2010: First Quarter in Review!

We'd like to take a moment to reflect on the amazing people and organizations we have featured on the Love and Water blog, and to remind you of their incredible work.  So here is our 2010: First Quarter in Review for you to peruse, and hopefully get acquainted with the people and groups that peak your interest.

CHARITIES:

Dream Now
Spirit Jump
Life Through Art Foundation
Many Hearts, Many Causes
Cindy Papale, Breast Cancer Survivor
Smile Train
Abundant Water
Stepwise.org
Art Aids Art
3for5.org
800-Charity Cars
Alex's Lemonade Stand
Kids Are Heroes
Face The Sun Movie
Alegria
My Hope Space


ARTISTS:
Matt Hoverman
Kent Hwang
Skip Hunt
Pink Inc Design
Patty Bilbro
David Hooker
Tomas Doncker
Otto K. Photography
Dora Mae Productions
Samantha Jones

CREATIVE RESOURCES:
Create Your Own Solo Show
Success Is Sweetest Coaching
Illustration Mundo
It Magazine
Levar Fisher
Mary McManus Original Poetry
Twist Radio
Rino Cards

Illustrators: Meet illustrationmundo.com!

Nate Williams, creator of illustrationmundo.com, the most amazing online-community for illustrators, talks about how he came up with the idea for the site and some of its very unique and wonderful features.

Love and Water- Can you explain how you started illustrationmundo.com and how the site works?

Nate Williams- illustrationmundo.com was a site I created out of need.  Before I was an illustrator I was an art director.  I did lots of programming and web-based technical stuff.  When I was doing that there was a huge community for programming.  Whenever you had a question you'd just go to one of many sites and get your question answered.  So I was used to being able to go to a website to get my questions answered.  When I began to pursue illustration as a career I started looking for sites that offered similar communities, but couldn't find the specific niche I wanted.  So since I had the technical skills I decided to create an illustration portal that was all about illustration.  It started off pretty basic: you could create a profile and submit news in order to bring attention to the projects you were working on.  The objective is not to display a whole portfolio, but to get art directors and designers and illustrators onto the actual illustrator's website; that way it serves as a vehicle for illustrators to send more people to their own websites.  So it's really a portal that links to everyone's individual sites.  My philosophy is that each illustrator should focus on their own website, and everything should link back to their site.  So people can locate good content through Illustration Mundo and then go directly to the person's site to see their full body of work. 

L&W- It's such an amazing resource for that reason.  How has the site grown as a result of the community that has formed?

NW- The site has grown organically, and as I see a need I add features to it.  So for example, at first you could search illustrators but there wasn't a way to save your search.  So I added that function so everyone can save their favorite illustrators and refer back to them.  Another example is that I found there's not a particularly easy way to find illustrators on Facebook or Twitter, so now you can find those illustrators who are on either or both through illustrationmundo.com.  I also make sure the site is very inclusive, in that a person might not be the best illustrator today, but two years down the road they will have improved a great deal.  So I never want to turn anyone away, and I want people to learn from each other.  So I try to come up with algorithms that filters content for the sake of searches.  I want to make sure other people's voices are heard.  If you like a specific illustrator you can also see who they like.  The forums have also gone through a few different stages, and right now the categories I have represent the topics that people really want to talk about. 

L&W- You also have Letterplayground.com, which is such a clever and smart idea and people can go directly to through illustrationmundo.com.

NW- As people are more interested in hand-lettering and type, I wanted to create a place for them to feature their work, which is how I came up with Letterplayground.com.  It's a great site as well, and I'm always happy to see the quality of content that appears on it each day.  There are some really great pieces of work on it.

Visit illustrationmundo.com
Visit Letterplayground.com

The Love and Water Site is ON ITS WAY!!!

The Love and Water website is well underway everybody!  And we are SO SO SO excited!!!  VERY soon we will begin our amazing design contests, which everyone is insanely enthused by since we can only imagine the gorgeous, incredible designs that will be submitted.  Needless to say, we are waiting with bated breath for all of this to ensue...

That said, we LOVE to hear your ideas and suggestions about all of it.  When the site launches, there will be plenty of forums set up for you to express your opinions and thoughts, and we welcome those readily.  We also want to know your ideas NOW.  If you have any thoughts about anything at all- t-shirt styles, different kinds of competitions, different ideas for charity participation- please do let us know!

We cannot wait to hear from you, and to see all of your faces in your profile pics!!

More to come...oh, more to come VERY soon...

MyHopeSpace.com: Connecting Cancer Patients, Experts and Survivors

Chris Hefling realized the need for people whose lives have been touched by cancer to connect with each other in a simple, easy way.  So he created MyHopeSpace.com, an online community that allows anyone who has knowledge of or an experience with cancer to talk with each other.  Read on to see how effective MyHopeSpace.com has been so far, and they're just getting started!

How did My Hope Space begin?

MyHopeSpace.com was founded in 2006 on two coinciding events. One, My father in law had recently been diagnosed with small cell lung cancer and passed away in September of that same year. Two, I had recently been informed about a man who was diagnosed with germinoma, a cancer that is more common in children than in young adults. His name is Matthew Twit and he was trying to find others in his own age group that he could communicate with about his illness. It was then that we decided we could build a website where cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and family members could share their stories with others and communicate anytime, anywhere.
MyHopeSpace.com is owned and operated by Foundations of Hope, Inc. a Nebraska not-for-profit company.

That is such an amazing resource- who can join?

MyHopeSpace is open to anyone whose life has been touched by cancer. This can be a cancer patient, survivor, caregiver, family member, friend, a loved one or even a person or company that helps support awareness.  It is a community of people who share a common bond, a personal common interest. We want to offer people the tools they need to find someone they can connect with, someone they can feel comfortable sharing their feelings and emotions with. Sometimes patients and caregivers just want to talk to someone so they do not feel so alone.

Can you talk about some of the progress you've seen occur as a result of people connecting through My Hope Space?

Progress to me is in the amount of diverse people we have met and come to actually speak with on a daily basis , not just locally but all over the world. MyHopeSpace.com is a member-based social network but it is also a public resource. Sometimes it is more than just people connecting with people, it is the sharing of information. When someone shares their story with us they are reaching out in hopes that someone in need will read what they have written and help them get through the day.  MyHopeSpace is sometimes a conduit, a way for someone to get from one place or another. We don’t always have what someone is looking for but we hope to have a link to someplace that does.

What is the most moving moment you've had so far with My Hope Space?

I have met so many wonderful people since the startup of MyHopeSpace. I can’t say I have had one that out shines any other. There are so many caring and giving individuals in the cancer community it is just amazing. People are so willing to share their stories and have graciously given us the opportunity to feature them on our website. I am just in awe of the power and resolve of the people we come in contact with, everyone has such an amazing to story to share.

Is there anything else you'd like people to know about My Hope Space?

Everyone handles a cancer diagnosis of themselves or a loved one differently - MyHopeSpace.com is designed to cross boundaries of all those impacted by the disease. Whether your male or female, have breast or lung or one of the other hundreds of types of cancer, are a patient or a caregiver or family member or member of the medical community, whether you live in the Midwest, Europe or are just one of the thousands in a hospital bed currently battling the disease - there is a place for you at MyHopeSpace.com to hopefully gain insight, hope, share you journey or just learn that you are not alone.

