Good afternoon everyone and a warm welcome to you all. Today author/activist Blake Everstone (Jane/John Doe) is here to chat about her work. Her involvement in the LGBT community has been astronomical and because of her efforts, many people have benefited. Jane/John Doe is now out and is doing very well.
Tell us about yourself and your writing style.
One day I woke up and decided I was going to start living my dreams. I was someone who did for everyone else and very little for myself. I had always aspired to be an author and had wrote poems and stories all my life. I took a leap of faith and pursued having my work published. I have many writing styles but my favorite is horror and suspense thrillers. I like to keep my readers captivated through each chapter and make sure they turn the page. They may even leave the lights on at night after reading one of my books.
Where can we find your poem ‘Serene Dream’?
I love this poem. I wrote it after I had an amazing dream. It was one of the most peaceful dreams I had ever had. I was swimming next to this majestic humpback whale. I will never forget the serenity I felt. It can be found on my Facebook page.
Can you elaborate more on your collection, ‘Ominous Tales’?
Ominous Tales is a collection of 5 stories and 5 poems. Very creepy! Serial Killers, magical beings and beasts, mental disorders, demons – you name it – are in this book. Several of the stories have surprise endings. It will make you leave this world and enter another where the unreal is reality. If you scare easily, then this is not the book for you. Most of the stories have LGBT characters. Being gay, it is a part of my life, so my books have many gay characters.
Me: Stay tuned for my review of this chilling collection, coming in Jan 2018.
Can you tell us more about Aaron Paul and his creative/artistic work?
Aaron Paul! One of my favorite people! I am so glad you asked me about him. Yes, his work is absolutely amazing however, it is his heart that I am so taken with. He cares deeply for others. I believe it to be a great part of his success. He also has a style about him that is unlike any other. He deserves all the attention and success in the world. Stardom has not gone to his head. He takes time out of his extremely busy schedule to help others. His beauty shows through his music! Very talented! I love Aaron Paul. I wrote him a poem “Thrift Shop” and you would have thought I gave him a million dollars.
https://www.facebook.com/aaron.poole1?ref=br_rs
Photo by Billy Hess Photography
Me: Be sure to check out Aaron’s facebook page link above.
Where do you get your ideas for your interview questions on your blog? Where can we find the blog?
https://blakeeverstone.wordpress.com/
I started this blog to showcase these wonderful people within the LGBT community. The purpose of the blog was to encourage others. If they read about people within our community that aspired to live their dreams they could see that they could do the same thing. The questions were to help the reader to see them as people just like themselves with the same hopes and aspirations in life.
What made you decide to write professionally?
I grew up very poor and lived in government apartments as a child. I attended a Dallas, TX school and volunteered in a library. There was the sweetest librarian who took time to read my writings in Junior High and encouraged me. Her name was Marilyn. She was an amazing woman who had a heart for mentoring underprivileged children. She told me numerous times that I could be a writer when I grew up. I believe that is where it started. From that point on, I have had many women in my life; teachers, librarians, friends, etc.… encourage me to do the same. No matter what others say, you must find it within yourself and it took many years for me to pursue getting my work published. I am also a children’s book author. I have one published and many more on the way. My pen name for my children’s books is Nina LeAnne.
What factors do you consider when titling a book?
My favorite title is my book Jane/John Doe. I always have the title of the book or story chosen before I start writing it. I don’t know that I consider any factors when choosing a title. It just sticks out in my mind and I say to myself “That’s your next story!”
Besides writing, how else do you support the LGBTQ community?
I believe that my blog helps others as well as the inspirational articles I have written that can be found on medium.com. I also have a Facebook group called “LGBTQ Label Me Not”. Although others have started groups with the same name, which I think is awesome, the name came from a poem I wrote titled “Label Me Not”. Within the LGBTQ community we still tend to separate one another with labels. Ex… trans, stud, femme, butch, etc. Also suicide prevention is a huge issue with me. Too many young people within our community have committed suicide because of not being accepted within their families and society. It is important to help these young people to love themselves. I have attached several hotline numbers to this for anyone who may need to reach out for help.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I have 4 great kids. They are my world. Spending time with them is my favorite thing to do.
Where is a great place to go in Texas?
Oak Lawn is a great place in Texas. It is the heart of the LGBT community here. There are bars, shops and restaurants where you can go and just be yourself. My book “Jane/John Doe” is mostly set from this area.
What was the last live musical performance you saw?
I can’t remember the last but I can tell you the most memorable however, it will give away my age lol. I was on the stage of a ZZ Top concert. That was quite an experience. And the most fun I had was when I rode on the back of a motorcycle to a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert. Hmmm… that was over 25 years ago.
