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Point of Ares
Interviewed by None
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MSJ Chat Transcript Karen Michalson of Point of Ares
and Rich Newman of TagYerit From 2003
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MSJ: This interview is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2003 Year Book Volume 3 at https://garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2003-and-2004/.
Rich Newman: Hi Karen, There was a Judith here a few minutes ago described herself as bookseller Assumed she was someone you might know and hopefully she'll log back in
Karen Michalson: Damn! I'm sorry I missed her. |
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Rich Newman: Anyway, how you doing?
Things here in Amherst are finally starting to warm up a little. Don't want all the snow to melt though
Karen Michalson: Well, well welladay most excellent well.
Flo's bunny rabbits will miss the snow?
Rich Newman: Oh they love the snow, except when it clumps on the feet.
Just finished a music video with them. Some of it is them dancing in the snow.
Karen Michalson: Oh, I must see that one. My dog would love it.
Is your video for a new song (one I haven't heard yet)?
It's 7 PM and Rich has disappeared. Turned into a rabbit and hopped away.
Moondawg Enters
Karen Michalson: Greetings, Moondawg.
Moondawg: Greetings.
Karen Michalson: What draws you to our fair chat?
Moondawg: Well, I received an email that you were going to be here.
Karen Michalson: It is kind of you to show up.
Moondawg: I have a question.
Karen Michalson: Draw to the fire, tell us of your journeys.
You may question.
Moondawg: Well, I was wondering if there are any, you know, "fuzzies" in your next book.
Karen Michalson: Fuzzies?
Ara Enters
Karen Michalson: Help me out. What's a fuzzie?
Moondawg: I'm back - sorry
Ara: Hi - don't know!
Karen Michalson: So Moondawg, what is a fuzzie?
Ara: Lil Peach used to sell Fuzzies.
Moondawg: "Fuzzies". You know, like Pourrs and the cat.
Ara: Frozen drinks. Pretty cool.
Karen Michalson: Uh . . . there are magical animals in HECATE'S GLORY - and a surprise animal.
Pourra does make an appearance.
Ara: Can't wait to read it!
Moondawg: I really like Pourra. I think he rocks!
Karen Michalson: Pourra and Ara like to share frozen drinks. Just kidding.
Ara: I'm only at page 120 of EG, so please forgive.
Moondawg: So where did you get the idea of a magical woodchuck?
Karen Michalson: Ooops - no spoilers - Ara has only just met Pourra.
Ara: No, please go right ahead.
Karen Michalson: Pourra is Caethne's companion animal - a wood spirit in the form of a woodchuck
Ara: And he's hanging around, er, Banriff is it?
Karen Michalson: I didn't know he had any fans. Cool.
Moondawg: Oh yes. I'm really into animals.
Karen Michalson: Yes - his first "big scene" is with Baniff - annoying him. But he is really Caethne's pet - as much as he can be anybody's "pet."
Ara: I love how LL is written, Karen.
Moondawg: Yes, every character really come alive.
Karen Michalson: You are very kind. That means a lot to me, coming from Ara (whom I happen to know is a writer.)
Ara: "Each bang made my liver fly into my mouth." That's yours, Karen, one of many neat quotes.
Karen Michalson: Ha! I remember feeling that way the morning after my first real drunk. Taught me not overindulge again.
Ara: Boones Farm?
Karen Michalson: Lambrusco
With sugar in it - for some unknown reason.
Ara: I don't drink, but I remember Boones Farm Peach wine. uuuggghhh.
Karen Michalson: My "now I've reached legal drinking age let's find out what it feels like to get drunk " drunk.
Rich Newman: I don't drink, but used to love boones farm apple
I'm back after changing computers.
Ara: I think BF has turned off many!!!
Karen Michalson: I don't drink anymore, either.
Ara: Karen can you tell us what's new with you?
Karen Michalson: What's new? Well . . . Point Of Ares is negotiating a gig at Emerson College
Ara: Cool.
Rich Newman: Radio too?
Moondawg: Very cool! When?
Karen Michalson: And I'll be reading and hosting a Kaffeeklatch at Boskone in Boston the weekend after this coming one.
Ara: Are you nervous when a book is coming out?
Karen Michalson: No - not radio (as far as I know) - a live show - but maybe we could interest Emerson's radio station in doing something.
Am I nervous when a book comes out? No.
Ara: I like how you end EG, with the gentle authors note. It was well done.
Rich Newman: That's what I was thinking. There's usually a number of opportunities if you can piggy back w/ a gig
Karen Michalson: Blush and bow. Although it was really my editor's idea to end it on a cliffhanger like that - so I can't take full credit.
Rich Newman: I guess that 's what editors and producers are for.
Karen Michalson: Exactly, Rich. The right match is a true blessing.
Ara: Karen you have a great gift for words. Your style is very poetic, but doesn't intrude upon us.
Karen Michalson: Thank you for noticing.
Ara: Ahhhh, producers.
Karen Michalson: Rich writes awesome lyrics - Rich - I like your song about indie musicians - how common people turn into surprisingly good rockers.
When given a chance - how we should notice each others talents more.
Ara: Rich what do you play? I drum.
Rich Newman: bass and guitar
Ara: Do you dig the intro to "Two minutes to Midnight"?
