Interviews – Agents, Editors, Authors, and Producers –

Novel Beginnings: An Interview with author Clara Gillow Clark

K.L. Going — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 17:19:42 +0000

Are you writing a novel? Looking for guidance and nurturing?

March 16-19, 2017, I will be co-hosting a Highlights workshop with the lovely and talented Clara Gillow Clark. We only have a few spots left open, so if you’re interested in registering, you can find out more through the Highlights Foundation.

Hope you enjoy this interview! We’d love to have you join us!

Q. What makes the start of writing a novel so challenging?

CGC: Before I begin to write a novel I go through a spell of what I call “dream time” when a character has caught my attention who has a story that wants to be told. Dream time is sweet, the sweetest part of the writing process for me. I always walk my stories, and that’s when scenes come to life and characters tell me things. What a shivery sort of thrill it is when that happens. The opening pages start to take on shape as I jot down notes. But, still I wait. And I wait some more, waiting for the character to share her secrets with me. And still I wait. Images come. Maybe they’ll turn into a symbol or a metaphor, but it isn’t until I can see where my character will be at the end of the book, that I sit down to write.

Usually, some of the first chapter comes out smoothly and fully formed, but there are always hard places where the writing is a struggle. Likely, it’s that unwieldy back story that begs to be included in the very beginning, because I really MUST put it there. Or I decide a prologue would be nice, which always seems a delightful way to begin and such a great way to slip in all the information readers MUST know. Kill the prologue. Give it up. Then I remind myself of Flannery O’Conner’s words to writers: Don’t worry about what to say; just make pictures and conversation. And that’s what I try to do.

Q. What do you know now that you wish you’d known at the start of your career?

CGC: Everything changes. Everything. We write and over time we become confident and feel comfortable with our style and our writing voice; and at the beginning of our careers when we’re first published, we think it will always be that way. We do all the right things–study craft, practice craft, and read other authors’ works. One day we realize the industry is changing, and it’s not just a trend. The reality is that both publishing and language is influx and will continue to be so in the future. But know this: It has always been true that we need to be original and unique in our vision for a story that has a thousand faces already. That’s where I am now, reinventing myself and my writing, going deeper, but still always writing from the heart. Embrace change and don’t be afraid. Keep reading and your vision will adjust.

Q. What is a common mistake you see when critiquing new writers?

CGC: Most new writers who are serious about the craft of writing have a pretty good grasp of story, because they’re readers. But often when we read, we zoom in on the action and read on to find out what’s going to happen next. We see the twists and turns, the pitfalls and setbacks, but seem to miss what’s really driving the cart over that cliff, which is emotion. Often aspiring writers skip right over the interior development of their protagonist and often tell instead of show their character’s emotion. Other things that are often problematic for new writers are deep point-of-view, verb tenses – especially if they’re writing in the present tense, and transitions.

Q. What are you most looking forward to about our upcoming Highlights Foundation Workshop, Novel Beginnings?

CGC: Meeting new writers, mentoring, but also experiencing that warm feeling of a kind of homecoming. That’s how I feel when I’m at the Foundation. I’m in a safe and nurturing environment with like-minded people who love to learn, love books, and want to be better writers. I’m looking forward to forging new friendships, but also seeing old friends who work there like Chef Amanda. What could be better than that?

The Power of Video: How Novel Writers Can Utilize YouTube Marketing

In the world of publishing, getting your book out there and noticed can be a daunting task. With thousands of new releases each year, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd. However, with the rise of digital marketing, novel writers now have a new tool at their disposal: YouTube.

YouTube is a video-sharing platform with over 2 billion monthly active users, making it the second largest search engine in the world. Utilizing this platform can help you reach a wider audience, engage with readers in a new way, and ultimately boost your book sales. Here are some tips on how novel writers can utilize YouTube marketing:

Create a book trailer: Just like a movie trailer, a book trailer is a short video that showcases your book’s plot and characters. This is a great way to capture potential readers’ attention and give them a taste of what your book is about.

Share your writing process: Many readers are curious about the writing process and enjoy behind-the-scenes glimpses into how their favorite books were created. Consider creating videos that show your writing process, from outlining to editing.

Host Q&A sessions: Interact with your readers by hosting live or pre-recorded Q&A sessions. This allows them to ask you questions about your book, characters, and writing process, and helps build a sense of community.

