8:36 AM - Summer Reading
Current mood: strong
Category: Writing and Poetry

Hello friends, family and family of friends...

Here's an update to my works online if any of you are interested...

Review of Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra:  http://www.rockymountainjazz.com/photos.html

Interview with NYT Bestselling Author Jennifer McMahon: http://www.eclectica.org/v12n3/janus.html

Interview with Film Maker/Producer/Writer Michael Gibson :
http://www.artnouveaumagazine.com/july-august/film-michaelferrisgibson.html

I have a short story coming out in the innaugural issue of A Cappella Zoo this fall!  Check it out, I think it's one of my best. Short, sweet and to the point. LOL... Kind of like me.

If you live in or near the Chicago Area, I'll be reading poetry at the Green Mill (Al Capone's old hang...) on the 24th of August.
Come and meet  me, I'll buy you a drink. http://www.greenmill.com

And if you're interested, my writing retreats still have room and if you're on myspace, you get a discount, just fill out a contact form and I'll tell you the details! http://www.writingawayretreats.com

Support my project: http://www.newfaceofjazz.spreadshirt.com

Visit my website: http://www.cicilyjanus.net

This fall, my interview line up so far includes Jasmine Guy from The Cosby Show, Josh Kilmer Purcell, Author of I Am Not Myself These Days, Patricia Wood, Author of Lottery, and a review of Nathanial Bellow's new poetry collection, Why Speak and many more!  My travels will be far and wide, so keep reading, I'll post where I'm going and if I stop by your neck of the woods, I'll let you know!

Hope you all are having a great summer!

Yours,

Cicily

Currently listening : Medicine Wheel By Ben Allison Release date: 1998-04-07

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5:26 PM - Retreating Away From the Conference
Current mood: artistic
Category: Writing and Poetry

Retreating away from the Conference ....
Writing Retreat-vs.-Writing Conference....
By: Cicily Janus 

.. ..We've all been there.  You're standing in line at the conference book store, about 22 people deep, waiting for the keynote speaker to sign his book on how he made it past the slush pile, when you realize the one session you really wanted to sit in on is about to start.  Characterizing your Characters in 150 easy steps.  Shoot.  You missed talking with the keynote again.  You dash off, arriving just in time to grab a seat in the back of the room only to realize the rooms were switched due to AV difficulties and instead of hearing about characterization, you're now listening to a sci-fi guru go on and on about world building.  Your genre…romantic comedy.  Now you're exhausted and have decided to head to the bar a little early for liver intoxication.  Besides, it's ..noon.. and the editor from Harper Collins is already helping himself to a Bloody Mary before his next round of pitch sessions. You might as well buy him a drink. AHA!  Now there's the real reason you're there. 
....Next morning, a few too many drinks and hours spent schmoozing at the bar, really the only chance you have to make a good impression on the editors at the conference and you're done for. And so are the editors. 

It's just a part of their job.  Listening to each and every attendee that paid upwards of 50 dollars to pitch the next best thing to them in order to land a request for a partial has them glazed over thicker than a Krispy Kreme Doughnut.  I've had editors tell me that they request everyone just so they don't have to disappoint the people who've asked them there.  I've talked with agents who say they hardly ever request MS from conferences because the serious writers are home writing…hey, wait a minute…Where did these rules come from?  There's no guarantee you will get anything out of any conference you go to.

.. ..Maybe this slant on the conferences turns out good for you, but did you learn about the craft of writing?  Did you really satiate your desire to become a better writer?  Probably not.  Conferences today are often pitch-centered commercialized free for all's.  The art of the craft is often lost and this can be a great disservice to many writers who come to these conferences fooled into thinking that their novel is ready to go, finished, polished and perfected enough for representation. 

....Don't get me wrong. They do serve their purpose. Conferences give you just enough to fill your literary juice bottles up.  But what they do not offer, at least most of them, is the nutritional contents necessary to sustain you for the long haul in your career.  Sure, some of the food on the menu may even taste good while you're there.  Take for instance, the lectures or sessions.  You may get a best selling author or big, fuzzy editor from a NY pub. house telling you EXACTLY what you need to do in order to make your novel the next big thing.  You write down the notes from the lecture, digesting them throughout the few minutes following the lecture then whammo, you're thrown into the next big idea.  The fries of the conference.  More greasy goodness.  Before you know it, you're super-sized.  This novel can be done!  Nothing can stop you…you feel GREAT!  Then the gut bomb hits you as you go up to your room.  Wait, what was it that they said?  Yeah…you go to try to implement it and shoot.  Its time for the keynote address for the night.  Gotta dash off. 

