more about Me
Sunday, March 30, 2008
(from the email portion of my interview with Eric Jackson, and written in between making beds, feeding kids, and listening to husband talk about the garden bed):
1. Personal intro (background, writing experience, how you got to where you are now, etc.):
Even as I child I was called a "writer". My stories have been getting praise and attention as long as I can remember. But as a child I didn't write for others, I wrote because I wanted to communicate and explore my own mind. Being labeled "writer" and "artist" sometimes has the unintended detriment of making one feel pressured to put out good product, which I certainly have not always done!
After my children were born my perfectionist and creative drives kicked in. I've found myself driven to be a smarter mother, a stronger wife, a better housekeeper, a better cook - and to create, create, create (mostly sewing and writing). These energies seem to only get stronger as my children grow. Creativity is a wonderful way to swim the waters, and my family and I all thrive that way. But perfectionism is mostly a curse; I wind myself up trying to do better, to reach farther, and sometimes I don't place myself back "in the moment" of life enough. If anyone has a cure for this, I'd love to hear about it.
I don't think of myself as a good writer - I think of myself as a prolific one! I write because I have a tremendous amount of frenetic mental energy. I guess my readers benefit from this: although I can't promise everything I put out is as quality as it should be!
2. Sure Nail & Fire (Influence/Inspiration, writing inspiration such as locations, people or conflicts, how your family influences the zine, etc.):
To say my family "influences" my zine is an understatement; they are my zine. They are the people I interact with, love on, have frustrations with, talk with and think about all day. My children themselves are so creative and intelligent they truly inspire me. In addition without my husband's tech-savvy, unconditional support, and enthusiasm I would not be putting out this publication.
My greatest inspirations are life as I experience it in Hoquiam and Grays Harbor. The "slower" I go in life (biking everywhere, growing food, spending time with my children), the more I'm inspired. One thing I look forward to is further exploration of life outside HQX and into the East County, where the zine is now being distributed (Montesano, Elma, Satsop, McClearly, etc).
3. Directions things are headed (Future of the zine, future of the Harbor, level of influence the zine has or could have, etc.):
I am currently struggling to meet my goal of publishing every two months. If this ever gets easier, I'd like to take on more responsibilities or broaden my mission.
My greatest hope is that the zine inspires people to start their own soul-feeding exploits (I've already received word of a young lady who wants to do her own zine, in part inspired by seeing mine). I wouldn't mind if Sure Nail & Fire inspired more people to write for the zine, because as it stands it's a lot of work creating everything on those 28 pages!Labels: correspondance, your editor posted by Kelly Hogaboom at
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*somewhat awkward, yet grateful cough*
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
The zine was picked up and discussed as part of a college student's (Vancouver, WA) coursework. I had an interview with EJ and his girlfriend (who took pictures) on Monday and that interview has been edited and put up. Yay!Labels: correspondance, local pride posted by Kelly Hogaboom at
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"You like me... you really like me!"
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Subscriptions and commentary continue to trickle in. Yesterday the owner at Sweet Nothings / Coffee Bean Cafe complimented me - again - for my passion. And today in my Inbox I received a lovely letter as follows:
Hi Kelly ~ Love your zine; wanna subscribe; wanna contribute if you'll have me. I love your writing style - smart, confident, witty, self-effacing. Love what you write ABOUT, as I'm way into many of the same things. Love your general attitude. Read eagerly from cover to cover . . . Oh, and th[e] cover photo is AWESOME.
In case you haven't figured it out, I really want to support your zine effort, even though I don't live in HQX anymore (I do, however, have interests there ...). I could be your East County distributor...?
I tried doing something similar about 20 years ago, got burned out quickly due to lack of finances and submissions. What you have started is ever so much more valid, interesting, thought-provoking and brave than my weak effort. You're likely to have slow beginnings, but I believe that it will take off over time. Perseverance will be your best marketing tool. What you offer in SURE NAIL & FIRE is so NEEDED here, in so many ways.
ANYWAY, I want to subscribe, submit pictures and writings, drop copies off at every wide spot in the road East of Aberdeen, be your Rah-Rah-Girl, etc. [snip] What a nice fan letter to get at Christmas time!
Right now my largest challenges are finding time for my husband to do a site re-design (I need to add media downloads and issue reference links, for one) and taking time out of constantly, constantly processing our household paperwork and my administrative kids' school duties to get to the formatting of this next zine. But you know me (or maybe you don't): I start on the term paper the night before - and usually get an "A". Since my current primary goal is to publish when I say I'll publish this time around, I feel like it's more of a "pass / fail" option.Labels: correspondance, current issue, readers posted by Kelly Hogaboom at
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warming the cockles
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Today I received a lovely card from hgl in the mail. I love getting mail! And you know what's really exciting? Getting mail addressed to my zine address and all. Read on:
"Kelly - so this is where you've been, working on a superb zine, leaving some of us at web community nameless wondering where you vanished. Thanks to jane doe we now know your talents have produced a great zine. That being said, enclosed is the $4 to add to my mama zine subscriptions. Congratulations on your passion and drive to get this going - I really admire that. Keep writing. Warm regards, Awesome Mama. My address is: et cetera." italics = to protect the innocent, foo'!
This warms my heart. My aim for my publication is for people to read, enjoy, and participate. So writing contributions, financial contributions, and moral support are the best things you can give me (in roughly that order).
Thank you hgl - your zine is in the mail! Bump me your email address if you're so inclined. info AT surenailandfire DOT com.Labels: correspondance, readers posted by Kelly Hogaboom at
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