Visit MyHopeSpace.com

Talk to a board certified oncologist online

Visit the question/answer section

Follow MyHopeSpace on Twitter

Join the Facebook Fan Page

Love and Water on "Life With A Twist" Blog Talk Radio Show!

Listen to Alexis' interview about Love and Water on "Life With A Twist" Blog Talk Radio show.  We talked about the concept of Love and Water, and what to expect when the site launches in just a few weeks!  We're looking forward to hearing from you...

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/l-kimberly-smith

Meet "Life With A Twist" Host, Kim Smith!!!

Kim Smith is one of the brightest, enthusiastic, intelligent, genuinely loving people I've ever met!  So thankfully she has dedicated her life's work to spreading this goodness around as much as she can for others to enjoy!  Between her blog, her Blog Talk Radio show, "Life With A Twist," and her new book in the works, there is plenty of Kim to go around for everyone to experience!  And believe me when I say you sincerely don't want to miss her...

Love and Water- Kim, your work is so uplifting and makes so many people feel good about themselves and their lives (me included!).  Can you talk about how started doing your show on Blog Talk Radio?

Kim Smith- All the things I do are connected to me wanting to connect to the everyday person and how they want to live a full life.  The show, "Life With A Twist," and the whole Twist radio project that I'm developing all connects to that.  The idea of me having a voice on the radio and on the internet in general started about two years ago.  I've always had a very close relationship with my cousin, and since we were very young we've always talked or communicated with each other everyday and have always inspired each other so much.  At that time I said to her that I wanted the two of us to do a show together.  She thought it was a great idea, but we were both moving and life got hectic.  We finally formed a show called "Conversations With Mo."  The few people who were listening were really interested in what we were talking about, and we were on a roll for a while.  But then, as life continues to happen, she ended up having twins, and got extremely busy with raising her family.  We discussed that it was too much for her to continue on at the time.  I decided to wait until I was inspired by another idea for a show to carry on.  I stopped doing that show, and happened to find Blog Talk Radio.  I started listening to various shows they had, and was so impressed by the quality and the topics.  Around December, "Life With A Twist" came to me one day while I was sitting still.  I realized I wanted to do a show about people who are doing something extra in their lives that have special meaning to them and are passionate about creating the lives they want.  I now have a new co-host, Julian Green, who is the founder of JG Events, an events designer and mixologist, and am really happy with the direction the show is going.

L&W- Can you talk about the structure of the show?

KS- Yes- it's basically an online Variety show whose main goal is to help everyday people take their everyday lives and turn them into something meaningful for them.  So we talk to people who have actually acted upon their ideas, and have had success with them- not necessarily success monetarily, although that often is the case, but success in that they are fulfilled by what they've chosen to do.  We keep the show light and fun, with a cocktail segment every week and new drink recipe, courtesy of Julian, and highly promote our guests and supporters.  We take the time to shout them out and give them as much support as we can.  We call it our "totally shameless" segment of the show.  We hope for it to continue to be entertaining and inspiring, and we go live every Sunday at 4pm EST. 

L&W- I know you are also writing a book.  Can you talk about that as well?

KS- The book is called "Sipping Wine With The Buddha." 

L&W- I love that title!

KS- I'm putting it out there now that I won't allow any publisher to ask me to change that title!  The subtitle is "Nine Ways To Connect With Your Spirit Through Joy And Pleasure,"  and that is exactly what the book is about.  It is designed to be a "nightstand book."  Each segment of the book has different ways to connect with your divine, or higher self, by teaching you how to be conscious inside each moment of being human.  For example, there is one segment called "Showering Meditation," which teaches you how to focus while in the shower on being grateful for the sheer pleasure of taking a shower, having the hot water cleanse you and enjoying the whole experience.  And then to take a moment while there to simply stop and ask yourself if there is anything your spirit needs right then.  It teaches us to take those moments to pause and check in with yourself.  Once you get out of the shower, you will continue on with your day and all the meetings you have, and taking that one moment for yourself can truly change your whole day for the better.

L&W- I love that way of being- it really sums up your whole approach to life, it seems to me.

KS- I believe that any project that we do that is genuine, that is truly part of who we are, almost always results in a project that is well received.  A few years ago I went through a divorce, and although it was amicable it was definitely a tough time.  My cousin would call to check up on me to make sure I was doing alright, and one night shortly after we announced our separation she called and asked where I was and I said, "I'm in Atlantic City at a Hennessy party, and I'm having a great time!"  She paused and said, "You are the only person I know who could be going through a fresh separation and still find it in herself to go out and have a good time, in spite of all you're going through."  And that's who I am- I believe in carrying on with life, by accepting how I'm feeling and not letting it stop me but rather incorporate it into what I'm doing.  I felt that the decision to separate from my husband had already been made, so there is no point in me sitting at home and worrying about it.  I needed to mourn the loss, of course, but the best way for me to do that, I felt, was to simply carry on with my life and let that inform the process I needed to go through.  So all I knew was that Hennessy was having a party, and I was invited and I needed to keep my commitment.  I think that story pretty much sums up who I am.

L&W- What is the most moving moment you've had so far doing "Life With A Twist?"

KS- I would say it was having Mary McManus on as a guest.  She is apublished poet, and polio and post-polio survivor.  This is something I knew nothing about, especially post-polio syndrome.  She just epitomized to me the theme of taking what challenges life has handed her and turned them into beautiful art that she shares with the whole world.  Her books of poetry and the individual poems she writes for people have inspired so many.  My goal is to motivate people to stop complaining about the everyday challenges life has to offer us by remembering what we do have.  Mary not only has the everyday challenges that we all have, but she battles everyday with the physical issues the polio has left her with, and she makes it all work to her benefit.  She made me stop and look at life from a differnet perspective- I realized that in my life I have everything I need, and there are really no excuses.  The episode we did with Mary is one of the most popular shows we've ever done, and there is a reason for that.  It is definitely my most moving moment I've had so far. 

L&W- That's really so true, about Mary, and I have to say it's true about you, Kim.  You have that same kind of inspiring, motivating energy that is aboslutely contagious!

KS- I like to do a lot of different things, but each individual project I take on has to do with focusing on motivating people to stop wasting time on what they think is lacking or missing in their lives, and to start looking at what they have.  Their creativity, their ideas, their resources.  Everyday when I wake up I say a prayer of thanks that I can think, that I can comprehend information and that I can process it.  Because there are people waking up every morning who can't do that because of a physical or mental limitation.  There are so many things that we take for granted because we aren't looking at as gifts.  Most of us have everything we need.  Every project I do is about creating a habit of focusing on what we have so we can allow those gifts to expand.  And I have fun with every project I do- my blog, "Breaking Dishes" is one of those projects that brings me joy and that I love doing, along with my home based business, my book and my show.  I think that's the greatest gift we can give to ourselves- to be thankful for our gifts and put them to good use for ourselves, which automatically leads to inspiring others.

Visit "Life with a Twist"

Visit the Twist Radio family website

Visit Kim's blog

Visit JG Events
Follow Kim on Twitter

Meet Shay Grabowski, founder of ALEGRIA: Bringing Arts Programs to Orphans in the Andes

ALEGRIA: Hope Through Art from ALEGRIA on Vimeo.