Collaborate with other YouTubers: Partnering with other YouTubers in the book community can help you reach a wider audience and introduce your book to new readers. Consider collaborating on book reviews, tag videos, or even co-writing a book.

Offer exclusive content: Reward your subscribers by offering exclusive content such as deleted scenes, character interviews, or even giveaways.

In conclusion, YouTube marketing is a powerful tool that can help novel writers reach a wider audience and ultimately boost book sales and Marketing Heaven is the best site to buy YouTube views. By creating engaging and informative content, interacting with readers, and collaborating with other YouTubers, you can create a loyal following and build your brand as an author.

Learn more about our upcoming workshop by clicking on the link: Novel Beginnings: Building Strong Foundations for Your Novel and Your Career 2017

Agent Interview – Cameron McClure

K.L. Going — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:24:51 +0000

I’ve been privileged to know Cameron McClure for a long time – ever since our days as assistants at Curtis Brown, Ltd. Since then she’s risen in the ranks at the Donald Maass Literary Agency. I’m very pleased to introduce her to all of you!

The artsy and elegant Cameron McClure...

1) How did you become a literary agent? Did you always know that you wanted to work in publishing?

I got into it by accident. I moved to New York to work in publishing, and I thought I wanted to be an editor. But I got a job offer from Curtis Brown, working as an assistant agent, and the more I learned about agenting, the more I liked it. You have a lot more freedom to work with the kind of material you like (and believe you can sell), and your compensation is more directly tied to the success of those books. This is, of course, riskier than being paid a flat salary, but very motivating and exciting when things work in your favor. The flip side, of course, is that I take it pretty hard when books I believe in don’t work out.

2) What kinds of work do you represent? Is there anything you’re not taking on at this time?

I represent mostly fiction, though I do take on non-fiction projects here and there. In fiction I am drawn to books that are plotted like genre novels, but written like literary novels. I love genre fiction for the quick pacing and high tension, but miss the deeper character development, internal conflicts, and attention to language that you find in literary novels. Yet I can’t get interested in beautifully written novels with little external conflict. I’m open to science fiction and fantasy, crime, some young adult and middle grade. I don’t work with poetry, picture books, category romance, or prescriptive non-fiction.

3) What do you love or hate in a query letter?

A query letter needs to do two things: make me want to read more, and present the author as someone who takes their writing seriously. Many query letters try to hard – present themselves too stridently – and emphasize the wrong information. All I need to know in a pitch is the setting, characters, and conflict. That’s two or three paragraphs. Then a paragraph about the author. And our agency requests the first five pages, which I find to be enormously helpful in making the decision in whether or not to request more material.

4) How long does it generally take you to respond to queries? partials? full manuscripts?

This varies. At the moment, I am responding to e-queries within a week or two, and partials and full manuscripts run closer to a month. Though I haven’t been that quick in the past, and can’t promise that I will be in the future! I’ve been sitting on one particular full manuscript for 5 or 6 weeks, because I’m on the fence about whether to pass or ask the author to revise. The thing to keep in mind with response times is that slow response times aren’t always an indication of a slow or lazy agent. For me, when my response times become extremely long, it’s because I have a lot of client manuscripts to read, most of which are under deadline with publishers, or I have a higher than usual volume of film, foreign, audio, or electronic deals to attend to. I don’t want to undervalue my query pile, because I have found some of my best clients in there, but because there is less urgency and certain money attached to it than any of my other responsibilities, it often comes last.

5) Are there any specific conferences you recommend for writers?

No, not specific conferences, though I would be careful in making sure that a conference you attend makes sense for the type of material you write and where you are in the writing process or your development as a writer. Obviously, it doesn’t make much sense for a science fiction writer to attend a conference for, say, romance writers or thriller writers, yet you’d be surprised at how often this happens.

6) Describe your working relationship with your clients. Do you offer editorial suggestions?

I really enjoy being involved with my clients on an editorial level. Even once I’ve set an author up with an editor, they send their first draft to me, and we go back and forth a few times before submitting to their editor. I help some clients brainstorm new book or series concepts, while others prefer not to share any material until they are at least 1/3 of the way through. And when I’m shopping a new project I think it’s critical to get it into the best shape possible, otherwise it’s too easy for an overburdened editor to turn it down. Sometimes I will ask a potential client to go through a round or two of revisions before signing them, to make sure we are truly on the same page editorially and that they are up to doing the necessary work, and aren’t just trying to skate by with superficial fixes.