Would you have a biography written on your life?
I have been through many struggles in my life. If a biography was ever written I would want it to focus more on how I overcame and the achievements since then rather than the pain and suffering I endured.
If you were able to purchase a second home any in where in the world where would you choose and why?
I have been many places but never would I live anywhere than the great state of Texas. If I had a vacation home, I would choose somewhere along the Texas coast line. I love to fish.
What is next for you?
I will continue to disturb readers with my adult’s books, and inspire children with my children’s books. I am also looking into writing some inspirational books. A big step that I am taking right now is I am attending college to be a substance abuse counselor. There are not enough in-treatment rehabs available out there and those that are available, many cannot afford. The government funding in Texas that is in place right now for some of these facilities only allow funding for 2 weeks in most cases. That’s just not enough time. My desire is to help people with substance abuse problems. If anyone is reading this and feel that they need help, Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous is great place to go. There is no cost to attend and there are meetings everywhere. I am not ashamed to say that I am free today from the bonds which once imprisoned me. It has shaped me into the person I am today.
AA hotline 1-856-486-4444
What is your favorite poem that you have written?
The power of a woman’s curves,
The taste of her sweet soft lips,
The pleasure to lie between her cozy rounded hips.
Why must she strive for perfection,
when the gift is in her uniqueness,
but somehow she believes it to be her weakness?
It’s the glamorous images in the magazines,
It’s the photoshopping that deceives,
Stealing the true beauty like thieves.
Do you not realize that even a model has her insecurities?
She will stand in the mirror and may even cry,
at the distorted vision she sees through her eyes.
Did Cleopatra have a tummy tuck, nose job or botox?
Yet her sensuality was beyond compare,
Her painted images entangle my stare.
I see the beautiful artwork every woman displays.
The design of a woman with a scar on her face,
If only she could embrace,
The fact that she is the object of someone’s affection.
There is someone somewhere that would see her as,
The most beautiful creature,
Looking past the scar to find her most compelling feature.
Is it really beauty we see on the red carpet?
Or are we so indoctrinated that we let the elite,
Convince us all that beauty is small and petite?
Oh, her fragrance when she is lost in her passion.
That one special spot of ecstasy I seek,
her moan as she reaches her peak.
Don’t ever let a man determine how you feel about yourself.
If he has the nerve to tell you to lose weight,
It’s only because there is something about himself he hates.
The different shades of pink and design of a women’s flower,
The nectar of her shower,
Oh, wouldn’t it be a shame,
If they were all the same.
Don’t watch a pageant and wish to be her.
For nothing is as it appears.
She’s been shaped and formed for many years.
Kept awake at night with many fears.
Because she must compete against her peers.
Stand up to those who belittle you.
If they are a fault finder they will find fault no matter what.
You put your head up and work on your strut.
Oh, the aura of a confident woman makes my mouth water.
Her self-reliance on her inner being,
Is something that every woman is needing.
Oh, the shiver and goosebumps that I encounter
when she whispers in my ear her desire.
It burns through my soul and sets me on fire.
What ever happened to growing old gracefully?
Forever young we were not meant to be.
Some think it’s a secret that must be sought,
because this is the deception that we are taught.
Some women waste precious time trying different potions and creams,
Believing their beauty is in the past.
When in all actuality their beauty would last.
If they would instill in their female descendants the power,
And teach and inspire,
And change this deception and prove it a liar.
Maybe then in the next generation,
A woman will be comfortable and embrace,
The beautiful imperfections of her body and face.
Her size, her figure, her weight would not affect negatively,
But instead will be of,
What she uses to strengthen her self-love.
Our women of the future,
Instead of mocking and engaging in their demise,
May unite as one when they realize,
The power of a woman!
By Blake Everstone
Below are Blake’s links for you to learn more about this amazing woman.
https://www.facebook.com/blake.everstone.1
https://blakeeverstone.wordpress.com/ Click on the Follow button to receive exciting news.
https://www.amazon.com/BlakeEverstone/e/B073DBVJDL/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
You can check out her articles on Medium.com.
https://medium.com/@blakeeverstone/defying-the-force-field-5dbb85243f70
https://medium.com/@blakeeverstone/sliding-down-the-rainbow-ace7320a27b5
https://medium.com/@blakeeverstone/which-crab-are-you-d1215bc35d5b
Purchase ‘Jane/John Doe’
I want to thank Blake for stopping by today. It has been a pleasure getting to know you. I just loved her poem. Definitely check out ‘Ominous Tales’ where she has more poetry. I would like to have a discussion on it. Feel free to share in the comments. See you all next week.
Until Next Time,
Lynn
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Lynn Lawler's Creative Artists' Blog 
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