Shay Grabowski, a New York City-based motion graphics artist, wanted to figure out a way to start an organization to bring arts programs to children in orphanages in Ecuador and Peru.  So she did!  Alegria's official website launched this week, and she has her first group scheduled to go to their first orphanage in August.  Read on to hear her inspiring story, and you will no doubt be reminded that we can truly do anything we set our minds to.

Love and Water- How did Alegria come to to life?

Shay Grabowski- Alegria means 'joy' in Spanish, and we are an arts organization bringing arts programs to orphanages in the Andes, in Ecaudor and Peru, hoping to inspire joy and hope to the kids who we work with.  I'm a motion designer myself, and had been involved with an organization that helped bring arts programs to an orphanage in that area.  Every time I came back from doing work with them there were so many people here in New York who would ask me how they could get involved.  I started thinking of ways to bring my own group to those areas and it basically snowballed from there.  I have a team that I'm taking with me in August, and we will be doing multi-media workshops with the kids.  They don't really have a scope of life outside their orphanage, and they are unbelievably receptive to the work we bring to them, and some of them are just amazingly talented.  So I'm really excited to see where we can go with the programs we will be implementing. 

L&W- Are you targeting specific orphanages with Alegria?

SG- We are working with one orphanage that was started 25 years ago by a man named Miguel.  One of his children had died, and one day three street kids came up to him and asked him for help.  He immediately took them in as his own and took care of them for ten days.  One day they were gone, and he went looking for them.  When he found them they said they were sorry for leaving but they had ten other brothers and sisters, and without thinking Miguel said to bring them along as well, and the orphanage began.  That was 25 years ago, and since then his orphanage has grown to house 800 children.  He never turns anyone away.  The orphanage is in Zapallal, an extremely remote area of Lima.  He has received support from other organizations, and he keeps building more houses for the kids.  But they have very little- the first time we were there we gave the kids their first pillows.  Many of them only have one set of clothes.  So they can use all the help we can bring to them.  One of the times I was there I saw a little boy being dropped off by his mother, who was pregnant.  He was screaming and clinging to her, and she left him there.  It was a really horrifying, yet telling experience.  Many of the children come from the government to Miguel's orphanage, and some come from the surrounding areas. 

L&W- What are some of the projects you've done with the kids, and how did they react to them?

SG- The first year I went I did charcoal and observational drawing with the kids.  They really latched onto it, and there is so much talent there.  There are many happy accidents that happen while I'm there.  They were working with charcoal and we were talking about the fact that it is burnt wood.  One of the kids said he would be right back, and came back with some burnt wood and said, "Look!  We can make our own!"  This was baffling and inspiring to me, especially since we're talking to them in Spanish but trying to find the right vocabulary to explain the tools we're using to them.  They're so hungry to learn, and they pick things up so fast and so eagerly. 

L&W- What are some of the programs you have in place for Alegria?

SG- Our slogan is "Hope Through Art."  We have a few plans in place.  Miguel is a visionary, and it's astounding how he's able to provide for these children. Olive Branch Ministries out of Austin, Texas, has rallied around this community and meets so many of their ongoing needs - food, schooling, etc. We're coming alongside the orphanage community and Olive Branch's organization to create art with the children as well as support the ongoing needs of the orphanage. We want to expose them to a bunch of new mediums that they have never been exposed to.  Creative art is extremely therapeutic for them, especially since so many of them have been through trauma, including sexual abuse.  We want to support established orphanages.  We want to tell their stories in New York City by holding exhibits of the work they do.  There are so many other artists here interested in showing the work of the kids to people here, knowing that others will be interested in helping in many ways as a result.  So we're really looking forward to that aspect.

L&W- What is the most moving moment you've had working with the kids in the orphanages?

SG- Last time I was there we did self-portraits with the girls using India ink.  India ink is one of my favorite mediums, because you can do so many things with it.  There aren't a lot of mirrors there, so the girls don't really ever study themselves- they don't stare at their features often.  So to watch them look at themselves and to tell them that they are each unique and special was really moving.  The work that they came up with in such a short time was amazing.  Self protraits are really difficult as an artist, and would have taken me a lot longer to do than it took them.  To see the smiles on their faces was one of the most rewarding experiences for me. 

L&W- This is such a wonderful cause, and I just love what you're doing.  Are there ways for people to get involved now?

SG- For now we have our website, which just launched, that will have updates on it for programs as we move through the rest of this year, and next year we will have artist proposal forms for those with ideas or who want to get involved.  So as long as people keep checking back on the site, we will be updating it frequently with as much information as we have.

Visit Alegria now!
Follow Alegria on Twitter
Join the Alegria Facebook Fan Page

See Tomas Doncker at THE BLUE NOTE NYC, April 12!!!

As you may have already seen from his interview, Love and Water supports the music of Tomas Doncker!  And as we mentioned in his interview, he will be playing at The Blue Note in NYC on Monday, April 12 at 8:30 and 10:00pm.  Tomas calls his music GROOVYSEXMUSIC, which combines numerous musical influences including Afro Pop, folk, blues and soul.  With profound lyrics and sensual grooves, his songs have a timeless and spiritual healing power, including his amazing hit, "Children of Darfur," for which all the proceeds go to helping the Solar Cooker Project for the women of Darfur.  

Now is the time to get your tickets!  

 Click here for 8pm Reservations
Click here for 10pm Reservations

BAND MEMBERS:
Tomas Doncker, guitar & vocals
Booker King, bass
Daniel Sadownick, percussion
Alan Grubner, violin & vocals
Nick Rolfe, keyboards & vocals
Tobias Ralph, drums
with SPECIAL GUESTS:
Ethiopian guitar legend
Selam Woldermariam, guitar
and 

Stephanie Battle, dance

Blue Note NYC 

Tomas Doncker

 

Central Park Resevoir

As some of you know, I came up with the idea for Love and Water while walking around the Central Park Reservoir one early morning last July.  I shared my story with Mary McManus, polio survivor and inspired poet, while interviewing her last week and she wrote this simple, beautiful poem about it, which I'm so happy to share with the Love and Water community.

Central Park Reservoir

Contemplation, meditation, walking, jogging, run

In Central Park, the Reservoir, connected to The One

Thoughts run deep, still waters flow, footsteps sure on course

Worldly things recede from view, clear vision from The Source.

Sparks of inspiration ignite and burns desire

With quickened step and beating heart ideas are set on fire.

Unlimited potential unleashed within I see

Unbounded love to do God's work to bless humanity.

Contact Mary's company, New World Greetings, for other original, personalized poetry

Face The Sun: The Movie

Mike Moroz watched a young friend lose her battle with breast cancer because of a lack of awareness of the risks involved with the disease.  He decided he needed to do something about that, so he wrote a film about her journey with the disease, called "Face The Sun."  He plans to donate 65% of the revenue from the film to cancer organizations.  The more traffic he gets on his site, the more investors will hopefully invest to get the movie made.  So visit the "Face The Sun" site right now, and then come back and read the moving interview I had with a very passionate and talented writer.

Love and Water- Talk about how you came to write the screenplay, "Face The Sun."

Mike Moroz- A number of years ago a very close childhood friend of my wife was told when she was 29 that she had something on her breast that could lead to breast cancer, but to not worry about it because she was too young to get breast cancer and to come back when she was 40 for a mammogram.  We lost Diane six years later at age 35 to breast cancer.  I needed a way to respond to that.  It was horrible that there was such lack of awareness for young women about the risks of breast cancer and I wanted to do something about that.  So I wrote a screenplay about Diane's story to illustrate the dangers of not being aware of the risks breast cancer can hold, and to celebrate her courage throughout her battle. 

