B. J. NEBLETT
AUTHOR, DJ, MUSICIAN and VETERAN
G'day guys,
Today is Vietnam Veterans Day in Australia. However, today I introduce an interesting character who is also a veteran, but an American - B. J. Neblett. BJ is the
author of Elysian Dreams, “A book of
romantic adventure which examines the costs of exploring your dreams while
fulfilling your destiny.” His Ice Cream Camelot will be released in
early 2013.
A South Philadelphia native, BJ Neblett was always “Billy” growing up. In his 30’s he became DJ Billy James. It was only in 2011 that he became “BJ,” at the behest of his publisher, who thought “BJ” sounded more professional and mature. But “Billy” is who this man really is, the name he is known by everywhere except in the publishing world. At times it still might take him a few seconds to respond when someone calls him “BJ.”
Poetry blog: http://hereforaseason.blogspot.com/
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A South Philadelphia native, BJ Neblett was always “Billy” growing up. In his 30’s he became DJ Billy James. It was only in 2011 that he became “BJ,” at the behest of his publisher, who thought “BJ” sounded more professional and mature. But “Billy” is who this man really is, the name he is known by everywhere except in the publishing world. At times it still might take him a few seconds to respond when someone calls him “BJ.”
After serving his country during the
Vietnam War, Billy came back and fulfilled his childhood dream of becoming a
radio DJ. He built a career across the U.S. as popular radio DJ Billy James,
honing his writing skills on radio scripts and commercial copy.
Billy first moved to the Northwest in
1990, settling in Redmond, where his sister lived. His mother, in poor health,
soon joined them. At first he volunteered at Bellevue’s public radio station
KBCS, then after a stint at KBSG was hired full-time by KJR. Then he was wooed
away from the Northwest to become music
director for a Houston oldies rock and roll station. Later, on to Charleston,
and then on to…
After 35 years in radio, as DJ and as
a music and program director rebuilding stations, Billy grew tired of moving
around and “living the good life.” By that time, he owned ten cars, a ranch
home on five acres with all the amenities and then one day he simply decided…
“It’s time to retire.” So he did. At the ripe old age of 52.
But with little to occupy his time, he
found himself “climbing the walls.” And doing some soul-searching as well, so
unexpectedly 2002 became a marker year for him. He sold his mansion, all his
cars, put a few things in storage, and with no destination in mind, he hit the
road. Not in a car. Rather, he walked many a mile, he thumbed, tried his luck
at truck stops, and rode buses and trains for days on end. “I had to let all my
responsibilities go, in order to clear my mind, so I could hear more clearly
what was there. And I just started writing, like I’d always done, all my life.”
This man was on the road for nearly
six years! It was during this open-ended time that his book began emerging.
While riding on trains and buses, and staying in hotels along the way, he wrote
every word on a yellow tablet. He carried no computer with him. “Being on the
road, and writing everything by hand, is what really got my juices going.”
Elysian
Dreams
“wrote itself from inside out.” It did not start out as a book, but as a short
story, or actually as a writing exercise. One short story after another came
pouring forth, in the form of myriad characters. He describes himself
“listening” to each character as she or he appeared. “Most of the time, and when I do my best, I
feel I’m listening, almost transcribing.” Although he “hates it” when anyone
labels his writing “time travel” or “science fiction,” it often does carry many
of that genre’s familiar elements.
Billy has been writing since he was a
boy, shaped as he was, by growing up in the 50’s and 60’s, immersed in Twilight
Zone and sitcoms, “where slices of life are so compressed.” He became a fan of
irony, and began seeing it all around him, as “God’s personal joke on us.” O.
Henry’s irony and short stories influenced him greatly, as did the writings of
H.P. Lovecraft, Ray Bradbury, Tim Matheson, Stephen King, and Rod Serling.
BJ prefers writing the short story to
the novel, and believes that short story formats are making a comeback, partly
because of our short attention spans these days, coupled with the scarcity of
reading time. A hallmark of Billy’s short stories: they take real people in
real places, and put them into extreme circumstances. “If you want to learn about who I am, read my
stories. I write about stuff that people don’t know about me. It’s cleansing,
and good medicine.”
He’s written only one piece about his Viet
Nam experiences. You can find “Purple Heart” on his May 27th blog
posting for Memorial Day weekend. It’s quite a story, with an O. Henry twist.
Check it out at bjneblett.blogspot.com.