.. ..
Conferences can be overwhelming.  And I'm not talking about the sheer size or smelly hotel rooms and classes that seem to say the same things over and over, I'm talking about the way editors and agents feel, and the way you feel when you arrive back home. What most conferences have done, in order to draw in the bigger crowds and monetary support, is make themselves into the McDonalds of literature.  They appeal to the masses.  White flour sugary buns with processed cow guts covered in ketchup.  Yummy... ..

Let's look at the alternative.  The Whole Foods version of the story.  Where the hot bar is home made goodness filled with vegetables and whole grains.  The craft focused conference and writing retreat.  There are many options, even the ones such as Breadloaf, Tin House and ....Iowa Writers or Algonkian...., who are craft focused. A lot of writers are less than educated about this option. The one draw back from these conferences is that they can be expensive and have large amounts of people like the traditional conferences, or go for long periods at a time. But oftentimes, they're more expensive only at first glance.  Most of these conferences and retreats include lodging and food.  Also, missing from the traditional conferences is ample chance to focus your time and the chance to sit down with masters of the craft. These are fabulous options and I ask you to consider them whole-heartedly when searching for somewhere to go this fall or next spring to work on your craft. 

.. But ..retreats offer the benefit of true quiet time with your muse.  In today's hectic overscheduled and processed lifestyle that we are all accustomed to, the conference spoken about earlier is just more of the same.  Why not get away and draw your thoughts into a peaceful and nurturing environment where you can focus and tap into the creative space?  Give yourself the reminder of why you started this crazy process of writing in the first place.  Nourish your career, feed it, and love it. Don't stuff the mass produced food down your gullet.  It will only become a bloated version of its true self. ....

.... Some retreats offer the best of both worlds. 

.. ..For example, at Writing Away Retreats, held three times a year in Vail, Colorado, there's a difference.  This retreat offers time away, all meals (not a happy meal in site, unless you include the happy feeling you get from eating home cooked, savory dishes three meals a day and nutritious snacks provided all day long to feed your muse) lodging and a manuscript consultation up to 10K words with award winning authors and editors. And four days with an editor and an author whom you get to make a real contact with and start a professional relationship that could lead to a very nice career, in a group of less than 10-12 writers is a good deal. Not to mention it's held in a log home estate in the beautiful rocky mountain terrain of northern ....Colorado.....  If you're interested in learning more about this retreat, you can go to their website at www.writingawayretreats.com. 

..Y..ou can also mention this blog for a 10% discount on the total cost of the retreat.  

.. ..Really it's a matter of tastes.  Mass produced conferences may be the right thing for you at the moment, but when it comes down to making an investment in your career, making the right choices with the right connections can make all the difference.

As the host for this retreat, I sincerely hope to see you there...

~Cicily

Currently listening : Little Things Run the World By Ben Allison & Man Size Safe Release date: 2008-01-22

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11:19 PM - Radio Spot
Current mood: artistic
Category: Music

Hey Guys...

I know I've been absent.  I know..I'm sorry.  But I've been working my ass off.  

And its worked.  Really worked and paid off.  

This friday on KUVO Denver, I will be featured on an interview during the mid-morning jazz show at 1130 am MST.  

And if you aren't local to Denver (89.3 FM Denver, 89.7 Breckenridge, and 94.1 Laramie) you can tune into the station at http://www.kuvo.org and listen to it while you work or play or hang out by the pool.
 
And if you are a musician I've contacted through myspace about this book and I haven't gotten back to you yet..I will.  Just chill out and keep shedding...I'll be there knocking at your door soon.  VERY SOON.

Yours in radio, realizing dreams, and raking in the PR!

