In today's episode, Steve and Catherine talk with acclaimed, Fretsore Recording Artist, John Jenkins. He's been at it since the 80's and has done a whole lot to not only improve in his craft, taking direction and guidance from some of the best in the industry, but he continues to put out a sizeable amount of work in a hyper competitive market.  We learn about his journey to being considered one of the UK's most promising singer/songwriters in the folk, country and Americana markets, while also getting a chance to hear some of his music in the episode. You'll hear a few from his most recent album, If You Can't Forgive You Can't Love as well as some tasty morsels from pervious John Jenkins solo albums or from his work with his band, John Jenkins and the James Street Band.  Thanks for listening and please enjoy learning about how John Jenkins grabs his string and flies his kite

https://johnjenkinsmusic.com/john-jenkins-singer-songwriter
Facebook @Johnjenkinsmusicliverpool
Instagram:  @johnjenkinsliverpool
Twitter:  @JohnJenkins2020

Kites and Strings Website: https://www.kitesandstrings.com/​
​Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kitesandstringspodcast
Twitter:   @Kitesandstrings
Instagram:  @Kites_and_strings
email: [email protected]

Kites and String's is produced and edited by Steve Ploum at Turning Stones Counseling, Inc.
Our theme music is by Harrison Amer, and all other music is by Purple Planet at Purpleplanet.com.  Our logo-design is by Cole Monroe at Blue Stag Creative.

Today's episode is with Barbara Bonfiglio, who is better known as Misstress Barbara.  She has created/produced techno music/beats and DJ'ing for 26 years and has circled the globe dozens of times performing at the biggest clubs.  She has put out too many EPS to count, the same is true of the compilations that she has been a part of,  and she has written and sang two pop albums to date, I'm No Human  and Many Shades of Grey . 

In this episode, Barbara candidly shares about the struggles of feeling tied up, being boxed-in and having multiple publics who expect different things from her. These entities include venues and booking agents who book her, promoters and fans of her DJ, techno work, and the growing number of  fans who want to hear her melodies on vehicles like the aforementioned pop albums.   The fact that so much of this takes place within a fandom sporting a shelf life of a mere two or three years compounds the problem even more.

It is not a wonder that she has sought balance in sailing, flying small airplanes and gliders, snow boarding, motorcycles and competitive tennis.  Most importantly, it seems, Barbara brings a knowledge and a wisdom to the task of keeping her ego in check.   In this episode, we have a great conversation about this and we're confident that listeners will root for Barbara's finding a boat to sail and some instruments to create some melodies.

Misstress Barbara's website;                 http://www.misstressbarbara.com/
Facebook:   @MisstressBarbara          https://www.facebook.com/MisstressBarbara
Misstress Barbara on Bandcamp        https://misstressbarbaraofficial.bandcamp.com/music
Misstress Barbara's YouTube                https://www.youtube.com/user/MisstressBarbaraTV
Instagram    @mistressbarbara
Twitter           @misstressb


Kites and Strings Website: https://www.kitesandstrings.com/​
​Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kitesandstringspodcast
Twitter:   @Kitesandstrings
Instagram:  @Kites_and_strings
email: [email protected]

Kites and String's is produced and edited by Steve Ploum at Turning Stones Counseling, Inc.
Our theme music is by Harrison Amer, and all other music in this epoisode (The Right Time  - Roger's Cup Epic Mix and K-10 )  is courtesy of Misstress Barbara and Third Side Music.  Our logo-design is by Cole Monroe at Blue Stag Creative.

Today's guest is Sylvia. If you were anywhere near the radio, and especially country radio in the 80's, you have heard at least one of her million+ selling hits including Tumbleweed,  The Matador, and Snapshot. Her hits, The Drifter and Nobody hit No.1 in Billboard's country music category.  She sold millions of copies and certainly made good on her goal to be a star and gathering some prestigious country music awards including a Grammy nomination after leaving her home town of Kokomo, Indiana for Nashville.

After her run with RCA Records between 1979 and 1987, she explored other interests but never strayed far from using her voice.  She became a certified life and career coach, working with executives and artists of all genres, she's sat on multiple not-for-profit boards supporting people with mental illness and substance use disorders, and has stepped more into writing and releasing albums, including Nature Child, A Dreamer's Journey. which will be released on Tuesday, 2.2.2022.  The day after this episode is published.  You'll a sneak peak of music from the album in this episode.

We have a great time talking with Sylvia about her journey, including details about her songwriting process, the lessons learned while being part of the music machine in the 80's, how she looks to inspire a different population of listeners  and life in general.  In essence, we do a lot of exploring Sylvia's string grabbing and kite flying.

