Pawed Cast 4: Up All Night With Raymond
Catly news from Santa Cruz PLUS special interviews with four pure-gold writers from the Substack trove ...
Winner of an Erica Drayton “Top In Fiction” Award
It’s 3:00 am and you are tuned into UP ALL NIGHT WITH RAYMOND
Welcome back to all my insomniac subscribers! Thanks for tuning in to another pawed-cast for all the catly news from here on the left side of Santa Cruz, going out to furry night owls around the wide world.
It took us a while to get it together, but tonight we have a special feature —we are speaking via Zoom with four of our favorite writers - they are pure gold from the Substack treasure trove. But first…
• The Nightly Cat Scan
I am sitting on the back patio on this gorgeous spring night here in Santa Cruz-by-the-Sea. The skies are cloudy, but magically punctuated by a full pink moon that makes me want to howl. Ah-oooooooo! Someone switched on the mockingbird and he is singing a loop from the cedar in the alley. Carried by the soft breeze from the harbor are the smells of fish and water weeds, pelican poop, stale beer, Sea and Ski tanning lotion. I have completed my rounds and can report that all is quiet on Marnell Avenue.
• Return of the sun The rains have finally ended and spring is here on the Monterey Bay. We had a good long run this winter, and for that we are grateful, but, you know, enough is enough! I spent most of the day in the shade of the African lilies with my whiskers facing south, chin baking on the hot concrete. Highly recommended.
Yesterday’s Venetian blind debacle. I was looking for a quiet out-of-the way place to sleep when a Rottweiler wriggled out of his collar in the dog park across the street and came tearing through our garage and into the yard. He viciously snarled at me through the window, barking like the mad fiend he is and I don’t mind admitting — I was scared! Somehow, I got caught up in the Venetian blind and Dennis had to untangle me. The fact that I accidentally stuck all 18 of my claws into him as he rescued me was simply an unconscious reaction, programmed into my DNA. I was sorry for it.
And now, greetings to my illustrious Substack guests, and welcome to “Up All Night With Raymond”. So glad we finally got together! Let me introduce to my listeners the four fine Substack writers joining us tonight:
of is a British writer, who every week brings us beautifully written, delightfully personal accounts of family, home, art, garden, chickens, and hiking boots. She often takes us on treks into the deepest wilds of south England, and always at risk of getting lost. of also from England, writes … well … just about EVERYTHING — book reviews, humorous essays, letters, hints for aspiring writers, illustrated tales of bike rides through London, instructions for making tea, and sundry persiflage. of , from central California, writes engrossing descriptions of his adventurous road trips around the US, stories about family, camping, fishing, hiking, panning for gold — some of which is true, and some of which is flat-out
Rebecca Holden, Terry Freedman, James Ron Hamilton, and Jim Cummings
To begin, why not tell us why you write?
Rebecca - Well, I don’t know, Ray. Let me reply with a question: why do you terrorize the neighborhood shrews and gophers, and monitor with such cat-scientiousness those shady goings-on at the dog park? It’s in your nature, right? Well, writing’s in mine.
James Ron - Raymond, thank you so much for having me on your Pawed-Cast! By the way, Bobbie, my cat, thinks you are the cat's meow! And says, Purr! Purr! I began my Substack as a way to fill my family in on the details of my “adventures" and I also wanted to chronicle them Before I Forget ... I realized I got much enjoyment from writing and was pleasantly surprised seeing others did as well.
Terry - Well, with me it’s a compulsion, Raymond, but in a good way. I just love to write, and have wanted to be a writer since I was around 7 years old.
Jim - I told a girl who I was trying to impress in college that I hoped to become a great writer someday. She said I needed to work on my penmanship. I hope someday she comes across one of my stories and remembers my name.
Where or when do you most often find ideas to write about?