L&W- That's such a wonderful tribute to her, and such a great example for other women to follow.  Where are you in the process of making the film?

MM- We are in the process of getting full financial backing for it.  We recently lost a large sum of the financial backing that would have allowed us to start shooting already, so we are working on getting that back in place.  We have a cast and director, and are finished with most of the preproduction.  Our plan is to donate a large portion of the revenue of the film to cancer organizations.  I'm an actor and this is the first script I've written, but have written several scripts since then, two of which have been turned into films.  I currently teach acting and filmmaking at a high school on Vancouver Island.  I'm so excited to make this film in order to start giving back to those organizations that are working so hard to help people and families battling cancer. 

L&W- What is the most important message you want to convey through the film?

MM- One is that what we're trying to do is to generate some significant awareness for young people in particular, and people in general, about the need to be their own best health advocate.  We know our bodies, and if something doesn't feel right it is important that we advocate for ourselves.  It's important to get second and third opinions in order to give ourselves the service we deserve.  Also, there is a real strength that is present in families that battle cancer.  The journey is an astonishing one that gives a new perspective to daily life as a result.  There is a need to celebrate that, which I know the film can help give to people as well.  And of course there are the many grassroots cancer organizations that are working very hard every day to make alliances with cancer patients and their families a little bit easier, and they are often grossly underfunded.  So we want to help them by donating a 65% of the revenue from "Face The Sun." 

L&W- That is such an amazing incentive for investors, I would think, since you are not out to make a profit on it yourself. 

MM- It's very true- the whole purpose of the film is to raise awareness and money that we can give back to help create more solid organizations that can offer resources for all cancer patients to take advantage of.

L&W- Is there anything else you want people to know about "Face The Sun?'

MM- I think it's important for people to pay attention to how they are feeling, how their bodies are doing.  I invite everyone to visit us on our website.  The more traffic we have on our site the more potential investors will see the growing interest in the film, which is extremely helpful in perking their interest in funding it.  When they a large audience in place, it makes them realize that the film will do well once it is made and out on the circuit, and that is what we want them to realize.  65% of the revenue will be going toward causes that support cancer, so we're extremely excited to get the word out and build our audience now.

If you haven't already, visit "Face The Sun" now!
Follow "Face The Sun" on Twitter

Meet Polio Survivor and Inspired Poet, Mary McManus!

Mary McManus is a polio survivor who has turned her life around, and around, and around to accomplish what most of us only dream of doing in a lifetime.  Poet, author, Blog Talk Radio show host, public speaker and marathon runner, Mary's stories will undoubtedly inspire us all to believe we can truly accomplish anything we set out to do.

Love and Water- Can you share with us how you came to writing poetry and starting your own greeting card company?

Mary McManus- In December of 2006 I was diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome.  I'm a polio survivor, and as we polio survivors age we can start experiencing symptoms of fatigue, weakness, chronic pain, tremors, and difficulty swallowing and breathing.  We also, as a group, are typically type-A personalities, because we are so used to pushing ourselves past our limits and we don't always know how to say no or to pace ourselves.  There was a lot of shame around polio when I was young- it was called the AIDS of its day, because there was a lot of embarrassment over the idea that we were not good enough.  So we always had to prove ourselves, so to speak.  I was teased a lot in gym class because I wasn't able to participate in sports, and was limited physically.  So I pushed myself mentally.  In my career as a social worker, I pushed myself beyond my limits, and finally burnt out.  I went to the Spaulding Rehab Hospital for Polio, and the doctor said I needed to make some serious lifestyle changes if I didn't want to end up in a wheelchair for the rest of my life.  It was absolutely devastating to me because I felt like my whole world was crumbling.  Not only did I feel awful, but to have someone tell me I had to quit my job was completely overwhelming.  I started to meet with some therapists who were able to reflect such love and understanding back to me that I went into a short leg brace and used a wheelchair only sometimes, and I started reconnecting with God.  I had a vision of God as a child when I had polio, and I felt this amazing comfort.  But as I got older and was busy raising my family, I forgot about my spiritual side.  So one of the first things I did while I was healing was to go within.  As I was deciding what my next course in life was going to be I started to write poetry.  One of the first poems I wrote was called "Running the Race."  I had no idea when I wrote this in 2007 that I was going to go on to run the Boston Marathon.  I just knew in my mind's eye that I was winning a 10k race- and at the time I wondered why I was envisioning that, but I just went with it as part of my path to healing.  I started writing poetry at warped speed.  I had to have pen and paper with me wherever I went, and in the morning I would wake up and there would be a poem there.  They were all amazing, all about appreciation and gratitude and nature.  It was incredible, and as this was happening I began to reposition myself with these new interests.  My husband finally said to me, "why don't you start your own greeting card company?"  And I thought to myself, "why not?"  So I did.

L&W- What is the company called?

MM- It's called New World Greeting Cards: Original Poetry for Every Occasion, and I do customized poems for people.  People basically commission me to write personalized poems for their special occasions.  I do a lot of birthday and anniversary cards, and also weddings, eulogies, and anything else people may want a poem for.  Most recently I wrote a poem for a woman whose dad died seven years ago and she's now getting married.  She wanted to find a way to honor him, but she didn't want anything sappy or sentimental.  So we talked on the phone for about half an hour and then she sent me as much information as she wanted about him and their relationship.  I wrote it and she is very happy with it.  One of my customers wanted to buy herself a gift for the New Year for inspiration, and asked me to write a poem for her.  I was really touched by that, because I think that's such a special gift to give to yourself.  I was honored to write it. 

L&W- You also have a book of poetry!  How did that come into fruition?

MM- Soon after we created New World Greeting Cards, all kinds of events started happening that put me in the company of published authors, and I realized I had a book to write.  Ironically, around that time, when I went in for my mammogram, I found out I had a tumor.  I knew at that point that I was on such a good track for the first time in my life that I had to get rid of it.  So I started to visualize and meditate, and when I went in to have it tested again, it was gone.  It was a wake up call that I needed to continue on this new path I had found.  It's been an incredible journey.  I finished my rehab, got my book published, and in 2007 I hired a personal trainer because I needed to regain strength in certain areas of my body that had really suffered.  When I first started strength training I couldn't even pass the assessment test.  By February of 2008 I had made a good amount of progress, and we were talking about what my new goals were in my training, and I said I wanted to run the Boston Marathon!  It was amazing to me how I had a vision of it a few years before, and it hit me in that moment that I was going to actually do it.  I also knew I wanted to use it as an opportunity to raise money for Spaulding Rehab.  I bought my first pair of running shoes and started my training, and one year later my husband, daughter and I crossed the finish line on April 20 and raised over $10,535.00 for Spaulding Rehab.

L&W- That's so amazing, Mary!  So inspiring.  I understand you also have another book in the works?

MM- Well, I do a show on Blog Talk Radio called "It's All About You" and I read a poem from my book, "New World Greetings: Inspirational Poetry and Musings for a New World," on every show.  My second book is with a publisher now.  It's called "Set Sail For A New World: Healing The Self Through The Gift Of Poetry."  I donate twenty percent of the proceeds from both books to Spaulding Rehab.  On Thursdays I'm a co-host for a show called "City Enlightenment,' which is about finding sources of enlightenment wherever you are.  I write a poem for each show, and realized recently that I now have a third book in the works!

