MUSIC + INDIEGOGO = ARTIST REALITY

Scott Andrew Moffatt has made a name for himself. 

As one-fourth of the band The Moffatts he has seen fame and success, with hits such as Miss You Like Crazy and Bang Bang Boom. When the band decided to call it quits for personal reasons his dream of music did not. Scott went on to form the band The Boston Post and releasing an EP with them as well. They saw some minor success, but eventually decided to end the band for unknown reasons. Afterwards, Scott decided to rejoin with two of his brother's forming The Moffats (making sure never to use their real spelling unless it was all of them) for a brief time. Eventually he moved along becoming a solo act as well as a producer for numerous bands that have seen success in their own way. Scott has proven, and continues to prove, time and time again; even receiving numerous accolades as a producer, songwriter, and musician. A triple threat. He does everything with a passion and it shows.

Continuing now on his second solo album; he is looking towards the future, and using the resources of media to help him in his mission to do what he loves; music. Let his music speak for itself. Listen here.

Personally I feel his album is worth it; a mix of pop, country, and folk with a vibe all its own. It steps you into a world all his own. Scott Moffatt’s (S.A.M.) voice has a uniqueness all its own as well: raspy, deep, and yet melodically sweet like a mockingbird. With heart and soul he sings, and you feel each note, each lyric because of it. It can lift you up, make you dance, or just envelope you like a warm blanket on a bad day. It's life, with a bit of sass all rolled into one; and it's glorious.

So…if you want to help him: donate to his indiegogo page where Scott shows not only his gratefulness, but his intelligence for the craft he loves so much. That on its own makes it worth it. But, if that is not enough; as always with these platforms, there are reward incentives artists give to help make it extra worth it. Even if you can spare $1; every little helps to get this wonderful music out.

Check Out More:
Facebook | Twitter | Official | Productions | Soundcloud | INDIEGOGO

Years in the Making…Changes…

I love how much writing I've been doing and though some parts are a bit shaky, I'm okay with that, for now. I've also come up with trying to decide whether to make my novel an actual novel or splitting up into a novella. Both are great, but ultimately its up to dipping my feet in the proverbial waters and being comfortable to diving head first all the way, or slowly walking in. If the water is cold: jumping in is the best option. Sure there is a lot of uncertainty, but sometimes that leap is all you need to soar and swim the fastest and best that you can to make sure you do not sink. If you do happen to sink, you stay calm and do your best to make it to out alive; even leaning on others for comfort/help. If the waters are warm: walking in can be just as amazing, because you feel safer and better and can really pace yourself to swim and succeed. You might still need just as much help, but you are doing it slowly and you are setting the pace. Either way: you're getting in the water, and that means WAY MORE than how you get there.

***********************************

Off of my metaphors….I have decided that my novel will now be a novella instead. At least that is what I'm thinking I want. I love the idea of a quicker read and breaking it up, rather than having one extra long novel that may or may not turn into two (depending on the response I get). I guess the novella could go the same way and not turn into another, but I want to give these characters the "baby" treatment and give them an extra fighting chance. 

*************************************

Now some have asked me: What is a novella? What's the difference between the two?

Novel: There is no SET length (past 80 pages), but it usually ranges from 60,000 and up, and usually more up then at 60,000. 

Novella: Is usually 20,000 to 55,000 words (roughly 50 to 110 pages).

At least that's how I've seen it within my research of other authors and through searches. 

****************************************

I'm excited for this novel/novella to actually see fruition. There are a few versions of this story started where I tweaked a few things (place, people, powers) HAHA! But now I have finally settled between 2 versions I like. Although many have routed for me and have read almost each (sans newest version) begged me to finish; I always put on the back burner. I finally got around to the outline and I realized if the main idea has never changed, then this story deserves to be told. Who holds on to an idea for a story for 5 years without seeing it through? Maybe a lot. Who decided to do something about? This girl.

Although I am still working on a few other projects (to be named later, as one is a secret project for/with a friend that may or may not see fruition despite both our time), short stories, and poems. As well as one more project (trying to get it off the ground first); I am devoted to this novel/novella.

I hope it's a success, but to me success would be if 5 non-family/friend read it and decide they like it. I'm hoping that's true, and I hope to find time to possibly make this into a fantastic series. I have slated out ideas for at least 1 novel and 2 more novellas if all goes right. Who know? At least I'm willing to try. Right? Right?

