I just thought I would let you know I may just have my first chance at writing an article for a new magazine that one of my friends at Val Kilmer's Street Team is starting up.
Dawn Bonner is the editor and the magazine will be called Living Life...Boomer Style. Dawn recently showed us the article she wrote about Val, which was awesome and so I thought perhaps Dawn wouldn't mind my trying my wings and offering to contribute.
I hope that wasn't too cheeky or rude of me, but I just wanted to help out if I could.
After reading the article about Val, I suggested to Dawn that this magazine would be the perfect chance to promote Jon Peter Lewis, and asked if she would be interested in interviewing and writing an article on Jon.
However, Dawn wrote back, and said as she is accepting contributions from eager and talented writers, that perhaps I should be the one to interview Jon/write the article myself! This is exciting for me, and admittedly it does make me nervous as I've never interviewed anyone before. While I have written articles on music and musicians, this is the first real audition I've had for my work.
Here's Dawn response and what she's looking for in particular.
****Hi Michael,
Thank you for the good wishes.
Yes, we are starting our look actively lor contributors, when you look at the magazine you will see there are are other writers and photographers besides me. It is my goal to discover new talent and be a catalyst in helping them to become a household name. The last few months have been spent getting the bare bones of the magazine up and running. There will be about 50 different departments and music is a main feature.
If you would like to do an article on John Lewis that would be great. How old is he? What type of music? Where can one hear his music? Photos, interview, etc. would be great. I am interested in getting interviews via podcast and as soon as we get the systems going live via the internet. Then, archive them to be accessed at any time.
The article is a bio of the musician, where they are playing, what type of music, how you can purchase their music and as soon as I get someone who is a techie, to have the capability on the page of each musician featured, to have a radio you can turn on and off with their music.
No, you do not steal my thunder...my goal is to discover talent and help showcase them, whether it is an artist, writer, photographer, flash developer, unsung hero--we are all in this together, so let us shine together. Am always open for ideas, the closed mind usually lives in a small world!
Let me know when you would like to do the article, what your angle is--if it is different than what I suggest above, and also what kind of artwork you have for John (photographs) as we can do a slide show of him playing, writing, creating, home time-what ever is interesting and goes with the column.
If anyone in this group is interested in contributing to any of the departments let me know. I would gladly consider you, and your ideas. There are 50 different departments to be featured. Not all of them are up and running:
Gardening Boating Biking (Harley to Schwinn) Sex Money Health Movies Hottest TV Show Reviews Golf Travel Music Art Pay It Forward About the Ride Unsung Heroes Charity Volunteer Do What You Love...The Money Will Follow Ten Points to Living an Extraordinary Life Birding Spiritual Metaphysical
You get the point...this is a sampling of departments for the magazine.
I am looking for Flash developers, someone who can get music on each musician page, photographers, writers, reporters, promoters...
Goal: In one year Living Life...Boomer Style will have over 100, 000 subscribers.
Our campaingn (a $35, 000 campaign) starts in the next few weeks to promote the magazine.
God’s blessings, Dawn Bonner Editor in Chief****
Obviously my work will involve only the writing, as I don't have either the technology nor the know-how to do podcasts - unless I can collaborate with someone who knows how to do all that stuff - and all that like Dawn has suggested, and as I'm in Australia and light years away from many of my artists in the US, the interview may have to be conducted online, and I'm not sure how to get photographs. This will all be stuff I need to investigate thoroughly once I get settled and start my professional work.
I'm kind of new to this professional stuff, and I will take into serious consideration Jon's own advice regarding getting to the point quicker and staying there once I get there.
I will still finish my academic work for my Masters, but opportunities like this one are too good to pass up as well.
I feel more like my old self before all the illness and depression got on top of me and I hope I can make people proud of me again and forgive all I've done wrong.
That would be great if you did an interview with Jon and got it published. If you stick to the theme and tone she is looking for, "The article is a bio of the musician, where they are playing, what type of music, how you can purchase their music", you'd have a greater chance of her publishing your work. Good luck!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.. It's about learning to dance in the rain."
I am nervous as I've never done an interview before, and I know Jon is always friendly and outgoing, I still feel a little shy - although it will most likely be an online interview.
The last thing the world needs to hear is my awful speaking voice on a phone interview, or *GASP* live.
Would I need to ask Judy's permission to interview Jon as she is his manager?
I've already written to Jon about this, and am waiting for a response.
I hope he won't mind doing this and that he will know I will only write about him in a positive light.
I'll only ask career/music related questions of course, I don't feel comfortable asking about people's personal lives, and I'm sure Jon doesn't feel comfortable answering them.
I don't know if you have to ask Judy or not. If so, then Jon will probably let you know. She may want to help you with the "bio" part of your article.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.. It's about learning to dance in the rain."
Don't be nervous. 
