How could anyone defend this decision?

And they think, America is broken...

"I'd not soften Things that cut, and burn so often. Scared to face that I ain't nothing." --Alice In Chains

"I'm in hiding. Just leave me be. This is the first step to my date with Poverty." --Metal Church

Studying this copy editing database of freelancers and other sites as I'm about to write the Hire Me section of Calliope Nerve.

I'm not waiting for the future. I'm making it.

Studying this book on anxiety:



Amazing that kids from my generation (grew up in the 80's) on average registered more anxiety on tests (then) than nearly all of adults in the 50's (the Nuclear Family.)

This world spins so fast.

But someday, it will all....

Stop.

Author David Blaine is the second writer in Calliope Nerve's ongoing Interview Series.



David, tells us about your new book Antisocial.

This is my third chap, but the first one I haven't self published. I found that my recent work could be centered loosely on the theme of Antisocial, so the title was easy enough. But the title doesn't mean that I'm necessarily antisocial. The poems speak about things that are antisocial in nature, like war, corporate greed, dirty politics, corupt religion and so on. Things we aren't supposed to talk about in polite conversations. That fact is itself an example of the antisocial nature of the collection.

Besides, being a successful writer, you are also a successful businessman. What type of business ventures are you involved in?

My wife and I own a True Value hardware store and lumber yard, but the success there is hers. Judy had over twenty years experience working at another hardware before we bought our store about eleven years ago. Four years ago, sensing a good time to get out of the car business, I joined her. Our four children also work with us there, and we will be opening a laundromat across the street from the hardware in just a couple of weeks.

Why do you write? Do you have any particular goals in regards to your writing?

I've always loved to read and write, since about the third grade anyway. I had an English teacher in junior high who told me I wrote well and I should keep it up. I seldom received encouragement to persue anything I actually enjoyed, so that was all the impetus I needed. My goal is to connect to a reader on a personal level. Once someone e-mailed me to say that until she read one of my poems, "Not Love," she never knew anyone felt the same way she did. That meant a lot to me.

What does being an 'underground' poet mean? Do you consider yourself underground?

Maybe if I were more paranoid I'd go "underground." I've never felt that way as a writer. I don't think "the man" wants to silence me. We've come a long way since DA Levy. I've always felt like an outsider, but that has nothing to do with Outsider Writers. It has to do with moving countless times as a kid and starting fifth grade in school number six. It comes from not being able to speak my mind because my views run counter to the majority of my fellow Americans. In Connie Stadler's review she says, "you get wonderful wit laden bites that must be read a second or third time or the rich profundity/in-your-face irony will surely be missed." That's a very astute observation, and it's quite intentional. Sometimes you just need to tell someone to go screw themselves or you feel like you're going to come unhinged. But you can't say such things, so you write a poem telling them to metaphoricaly go screw themselves. Mix in a bit of humor and they'll even tell you they like it.

Where does you voice come from? Influences?

I've read widely but not too deeply. Except Sandburg. I've gone deep on him, his bios, his poems of course, his prose, his letters. Ferlinghetti, a kind teacher introduced me to his poems a long time ago and I realized that contemporary verse didn't need to sound like Frost or Dickinson.

How do you approach a write? Believe in writer's block?

Well, my brother will tell you I can write a great poem in four minutes, but he doesn't understand that everything that went into that poem came from a well of experiences that runs years deep. I'm fifty four for Chrisake. So when I don't seem to have anything coming, I never worry. I just figure I'm in the absorbing stage. When I'm saturated a poem will come out. And as you get more poems written you tend to raise your own bar. I probably shit can a lot of stuff I'd of kept years ago. I also look backwards and see what I've done and figure the future will take care of itself. So writer's block? Nah.

Best poem? Why?

I can't narrow it down to just one. I could maybe make a list and say that Monkey Don't is my best political rant, or that Infidelity is my best antisocial statement, or that Self Anointed is my best out-and-out attack on someone, but to say which is best, well, which painting is best, which song?

'Ideal' reader, why?

Someone who is open minded but doesn't usually read poetry. They have no expectations of what a "poem" should be.

Tell us about the Guild of Outside Writers. What is your role there?

The group, now going by the name Outsider Writers Collective, seeks to promote the under exposed writer of any genre. I'm an associate editor, which means I post content at www.outsiderwriters.org, and work on group projects. Last year we sponsored a poetry contest, no entry fee, and published Justin Hyde's book. That just isn't done. A contest is always done at the expense of the entrants. That's the kind of thing we are about though.