*Looks into abyss*

Poem: From the Archives

I have been musing over the idea of putting up stories, poems, lyrics; that I have been put on the back burner and slowly put into old archives to be pulled back up to be re-worked, or just looked at. I am a self-described pack rat of pictures and old written works. It's who I am. The perfectionist in me tends to almost always find something wrong with one of my works and I deem it unfit and send it away. Only two of my works have truly been published (a short story and a poem) and that was only because a family member found them and submitted them to a publisher to be published oh so long ago. My passion for writing remains as consistent as it was, (and possibly burning brighter), from my former, younger self. I have learned and grown, and ultimately (I'd least I'd like to think so) grown as a writer. I prefer pen and paper (I'm faster too) then my computer, but needless to say it is much easier to archive on said computer. Ah technology. 

******************************************

 When the light hits the sky

And the darkness draws near

Remember to fly high

And be a good little dear

Bombs are exploding

Life is unfair

Moms are holding

On with care

If you feel so lost

Unsure where to turn

At any cost

Keep on to yearn

From the past to the present

Love finds a way

Keep following the scent

Of loves true way

*************************

Short: yes. This was written for a class actually in middle school (groans) and I remember not being utterly thrilled with it, but I did it and received a high mark with a note on how I should be a writer and she would love to see more. It sparked something more in me and resounded with family and friends telling me I should "write more" and "you should be a writer". It's hard work, rewarding work. My hats off to all you writers. Keep it up. 

Was thinking of adding on to it all these years later. What do you think? Back burner it or add to it?

Music & Writing

Why does music and writing seem to pair perfectly together? Every author seems to have their own soundtrack to each book, and I am constantly eager to hear the picks they choose. Almost like a full on movie (I cannot be the only one that while reading a good book starts to envision characters) being brought up. Yet, sometimes delving in to the music of your favorite books choices seems very raw and really personal to reach in and ask. Music is an expression, an extension; and one of the greatest assets of all time. As with writing, it as been around for centuries.

Am I the only one who wonders if centuries ago they hummed or tried to remember the music that they fixated on to write from? I'm not mentioning lyricists, songwriters…although in thought, them too. Everybody takes pieces from their lives, research, friends, family, but ultimately from music that was created.Of course their had to be original music that was not taking from music and I am sure books were not always created with music in mind.

Simple times away from electronics, wear moleskin and a quill sufficed, and I rickety grand piano was the muse. Which way is better? Both (then and now) have created masterpieces in their own right.

I guess it just boils down to entertainment now matter how you truly think about it. Maybe neither way is better.

So my real question is: Do you write with music? Or are you a moleskin and quill kind of writer?

My BF (But We're Different)

BF can stand for boyfriend and best friend, although a lot of people use BFF for friend. To have a best friend forever to me means you need to have had the best friend for most of your lifetime and consider them until old age. Maybe I'm wrong…I often times am. My opinion remains.

Then there are the best friends that are BF interchangeably. They start out as one and morph to the other and vice versa. I grew up having a best guy friend that never morphed into the latter, but there were feelings there at one point that I chose to act on. Did he feel the same way? I'll never know, and I never asked. Maybe I was just scared, but I'd like to think it was to try to keep our friendship in tact as well. Often at a young age it seems that the interchangeable means the end of one part especially if the love dies; it's hard to keep the other. It sucks. Maybe the foundation itself was never strong enough to survive the set backs. I don't know.

Why then in movies, television, and books do we try hard to make it be interchangeable and we try to always make it work out. Is it a fairytale mentality? Is it that we all secretly want that friend you grow up with that turns out to be your magic soul mate? Perhaps. It also tends to lend itself to the notion that look beyond what you see and go for the unknown. Taking chances makes life better (mostly). It can also lead to extra drama and emotion to grasp the reader/watcher. You root for them, regardless of similar experiences or not. Maybe, you wished you had that guy friend that was your best friend, but yet, your best friend was the girl. Now that would change it up somewhat; or maybe not. You would still have all the crazy attached to the interchangeable.

Do you add this dynamic to your books/scripts? If so do you like the characters to work out? If not, do you keep them friends? Can you remain friends after changing it up…? I'd like to think so…but that's just my human nature wanting the best outcome and the fairy tale friendships/endings.

Love Triangles Are Good (Sometimes)…Wait What?