BJ is currently working on two short
story collections, as well as a sequel to Elysian
Dreams. He is most proud and excited
about his next release, Ice Cream Camelot,
a historical memoir about growing up in the Kennedy era, between the ages of
eleven and fifteen. In alternating
chapters the life of President Kennedy parallels that of a young boy growing up
in South Philadelphia and the suburbs. With the 50th anniversary of
Kennedy’s assassination in the upcoming year, Ice Cream Camelot will be a most timely release.
Reflecting on his Disc Jockey past and
writing present, BJ says, “My voice has been heard all over the world…a lot of
people know me that I don’t know.” Through his words spoken and written he
believes, “My voice is still traveling through space.”
Welcome, BJ ...
TELL US
A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR AUDIO/VIDEO JOURNEY.
I’VE BEEN INTO ALL AREAS OF MUSIC,
AND AUDIO ALL OF MY LIFE, STARTING WITH MY DAD WHO TAUGHT ME ABOUT RADIO IN THE
EARLY DAYS, CRYSTAL SETS AND SUCH. FROM THERE IT JUST SEEMED TO BLOSSOM AND
PROGRESS FROM MUSIC TO RADIO TO NIGHT CLUBS TO VIDEO AND NOW WRITING ABOUT WHAT
I’VE DONE AND SEEN AND LEARNED.
WERE
YOU INTERESTED IN MUSIC AS A KID?
YES. MY AUNT MARY GAVE ME A LOVE OF
MUSIC STARTING AT A VERY YOUNG AGE. SHE WAS A VERY COOL LADY WHO WENT AGAINST
THE GRAIN OF A TYPICAL YOUNG WOMAN OF THE 50’S. SHE NEVER MARRIED, WORKED IN
NIGHT CLUBS, AND LOVED BLUES, R&B, ROCK N ROLL, AND JAZZ. MY LIFE HAS BEEN
GREATLY INFLUENCED BY HER.
WHEN
AND HOW DID YOU BECOME A RADIO DJ?
I RECEIVED A SMALL TRANSISTOR RADIO
FOR CHRISTMAS WHEN I WAS ABOUT TEN AND THAT STARTED IT ALL. I USED TO SKIP
SCHOOL AND HANG OUT AT THE LOCAL RADIO STATION. THIS WAS WHEN RADIO WAS STILL
FUN AND THE DJ’S HAD PERSONALITY AND EVERYTHING WAS LOCAL. THE DJ’S AT WIBG IN
PHILADELPHIA MUST HAVE GOTTEN TIRED OF SEEING ME ON THEIR DOOR STEP AND INVITED
ME INSIDE. SOON I WAS THE YOUNGEST INTERN AT THE STATION. AFTER THE ARMY I WENT
TO BROADCASTING SCHOOL AND RECEIVED A DEGREE IN RADIO AND COMMUNICATIONS.
WHAT
DID YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT THAT JOB?
I’D HAVE TO SAY THE MUSIC AND
GETTING TO MEET AND TALK WITH PEOPLE. THIS WAS BACK WHEN DJ’S ANSWERED THE
PHONES AND TOOK REQUESTS AND MADE APPERANCES AT RECOD HOPS AND SUCH. IT WAS THE
GOLDEN AGE OF ROCK N ROLL RADIO. I’VE ALWAYS FOUND SOMETHING MAGICAL ABOUT A
RADIO STATION LATE AT NIGHT WHEN IT’S JUST YOU, THE MUSIC AND YOUR LISTENERS.
IT’S TOO BAD THOSE DAYS ARE GONE.
BJ appearing live, reading excerpts from his books at Egans Jazz House in Seattle.
WHAT IS
THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A RADIO DJ?
PROBABLY THE MOVING, ALTHOUGHT I’VE
ENJOYED MOVING FOR THE MOST PART. IT’S LIKE THE SONG SAYS, ‘TOWN TO TOWN, UP
AND DOWN THE DIAL’. TO STAY IN RADIO YOU HAVE TO GO WHERE THE JOBS ARE AND
WHEREVER YOUR CAREER TAKES YOU. THIS MAKES IT VERY HARD FOR RELATIONSHIPS AND
FAMILY.
BUT YOU
NEVER MARRIED, RIGHT?
NO. I GUESS AT THE TIME I JUST
WASN’T MARRIAGE MATERIAL. I REALIZED THIS AT A VERY YOUNG AGE AND SO THE CHOICE
OF CAREER OVER FAMILY WAS AN EASY ONE FOR ME.