Rebecca - Ray, I’d love to tell you that my ideas appear at the library when I’m browsing the shelves trying to appear highbrow, or on a solo walk in the very depths of lost or at the corner table of a busy café while I’m working towards my advanced certificate in people watching, but nope, nothing so romantic. My ideas lie in wait for moments of inconvenience: generally when I’m driving, washing my hair or standing around in a freezing cold field waiting for something to happen – which describes my typical day at work.
James Ron - Most often, ideas come during the process of writing a story. And also when driving, especially long distance driving.
Terry - I find many of my ideas through overheard conversations, signs, articles, books, and, of course, in my own imagination.
Jim - A good resource for me is just talking to strangers and watching people. I’m an active listener. My wife says I’m an eavesdropper. Usually a phrase or a title pops into my head and I go from there. I don’t do much plotting or planning in advance.
May I ask you all what you perceive as your writing superpower?
Rebecca - I’m no Agatha Christie, Raymond, but I have to say I take great pleasure in hiding breadcrumbs at the start and in the middle of my posts, and then digging them out again to show the reader right at the end.
James Ron - I don't think I have a writing superpower, but I find that I can draw strength and inspiration by reading the stories of many of the writers I subscribe to here on Substack.
Terry - I seem to have phenomenal energy levels, as a rule, enabling me to churn out stuff of a reasonably good quality super quickly.
Jim - I try to keep my writing simple and relatable, Ray. Not much of a superpower, I guess, but it is a major goal.
Now, if you will, tell our listeners something about yourself that is absolutely not true.
Rebecca - I always sneak a glimpse of the last page of a book before I’ll commit to reading it, because life’s too short for surprises.
James Ron - When I look in the mirror I see a handsome man, decades younger. Oh, wait, you want something that is NOT true. Well, let’s see - I'm 6'6", 220 lb., good-looking (I've been told as much by gals I'm sure are not after my money or wanting to go to Cannes with me next week). I am a yacht-owning world traveler who speaks numerous languages as fluently as my own native tongue. I'm also a winning Hold ‘em poker player. That's how I got my yacht.
Terry - I was once a famous pop star.
Raymond - Wait a second… Hold it there, Terry. I understood you ARE a pop star. I heard that you occasionally play a mean saxophone in a quartet over at the Cabbage Patch Pub in Twickenham?
Terry - Rumors, Ray, nothing but rumors and persiflage, no doubt put forth by my wife. But, alas, not true. As yet, any way.
Jim - Something about myself that is not true is that I’m 6’-4” and ruggedly handsome. I graduated at the top of my class, I’m chairman of the rotary club… and … as a fiction writer, I could make up untrue stuff All Day Long and often do.
And finally for our listeners, how would you describe yourself as a writer — in three words?
Rebecca - I would say — Tries very hard, Raymond. Yes, Tries very hard.
James Ron - For me — He's having fun! That’s me. And thanks again, Ray, for this happy occasion.
Terry - I am not sure how others would describe me, but I’d like to consider myself brilliant, articulate, insightful.
Jim - And that is exactly how we see you, Terry! As for myself, what I would like others to say about my writing is — He’s pretty good.
It has been a real pleasure to have the four of you here talking with us tonight. We all admire your respective work and are sure you will have nothing but continued success on Substack. I mean, unless you are looking to make a living at it, then maybe not so much. But, who knows? Miracles do happen — I’ve seen miracles right here on Marnell Avenue — which is a topic for another night!
Well, that’s it for tonight, friends! I am happy to announce that this pawed-cast now has 366 subscribers in 42 states and 40 countries. All thanks to you! Remember, please leave comments and smack that little red heart to cast a vote for Ray. See you next time — and tell your friends it’s time to start staying
• • • • • UP ALL NIGHT WITH RAYMOND! • • • • •
Previous pawed casts are here: •Pawed Cast 1 •Pawed Cast 2 • Pawed Cast 3
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Hi Sharron, enjoyed the interview with your talented guests very much - and especially liked seeing Jim Cummings from All Day Long involved. He is one of my favorite writers here on Substack. Thanks for sharing - Jim
Sounds like a good crowd of writers! And dear Raymond, still keeping others up all night too....