Okay, okay…not always! I'm also talking books here people. Even beyond books via movies and television shows. It's a fact of life, it happens; and creates much needed drama sometimes. It's an out, or a meaty way of adding a bit of something to you're writing. 

Why do people hate them so much? Maybe because it is unrealistic (most of the time), and you want to see your favorite couple live happily without interference, but sometimes it not only creates drama, but a much needed clarification for couples. It is a hurdle they must overcome and a test to see if some are meant to be. I also think it is because as a reader or watcher you can root for a certain couple only to find that your couple were not the couple the author thought of. It can rear the emotional aspect if the reader is invested and possibly turn them off to the series entirely. 

Yet, there is also the possibility that the reader will watch or read until the end of the series to truly see who they end up with; I've also seen books were the author wrote to versions  showing what would happen if the triangle went both ways. It gives a clearer picture sometimes of why the author chose to go one way. 

Although, of course, there are those moments when a triangle is completely unnecessary and should remain a line without other lines veering into it. 

What are your thoughts on the subject?

Talent Spotlight (Part 2): Jena Leigh

with Jena Leigh

How did you come up with the idea for the Variant Series?

The inspiration for the Variant Series as a whole came from many different places, but the original spark for Revival came in the form of my morning coffee. One day at the coffee shop, the barista had drawn the shape of a phoenix into the foam on my latte. The image set my mind to wandering and I spent the next half hour writing out a scene where a young girl was being chased by a wall of flames through a burning bookstore. That piece would eventually become the opening scene of Chapter Four in Revival.

Can you give us a hint to what we should be expecting in your second book?

 In Resistance, book two in the Variant series, the stakes are raised even higher for Alex and the gang. As Alex struggles to get a grip on her newfound powers, she’s faced with a far more daunting assignment—survive the last few months of her junior year without accidentally losing control and leveling Bay View High.

 But the risk of outing herself and the Variant population at large would be a lot easier to handle if the Agency wasn’t still breathing down her neck… and if Declan weren’t quite so distracting in his newfound role as Alex’s bodyguard.  As sparks of all kinds start flying, Alex is left struggling to keep her head above water and her heart in one piece. And when her freedom lands itself in the Agency’s crosshairs, Alex will be faced with the fight of her life.

Where do you like to write?

 Anywhere and everywhere. I seem to do my best work in unfamiliar places. I’ve written on planes, at the mall, in doctor’s office waiting rooms… If I have my computer or a journal with me, I’ll usually try to get a few words on the page. There’s something about traveling that helps me to tune out distractions and focus, while at the same time inspiring my writing.

Do you decide character traits before you sit down to write the book, or as you go along?

Character traits are usually decided on as I write. I very rarely have an entire character in mind when I sit down at the keyboard. I usually start with a few random traits—a name here, a face there, a quirk or two to distinguish them, an important bit of backstory that forever changed their life or altered their personality—and then the personalities of my characters become clearer to me as I make it further into the story.

 Who is your favorite character in the series, and why?

 Oh, that’s a tough one! It seems to change from day to day. Right now I’d probably have to say that Declan’s sister Kenzie is my favorite. She’s sassy, sarcastic and I can always count on her for a witty rejoinder. Kenzie’s scenes are always enjoyable to write.

Tell us about the biggest challenges you face in your writing process.

 I think the biggest challenge I have is in plotting out a story. When it comes to my writing, I’m a total pantser and I despise outlining. Writing only feels natural to me when my characters are the ones telling the story. I love being just as surprised as my readers are when something unexpected happens in the narrative. When you’re working on a series, however, that doesn’t always work. You need to have some idea of where the story is headed before you begin, otherwise it’s very easy to write yourself into a corner.

 If you could give a young writer any tip, what would it be?

Write constantly and read everything you can get your hands on. It seems like such an obvious piece of advice, but it’s quite possibly the most important things you can do to improve your writing.

If you weren’t writing, what would you want to be doing for a living? What are some of your other passions in life?

Rock star! I mean, really. Who hasn’t wanted to be one at some point? Aside from writing, I’m incredibly passionate about music. I love it, but I haven’t got a lick of talent (although that doesn’t stop me from singing at the top of my lungs in the shower every morning). If there’s not a song playing in the background somewhere, I usually don’t know what to do with myself.

*What fun answers! Love it.