Cicily 

Currently listening : Maria Schneider - Sky Blue [Standard Edition] CD -(Wallet style packaging with one booklet) By Maria Schneider

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8:29 AM - Writing Away Retreats
Current mood: artistic
Category: Writing and Poetry

Writing Away Retreats deadline for applicants who qualify for the discounted early bird rate is approaching fast. Remember you can reserve your space for as little as $50.00 down. All money due must be paid within one month of the start date of the retreat.

There are only a few slots available for the October retreat, so act fast.

Go to our new site by clicking on the banner above, or this link: Writing Away Retreats and register now.

We look forward to seeing you in the fall. Any questions or concerns? Please feel free to fill out a contact form on our site or contact me via this myspace page.

Yours in Retreats, Retreating back to my MS and Retiring the Blog,

Cicily

Currently listening : Stars: The Best of the Cranberries, 1992-2002 By The Cranberries Release date: 2002-09-24

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4:45 PM - Dear John
Current mood: busy
Category: Life

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12:48 PM - My Town Monday--Cold Stoned Stupidity
Current mood: annoyed
Category: Life

Yet another pictorial My Town Monday Blog from Cicily:

Except this one is in third person POV because Cicily is too angry to write in first.

Cicily has been sick. Too sick to eat for a while. Her tummy has been wanting to revolt against her due to mutant bacteria from healthy food that was probably undercooked at a restaurant in Atlanta that has decidedly taken up permanent residence in her gut. But as of the last few days, Cicily's appetite is back. After losing almost 20 lbs. she is finally eating again. And although she is taking it easy, today Cicily decided to eat something not so healthy, but rather something tasty...

So she went to the local Cold Stone Ice Cream Store.

For some Cake Batter with Brownie Chunks and maybe a little Marshmallow Cream.

And found this instead.

And this...

Cicily at the moment, hates her town. Cicily is now going to clone herself and protest.

As a matter of fact, Cicily is so angry she is going to clone her children and have them go to the public auction and raise hell in front of public officials...


There is another Cold Stone in Cicily's town but it also closed. I think I am going to adopt Travis's mindset from now on and only eat meat...wait a minute, wasn't he just in the hospital too? Alright, never mind, I'll stick to water.

Yours in Frickin Idiots, Finding My Way Down the Ice Cream Aisle and Fudge,

Cicily

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6:49 PM - Horse Mountain Lodge-Writing Away Retreats
Current mood: enlightened
Category: Writing and Poetry

This is where you could be sitting and working on your MS or journal or short story collection in October 2008 or May 2009....Read on....
What did you do today??? I got into the car with a very nice person whom I had never met, who is interested in the retreat , who happens to live in my hometown, and drove almost four hours each way to reach out and literally touch my dream... and it looked like this...

And this...

And this...
Literally, this was a breathtaking dream come true. I started to cry. I was overwhelmed with the beauty and the thought of being able to welcome writers into my world and help them achieve their dreams in this fabulous and too good to be true setting. Although I had seen pictures of the lodge on line and the Realtor once expressed the beauty of the lodge over the phone, there were, for once, no words to express what I touched, smelled, or laid eyes on in person. It was quite different than what I had expected. I'll start with the Realtor's directions. She stated that after driving 2.6 miles off the road, a log cabin would suddenly "appear" on the right hand side. At first, a small kinda dumpy little house (No, not the one above, this is the actual one) appeared on the right...yeah, I was thinking I had been fooled. One of those looks better online than in person things. Kinda like a personal ad for a single guy: Looking for life-long commitment, looks don't matter, I'm tall, dark, handsome with six figure income and he turns out to be short, pale, skinny and older than Stonehenge living in a trailer park with his even older mother, their twenty five shaggy dogs and surviving, just barely, I might add and on welfare...not that there's anything wrong with that.

But she was right.

Against a deserted mountain setting, a BEAUTIFUL log cabin appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. Another thing she was right about was the fact that once people come to this cabin, they don't want to leave. I tried pulling the old toddler addage: YOU CAN"T MAKE ME...she said, oh yes I can. I could call the police. Yeah, I guess she's right about that.


