Meet Christopher John Scruton of Anarchy Brothers Press

Christopher John Scruton is the owner and operator of Anarchy Brothers Press, an independent comic book publisher and digital store. Passionate about writing from the age of nine, he had a rough upbringing and often turned to comic books as a refuge away from the horror around him. He was born with a learning disorder, and in elementary school, a teacher sexually molested him. That teacher never served any time in prison, and as a result, Christopher has been distrustful of authority figures throughout his life.

In high school, Christopher was a victim of bullying, called names like "faggot" by his peers and "lost cause" by his teachers. Shy and soft-spoken, he kept his head down until graduation, at which point he matriculated into the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in order to study computer animation. There, he honed his skills as an artist and expanded his mind by experimenting with substances such as marijuana and LSD.

Outside of comic books, Christopher is interested in punk music and tattoos.

1. When you were a kid, what drew you to writing as an art form?

I don't remember when what drew me to writing. All I remember is when there was computer in front of me, I began to write. I haven't stopped writing and have no plans to stop writing. If there is a day when I stopped writing, it would be the day I ran out of stories.

2. How did you decide to start writing comic books?

I started writing books. Nothing got published, but I think over time I kind of lost passion on writing books. I always loved reading comics, and I still remember every comic I read. So one day I decided: I'm going to write and create my own comics. I still love writing--it is just that I chosen a different medium.

3. How do you come up with the images for your comics?

The best way to describe this is I am creating a storyboard, and I am the director. I have to know where the camera is and how much lighting the scene needs. Sometimes there are images that don't go into comics and I have to know where I want to take this story.

4. What inspired you to start Anarchy Brothers Press, and how did you choose the name for the project?

When I was writing books, I was rejected by many, many book agencies. I thought there had to be one person out there who liked my work, but the more I got rejected, I kind of felt no one wanted to hear about what I was working on. So I decided that to hell with all the agencies who rejected me--I am going to start my own publishing company. It first started out to be an independent publishing company, and it evolved into a comic book publishing company. The name came from being a punk: I can do things for myself and the love of being that there is no government, but anarchy. Also, I dedicated this company to my brothers who are no blood related, but I feel that they are brothers from another mother.

5. What are you working on currently, and is there anything else you'd like people to know about your work?

Right now I am working on issue number 4 of Dark Web Stories. It is called The Hunters vs The Preys. It is about the story of The Most Dangerous Game but it does have a twist. It is about the rich that are willing to hunt people who are poor and not just kill them, but to bet on them on the internet on who can survives the longest.

My work is kind of dark. I don't like fan fiction, but if there is a movie or video game I played, my mind looks at it and I start to think I can create a story out it and all of it is original. For example, one of my comics, I Have No Use For A Name, is about the apocalypse. There have been many comics and movies about the apocalypse, but these other stories don't take up subjects that no one wants to talk about, like pedophilia.

I always had distrusted people of authority and that shows up a lot in my work. The thing is I don't believe if someone is a cop or the president that means you have to respect them no matter. The thing is you have to earn my respect.

Thanks, Christopher!

Meet Doug Cash, Musician

Doug Cash is a singer, songwriter, musician, producer, and performer. He is the President of Pryor 2 What ? Records, and owner of Pryor 2 What ? Music Publishing. His work is heavily influenced by Sly & the Family Stone, the Beatles, James Brown, Led Zeppelin, Weather Report, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, and Yes. He was raised on big band (Basie, Ellington, Miller, Goodman) and bebop (Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk). In his own words: "I was groovin' with the muse before I could walk."

Listen to samples of Doug Cash's music and learn more about him by visiting http://dougcashmusic.com.

1. How did you first get started playing music?

I was inspired by The Beatles to become a singer songwriter. Namely seeing John Lennon playing "Hide Your Love Away."

2. As someone who has a lot of different musical influences, how have you found your own sound as an artist?

While in high school, I wrote a song called "You Ought to See You." I knew I had reached a new plateau. That's when my sound was born. It took a few years, but I knew it when I heard it. My own voice!

3. What inspired you to start Pryor 2 What? records?

It was all about owning the publishing so I could negotiate with the industry as a label.

4. What projects have you worked on lately that you're most excited about?

I just released my newest compilation, Singer/Songwriter, featuring the singles "Emotional Treason" and "You Wept for Yourself." I've also released a new blues single "Not Waiting."

5. As an artist who has spent many years balancing a "day job" with pursuing your music, how do you keep finding the energy and motivation to produce the work that you love?

Like many musicians, I know what it is to raise a family, while working a full time job, plus producing and recording in the studio, performing on stage, and trying to nail a contract. That was me in my 20s. Many moons ago. I'm now in the fortunate position to be able to focus on my label, write in multiple genres, and pitch to licensing agencies for television, film, games, and commercials.

Thanks, Doug!

Introducing Handshakin.com, a Community for Entrepreneurs

If you're a new entrepreneur, where do you start? How do you find out the useful big and small pieces of information that can help your business grow and succeed? Well, if you're based in Colorado, you're in luck because you can turn to Handshakin.com, an entrepreneurial community that helps new business owners connect with experts and mentors.

The Handshakin site is run by Matt (Handshakin) Holmes. He earned an MBA in 2012 and is the founder of Holmes Real Estate Group, a real estate investment company that, in the words of the bio on his website, "funds his passion for helping startups and entrepreneurs."

By the way, you don't have to be in Colorado to learn from the resources of the Handshakin community. There is a great (and free!) library of videos on their website. These videos feature interviews with successful business owners in Colorado. So far, the videos include people from a variety of industries, from a physician/investor to an artist/entrepreneur.

If you're local to the Denver area, you can join the Startup Denver Meetup to connect in person with other businesspeople. Other local events include mentorship, apprenticeship, and internship programs to help you meet people who have found success as independent business owners.

For business tips every day and to find out about the latest local Handshakin events, you can like the Handshakin Holmes Facebook page.

Introducing Staff Outsourcing, Experts in eCommerce

Do you operate an online-based business and find you've hit a plateau? Maybe you could use help with getting your business tasks done in order to free you up so that you have more time to expand or work on the projects that most interest you?