Sylvia's website:  https://sylviamusic.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sylviacountrymusic 
Twitter- https://twitter.com/syhutton
Instagram - @shutton

Kites and Strings Website: https://www.kitesandstrings.com/​
​Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kitesandstringspodcast
Twitter:   @Kitesandstrings
Instagram:  @Kites_and_strings
email: [email protected]

Kites and String's is produced and edited by Steve Ploum at Turning Stones Counseling, Inc.
Our theme music is by Harrison Amer, and all other original music in today's episode is courtesy of Sylvia at Red Pony Records.  Our logo-design is by Cole Monroe at Blue Stag Creative.

Our introduction to Alice Mattison was learning that she wrote a book entitled, The Kite and String, How To Write With Spontaneity and Control - And Live to Tell the Tale (Penguin Books).  In pretty short order we were able to bring Alice onto the show and are so happy that we did.  Not to mention,  we breathed a sigh of relieve when we realized that we we're not  gonna get sued for using the name Kites and Strings.    

Alice was a joy to talk with.  The string part of her Kite and String involves the process of proofreading, editing and basically cleaning up after you're allowed you kite to run amuck so as to create.  Catherine and Steve can get behind that whole-heartedly, and in this episode of Kites and Strings, also learn of how being a young mom, with young mom responsibilities, ironically helped Alice find the head-space and the time to write.  And write she did. 

On top of her career teaching college-level students for 20+ years, Alice has made a career of writing.  Although she claims to have come to writing late, she quickly make up time.  Thus far, Alice has published seven novels, in addition to the aforementioned guide for writers, a book or poems and short stories and at least a dozen short stories that have been published in the New Yorker and similar publications.  We learn too that there are at least two more publications on the horizon.  Whew. 

Per Wikipedia, Alice Mattison's publications...

• "Conscience," (novel), Pegasus, 2018
• "The Kite and the String", (craft), Viking, 2016
• "When We Argued All Night", (novel), Harper Perennial, 2012.
• "Nothing Is Quite Forgotten in Brooklyn" (novel) Harper Perennial, September, 2008.
• "In Case We’re Separated: Connected Stories" William Morrow/Harper Collins, October, 2005; 
• "The Wedding of the Two-Headed Woman" (novel) William Morrow/HarperCollins, August, 2004. Paperback, Harper Perennial, 2005.
• "The Book Borrower" (novel) 1999, William Morrow and Co. Paperback, Harper Perennial, 2000. Reissued, Harper Perennial, 2008; 
• "Men Giving Money, Women Yelling" (intersecting stories), Morrow, 1997. Paperback, Quill, 1998; New York Times Notable Book, 1997.
• "Hilda and Pearl" (novel) Morrow, 1995; large print edition, Thorndike Press, 1995. Paperback, Harper Perennial, 2001.
• "The Flight of Andy Burns" (short stories), Morrow, 1993.
• "Field of Stars" (novel) Morrow, 1992.
• "Great Wits" (stories) Morrow, 1988. Paperback, Penguin Books,1990.
• "Animals" (poems) Alice James Books, 1980.

Alice's website:  https://www.alicemattison.com/

Kites and Strings Website: https://www.kitesandstrings.com/​
​Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kitesandstringspodcast
Twitter:   @Kitesandstrings
Instagram:  @Kites_and_strings
email: [email protected]

Kites and String's is produced and edited by Steve Ploum at Turning Stones Counseling, Inc.
Our theme music is by Harrison Amer, and all other original music by purple planet music at https://www.purple-planet.com.  Our logo-design is by Cole Monroe at Blue Stag Creative.

Today's episode features Central-London-based digital Sculptor, Rayvenn Shaleigha D'Clark.  Her website  also lists her as a writer, researcher and curator, but we learn that she is so much more, including a pet owner, university professor, social being, food connoisseur, and all around enjoyable person. Her artwork is featured in some high-profile shows and she included on multiple lists cataloging people to watch in the artworld.

Steve and Catherine have such a good time interviewing this introspective young artists who seems to be leading the way for artist of her generation.  A great approach and something that we learn more about in the episode is that she is not doing it alone. She forms connections, she collaborates and she seems to understand where she sits in the world. You'll learn more about that in this episode as well as about her managing the narrative because in the world today and  social media throwing things into warp speed, things can get out of hand.   

Please look up today's guest, Rayvenn Shaleigha D'Clark via the following means:

website: https://www.rayvenn-dclark.com/
Instagram:  @rayvenndclark_art
Twitter: @RayvennDClark

Kites and Strings Website: https://www.kitesandstrings.com/​
​Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kitesandstringspodcast
Twitter:   @Kitesandstrings
Instagram:  @Kites_and_strings
email: [email protected]

Kites and String's is produced and edited by Steve Ploum at Turning Stones Counseling, Inc.
Our theme music is by Harrison Amer, and all other original music by purple planet music at https://www.purple-planet.com.  Our logo-design is by Cole Monroe at Blue Stag Creative.