Lining the path to the house are many, many Aspen trees. In the fall and spring, they promise to be beautiful. The house is...indescribable. A true retreat and I think if enough of us protest or pitch in maybe we won't have to ever leave. But, what I can promise is a true get away, a true retreat of luxury, peace, quiet and nothing around but surrounding nature, good company and time to hone in on your craft. If you have any comments, questions or well....anything at all, please do not hesitate to contact me at any point. Thank you for being a part of my dream. I hope to make this a memorable experience for all of you. Come and see us this October or next May at Writing Away Retreats!

Yours in Nature, Not Knowing What to Do with Myself and Never Wanting to Wake up From this Dream,

Cicily

Enjoy the pictures. But trust me...they don't even begin to tell the story...



YOU MAY FILL OUT THE FORMS TO SIGN UP FOR THE RETREAT AT ANY TIME ON THIS
SITE:

http://www.freewebs.com/literaryretreat4couples

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10:47 PM - My town Monday-Cicily Style
Current mood: amused
Category: Life

Deliver me from writers who say the way they live doesn't matter. I'm sure a bad person can write a good book. If art doesn't make us better, then what on earth is it for?

~Alice Walker

Current Local Weather:

Glorious Sunshine, Warmth and Showers of
Long Lost Friends Who Finally Paid
Us A Visit

Currently on my IPOD:

Leader of the Band

~Dan Fogelberg

Dear Friends and Family of Friends and Everyone else,

My good friend, Travis Erwin has this great thing called My Town Monday going on at his blog and a whole bunch of people joined on the bandwagon with tales from their hometown or facts or what not and now it seems to be a small pandemic around the blogging community. So alright Travis, I joined your bandwagon...are you happy? I thought I would spice things up a bit and show you my version of My Town Monday with a pictorial blog.... Enjoy!

In my hometown aquarium (Atlanta), we can teach our children how to walk on water...



In my hometown we run into fish who claim to be Angelina Jolie's mother



We like to go for rides on the E.A.C. with Dudes from Finding Nemo

Pig Boy Doug Crandell lives in my hometown...I hung out with him and interviewed him for Art Nouveau Magazine...Weird angle for both of us. I look huge in this pic...But of course, we had pork bbq...We questioned what Cornhole tournaments were and Oh, and if you ever want to know how Doug got me lost in my hometown, just ask...Although I hadn't lived there in over twelve years, he managed to get me lost in under half an hour. Good thing both of us are laid back and good natured.



Assessed the damage the tornado's caused in downtown Atlanta...
Yes, those are all broken windows.



Where I live now, the deer have no fear! They take over large observatories by climbing over the roofs and the sides. they really don't care if its the USAF Academy. They don't even have the proper ID!

They were everywhere. I got within five feet of the deer. They
could have cared less that I was there.



People here regularly breach security and use their super human powers to stand a bunch of
airplanes end on end at the USAF Academy
(actually that's the chapel)

It's usually cold but sunny. I love to bask in the sunlight at the
Garden of the Gods under layers of sweaters and t-shirts.



If you want to have fun here in Colorado Springs
One must pay close attention to park signs...


Apparently you aren't allowed to bring scrambled eggs to the parks anymore...
Back in my day...We could scramble all we wanted, but kids these days ruined it for all of us!

This is Pikes Peak, and I was making sure it was still intact and where it should be. Everybody
in this town uses it to give directions to newbies. Like...where is the car dealership row?
Well, you head towards the mountains...and then take a left after you pass under the highway.
Where's the downtown area. You go away from the mountains and then take a right after you pass under the highway...You can never really get lost in this town. Now my real hometown...Atlanta, yep, you can get lost there in a heartbeat. Just ask Doug.

Thanks for getting me on board for this Travis and I hope you feel better soon!

Yours in My Town Mondays, Making it Something Cool and Mostly Having Fun,

Cicily

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4:01 PM - Writing Away Retreats Announcement
Current mood: stressed
Category: Writing and Poetry

Hey Guys...Just a quickie today. Wondering if any of you could please repost this blog in support of the writing retreats. I really appreciate any help and support I can get for this. First 5 people who repost this blog on theirs will get a 10 dollar gift certificate to Amazon.com. Thanks for your help! Email me at cicily@ryanjanus.com with the link to the blog post. And don't forget to check out our myspace page at: Writing Away Retreats Official Myspace Page

Thanks for your help!

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7:35 AM - Paying it Forward
Current mood: blissful
Category: Life

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