Many small business owners can't afford to hire permanent employees and/or don't have enough work to keep another employee busy all of the time. Staff Outsourcing is a company that specializes in eCommerce outsourcing. Say you're running an Amazon, eBay, or Etsy business (or maybe--like a lot of independent entrepreneurs I know--you're running all three!). You might need help with tasks such as data entry. Staff Outsourcing offers services for indie businesspeople like you so that you can get more things done and increase the scope/reach of your business.

One of the most popular services for online sellers is product entry outsourcing. This means that Staff Outsourcing will create listings for you on sites like eBay. As you know, it can be very time consuming to enter all the necessary data for your listings--and with recent changes in the eBay spring seller update, item specifics are becoming more and more important to your listings. You can't just put up a couple of photos and call it good; you need to input a lot of details to make your listings sell.

Staff Outsourcing offers other services, too, such as call center support and IT outsourcing. Headquartered in the Philippines and with a US office in Missouri, the company has assembled a group of tech savvy, customer service oriented employees and managers to help small businesses all over the world.

Introducing Yellow Bee Vintage on Etsy

Did you know that I have another blog where I post about online selling on eBay, Etsy, and other platforms? I like featuring indie sellers, especially those who are running a business that clearly has a strong sense of creativity and thought behind it.

Check out my recent post to learn more about Yellow Bee Vintage, an Etsy shop which has a really nicely curated collection of 20th century items like glass, pottery, home decor, clothing, and accessories.

If you're looking for just the right items for a vintage-themed wedding, Yellow Bee Vintage will have something to pique your interest. Nicci, the shop owner, has a knack for finding quality items that really show an attention to detail. Remember the pretty handkerchiefs your grandma had? This is the kind of thing you can find in Nicci's shop.

Yellow Bee Vintage is clearly a labor of love from someone who loves to find and share those items that bring up our collective past. I hope you'll check out the shop!

Meet Truth Devour, Author

Truth Devour writes: "It is hard to determine precisely what my passions are, given the world presents with so many opportunities. The spaces I like to dabble: writing, reading, traveling, photography, painting, drawing, poetry, music--basically anything that gets my creative juices flowing and supports the mood I am feeling compelled to express. I embrace as many creative variants as time allows to willfully drink from the experiences that assist in coloring the pages of the books I choose to write and you choose to read."

Listen to Truth read the first chapter of her novel, Wantin, in the video below. Wantin is the first book in Truth's Enigma series.

1. What first inspired you to start writing your Enigma series?

I had already written eight novels which to date have remained unpublished. In a turn of chance, I was presented with an awakening to the realities of my life's expiration date. It was at this point I decided to re-evaluate my career choices to pursue a path more fulfilling to me. Shifting my career to align with my creative desires was set to present an ultimate impact in all facets of my life. This resulted in me creating the Adult Contemporary Romantic Trilogy I have titled the Enigma series. I felt it was important to create something that was more than just a love story. It is a compelling life story.

2. How would you describe your protagonist, Talia Jacobs?

The self-publishing review group made the statement: Talia is the type of person everyone wishes they knew but very few get to meet.

She is her own person. A clandestine individual who sees the world through her own unique style of assessment and understanding. She internalizes an immense amount and trusts few. Life has consistently reminded her that she is responsible for herself and that she must be accountable and responsible for her choices.

There is a balance of strength and weakness in her that is depicted throughout the series. She admits to her mistakes and attempts to right her wrongs where possible. Talia has a natural ability to evoke strong connections with all who cross her path.

3. What are some of the challenges involved in writing romantic fiction?

To me this series is far more than just romantic fiction, and so I never personally felt there were any challenges. In saying this, I can imagine if I allowed myself to spend time thinking about the concept of romance I might begin to feel that it's all been said and done before, hence stifling my creative flow.

My biggest challenge when in the process of writing is to shield myself from what is out there in the marketplace. I refrain from reading or watching movies to ensure I reduce any outside influence or noise as I see it. Eg: It's hard to write lyrics and music to a song when you are listening to music in the background.

4. Why did you choose to self-publish your books, and what has your publishing experience been like?

I'm not a fan of rules, and when it comes to my creative expression, I really don't want to be told what I can and can't do. It's okay when you are known in the industry and have established followers and a proven demand for your works. I have no doubt those in this position can call the shots, but as a new person in the literary arena, I am less likely to be granted the freedom that self-publishing affords me.

The learning curve for self-publishing and marketing is steep. I really enjoy the challenge of being an advocate for my own work. I'm constantly learning new things about the process.

5. Would you tell us a bit about the project(s) you're currently working on?

I am just in the process of finalizing book one called Illuminarium of the Soliloquy's Labyrinth Series. I am planning to release this at the beginning of May this year. This series will fall under the genre of Adult Contemporary Fantasy / Paranormal with a psychological edge.

NOTE: Truth Devour would like to invite you to participate as a reviewer of her books. Here's some info about her review crew project...

Take the journey with me...

CALL OUT FOR: SUPER REVIEW CREW

Soliloquy's Labyrinth Series

I'd like to put together a team of bookworms who enjoy reading & review contemporary fiction to participate in the assessment of my entire series as it is released. (Est. 5 Series). The Super Review Crew will receive advance notification of upcoming releases which includes things like cover reveals, release dates & a guaranteed spot to be among the first to hold the opportunity to review the E-book for free.

How it works?

Go to www.truthdevour.com.

Join the Super Review Crew mailing list to confirm you would like to participate. All readers selected on the team must be able to download the book via AMAZON USA, as this is where the gift card is issued from. This is an E-Book review.

All participants are asked to post a star rating & review to AMAZON & Goodreads at a minimum. If you are able to Blog, post on social media this is treasured and much appreciated but completely up to you.

I'm looking for open & honest reviews so no opinion will be vetted, squashed or edited by me.  I want you to place your review directly to the sites you are connected with. I will read them there & always be grateful for your participation.

Spread the word to your friends who might be interested, book clubs ~ all are welcome.

Thanks, Truth!

