I interviewed coffee expert Ender Turan about his life journey from rural Kurdistan to managing ‘Epicure’, a popular café in Berkhamsted, UK.

Leslie: Where did the idea of a coffee shop first come from? How far back does your interest go?

Ender: The idea began when I was young, living in Kurdistan. Let me explain… I was brought up as an Alevi, a traditional way of life in Western Anatolia. It’s one of the two main Kurdish groups. So I was raised in a self-sufficient farming village where men and women shared things and worked together. I don’t recall money in our village – instead people would exchange animals for crops and vice versa. It was a close, caring community. If anyone wasn’t self-sufficient they would be given food and other necessaries to live on. Continue reading COFFEE & PEOPLE – THE KURDISH WAY →

I interviewed Kendra Olson about how she works with writers as a ‘developmental editor’. Kendra has an MLitt in Creative Writing and is the author of the historical fiction novel, The Forest King’s Daughter. She enjoys writing short stories and creative non-fiction, including book reviews. When Kendra is not writing she spends time with her cats and reading as many books as possible. Continue reading WHAT GOES INTO AN EDIT? →

I interviewed Watford-based singer/songwriter Tom Craven who has played funk, pop, folk and high-energy rock and now runs his own events company. Tom says of himself: “My style is melodic song-writing. Involving big hooks, with generally acoustic-inspired arrangements. Mostly American in location, my music has included a lot of pop-rock sentiment, with melancholy rootsy vibes and a big emphasis on lyrical content. My heroes include Damien Rice, Neil Young, Tonic, Goo Goo Dolls, Gary Moore and Wishbone Ash.” Continue reading TOM CRAVEN – WATFORD ROCKS →

In part two of my interview with Smorgasbord blogger and indie author Sally Cronin, I asked about her upbringing, her love of language, and the differences between blogging and writing books.

Leslie: Can you describe the kinds of imaginative language you loved when you were growing up, please? Where did you get your ideas and help from? Continue reading SALLY CRONIN, BLOGGER AND INDIE AUTHOR, Part Two →

I interviewed Sally Cronin who runs Smorgasbord, a lifestyle blog with 32,000+ followers, and has twenty years of published writing behind her. Sally says about herself: “In 1996. My first book ‘Size Matters’ was a health and weight loss book based on my own experiences of losing 70kilo. I have written another ten books since then on health and also fiction including three collections of short stories. I am an indie author and proud to be one.” Continue reading SALLY CRONIN, BLOGGER AND INDIE AUTHOR, Part One →

I interviewed Steve Campen, former producer at LBC Radio and studio manager at Essex Radio, who currently manages Creative Radio. I asked Steve about his lifetime experience of broadcasting, what makes good and bad radio, and today’s growth of podcasts. Continue reading LET’S TALK CREATIVE RADIO →

I interviewed Kali Meister, spiritual healer, empath, claircognizant, and stand-up comedian. Kali, who studied psychology at the University of Tennessee, describes herself as a “Christened Catholic, former Baptist and Wiccan, Jewish sympathizing God fearing Buddhist.”

Leslie: Can you tell the story of how your calling as a medium/clairvoyant first showed itself?

Kali: I was 4 or 5 years old when my mother, brother and I had moved into a haunted house. My mother, her parents and I stayed in the house for the first time having moved everything in that day. My mother slept on the couch downstairs and I slept upstairs in the bed with my grandparents. My mother woke to an interdimensional being standing at the end of the couch. Continue reading KALI MEISTER – VALUE YOUR ENERGIES & TRUST THE SPIRIT →

I interviewed gender-queer author of male-to-male love stories, Sionnach Wintergreen,  asking questions about her place on the trans spectrum, her books and her unusual marriage.

Sionnach says of herself in her CV: “Sionnach (pronounced shuhn ukh) Wintergreen is the author of gay romance, epic fantasy, and adult fantasy. (She uses feminine personal pronouns because she has lived most of her life responding to them, but she would love it if people used ‘they’.) Her character-driven stories usually involve misfits because she is one.”

Sionnach is an animal lover and social activist living in Austin, Texas who has, in her own words, “One wonderful human son.” Continue reading SIONNACH WINTERGREEN – GLAD TO BE GENDER-QUEER →