WHAT
WERE YOU IN A PAST LIFE, BEFORE YOU BECAME INVOLVED IN RADIO?
GOSH THAT’S HARD TO SAY, I’VE BEEN
INTO MUSIC AND RADIO FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER. IN A LIFE BEFORE RADIO I’D
HAVE TO SAY I WAS PROBABLY SOME WAY INVOLVED WITH WRITING.
AS FAR
AS RADIO, WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
JUST TO BE ON THE AIR I CONSIDER
BEING AN ACHIEVEMENT. PLUS I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO KNOW AND WORK WITH SOME OF
THE GREAT VOICES OF RADIO, PEOPLE LIKE HY LIT, JOE NIAGARA, PAUL BERLIN, AND
DANNY HOLIDAY. THESE ARE GUYS WHO ARE IN THE ROCK N ROLL HALL OF FAME AND WHO I
WAS PRIVILEDGED TO COUNT AS MY FRIENDS.
WHO ARE
SOME OF YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCES?
MY MOM WHO PURSUED A CAREER AS AN
ACTRESS WHILE TAKING CARE OF A FAMILY SHOWED ME NOT TO GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS.
AND OF COURSE MY AUNT MARY WHO INTRODUCED ME TO MUSIC; AND EVEN MY DAD IN HIS
OWN VERY CONSERVATIVE MANNER. ALSO, HY LIT AND JOE NIAGARA WERE MY
INSPIRATIONS, AS WELL AS MY MENTORS, TO BECOME A DJ.
WHAT IS
YOUR FAVOURITE SUBJECT?
THAT’S AN EASY ONE, HISTORY. I HAVE
ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN HISTORY AND HOW IT COMES ABOUT AND THE AFFECT ON THE
WORLD WE LIVE IN.
Guitar collection, including autographs from Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and many more.
WHAT
INSPIRES YOU?
AGAIN, HISTORY IS A GREAT INFLUENCE,
ALONG WITH IRONY. GROWING UP IN THE 60’S I SAW IRONY ALL AROUND ME, AND IRONY
THAT IT SEEMED FEW OF MY FRIENDS AND NO ADULTS COULD SEE. I LOVE IRONY. I FEEL
IT IS GOD’S PERSONAL JOKE ON US.
WHAT DO
YOU PREFER TO RADIO/MUSIC?
THAT’S A TOUGH ONE, TOO. THERE ARE
VERY FEW THINGS I’D RATHER BE DOING THEN PLAYING THE MUSIC I LOVE FOR AN
APPRECIATIVE AUDIENCE OF LISTENERS. SOME THINGS THAT DEFINATELY RANK UP THERE
ARE SOFTBALL, WRITING, WORKING ON AND COLLECTING OLD CARS, AND COLLECTING
RECORDS AND VINTAGE GUITARS.
DO YOU
HAVE ANY TIPS FOR EMERGING DJ’S?
UNFORTUNATELY IT’S NOT LIKE THE OLD
DAYS. BUT IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, GET YOURSELF INTO A STATION ANYWAY YOU CAN, AS AN
INTERN OR HELPER OR WHATEVER. RADIO IS TRUELY AN INSIDERS INDUSTRY AND THE MORE
PEOPLE YOU KNOW THE BETTER. ALSO, KNOW YOUR MUSIC INSIDE OUT AND LEARN THE
OTHER SKILLS NECESSARY INCLUDING WORKING AN AUDIO BOARD, DOING PRODUCTION AND
DIGITAL AND ANALOG EDITING. AND ENGLISH AND SPEACH CLASSES IN HIGH SCHOOL CAN
HELP A LOT.
WHAT IS
THE MOST INTERESTING/FUN PLACE IN WHICH YOU HAVE WORKED?
OH, GOSH, I’VE LIVED AND WORKED IN
SO MANY WONDERFUL PLACES, EACH SPECIAL AND INTERESTING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.