Meet JgTheAnimator, Rap Artist

JgTheAnimator is an independent rap artist. He is 19 years old and has been finding success with his song, #AMSUPERMAN. You can give it a listen on SoundCloud.

1. What gave you the idea to write "Am Superman"?

I thought to myself, people go through a lot of problems daily that affect them, making them feel either weak or useless, so the idea of Am Superman is to encourage people to believe that they're not weak but they're strong.

2. What's your definition of what it means to be Superman?

To be strong, to be able to keep working to achieve and never give up.

3. Why do you think your song has been getting so many plays?

Because it's a song that they've never heard before, just like what the start of the song says. It switches from various ranges of flows and music dimensions and also we (Take Baf) have been putting effort in sharing the song to lots of people, and we've been gathering fans for a long time now.

4. Did you produce the song completely on your own--and what are you currently working on?

Yes I produced the song all by myself. I'm currently working on a new song which might be very controversial...but that's as far as I can say.

5. What else would you like people to know about you?

Don't start listening to me when I'm all over the news--start now.

Thanks, JgTheAnimator!

A Kickstarter to Bring a Fantasy Trilogy to Bookstores Near You

Are you a fan of sci-fi and/or fantasy novels? Want to see more of these books by independent authors make their way into your neighborhood brick and mortar bookstores? Check out the Kickstarter campaign currently being run by author Leeland Artra.

Leeland Artra is the author of the Golden Threads trilogy, and his books have a solid track history with strong sales and reader reviews. The first two books in the series are currently available in e-book and print-on-demand format, and with the Kickstarter funding, the books will be republished in hardback and pocket paperback editions.

As the author writes on his Kickstarter page, the novels "represent twenty years of world building, and thousands of hours of work crafting them for your enjoyment." He's using the money he raises to put the books through an additional editing and proofreading process, and then to get them distributed by Ingram.

The novels are set 20,000 years in the future, and the main characters are a young mercenary woman and a junior wizard. The books are described as an epic journey and have maintained an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with over 600 reviews so far.

Along with undertaking this project to get books one and two of the trilogy into the hands of more readers, Artra is also hard at work on book three, and he says it will be released very soon.

This is an author who has really put the time and effort into his books to develop a following of readers--and this Kickstarter could be just the boost he needs to help his work find an even wider following. If you want to get more of an idea of his work, you can read an excerpt of book one, Thread Silvers, here; and read an excerpt of book two, Thread Strands, here.

Meet R.L. Terry, Creator of Swaggapuss Gets a Job

R.L. Terry is the creator and producer of Swaggapuss Gets a Job, an independent variety sitcom. Check out the show's pilot episode on YouTube, or by watching below.

1. Who is Swaggapuss and how did you come up with the name?

Swaggapuss was originally a joke one of my bandmates Mikey Hendrix and his wife came up with about four years ago. He was supposed to be a cartoon that's too cool for everything he does. His name kind of mocks pop culture because at the time the slang "swag" was popular.

2. What is the concept of Swaggapuss Gets a Job?

The concept of the show is Swaggapuss getting kicked out of his mom's for being a lazy adult. He moves in with his cousin R.L. (me) with one rule: that he has to get a job. Faced with the real world, he constantly messes up his chances of keeping a job. His best friend Chips plays a heavy influence on Swaggapuss as he is more concerned with being cool to his friends than anything else.

3. What do you find the most fun--and what do you find the most challenging--of creating your show?

The most fun is coming up with the concepts and jokes. Also, it's fun seeing people's reactions when we are shooting. The most challenging is the actual behind-the-scenes work of shooting, editing, writing, and acting. Being currently independent, we are all playing multiple roles which makes it more demanding and time-consuming to get the job done.

4. As an independent artist, how do you put together the funding for your projects?

Right now, the funding comes out of my pocket. We have a Kickstarter that is currently running, and we will soon start a merchandise campaign. Once he is a household name, it will pay for itself.

5. What can viewers who follow your YouTube channel expect to see in the months ahead?

We have five more main episodes left to release from the pilot season and a blooper episode to top it off. We will be in many locations and and attending events where we could be shooting if you ever see us.

Thanks, R.L.!

Artist Jenn Meuth on Sharing Her Work on Spoonflower

Jenn Meuth contacted me via the Facebook page for With Five Questions, and when she told me about her work, I enjoyed how she has made her work available in unique formats like having her original designs printed on fabric. She wrote up a guest post sharing some of her experiences as an artist--and she gives an honest review about her experiences with Spoonflower, the website which sells her fabric (and other) designs. Thanks for the post, Jenn!

Hello all! My name is Jenn, and I am the owner, designer, and creative mind of the Jennagerie where I am "changing the world of women and girls one piece of art at a time." Mandy asked me to write about my art and the really cool thing I am doing with it: making original fabric designs. As with anything, there is a story of how, when, and why, and I hope you enjoy this tale.

I am and always have been creative; whether it was telling "stories" as a child or crocheting as a teen, I have always been making something. With no formal training to speak of, I decided back in 2005 that I would start trying to express my feelings and the way I see things through visual art. At the time I was in an unhappy marriage and wanted a way to be distracted from the eventual complete breakdown of that relationship. I got an easel and some acrylic paints and started painting. I had friends, family, and co-workers critique my results. A couple of people told me that if I wanted to get better, I needed to draw or sketch. So, I bought a pad of paper and some pencils. It actually served two purposes for me: in some of the things I painted it helped me get a handle on what I wanted to paint and how to paint it, and some of the drawings were so detailed that I decided to start coloring them in and saving them as their own works of art.

After the divorce I fell madly in love with someone, and we tried for four years to make it work. Through it all, the break-ups and get-back-togethers, I drew. I at one point lost a sense of who I was as well as my positive self-image. This guy was shallow and had a perception of what I should have been like in looks particularly. I sat down one day and drew this chubby fairy. She was sitting on a mushroom and her mass was causing her to sink a little into the cap of the toadstool, but nonetheless she had her face turned up and was enjoying the breeze in the sun--confident, happy, and embracing all she was. I drew another and another and finally a fourth one that very day--each different, each unique but each with the same happiness and acceptance I once felt for myself. I named the series the "Fat Fairies." I just kept drawing and over the years drew all kinds of things. I continue to draw, and I recently drew Edgar Allen Poe and Albert Einstein, both men whom I admire because of their talents.

