Category Archives: Sarah

Don, Guest Interview, In-Person, Lauren, Sarah, WOWI Session

Retreating to Write with Barbara Wolf Terao

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Hello WOWI fans! This is my first blog post for the show! Thank you for allowing Sarah and me to step in as new co-hosts in the wake of Tom’s departure. We are both very excited to be a part of the show and to be given the opportunity to meet so many incredible writers on the island.

Barbara Wolf Terao

With that said, we recently had an amazing guest come and share her extraordinary experiences writing here on Whidbey. For many, the island can be considered a getaway or an oasis retreat for their art, craft, or even a simple family vacation. But for those of us who live here and seek the solitude of island life, this place can offer so much more.

Reconfigured memoire book Barbara Wolf TeraoBarbara Wolf Terao dives deep into her time here on the island. The personal battles that she has fought and the journey that she has overcome to be the person she is today. Her book, “Reconfigured: A Memoir“, is a personal milestone in which she captures the depth of human tragedy and the heights of humor. She shares the wisdom that only comes through trial and adversity while freely giving love and compassion back to the world around her.

In this session, Barbara shares her love and passion for writing and her lifelong goal of writing a book as well as the beautiful truths that she has learned in her time on Whidbey. Under the shades of South Whidbey Park, she truly came to light as passion, hope, and life flowed from her words. I hope that you enjoy our conversation as much as we did!

~ Lauren

Writing On Whidbey Island (WOWI) Episode 47
Retreating to Write

Links

Reconfigured is now available at bookstores and online

OfTheBluePla.net

BarbaraWolfTerao.com

Don, Lauren, Online, Sarah, WOWI Session

AI Okay? V Oh No!

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Podcast GodsShiva podcast godAs you have surely heard by now, there are a few changes coming up with Writing On Whidbey Island. One chapter has come to a close, and a new chapter is beginning … with a little time off in between. Tom Trimbath has moved on from WOWI, giving the show (the joy and all of the responsibility that comes with it) to me, and the “show must go on!” While re-debut of WOWI is planned for Fall 2023 … an interim podcast session was recorded in June where the question was asked, “Is AI-OK?”

Tom and I recorded our last WOWI session together on 15April2023. Following the show, we discussed some ideas for the show going forward. We had discussed several ideas over the past 3+ years while producing and hosting the show together. These ideas are in the works – and Tom gave me a few new ones. Soon after I recruited three former guests – some of my favourites – Sarah, Lauren, and Daniel. Really to say, I prayed to The Podcasting Gods and got lucky! Sarah, Lauren, and I got to talking about things to come … and it became clear that we should get together for an in-between podcast session.

We wanted to discuss a current and rather hot topic – the use of Artificial Intelligence software in the creative arts. What is it and what can it do? Where is the technology at and were is it going? What are its strengths and weaknesses? How are artists using it? Most importantly … what are the moral aspects within the industry?

Coupeville WA Washington Library
The Coupeville Library

We met at the Coupeville Library. This was Sarah and Lauren’s first time on the host side of the mic – this AI topic proved to be spirited and incredibly fun. What was planned to be a 40 minute session turned out to be 73. Meeting with these two not only made for a magnificent session, it helped affirm that I was right in seeking them as new WOWI hosts and that the show’s future looks bright!

I even learned a new-to-me AI-related term with this recording session – Uncanny Valley!

So where is this recording?

Podcasting GodsSpring and summer is a doubly busy time for me. It’s the busy time in the bagpiping world, and I do seasonal work as a SCUBA diver. Taking on the whole of WOWI came at an awkward time. Historically, Tom did the heavy lifting during this season – so this constituted the show taking a break. The plan has been – and still is – for the show to re-launch this Fall. And this “Is AI-OK?” session launches … NOW!

~ Don

Writing On Whidbey Island (WOWI) Episode 46
AI Okay? V Oh No!

Podcasting Gods

The new movie “The Creator” is intended to open on 29September2023 — an AI system has taken over the earth … oh yeah, it’s on people’s minds!

Elle Cordova – The Day The Robots Rise — a fun little parody song … or a warning

“AI Has Reached A Tipping Point, The World Is About To Change Forever, And My Head Hurts”

When AI writes an obituary, it gets the job done!  Well …. sort of.

AI Obituary

Karl Sharro - AI Jobs Creativity

Announcement, Lauren, Sarah, Upcoming WOWI Session

Praying to The Podcast Gods – Initial Results

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star wars unlimited power sith jedi
This is the picture taken when Tom gave his 1/2 of the show to me … ghesh … I really need to moisturize!

RECENTLY ON WOWI
Tom has departed from WOWI because he’s a busy guy …
The podcast has become mine, and I intend to continue the show after a brief hiatus (because I too am a busy guy) …
and …

I prayed to The Podcast Gods
and they have shared their grace!

three podcast broadcast gods
If anyone ever learns about The Podcast Trinity, it will probably be a discussion presented as a downloadable audio file

After Tom took his leave, I thought about who might make good new co-hosts.  Long story short, 3 of my favourite former WOWI guests have gotten on board with the show.  Just in the past 2 months, there’s excitement in our emails — and I’m thrilled about what’s to come!  As we spoke, it seemed that we should meet face-to-face and record a ‘trial podcast session’ — also since a hot topic in the writing scene came up between us.