Today's guest is Brendan Lorber,  Brendan is a visual artist, poet, prose writer and editor, and his most recent book is entitled If this is paradise why are we still driving?  It is published by the Subpress Collective.  

 
Recently, and as we discuss in this episode, the pandemic and in the process of seeking relationship, Brendan has found himself creating a series of hand drawn maps of the known poetic and musical universe.  Imagine what a map of Gertrude Stein, David Bowie, Gwendolyn Brooks and Madonna might look like.  The maps have found homes at the Museum of Modern Art, The Free Black Women’s Library, Opus 40 Gallery, Artists Space, The Free Library of Philadelphia, The Woodland Pattern Center, The Scottish Poetry Library, and private collections in nine countries. He also teaches map-making classes online through  Uncommon Goods, and some of these classes help students explore and relationships, and in case you have yet to find that perfect gift for your valentine, see the links below in order to sign up for one of his classes.

In this episode, we hear so much more about Brendan, his creativity origin story, amazing stories about his family, and we have a blast learning about how Brendan grabs his string and flies his kite. Enjoy.

Brendan's Website - https://brendanlorber.com/index.html
Brendan's classes at Uncommon Goods  - https://www.uncommongoods.com/artist/34798
Instagram - @brendanlorber
Twitter - @brendanlorber
If this is Paradise, Why are We Still Driving?     for purchase via Amazon

Kites and Strings Website: https://www.kitesandstrings.com/​
​Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kitesandstringspodcast
Twitter:   @Kitesandstrings
Instagram:  @Kites_and_strings
email: [email protected]

Kites and String's is produced and edited by Steve Ploum at Turning Stones Counseling, Inc.
Our theme music is by Harrison Amer, and all other original music by purple planet music at https://www.purple-planet.com.  Our logo-design is by Cole Monroe at Blue Stag Creative.

Today we talk with Corrie Legge.  Corrie has certainly found success in the arts, as she has directed/starred in several short films that have garnered very positive reviews, and she has maintained a healthy diet of voice over work in commercials, animations, video games and audio books.. Concurrently she is a present mom and a creative partner with her husband, while finding a way to marry two passions, which includes the love of acting and the art of film (producing, writing, directing).  That other love is that of teacher, which Corrie is also certified to do.  In essence, her acting/film passion joined with her love of teaching to form the identity of Creative Coach. 

 Aside from the aforementioned, we have a very enjoyable chat with Corrie  about her being mom to a one-year-old, her career choice, her ongoing growth and her maintaining her focus on several goals that are are varied but harmonious. She shares here creativity origins story, she provides fascinating information on the potential for burnout in her field. the need to set limits and to maintain healthy boundaries,  and she shared how she has learned to adapt and re-arrange her goals even though there have been times that she knew what she wanted differed from field expectations.

We hope you enjoy our conversation with Corrie Legge, as we discuss her string grabbing and kite flying. 

Website - https://corrielegge.com/
IMBd - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6683652/
https://linktr.ee/creatingwithcorrie
Instagram- @creatingwithcorrie
Faebook - @celegge

 Kites and Strings Website: https://www.kitesandstrings.com/​
​Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kitesandstringspodcast
Twitter:   @Kitesandstrings
Instagram:  @Kites_and_strings
email: [email protected]

Kites and String's is produced and edited by Steve Ploum at Turning Stones Counseling, Inc.
Our theme music is by Harrison Amer, and all other original music by purple planet music at https://www.purple-planet.com.  Our logo-design is by Cole Monroe at Blue Stag Creative.

We had a great time talking with Scientific Illustrator and Children's Book Author/Illustrator, Alice Chen-Kitterman.  We learned so much about her field, including why and how Alice is a Scientific Illustrator as opposed to a Medical Illustrator, and we learn about the legal, courtroom role that scientific illustrators may play.  So interesting and it blew both Steve and Catherine's mind, as we get an inside glimpse at how one illustrator played an important role and helped make history via a hugely important and highly publicized trial. 

In addition to learning a great deal about scientific illustration, we learn of Alice's path to the field, her supporters along the way, sound guidance from a woke older sister, and we learn too about Alice's character, Centipede Dragon, who is featured in multiple books and who illustrates so much of what we discuss in this episode... that is multiple personalities or, as we come to understand it, multiple passions.