L&W- Can you talk about the work you do with Rotary Clubs, and how that is helping to cure polio?

MM- I speak at Rotary Clubs because Rotary International was given a grant by Bill and Melinda Gates to eradicate polio worldwide.  It would only be the second disease that was ever eradicated- smallpox was the first.  They donated roughly 300,000,000.00 to Rotary, and there is a matching grant for $200,000,000.00 in place.  To date, we have $109,000,000.00, which is really exciting.  A vaccine is only $.60, but the costs also go to getting teams together and in building teams in India, Pakistan and Nigeria, where polio is rampant.  Teams go in to educate the people in those countries so they understand the vaccine is safe, and could really save their lives.  There are many polio survivors today who work hard to share their stories of survival so that people can better understand the effects it has on the body.  Violinist and conductor Itzhak Perlman is a polio survivor.  He did the "Concert To End Polio" at Lincoln Center in December of '09.  He is now in a motorized wheelchair, but for this concert he came out in leg braces and crutches to illustrate to the audience of how devastating a disease this is, and that we can eradicate it.  So I go to local rotary clubs to share with them my journey with polio.  One of the clubs in making a donation in my honor to the End Polio Now Campaign.  When Rotarians buy my book, I donate twenty percent of the profits to the End Polio Now Campaign as well.  I was also the associate producer for WBZ Radio's The Jordan Rich Show on January 10 of this year "Polio: Forgotten But Not Gone," to bring awareness to Rotary International's End Polio Now Campaign.

L&W- Your stories are so moving and inspiring, Mary.  I'm so grateful you have shared them with us.

MM- When I speak or write an introduction for a speaking engagement I always sit back and recognize how grateful I am for what I've gone through and where I am today.  I do a gratitude journal everyday.  I've met the most amazing people on my journey, and am inspired by what people are doing.  There is so much good news out there.  And that makes me look forward to what there is to come. 

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It's Love and Water's 100th Post!!!

Hello Wonderful, Amazing Readers!

Today's post marks number 100 for the Love and Water blog!  Since I started the blog in September, I have had the opportunity to talk to some of the most amazing, inspiring people around the world and post their stories to share with the growing Love and Water community.  The purpose of the blog has been to build community for the upcoming t-shirt design contests that will create awareness and money for charities. 

On that note, I have good news!  The official Love and Water site is now underway, and will launch very soon!  Keep your ears open for updates, as I will be sending frequent updates on the site's progress, and the exciting contests and features we will have!

Onward and upwards...

Alexis

Meet Former NFL Player LEVAR FISHER: Motivational Speaker for Kids

Levar Fisher was a linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals, but now speaks to kids around the country about following their passions and living their dreams.  It is rare to meet such a passionate, motivating and genuine person who believes so whole-heartedly in making kids believe they can overcome anything.  Levar sets the bar for all of this and more.

Love and Water- How did you move from playing in the NFL to your work as an inspirational, motivational speaker for kids?

Levar Fisher- I played for the Arizona Cardinals from 2002 through 2004, and was with the New Orleans Saints in the off-season of 2005.  I had so many injuries, and my career didn't pan out like I thought it would.  I had four right knee surgeries, and a left knee surgery, and after those I couldn't run.  I felt like my career was taken away from me, and I cried about it for about a year- I'm not afraid to admit that.  It was devastating to me, and I felt like my whole life was ripped out from under me.  Before I left the NFL I was approached by a gentleman from Sports World Industries about speaking to kids on a circuit.  I started doing it and I got pretty good at it.  From that and the relationships I made, people started to want me to speak all the time.  I got so busy with it that I actually had to part ways with the sports world.  My wife is now my partner, and she does all of my marketing.  I've partnered with so many different groups and people, and I'm so inspired by the number of kids I've been able to reach who have lost hope or don't believe they can make a change in their lives.  To turn those beliefs around is so important to me because our kids are our teachers- they're the future leaders of this world, and they need to believe in themselves.  I try to approach every engagement I go into with that in mind.  There are some kids who seem to have it all together, and then there are some who I can see need love and support.  I try to reach those especially who don't have the love or support in their lives and make them understand that there are people who believe in them.  I feel so good about life.  I have a beautiful wife and daughters, and I know I have so much to be thankful for.

L&W- What groups and organizations do you speak to?

LF- I speak at schools, organizations like Kids Are Heroes, juvenile detention centers, prisons, churches- and I don't just limit my audience to kids.  I also speak occasionally to corporate audiences where there are no kids in attendance, because I can still inspire hope in adults who need an extra boost of confidence, and I'm happy to do so. 

L&W- How can people book you as a speaker?

LF- Through my site, www.levarfisher.com, or they can call 866-574-4776. 

L&W- What is the most moving moment you've had so far speaking?

LF- There was one young lady who got pregnant and had her baby, and came up to me after I spoke and was crying and shaking.  She had left her mom a note that she wanted her baby to be taken care of because she was going to kill herself.  After she heard me speak, she changed her mind.  Sometimes I go into these situations and I realized that this is what I was meant to do, especially when people show their appreciation for what I'm doing.  But this was a really emotional moment for me, because I realized it was changing me.  The fact that she was no longer thinking that she had no choice left made me feel I had done something really important.  Another time I was speaking in an inner city school and this kid came up to me and wanted to talk to me privately.  He had a gun in his pocket and he showed it to me and said he was going to turn it in that day because of what I had said in my speech.  He realized he could make more of his life than what he was doing at that point.  Again, I realized how important this work is to me.  I don't know what he was going to do with that gun, but nothing good could have come of it.  It's moments like that that keep me going. 

L&W- Do you keep in touch with the kids you've spoken to?

LF- Absolutely.  I encourage all of them to email me, and I read every single email.  I get back to every person who takes the time to email me with their questions or issues.  I keep in touch with the schools and talk to them to make sure they're following up with anyone who talked with me about the problems they're having and are trying to correct.  I also pass out comment cards after each speech and tell everyone to let me know how they're feeling and what they thought of the whole event.  When I read the cards there is so much love and they have so many questions about how they can work on making changes in their lives.  I get back to all of them with the information they ask for.  It's great, because I tell them that if they don't feel comfortable talking about something, they need to write it down, and that gets them to express what's on their mind, which leads them to figuring out how to make a change.  If I can help them in any way, I do.  One kid told me he was HIV positive on his card, and he needed help.  I made sure he got what he needed.  I talk to principals and to others who can give them the resources they need. 

L&W- What do you want people to most understand about what you do?

LF- The passion that I have to do what I do.  When I go around to these schools, I lay my heart out to these kids and I try to reach them on their level.  I don't believe that there is one linear way to become successful.  If there is a way to break them out of that way of thinking, I've done my job.  I share my craziest moments- I share the story of me watching on of my closest friends get killed.  I don't hold back, because I want them to know, without a doubt, that no matter what they're going through they're not alone.  There are others out there who have goine through something similar, and there is always a way to rise above it and use it to make a better choice.  I've learned from the mistakes in my life, and they have made me who I am today.  Through my mistakes I have been able to go after my dreams, and that's what it's all about.  I have so much passion for helping young kids realize that they can do the same thing. 