That said, I recently began working with a very well known and long published author, who doesn’t take editorial advice from agents. This is a first for me, as I’ve always seen editorial guidance as part of my job, but as that isn’t something this author wants from an agent, I’ve adjusted my role. It will be a welcome challenge to try and be the kind of agent this author needs.

Writing is so deeply personal, so it’s important for me to be flexible and acknowledge that not every writer has the same priorities.

7) What are some newly-released or upcoming books by your clients?

Robert Jackson Bennett’s THE COMPANY MAN came out in April – he recently won the Shirley Jackson Award for best novel, for his debut book MR. SHIVERS. John Pitts’ HONEYED WORDS, the second in an urban fantasy series about a lesbian blacksmith was published in July, and has already gone into a second printing. HEAD RUSH, the third book in Carolyn Crane’s Disillusionist Trilogy will be released at the end of this year.

Some of my clients have been putting together multimedia projects – Brian Francis Slattery recently released “Pictures from a Liberation,” a digital album where he sings parts of his second novel, LIBERATION, accompanied by musicians. Sonya Bateman’s MASTER OF NONE is being produced as an audiobook by ACX. It’s fun to be a part of these out-of-the-box projects.

Now for some fun questions!

1) If you weren’t a literary agent, what profession would you choose?

I’d like to think I’d be doing something outdoorsy and daring, like making sure scientists don’t get lost in the Amazon, or guiding a white water rapid tour, sailing around the world, or leading one of those outward bound groups, or at least heading up one those bizarre wilderness camps for drug addicted teens where they learn how to use a compass and a camp stove and somehow overcome the urge for beer. In truth, I’m sure I would still be working in sales, selling a different product. Except this time around, I would try to sell something that more Americans want to buy.

2) What non-work related book did you read last? Did you enjoy it?

Sophie Hannah’s LITTLE FACE. I read it at the same time as a friend who always solves the mystery before it’s revealed, and this book stumped her until the end. I enjoyed it immensely. A very suspenseful crime novel with lots of plot twists and extremely well developed characters.

3) What’s your favorite work-related memory?

I don’t think it’s fair to pinpoint just one. I get an enormous amount of personal satisfaction from working with authors and selling books, seeing those books find readers, and helping to shape careers. The best of these memories are tinged with that sense of inevitability, that I’ve found my calling, the thing I’m good at, and the thing I love. I also met my husband through work, so while those are favorite memories of a different sort, they are mixed up with my job.

4) If you could go anywhere in the world right this minute, where would you go?

Honestly? Right now? I would go to sleep. A most underrated destination.

5) What’s the one interview question you never get asked, but wish that you would?

No one ever asks me if I’ve gone rollerblading lately. If they did, my answer would be YES, yes I have! I was inspired (by a manuscript of all things) to dig through my closet and unearth my rollerblades. To relive the dream of the 90s. I was accompanied on my rollerblade outing by my son, who rode his bike and isn’t old enough to be embarrassed.

6) Who was your all-time favorite co-worker? I mean, in the history of co-workers around the world, who really rocked? We’re talking the best one ever…

There is, obviously, only one right answer to this question: K.L. Going! As assistants we sat across from each for nearly 2 years at Curtis Brown. The view beyond my computer was K.L.’s face. Our downtime was full of wonderful and silly conversations.

Awww… I am honored. Even if I did set you up. But considering the fact that you also worked with your future husband, I wasn’t at all sure I’d win the prize even after my considerable goading. :-}

Meet Whippany Park Productions: Writers and Producers!

K.L. Going — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:39:50 +0000

I’m pleased to introduce Whippany Park Productions! They’re producing the Fat Kid Rules the World movie along with Whitewater Films. These guys are great, and they’ve just started a Facebook page, so after you read the interview, be sure to show them some love, and “like” their page: Facebook. You can also follow them on Twitter: @WhippanyParkPrd

1) Tell us a little bit about Whippany Park Productions.

We’re a production company that is focused on features and television shows. We’re in development on a few projects this year, both in features and TV alike. The founders and partners of WPP are Evan Hoyt Wasserstrom & Talan C. Torriero (writing & producing partners). (Note: Evan’s picture is the top one, and Talan’s is below.)

2) How did you guys start working together?

