Your Creative Mind

Best-Selling Author JC Andrijeski on Writing Characters Who Sizzle and the Our New Normal

Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling author, JC Andrijeski.
She is the author of many books (and numerous short stories) in the science fiction, paranormal, cyberpunk-like and urban fantasy genres. Many of her books are parts of series like the Quentin Black psychic detective books or the latest Nick Tanaka Vampire detective books. Her books are sexy, gritty, romantic, and often dystopian. In a word, I find her books page-turners. You want to know what happens next and the sex and romance sizzle.
 
JC's website: https://www.jcandrijeski.com/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1150834498264133/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jcandrijeski/

NPR Books Editor, Petra Mayer

NPR Books Editor, Petra Mayer
Petra Mayer is an editor (and the resident nerd) at NPR Books, focusing on fiction, and particularly genre fiction. She brings to the job passion, speed-reading skills, and a truly impressive collection of Doctor Who doodads. You can also hear her on the air and on the occasional episode of Pop Culture Happy Hour.
Previously, she was an associate producer and director for All Things Considered on the weekends. She handled all of the show's books coverage, and she was also the person to ask if you wanted to know how much snow falls outside NPR's Washington headquarters on a Saturday, how to belly dance, or what pro wrestling looks like up close and personal.
Mayer originally came to NPR as an engineering assistant in 1994, while still attending Amherst College. After three years of spending summers honing her soldering skills in the maintenance shop, she made the jump to Boston's WBUR as a newswriter in 1997. Mayer returned to NPR in 2000 after a roundabout journey that included a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University and a two-year stint as an audio archivist and producer at the Prague headquarters of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. She still knows how to solder.
Useful Links 
The most recent Concierge, which links to all the past years:  
https://apps.npr.org/best-books/#view=covers&year=2019
A couple of summer polls: 
https://www.npr.org/series/729710522/summer-reader-poll-2019-funny-books and 
https://www.npr.org/series/617220176/summer-reader-poll-2018-horror
Life Kit/How To Write A Book: 
https://www.npr.org/2020/04/27/845797464/if-youve-always-wanted-to-write-a-book-here-s-how
Reading the Game: https://www.npr.org/series/510664099/reading-the-game
NK Jemisin on worldbuilding: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6xyFQhbsjQ or find the PDF here: http://nkjemisin.com/2015/08/worldbuilding-101/
 

Andrew Lippa, Award-Winning Composer and Lyricist on His Musicals, Creative Thinking, and Self-Awarreness

Andrew Lippa
Award-winning composer of The Addams Family, Big Fish, The Wild Party, and many other musicals joins me for the podcast.
In addition to his incredible talent and many accomplishments, he was also the Oberon to my Titania, the Brack Weaver to my Jennie Parsons, and the Ralph Rackstraw to my Josephine. My high school leading man joins me to talk about arts education, creativity, and the work of the arts. Here's more about Andrew. And really, go listen to the episode. It's incredible!
About Andrew
Andrew Lippa’s “Unbreakable” had its world premiere with The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus on June 22nd and 23rd, 2018 with 300 artists onstage, including Mr. Lippa. It is now available for purchase and streaming. He conducted the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in a new production of his “A Little Princess” in concert in London at the Royal Festival Hall in May, 2018 to a sold-out crowd of nearly 3,000 people. His hit song “Evil Like Me” appears in Disney’s “Descendants”. Written for Kristin Chenoweth, that soundtrack hit #1 on the “Billboard 200” album chart, #1 on the iTunes and Billboard soundtrack charts. “Evil Like Me” was certified gold in 2017. His epic oratorio for men’s chorus, orchestra and soloists, I Am Harvey Milk has seen over 30 productions including Disney Hall and Lincoln Center.  Andrew’s new musical, The Man in the Ceiling, released a world premiere studio album in May of 2019.  
Broadway credits include: Music and lyrics for Big Fish directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman; the Tony-nominated music and lyrics for the Broadway musical The Addams Family (directed by Jerry Zaks) as well as the music for Aaron Sorkin’s Broadway play The Farnsworth Invention (directed by Des McAnuff). Other musicals include the Drama Desk award winning musical The Wild Party (book/music/lyrics); A Little Princess (music); john & jen (music/book); Asphalt Beach (music and lyrics); Life of the Party (a compendium of Mr. Lippa’s works); and You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (additional music/lyrics and arrangements). 
Awards include Tony and Grammy nominations; shared Emmy for Nickelodeon’s “The Wonder Pets”; SFGMC Vanguard Award; The Drama Desk Award; The Outer Critics Circle Award. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Mr. Lippa serves as president of the board of The Dramatists Guild Foundation (dgf.org).andrewlippa.com 

How to Begin a Daily Creative Thinking Practice

In this third installment on how to bring out your inner Creative Genius, I explore what you need to do to begin a daily practice of innovative and creative thinking. If you can make it a habit, you will revolutionize your life!

