ten things i am lovin', in complete and absolute random order...
1. being barefoot (even better... sandy barefeet)
2. the first sip of coffee in the morning
3. mid-route of my run
4. conversations that change languages (even my broken versions)
5. fruit/veggie trucks
6. tucking in my two little pirates
7. bakasana
8. this song
9. tangled, salty, sea-soaked tresses tied up in a knot
10. moonlight and laughter
oh, and um.....gelato should really be a staple on this list right about now!
we live in a creative household. although it is an adventure, it's not always easy, but we share a common understanding of the need for creative expression, projects, and outlets. he's known here as: j, papa, husband, friend, jedi master, and author - thought i'd let his words do all the talking. meet james sperl, author
Why writing / storytelling?
It's the only way to purge the glut of ideas from my tiny brain. If I didn't write, I think my head would eventually explode.
How long have you been writing?
I have been writing words and sentences since grade school. But my very first attempt at writing a story that wasn't assigned to me was with a script I wrote at 25. I had no idea what I was doing, only that I could see the plot and the characters engaging in some sort of narrative. So I scribbled it all down.
Where do your story ideas come from?
They could be from almost anywhere. Sometimes it's a newspaper or magazine article, other times it could be as innocuous as a TV commercial. They really do come at me from all angles.
What's the most challenging part of being a writer?
Finding the time to actually do it. As a stay-at-home dad, working in even an hour some days is tricky. Some advice I once read (I forget who said it) on the best way to become a writer was to never get married and never have kids. I did both. I might be screwed.
Who inspires you?
My mentors are constantly shifting--and they are very often NOT writers. My first love has always been film so I tend to gravitate toward those individuals who can take an idea and turn it into something visual. I am blown away by how so many people can focus their attention on a singular goal. A good example, and my current inspiration, however, is Walt Disney. Maybe it's because we just returned from Disney World a few weeks ago, but to walk through those parks and learn about all the grand ideas that man had and made happen after so many years of failure...well, what's not to be inspired by?
If you allowed yourself to dream big with no boundaries /limits, what would that look like?
I can safely say it would look like Willy Wonka's Chocalate Factory around our house, minus the candy. In its place would be nothing but creative elements to foster the slew of ideas you and I have, but don't have the time or money to pursue. We're both creative people and like to dip our toes into many different facets of art and creativity. If it were up to me our home would be so saturated with art supplies and tools, Dick Blick would look like the art and activities section at Wal-Mart. That's how it would look. Oh, and we'd be rich with a big house and lots of cars. (wink, wink)
Your proudest creative accomplishment?
This answer hasn't changed in years, but it's still at the top for me. Performing a classic guitar recital--complete with tux--in an auditorium when 3 and a half years prior to that moment I had never played the instrument nor could I read a note of music. That still pretty much rocks for me.
Are there any authors you admire?
There are several. I became a fan of Cormac McCarthy after reading the "The Road" a few years back. Since then I've tried several of his other books and have just been floored at his ability. The guy possesses a grasp of the English language I think most writers strive for. It just seems to flow from him so effortlessly. His descriptions are nothing short of poetry. I also am a fan of Dan Simmons. While I'm not a big historical fiction buff, I quite like his "The Terror" and "Drood". Both were massive reads, but they pulled you in so well the books didn't feel so daunting to get through. There are other authors with the occasional work that stand out here and there. Currently, I'm reading. "Wool" by Hugh Howey and am quite impressed with it.
What do you love most about storytelling?
The ability to not only create something unique, but to transport another person into this dreamed up world and have them believe, even if only for a little while, that it exists. There's nothing more satisfying to me than when a person tells me they cried when a character dies or they ask for a sequel to a particular story. When that happens, I know I've done my job.
What lies ahead, creatively speaking, for you?
I'm currently dipping my toes into the Young Adult market and writing a trilogy. Titled "Sideland", it will provide a boy's perspective to the awkwardness of being a teenager, juxtaposed against a mind-bending world revelation. It's an idea I've had for some time and it finally feels right to try and get it on paper.
How does living overseas affect you, creatively, or does it?
The one thing I've noticed I do now is try and work in some element of living in Italy into my stories. It could be a brief reference to certain bread types or I might include locations I've visited into the story. What's the old saying? Write what you know? Well, I certainly do that. But being exposed to a different culture has allowed me to 'know' more and only bolsters my confidence to write about such things.
What do you love most about Italy?
Hands down, the pace of life. The Italians seem to really know how to enjoy their day to day existence and don't seem to get caught up in the same trap as many Americans who feel that the more they work, the more money they'll have, therefore, the happier they'll be. It's a totally different mindset. I'm certain there are Italians who would prefer to be stinking rich and not struggle, but, at least from what I've seen, they're not so preoccupied with the Almighty Euro that they are willing to sacrifice their quality of life. They allow themselves vacations and time to relax, and family time is relished. It all works for me.
