Josh Thrower

Originally from Colorado, actor/model Josh Thrower has been living in Los Angeles for the last 6 years. He moved here immediately after graduating with a film degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2007. He has done everything from casting for reality shows and traveling to the far reaches of Alaska and the Arctic Circle, to stocking mini-bars in hotel rooms, managing a restaurant, selling clothes at a retail store, and has worked as a personal assistant for a couple of celebrities.


In the last year, he has been in commercials for Pepsi, Vinki (Korean juice company), and more! He recently has done print ads for General Motors and Coca-Cola, and he starred in a short film in February called "Siphoned," which is currently set to screen at various film festivals in the coming months. Currently, Josh is set to star in his first lead role in a feature film - a suspense thriller called "1108" which is written, directed, and edited by Dan Brown, Jr. He will playing the role of "Dan", alongside Elizabeth Colunga and Beth Brown. He is also playing the character of "Evan" in the upcoming film "Helen Keller Had A Pit Bull" written, directed, and starring Josh Mitchell. Both films will be released later this year!


Josh currently studies acting at Scott Sedita Studios in Los Angeles, and is represented by TAG Models for commercial and print (310.461.3650).

Check out the following links for more about Josh and his upcoming projects:

www.joshthrower.com

www.imdb.com/name/nm2344466/

www.1108movie.com

www.rally.org/producing1108

www.rally.org/hellenkellerhadapitbull

www.vimeo.com/58756500

Now,


7 Questions with Josh Thrower:


1. What are your favorite and your least favorite words?

Favorite words: treat, delightful/delight, panacea, perfect, summer, elegant wherewithal, and as an actor, my favorite three word combination would be: "You booked it!"

Least Favorite words: no, boss or chief (context: when someone approaches me and says "what's up boss!" or "hey there chief!"), panties (I feel creepy saying it), tummy, and when someone types the word "cool" with a "z" at the end (hence, "coolz")

 2. What turns you on creatively, spiritually, emotionally?

I think these things are interchangeable for the most part. I would say I get creatively, spiritually, and emotionally turned on by anything involving summer and nice weather - sunshine, palm trees, music blasting, the beach, etc. When it's nice out, I'm always at my most productive in all three areas. Of course, going home to visit family and friends in Colorado fulfills all three of these as well. Music inspires all three too (in particular, this band Hammock I was recently introduced to).

3. What is your favorite curse word?

That's easy. Shit. Shitty. Shitballs. Shithead (I use this as a term of endearment, among other names, when talking to my friend Scott).

4. What gets you up in the morning?

Well, my iPhone's alarm wakes me up, which sounds like the alarm that would go off if you were inside a nuclear plant that needs you to immediately evacuate. After that, a cup of coffee from my Keurig. But what motivates me to get up each day is knowing that we have a limited time on this planet and I need to make the most of it. Cheesy? Perhaps. True? Most definitely. Plus I'm not getting any younger, so I better get off my ass and make something happen.

5. What job other than you own would you most like to do?

Play basketball in the NBA. Be an archaeologist (Indiana Jones-style, not one that digs for 6 months to find a clay pot). Shoe designer at Nike.

6. What advice would you give your teenage self?

"When you meet ______, don't starting dating her. And you'll meet a girl named _______. Run the other way." Just kidding. Sort of. Honestly, I would probably tell myself to keep doing what you're doing. I've turned out pretty well so far, and I don't regret anything. So I would tell myself, "Work hard, be nice to people, say please and thank you, work even harder, and have fun."

7. Assuming heaven exists, what would you like to hear God (or Allah or Yahweh or Odin. Generally the Supreme Being of your choice.) say when you arrive at the pearly gates?

"Josh, you made it! Keg's over there by the pool. Bathroom's upstairs. Snacks by the grill. We've got burgers, steaks, and hot dogs. And you've gotta try the hummus, it's amazing!"

 Burgers, steaks, and dogs. You, sir, are a man after my own heart!