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Love and Water featured on 3for5.org Blog!!!

David Feulling of 3for5.org, who you know from the feature we did of his incredible organization, featured Love and Water on the 3for5.org blog!  Check it out:


http://blog.3for5.org/2010/02/alexis-fedor-has-great-idea_28.html

And be sure to look at what David is doing with 3for5.org- it's such a simple, amazing concept that further proves a lot of a little adds up to a lot, fast.

To All Artists: Behold the BRILLIANCE of Capes Coaching!!!

Betsy Capes is the mastermind behind Capes Coaching, the premiere coaching group for artists in New York City, and now, due to the launch of their incredibly accessible Artists In Action software, for artists all over the world!  As an actor who has coached at Capes, I can't recommend the detailed, committed, passionate, extremely effective and uncompromisingly thorough coaching that Capes offers any artist who wants to nurture and grow their career.  And, it's a ton of FUN!!!

Love and Water- I'm so excited, Betsy, to be sharing the brilliance of Capes Coaching with the Love and Water community.  Can you talk about what you do and how it began?

Betsy Capes- I started Capes Coaching six years ago this April, when I was working as a casting director.  I saw what seemed to me an epidemic of actors who I knew were working really hard and constantly feeling unsatisfied with the state of their careers.  I would see actors who I knew had incredible personalities and were brilliantly talented walk into an audition room and lose their authenticity because they felt so beaten down by what they considered being rejected by the industry.  It occurred to me that what actors need most is to focus on bringing their full selves to the way that they run their business.  If they knew how to run their business without compromising their personal lives or their art, I couldn't imagine how successful they could become.  The idea of supporting them and helping to fully navigate them through the entertainment industry really excited me.  I thought wow, this is really a tough business, and I have the gift of having been on the other side so how can I help make actors and artists struggle a little bit less.  So that's how it started.  My sister Jodie helped start the business with me.  We started working with just actors, but have grown into working with artists from all fields- writers, directors, producers, photographers, you name it. 

L&W- One of the most genius aspects of your coaching is The Path Class.  Can you talk about what that is? 

BC- Yes, well we started primarily as a private coaching business, which has always been the backbone of our business.  The Path Class was born out of a lot of the patterns and trends I was observing in my private clients.  I thought about how everyone needed to look at how we can both set our goals while creating balance in our lives at the same time.  I knew from my coaching that any artist could run their business, support themselves and take care of their personal needs simultaneously once they had a system in place.  It's such a great challenge, and I wanted to put all of those tools into a class where we could work on these goals in supportive group setting.  That was the birth of The Path Class.  I started teaching it as a huge one-day workshop about five years ago, but we quickly decided it would be much more effective to teach the material over the course of six weeks in order to give artists the time and space to plan their Paths for the next year.  We work through goal setting techniques, time management practices and a map that each person designs for their individual career and personal tracks.  And as you know, we keep the classes very small and intimate so each person can get one-on-one coaching while gaining the benefits of doing this work in a supportive group setting.  It really has become our main focus.  Jodie and I realized after teaching it for the four or fifth time that we really had something important going on in this class, so we decided to hone in on it and make it our core service. 

L&W- I know how powerful The Path class was for me, but I'm wondering what indication you and Jodie had that told you how unique and effective the class was for your students.

BC- I think it was seeing the impact the work was having on actors and artists and the amount of confidence and control we were seeing people walk away with.  There is so much that is absolutely out of our control in the arts industry, so when we help people zero in on what they do have control over, it brings a sense of power back into their work and their personalities.  Amazing things happen as a result.  They walk out with a process on how to work toward their goals, a process for what to do when their work doesn't go their way and they have a process on how to stay consistent and not lose momentum as they are working for what they want.  We watched what happened to those who stayed committed to their Paths, and were just blown away by the stories they came back to tell us. 

L&W- Do you still offer private coaching services?

BC- Yes, although I do feel that private coaching is more effective after having taken The Path Class, because it gives you a set of goals and a language to work with, which can make private coaching so much more specific.  But we've now created our Artists In Action online software, which we just launched at the end of February, that anyone can use as a tool if they can't manage to take The Path Class.  So we're very excited about that!


L&W- How does Artists In Action work?

BC- Artists In Action is a comprehensive online career-based planning tool designed for actors, artists and creative professionals.  We have audio lectures, special guest interviews, career planning tools and exclusive resources that are delivered weekly to your email inbox.  Members get coaching on a new topic every month.  Our first month is called "Being In Your Business," and I talk about the four main "artist traps" that I see artists struggle with as they work on staying committed to the business long-term.  We have courses on time management, managing your business, life/career balance, marketing and all areas of the business that are essential to maintain but can feel overwhelming to many artists.  So we're giving customized support to create successful careers on your own time and budget.  That is the most exciting part of this project- that it is the most affordable service we've ever been able to offer, and that's just awesome.  For only $17.00 a month you get this whole package of tools that are customized to help you stay on your own path. 

L&W- It must be amazing for anyone who has already taken The Path Class as well. 

BC- It's especially great for anyone who has taken the time to invest in The Path Class, and to invest in their own careers.  We really want to invest in supporting artists throughout the year in a way that is affordable.  The first month is free for all members, so anyone can try it and see how it works for them with no strings attached.  And it's for artists all over the world, at any level of their artistic career. 

L&W- How are you getting the word out about Artists in Action?

BC- This is the most fun part of our process.  We have so many ideas in terms of marketing, and for us it was just a matter of creating it.  We have the good fortune of having been in business for over five years, so our database is huge.  We have so many artists who are now in L.A., Chicago and all over the country, so we're able to spread the word through them.  I'm from St. Louis, and when I go home and talk to my friends about our business they all wish that they could experience it for themselves, and now they can.  It's really exciting, and we will be continuing to tailor it as we get feedback to make sure it meets everybody's needs. 

L&W- What is the most moving moment you've had with Capes Coaching?

BC- There have been so so many, and boy is that a tough question because I could go on for hours about the endless number of moments that have moved me.  I hesitate to attach it to one of our most successful clients, but it really is one of the most moving to me.  Working with Lennon Parham, and having sat with her in the coaching room for years, she was clearly so committed to her coaching work.  She was someone I always knew had the talent and skill but I was continuously blown away by her dedication to investing in her business, especially when there wasn't much going on for her.  Those are the times when I see artists get frustrated and feel stuck and discouraged.  But that was when Lennon did some of her greatest work, because she was dedicated to creating it herself, and making it happen.  All of the success that she has achieved up to this point is just remarkable.  She is now in L.A. starring in the sitcom "Accidentally On Purpose" with Jenna Elfman- she plays her sister- and that's great and wonderful, because it is definitely a success story.  But what is really amazing is to see when she comes in and we check in with where she is.  No matter where she is on the success meter she knows that the work doesn't end there.  In fact, it presents new struggles and challenges, which she so eagerly works on just as consistently as she did when she was first starting out.  Her ability to stay true to who she is just blows me away, and it's such an honor to work with someone like her.  And the best part is that I've got hundreds of other stories like her.  There is so much dedication and heart that goes into coaching and working on this side of one's career, and there is a lot of vulnerability around it.  So to see people invest their time and money and energy into working on enjoying their business is just remarkable.  It's a gift for me to be able to work with all these amazing artists.

L&W- I also know you are doing some coaching to benefit the victims of Haiti- can you talk about that?

