Sufidreamer Interviews IantoPF
An in-the-moment hubber shares his HubPages experience
1. You have a fascinating profile, hinting at a rich and colorful past. So, how did a proud Welshman end up in California?
The short answer; A Woman. The complete answer; I was living in London, working as a tour bus driver and living the happy, carefree life of a single man. I swore that I would never marry again. Then Belinda caught my bus. We decided to get married in California for the sake of her parents, mine had passed, the intention was to stay here for 3 years then go back. That was over 20 years ago, we are still happily married.
2. Speaking as a fellow Brit expat, what do you miss most about the UK, and beautiful Wales in particular?
I have four children from my first marriage that I miss more than I can say, nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren, I miss Four distinct seasons, Bluebells, Buttercups, the smell of the trees after the rain, Quiz night in the local Pub, Rugby and singing those obscene rugby songs after the game. There's more but the list just goes on.
3. What brought you to Hubpages?
I had experimented with on line writing with E-How. Someone there was on Hubpages, I followed the link out of curiosity and ended up abandoning e-how for HubPages. I have no idea whose link I followed.
4. You have definitely earned ‘grizzled veteran’ status on Hubpages. What do you like most about the site?
People like you, Sufi. You and those whose writing and advice are generously given. I can learn more from reading Hubs by experienced online writers than I can get if I spent a fortune on books. This place is full of people I consider my mentors and I'm eternally grateful to them.
5. You have a fascinating range of topics in your Hubpages portfolio. How do you pick subjects to write about?
I just center on those things that have a particular interest for me. Words and how they are used and misused, History and definitely Welsh myth and legend. I'm fascinated by these things and I love to write about them. The cool thing is that when I research in order to give my Hubs more depth I find out things I didn't know. I'm just writing and learning about the things I thought I knew.
6. Which of your Hubs do you like best? Do you have one of those hidden treasures that you loved writing but nobody ever finds?
I have two that I particularly enjoyed. They are both very personal and they both have the same song attached. One is "My Gods" and the other is "A Life filled with Magic" I wrote them just for myself because I wanted to record somewhere my personal feelings about life and what guides me on my journey through it.
7. Your writing has a great voice and a lovely, flowing style. Which authors and writers most influence your work?
Robert Fulghum; Reading his books was like a revelation. I found someone who thinks like I do. Douglas Adams is someone else with a sideways look at life. Damh the Bard, I have a few of his songs on my Hubs. These are the people who have influenced me to write the way I want to write and to hell with convention.
I have been really impressed by the way that you absorb information and try new things in your quest to become a better writer.
8. What sage advice would you pass on to new Hubbers starting out on the journey?
First think about your own life experiences, what has moved you. Then write about those things first. Read what others have to say about the art of writing online. Be willing to just do it. A good example of this is a new author here, Eiddwen. She has some very deep personal experiences that she shares. A read of her Hubs shows how she grows in fluency and style as she writes. One of the great things about Hubpages is that it allows new writers to find their voice. Once that is done keep at it because everything you write about will then be unique to you.
9. How is the dream of becoming an author going? Do you have any books in the pipeline?
The dream is still a dream. I have the idea of re-writing some of my Hubs, adding and hopefully improving them, then putting them together in a book. One of these days I'll get down to it. Maybe tomorrow.........
10. If you could jump in a time machine and visit any period of history, where would you go?
Take a look at my profile picture. I belong in the 16th century. I wouldn't live long, I would probably die in battle or in a bar-room brawl, but I would love the clean air the simple but hard life. History tells us of the kings and aristocracy, the folk- songs tell us of the real people and lives that were truly lived. Life was so precarious that they knew how to live and love every moment.
11. Tell us something that we might not know about you.
The family curse. It's a family joke with a touch of seriousness. No one in my family has ever, and I mean ever, lived beyond their 65th year. I am the oldest in the family and I'm 63. The family, particularly my younger brothers, are watching me closely. My 66th birthday will be the one hell of a party. You'll be on the guest list Sufi.
Thanks for sharing a little about your life and your Hubpages experiences. It has been an absolute pleasure and I look forward to reading your first book – I expect a signed copy!
You got it brother.....I'll start ... umm.... tomorrow?
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