Once more, if you want to know more about Josh, follow any one- or all, of the following links:

www.joshthrower.com

www.imdb.com/name/nm2344466/

www.1108movie.com

www.rally.org/producing1108

www.rally.org/hellenkellerhadapitbull

www.vimeo.com/58756500

Big thanks to Josh for doing this little interview and big thanks to you for reading!

The Meat Men

The Meat Men is the brainchild of David Radke, Jeremy Talabac and Sam Lang, three guys from Tallahassee Fl. hellbent on animation domination. These FSU alums have created a smart, sarcastic, irreverent look at the lives of four  local butchers, primed and ready for Adult Swim. They, along with their social media specialist Brandon Oliver, (Brandon, unfortunately, could not attend the interview) form Secretmagazines Productions, a  production company aimed at graphic novels, TV shows and movies.

This interview is a transcription of a video response to my questions. More information about the Meat Men and their creators is available here.

And now, without further ado:

7 Questions with the Meat Men – David J. Radke, Samuel Lang, and  Jeremy Talabac

1.What are your favorite and least favorite words?

(David) My favorite word is Chewbacca.
(Jeremy) –wookie noise-
(David) Do you want my least favorite right now?
(Sam) Yeah, do it, go for it.
(David) Least favorite? Uuhm…. Synergy, cause I think it’s such a hoax. It’s not real! What does it mean?!?
(Sam) My favorite word is ‘uenis’…. And my least favorite word is… froo froo cause I lost a spelling bee because froo froo is not a real word, it’s a colloquialism or whatever the word for it is. But I lost that spelling bee.
(Jeremy) Favorite word? Shots.
(David) Nice!
(Jeremy) Definitely my favorite word. Least favorite word? (Canadian Hockey). And bacon’s on my favorite too.
(Sam) Oh yeah!

2.What turns you on creatively, spiritually, and emotionally?

(David) Burt Reynolds
(Sam) Burt Reynolds
(Jeremy) Burt Reynolds… and bacon.
(Sam) and Burt Reynolds
(David) Across the board, Burt Reynolds
(Jeremy) and Kurt Russell!
(David) That mustache just gets me rollin’.
(Sam) and Kurt Reynolds.
(all) -laughter-
(David) Kurt Reynolds?
(Sam) Kurt Russell!

3.What turns you off, creatively, spiritually, and emotionally?

(Jeremy) Waking up to a coyote ugly situation.
(Sam) Bananas.
(David) Guys named ‘Chris’.
(all) –laughter-

4.What gets you up in the morning?

(David) Coffee.
(Sam) Babies.
(all) –laughter-
(David) Makin’ babies!
(Sam) Making babies?
(David) Practicing making babies!
(Jeremy) Morning wood.
(David) Did you say ‘Mexican’ babies?
(Jeremy) Morning wood! And the sun! I don’t do alarm clocks…
(Sam) He’s bein’ truthful!

5.What advice would you give to your teenage self?

(David) Lotto numbers.
(Jeremy) World series…
(Sam) Stop wearing girl’s jeans.
(all) –laughter-
(David) Get a haircut, kid.
(Jeremy) You have no fashion, by the way.
(David) Nobody likes your jokes.
(Jeremy) And you may not want to go out with that one girl.
(David) We won’t say which one…. So basically you turn yourself gay. 
(Sam) Oh no!
(David) It’s scary!
(Jeremy) Well I would name a specific, but I won’t for the purpose of this interview.
(David) Oh, I see what you’re saying…
(Jeremy) Yes.
(David) So to yourself you’d give a name.
(Jeremy) Yes.
(David) But what if by going out with her you averted like a huge, like ‘John McClane’ happening?
(Jeremy) Well I can’t, well I don’t want to tell you the other, part of that sequence… let’s just move onto the next question!
(Sam) I would tell myself ‘Go to college, meet a guy on Craigslist, and make a TV show about dudes that wear meat coats’.
(Jeremy) Yes. Swag.