So now, I have these spiral books full of colorful drawings and depictions of things both from real life and my own imagination. I found healing, hope, and most of all peace with not only myself but in the world in general. I understand now how a writer can get lost in their own words as they are writing a story and how they can say that the story actually wrote itself. That is how drawing is for me. I have so many images in my mind, and all I have to do is pick up my pencil and paper and off I go. I have decided that sharing my art, my message, and my imagination with the world might give someone hope--it might heal someone else, too. So I am selling prints currently.

I am also turning these designs into original fabric. I discovered a website called Spoonflower.com through another creative friend. I went on their website and read about and saw how easy it was to design fabric, wallpaper, gift wrap and decals. Best of all it's free, and all the images and designs I make are mine. I have made a sample of each and every original fabric and have sold some yardages to other creative types for projects unknown to me. I can only hope that the person gets joy out of the material they bought and that they think about the joy it brought to me to design it.

For anyone who wants to use Spoonflower to design their own fabrics, let me give you both the positive and the negative (after all, everything has a little of both, right?).

Positives:

1) It's free and easy to sign up. You don't have to be a designer or have a degree in textiles to do this.

2) Like I said previously, the designs you make are yours. Spoonflower gladly watermarks all of your creations for you, too!

3) They have a free image editor that is really cool. You just upload your images and begin designing!

4) There are discounts: 10% off anything you yourself order for being a member of the website, and 20% off for orders of 20 yds or more of fabric.

5) The fabric types and weights are various (you can order a sample booklet for $1), so the types of projects folks make can also be endless.

6) The fabrics are organic, and the dye process is water-based.

7) You can also turn your designs into wallpaper, gift wrap, and wall decals.

8) They give out credits/money when someone orders one of your designs.

9) They also have weekly design contests; the prize for having the best design (voted on by the other designers) wins $100 in credit (spoondollars).

Are you ready for the less than positives?:

1) You must order a sample of your design before you can sell it. The samples are $5 for one swatch, or if you order multiple swatches they discount them some. For example, I ordered 15 swatches and paid $30 for them.

2) You only earn 10% of the total dollars purchased. So far I have made $10, but it has gotten my name out there in the realm of folks who sew, and it also has brought more attention to my art as I have links to the original work in the descriptions of the design.

3) Some folks who are not into this type of creative medium (don't sew or wrap gifts for anyone) might say that the yardage/gift-wrap is too expensive. (Fabric yardage starts at $18/yd for basic organic cotton, and $15 is what you will pay for a roll of gift wrap that wraps four medium gifts); however, for the seasoned pro who knows the cost of quality and eco-friendly things, this is a deal, and they won't blink when they order 5 yards of organic cotton canvas at $27/yd.

I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy creating on this website, and as my drawing portfolio grows, I will include fabrics in the selling of my work. I hope this has been informative for other artists, and thanks to Mandy for letting me share what I am doing with you all. If you want to know more about me and the vision I have for my work please visit my web page at http://jennmeuth2013.wix.com/thejennagerie.

Meet Sean Breed, Recording Artist

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Sean Breed grew up listening to R&B and rap music and began writing poetry and lyrics at a young age. He has traveled the world and performed with a variety of artists and musicians, and in 2005 he started Selym Records and released several independent singles. In spring of 2014, Sean Breed is releasing his full length LP. The album's title is an acronym meant to start a dialogue : H.ate I.s T.aught L.ove E.nds R.acism.

1. How did you come up with the acronym which makes up the title of your forthcoming album?

I was on social media, and people were asking me what the title of my album is. I remember without a second thought writing HITLER. I kept saying to myself that there had to be a reason that my subconscious mind thought of that title, so I called my producer Beat'n Da Oddz over to figure it out. Hate Is Taught Love Ends Racism came to life.

2. Why did you choose to move forward with a controversial title?

It just made perfect sense. There is continuous hate, racism, and murder being committed on a daily basis because of someone's ethnicity. Even the perpetrators sometimes don't realize why they are wired to hate, but if they backtrack in their lives, they would realize that it is taught. That title gives a reason but also a solution.

3. What artists have influenced your work as a musician?

A lot of artists of old and some of the new ones. I love the whole Motown movement. The DefJam Movement, Badboy Movement. I like Movements rather than songs. I rarely like specific artists nowadays. I like specific songs. I like Drake's Movement.

4. What do you find to be the easiest part and what do you find to be the most challenging part with writing music and lyrics?

The easiest part of making music is making music. The challenging part is all the BS that comes after. The business part of the music business. The most challenging part in writing music and lyrics is recording it and hearing it a few days after and thinking,"Is this GREAT?? Or does this Suck?"

5. For someone who hasn't yet heard any of your work, how would you describe/introduce yourself as an artist?

My work relates to everyone in some way or another. There is no one who can ever say that they got nothing from my body of music, especially from the H.I.T.L.E.R album which by the way will release on 4-20-2014 which was the birth of the dictator from Germany. I would describe myself as a diversified artist who speak about Love, Hate, Party, and Ratchetness. I'm one of the future saviors of the music business, and I may not support Jordan sneakers any more.

Thanks, Sean!

Meet Ben Barker, Founder of Ways2Earn.com

Ben Barker left his former life as a recruitment consultant at the start of 2013 to pursue a career online. Ben now works full time as a web designer and internet marketer. Though he's still a relative newbie to the scene, he's already finding this to be a much more satisfying and fulfilling way of life!

Ben is the founder of a website called Ways2Earn.com, a user-led forum where people can share and discuss earning opportunities from across the internet. Ben started the site with the intention of providing a place for people looking to earn money online (whether it be to top up their existing income or replace it completely) to go for honest advice.

