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Special Feature! Author/Illustrator Chris Guest!

2/28/2014

Chris Guest is a writer, illustrator and educator. Having taught English for 12 years he wanted to offer more, reach out to those who didn’t have a character to identify with or didn’t like books instantly. Chris believes passionately that reading, writing, being creative defines people and helps them and just like a good teacher you reach out and make all of that accessible and of a high quality. This is his ethos for starting his upcoming site www.readwriteink.com

Chris grew up in the UK, in a average size house, living a pretty average life; drawing and writing offered a window where he could escape it all. Both skills stuck and have been a huge part of his life ever since and now he wants to pass on that love for all things English by developing a writing hub where educators can go to get great resources, writers can go to get support and discuss their projects and where students can have access to great revision guides, podcasts and shows. It’s a big job, huge in fact, but Chris seems more that up for the challenge!

Thank you for submitting your work for sharing! I just wanted to ask a few questions. I found your work by scrolling through posts. One of your pics, caught my eye! I was very impressed! Especially now that I have seen Kurt Cobain! So I wanted to find out more about you.

Q) Do you illustrate only for your books or do you sell your artwork to other authors?

A) I really illustrate work that interests me or that I would enjoy doing. I know that might seem a little aloof, but I really don’t want to do illustrations for projects I won’t enjoy. Illustration for me is a love and a passion so if it became a cold process I wouldn’t want to do it. This way I can always give my best to the work.

Q) What is the best way to contact you about your artwork in case someone is looking for an illustrator?

A) The best place is my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/readwriteink I’m always there and it’d be great to connect with other people.
I would especially love to make links with people who have gone the indie route of writing and could help me get my work out there. Obscurity is more of a hindrance than any writer’s block!
I am also offering to do free illustrations for projects to build my portfolio so please get in touch!

Q) Are you working on any titles right now?

A) I have got several in the works which I am currently doing the illustrations for my main Novel Owen Ryan and the Giants of Alta Giga (working title) is ongoing.

It’s a story of a rough and ready kid who has a magical adventure forced upon him, and if he doesn’t accept his fate the world we know and the world which we don’t will cease to exist. I’m a perfectionist so I have redrafted it several times which delays my illustration for it!

I am also working on a lot of younger reader projects as well as developing my new site which will launch next month – www.readwriteink.com which I am hoping will be quite a cool place for people to go.

Find out more about Chris and his work!
https://www.facebook.com/readwriteink

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Makayla's Story

2/2/2014

9 Comments

Upon arriving home from work, I checked my Facebook as many of us do after a long day away from home. The post of a good friend caught my eye. Author Rene Schultz made a comment to a friend and it touched my heart. So, I commented. I found that Rene is friends with a beautiful girl of thirteen years old, who aspires to be a writer someday and she is suffering from Hodgkinz Lymhpoma. She has beat cancer four times and is now currently in remission. Having lost my sister to cancer over a year ago and knowing a few friends who are fighting the battle as well, this girl's story immediately stole my heart, just as she did Rene's. Makayla is bright, intuitive, funny and loves to help people. She has a youtube channel called Bitten by Beauty, created to help others when they are in need of beauty tips and more. Bless her little heart for being so concerned with others when she has enough going on in her own life. Makayla has agreed to speak with me for a bit and has allowed me to share our conversation. She even began asking ME questions, look out world, here comes Makayla!

Makayla and her Dad, Mike.

Makayla: What inspires/motivates you to do stuff?

Julie : Lol. Look at you asking me good questions! Okay, I’ll answer! I decided to write a short story because I was bored so I wrote a novella last March, published it and then…here I am.

Makayla : You make it sound so easy…

Julie : It was, to a point. I want to give you one, but I fear the language and content is a bit too strong for you.

Makayla : Lol, if you knew my family you wouldn't say that. I understand. It’s perfectly fine.

Julie: You and I have a mutual friend... Author Rene Shultz. Rene's great isn't she? I want to say thank you , Rene. This girl is awesome.

Makayla: Yup!! She is a great and inspiring person just like you!!

Julie: Aww thanks so much. Rene cares very much for you.

Makayla: Hi Rene!!

Julie: Who is your favorite music artist?

Makayla: Right now it's Imagine Dragons.

Julie: I like them, too. Whats your favorite television show?

Makayla: I like to watch teen wolf, vampire diaries, true blood, and more. On YouTube it is usually beauty guru videos, to help inspire me for videos.

Julie: I love True Blood ! Can't wait for it to come back on! I don't watch anything other than True Blood and American Horror Story on T.V. That's it.

Makayla: I watch american horror story, too!!

Julie: I am so glad that Cordelia was The Supreme! Look at us getting carried away, lol!

Makayla: I know!!

Julie: Okay, just curious! Who is your favorite True Blood character and why?

Makayla: Eric Northman, because he lays down the law and he is sexy of course!! Lol.