6.What is the best thing you ever ate?

(Jeremy) We’re making this the best meal before getting fired. Last meal.
(David) We’re going to be like politicians here: We’re gonna change it into the question we want to answer.
(Jeremy) Yeah, cause I can’t just have one thing on the favorite meal list.
(David) This is now: “You’re on Death Row. What do you want as your last meal?”
(Sam) That’s high pressure.
(David) I’m talkin’ Fruity Pebbles, maybe a banana, and a side of Colt 45, Billy Dee Williams Style.
(Sam) I want somethin’ with anchovies, possibly a Caesar salad. That’s like the best way that they’re prepared. And I want Paula Deen to cook something!
(David) ooh!
(Sam) Cause I’m gonna die anyways.
(David) I heard she’s the bomb in the sack, too, you know what I’m saying. Anybody? You know what I mean? Some sweet southern goodness?
(Sam) My friend was friends with her on facebook and got banned from her page.
(Jeremy) That’s wonderful.  Well I need bacon mac and cheese, and a filet mignon, along with a slew of craft beers and preferably (a fine cigar), if that’s possible.
(Sam) See… I’m gonna jump on his final meal!
(David) They usually give you that in, you know, Leavenworth Federal Correctional Facility. You want (fine cigars)?
(Sam) You want fine craft beers, yes sir!, we will go get those for you. The distributors come through every day, dropping off bottles.
(David) You know, if you’re living in the prison system, what if you’re like, “I just want really good toilet wine?” Like, “I’ve been living off it for years, let’s just do this. Seriously, peanut butter and jelly, a couple slices of cheese…”
(Sam) Insert question to interview: “Would you try toilet wine? Answer: Yes!”
(Jeremy) No.
(David) Hell yes!
(Jeremy) No.
(David) “Would you make it yourself in your own house, even though you don’t have to? …Already did… Drinking it now… we call it ‘Radke-brau!’ .“
(Jeremy) Porcelain stew!

7.Assuming Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

(David) Basically just maniacal laughter.
(Sam) McLovin?
(Jeremy) High five, bro. But, I wouldn’t want to hear, “Wait… how?”
(David) How about, “Cool story, bro.”
(Jeremy) Wanna beer?
(David) Yeah, “Beer’s in the cooler, bro! You guys 21?”
(Sam) I want God to be like George W. Bush, you don’t like his authoritarian type of (stuff), but he would be cool to chill with. You know what I mean? You could have a beer with him on the side. He shouldn’t be, like, in charge of everything, but he’d be cool… I guess that’s a fantasy though.
(David) I think God should be like Morgan Freeman. Just like that really smart guy that you’re like, “wow! This guy knows stuff…”
(Sam) That’s why Morgan Freeman got to play God in ‘Bruce Almighty’. He did!”
(Jeremy) I think an eternity’s worth of watching through the wormhole is close enough to God anyway, Morgan Freeman reference…

(David) So, closing remarks? Guys?
(Jeremy) Meat.
(Sam) Meat Men.
(David) Bacon… bacon…
(Sam) Meet the men that make Meat Men…
(Jeremy) Eat bacon, die free.
(David) Donate… ok, seriously, all jokes aside, you know, please look us up on ‘Kickstarter.com’, search for ‘Meat Men – The Animated Series.’ (or just click the link) Anything you can do to help us out is greatly appreciated.
(Jeremy) We like to eat too…
(Sam) We won’t spend it on beer.
(David) Some of us have families.
(Sam) We won’t spend it on beer.
(Jeremy) Wink wink.
(David) Not all of it.
(Sam) Thanks.
(David) Thanks.
(Jeremy) Thanks. Thank you all for watching (reading)!