So …

!!!SURPRISE!!!

I’ll be back for your manuscripts!

Lauren Flake, Sarah McCarthy, and I met this past Saturday  at the Coupeville Library.  First, I talked about where WOWI is at and what’s to come.   Then, after introducing each of them, we dove head-long into our topic — the use of Artificial Intelligence in writing and the creative process … is it good, bad, or outright evil!!!

If you are not already familiar, Lauren is a writers group founder and fantasy novelist.  Sarah has authored several physics and fantasy books.  And long-time listeners of course know me as a WOWI podcast founder, along with being a recipe and music history book author.

Interestingly, I went into this session understanding that we each had different levels of understanding as to where this technology is currently at in development.  I though I had a decent level of awareness — and I am comfortable in admitting that I knew considerably less than I thought.  Similarly, I knew that we had 3 different positions about the acceptability of A.I. in commercial arts — making the prospects for this conversation nothing short of dynamic.  In the process of the discussion, and upon learning where my perspective falls within the spectrum of opinion, I am potentially more in support of A.I.’s use than I thought!

March of Man and Artificial Intelligence AI A.I.

Our conversation about authors’ use of A.I. ranged from ‘Is this legitimate creativity?’, to ‘Who holds what amount of the copyright?’, dipped into ‘How will this put people out of jobs?’, and even into ‘Where is this at now and what possibly could the future hold?’  It was a charged conversation, also full of laughter — it was the sort of thing I had hoped for in working with WOWI’s new co-hosts.  YES — I prayed to The Podcast Gods, and the initial results look … GOOD!

And there were no fist-fights!

Shiva podcast god
Shiva podcast god

This first meeting with Lauren and Sarah was nothing short of GREAT!  Hands down, it has me thoroughly excited for WOWI going forward.  When Writing On Whidbey Island gets back into full swing around Fall 2023, I will be pleased to reintroduce poet Daniel Edward Moore as the 3rd new WOWI co-host (he’s also a busy guy).

As for our conversation on A.I. — the podcast should be posted in the coming week.  As for now and the until-Fall WOWI-hiatus … maybe there will be other ‘surprise’ podcast sessions — so keep your eyes & ears here!

~ Don

PS — Thank you to Sarah for producing the preceding images using A.I. along with the “podcast gods” prompt.  Here are the others she and it created…

Friends don’t let friends
let A.I. write obituaries …

Following the recording session, the three of us continued to talk.  Among other Artificial Intelligence produced graphics, Lauren shared with us this A.I. generated obituary.  Look closely at the photo and writing, and you will see where AI seems to presently imitate what we do but doesn’t yet seem to quite get things right.

AI A.I. Artificial Intelligence writes Obituary

 

Don, Guest Interview, In-Person, Sarah, Tom, WOWI Session

Sarah McCarthy-Allen Mixing Fantasy And Physics

Sarah McCarthy Allen McCarthy-Allen author writer Shadow Mage

Take one genre; there will be enough to talk about. Take a second genre and the same thing is true. Take two genres that are opposing, like fiction and non-fiction, then sometimes keep them separate and sometimes overlap them and the matrix of possibilities becomes multi-dimensional. So goes, or went, our conversation with Sarah McCarthy and Sarah Allen as we talked about her career steering through fiction titles and non-fiction titles, respectively. At least she kept the same first name for both.

Sarah has a degree in physics (impressive), has studied cognitive psychology (which would seem to help with characters), and now tutors physics students. And then on the fictional side of life; “Fantasy novels are basically goal-oriented extended camping trips and magic is just alternate-reality physics, so this worked out well”

Newtons Laws book Sarah McCarthy-Allen

Good luck guessing which is what with titles like, Newton’s Laws: A Fairy Tale (approachable non-fiction) and The Eidolons of Myrefall (fiction for sure.) And in both cases, check out her cover designs.

She not only is working in more than one genre, but also has a tendency to work in, or on, series as a soloist and in collaborations. 

Successful authors frequently are required to make the leap from introvert as a writer to extrovert as a business person. Sarah has managed to not so much leap as stretch from her introverted base to successfully conduct marketing and sales campaigns by using a few online tools very well. Her efficiency may also explain her productivity because a quick count of her titles suggests a publication rate of about one book per year, with hints that she may be able to do more.

book Sarah McCarthy-AllenAnd she’s not stopping. There are other series to write, and with each series it sounds like she is tutoring herself in how to become a career author.

Listen in. By the way, this podcast was recorded in a park with kids running around, parents on smartphones, and a gracious groundskeeper who saw our recording rig then steered away until we were done. Whidbey Island, a place where even landscapers support writers and authors.

Writing on Whidbey Island (WOWI) episode 37 – Sarah McCarthy/Allen – author of non-fiction and fiction, tutor of science

Links

  • Her fiction author page – Sarah McCarthy
  • Her non-fiction page – Sarah Allen
  • Her (ninja!) website – https://sarahmccarthy.ninja/

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