1. Why did you decide to start Ways2Earn.com?

Since I first had regular access to the internet (about 15 years ago), I've always been interested in utilizing it as a source of income. There are countless ways to do this; however, I discovered very quickly that it's very difficult to find honest and useful advice. There are, of course, many forums on the same subject, but it's a struggle to find one that isn't awash with people who are ultimately trying to direct you towards their own or somebody else's product or website. I wanted to create something more visually appealing than the "standard look" forums, a site that was simple and easy to navigate and well-enough moderated to maintain a culture of honesty.

I guess what it boils down to is that I wanted to create a website that I would find useful myself.

2. What are some of the challenges you find that people face when looking to develop an online income?

I think one of the main problems people face when they look to start out online is that they are hoping to find something that's immediately going to provide the key to their riches. This is completely understandable when there are so many websites out there telling you how easy this is to do, in the hope of selling you their "blueprint to success."

In reality, genuine get-rich-quick opportunities simply do not exist, and unless people realize this, they are likely to keep bouncing from one of these over-hyped guides to another, until they eventually give up because their expectations can't possibly be met.

If you are looking to develop a full-time income on the internet, you need to think of it as you would any other business, and build it from the bottom up. This means that a lot of effort is likely to be involved building the foundations before you even make a penny. I don't think most people would be adverse to putting this effort in if they were well-enough informed in the first place.

3. In terms of earning regularly through various sources of "micro" income, what do you think are the qualities that make someone successful?

It's probably a fairly obvious thing to say, but tenacity is surely the most important quality to have when looking to make any sort of income. With a lot of sites that offer the chance to earn a bit of income on the side, at the outset you can find yourself earning very little in relation to the work you put in, yet this can often improve massively if you stick with it. Your earning potential is often based on your reputation with the site, particularly with freelance sites such as Textbroker and Elance, so naturally you are likely to see your earnings improve over time.

Of course, you're a lot more likely to stick with sites that offer work that suits your interests. Therefore, if you're planning on investing regular time in any source of income, it's wise to choose topics that you're already enthusiastic about.

Having long term goals is also very useful. If you have an ultimate idea of a specific amount you're looking to earn, such as enough to cover your next holiday, each bit of income you earn along the way is a step towards this, and watching your goal drawing ever closer can be a great motivating factor to keep you going.

4. In your own life, what motivated you to leave your previous career and focus on doing online work in web design and internet marketing?

I've always dreamed of working for myself, and my love of computers was enough to convince me that the internet was the ideal way to do this. I've never really been a nine-to-five type of person, so I suppose I sort of saw it as the key to my freedom. I'm not frightened of a hard day's work, but it's great to be able to do it on my own terms and my own schedule.

The other really attractive thing about having an online business is the fact that it is a location-free career. I'm a keen traveler, and having the internet as my sole business requirement allows me to travel and work at the same time.

5. What has been the biggest challenge and what has been the greatest pleasure in your career shift?

It's hard to name the biggest single challenge, but I suppose for me, if I had to name one, it was probably convincing myself to commit full-time to a new career as it meant giving up the security of my previous job. It's really difficult to make that jump into the unknown, but I'm very glad I did.

There have been so many challenges along the way, and it can get really frustrating at times, but the satisfaction you get from finding the solution to each problem always seems to provide you with the inspiration you need to overcome the next one. I've just realized how cheesy that sounds--but it's true!

My greatest pleasure was without doubt seeing new users appear on a site I'd built from scratch. I think everyone gets a certain sense of fulfillment from seeing people get genuine use out of something they've created.

Thanks, Ben!

Phyllis Garland: WordPress Lady and Blog Whisperer

When Phyllis Garland told me that people often refer to her as the WordPress Lady or the Blog Whisperer, well, I had to check out the website for her business, Garland Web Services. Based in San Mateo, Phyllis reaches beyond her local client base through webinars which offer training designed to help simplify your experience using WordPress.

A lot of independent entrepreneurs and small business owners (myself included!) hear a lot about WordPress but haven't made the leap and given it a try. Phyllis wants to show you that it's not really that hard--and beyond that, a WordPress site can serve a lot of different purposes. We all think of WordPress as being a great blogging platform, but it's also a clean and simple design for a more static website about your business (or nonprofit, or art project, or family genealogy page or...!).

For a nice overview of WordPress and why Phyllis has come to love it, check out her article on "What Is WordPress and Why Should I Care?".

Phyllis also does marketing work, and you can gather up some great tips by following her on Facebook.

Introducing Vintage Candles Unwined, Maker of Natural Soy Candles

As a fan of candles made of natural materials, I was happy to learn about the natural soy candles made by Vintage Candles Unwined. And better yet, the candles are made using glass cut from upcycled wine bottles.

Vintage Candles Unwined is an independent company based in Boise, Idaho. They buy the cut and beveled glasses for their candles from a local company which employs individuals who have workplace challenges. The candles are hand-poured and do not include any dyes or chemicals; even the wicks are eco wicks which keep your home environment free of crude oil refinements that are contained in paraffin waxes. And after you burn your candle, you can reuse the glass as a drinking glass or small vase or pencil cup or...!

The company offers a variety of scents and will consider ideas and requests submitted by customers. They are currently in the process of designing a new label for their candles, and can add an image of any state you'd like to the labels of the candles you purchase. Each candle contains 8-12 ounces of soy and will burn for 50-75 hours.

Find candles from Vintage Candles Unwined at local retailers in Boise and online at http://www.vintagecandlesunwined.com and on Etsy.

Meet Curtis James Salt, Independent Filmmaker

Curtis James Salt is a independent filmmaker in Boston, MA. For samples of his work, check out his page on Vimeo. His credits include directing/producing the New England Film award winning documentary The Reality Behind Closed Doors. Most recently, his feature length script Adonis is currently in the top 100 scripts (for Drama) at the Filmmaker's International Screenwriting Awards. His newest endeavor is the fantasy Mosden that is currently in pre-production.

For information about the crowdfunding campaign to help support the production of Mosden, please see the IndieGogo site for the project. See also the Facebook page for Mosden.

