US, the UK, Germany, Canada, France, Australia, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Thailand.
DLL: This is amazing! I love that readers around the globe can enjoy the stories in their own language and find stories inspired by their favorite episodes.
What is the longest story you’ve written, and what is the shortest? What’s your best advice on writing short stories?
DB: My shortest story in the library is “Alone” at 505 words.
My longest single story told in three parts is The Choices Trilogy (“Choices,” “Shadows,” and “Hunger”), totalling 47,500 words. “The Way Home” came in at 30,935. “Deception” at 18,437 and “One Candle” at 16,000.
Otherwise, I pretty much write in the 3,000 to 10,000 range. Truthfully, I don’t worry about word count unless it’s for a Drabble where the number of words is exact (a great editing exercise!). I write until the story is done, and then I edit the hell out of it. If it’s been said, don’t belabor the point. Make each word count. Get in; get out; be brief; be gone. And PROOFREAD!!!
My biggest bugaboo as an editor and beta reader is repetitive phrases (especially in the same paragraph). Use a thesaurus!
DLL: Great advice. Thanks!
Through your many organizations, writing, legal profession, radio, cinema, quilting, etc., you’re often called upon as a guest speaker. What are your favorite themes to share with your audiences across all subjects? What are your favorite themes when speaking about writing?
DB: Golly! You do ask tough questions, Darci! What it boils down to is that I am not a passive member of any organization with which I am involved. Active participation, purpose, commitment. Don’t be a seat warmer. Make a difference. At my writing workshops, I stress canon and being true to the characters created by David Dortort.
DLL: Thanks for rising to the challenge of satisfying my voracious curiosity. And, again, great advice.
Prior to your very busy retirement, you were busy raising a son, working as a legal support professional for top law firms, and an active member of NALS, the National Association for Legal Support Professionals, even serving as its national president. NALS is how you and I met. How did you fit your creative life into such an active schedule? What role did writing play in those earlier years?
DB: Creativity is like water to me. I have to have it to live, and I’ll cross deserts to find it. It’s what makes life worth living. When I was a Cub Scout den leader, every meeting was an opportunity to use my theater skills in interpreting the monthly theme, e.g., taking old sheets and stamping them with sponges dipped in paint to create castle walls and have the boys write a play about King Arthur. Or building a dogsled to “run” in the Iditarod, introducing Robert Service (“The Cremation of Sam McGee”) to the boys, and having them write and recite a poem about life on the Klondike and or building a doll house (I told them it was a ranch house. Shh!) and asking them to write a skit about living in the Old West.
I made a lot of quilts for the NALS Foundation for fundraising purposes… not much writing there! Now I donate Zentangle pieces to the Foundation’s auction.
DLL: I’m sure those Cub Scouts still hold those memories. They got to benefit from you crossing deserts. What great experiences! And what lucky auction participants.
One of the reasons we relate to each other so well is that we’re multicrafters who relish learning new things each new decade of life. We’ve shared many of our interests at conventions, classes, and retreats. Zentangle, for instance, with Audrey Markowitz, CZT. You’ve since been certified as a Zentangle teacher.
We’ve been roommates at NALS conventions. We had a NALS night out for National Law Day with the Carson City Cinema Club. As a member, you organized the event, and we enjoyed the best classic film ever, To Kill a Mockingbird. You’re still involved with the local NALS chapter, sharing your professional knowledge.
Most recently, we were roomies at the Virginia City Writing Retreat, where we enjoyed the truly inspirational setting at St. Mary’s Art Center (once a Victorian hospital), which featured in one of your stories.
You primed our participation by sharing one of your excellent writing presentations, featuring Dan Harmon’s Plot Circle.
I’m so happy we’ve been able to enjoy all these activities together over the years, plus so many lunches and meetups where we talk for hours about our love of art and writing. But I’m noticing a pattern as I reflect on our time together. Not only do you enjoy learning new things, but you also love sharing them with others through mentoring and teaching. You were the first person I turned to when I started writing and were instrumental in my progression.
