Leave a comment by
midday UK time Friday
for your chance to get
a spot on the Creative Identity eCourse
and all the books you need for it!
In The Creative Times on Monday I said that I would make a video for my birthday give-away, today. And then, after reel upon reel of ghastly out-takes, I decided to can it because I don't want to shatter the idealised view you may have of me. Honestly people, I cannot string four words together, let alone a sentence. I guess this makes me a proper writer, doesn't it? Good at writing, crap at speaking. So, I am sorry I may have disappointed the five people who really wanted to see this (my posse, and you all know who you are), but I just don't feel like disintegrating my reputation as yet, and certainly not on my birthday of all days.
So what I was going to say was this: to celebrate my 32nd birthday and The Creative Identity's 213th day in business, I am giving away one place on the eCourse plus The Creative Habit, plus The Creative License, plus Not So Perfect. These three books are at the top of the reading list for the course (reading list which will go out to all those who have already signed up tomorrow) and because I want to make it a little extra special, I am also throwing in a copy of The Artist's Way, the seminal book about living the creative life.
Creative Identity eCourse + The Creative Habit + The Creative License +
Not So Perfect + The Artist's Way
ENTER NOW!
This give-away is NOT open to the 12 short story winners! Let's give somebody else a chance!
In related birthday things, the plan was also to give you a little glimpse into who I am. This is a very odd thing for me to say, as I am one of those rare individuals who does not like to talk about herself. But some of my friends have been quite forceful recently. One in particular always tells me that readers looooooooove to connect with the person behind a site and so I've decided to take one day off regular transmissions in order to tell you a bit more about the Steph behind The Creative Identity. Enjoy it as I cringe.
***
I adore Jim Carrey.
I often dream of Hugh Grant and Christian Bale, although never together.
However, I haven't dreamt of Christian Bale since his fucking tirade last year.
I fancy myself as the next Julia Cameron-in-the-making. When I think of her and Martin Scorsese I think that I may well settle down with Wes Anderson.
I've occasionally practised my Oscar acceptance speech in front of my laptop screen. It's obviously going to be a Best Original Screenplay Oscar and I wouldn't mind sharing it with the other writer, Owen Wilson. I think we will write a subtle comedy, something like Bottle Rocket or Rushmore. Wes may help us.
I've seen racks and racks and racks of horror movies for my studies and my book. My favourite character is Freddy Krueger. When I was a child, I used to go to great lengths in order secretly to watch an Elm Street movie. I always succeeded. Perhaps oddly, my favourite Elm Street is the second one, Freddy's Revenge, even though it is supposedly the worst.
Still, these days I prefer to entertain myself with comedies. I always feel a little teary when Becky hits rock bottom in Confessions of a Shopaholic and when Elle is told that she ain't smart enough to graduate from Harvard in Legally Blonde. I believe that you can be pretty and intelligent and that beauty and brains aren't mutually exclusive.
I deeply believe in what Alex says in Music and Lyrics: 'You can take all the novels in the world, and not one of them will make you feel as good, as fast, as I've got sunshine on a cloudy day, when it's cold outside, I've got the month of May. That is real poetry'.
That's why I love to listen to Bon Jovi. I like the bed I'm sleeping in, just like me it's broken in, it's not old, just older. Like a favourite pair of torn blue jeans, the skin I'm in it's alright with me, it's not old, just older. I don't just listen though... I've gone to great lengths to be close to him on occasion, see?
The only book I wish I had written (and illustrated) is The Polar Express.
The first book I ever borrowed from a library was Dean Koontz's The House of Thunder when I was thirteen.
The latest was Tessa Kiros's Piri Piri Starfish.
I have a huuuuuge crush on Arnie and I think that my alter ego is Helen Tasker from True Lies, herself a woman who struggles with her own alter ego. When I watched True Lies as a child I promised myself that I would learn to tango (one day...) but instead of going to evening lessons, these days I collapse in bed with a pile of papers and, very often, the laptop playing Commando. I just love watching Arnie taking down thousands of bastards, defying thousands of bullets, delivering some legendary one-liners and looking very hot while doing it. I must know the script by heart.
Still, if I could have any guy in the whole world that would be Jamie Oliver. And if I've got time tomorrow I may even share the recipe of my birthday cake. Thank you for reading, re-tweeting, commenting, connecting, signing up for workshops and courses, sending in your stories, allowing me to use your images, hiring me and giving me your time for interviews, podcasts and everything else. You've all made me very happy this year.
Happy Birthday gorgeous.
Gxx
Posted by: Serinissima | 01 September 2010 at 08:44
Happy birthday. 1st September is a great day for birthday, isn't it?
Posted by: Brigita | 01 September 2010 at 09:32
Many happy returns. Hope you're enjoying plenty of cake :)
Posted by: Carola Huttmann | 01 September 2010 at 10:45
Happy Birthday (again)! :)
Posted by: Miss Isabell | 01 September 2010 at 10:51
Happy birthday: enjoy this day fand indulge in things you like!
Posted by: gis | 01 September 2010 at 11:05
Ah, good ol' Bon Jovi. Gotta love em.
Many happy returns, Stephanella! Enjoy your birthday cake :)
What a generous competition this is! Would love a place on the e-course. *fingers crossed*
Posted by: Sophie Playle | 01 September 2010 at 11:35
Have a very Happy Birthday Stephanella!!!
Posted by: Lisa | 01 September 2010 at 12:47
Joyeux Anniversaire, all the best and all that! Hope you have a wicked, wicked day!
