#writing – Page 5 – Brightside Story Studio

August 17, 2018May 7, 2021

Lisa Eskinazi, From High School Dropout to Author

It is my pleasure to introduce Lisa Eskinazi, author, poet & e-activist. Lisa has been writing since she could pick up a pen. Sharing her experience of bullying and mental health issues to bring comfort to others and advocate for justice is her dream come true. She lives in a cosy apartment in Melbourne, filled with as many baby pink and faux fur accessories as she can afford and battles bedtime procrastination. Continue reading Lisa Eskinazi, From High School Dropout to Author

August 10, 2018November 20, 2020

Gail Cleare, From Ad Executive to Novelist

I’m taking a break from the Lagos story to bring you the next in my interview series. Today’s winding narrative comes from Gail Cleare, whose love of writing has taken her from advertising to literature. We are excited to announce that her book, the USA Today bestseller The Taste of Air, has been just chosen for a … Continue reading Gail Cleare, From Ad Executive to Novelist

August 1, 2018May 2, 2020

Blame It On The Tango

(Part two of four in the Music & Dance on the Lagoon story. Photo: Ice Nweke and Andrea Barton.) In my last blog, I wrote about the myriad of problems we encountered setting up Music & Dance on the Lagoon. Many of those difficulties were beyond our control, but some were self-imposed. A more sensible person … Continue reading Blame It On The Tango

July 25, 2018April 27, 2020

Music & Dance on the Lagoon

Part one of four in the Music & Dance on the Lagoon story. They say it never rains but it pours. Using this adage, Music & Dance on the Lagoon was a veritable tempest. After the buzz of Nigerian Gems, I combined my new love of salsa with my passion for storytelling and wrote a … Continue reading Music & Dance on the Lagoon

July 11, 2018April 27, 2020

To Be Oneself Or To Be Someone Else

When I published Nigerian Gems, I used the pseudonym Jo Demmer. People often ask how I chose my pen name. Jo is my middle name, after my great-grandmother, Josephine. Demmer is my mother’s maiden name. The novel I was working on at the time, Sunrise Court, was rife with intrigue and infidelity and I didn’t … Continue reading To Be Oneself Or To Be Someone Else

June 28, 2018February 18, 2021

The Pros and Cons of Writing Memoir

What is the difference between memoir and autobiography? What is creative nonfiction? What are the advantages of writing memoir? These are just some of the questions tackled in The Pros and Cons of Writing Memoir. Continue reading The Pros and Cons of Writing Memoir

June 22, 2018July 25, 2021

A Rookie’s Guide to Literary Speed Dating

Authors have a tough time breaking into the traditional publishing world. We send our work via email or online submission portals and rarely meet an agent or publisher face-to-face. Literary Speed Dating is designed to give us an opportunity to pitch in person. The catch? We only have three minutes. Last weekend, I went to … Continue reading A Rookie’s Guide to Literary Speed Dating

June 13, 2018March 25, 2019

Karen Quist, From Beauty Therapist to Copywriter/Photographer

Today, I continue my series of interviews with people I admire—individuals who by changing career path or country, have their own winding narrative. Karen Quist transitioned from beauty therapist to copywriter/photographer and has now runs Lens and Pens Group, a successful web content company. Her enthusiasm and vitality come across as clearly on the page as … Continue reading Karen Quist, From Beauty Therapist to Copywriter/Photographer

May 31, 2018April 27, 2020

Get Ready to Salsa

The mention of salsa conjures images of fiery romance, flamboyant spins and beautiful costumes. Fun, sexy, fast. So what makes this Aussie chick think she has what it takes to mix it on the dance floor in a salsa club in Lagos? Continue reading Get Ready to Salsa

May 24, 2018April 27, 2020

Nigerian Gems – In Print At Last

(Photo Nigerian Gems. Left, first mock up; right, the final product.) To pick up from where I left off in Tales from Lagos, the publication of Nigerian Gems had stalled. Graphic designer Els Van Limberghen volunteered to do the layout and design; we printed a copy on our home computer and painstakingly glued it together to … Continue reading Nigerian Gems – In Print At Last