I (Evan) was the writer/producer on the high school comedy, “Senior Skip Day,” that came out in 2008. Talan was one of the leads in the film, and on set we became good friends, realizing that we had the same interests in film and television. We decided to form a production company from there (and since the high school in the film was called ‘Whippany Park High School,’ we decided to name our production company after that). I was going to write while Talan was going to act, and we would both produce the projects. A short time after that, Talan left the acting world behind as he got the bug for writing after spending most of his time with me. So I started to mentor Talan in the area of writing scripts and pilots and we eventually became writing/producing partners.

3) For those who don’t know, what exactly does a producer do?

A producer can do many jobs on a film. A creative producer will help create the story and characters along with the writer and director, giving notes to the writer along the way. Someone titled with a “producer” credit may also be helpful in putting together the cast and crew of a film, as well as helping to make sure that the set is being run efficiently and fluently. A Producer will also give their specific notes to the director in post production on the film, as each cut of the film gets closer and closer to being locked down and ready for its release.

4) Since you guys both write and produce, do you prefer one over the other?

Absolutely. We are writers, first and foremost. I (Evan) wanted to be a writer in film and television since I was 5 years old. Literally. And Talan got the writing bug shortly after we became partners in ’08. Producing is a wonderful career choice for us as it enables us to help see the film to it’s final cut, which helps input our vision into the project along the way of being made. Producing also helps promote our writing careers. But, writing always takes the lead as we love the most to create the story, characters and concepts that make up the foundation of a film and television series. It’s our true passion.

5) How did you first get involved with Fat Kid Rules the World? What made you decide to option the film rights?

As Talan’s bug for writing was growing more and more, he was reading a lot of novels at the time. And that’s when he found K.L.’s amazingly wonderful book. Loving it so much, he told me to read it right away, which I did. I fell in love with the book just the same. Talan researched the rights and found that they were free and clear at the time – a small window of time actually, which seemed like we were meant to stumble upon it right then and there. And that’s when we did what every writer should not do in this particular situation. We wrote the screenplay adaptation of the novel without acquiring the actual rights yet.

(You should never do this as you don’t want to write a whole script without having the rights yet. If you do that, you might not get the rights afterward and then you would have spent all that time and creative energy for nothing as you wouldn’t be able to do anything with the screenplay you just wrote.)

LUCKILY, after we wrote the script, we showed it to KL’s agent who loved our adaptation, and then even LUCKIER for us, KL herself loved our script adaptation just the same. We got the rights to the book and then we put our producing caps on to find a way to get the film made. While it took a while to find the right avenue to get it made, we eventually met up with Matthew Lillard (who had the rights to the book years before us), who wanted to direct the film, making “Fat Kid” his directorial debut. Matt then got Whitewater Films interested in the project and then we all started working together to make this film a reality…and as we’re all in production on the film as we speak, it is now our reality for sure.

And now for the speed round!

1) Favorite movie:

Evan’s – “The Shawshank Redemption” /Talan’s – any Pixar movie

2) Favorite book (and Fat Kid doesn’t count!):

Evan’s – “To Kill a Mocking Bird” by Harper Lee / Talan’s – “Delivering Happiness”
by Tony Hsieh

3) Favorite movie quote:

Evan’s – “You look good wearing my future.” (from “Some Kind of Wonderful”) /
Talan’s – “Come with me if you want to live.” (from “The Terminator”)

4) Favorite screenwriter:

Evan’s – John Hughes / Talan’s – Evan Hoyt Wasserstrom

5) Best movie out this summer:

Evan’s – “Super 8” / Talan’s – “Captain America”

6) Worst movie out this summer:

Evan’s – “Transformers 3” / Talan’s – “Transformers 3”

7) Who will you thank in your Academy Award speech?

Evan’s – George Gallo (my mentor) and my family / Talan’s – Indiana Jones

Mountain Top Removal – Interview with Barbara Strangfeld

K.L. Going — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:29:18 +0000

Some of you may remember the interview I did with Barbara Strangfeld on my forum. I’d intended for that interview to stay up so people could always access it, but when I took the forum down, it disappeared. I’m reprinting it now on my blog in its entirety so that others who didn’t get to read it the first time can still learn about this important issue.

Just a note – this interview was originally conducted just before the 2008 election. Questions came not only from me, but from participants on the forum as well. Here it is:

Q: Hi Barbara, Welcome! Thanks for stopping in to answer our questions about Mountain Top Removal. To start with, would you give people a basic idea of what mountain top removal is and why you’re leading the fight against it?