Can you share your journey in exploring your diverse interests and more about what motivates your passion to create and then teach what you know?
DB: I am not ashamed to say that I’ve failed at something because you learn more from your failures than your successes. I also share what works for me and offer others a different way of looking at something, and hope something works for them. Perspective and alternatives.
A favorite book as a child was The Little Engine That Could. “I think I can, I think I can…I knew I could, I knew I could. I remember playing schoolhouse as a child and finding out that the best way to learn something was to teach it to someone else. For example, when I learned multiplication, I taught the younger kids in the neighborhood the principles to help me internalize it. What became clear when I began leading seminars and teaching classes is that everyone learns differently, so you need to present the same material in four different ways: for the auditory learner, the visual learner, the reading/writing learner, and the kinesthetic learner.
I have a curious and inquisitive nature and love learning and trying new things. Some stick, others don’t. I no longer build dollhouses, but I want to learn woodburning, and I recently acquired an engraving pen…so I’m looking forward to pursuing both in a spare moment or two. Ha!
I began quilting in earnest in the 80s and have more fabric than I’ll ever be able to use. What I love about that craft is the variety of tasks involved. I can piece blocks or assemble them into a top, quilt it or bind it, or sit at the computer and design a new one using EQ8—whatever suits my mood. The result is that I have many quilts in various stages of completion. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
After I took a beginner Zentangle class with Audrey Markowitz, CZT, and became certified, I taught for a while at locations in Carson City and Dayton, both of which closed during COVID, so now I share my Zentangle knowledge with my “Dayton Divas,” and continue to take classes myself online or with other CZTs. The Zen in Zentangle is the meditative part. When I’m stuck on a story, I’ll create a tile focusing on one stroke at a time. Solutions to plots often appear out of thin air when I’m chilled out (or when I’m in the shower…but that’s another story.)
I took these photos when I joined Dee and the Dayton Divas for a Zentangle afternoon.
DLL: I should have guessed you were a mentor from an early age. 😄A great insight into how one creativity flows into another, resulting in multiple life-affirming benefits. You nailed the multicrafter’s character. I, for one, can’t have too many unfinished projects. You never know when the mood will strike to work on a particular one. And yes, those mindful activities work on the subconscious level to get ideas flowing. I recommend it!
As a retiree with a stacked calendar, how do you manage your time and commitments? Can you share your best tips and techniques for staying organized?
DB: Although it goes against my grain as a people pleaser, I have learned to say “no” and developed a personal motto/mantra: “Don’t promise what you can’t deliver and deliver more than you promise.”
Calling on my theatrical background, I mark my calendar entering the due date (opening night) first and work backwards, leaving time during the week prior to the due date for last minute changes or adjustments (dress rehearsal, tech rehearsal), the week or two before that for planning and acquiring of materials to complete the project (table read, scene work, blocking, run throughs, etc.).
If facing a same-day deadline, I still work backward: 5 p.m. (court closes); 4:30 p.m. (filing with court); 4 p.m. (copies made); 3 p.m.( messenger arranged, service envelopes prepared); 2:30 p.m. (remind attorney of deadline); 1:30 p.m.( ensure exhibits are in the correct order); 12 p.m.
(remind attorney of deadline); 10 a.m. (obtain filing fee check from accounting); 9 a.m. (remind attorney of filing). Obviously, I’m being facetious here, but the important thing to do is to lay out the push points, allow time for something to go wrong because it will, and have a backup or an alternative plan in mind.
I set aside one day of the week for me. No commitments. I usually mark my calendar as “studio” time. The point is, “ME” time is just as important as all the other demands.
DLL: Ooh, I love this theatrical-inspired method! All you planner fanatics (like me), take note. And wow, so many people I know, including me, struggle with saying no. I can see the necessity with all your commitments and your credo.
