A well-known Century City Producer once said Jo Sparkes “writes some of the best dialogue I’ve read.”
Jo graduated from Washington College, a small liberal arts college famous for its creative writing program, forgot about writing totally, until she had a chance to study with Robert Powell, a student of renowned teachers Lew Hunter and Richard Walter, head of UCLA’s Screenwriting Program.
She has written feature film scripts, scripts for Children’s live-action and animated television programs, a direct to video Children’s DVD, and commercial work for corporate clients. A featured writer on several websites, she was a member of the Pro Football Writers Association and (very unofficially) the first to interview Emmitt Smith when he came to the Arizona Cardinals.
Jo served as an adjunct teacher at the Film School at Scottsdale Community College, and even made a video of her most beloved lecture.
Her book for writers and artists, “Feedback How to Give It How to Get It” has received glowing reviews.
When not diligently perfecting her craft, Jo can be found exploring her new home of Portland, Oregon, with her husband Ian, and their dog Oscar.
Her latest book is the fantasy, The Birr Elixir.
You can visit her website at www.josparkes.com or connect with her at twitter at www.twitter.com/sparkes777.
Jo Sparkes
The thing about me is that I …..Am hopelessly addicted to football. NFL, smash-mouth, the whole nine – err, make that ten – yards.
When I first get up in the morning, I …..Make coffee and write.
The most important thing in my life is …..My husband. Other things also come to mind, of course. But in all honesty it’s because he has my back that I can concentrate on whatever is in front of me.
I love to travel to …..If you mean travel often, then it’s the ocean. It’s an hour away, and we drive there with Oscar, the dog. He can run around free on the beach, and watching him play makes all the troubles of the world just melt into obscurity. If you mean travel someday, then it’s Australia. I just want to see it, meet the people. It fascinates me.
In my spare time, I …..Am learning to rock climb! Really.
One thing I learned about life was …..Happiness is a habit. It’s not some reward, or a goal. It isn’t earned or bestowed. You feel it – and the only way to feel it is to cultivate the feeling. You can always find reasons not to be happy. Find one to be so.
The sole mission I am on this earth is to …..Get other people to smile, or laugh, or sigh, or cry, or to feel. For just for a few seconds, to nudge them away from their own distractions.
One little known fact about me that might surprise you is …..I’m a second degree black belt in Chinese Kenpo Karate.
My favorite time of day is …..Early morning, five or six a.m. I’ve got a cup of Kenya coffee and the world to myself.
I love to write about …People. The vagaries, the flaws. The doubts and the dreams. And those moments when they somehow rise above their fears and try, and do, and succeed. When despite everything, they triumph.
The most difficult aspect about writing is …..Hmmm. Each story has a different challenge for me. I suppose what they all have in common is that point where a story is ready to be birthed, to spring forth into existence. You might write some of it, and then find the well has gone dry at the moment – perhaps for weeks. And then suddenly clear as day, there it is. You have only to write it down. The trick is making sure that you truly wait on the story, and aren’t just procrastinating. Procrastination can kill creativity; refilling the well is essential to it.
My most favorite aspect about writing is …..Probably the same as Dorothy Parker. I do like writing, but the best feeling is that of having written. It makes the day itself brighter, because I feel I have already accomplished something worthwhile.
When I became a published author for the first time, I …..Tried to tell myself it was no big deal. Pretended that I didn’t notice the comments coming in, the pats on the back from friends. It really hit me when I read the first review. Someone had actually read my words – and could summarize them in ways I had not. That was sooo cool.
The inspiration behind my book comes from …..The character had been teasing me for years. I created the name, used it in online games. I found she had her own personality, and over time I learned her nuances. Then I asked that question, ‘how did you get this way?’ And she told me such a tale!
The most asked question about my book is ….. Where in the world did I get the idea for Comet? I can’t take credit – Drail taught me. And no, I’ve never played it. Not yet, anyway.
Author: Bruce Skye
A former technical writer, detail is important to Bruce Skye. His research for the Deathsong Chronicles included medieval armor and fortresses, as well as Celtic names and magic. “If you create a world, it must be consistent. And that’s what I strive for Grayrider’s world to be. I’ve built a database of material for each of the Deathsong Chronicles. Those databases aid me in keeping the world the same from book to book.
Between the Covers 