PHILADELPHIA IN THE 60’S AND 70’S WAS A GREAT MUSIC TOWN WITH THE OLD DOO WOP
SOUND, THE PHILLY SOUND AND REALLY TERRIFFIC SOUL MUSIC. I WAS IN PHILLY AND
THEN HOUSTON ALL THOUGH THE DISCO ERA WHICH GOT ME INTO CLUB WORK. I WAS ONE OF
THE CLUB DJ’S WHO CREATED BEAT MIXING, A DISTINCTION THAT CAN BE A GOOD OR BAD
THING DEPENDING ON YOUR PERSONAL FEELINGS ABOUT DISCO. THE HOUSTON CLUB SCENE
IN THE 80’S RIVALED THAT OF NEW YORK CITY. SEATTLE IS A GREAT MUSIC TOWN. AND
MY LAST RADIO DAYS WERE SPENT IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, A BEAUTIFUL CITY
WITH FRIENDLY PEOPLE AND A TERRIFFIC VARIETY OF LIVE MUSIC.
SINCE
RETIRING FROM RADIO YOU HAVE PUBLISHED TWO BOOKS, HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT?
IT SEEMS I’VE BEEN WRITING ALL OF MY
LIFE IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. I HAD MY FIRST POETRY PUBLISHED IN A NATIONAL
ANTHOLOGY WHILE I WAS STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL. I WROTE SHORT STORIES ABOUT THE
IRONY AND OTHER THINGS I SAW HAPPENING AROUND ME. I WROTE RADIO COMMERCIALS AND SCRIPTS. SO I
GUESS IT WAS JUST NATURAL THAT I WRITE A BOOK EVENTUALLY.
DO YOU
HAVE A FAVOURITE TOPIC TO WRITE ABOUT?
AGAIN IRONY PLAYS VERY HEAVILY IN MY
SHORT STORIES. MOST OF MY STORIES ARE CONSIDERED FANTASTIC LITERATURE, VERY
TWILIGHT ZONEISH. THEY ARE STORIES THAT STRETCH YOUR IMAGINATION AND MAKE YOU
WONDER. AS FOR TOPICS I USUALLY FIND INSPIRATION AROUND ME AND WRITE ABOUT WHAT
I SEE, SO MY TOPICS COVER A BROAD RANGE.
BJ's softball team after winning the league championship.
TELL ME
ABOUT YOUR TWO BOOKS.
MY FIRST NOVEL ELYSIAN DREAMS IS LITERARY
FICTION, A CONTEMPORARY FANTASY ROMANTIC ADVENTURE. THERE ARE THREE
INTERCONNECTED STORIES AND IT CENTERS ON THREE VERY DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO’S
LIVES CONTINUE TO INEXPLICABLY CROSS. COMBINING TOUCHES OF FANTASY AND SCI-FI, IT
IS AN ALEGORY OF THE COST OF SEARCHING YOUR DREAMS WHILE SEEKING YOUR DESTINY.
MY NEWEST BOOK, ICE CREAM CAMELOT IS
NON-FICTION, WHAT I CALL AN HISTORICAL MEMOIR. IT CONCERNS MY GROWING UP DURING
THE KENNEDY ADMINISTRATION. ALTHOUGH A YOUNG TEEN, I WAS GREATLY INFLUENCED BY
OUR 35TH PRESIDENT AND COUNTED HIM AS ONE OF MY HEROS. BUT BEYOND A
SIMPLE TALE OF A YOUNG BOY’S COMING OF AGE AND LOSS OF INNOCENCE, IT TELLS THE
STORY OF OUR COUNTRY DURING THOSE IMPORTANT YEARS AND OF THE COUNTRY’S LOSS OF
ITS OWN NATIONAL INNOCENCE. I AM ESPECIALLY PROUD OF ICE CREAM CAMELOT FOR ITS
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE THROUGH THE EYES OF THE YOUNGER GENERATION.
DO YOU
WRITE IN A SPECIFIC GENRE?
HAVING WRITTEN FICTION AS WELL AS
NON-FICTION I GUESS I’D HAVE TO SAY NO I DON’T. I JUST WRITE ABOUT WHAT COMES
TO ME AND FEELS NATURAL. ALTHOUGH I DO ENJOY WRITING THE FANTASTIC LITERATURE I
MENTIONED BEFORE, STORIES THAT MAKES A PERSON STOP AND THINK AND SAY, ‘HUMM’.
HOW ARE
YOU BOOKS SELLING?