Julie: LMBO OMG. Somehow I knew you were gonna say that! Mine, too! He better not be burned up next season, I will be so mad! lol

Makayla: I know!! Lol.

Julie: We have to do this more often off the record!

Makayla: Yeah, lol. It feels good to talk to someone about it.

Julie: I am always here. Okay, playtime is over! (Julie pouts) Now back to business…. I hear through the grapevine named Rene ;), that you enjoy writing and aspire to be an author. What inspired you to write?

Makayla: I'm not really sure... I guess I have a big imagination... Whenever I get a idea I just start writing trying to expand t to something great.

Julie: Who is your favorite author?

Makayla: That is a really hard one... I never pay attention to who wrote the books, sometimes I do but not really... So, I guess don't have one.

Julie: Makayla, you sent me a few of your stories and they are fantastic for a writer your age! You keep up with this pace and it will go good for you in the writing world before you know it. How does your family feel about your writing? I am sure they encourage you greatly!

Makayla: They feel that I should try me best to stay inspired and finish my book.

Julie: It's awesome that you have such a great support for your desire to write!
Makayla: Yeah, it is.

Julie: Now, this is a question that I hate to ask. What type of cancer do you have?

Makayla: I have Hodgkins Lymhpoma, I beat cancer 4 times now and currently in remission. My cancer started at a 4B, not sure what it is now.

Julie: I am surely happy that you are in remissions. Congratulations! What other hobbies do you have besides writing ?

Makayla: I like to learn about stuff, I feel as my brain is a sponge and needs to soak things up. I also like to watch YouTube videos, too.

Julie: Me, too. I watch a lot of documentaries. I understand you have your own you tube channel as well. What inspired you to create Bitten by Beauty?

Makayla: Actually, it was people with cancer that doesn't feel beautiful and Bethany Mota, a famous YouTube beauty guru. And my channel is unique because we're aiming to help people with Cancer feel beautiful. I support anyone with cancer and I understand what they're going though, and they're the ones that inspire me. I want my channel to help them feel beautiful makeup or not.

Julie:Do you get a lot of traffic for your site?

Makayla: No, not really. All together I have 89 views on all my videos and 5 subscribers, which two of them are family. So,make that three.

Julie: Well we hope to raise that number! How did you come up with the name?

Makayla: I got my channel name from me and my cousin's family spa business we made, we called Bitten by Beauty and our motto was "Pain is beauty, and beauty is pain."

Julie: Do you have any words of inspiration for others fighting cancer?

Makayla: I would have to say that if you keep on fighting, YOU WILL WIN THE BATTLE!! Remember that everyone loves you and cares about you, and never forget that. Times may be rough but keep fighting, it just makes you stronger for the tougher things in life. :)

Visit her channel Bitten By Beauty here:
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKZzlf7HM_mFFz3o4rUwPxw

Julie: Such inspirational words from such a young soul...

Makayla: Thank you, especially for this opportunity to get my channel out there.

Julie: Thank you, for chatting with me and I wish you well on your journey, sweet girl!

Note: I had a wonderful time chatting with Makayla! I leave you now with her inspiring article, Don't Give Up!

  Don’t Give Up!!!

   Hi, I’m Makayla. Owner of PiiXIE Dust Magazine and I’m here to inspire you not to give up. I once heard a quote by Kelly Rowland saying ‘Never give up on your dream… because you never know what the lord can bless you with.’ That is a good way to think about it, they’re practically saying that, don’t give up you never know that once you give up is when the tide was going to actually turn. Now, here are some things that can help inspire you not to give up.

1)    Always keep something small with you that you can keep in your pocket, purse, backpack, whatever that inspires you.

2)    First, make an inspiration folder, then search up inspiring quotes or pictures on Google images, lastly pick out the ones you like and save them in your folder, now whenever you need to be inspired not to give up just look in your inspiration folder.

3)    Think of somebody that is your role model, they’re somebody that inspires you, think of what all they are and do that inspires you, write it down, and whenever you need to be inspired, either look at what you wrote down, or think of your role model.

4)    Read peoples poems and books, that inspire you.

5)    Try going outside, outside has all these beautiful wonderful things, like butterflies, plants, and much more. Outside can be very inspirational.

I hope these five tips and tricks can help you out, I know they helped me and a bunch of other people. I hope that you are now inspired not to quit, but one more thing before you go, I need you to say this pledge out loud and clear.

I (Name here) promise that I will always and I mean always try my best to not give up, and even help inspire others not to give up. As Kelly Rowland says, ‘Never give up on your dream… Because you never know what the lord can bless you with.’ Now chant these words three times INSPIRE! INSPIRE! INSPIRE! INSPIRE!! INSPIRE!!! I pledge.

Now was that hard? No… Ok great!!! I guess, I’ll see you all some other time, I’m glad I helped someone out there. Peace out.

VISIT BITTEN BY BEAUTY

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Special Feature! Author/Illustrator Chris Guest!

Makayla's Story

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