Do this first to unleash your creative genius

Welcome to today's podcast short. It's all about how this one simple thing can help you create and also adhere to your deadlines.

Coach, Speaker, Whole-Brain Thinking Expert, Deb Cummins Stellato on How To Use Your Whole Brain To Succeed

Deb Cummins Stellato on How To Use Your Whole Brain To Succeed
Deb Cummins Stellato is an igniter of people and organizations. She’s a certified coach, consultant, speaker, and leadership guru. She brings insight, energy, and experience to individuals and teams looking to be the best versions of themselves.
Our conversation ranged from confidence-building to whole-brain thinking to creativity in business to how an accounting firm's employees got ignited to innovate and thrive.
Find Deb
Facebook: The Think Good Company and Think CourageouslyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debrahcummins/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/think_good_company/
 
 

How to Bring Out Your Inner Creative Genius

Welcome to today's podcast episode short. 
You'll be able to hear a short every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. On these short days, we'll explore creativity, communication, collaboration, and sustainable innovation. 
 
More soon.
Izolda

Jennifer Ashley Tepper, Theater Historian, Broadway Producer on Creativity, History, and Innovative Productions

Jennifer Ashley Tepper is the producer of the musicals Be More Chill, Broadway Bounty Hunter, and Love In Hate Nation, recent projects that are part of a decade-long collaboration with the group known as Joe Iconis & Family. She is also the Creative and Programming Director at Feinstein’s/54 Below, co-creator of the Bistro Award-winning concert series celebrating under-appreciated musicals If It Only Even Runs A Minute, and conceiver and director of The Jonathan Larson Project. Her other Broadway credits include [title of show], The Performers, Godspell, Macbeth, and The Parisian Woman. As a writer, Tepper has authored three volumes of The Untold Stories of Broadway book series.
What an inspiring and exciting conversation. Check it out. You'll hear so much about theater, theater history, and what it takes to produce a show.
Find Jennifer
Jennifer's website: http://www.jenniferashleytepper.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenashtep/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenashtep
And check out: Broadway Bounty Hunter
Jennifer's books about the Theaters of Broadway
Untold Stories of Broadway, Volume 1
Untold Stories of Broadway, Volume 2
Untold Stories of Broadway, Volume 3
Books Jennifer recommended
Not since Carrie
Everything was possible. The birth of the musical Follies
Underfoot in Show Business by Helaine Hunph
 

The Sophisticated Psychos Are Looking To Transform Your Life

The Sophisticated Psychos
The Sophisticated Psychos met in a recording studio in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC. Bay boy, producer, and songwriter, Nicky Scorpio met poet, actor, producer, and Detroit-native Kyriaki after her international tour with 50 Cent & G-unit, and the connection was instantaneous. These two visionary artists then created The Sophisticated Psychos, and they are now on a mission to be role models and change perspectives on pop culture and mental health. 
Their sound is hard-hitting, self-produced trap and electronic beats with raw, edgy, and very honest subject matter dealing with abuse, wellness, and society. TSP are now focused on spreading their music and messages of values and ethics, through music and visual content.
And Kyriaki just released a single called Angels and Rainbows. Stick around to the end of the episode and you can listen to the song.
Find Kyriaki.
Website: https://www.chonacas.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chonacas/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chonacas
 
Find Nicky.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yonickyscorpio/
 
Follow The Sophisticated Psychos: https://thesophisticatedpsychos.com/
 
Listen to the Podcast on these platforms.
Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Podbean | MyTuner | iHeart Radio | TuneIn | Deezer

Author John DeDakis on Writing, Creativity, and The Pursuit of Truth

John DeDakis, Former CNN copy editor on The Situation Room and former White House Correspondent Joins Me This Week.
John DeDakis is a Former CNN senior copy editor on the award-winning The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and former White Hosue correspondent who left reporting the news world to write about it. His Lark Chadwick series is gripping, insightful, and full of suspense.
In Fake, the latest in the series, DeDakis tackles fake news and how it can ruin lives and perhaps even topple governments. We met at a meeting of the Maryland Writer’s Association. John was teaching one of the workshops, and I had the pleasure of learning from him. Some of what he taught that day changed my writing style and perhaps even how I approach my life.
You'll love his honest, forthright approach to writing, journalism, and even issues of grief and loss refreshing and valuable.
John's books include Bullet in the Chamber, Fake, and others.
 
 
Find John on Social Media.
Facebook (personal)
Facebook (Friends of John DeDakis)
LinkedIn
John's writing workshops
Workshops via Eventbrite
Johndedakis.com
The Loft
U of Wisconsin, Madison online
And look for John's new podcast, One-to-One with John DeDakis.
Listen to the podcast on these platforms.
Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Sticher | Podbean | MyTuner | iHeart Radio | TuneIn | Deezer