THAT’S AN INTERESTING QUESTION. THE
SHORT ANSWER IS THEY ARE DOING WELL, OF COURSE WHAT AUTHOR OR PUBLISHER ARE
EVER SATISFIED WITH THEIR BOOK SALES? FOR SOME REASON THOUGH, I SEEM TO HAVE A
VERY BIG FOLLOWING IN EASTERN EUROPE AND RUSSIA. ELYSIAN DREAMS IS SELLING VERY
WELL THERE AND MY BLOG WHERE I POST MANY OF MY SHORT STORIES IS ALSO VERY
POPULAR THERE. ICE CREAM CAMELOT SEEMS TO BE DOING BETTER HERE IN THE STATES,
PROBABLY BECAUSE OF ITS SUBJECT MATTER.
HOW
ABOUT SEQUELS?
I HAVE MANY IRONS IN THE FIRE
INCLUDING SEQUELS. MY PUBLISHER HAS BEEN AFTER ME FOR A SEQUEL TO ELYSIAN
DREAMS EVER SINCE THE BOOK WAS RELEASED. THE ENDING SEEMS TO LEND ITSELF TO A
SEQUEL. IT IS TENTIVELY TITLED THE AMBER PEOPLE. I AM ALSO WORKING ON A SORT OF
FOLLOW UP TO ICE CREAM CAMELOT. TITLED A CHANGE IS GONNA COME, IT WILL PICK UP
BRIEFLY WHERE ICE CREAM CAMELOT LEFT OFF, BUT FOCUSES MORE ON MY LIFE AND MY
RADIO CAREER THROUGH THE ‘70’S, ‘80’S AND INTO THE ‘90’S. BEYOND SEQUELS, IAM
PUTTING TOGETHER TWO COLLECTIONS OF MY SHORT STORIES; THINKING ABOUT A POSSIBLE
CHAP BOOK OF POETRY AND OF COURSE, ALWAYS WRITING MORE SHORT STORIES.
WHAT’S
THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
WELL, GOING BACK TO MY RADIO DAYS, I
HAVE BEEN REFERED TO AS ONE OF THE LAST TRUE ‘PERSONALITY’ DJ’S, SOMETHING THAT
IS BITTERSWEET WHEN I LISTEN TO RADIO THESE DAYS. I’VE ALSO BEEN CREDITED WITH
HELPING TO INVENT CLUB BEAT MIXING, AS I MENTIONED, A DUBIOUS DISTINCTION WHICH
I WEAR PROUDLY. AS FAR AS MY WRITING, JUST HAVING MY WORK PUBLISHED AND READ IS
AN HONOR. WHEN ELYSIAN DREAMS WAS RELEASED MY WRITING WAS COMPARED TO ISAAC
ASIMOV AND HARUKI MURAKAMI. THAT’S SOME PRETTY HEAVY COMPANY. AS FOR ICE CREAM
CAMELOT, I THINK MY FAVORITE REVIEW SAYS, ‘IF HISTORY BOOKS READ LIKE THIS,
STUDENTS WOULD BE INTERESTED.’ I TAKE THAT AS A GREAT COMPLIMENT NOT ONLY
BECAUSE I AM SUCH A HISTORY BUFF, BUT I FEEL HISTORY IS IMPORTANT AND SOMETHING
TO WHICH YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION. THERE IS SO MUCH WE CAN LEARN
FROM HISTORY AND SO MUCH HISTORY THAT SEEMS TO REPETE ITSELF, AGAIN, THE IRONY
THAT IS ALL AROUND US.
DESCRIBE
THE FUNNIEST MOMENT YOU EXPERIENCED IN YOUR WORK AS A DJ OR A WRITER?
AGAIN, SO MANY IT’S HARD TO CHOSE.
ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE STORIES GOES BACK TO MY EARLY RADIO DAYS. I WAS
WORKING AT A SMALL STATION THAT SERVED A MEDIUM SIZED CITY, AND WAS VERY MUCH A
LARGE PART OF THAT COMMUNITY, WHERE MOST PEOPLE LISTENED AND RECEIVED THEIR
MUSIC, NEWS AND INFORMATION. IT WAS A LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND I WAS ON THE
AIR, AND WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF STRONG THUNDER AND RAIN STORM. ALL OF A
SUDDEN THE POWER WENT OFF, KNOCKING US OFF THE AIR. AFTER CHECKING I REALIZED
THAT THE POWER WAS OUT IN THE GENERAL AREA OF THE STATION, SO THERE WAS NOTHING
FOR ME TO DO BUT WAIT UNTIL THE POWER WAS RESTORED. SITTING IN THE DARKENED
STUDIO MY PHONE RANG. IT WAS A LISTENER ASKING WHY SHE COULDN’T PICK US UP ON
HER RADIO. I EXPLAINED THAT THE STORM HAD KNOCKED THE POWER OUT. IN A SOMEWHAT
IRATE AND FRUSTRATED TONE SHE REPLIED, ‘WELL, THE LEAST YOU COULD HAVE DONE IS
ANNOUNCED THAT YOU WERE OFF THE AIR!’