1. What is the meaning of Mosden, the title of the short film you're working on?

The title "Mosden" actually refers to the name of the fictitious language that all the characters speak. Early on in the script, the main character Canvas (played by Matthew Eriksen) discovers a mysterious note left for him alongside a box of colored pencils and a mirror. The note's message reads "Mosden" and that's the first time you actually hear Canvas speak. So it seemed appropriate to name the language after that message. Some of the language is made up from scratch while the rest is a mixture of Latin, Russian, Arabic, Japanese, Cantonese, French, and more; all sliced up together so it feels somewhat universally familiar in nature, but also very organic. Currently I'm working with each actor on tailoring the vocabulary of the language and finding what sounds most natural for them to speak; then translating the words on the page from English to Mosden.

2. In exploring the experiences of a character named Canvas, how does your film work with the idea of creating art as a metaphor for creating other experiences/meaning in life?

[Laughs] Your question is incredibly close to being "on the nose." You follow Canvas from his inception, or what some of us refer to as his "birth." He has to teach himself how to walk and talk. Eventually he acquires the box of colored pencils and learns whatever he draws on the walls becomes real. This is where the audience can start to dissect the metaphors hidden within the story if they choose. For example, the first character Canvas creates is RED (Olivia Moriarty) who he has to then teach everything he had to teach himself. Red in return falls in love with him. The next character created is GREEN (Harry Aspinwall), who is very bitter and envious of their relationship. It quickly becomes apparent that the art/characters Canvas creates represent either an aspect of the human psyche or characteristic of how we perceive things. Eventually he creates his opposite, BLACK (Cezar Constantine) who is the literal definition of malice; who in return creates his own art/characters that conflict with Canvas until the climax of the story. The ensemble of this cast remain very "one note" and true to their color(s), whereas Canvas becomes fleshed out and whole, learning from each of them. In the end I hope my intended message becomes very clear; nothing in life is ever just black and white. (I also promise this movie doesn't end as a dream or an acid trip!)

3. What would you say distinguishes experimental fantasy film from the more narrative filmmaking that viewers may be used to seeing?

Knowing that you're creating a project with a macro budget practically forces you to be experimental in order to achieve your ultimate vision. This can hinder a lot of filmmakers and tends to make them play it "safe," which I feel nine out of ten times results in an end product that's all too familiar to today's audiences. I think embracing the notion that you have to get creative allows you to start to think outside the realm of more conventional storytelling.

With Mosden, I gave myself the challenge of trying to create a short film that appeals to a worldwide audience. So I watched a lot of movies that I love and inspire me (The Cell, The Fifth Element, Moulin Rouge) and examined what made them so appealing. Hopefully, if I did my homework correctly, you're going to get something extraordinarily unique. It's much simpler to summarize Mosden as an experimental fantasy, then to also add it's a comedy, musical, drama, fairytale, and did we mention that it's very abstract? [Laughs] Once again, I swear it's not an acid trip.

4. What are some of your personal goals as a filmmaker?

Never to compromise. Always collaborate. Remember that you might not always be right and to listen to your actors and crew. It might sound ambitious of me to say, but I always want to work on a project that I'm passionate about, opposed to doing it just as a job. I would love to get discovered (as I think most do) and be able to make movies that can appeal to a much broader audience and someday hopefully work with the people that inspire me. Regardless if a movie I work on is seen by 10 people or 10 million, I always want to provide an experience that makes people forget that they're watching a movie. Any filmmaker that is able to achieve that is a true master at their craft. Thirty years from now I hope someone can tell me that I inspired them. My all time favorite quote (from Moulin Rouge) represents my love and approach to filmmaking the best, "Why live life from dream to dream and dread the day when dreaming ends?"

5. In addition to contributing to crowdfunding campaigns, how can viewers help support independent filmmaking--and why is it important that they do so?

I think filmmakers today are both blessed and cursed by influence of social media. Crowdfunding didn't exist when I was a kid, unless you went door to door. Thanks to sites like YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and more, your voice can either be heard or lost amongst the sea. I compare crowdfunding to playing the lottery. People gamble on playing the odds, and you just hope that they're in your favor. When a person is lucky enough to "win" because of people who believe in them, people get discovered! Amazing stories get told! Original pieces of art get created! A majority of the movies, directors, writers, actors you see and love, would not exist today if it wasn't for independent filmmaking and the support for it.

Thanks, Curtis!

Meet Lester Sumrall, Filmmaker and Minister

Lester Sumrall is a third generation minister and visionary. For almost 20 years, he has shared a message of destiny, purpose, and hope in 38 countries of the world. In the early 1990s, Lester gave up a college basketball scholarship, a journey which took him to Scandinavia where he attended Word of Life Theological School in Uppsala, Sweden. Upon graduation, Lester travelled alongside his grandfather, Dr. Lester Sumrall, doing ministry and relief work around the world. In 1997, he founded Lester Sumrall International, and has since continued in the legacy passed to him to serve humanity through relief work and hope-filled media projects. Lester Sumrall is currently based near Chicago where he lives with his wife and children.

Lester is currently working to finish Fearless Faith, a film about his grandfather. Having traveled all over the world with his grandfather and again after his grandfather's death, Lester has gathered all the necessary footage to create a film which gives a comprehensive perspective on his grandfather's work and the many people his grandfather inspired. In order to complete the film, Lester needs to raise funds to pay for professional editing and marketing and has set up a campaign on Indiegogo with a $25,000 goal (which amounts to one-fourth of the funding needed for this last phase of film production.

As February 2013 marks the 100th birthday of the late Dr. Sumrall, the theme of the fundraising campaign for Fearless Faith is Give 100,: 100 minutes of prayer and/or 100 pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, dollars or more. Learn more on the Facebook page for Fearless Faith.

1. For those readers who might not recognize the name, Dr. Lester Sumrall, could you tell us briefly who your grandfather was?

My grandfather was a family man; being his namesake, we shared a very close relationship. He was a sincere man of faith. As a young man he was supernaturally healed of tuberculosis by faith in Jesus. This divine experience led to him becoming a true believer. He traveled the world on the verge of WWII. He also dabbled in journalism as he reported on his travels, basically an antique blog. Later in life he was a local pastor to some, and he pioneered in media by founding a broadcasting network that at one time was the 10th largest shortwave radio network in the world, eight full power television stations, and two local fm stations. Near the end of his life, he founded a global feeding network that shared relief and hope with hundreds of thousands of people. All in all I was really inspired by his faith-filled mission and obedience to his higher calling.