Have you won any awards? How much do such accolades matter to you? (I have to be honest, I always wanted to win a Pushcart myself...ha ha.)

I see a lot of people with pushcarts in the cities and I think the grocery store wants them back. That should tell you all you need to know.

How many poems have you written?

Probably less than a thousand, but more than five hundred.

How many books/chaps have you written?

A Fine Feathered Faith was first and is out of print. I sold about sixty copies of that. Then came The View From Here, which David McLean reviewed this year. I still have a few of those. But either are available as an E-book. Anyone really interested should contact me at davidblaine (at) gmail (dot) com.

How did you become so prolific?

I just decide to spend "me time" on the things I feel are important. At one point that meant exercising every day, but now the writing has taken over I guess it's selfishness.

Is it true you leap over building in a single bound? Faster than a speeding bullet? Spin a web anysize? :)

That David Blaine is the younger, better looking illusionist. I'm the allusionist.

What advice do you have for other writers whether new or seasoned?

Never take advice, not even this.

Do you have a mission in life?

To cause people to have an "aha" moment after reading my work, whether prose or poetry. I'm a hopeless liberal I guess because I'd like to think that someday the world will change, that people will care about strangers less fortunate than themselves, will stop hating each other for superficial reasons like geopolitical boundries, oh, don't get me started.

What does the future hold for David Blaine?

My wife and I want to continue to travel as the funds allow. I've got three grandchildren now. I'd like to live long enough to become a bad example to them. Just kidding! I consider myself semi-retired, even when I work over 40 hours a week, because I try to do something I enjoy every day.


See some of David's work by going to the Calliope Nerve Archive Page.

It looks like Calliope got it's first Tweet.

The third book from Calliope Nerve's Literature Arm is available as a free download.

"[+!] is a post-code-poetry experiment, making de-composition into re-composition... art in it's truest sense... a bizarre, compelling, visually stunning, important work. Lysicology may not be a part of your lexicon now but it will be..." --Lucindo Anthony (author A Disease of Poetry)

Kane X. Faucher, Matina Stamatakis, and John Moore Williams bring the collaborative powerhouse that is [+!] to the Calliope slate of books. The very book itself redefines possibility and meaning.

If you haven't caught it yet, Constance Stadler gives an insightful interview over at Orange Alert.

From Muse Thing (The Calliope Nerve Weblog):

Calliope Nerve kicks off our Interview Series with Joanna Penn creator of the successful Author 2.0 program.



What is the Author 2.0 Blueprint/Author 2.0 Program?

The Author 2.0 Blueprint is a free report on how authors can use web 2.0 tools to write, publish, sell and promote their books. It is a downloadable PDF and is packed with information and links to help people get started using these technologies. It includes a model that authors/writers can use to drive traffic and sales from their website as well as examples of authors who use platform building techniques themselves.

The Author 2.0 Program is a 12 module course featuring 9 hours of audio,5 hours of video and over 400 pages of information on these topics.It is a premium "how-to" program for authors who want to put the ideas of the Blueprint into action immediately. It includes how to self-publish on Amazon.com, on the Kindle and in e-book versions, as well as how to build an effective website and blog, podcast, make book videos, use social networking effectively, drive traffic with many different methods and make money with back end products. It shows in detail how to do each of these topics and is a self paced course that can be done over 3 months. There is more information including a behind the scenes video here: http://author2zero.com/signup/

What is it you hope readers take away from Author 2.0?

It is such an exciting time in the publishing industry right now!Technology is changing the marketplace and authors can use these tools to get their work out there themselves. Publishing companies are suffering in the global economic downturn so are publishing fewer books. The books they do publish need to be marketed by the author, so all of these web 2.0 tools are important for self-published and traditionally published authors. I hope readers will be inspired and get at least 2 new ideas they can use to publish or promote their books. If people are just starting to write, then hopefully the Blueprint will encourage them to complete their book and publish it themselves. Technology now is enabling creativity like never before!

Tell us about some of the things you've written. Do you write fiction/poetry/creatively as well?