A: Hi to all! Thanks so much Kelly for the opportunity to talk about Mountaintop Removal Mining (MTR). This is a very, very environmentally destructive form of coal mining which does not utilize miners in the traditional sense. Think of layers of coal in a mountain like a seven-layer-cake. Rather than send miners underground to remove this coal, MTR literally blows off the cake layer (the mountain), extracts the icing (the coal) and then dumps the cake waste (mountain waste) into the valley below clogging up rivers and streams, causing flooding and toxic pollution of the streams. Before this is done, the mountain is clear-cut of all timber and the timber is burned or thrown into the valley below as well, killing and wasting trees. When you are finished, the majestic mountaintop is completely gone and you have instead a lunar-like landscape. Our Appalachian Mountains, a national treasure, are being ruined as I write this. I encourage everyone to visit www.ilovemountains.org to see it for themselves, to learn more about this awful destruction and how they can help stop it.

I got involved in this effort after learning about MTR from a volunteer from Appalachian Voices who gave a presentation at a nearby church. The presentation was given in April of 2007 – the day after the Virigina Tech Massacre. The presenter, Benjamin Burrell, was a graduate of Virginia Tech. He had given up an opportunity for a highly paid job to work for Appalachian Voices because he felt so strongly about the need to end MTR. Right before his presentation, Benjamin received a phone call confirming that his friend, Julia Pryde, who had previously worked as a volunteer to stop Mountain Top Removal Mining, was a victim of the Virginia Tech Massacre.

In January of 2006 I was in a very serious automobile accident when my car hit a patch of black ice, so they told me where to find a car accident attorney for this case. It was a miracle I survived. After the accident, I often wondered why some of us survive and others are taken from us. But when I heard about Julia, I knew I had to do something for her. I did not have her youth, her considerable talent or her energy but I did have a voice and I could be a “Voice for the Mountains”. In Julia’s honor, I promised myself that I would dedicate myself to encouraging others to be a “Voice for the Mountains” until we had a big enough choir to stop MTR once and for all!

Q: That’s a wonderful response to such a horrible tragedy… what’s even more amazing is that you never met Julia, yet you were still moved to provide the voice for a cause she cared about but could no longer speak for. Tell me, why is mountain top removal used? Is it a money issue — this is simply the quickest and cheapest way for the companies to get at the coal? Is the system all automated or are there still people doing this job? Also, what kind of responsibilities do the companies have to replant the landscape?

A: Mountaintop Removal Mining is done because it is quicker and cheaper. The coal that is obtained this way is bituminous or soft coal. It is a softer coal than anthracite and a dirtier coal. Much of the coal obtained through MTR is too dirty to use in the U.S. and is sold overseas to countries where they may not have environmental laws to protect them against the use of this very dirty coal.

Theoretically companies are required to “restore” the landscape but in reality there is minimal restoration. And of course you cannot “re-grow” a mountain. What has been lost, has been lost forever.

There is nothing good about MTR. It is ruining one of our most beautiful national treasures, the Appalachian Voices. It is ruining a culture that has existed in those mountains since before our nation’s founding. That is why it has largely been kept a secret and why it is so important to get the word out.

If you cannot see the devastation in person, the best way to see it is at www.ilovemountains.org where they use Google Earth technology to make the horrors of MTR visible to all.

Q: Is this just happening in Appalachia or does it happen other places as well?

A: Right now MTR is primarily taking place in Appalachia but unfortunately steps have been taken that could lay the groundwork for more widespread use. A very good article to read about this appeared in the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/23/us/23coal.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

And thank you for your interest in this issue!

Q: Barbara, would you consider yourself an environmentalist? If so, would you have considered yourself as such before you learned about this issue? How have your views changed since becoming involved?

A: Kelly, that’s a good question. Rather than consider myself an environmentalist, I consider myself an American who loves her country and wants to preserve all that which makes this country so beautiful – in this case our national treasure, the Appalachians.

In getting involved with the fight to end MTR once and for all, I have learned that now, more than ever, it is our responsibility as citizens to stand up and make it happen. It’s not about the “power of positive of non-thinking” as someone recently called it. Just saying things are great, whether it be in reference to the economy, our environment, or foreign policy – doesn’t make it so. We, as citizens, need to be willing to take those steps – and sometimes they are tough steps – to make the necessary policy changes. It’s too easy to fall into the “politics of denial” whereby we just pretend that everything is wonderful.