That was awesome! Thanks for taking the time to do this guys, and thank you for reading! Again, if you want to know more about the guys, Meat Men the series or if you just want to skip "Go" and donate: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/meatmentv/meat-men-the-animated-series

Jen Mitlas

Jen Mitlas is a sound designer and composer. Fond of turtles, smoothies, King Crimson, Battle Star Galactica, and Butters from South Park she attributes most of her experience and abilities to her family, hobbies, and being left handed. She grew up in a very active musical family, both parents being professional musicians.  Her father has also been a filmmaker and  a sound/recording engineer for 40+ years. "It was only inevitable for me to find my way to it as an adult." Music, however, is far from this renaissance woman's only gift, photography, linguistics, video games, science fiction literature, and graphic art design being just a few of her other interests. "I’ve always felt I was never good at one thing. I was more a “jack of all trades.”
Jen first learned how to play the Viola at seven years old. It was at this time that she developed the ability to fluidly read music. It was also at this time that the young musician began learning music theory. By the time she was fourteen she was playing electric guitar.While still an avid player, today her focus is music theory and composing with an eye toward experimental, innovative, and cultural music and instruments. With a keen interest in Middle Eastern, West African, and East Asian instruments and music she counts among her biggest inspirations composer Bear McCreary. (This bio was cribbed from Jen's website http://jenmitlas.com/)
And now:


7 Questions with Jen Mitlas:


1. What are your favorite and your least favorite words?
               

Well, it depends the language! I don't think I have favorite or least favorite words, the English language doesn't have any emotional attachment, negatively or positively with me.

2. What turns you on creatively, spiritually, emotionally? (Answer all or only the ones you choose.)
           

Talent and humility. Nothing is better when someone is humble in their ways.

3. What is your favorite sound?

I have a lot of favorite sounds! Without a category to put it into, it's hard to say which one is my favorite. One of my favorite iconic sounds is the Dradis radar from Battlestar Galactica.

4. What is the best thing you ever ate?

Ever? I really dig mangos! Are mangos a "thing" though? If they are, then it's the best.

5. What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?

Photography without a doubt.

6. What is the strangest thing you have ever done while creating?
       

Hmm...sometimes I draw scores out in colors and pictures when I'm having trouble expressing what I'm trying to do.

7. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God (or Allah or Yahweh or Odin. Generally the Supreme Being of your choice.) say when you arrive at the pearly gates?

Not sure!

Brilliant! Thanks Jen!
Want to know more about the talented Jen Mitlas? I direct you to any and all of these fine sites:

http://jenmitlas.com/
https://www.facebook.com/JenMitlas
http://soundcloud.com/jenocidal
https://twitter.com/JenMitlas

You’ve Got to Enjoy Your Life, Cher. By Elaine Calloway

Today's much belated blogpost come to you courtesy of author Elaine Calloway. Take it away Elaine.




You’ve Got to Enjoy Your Life, Cher
By Elaine Calloway


Wait, don’t panic! This is not a blog post about the 1970s pop star!

For those who aren’t from Louisiana, let me let you in on some information: “Cher” is a Cajun slang term for
friend, and it applies perfectly to the tale I’m about to share with you.

In WATER’S BLOOD, Book One of the Elemental Clan Series, my main character Brooke is a Water Elemental
stationed in New Orleans. Her “cover job” to blend in with other humans is being a bartender in Mid-City.

I love the Mid-City area near City Park, lined with massive live oaks draped in Spanish moss and the beautiful
Bayou St. John which snakes through eclectic neighborhoods and around grassy banks. This is why I set the
location there and then created a fictional pub called Armand’s, which is where Brooke works.

However, this fictional bar was inspired by a real pub called Seymour’s, which is nowhere near Mid-City but is
one of my favorite places to go when I’m home. The pub is like Cheers, the old TV show. Everyone knows your
name, the locals talk about their week, and everyone is always warm and welcoming. It’s hard to find such an
atmosphere anymore.

During these visits home, I’ve had the unique opportunity to meet some fascinating people. One man in
particular personified the resilience of the New Orleans culture, of how its people never give up--no matter
how bad things may get.