Rich Newman: Flo gets most of the credit for music makers, though I did input stuff (can't recall what now.
Karen Michalson: "Music Makers" is the song I meant - every indie musician needs to hear that song.
My computer hung up.
Sorry. As to books and music - I think they are natural allies.
Ara: Right, Rich. It's the compulsion to get our expression across. We have to do it.
Saco: But storytelling and novel writing are very different, eh? One is pure theater and the other is a pure test of will, no?
Karen Michalson: Or "it" whatever it is (music, lit, dance, etc) has to do us..
Ara: Do you write, Saco?
Karen Michalson: Writing is close to theater, in my opinion. It's like acting on paper.
Saco: Not fiction. I'm one of those musicians Rich finds under rocks.
Karen Michalson: You certainly have to understand character as well as an actor does - but you get it across on the page instead of the stage.
Ara: There is a character named Saco in a Suspense radio play from 1944.
Karen Michalson: What do you play, Saco?
Saco: And all this time I thought it was a boring little town in Maine..
Keys mostly, and a little guitar.
Karen Michalson: Prog?
Ara: We can jam here on this board now, we've got an ensemble!
Rich Newman: Bill on guitar?
So what's our first number ... Ara count us in.
Karen Michalson: La Villa Strangiato.
Saco: More ethereal/techno than prog, though I like the classical influence of prog..
Karen Michalson: Cool. Ambient stuff?
Ara: Gotta agree on a song... let's start simple? Natural Science, Rush.
Karen Michalson: Working Man - the bass line in the interlude rocks on that song.
Ara: I love La Villa. Heard it today. Nice recording.
Saco: Yes, with a bit of a Sci-Fi underpinning - that's the "techno" part. Fun to fool with - doesn't pay any bills ;-)!
Karen Michalson: Well, yes, there's so many of us musicians around (under rocks and everything) music doesn't pay anybody's bills.
Ara: I love being the drummer in jams. I love looking at everyone and getting the groove. It's better than being a pirate.
Karen Michalson: Even the majors can't make a buck right now.
Rich Newman: So if you can't drum you gonna be a pirate ... me I want to run off and join stomp.
Ara: Being in a band is like being a pirate. It's a close relationship.
Karen Michalson: Ara's going to pirate a ship and turn it into a big floating party jam for musicians.
Ara: With Boones Farm flowing freely.
Rich Newman: I'm there
Ara: Up the irons.
Karen Michalson: Ooooh - I like that comparison - pirates/musicians - both are comrades in arms.
Moondawg: I'll bring the Rum! Sounds like fun!
Karen Michalson: And both can stab you in the back if you're not careful.
Saco: We'll be needing some swordsmen (or is that swords people?).
Rich Newman: Then there's pirate radio. Used to be a guy doing it from a boat (NYC maybe?)
Karen Michalson: Point Of Ares has swords people.
Ara: Do tell.
Karen Michalson: We do swordfighting as part of our stage show.
Ara: Guitar is the best. Can do so much with it.
I gotta be checking out.
Karen Michalson: Thanks for dropping by, Ara.
Rich Newman: Catch you around Ara?.
Karen Michalson: Here's a bottle of rum for your journey.
Ara: We'll keep in touch. Take it easy everyone. Nice meeting y'all.
Saco: Yeah, me too. 'Tis nearly 8 and I have to get off to work. Bye.
Karen Michalson: Thanks for dropping by, Ara.
Rich Newman: Catch you around Ara?
Before anyone else leaves ... you got any web sites for me to check you out on?
Moondawg: No,no website. I barely get this thing working!
Do you have one?
Rich Newman: Mine's tagyerit.com music's at tagyerit.com/music.htm.
I spend way too much time at it.
Moondawg: That's a cool name, I'll have to check it out..
Rich Newman: Maybe to the detriment of songwriting.
Karen Michalson: It's a cool website - lots of puzzles and games
Rich Newman: Tried to create it so its a fun place to get lost for a few hours.
Moondawg: Sounds like fun.
Rich Newman: Toilet paper and pumpkin carving and, oh, yes, rabbits.
Moondawg: Rabbits, I like rabbits, they're the ultimate fuzzie!
Rich Newman: I just finished a music vid of our buns in the yard try tagyerit.com/joy .
Moondawg: So you raise rabbits?
Rich Newman: No no help rescue them. they're pets.
Often discarded easter buns find their way to the shelter.
A group i work with finds them homes
Moondawg: That's sooo cool. Not much room for such things in an apartment!
Karen Michalson: That's so sad - that people buy easter bunnies and discard them.
Rich Newman: They get them for their kids. kids lose interest quick.
Same thing happens with other animals as well, though not, the Easter cycle part.
Moondawg: Rabbits are too fragile for kids, I think.
Rich Newman: Yeah we try to discourage that. but any pet should really be a family responsibility. Everyone's in or no go.
Moondawg: Without family commitment, I think pets end up ignored.
Rich Newman: Exactly.
Moondawg ... what end of the country you in?
Karen Michalson: Well, I must go - work to do tonight. It was great visit with you, Rich. And to meet you, Moondawg.
Rich Newman: See you Karen. say hi to Bill.
Karen Michalson: I will. Good night.
Moondawg: And you too, I'm glad to meet you and Rich. |
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