For more info on Alice:
Her website:
https://www.aliceychen.com/
FaceBook  https://www.facebook.com/AYCIAD
Link'd In https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-chen-kitterman
Vimeo - https://vimeo.com/user13507144/videos
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/ACKdraws/_created/
Twitter @ACKdraws

Kites and Strings Website: https://www.kitesandstrings.com/​
​Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kitesandstringspodcast
Twitter:   @Kitesandstrings
Instagram:  @Kites_and_strings
email: [email protected]

Kites and String's is produced and edited by Steve Ploum at Turning Stones Counseling, Inc.
Our theme music is by Harrison Amer, and all other original music by purple planet music at https://www.purple-planet.com

Jim Byrne is a Scottish Singer/Songwriter who was signed to his first record deal with Fox Star Records, at the age of 59.  He has been playing, writing and performing though since he was 13 years old and although his most recent effort is situated somewhere in  the land of country and folk, we learn of his punk rock past.  Jim shares about past moments when the light was shining on him as he was courted by record companies, and his penchant for DIY music, recording, marketing and booking tours. In short, it is quite evident  that Jim is totally steeped in music and we're so so happy that he spend some time with us talking about his musical string grabbing and kite flying. 

Review for his EP, 4 Country and Folk Songs by Jim Byrne
“…it feels like his soul is communicating directly with your soul. Duglas T Stewart (BMX Bandits)

“…dives headlong into Americana territory. Magic.” Dave Acari – Touring musician & songwriter

“a great songwriter. reminds you of the greats like Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen.” Michaela Foster Marsh, Singer & musician, finalist of Scotswoman of the Year

“an undeniably ‘classic’ sound.. same time somehow sounding like a fresh take.” Jamie Flett, folk/folk rock musician, singer songwriter

Jim's website:  https://www.songsbyjimbyrne.com
Ten Writers Telling Lies: http://www.tenwriterstellinglies.com

Jim's Facebook is @musicbyjimbyrne
https://www.facebook.com/musicbyjimbyrne/

Kites and Strings Website: https://www.kitesandstrings.com/​
​Facebook: @kitesandstringspodcast
Twitter:   @Kitesandstrings
Instagram:  @Kites_and_strings
email: [email protected]

Kites and String's is produced and edited by Steve Ploum at Turning Stones Counseling, Inc.
Our theme music is by Harrison Amer, and all other original music in this episode are written and performed by Jim Byrne

Today's guest is Sheryl Murray. She's been an illustrator for close to 30 years and had always dreamed of being a children's book illustrator, but due to available jobs out of school, re-locating, engaging in a different medium (clay) and being a parent, realizing her dream was delayed until just a few years ago.  Since, she has worked with the likes of Penguin Random House, and Harper Collins on five different children's books.  Two books, Hand in Hand . and  Lulu and the Hunger Monster  have already been released  (see links below) and the next three roll out starting in January 2022 with Still Mine.    So, yes, Sheryl has been very busy and one look at her work should help explain this.  It's beautiful!

In this episode we hear of her work prior to computers presence in the illustration field, her move from Chicago to Portland, her discovery of and work in ceramics, her resilience in managing illustration assignments depicting stories that were uncannily similar to personal life events, like losing her parents and grandmother, and becoming an empty nester with daughters in school on the other side of the country, among others.  One thing that is quite evident, is that Sheryl seems to think in visual story telling and a great deal of evidence is discussed/revealed in this very entertaining episode, complete with beeped out names, fake IDs and a discussion about The Smiths.   

Additionally, Steve and Sheryl attended undergraduate  art school together and were in the same social group.  As such, there is some time discussing their shared art school experiences at the onset of the episode and near the end. Snake sweaters. 

Simon & Shuster - Hand in Hand  https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Hand-in-Hand/Alyssa-Satin-Capucilli/New-Books-for-Newborns/9781534441729

Free Spirit Publishing - LuLu and the Hunger Monster
https://www.freespirit.com/social-and-emotional-learning-for-kids-and-teens/lulu-and-the-hunger-monster-erik-talkin-sheryl-murray?c=173

Sheryl's website - https://www.sherylmurray.com/
Sheryl-Murray-Illustration on Facebook
Twitter - @Sheryl_Murray
Instagram - @sheryl_murray_illustration

Kites and Strings Website: https://www.kitesandstrings.com/​
​Facebook: @kitesandstringspodcast
Twitter:   @Kitesandstrings
Instagram:  @Kites_and_strings
email: [email protected]

Kites and String's is produced and edited by Steve Ploum at Turning Stones Counseling, Inc.
Our theme music is by Harrison Amer, and all other original music by purple planet music at https://www.purple-planet.com