During heavy rains in 1995 when most of the city flooded, he lost everything. His life turned upside down, but
he chose to rebuild. Ten years later, Hurricane Katrina happened. He lost everything again. He rebuilt once
more, taking the scattered pieces of his life and somehow molding them into a reason to keep going.

Stunned by his persistence, even his choice to not relocate elsewhere, I asked how he managed to survive 2
such major losses and what kept him going.

He offered a wide grin, and with a gleam in his eye, he said, “You’ve got to enjoy your life, cher.”

He proceeded to tell me how much he loved the region, how sitting at the edge of a pier and fishing under
a crimson sunset made all the hassle of rebuilding worthwhile. He spoke of living each day, and more
importantly, enjoying each day.

Some days I think I am the ideal poster girl for stress. But when things get overwhelming, when I think I can
no longer cope, I try to think back to the interesting souls I’ve encountered, particularly the one who so wisely
said, “You’ve got to enjoy your life, cher.”

Elaine Calloway is originally from New Orleans and can still do a decent Cajun accent upon request. She is
currently writing the Elemental Clan Series, a series of paranormal tales set in iconic cities such as New Orleans.
Book One, WATER’S BLOOD, is available now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.

Book Two, RAGING FIRE, will be released summer 2013. For more information or to connect with Elaine online,
visit her web site at www.elainecalloway.com.

Michele Shaw

 Michele Shaw writes Young Adult Romantic Suspense novels, short stories, and poetry with representation by Karen Grencik of Red Fox Literary. Her short story A Shot In the Dark is featured in Mystery Times Nine available now on Amazon. Her poetry can be found on her website and you can find her on Twitter. She can be bribed with Tropical Dots and puppies.



7 Questions with Michele Shaw


1. What are your favorite and your least favorite words?

I love almost all words in some way, but a few stand out as exceptional to me. Any word with an X is fun, flux being my personal favorite. Others I like: inspire, guffaw, stupendous, cheeky, love, kisses, rhythm, dodger, slither, scrumptious, catharsis, and harmony.

Least favorite? There really is no worse word than…drum roll please…moist. *shivers*

 


2. What turns you on creatively, spiritually, emotionally?

My creative juices always flow from my own emotions, and I am quite the emotional person. I’ll never run out of material. My moods, life experiences, observations, and how I feel about them burst into my writing, especially my poetry. People watching always gets a story going too. I see people interacting, imagine what they are talking about, what station in life they’re at, wonder at what they’re doing, and many times, they become characters. As to my mysteries, I was (once upon a time) an avid reader of true crime, and bits and pieces of real life cases do tend filter in. After all, real people truly are stranger than fiction. The stories I write are actually much tamer than the real stories I’ve heard.

3. What turns you off creatively, spiritually, emotionally?

I don’t think I ever turn off creatively, but the creativity can get dark when my own emotions get clouded with real life problems and stresses. I try to channel through the writing, again poetry tends to serve that the best, and sometimes this work is something I wouldn’t put out, but it helps me vent serious hurts and frustrations. Occasionally, even the most raw, dark pieces do make it online if I feel they have true merit and aren’t just me griping.


4. What is your principal defect, your biggest character flaw or personal weakness? My biggest defect…hmmm, how to choose? I’d say it’s that I love too much, hold too tight, let people take advantage of my inability to be anything but nice. People see niceness as a weakness and pounce on it. I think I need to toughen up. I have a thick skin for writing critique, but don’t return my text and I’m crushed. I hate it!  



5. What moment or act in your career are you most thankful for?

I’m most thankful for a horrible experience early on. An influential individual (with a non-writing agenda I wouldn’t agree to) called my work “riddled with amateur mistakes” and said I’d never make it in publishing. All just to be spiteful. It really riled me up which motivated me, and at the same time, I learned right away that A. In this business, not everyone is nice. B. People with a little power can let it go to their head. C. Constructive criticism and an outright attack are two very different things.  


6. How early is too early?

No such thing…and I don’t drink coffee.