I have written 3 books so far, all non-fiction. "How to Enjoy Your Job" on career change and finding work your love. "From Idea to Book" for people who want to write their first book; and "From Book to Market" on book marketing and promotion.
http://www.thecreativepenn.com/books/

I have also published poetry and have started writing my first fiction novel. I think we all have so much writing in our lives – here is a post I wrote about my own writing journey. It might encourage others to see how much writing they have done!
http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2009/01/16/my-writing-history-joanna-penn/


What makes you successful? What makes a person successful?

Success must be self-defined I think. I considered my first book a success when I sold my first copy to a stranger through Amazon. I am a goal-setting fiend and every year I review what I have achieved and set goals for the next year. The wonderful thing about writing a book is you can quite clearly see the tangible results of your work, so publishing books can definitely be seen as one measure of success.

A book I reread constantly is Jack Canfield's "Success Principles" so people could read that if they want a great study on how to be successful in all fields of life.

Do you earn a full time living from your writing and related work? What tips do you have for aspiring authors so they can "live their dream?"

I don't earn a full time living from writing (yet!) I am a business consultant contracting to corporate at the moment. The good thing is that I work the days I want so I can schedule writing and speaking commitments as well. I won't give up the day job while it pays the bills and also stretches another side of me that I enjoy.

I think "living the dream" is questionable unless you want to be a freelance writer and essentially write what others want you to write. That is the main way to make a full time living writing. Here's a podcast by a ghostwriter who makes 6 figures this way and he offers lots of tips for people who want this life.
http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2009/08/01/podcast-grant-mcduling-business-of-selling-words/

I like to write what I want to write about. It is my creativity and not my main income! I love to blog and also to write creatively. I make some money from sales of books and Author 2.0 but certainly not full time!

Do you feel you have a mission in life? How do you feel about Spirituality?

I am definitely a spiritual person, but not specifically religious. I have a degree in Theology and have studied many religions. I have had spiritual experience and want to write a book on "Spiritual Places" one day. In terms of a mission in life, I get a lot of joy in helping others find their creativity and I would like to inspire 1 million books – in that, I want to help 1 million people release their creativity and create when they thought they couldn't. It is a corporate trap that people can't be in business and a day job and be creative. I want to help people break out of that.

Do you have any hobbies?

I read a lot. My blog is a hobby and I spend a lot of time on that. I also love scuba diving and traveling.

What other careers have you had? What was the worst job you have had?

I have been a business IT consultant since I left University 12 years ago. I have worked in Europe, Australia and New Zealand for large and small companies. There have been ups and downs like many other people have in their jobs.

The worst job I have had has been the cubicle employee who hates her work and is just miserable (hence my first book). Being a contractor is much better because of the control you have over your time, even though you have less stability.

What's on your recommended reading list? (books, magazines, websites, etc)

Definitely Jack Canfield as above. Also Tim Ferris's blog and book The Four Hour Work Week http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/

I read a lot of blogs in the publishing industry – too many to list here!

How do you "network" to make contacts?

I mainly use Twitter now as it is so fabulous for connecting with people. I tweet a lot http://twitter.com/thecreativepenn and then start emailing with people. I find people for my podcasts on Twitter and build relationships that way. I do also go to networking events in Brisbane, but obviously that is so physically located, whereas Twitter is global.

What advice do you have for people who have a "fear" of failure? Have you ever failed?

Fear of failure stops many people from following their dreams and my biggest advice has to be just to get on with it any way. I have "failed" in many areas, but I try to see it as a way to learn and then move on with those lessons for the next adventure. I look forward, not back! Life is exciting and if you are not failing, you are not trying hard enough!

What skills does a person need to learn to accomplish the kinds of things you have?

Willingness to do it themselves if people say it can't be done – this is why I self published my first book. I didn't like the negative energy of being rejected. I LOVE the positive energy of selling and promoting my books and getting positive responses from people.

Put the hours in. I do work hard. I spend hours on my blog every week. I don't have a TV which gives me extra hours to read, write, learn and create.

Love of change. My words are freedom and change, so I love the fact that the publishing industry is opening up to technologies and authors have opportunities now. We have the freedom to express so let's do it!

What's next for Joanna Penn?

I'm writing my first fiction novel. I want to be the No 1 writing blog in Australia and also help more authors with Author 2.0. I am planning some travel adventures next year so I will be writing about those too. I also want to expand on my speaking career – either on teleconferences or live events.

"It's beyond me, help me, Mommy." --Rocky Horror Picture Show

Google's Engineering Director Shares Google's Vision for the Future Books to be stored in Google “cloud,” so any bookstore can sell a “Google edition.”