The good news in all this is that in this country we are truly blessed to have a system whereby we can make those changes through legislation. In this case, anyone – young and old – can do a lot by contacting their Congressional Representative and ask them to sign on as a co-sponsor of HR 2169 – the bill that will put a stop to MTR.

Q: What effect if any do you think the upcoming election will have on this issue?

Q: Do you live in Appalachia?

A: I live in Pennsylvania. To me, this is an issue of national concern. The Appalachians belong to all of us as Americans and it is our responsibility to preserve them. But also the people who live there have asked for our help in saving their home.

I think that the upcoming elections are very important. We need to choose wisely. We need to examine carefully a candidate’s positions on the issues and vote accordingly. It’s not about personality. It’s not about silly things like lipstick. This is not American Idol. The future of our country and the planet is at stake.

Q: Wow, I admit I didn’t know anything about this. Stripping coal from mountains and wrecking the place in the process? I can’t believe this isn’t bigger news. Maybe because it’s only in that one place, or because we want to become “less dependent on foreign oil.” Way to go USA to allow this. As long as we drive our cars and gas is $0.05 cheaper I guess it doesn’t matter that we wreck our own back yard in the process right? I’d love to ask one of the candidates about this… I guess my question would be: How can we make a bigger stink about this? Are there any videos of this happening, or wrecked lakes, or created refuse for that matter that we can post on utube or anything? This just seems crazy.

A: That’s a really great question. If you haven’t visited ilovemountains.org, that’s the first step. You will really be able to get an idea of the devastation from that website. You might also want to visit the website of Appalachian Voices – www.appvoices.org

Also, if you google Moutaintop Removal Mining, you will find quite a bit out there. It’s just not in the mainstream media that much. Most Americans are completely unaware that the Appalachians are being ruined. But this is the way we are getting the word out – by email, by blogs, by podcasts, by texting friends, by forums such as this, by presentations. If everyone just tells two or three friends and emails their Congressional Representative about this – we can end this before it’s too late for the mountains.

Q: Barbara, you mentioned that the people of Appalachia have asked for our help in saving the Appalachian Mountains. What is currently being done to get this specific message out to people? This might be a theme that would get people to come out to a public program at a library in NY state, what do you think?

A: If you call Appalachian Voices at 1-828-262-1540 or email them at outreach@appvoices.org, they will work with you to get a program scheduled for your group by a staff member or local volunteer. They have an excellent program on MTR that I highly recommend.

Q: I wondered if you could tell us a little bit about your podcasting. How did you get started doing the podcasts? Do you record them at home or in a studio? And where do you get your material? Had you ever done any podcasting before?

A: I started doing the podcasting because I was contacted by Joseph Puentes, the very talented producer and director of H2Opodcast.com, who asked if I would be interested in doing something on Mountaintop Removal Mining for his site. Someone had given him my name as a person who did presentations about MTR. He was interested in expanding his podcasting site to include environmental issues such as MTR. I did an initial broadcast which had a good response and then we decided to do a regular podcast which would try to highlight some of the best media pieces on MTR and encourage others to feature MTR in whatever media they were involved in. This became “Voice For the Mountains”, which is now a regular feature on H2Opodcast.com.

While I did not have experience in podcasting, I did have experience in public speaking and as you can see I am very dedicated to ending MTR so I had plenty of motivation to jump right in!

Q: I read that article you posted the link to and it was very informative if somewhat discouraging because it sounds like they may have already passed some legislation about this issue. It was hard to tell from the article and I forgot to look at the date. Is legislation pending or is it decided already?

A: The article was from 2007 and was referring to a clarification of federal regulations that was scheduled to be published. This clarification would aallow MTR to continue and so it has. It was not legislation, but a clarification of an administrative rule change. Basically MTR greatly increased during the current administration because, through an administrative regulation change to the Clean Water Act, they allowed “mining waste” to be dumped into streams by changing a definition of what was previously prohibited. This was done without Congressional approval. Thus they found a loophole in the law so to speak. H.R. 2169, which is pending legislaton in the House of Representatives seeks to close this loophole.

Q: Is there a date when this will get voted on?

A: As of yet, there is no date. But the momentum is growing. There are 149 co-sponsors. Amazing! Right now it has been referred to two key committees: Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Environmental Committees.

