At Art Words interviews the Boomer Muse
Photo quote de jour
Communing with Oscar in Paris.
AAW Member Spotlight:
Layla Morgan Wilde, AKA the Boomer Muse
M: What were your childhood inspirations and do you still look up to any of them?
L: My earliest inspirations relate to nature: Making sand castles on a beach, snow angels in winter, watching clouds, smelling flowers or listening to birdsong. What inspired me then, inspires me now.
M: What is your creative process when writing or photographing?
L: They feed off each other but are separate and yet elliptical. A photograph of a reflection in window may spark dialogue for a short story. A narrative arc in a novel may spark a desire to find and capture its essence in a photograph. I never leave home without a camera and stay open to unexpected opportunities in hidden nooks and in all directions. Since I've always been hyper-vigilant and aware of my surroundings, I can walk into any room for a few seconds and later draw a detailed floor plan of it. Photography is instantaneous but writing requires incubation. For fiction, I take along time to develop characters. They live in my head until their whispers shout, "Write this down already!"
M: What do you draw courage and strength from in life, how do you best motivate and encourage others?
L: My inner strength is directly connected to my spirituality. I motivate by being authentic and seeing the best in everyone.
M: If you could take “the ultimate photo”, what – to you – would that be?
L: Our dear green and blue planet from outer space.
M: What is the most influential thing you’ve written?
L: That's subjective, so not a clue. It's my intention to inspire and amuse, which I do, or so I'm told.
M: If you could have a free ticket to anywhere, where would you go, what draws you to that place and what would you bring back with you?
L: India, the southwest province of Kerala where my guru Amma has an ashram. Hopefully I'd bring back some new insights, photographs and local artwork.
The Reading List...
This month Layla shares some of her favourite blogs to read. (If you’d like to compile next month’s reading list or would like to feature in the AAW Update please email me!)
M: What are your top 5 favourite blogs to visit? What keeps you coming back to them?
L: Only five? I'm a blog junkie! Off the top off my head...
The Conscious Cat:
For an equal mix of education and humour.
Lost at E Minor:
For a dizzying array of creativity.
EyePreferParis.com:
Because I can live vicariously in Paris through fellow New Yorker.
Julie Demboski's Astrology:
For her expertise
Aphorism of the Day:
For being one of my biggest fans and providing a daily dose of wit.
Communing with Oscar in Paris.
There was a time when writers toiled in blissful isolation, but sadly those days are long over. Thanks a lot social networking gods! Now, it's a balancing act deciding when social media is helping or whoring. Writers need to be equal parts writer and self-promoter and jump through circus hoops of Trump proportions to get anywhere. P.T. Barnum once said, "Without promotion something terrible happens.... Nothing!" Missy Ricco, an artist/blogger from Australia interviewed me recently at At Art Words
So, without further adieu...the interview. Don't worry, my ego is in check. But if Vanity Fair ever asks me to do their Proust questionnaire, look out! A girl can dream can't she?
This month we:
- Meet Layla Morgan Wilde as she shares her thoughts on motivation, inspiration and some of her favourite blogs
- Give you an opportunity to get involved in promoting the community
- Look for more ways to network via the AAW Social Media sites...
AAW Member Spotlight:
Layla Morgan Wilde, AKA the Boomer Muse
M: What were your childhood inspirations and do you still look up to any of them?
L: My earliest inspirations relate to nature: Making sand castles on a beach, snow angels in winter, watching clouds, smelling flowers or listening to birdsong. What inspired me then, inspires me now.
M: What is your creative process when writing or photographing?
L: They feed off each other but are separate and yet elliptical. A photograph of a reflection in window may spark dialogue for a short story. A narrative arc in a novel may spark a desire to find and capture its essence in a photograph. I never leave home without a camera and stay open to unexpected opportunities in hidden nooks and in all directions. Since I've always been hyper-vigilant and aware of my surroundings, I can walk into any room for a few seconds and later draw a detailed floor plan of it. Photography is instantaneous but writing requires incubation. For fiction, I take along time to develop characters. They live in my head until their whispers shout, "Write this down already!"
M: What do you draw courage and strength from in life, how do you best motivate and encourage others?
L: My inner strength is directly connected to my spirituality. I motivate by being authentic and seeing the best in everyone.
M: If you could take “the ultimate photo”, what – to you – would that be?
L: Our dear green and blue planet from outer space.
M: What is the most influential thing you’ve written?
L: That's subjective, so not a clue. It's my intention to inspire and amuse, which I do, or so I'm told.
M: If you could have a free ticket to anywhere, where would you go, what draws you to that place and what would you bring back with you?
L: India, the southwest province of Kerala where my guru Amma has an ashram. Hopefully I'd bring back some new insights, photographs and local artwork.
The Reading List...
This month Layla shares some of her favourite blogs to read. (If you’d like to compile next month’s reading list or would like to feature in the AAW Update please email me!)
M: What are your top 5 favourite blogs to visit? What keeps you coming back to them?
L: Only five? I'm a blog junkie! Off the top off my head...
The Conscious Cat:
For an equal mix of education and humour.
Lost at E Minor:
For a dizzying array of creativity.
EyePreferParis.com:
Because I can live vicariously in Paris through fellow New Yorker.
Julie Demboski's Astrology:
For her expertise
Aphorism of the Day:
For being one of my biggest fans and providing a daily dose of wit.
Posted by Layla Morgan Wilde at 9/3/2010 12:06 AM 
Categories: Media, Writing, Photography, Art
Tags: Julie Demboski self-promotion conscious cat Eye Prefer paris at art words boomer muse interview lost at E minor oscar wilde paris writers pr aphorism of the day oscat wilde grave
Categories: Media, Writing, Photography, Art
Tags: Julie Demboski self-promotion conscious cat Eye Prefer paris at art words boomer muse interview lost at E minor oscar wilde paris writers pr aphorism of the day oscat wilde grave
What an amazing interview and an opp to get to know you even better, dear Layla. And I just love the photograph. Did I miss when you went to Paris? Seems you've been here all the time, or maybe it was another trip, or maybe I wasn't paying attention.
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K, thanks. I haven't been here all the time, but this photo was from Paris trip years ago.
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Great interview, Layla! A tiny window into your creative spirit.
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Thank-you!
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Wonderful interview! I'm looking forward to the Vanity Fair version.
Thank you for mentioning The Conscious Cat - I'm honored.
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My pleasure!
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Kudos!!!
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Great interview. It is always fun to learn more things about our blogger friends. Those look like great blogs that you like and I am planning on looking at all of them. I love going to visit new places.
Do tell Domino about the TV. There probably are some programs about birds and then he could have bird TV. Don't forget, if Dom comes in, he gets steak.
Have a great week end.
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Marg, thanks I'll tell him
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