7. Assuming heaven exists, what would you like to hear God (or Allah or Yahweh or Odin. Generally the Supreme Being of your choice.) say when you arrive at the pearly gates?

You did well.

You did indeed. Thanks Michelle! And thanks to you for reading!

John Mierau

A podcaster, an author of novel-length, serial and short fiction, John aims above all else to entertain. John has worn many hats through the years, analyst, consultant, instructor, author and audio producer and somewhere in there he has found time to be a husband, father and chief dogwalker. His website - Serving Worlds - serves as an outlet for his particular brand of intense science fiction as well as a place to meet and listen to other authors. In short, John Mierau does it all.

And now:


7 Questions with John Mierau:

1. What are your favorite and your least favorite words?

Favorite:

Love.

Least favorite:

Bored.

 2. What turns you on creatively, spiritually, emotionally?

My kids, my wife, a creative challenge. Deadlines for my own work but not other people's.

3. Turns you off creatively, spiritually, emotionally?


Other people's deadlines when I'm not invested. Eating too much or not exercising enough. Meanness puts me out of tune too (my own or others).

4. What gets you up in the morning?

My kids! LOL 3 beautiful kids under 6.

5. What is the closest you have ever come to giving up your craft? 


Needing to feed my kids. It makes it hard, but when cash is lean, to take time for my own pursuits. Some may say it's greedy but I always save a bit of myself for making things.

6. What is the most fun you have ever had?

Writing something that takes me out of my own head, or performing something where I forget about my thoughts and follow the thread of the fiction.



7. Assuming heaven exists, what would you like to hear God (or Allah or Yahweh or Odin. Generally the Supreme Being of your choice.) say when you arrive at the pearly gates?

As an atheist my first thought would be: "Why did you make it so hard for people to believe in you? Why did you change the rules randomly so we couldn't prove your existence? We could use a reliable supreme being we could all get behind!" Which is probably why I write: to answer questions and actions that make no sense.

Brilliant! Want to talk to John yourself? You can find him at any of the following links:
Website: http://www.johnmierau.com
Twitter: johnmierau
Facebook: Facebook profile
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/john-mierau/13/79b/a45
Blog: http://johnmierau.wordpress.com/

Thanks again to John for taking the time to do this and thanks to you for reading!
Next time: Author Michele Shaw.

Lani Rhea

It's Christmas, it's cold outside, so lets get a little steamy with Erotic Romance author Lani Rhea. Lover of coffee, Lani lives in the heart of Oklahoma. She has four children and loves animals. Lani is always up for a challenge and enjoys mixing romance with all genres that spark her interests. You can find her either reading or writing. 

Now:


6 Questions with Lani Rhea: 


1. What are your favorite and your least favorite words?

Least favorite is racial comments. We are all human and bleed red. My favorite to use is awesomeness, coolness, or laters! lol

2. What turns you on creatively?

Creatively—ideas that just pop out of nowhere. I always like to play the “What if…” game.

3. What is the closest you have ever come to giving up your craft?

I gave up once. Many, many moons ago back in 2004, and then later picked the pen back up in 2010. Now I have several things published, and many more in the upcoming year. =) Sometimes when I get really frustrated with a piece I do think about laying down the pen again.

4. What is the strangest thing you have ever done while creating?

I would have to say when I talk to myself. My kids look at me strange. LOL I then have to tell them that I’m making sure the dialogue sounds okay. heh

5. Supposing that you are going to be reincarnated and you have your choice would you come back as animal, vegetable, or mineral?

An animal. I would love to be a bird. To fly away whenever I wanted, because it would beat the cost of airline prices. LOL

6. Assuming heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you come knocking at the pearly gates?

You’re brother has been waiting for you. 

Lani would love to hear from you. Find her on Facebook at http://facebook.com/authorlanirhea. To catch up with her crazy blogging visit her at http://lanirhea.blogspot.com and on Twitter.


Thanks again to Lani and thanks to you for reading!