From James Lipton, host of Inside the Actor’s Studio:
What is your favorite word? Chocolate
What is your least favorite word? Irreguardless. Why? Because it's not a word, people!
What sound or noise do you love? My kids' laughter.
What sound or noise do you hate? Children shrieking.
What is your favorite curse word? F**k. There's just no substituting for those hard consonant sounds.
What’s something about you that would surprise us? At one time, I was on track to become an airline pilot.
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? If I had the math chops, I would love to do ANYTHING that involved space. As our last frontier, I find the mysteries of space and space travel wholly fascinating. Speaking of which, super props to JPL and NASA for their success with Curiosity. I am in absolute awe of those people.
For more information, be sure to stop by www.jamessperl.com and you can find his books here.
and just like that, we are home. home from our nomadic nearly month long journey of visiting family, friends, and of course one very famous mouse.
we arrive exhausted yet full - full of all that love that only real-life connections with those you cherish can provide. and yet, we are also happy to be back home here in italy - back to our family of friends we have met here.
when we arrived, a beautiful painting (left) from this amazing one was waiting for us.
for many reasons, she is treaused. she honors a friendship forever missed and yet also one that is just beginning. such is life, i suppose...a precoius cycle of beginnings and endings.
chiara, our gratitude is as deep as your talent is boundless.
xo
i picked kai up from school and we decided we needed to be down near the water today, so we headed to the sea.
a collection of random thoughts while sitting on the beach this afternoon...
::i will never tire of the sound of the waves meeting the shore, not even when i am 100...never
::the wind blew the flag lines against the poles sounding like little windchimes this afternoon and my mind pulled up memories of going over to a good friend's house in high school. his mom always had every window open and the breeze would blow through the house and ring a symphony of chimes by the pool. i loved how that felt to be there
::i wonder how many shores these little shells have found
::watching light play along the waves is one of the most magical things ever
::just how much sand has kai collected on his clothes...wait, is he still wearing his socks? kaiiiiiiiiiii!
so i want to share a bit of a journey with you...i have always considered myself a health conscious person - at some points in my life, a bit obsessively so. for the past 6 weeks, i have been reading and following the Eat to Live lifestyle. i was interested in hopes of lowering some numbers in my blood work; weight loss wasn't my goal but have to say it's been a bit like icing on the cake. at first, i thought my cravings for a carb or a slice of cheese would get the better of me but all of those have gradually dissipated. my diet now is mostly plant based and raw. my energy is up and my body feels really nourished and clean. the other night we watched this documentary. let me just tell you, by the end i was nearly cheering. pure inspiration. and there is a line in the credits where joe cross says he lives 'for moderation not perfection' and it has rung true on a ton of levels for me.
this weekend was one that won't leave my heart for long. we traveled a bit, stayed with a good friend (who feels more like family than friend), met some lovely new folks, and i took a yoga retreat with wonderfully talented, Neesha Zollinger.
i have followed her classes online for sometime, so it was great to be able to take a class in person and immerse myself in the community atmosphere of class and the powerful energy that creates. she is an inspiring teacher and i left feeling open to so many possibilities.
i am grateful for the opportunity and the entire trip.
finally, it feels like spring has truly made it, and this weekend provided a much needed change of scenery and routine as we wandered along a hilltown. her blooms have appeared on branches, causing some to hang heavy under their weight. her winds, although still cool, are just enough to provide respite from the direct warmth of the sun's rays. you can feel her presence in the people you pass by. they smiled as they browsed the markets or sipped cafe at an outdoor table - all seemed a bit lifted and bright. it was a weekend where i could collect my thoughts, finish some projects, schedule others, and savor the delights of two giggling little boys who thrive on exploring a new place as if they are the very first to discover her. yeah...it was one of those weekends.
it's true, i believe i have tried every planner on the market in my attempts to find a system that works for me. and while it's not perfect, it definitely is the best match for me and my wandering mind. i use the planner pad and then trick that sucker out until it looks/feels like something i want to have hanging around.
it all began last year, when inspired by kelly rae's use of fabric on a planner cover - bingo! love the texture and contrast this brings. so this year, i free-styled with some scraps i had laying around. i created the tabs to mark the months out of cut-outs from an old anthropologie catalog. they have such great textures captured in their photos.
i do plan on putting a vision page in there too to help me stay focused on some of my big intentions for 2012. but nothing too formal. formal is what kills me and shuts me down. it's got to be organic, flowing, and easy - then i my attention stays glued. i have some images that i have been collecting and, of course, i have a great little drawing from 'pirate kai' that will find a home there too.
~here's a new set of tunes for you to plan your year to~
*also, a guest post from mindy on creative everyday for another way to customize your planner