WHAT
WAS THE WORST COMMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED?
HEHEHEHEHE NOW THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
IS VERY HARD TO CHOOSE FROM... IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE ON THE RADIO OR EVEN A
WRITER YOU NEED VERY THICK SKIN. PROGRAM DIRECTORS WHO DO THE HIRING OF THE ON
AIR DJ’S AND BOOK PUBLISHERS BOTH OFTEN SEEM TO SUFFER FROM THE SAME LACK OF
TACT. I’VE BEEN CALLED TALENTLESS AND TOLD TO FIND ANOTHER LINE OF WORK MORE
TIMES THAN I CARE TO REMEMBER. I’VE OFTEN THOUGH OF PAPERING MY BATHROOM WITH
REJECTION NOTICES. ONLY PROBLEM IS IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A VERY BIG BATHROOM.
WRITERS
ARE SOMETIMES INFLUENCED BY THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THEIR OWN LIVES. DO YOU USE
REAL LIFE SITUATIONS IN YOUR WRITING?
THE OLD SAYING THAT FACT IS STRANGER
THAN FICTION IS TRUE. LOOK AROUND YOU... YOU CAN’T MAKE UP STUFF LIKE THAT. MOST
OF THE TIME SOMETHING I SEE OR HEAR TRIGGERS AN IDEA FOR A STORY. AND I AM
ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR INTERESTING PEOPLE TO USE AS CHARACTERS IN MY
STORIES. YOU TAKE AN INCIDENT, EXPOUND AND STRETCH IT; ADD IN SOME PEOPLE YOU’VE
MET AND GIVE THEM THE CHARACTERISTICS OF SEVERAL OTHERS YOU’VE BEEN OBSERVING;
CHANGE THE LOCATION, TIME AND MAYBE THE OUTCOME AND YOU HAVE YOURSELF A STORY.
WHO IS
YOUR PUBLISHER?
I’VE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE FOUND A
GREAT PUBLISHER. BRIGHTON PUBLISHING PICKED UP MY FIRST BOOK ELYSIAN DREAMS AND
HAVE BEEN WITH ME SINCE. THEY ARE GREAT PEOPLE TO WORK WITH AND HAVE BEEN
HELPFUL, UNDERSTANDING AND ENCOURAGING.
HAVE
YOU WON ANY PRIZES OR AWARDS?
A POEM OF MINE, AMOS FULLER DOESN’T
SPEAK WAS GIVEN THE PENN NATIONAL WRITING AWARD FOR POETRY A FEW YEARS BACK.
ANOTHER POEM I WROTE WAS CHOSEN FOR THE MARTIN LUTHER KING WEB SITE. TITLED
BLACK WALL, IT WAS INSPIRED BY THE VIETNAM WAR MEMORIAL AND THE MAJOR EVENTS OF
THE LATE 60’S. I WAS ALSO CHOSEN A FEW YEARS AGO TO KEEP A DIARY FOR THE ANNE
FRANK PROJECT. BUT PROBABLY MY BIGGEST HONOR IS FOR THE PAPERBACK EDITION OF
ICE CREAM CAMELOT BEING CHOSEN FOR BOTH THE KENNEDY LIBRARY AND THE SIXTH FLOOR
MUSEUM IN DALLAS.
WHAT
DID THEY MEAN TO YOU?
IT’S ALWAYS A GREAT FEELING TO BE
RECOGNIZED BY YOUR PEERS FOR WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED. BUT BEYOND THAT, MY
THRILL COMES FROM KNOWING THAT BECAUSE OF THESE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS MY WORDS WILL
LIVE ON AND REACH MORE PEOPLE. I THINK THAT IS THE REASON WHY ANYONE WRITES,
BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT HAVE SOMETHING WORTHWHILE AND MAYBE EVEN IMPORTANT TO
SAY. IN THE SAME WAY AS MY WORDS, MY VOICE, HAVEING BEEN TRANSMITTED ON THE
RADIO THOUGH THE AM FREQUENCIES, CONTINUES TO TRAVEL THROUGH SPACE. WHO KNOWS
WHO, A HUNDRED OR A THOUSAND YEARS FROM NOW WILL HEAR OR READ MY WORDS AND
MAYBE BE MOVED OR INSPIRED.