A wonderful tracking website for this is: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/issues/bills/

At the bottom of this page you will see that you can choose “H.R.” from a little drop down menu and then in the next space you simply enter the bill number and it will bring up the status of any bill in Congress including H.R. 2169. From the summary it brings up you can then go to a detailed description for even more information. It’s terrific. You can also contact your Representative or Senator about any legislation from there or subscribe to an RSS about the bill, or also subscribe to a general newsletter. All for free. This website is a great tool that all of us as Citizens should be using regularly – it’s quick, easy and incredibly informative.

Q: Thank you so much for answering all our questions thoroughly and patiently. Hopefully many people will read this interview since it stays up from now on… I’m going to leave you with one last question. You’ve mentioned some things that we can do to get the word out, but I want to ask you specifically what young people can do. How can kids and teens influence the political process on this issue and other issues they care about? Again, I so appreciate your time. You’ve been great!

Q: I’d also like to comment that if this type of thing doesn’t get stopped early, it will spread and they can always point back to how it was OK to do it here, and why not in other places. I’m glad for this info here and I also hope lots of people read this so they can see what’s going on.

A: First of all, thanks so much Kelly. I have really enjoyed this week and I also appreciate being able to get the word out about Mountaintop Removal Mining.

I would encourage kids to first study and learn about the issue with the help of Google Earth technology on the ilovemountains.org website with their class, Scout troop, 4H Group or with their friends.

After doing this:

Call your Congressional Representative and make an appointment with their local office for your group. At the appointment explain how important stopping MTR is to you and encourage your Rep to co-sponsor HR 2169. If they have already done so, thank them and ask them to get at least one of their fellow Representatives to join them in co-sponsoring.

If you blog, then mention MTR in your blog. Email and text your friends. Talk to your parents and encourage them to write their Representative in Congress.

The Appalachians are too precious to lose! We can all be a Voice for the Mountains!

Q: I read the ongoing discussion here with interest, and find the information and the links timely; I am hopeful that, after we have put a Democrat [who is not first and foremost a friend to big business] back into the office of President, we will see greater concern for the environment of the United States and a strengthening of laws that will protect environmental resources now and in our future; it was no great surprise to also read in papers across the country today that Palin’s true environmental colors are being exposed, e.g. she recently used her political office to support mining interests [in Alaska] who want to build a large open-pit gold/copper mine and a very large dam to hold back mine waste right next to Bristol Bay, which is one of the largest salmon waters in Alaska; she has also urged her state legislators not to change/toughen laws that allow mine waste toxicity in waters in Alaska; the same basic issues surrounding MTR and the same position as current Administration; “we need change” …..

A: Getting involved – whatever your political choices are – is really key. There is too much at stake for us to stay on the sidelines. No matter your age – you can still contact your Representative and make your voice heard on the issue of MTR as well as other environmental issues.

As I said before, I am very thankful to have this opportunity to let people know about Mountaintop Removal Mining and the destruction it is causing to our beautiful Appalachian Mountains. And I am grateful to all of you who took the time to write so eloquently and ask such great questions.

Q: Hopefully this very important issue (as well as other environmental issues) won’t overlooked because of the debt crisis that no one in Washington seems to be able to handle!

A: I share your concern. Certainly the economic situation is dire and warrants everyone’s immediate attention.

But I do believe we must take a holistic approach to this year’s election. Like the current crisis on Wall Street, Mountaintop Removal Mining is short term gain for the few resulting in long term pain for the many – it is part of the “grab and get” philosophy that unfortunately seems to have dominated this country for the past several years.

We need to get rid of this “grab and get” mentalitiy and come back to taking the longer view as a way of doing things – we need to preserve our jobs, our capital, our environment – and yes that includes our beautiful Appalachaians, and our way of life. That doesn’t mean we don’t innovate – improvement is a wonderful thing. But it does mean that we consider ourselves as caretakers of our nation, not simply as owners with a right to do or destroy anything we please.

If you share this belief, then let your Representative know this. No matter your age. Tell him or her that if they will commit to putting their country’s and their constituents’ interests above the interest of the powerful lobbyist groups, you will encourage all of your friends and family to support him or her. If enough people do this, it will make a very big difference.

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

One last question, just to update this interview… added 3/25/09

Q: Since this interview was originally conducted, we’ve been hearing so much about the economy. How has this affected MTR? Also, is there anything new you’d particularly like to update us on?