You’re an avid traveler. Can you share how travel fits in with your creative life?
DB: I love to travel, and I love road trips. I am also an inveterate cruiser. Experiencing new worlds and meeting people from different walks of life and cultures is an important part of that, but I also go on quilting cruises where I can indulge a passion AND meet new people AND see new places. I taught Zentangle to some shipmates on my 17-day Hawaii quilting cruise in January 2025. One of the ladies was 82!
During my circumnavigation of Australia last fall, BONANZA was a frequent topic. It started during introductions around the dining table (a different table every meal). No one had heard of Dayton, Nevada, so I usually just said “I live in Carson City… the Nevada state capital…” When I continued to be met with blank stares, I would add, “Cartwright Country,” and everyone would exclaim, “Bonanza! We love that show.” It didn’t matter what country they were from; they all knew the show.
The beauty of a ship is that you can do as much or as little as you want. I usually had a full schedule on sea days, attending cultural lectures and special programs about the ports coming up, the piano bar, the arts and crafts room, library, jigsaw puzzles, reading by the pool, writing, scholarly conversations in the art gallery, and silliness in the lounges.
DLL: I adore this!More proof of how one passion connects to others, often in surprising ways, enriching our lives.
In addition to all the crafts previously mentioned, you’re listed on your very own IMDb page as the writer, director, and producer for The Feud (2025), the Radio Story Hour (2023), and Secrets of Harridge House (Audio Drama) (2020). I think of it as an extension of your writing craft, but can you share how you got involved in local radio and what you love about it? The same for your involvement with the local cinema club.
DB: I joined the Carson City Classic Cinema Club when I first moved to Nevada as a way to meet people and create ties with the community. At the first open board meeting, I volunteered for something and was soon appointed to fill a vacancy on the board. From there, I became an officer and then started a monthly newsletter—the C5 NewsReel, which features information about the classic films being presented. Soon after, I joined Rhonda Abend and Jeff Fast, the hosts of a weekly radio show on KNVC 95.1 dedicated to classic cinema. Through those connections, I met Scott Young.
During the pandemic, when live theater went dark, many producers turned to audio as a way to keep actors, writers, and directors working… and to prevent their spouses and significant others from committing murderous acts. Advances in remote recording technology meant productions could be created safely from anywhere in the world, without cast or crew ever having to be in the same room. I was approached by Scott, Supervising Producer of the gothic horror drama Secrets of Harridge House (airing on KNVC 95.1 FM and as a podcast), to try my hand at the Season 2 opener. My first attempt was a disaster. Writing for audio is nothing like writing narrative fiction. Instead of painting scenes with all five senses, you have to rely entirely on dialogue, music, and sound effects. Scott saw potential and gave me another shot. That second script made it to production, and over the next two years, I wrote 10 episodes across Seasons 2 and 3, also serving (uncredited) as the co-writer of both season Bibles. I eventually became Supervising Producer for Season 3 alongside Cody Lindenberger, helping to shape the show’s long-range story and ultimate conclusion.
When Scott launched Radio Story Hour, I joined as a staff producer, adapting and directing two Edgar Allan Poe stories (airdates pending). I also worked with him as a Consulting Producer on the first season of “Murphy’s, Inc.,” helping select the writing team and guide them through story development. It was a joy to mentor emerging talents Austin Dai and Terra Eon, whose strong work allowed them to run the writing of the series entirely during its first season. They later opted to bring in new writers to collaborate with them for Season 2.
One second chance opened the door to all of it, and I’m grateful I walked through.
DLL: I’ve always admired how things worked out for you so quickly after retiring and moving your life to Northern Nevada. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful example of taking a leap of faith into opportunity at any stage of life.
Now, this might be a tough question, but what is your favorite among all your pursuits? Which one is the most mindful and relaxing?
DB: They all have their place and time, and a season to every purpose.
DLL: Well said.