OTHER
THAN WRITING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE?
I ENJOY MEETING AND WATCHING PEOPLE,
I AM A GREAT PEOPLE WATCHER AND OBSERVER OF HUMANITY. I CAN SIT AT A BALL GAME
OR MOVIE OR CONCERT OR COFFEE SHOP OR ANYWHERE AND ENJOY THE REACTIONS OF THE
PEOPLE AROUND ME AS MUCH AS THE EVENT. I ALSO LOVE TRAVELING THE BACK ROADS OF
THE COUNTRY. AND OF COURSE THERE IS SOFTBALL. IF I COULD FIGURE OUT A WAY TO
PLAY EVERYDAY I PROBABLY WOULD.
Emily, BJ's one true love, his vintage 1956 Gretsch Country Club guitar.
DESCRIBE
YOUR PERFECT DAY.
WARM AND SUNNY, TIME SPENT WITH
FRIENDS AND GOOD FOOD, MAYBE BY THE WATER, AND OF COURSE PLAYING SOFTBALL,
FOLLOWED BY AN EVENING REMINISING WITH A CLOSE BUDDY ABOUT TIMES PAST, ALL THE
WHILE GOOD MUSIC PLAYING IN THE BACK GROUND.
WHAT
ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?
KEEP WRITING, KEEP OBSERVING, KEEP
PLAYING SOFTBALL, KEEP LEARNING AND KEEP PASSING ALONG WHAT I’VE LEARNED TO
ANYONE WILLING TO LISTEN.
IF YOU
WROTE A BOOK FOR THE LEADERS OF THEWORLD, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
IN A WAY I THINK I ALREADY HAVE. ICE
CREAM CAMELOT IS A HISTORY BOOK LIKE NO OTHER. IT SHOWS THE WORLD AS SEEN
THROUGH THE EYES OF YOUNG, IMPRESSIONABLE TEENS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT SHOWS
THE AFFECTS THE DECISIONS OF OUR LEADERS HAVE ON THOSE SAME YOUNGSTERS. I FEEL
THAT MOST OF THE TIME IMPORTANT DECISIONS ARE MADE WITHOUT A GOOD HARD LOOK AS
TO THE LONG RANGE CONSEQUENCES.
BESIDES
YOUR BOOKS, WHERE ELSE CAN YOUR WRITINGS BE FOUND?
I PRESENTLY WRITE A COLUMN FOR THE
EXAMINER DOT COM AN ON LINE NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINE, REPORTING ON THE ANTIQUE
AND CLASSIC CAR SCENE HERE IN SEATTLE. I ALSO HAVE TWO BLOGS, ONE CALLED HERE
FOR A SEASON IS FOR MY POETRY. THE OTHER, BJ NEBLETT AUTHOR IS WHERE I POST A
LOT OF MY SHORT STORIES. MY WEB SITE, BJNEBLETT DOT WEBS DOT COM HAS LINKS TO
MY BLOGS AND MY BOOK SITES.
ANYTHING
YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?
I’D LIKE TO URGE THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF
THIS PLANET TO READ AS MUCH AS THEY CAN, WHATEVER THEY CAN, AND TO FOLLOW THEIR
DREAMS. THE WORLD NEEDS MORE REBELS WHO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX.
AND I’D LIKE TO THANK
YOU, CLANCY, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK OPENLY AND FRANKLY THIS WAY ABOUT MY LIFE. AND FINALLY, JUST TO
THANK THE GOOD LORD FOR WHAT HAS BEEN ONE LONG CRAZY AND TERRIFIC LIFE. TO
QUOTE THE GREATFUL DEAD, ‘WHAT A LONG STRANGE TRIP IT’S BEEN’. I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT THE NEXT HALF
BRINGS.
BJ Neblett web site: http://bjneblett.webs.com/
Writer's blog: http://www.bjneblett.blogspot.com/
Poetry blog: http://hereforaseason.blogspot.com/
Clancy's comment: Folks, I told you he was an interesting character. BJ, thanks for sharing your experiences. Love that car ... and those guitars! Seriously, I think you should write a book about your life.
I'm ...
Think about this!
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