2. How many years have you spent and how many countries have you visited shooting footage of your grandfather and people around the world who have been influenced by his work?

I worked with my grandfather 17 years ago on the idea for this project, but almost three years ago in 2010 I started the Fearless Faith Project. Since then I've visited Asia multiple times to retrace his steps in the Philippines and Hong Kong. I also retraced his steps in Israel. Footage from interviews in China, Russia, and Sweden will also be included in the project.

3. On the 100th anniversary of your late grandfather's birth, why do you feel it's especially important now to share his legacy with others through the medium of film?

My grandfather's life and legacy of faith is important to me for a variety of reasons. Why share his story? Because I believe that others will find it inspiring on their life journey. My desire is to inspire many to find and fulfill their God-given purpose.

4. How much time and funding do you anticipate it will take to complete the editing of Fearless Faith--and then to market the film?

We anticipate it will take about six months and $100,000 to finish editing and start the distribution of this film. We have requests to bring it to Sweden, Russia, China, Brazil, Canada, and all over America.

5. It seems like crowdsourcing is a good fit for your project, given your grandfather's connections with so many people. In addition to visiting your Indiegogo site, how do you hope that people will help you in finishing this film and in continuing your grandfather's work in the world?

Yes, crowdfunding is a great fit for this project. If everyone does something, it helps. Crowdfunding is a great alternative for us because my grandfather had ministered in 119 countries and had authored many books over the years, so he became well-known in certain circles. We are hoping to finish this project by everyone who appreciated his life and ministry to give 100 whatever (pennies, dollars, etc) to celebrate his 100th and to share the campaign with 100 friends. Through this project I believe that we can share a life story that will inspire people all around the world.

Thanks, Lester!

Meet T-time Music, Independent Music Artist

T-time Music is an up-and-coming independent artist who has been making a lot of noise in the press as of lately. T-time Music was trending in India the first week of January after his single release "#WORK" gained 22,000 views in a matter of 24 hours. He will be shooting and releasing the official music video via the online news source World Star Hip Hop in March along with his mixtape release.

Watch the video for "#WORK" on YouTube, and follow T-time Music on Twitter for his latest news. He has over 100,000 Twitter followers and is trending on Twitter.

1. What was the music scene like where you grew up, and what's it like in Indianapolis now?

The music scene growing up in Muncie, IN was challenging for me. I wanted to go out and do bigger things than I was allowed to in high school. I had to sit and watch a few opportunities pass by before I made my own money and did my own things.

2. What do you think has helped you to find fans all over the world, such as your current success in India?

Finding global success for your music in today's industry only comes from investing in yourself. I have invested in promotions out of my own pocket and built up my brand name from the ground up. I always set bigger goals than my competition and have worked my ass off to accomplish them.

3. As an independent artist, how are mixtapes important for you in connecting with listeners?

Mixtapes are very important to me. A mixtape is a direct connection with my fans. We can give the fans the music they want to hear and for free. I am looking forward to completing my next mixtape and premiering it on Datpiff.com & WorldStarHipHop.com.

4. What inspired you to include a hashtag in the title of your current single, "#WORK"?

I would say accessibility. We got over 10,000 retweets in a few hours on "#WORK." It is just one of those things where I made an executive decision about and ran with it. "#WORK" also topped the trends for #nowplaying two days in a row with over 12,000 retweets.

5. Do you have any tips for other artists seeking to break out on Twitter?

I would say just make a direct connection with each fan. No person is too small to say "Thank you" to. A small investment of your time in creating personal interactions can go a long way.

Thanks, T-time Music!

Following Your Dream and Spreading the Word

As the editor of this blog, I generally keep the spotlight on other people and their projects, which is as it should be for a blog which focuses mostly on sharing interviews! But I wanted to offer links to two articles which I hope you'll find useful.

The first is a first-person story by graphic designer Marissa Poppens on not being afraid to ask for help when you're pursuing your dream. In setting up her business, Marissa found that other people are more willing to help than she'd imagined. Read about her experiences here, on the Best Business Bytes blog.

The second link is for an article I wrote about utilizing some free promotional tools. I wrote this while thinking of the creative professionals I interview on this blog: I hope the article will prove useful in terms of generating free publicity for your interviews, should you wish to take a few easy steps to promote them. As an independent artist and/or businessperson, free PR can be critical in creating buzz about anything from your latest self-published book to an upcoming concert. Here's the link to the article, called "Make the Most of Your Post."

Thanks, as ever, for visiting this blog and meeting interesting artists and entrepreneurs from all over the world!

Meet James Conner, Musician

James Conner has been writing, recording and performing music in the Bay Area for nine years. Originally from New Jersey, James moved to San Francisco in 2003 and released James Conner: For The Industry EP (iTunes, CD Baby). Featuring fast electronic music and spoken-word vocals, the first EP and the subsequent full-length record, James Conner: A Year In The Light Of My Life (2007) mixed elements of Aphex Twin, Nine Inch Nails, and David Bowie into a dark fusion of brooding angst. Now in 2012, James has returned with his second full-length record. San Francisco (Good-night In Dreamland) (iTunes, CD Baby) delivers a cohesive blend of indie rock, 1990s alternative rock, and elements of jazz. To capture the songs on San Francisco, James recorded with Nic Pope for a year at Different Fur Studios in the Mission. James has enlisted Nathan Bennet (on guitar) and Alex Aguallo (on drums) to round out a powerful trio to bring San Francisco to the stage.

Find San Francisco on Amazon as well as iTunes, and sample James' music on ReverbNation, SoundCloud, and YouTube.

1. How would you describe your music to someone who hasn't heard it before?

As a cross between Dinosaur Jr. and U2. People also compare my music to The Strokes, Interpol, and The Libertines.