Thank you so much for visiting today, Dee! Do you have any parting words of advice for those who have many passions they want to pursue but struggle to find the time?
DB: Make time, even if it’s 5 minutes a day. You’d be surprised how those minutes add up and what you can accomplish.
Cartwright Country
Since I share a love of Northern Nevada and its history with Dee, I’m leaving you all with a stroll through our high desert and mountain neighborhoods.
There’s also the colorfully named Bucket of Blood, photo courtesy https://www.nvexpeditions.com/storey/virginiacity.php, and so many more. Check out this great body of photos of the silver mining commerce of yesterday still thriving today, thanks to the tourists, who visit in droves from 1.2 to 2 million a year.
If you’re sensitive to paranormal activity, watch closely while traversing those wooden sidewalks. You might see a figure looking out a window from the boarded up upper floors.
For years, my husband and I brought all our visitors to Virginia City, partaking in the mine tour, the wild west show, and riding the awesome steam locomotive. There are many ways to experience the Old West in this remarkable town.
Soon after my husband and I moved to Nevada, we visited the Ponderosa Ranch at Incline Village, and thank goodness we did. Sadly, the family-owned theme park closed in 2004 due to selling the property to a land developer, but it was a popular destination for world travelers visiting Lake Tahoe for many years. The world still loves BONANZA as Dee attests to with the volume of visitors to the Brand’s info site.
This map is on permanent display at the Autry National Center in Los Angeles. Assuming that north is supposed to be up, the map was drawn incorrectly. When Ayres showed the map to series creator David Dortort he said “I love it, but your directions are wrong.” Ayres fixed this by adding a compass with north pointing to the left and up. If only all cartographic problems could be solved this way.
Isn’t it fantastic? It was used in the opening credits, burning away as the Cartwrights rode in on their horses. Enjoy watching the YouTube video below.
I live smack in the middle of it, New Washoe City, which is adjacent to Washoe Lake State Park, situated above the fictional Ponderosa Ranch territory. It’s been a marvelous place to call home for the last 30 years, with its paradisiac views and close neighbors.
Dee lives just about straight up (according its creative direction) from the middle of Carson City at the right of what I think is supposed to be the Carson river.
This map from Wikipedia provides an accurate orientation.
Old Washoe City, Nevada, was founded in 1860 as a supply town for the nearby Comstock Lode mines, particularly Virginia City. It thrived initially due to its location near Washoe Lake, which provided ample water power for lumber and ore processing mills, and its role as a major freight hub. However, the town’s prosperity was relatively short-lived. The completion of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad in 1869, which bypassed Washoe City, and the shift of milling operations closer to the mines, led to its decline. By 1880, the population had dwindled to about 200, and Washoe City eventually became a ghost town.
Eight years ago, the modest community with thriving Highway 395-accessible businesses was hit again when the final extension of I-580 bypassed it. History repeating itself.
Still, the old 395 highway pulls in visitors to places like the Chocolate Nugget Candy Factory, the historic Bowers Mansion, and other draws such as nature exploration, hiking the Ophir Creek Trail, which connects Davis Creek Regional Park to the Tahoe Rim Trail at Tahoe Meadows.
Check out “Where I Live” for some amazing photos, which I’ve taken over the years, of the valley, lake, and views from my home, and other nearby historic western treasures located throughout the northern Sierra Nevada Mountain range.
Thank you so much for visiting. Comments are welcome!
A while back, I shared this little bookshop in Belgium where I’ve since sold a few paperbacks to European readers. Yes!
Author and creator of the shop, Chantal Agapiti, has been sharing “get to know the author” Q&As with her participating authors.
Check out our chat for brief glimpses into my writer’s life, including meeting my furbabies (aka writing buddies). And while you’re there, have fun exploring The Dreamer’s Bookshop for great books by indie authors and lots of fun bookish extras. Chantal offers a unique local shopping experience as well if you happen to visit Belgium.
By D. L. Lewellyn 