Posted by: Barbara | 01 September 2010 at 15:59
Happy Birthday! I hope your birthday is fabulous.
Posted by: amy | 01 September 2010 at 16:47
Happy Birthday! And what an amazing giveaway!
Posted by: Inside-my-shell.blogspot.com | 01 September 2010 at 21:11
Happy Birthday Steph :)
xK
Posted by: Katarina | 01 September 2010 at 21:19
This is such a fab and fun post. I loved reading about the quirky stuff that makes you happy and, more importantly, you.
Happy Birthday, Stephanella! I hope your day was filled with cake, balloons and some incredibly gorgeous stationery.
Posted by: Kathryn Eastman | 01 September 2010 at 23:17
happy birthday to you........
happy birthday to you....
happy birthday to Stephenella :0)
happy birthday to you!
enjoy!
September 1, 2010
Posted by: kerry | 02 September 2010 at 01:01
Happy birthday! How sweet of you to give us a gift - both of knowledge of yourself and of a chance to win! :)
Posted by: Kat | 02 September 2010 at 07:57
Happy Birthday! Thank you for all the work you do for us :)
Posted by: Catherine Miller | 02 September 2010 at 11:44
Happy birthday! and thank you for the opportunity, such an amazing Give away!
Hugh Grant....?
I SAW him once, in Paris....he was crossing a bridge in the opposite direction than me and my husband, who just noticed it when I stopped and stayed watching back for....hours? :)
(This is one of great aspects of August Break, makes us find and meet SO amazing people!)
Posted by: Catalina | 02 September 2010 at 12:27
Happy birthday Steph! x
Posted by: Nik Perring | 02 September 2010 at 18:11
Happy Birthday my Unravelling friend. I can't believe how many of your likes are similiar to mine,love the quote from Music and Lyrics.
I wish you all the happiness, love and success in the world.. YOU ROCK.
PS: With so many money commitments in Sept. I could not see a way to afford the class and I was just thinking about that when I saw this post! So if I don't win, hopefully you will re-run and I can take it later!
Big Hugs,
Karen D
Posted by: Karen D | 02 September 2010 at 18:53
Happy Birthday ! ^^
Posted by: Miss Giny/Au Pays des Merveilles | 02 September 2010 at 22:09
If at first you don't succeed...skydiving is not for you!
'APPY BIRFDAY TO YA! :o)
Posted by: Anthony G | 02 September 2010 at 22:13
I hope your birthday was wonderful. Thank you for posting on the August break.
Good luck everyone!
Posted by: Renee Van Buskirk | 02 September 2010 at 22:30
Happy birthday, and what a great post!
Posted by: Ann | 02 September 2010 at 22:32
Nice to know there's another writer out there absolutely unable to put a video to the words!
Stumbled across you thanks to the power of Twitter and now going to investigate the blog thoroughly.
Posted by: Lucy Brown | 02 September 2010 at 22:33
Happy birthday! Just found you through DirtyWhiteCandy on Twitter. I'm so excited to see your newsletter! Your course sounds fantastic, too. Best of luck with it all!
And as a side note, I don't think Freddy's Revenge was bad at all--definitely not the worst of the Elm Street movies! :D
Posted by: Kim | 02 September 2010 at 22:36
If that is your idea of awkward sharing, I hope you get over the awkwardness and do it more often. The specific, terrific list of "things about you" really makes me want to read your ... everything! Particularly your forthcoming screenplay with Owen Wilson.
--simone
Posted by: Simonepdx | 02 September 2010 at 22:41
Happy birthday and hope you have an amazing day (and WHAT a generous offer--sounds fabulous!).
Posted by: Mardou | 02 September 2010 at 22:46
The course sounds fantastic and would be great for me because I need something to get my teeth into during the winter months.
Posted by: Cathy MacLennan | 02 September 2010 at 22:52
Happy Birthday. My Honey's birthday is in a few days!
A chance to get in on a writing course?! I am so on that. (crosses fingers, since I've never won a thing in my entire life.)
Posted by: Wulfie | 02 September 2010 at 23:28
Grattis på födelsedagen kära en - Wishing you a Happy Birthday in Swedish.
Posted by: Carina Karlsson | 03 September 2010 at 02:48
Happy Birthday, I hope you celebrated the prestigous event in style! :)
Posted by: Amanda H | 03 September 2010 at 05:33
The course sounds fantastic and would be great for me because I need something to get my teeth into during the winter months.
Posted by: bethy | 03 September 2010 at 09:12
happy birthday! sounds like a good giveaway to me!
nora
Posted by: Nora | 03 September 2010 at 10:35
happy birthday! i so agree about jamie oliver - i adore him, though he is a little short :)
Posted by: jo marks | 03 September 2010 at 14:12
Good Afternoon Stephanella,
First of all thank you for sharing,
that must have been difficult for you?
Secondly Happy Birthday, and make sure that you do celebrate it!
I wish my three sisters shared some of your passions!
But what can you do...swap you!!!
Have a great day.
Posted by: Pete Savage | 04 September 2010 at 15:51
Happy Belated Birthday! Yay for Virgos (mine is 17th).
And thanks so much for sharing - possibly one of the best lists of it's kind I've read. It really made me smile.
Bright Blessings
Posted by: Sam Brightwell | 05 September 2010 at 09:38
Happy Birthday - sorry it's late!
Posted by: Susan | 06 September 2010 at 00:05