2. What's your process for writing music: do you generally start with a riff, an image, a lyric...?

I usually start with the lyrics/vocals and work backwards. For me, the lyrics/vocals determine everything about a song--i.e. the tempo, the mood, and the type of song it's going to be. Since I'm the singer/lyricist and also the songwriter, everything supports the vocal.

3. How is San Francisco (Good-night In Dreamland) similar to your first album, and how is it different?

My first record, James Conner: For the Industry EP (CDBaby, iTunes) was fast, electronic music with spoken-word vocals. On San Francisco there are three tracks that are of the style of the first record. That was a deliberate attempt on my part to have a link with the style from my first record. But with San Francisco I wanted to make a "rock" record, so the majority of the songs are rock songs in the style of "indie rock" or "alternative rock." Also, on San Francisco I made more of attempt to sing although my vocals on the record aren't all-out singing.

4. How does living in San Francisco influence your work?

All of the songs on San Francisco were written since I've been living in San Francisco, and all the songs are about topics that I've been dealing with since I've been in San Francisco. I grew up in a small town in Southern New Jersey and my parents are conservative Republicans, so casual sex and infidelity were basically hidden/non-existent while I was growing up. I moved to San Francisco when I was twenty-three, and I had very little dating experience when I first arrived. It took a long time for me to adjust to the morality of San Francisco and California in general. In San Francisco, casual sex and infidelity in relationships is basically the norm. When I first moved to San Francisco, I would ask a girl out, and I would also ask if she had a boyfriend, and I would literally get a blank stare--as if the question itself was irrelevant. On the East Coast and especially in the small town I grew up in, if you asked a girl out who had a boyfriend, you would be facing a fist-fight. It's much different in San Francisco. So all the songs on San Francisco deal with sex, dating, and infidelity.

5. What online resources do you find most important in connecting listeners with your music, and what offline resources are most crucial to you?

Facebook is pretty crucial these days when you're connecting with fans and building a community for your music. It also allows you to have a more personal connection with your fans which is invaluable. Offline resources have almost entirely disappeared these days. I guess they would include local newspapers, local businesses, and word of mouth. They're all important when you're trying to build a local fan base, but they're getting more sparse every day.

Thanks, James!

Meet Thomas L. Vaultonburg, Poet

Thomas L. Vaultonburg founded Zombie Logic Press in 1997. He has published four volumes of poetry, Concave Buddha (1991), Detached Retinas (1997), Flesh Wounds (2011), and Submerged Structure (2012). His poems have appeared in over 200 publications and anthologies, including Exquisite Corpse, Caliban, and The Paris Review. His latest project is a children's book titled The Toughskin Rhinoceros Wrangler Company, co-created with artist Jenny Mathews.

1. What motivated you to start Zombie Logic Press?

When I first started publishing poetry in 1989, there was a vibrant small press scene with hundreds of different zines, and it was a snap to get your poetry published, but the internet virtually ended the small press movement. Also, the best one could really hope for at that time was to publish a string of chapbooks. There was no digital publishing, and full-length books were not the norm. By 1997 it was difficult to find interesting places to publish, and since publishing a chapbook was almost never a money-making proposition, I decided forever after to just go ahead and publish my own work. That way I had total control over the content, design, and distribution of my work. And that's why I formed Zombie Logic Press in 1997. Of course now it's a million times easier to publish a book, but back then it was still somewhat of an effort.

2. What topics most intrigue you as a poet?

I almost never take on the eternal questions like truth, justice, or beauty. I'm a big fan of poets like Richard Brautigan and Charles Bukowski, and I learned from their writing that sometimes the best you can do as a poet is capture one simple moment in life, and then not try to take it all that seriously. Generally I have no conscious editorial process as to what I will or will not write about because almost every poem I have ever written has come to me fully written in a flash, and I have no idea where it came from or why.

3. How has being a lifelong resident of Rockford, Illinois influenced your work?

I posted this question on Facebook to see how my friends who are artists and also lifelong residents of Rockford would approach this question because in general Rockford is made a laughingstock in the national press as evidenced by being rated Money Magazine's Worst City in America and being labeled the 9th most dangerous and 4th fattest city in America. But I live three blocks from the hospital I was born in and having that type of long view on a place allows me as a writer to really see how things either change or don't change over time. I like Rockford. Not just because I want to be contrarian about it, but I legitimately like downtown where I live on the busiest street in town, surrounded by other artists, writers, and filmmakers who do their best to create in a place that doesn't seem suited to that task at all. I'd like to think Rockford, of all places, needs what we do, whereas if I moved to Chicago I'd just be one of hundreds like me. I really had to sleep on this question because there is also a simultaneous impulse to be bitter or negative because Rockford is a place where you can find all the negative you want, but I don't find that adding shade to shade is particularly productive in a place like this.

4. What were the main differences between writing your latest book--a children's book--and writing your previous books of poetry?

The main difference is compression of language. As a poet I always feel pressured to really condense a moment or an emotion into as few characters as possible, which is why I don't find the current social media model of 140 characters distressing. But when I write for children, I don't feel if I go overboard a little bit they'll lose interest because children don't read editorially: all they want is to be entertained. Poetry is said to be the hardest form because even a small mistake can mar a poem, and serious readers and editors of poetry will immediately spot that mistake or misstep and tune out. That's enormously stressful when one is trying to write a poem. Children won't tune you out if you don't adhere to to the rules, so you can go ahead and break the rules. The only rule is just be fun. I like that.

5. How long have you been creating Tiny Drawing Poems, and how do you personally experience the connection between poetry and visual art?

Almost not at all. I'm not a visual person, I have no spatial intelligence, and I can't even draw a stick figure, which is why getting the chance to work with an artist like Jenny Mathews of Tiny Drawings is such a blessing. She draws and I write. I'm not sure where and when I got the idea or why I didn't get it before, but one day I said why not combine the two, and we realized independently in our work we had themes that went well together. And since then it's been a blast because she can literally draw anything, and I have fun challenging her to draw something ridiculous like a grown man in a bird's nest and fifteen minutes later there's the drawing. I'm amazed by that.

Thanks, Thomas!