BC- We wanted to find a way to help Haiti.  For the past few years we've been doing these 20/20 promotional events, where we offer 20 minutes of coaching for $20.00.  It's a one-day event that anyone can sign up for where I coach 20 people to introduce them to our coaching, or give a refresher session to those who have coached with us before.  So we thought we would do a 20/20 where all of the proceeds went to support Haiti.  We did our first one last week, and it went so well that we decided to do another one this week.  We're going to do another one soon- it's been a blast, and it adds a whole other layer of satisfaction in coaching for me.  We decided we want to do one every month so we can keep giving to such an important cause.

L&W- That's so amazing, and no doubt very satisfying.  Is there anything else you want everyone to know about Capes Coaching?

BC- I think what you're doing is amazing, because I think creating resources for artists that help them remember they aren't alone out there- because I know artists can so often feel isolated- is so important.  I think there is an inherent sense of faith that anyone has if they are courageous enough to pursue a career as an artist.  Not just as a hobby, but to really go for it.  It requires a certain amount of faith that is easy to lose sight of.  I want artists to find the support and resources that are out there- because there are so many resources out there- in order to continue to nurture their creative spirits and the sense of faith that got them into this business in the first place.  That is what Capes Coaching aims to do.

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For All Graphic Novel Fans: "BLANK" is HERE!!!

If you're a graphic novel fan, there is absolutely no question that you're already reading "Blank"- and if you're not, you're going to want to check it out RIGHT NOW!!!  It is, without question, one of the most sophisticated, profound and brilliantly illustrated graphic novels I've ever read, and it's just in its beginning stages of development.  Don Richmond and Ian LeWinter are the geniuses behind is inception, and were gracious enough to talk with me about the magical, moral and mythological world they've so intelligently created.

Love and Water- How was "Blank" brought into existence?

Don Richmond- We wrote it for really intelligent people like yourself.

Ian LeWinter- Which is really saying something, because we're not that smart, so we're not really clear how managed to create something like "Blank."  We think we're being managed by other beings. 

L&W- Wait, who is speaking right now?

Ian- This is Ian, and Don is right here.

Don- Just quote Ian for this entire interview.  He's sitting here with a gun, in case I say something stupid.

L&W- (laughter)

Don- I'm not kidding-

Ian- It's a 45 caliber pacemaker and I'm holding it to his forehead in case he says something that embarrasses me. 

L&W- (nervous laughter)

Don- This thing weighs like six pounds.

L&W- Well please don't hurt each other.

Ian- I'll try my best.

Don- So what was the original question?

L&W- Where did the concept for "Blank" come from?  Although you may have just answered that...

Ian- Well, Don and I work for the same advertising agency.  We've always done other things in the writing world, and one day Don walked into my office and said, "I have an idea..."

Don- I said I have this idea for a graphic novel.  Whenever I'm in a mind-numbing work meeting, I seem to always draw this girl with skeleton hands.  I can't think of anything else, and I try to take notes on her but nothing is coming.  I just keep drawing her.  I see that she's coming to this hitman and he's the only one who can see her.  I want to write something about them, and their relationship, but I don't have a bad guy.  And Ian turned to me and said, "the bad guy's name is Ouranos Gaia. And he wants to destroy the world."  And I said to myself, I knew Ian already had a solution.

Ian- And that's how it started.  The things that became the story had already been growing individually in our minds.  I think I actually wrote the first piece for "Blank" when I was around 14.  It was just in that moment that everything lined up, and bits and pieces of this other story that I had been carrying around in my head suddenly became part of this.  I invented Ouranos in the early 90's.  The first scene in "Blank" was written for something else, and it fit so perfectly for this story. 

Don- You know the two guys who started U2?  They put a sign up looking for a lead singer and guitar player, and ended up with Bono and The Edge.  Those two guys at some point had to turn to themselves and say, "we're the luckiest two schmucks on the planet, because look who fulfilled our request!"  That's how I felt when I told Ian about my idea.  It was like getting Bono and The Edge, together. 

L&W- I've been a huge fan of "Blank" for a while now, for many reasons.  Can you explain what it's about for those not yet familiar with the book?

Ian- Kind of not really, and the interesting reason why is because we don't want you to know.  And let me explain why.  We're trying to create a contract with you as the reader to want to read it because you don't know where it's going.  We are working to make it such an enjoyable and confusing ride by making each incremental step interesting and beautiful enough in itself that you want more.

Don- it's like if at the end of your life somebody asks you, "what was your life all about?"  If you could explain that in a paragraph, I would bet you had a pretty boring and one-dimensional existence.  So what if you had a story that was bigger than this life, and incorporated the next world, how would you describe that in a paragraph?  You couldn't do it, because you simply couldn't do it justice. 

L&W- Well you're doing an amazing job of that, because I'm completely enjoying the "Blank" ride- I was just hoping I'd get some inside scoop.

Ian- Let me offer you this small tidbit- there is a single question that "Blank" has an entire work built around.  The first book is called "Blank: Death," the second book will be called "Blank: Strife" and the third will be "Blank: Life."  The central question that all three books are asking and answering is whether or not man should be allowed to occupy its place on the planet earth after a reasonable analysis is made of how he has lived here today.  So it's an environmental question about the moral sphere and its inhabitants. 

Don- It's a question as well about how we've been treating our moral plane and ourselves on an ethical, social and moral level. 

Ian- It's wrapped up in the essence of Greek myth.  The myth of Beginning.  There are many characters and similes around the original Greek mythological stories in "Blank."  Interestingly, Ouranos Gaia has been told from the moment he was born that he was the single highest spiritual being on this planet.  His parents believed it, and everyone involved believed it, so there was no dishonesty over it in his mind.  He knows with every fiber of his being that it is his responsibility to save the earth.  So that is what he sets out to do.  He has no problem doing whatever it takes to achieve this, and taking whatever measures necessary to do so.  In the Greek stories of the Beginnings, the gods were out to restore order by measures they deemed necessary.  If that meant destroying the earth to achieve that level of balance, they had no problem doing so. 

L&W- I found "Blank" through my own Google search for awesome graphic novels (the "awesome" part is my own personal criteria).  Since it's only on the web for now, what are some other ways people have connected to "Blank?"

Ian- Every Thursday at 1:15pm I go to different street corner and start yelling.  (moment of laughter)  We're both flash animators and advertising execs, so we knew we could build a delivery system.  So the question then became how to build an audience, and we decided to use social media.  We launched on May 1, 2009, and since then I've tweeted over 19,000 times. 

Don- Ian's being kind here when he says "we."  Every Thursday he goes into hibernation and talks to the world all day long- he actually reaches out through Twitter as much as he humanly can.  If there's anybody that would get in his way of talking with people, he would mow them down, because he loves to connect with everyone he can.  The people who created social media didn't realize they were creating this monster known as Ian.  We have 50,000 followers on Twitter, and it's only been 10 months, and it's all because of Ian's passion to connect. 

Ian- I figure since I wrote my part of it- we both do the writing and Don does all the illustrating- Don is now taking our words and creating the visual pages.  So I now build our network, which is the least I could do for the work we have put out. 

L&W- What is the most moving moment you've had so far working on "Blank?"