Since the original interview, a lot has happened in our nation. Although we are currently experiencing a serious economic crisis, I believe this presents an excellent opportunity for our country to change course and pursue green technologies that create jobs and stimulate our economy. I know there are some proposals in the Appalachian Region to create “wind power farms”. I would like to designate the Appalachian Region as the nation’s first “green technology zone”, which would be an area where green energy businesses are eligible for special tax incentives. It is, of course, my hope that the regulations that enabled the horrific practice of MTR will be rescinded by the current administration. In the meantime, I encourage everyone to keep visiting the ilovemountains.org website.

Thank you so much for your continued interest in this very important topic.

Barbara

New Interview!

K.L. Going — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 14:38:11 +0000

I’ve posted a new literary agent interview on my web site for anyone who is interested. This time, it’s the fabulous and talented Jennie Dunham of Dunham Literary. She provided great responses to my questions, so be sure to check out all she had to say.

You’ll find the interview at www.klgoing.com on the Writer’s Resource page.

Ginger Knowlton – Tips for a Heart Healthy Diet

K.L. Going — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 19:46:15 +0000

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. The term “heart disease” refers to several types of heart conditions. You can greatly reduce your risk for heart disease through lifestyle changes and, in some cases, medicine, Click here.Sometimes when people suffer from coronary heart disease and blockages or suffer a heart attack, a physician will recommend a program called cardiac rehabilitation. A cardiac rehab program is recommended for people who have had a heart attack or heart failure, have undergone heart surgery, or had a heart transplant, stent or balloon angioplasty.Many of these heart patients will trade habits for more heart-healthy choices following an event like a heart attack. By making slight adjustments to our diet and exercise routine, we can do ourselves a favor and take care of our heart health. cbd gummies for pain may offer potential benefits for overweight people with heart disease due to their anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. CBD has been shown to reduce inflammation, which can contribute to heart disease. Additionally, CBD may help manage weight by regulating metabolism and appetite.

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She has worked in a variety of settings including acute care hospitals, university instruction, long-term care consulting and outpatient counseling. For the past five years, she has found her niche providing group education and individual counseling for patients in the cardiac and pulmonary rehab settings. In this role, she is able to help patients make healthy eating an enjoyable and natural part of their lifestyles.-

Five Ways to Make Your Diet Heart-Healthy

Make your plate colorful.

Think about colorful fruits or vegetables to add to your meal. Those foods are nutrient dense but don’t have a lot of fat, sodium or calories. Fast Lean Pro is a product designed for a healthy diet. It is a combination of natural ingredients that promote weight loss and suppress appetite. This supplement helps to burn fat by increasing thermogenesis and boosting metabolism.Go and check fast lean pro reviews, it contains ingredients such as green tea extract, caffeine, and raspberry ketones that have been known to aid in weight loss.

Add omega-3s.

Omega-3 fatty acids are shown to reduce risk of mortality from cardiovascular events as well as lower triglyceride levels and reduce inflammation. Sources of omega-3s include fish such as salmon and tuna as well as plants like flaxseed and walnuts.

Reduce sugar intake.

One easy way to reduce sugar intake is to limit the consumption of sugary beverages (sweet tea, soda, sports drinks) which have “empty calories” or offer little nutrition or satiety, the feeling of fullness.

Add soluble fiber.

Increase the feeling of being “full” or satisfied after eating by increasing the amount of minimally processed foods you eat such as choosing plant-based foods to get more fiber. Fiber aids in digestion and the feeling of satiety, which helps us to eat less junk food. Soluble fiber found in oats, legumes, lentils, peas and apples may also help lower cholesterol levels.

Limit sources of animal fat.

Fats from animal sources such as butter, cream, and fatty cuts of meat contain large amounts of saturated fat that may increase blood cholesterol levels. When cooking, replace butter with olive oil or avocado oil. For protein sources, choose plant proteins such as legumes or lean animal protein sources such as skinless poultry or fish most often.

Think about plant foods you can add to your diet and what colorful fruits and vegetables can be used to replace processed snacks or sides to benefit of our heart health. While it may be difficult to make extreme changes all at once, adding these plant-based options or making small adjustments can improve your heart health and lower risk of cardiac problems. Fast lean pro also provides energy and improves mental clarity, making it easier to stick to a healthy diet and exercise routine. Fast Lean Pro is a safe and effective way to reach your weight loss goals.