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Focus on Friends of FOKUS
Contents
- Introduction
- Folks Who Keep FOKUS In Focus (in progress)
Introduction
The Friends of Kafka's Uncle Society wouldn't, couldn't exist without the help of certain individuals who show up every meeting or help defray the cost of the Newsletter, FOKUS, with their yearly contribution ($15.00). There is no profit to be made; the monies received simply help with the cost of producing and mailing the Newsletter (often between $50 to $60 a month).
Also, it's something "more for your money". It's the opportunity for a lot of exposure given the connection that this website has with the Magical Realist Writers International Network, which is a collaboration with MARGIN: Exploring Modern Magical Realism, which has done so much work regarding background information on Magic Realism for Oprah's on-line book club (www.oprah.com) selection of l00 Years Of Solitude by Gabriel, Garcia Marqauez. -- but note, if, in spite of this, no new funds are forthcoming, it will probably mean the end of the newsletter. Yours truly simply cannot affort the cost and time of continuing to do a monthly production of the newsletter, so it will probably be available only on-line here at the FOKUS site of www.pantarbe.com.
So, to those folks "in good standing" this offer -- an invite:
150-200 words about what you do as
a creative person, why you do it, how did you start. Words are also
welcome about FOKUS -- what do you get out of the meetings? The
newsletter? What do you think of Julia Cameron and her book, THE
ARTIST'S WAY? Has it helped you? How? All sorts of comments regarding
all aspects of creativity are welcome here.
Please remember, this is not a forum for competition, comparing yourself to others and finding yourself better than (arrogance) or less than (self-depreciation) someone else. Nor is it about "giving your art away". It's about connecting with the Artist Spirit that resides in us all and helping it find a safe haven in which it may find expression without fear. And without fear, you just never know what is possible. Maybe -- just maybe -- dreams do come true. Mine have.
Bruce Taylor
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Folks Who Keep FOKUS In Focus
(in progress)
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Todd Christoffel
Lead songwriter/singer his is band, don't ask. You haven't heard much of these folks? Don't worry. You will. Todd, along with the members of the band -- Chris Faget, Jim Fink, Linda Mickleberry and Jill Christoffel -- make music memorable with haunting melodies and verses that touch your heart be it sorror or joy. Listen to these folks; what they are doin' is grand!
Visit:
www.cdbaby.com/dontask
www.soundclick.com/dontask
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Benjamin A. Miller
Ben is the editor of www.pantarbe.com, which hosts the Magic Realist Writers International Network (MRWIN) site and these FOKUS web pages. When the pressure was on to get MRWIN updated for anticipated traffic from our link with MARGIN hence to Oprah.com, he was right there, all the way. You want a guy who will do a fine job for you? Try Ben.
Ben: Well, I believe in doing as fine a job as I can. Whether it's writing, music, computer graphics, game design, web pages, balancing the books, or just fixing dinner (all of which I do) -- I feel one should put one's soul into whatever one does in life. Of course, that is often easier said than done in our modern era with its many challenges and constraints. So FOKUS offers a safe forum for creative people to share what they've done with the Artist Spirit and Pantarbe.com's mission is to be both a resource and an outlet for one's inner muse. I am currently doing a makeover of Pantarbe.com -- it is in the development phase currently and will be mostly completed this summer.
Visit:
www.pantarbe.com
members.aol.com/BAMWorks/Webcraft/
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Bob Olson
Dedicated editor to the FOKUS newsletter, Bob's enthusiasm has been great and heartening. His clear thinking regarding the events of the day have insight and exacting research. Some folks might wonder what his editorials have to do with art. Well, as go the politics, so go the arts. These things are not inseperable. Also, his wife, Seiko, does great oragami and her sense of humor would melt the coldest heart. Absolutely.
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Ken Rand
Ken: Popeye is my favorite philosopher. He said, "I am what I am and that's all that I am." He also said, "If I'm not me, who am I? And if I'm somebody else, why do I look like me?" I'm from the generation that coined such wisdom as: War is bad for children and other living things, make love not war, all we are saying is give peace a chance, and the world doesn't have enough toys. That's why I make kaleidoscopes. That's why I write, especially humor and fantasy. I cringe when I see people reading my words and frowning. It means that I've done something wrong. But when I see them laughing, I've Done My Job. Spider Robinson said something like "grief shared is halved; joy shared is doubled." A good philosophy that I support and advocate, and phrase simply as: "Lighten up."
My e-mail address: KRand27577@ aol.com
Send me jokes. I went to the school of knock-knocks. But I don't got to show you no stinking footnotes.
Visit:
www.sfwa.org/members/Rand/
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Pippin Sardo
Pippin worked tirelessly along with Bob to produce a fine newsletter, catching all the goofs. Presently, she is finishing up a great edit job on Bruce's new book, The Mountains Of The Night.
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Last updated: November 17,
2007