Ian- I wrote my part about a year and a half ago.  I now just sit and wait for Don's pages to come up on my computer screen.  There are times when the spread comes up and I feel so uncomfortable- I'll call Don and say, "hey, we have to change those words because they're wrong..."  And he'll say, "really? Because when I read what you wrote there..."  and I'll say, "I wrote that??"  It's amazing to me that I wrote something that he interpreted visually in such a way that made me forget that I wrote them.  He's that good, and those are pretty moving moments to me.

Don- I remember the most moving moment I've had.  We had just started working on "Blank," and a blonde jogger gets killed pretty quickly in the first chapter.  I wanted to try to do something really beautiful with that, and I remember showing my girlfriend the spread, because it was one of the first pages I had done and I wasn't sure of it, and she started crying.  And I said, "what??"  And she said, "that's just beautiful."  And it's a page where the girl is hitting the windshield, and blood is flying everywhere, and I said, "but do you see what's happening?"  And she said, "yes, it's just beautiful."  That was such a moving moment for me, because it gave me such a confidence that what we were doing was effective.

Ian- One of the ways to describe our relationship is this: Don will walk into the room and say, "what if we have a car run over a baby, sitting in a bassinet..."  And I'll say, "that's good, but how can we make that a little more fucked up?"  It's something really twisted that leads to the crux of something really profound and beautiful, and we both understand that on such a deep level. 

L&W- Is there anything else you want people to know that we haven't talked about?

Don- Send help.  I'm stuck with this guy and he scares me. 

Ian- We're both really honored that you're doing this feature on us, and if there's anything we can do for you in return, please don't hesitate for a second to let us know.  We also want to say that we are eternally grateful to our readers and look forward to hearing their responses.  It's what we put this out for.

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Debbie Jones: Mother, Artist, Writer, Director, Human Being

Debbie Jones is a New York City artist who writes award-winning plays, has a production company with her three daughters (one being the magnificent improv coach, Samantha Jones, who was just recently featured on the L&W blog), has a collection of short stories coming out, wrote an independent film that is touring the festival circuits, and now writes for television.  In short, she is what every artist imagines themselves to be at the height of creativity: an evolving human being.

L&W- When did you know you wanted to be doing what you are doing now?

Debbie Jones- I grew up in a farming community in New Jersey, and there was a big old hill in the back of the town called Turkey Hill.  You could see Manhattan from there, and I knew I was coming here.  I think when I was 18 it hit me, but all my life I was reminded by old chums who used to live on the block with me that I was putting on shows when I was five years old in Susan Peters' garage.  So I think it was always there but I didn't face it until I went to college.  I was very fortunate there because I ran into this old nun who was about 4'10" and close to 90 years old at the time, and I guess she recognized a fellow thespian because she gave me an enormous amount of attention and opportunities in the theater.  I directed probably around 100 shows in my 20's.  That's when it really started, I would say.  That really got the ball rolling for me.  I lived in the Lower East Side when I first arrived, where my daughter Samantha is doing a lot of her work. 

L&W- How has the Lower East Side changed from the time you first arrived?

DJ- I'll tell you, it's almost the same as it was when I came here in terms of the neighborhood and culture.  It has enormous freedom for artists.  Artists can get lost there, and not have to play by all the rules.  They can do all the pure work they want to do there.  My daughter Samantha is now directing a one-woman show for her friend Penny, and it's an extraordinary piece of work that perhaps might not be seen if it weren't done on the Lower East Side.  The community seems willing to take in and allow productions to happen.  That has been alive for decades.  It's a place for people who want an opportunity and a chance, which we're losing in New York City.  You used to be able to come here and get an apartment and be comfortable enough while pursuing your art, and that really isn't true anymore.  But there is still some of that left on the Lower East Side, which is so important.  There's a lovely irony in the fact that all three of my daughters do some of their work there.

L&W- You have a production company called Dora Mae Productions with your daughters- when did you all decide to create that?

DJ- When my girls were little- my twins were in sixth grade and Samantha was in high school- it became a necessity because I really wanted to go out and do theater.  They would work on the shows with me, working the door and props, and they did a good job in those years.  So even though the actual production company wasn't officially formed until 2002, we had years and years of experience working together, and now we're full partners.  We made our independent film, "The Last Christmas Party," together, which my daughter Jeannine Jones and I wrote.  We did "The Breezeway" together- a play I wrote- and we did another play I wrote called "Jeremy Rudge," which was produced at The Mint Theater Company.  Austin Pendleton and Becky Baker were in it, both of whom are brilliant actors, and I was so happy to have them.  We worked on a television pilot that I directed called "6:03," which is by Ato Assundoh.  Samantha was in it along with Chuck Bunting.  My other daughter, Rebecca Lally, and I collaborate on treatments for television together.  Samantha and I predominantly work as director/actor.  She was in "The Breezeway" and also "The Last Christmas Party."

L&W- What projects are you working on now?

DJ- I'm putting out a collection of short stories right now.  They were kind of in the shadow of my life.  When I was raising my three daughters, I used to write from about 11:00 at night to about 3:00 in the morning, because that's the only time I had.  Sometimes a short story would slip out, and I realized at one point that I had a whole collection of them that had never been edited or taken care of.  So that's what I'm doing right now.  We're calling it "Tales of Wonder from the Garden State," because they're stories that I guess you could say have "earthy magic"- some have a Twilight Zone feel to them, and some are simply character studies.  My palate is predominantly working-class people.  That's where I come from, and that's who I write about.  I would love to see "The Breezeway" on Broadway.  We won some awards, and got it produced, and it would be great to see that happen.  I directed "The Last Christmas Party" that is currently out on the circuit.  It was a really good experience- we shot it in about two weeks and part of it was improvised and part of it was scripted.  Samantha produced and acted in it, Jeannine co-wrote and co-edited and Rebecca was director of photography and co-editor.  We just decided to take some of the shorter plays that Jeannine and I had written and incorporate them into this script, and then do a documentary of this party that we do every year.  We couched the plays inside of the documentary, and it worked well. 

L&W- When will "Tales of Wonder from the Garden State" be available?

DJ- We're working to get agent interest, but we're willing to publish it ourselves as well.  I think when you start out in this profession you can have an idea about what you want, but I've gotten to a point where I understand my own work and I've shaken out all the notions of waiting for someone else to do it for me.  I can get my work out on my own, if I can't get it done in more formal or traditional ways.

L&W- That is very inspiring for many artists to be reminded of, and the fact that you do it so successfully is so admirable.  What would you say is the most moving moment you've had so far in your artistic life?

DJ- Getting "The Breezeway" produced was very important to me.  The play really works, and seeing audiences respond to it touches me a great deal.  There's a monologue in it that talks about the character's brother Joey, and Samantha played that part.  When she did that monologue, it really knocked me out.  It moved me, because it's a good monologue and she's brilliant, but also because it's about my brother Fred, essentially.  In every work I always believe there is a character who is the artist, and that character was me at a certain age.  The viewpoint was expressed in that character through my daughter's efforts.  That was probably the most moving moment for me.

L&W- Do you enjoy writing for film and television as much as you enjoy writing plays?

DJ- I think that the evolution from being mainly a playwright, into writing for film and now television has been a very good transition.  My daughters encouraged me to make that transition and I'm pleased that I did because I used to think that writing for film meant giving up good writing.  I thought it lacked language.  But I see now that I can do great writing for film, and it translates so beautifully.  So I'm happy about that.


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