theherbivorehippi, From Farmington, mi, 108 Fans, 108 Hubs, Joined 5 months ago
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BkCreative interviews theherbivorehippi
A freelance writer shares her passion for ending animal cruelty
HubPages has been a friend for nearly two years now. One of the events I enjoy most is when a new writer comes on board. In this case it was a little over five months ago when I met theherbivorehippi. The name caught my eye and I become a follower because of her powerful hubs about the animals we share the earth with. Finally, I caught up with her, a very high energy person, and got to ask some questions.
The name 'theherbivorehippi' speaks volumes. How did you put this name together?
This has actually been my nickname for a couple of years now. Friends and family have always called me a hippie chic for my love of long flowing skirts and once I made the transition to vegan...it was just a name we came up with one day. I will tell you there is suppose to be an "e" on the end but I ran out of room.
One of your early hubs is entitled Human skin takes over the fur market - and I have to say it was brutally true. This hub seems to be a leit motif in your writing. Why this particular article?
Well, I have such a strong passion that animals are not ours to torture, eat, kill or use for entertainment and believe me, I have gained a lot of enemies and ridicule along the way. This however was a topic that I felt anyone could relate to because even if you are a meat eater or even if you're someone who wears fur...you may not be aware of this problem in China. Most households have at least one pet and I know they could understand how heartbreaking it would be to have your animal stolen to be slaughtered and skinned. It's the kind of issue that unless someone brings it to your attention, you may never know that it exists.
Do you write content elsewhere on the internet? And if so can you tell us the what kind of writing.
Yes, I absolutely do. I actually found the inspiration and courage from you (yes you) to turn my passion into my full time source of income. I do freelance work on Elance, author a pet care column on examiner.com and I have a few blogs. My primary blog is one that I've had for awhile and it is animal and vegan topics and then I also have a vegan recipe blog. My two dogs actually started their own blog but it was just getting too much to handle so we've put their blog on hold for now. I also have a few lenses on Squidoo from before I joined Hubpages and an assortment of articles on Associated Content.
How does your other freelance writing compare to HubPages?
Well, my freelance jobs writing for other people actually pays my house payment and feeds my dogs but HubPages is more like my hobby. Of course in a perfect world I'd get rich enough off HubPages to not have to write for others but in the meantime I just enjoy doing it. It gives me the chance to share topics and learn a few things along the way.
Somewhere I read that you were a vegetarian and then went vegan. Why did you make the change?
This will sound so incredibly cliche because so many people have said it but a couple years ago I read the book "Skinny Bitch" by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin. I had picked it up and a garage sale because I had always heard about it and I started reading it laying out in the sun one day, cried my eyes out by the fifth chapter and instantly made the transition. I was a vegetarian as far back as my brain will allow me to think but I was never fully aware of the torture of dairy cows, hens, etc and how many animals are affected by even products laying around the house, shoes, coats, purses...I was surrounded by pain from animals. I spent the next few days going through things in my house, throwing stuff away, grocery shopping and reading labels and never looked back. Some people say they couldn't do it, others say it's a time consuming or difficult transition but for me it was just instant and you really can't understand how peaceful you feel in your life and in your body when you aren't surrounded by and consuming products that came from pain. I'm probably not making a lot of fans here so don't get me wrong....I do not judge those that are not like me by any means. I feel that every little bit helps and even if I can make one person aware that perhaps chooses to eat one less animal product dish a week then it's a start.
I have to say it has led to some great vegan recipes in your hubs. Can you tell us three of your favorites?
Definitely the easy vegan truffles, strawberry mango crisp and blueberry banana muffins with crumb topping. My "cooking" habits are very simple as I usually end up eating a lot of grains, couscous and fresh vegetables and beans but when I do actually cook it is usually more of a treat and I have a sweet tooth once in awhile so these generally satisfy them!
I know you have a very full writing day so just one more question. You have been on HubPages for a little over five months. Tell us all what you know for sure you will have accomplished at the one year mark. (Of course I am one of your followers and will check)
Well, I plan on being at the 200 Hub mark within my year here and have the ability to dedicate even more time than I already do to reading other people's writings. I set aside a bit of time every evening to read my fellow HubPages authors’ work because I truly enjoy learning about new things and hopefully as the year goes on I can devote even more time to that since I really think it's an important part of Hubpages. I also have just recently started do a bit of linking of other people's Hubs to mine, as you know, I've linked your "pet acupuncture" and "is your pet fat" hub to a few of mine because I feel it is equally important to support a great topic and author so I'd like to do a lot more of that in the next year as well.
Thanks so much for taking the time to interview me and for choosing me. It really is an honor because your writings and guidance have been such an inspiration to me!
Thank you so much theherbivorehippi. Thank you for the interview - and thank you sincerely, for your dedication to addressing the issue of animal cruelty.
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