Episode 5: Conversations over Milk & Cookies - Beem Weeks

Welcome to Episode 5 of Conversations over Milk & Cookies hosted by Kindle Ninja.

What is this madness, you ask? 

It's my way of supporting authors and writers from the RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB. For the entire month of April, I will be featuring the fine women and men that make up the Board of RRBC. 

We interact with them everyday, directly through tweets, or indirectly through re-tweets, but we don't really know much about them. Their personalities really don't shine through in tweets and re-tweets.

In Episode 1, We see the silly side of RRBC Secretary MARLENA HAND (@mlh42812). 

In Episode 2, RRBC Spotlight and Incentives Coordinator TERI GARRINGER (@TeriGarringer) bares her funny side in 26 Questions.

In Episode 3, RRBC Membership Director KATHRYN TREAT (@KathrynCTreat) lets her hair down and plays the game of 24 Questions.

In Episode 4, RRBC Hospitality Director LEISL KABERRY (@Lawfabex) takes a 10-min break from writing to answer strange questions.

For Episode 5, RRBC Reviews Co-ordinator BEEM WEEKS (@BeemWeeks) takes a break from Googling himself to answer 26 Questions.

You can drop by his About Me page  or go straight to his Blog.

Let's get to know Beem in more than 140 characters, shall we?

* * * 

+No ninjas were hurt in making this episode.

KINDLE NINJA (KN):  Welcome to Conversations over Milk and Cookies. How do you like your cookies? Chewy? Crunchy? Crumbly? Something else?

That depends on my mood. Sometimes crunchy, sometimes chewy. Fresh-baked and still warm are the best!

Do you think dunking Oreos in a glass of milk is manly?

Yes indeed. They just go together so well. Dunking Oreos can transport a person back to childhood!

What’s the hardest part of being the Rave Reviews Book Club Reviews Co-ordinator?

It’s really a simple job. I collect the names of members posting reviews, find out where they’ve posted them, make note of which book they’ve reviewed, and log the info in my file.

You have quite a number of social media accounts / personalities.  Who am I talking to right now?

You are talking to Beem Weeks. I only have two social media personalities: Beem Weeks, and @voiceofindie on Twitter. Beem Weeks is me, the man, the author. @voiceofindie is me as well, the voice I use to support indie authors, musicians, and artists on Twitter.

When you said you are 40-something, did you really mean 49?

No. I just turned 47 in March. I use the term 40-something so I don’t have to change my age every year on all the author sites of which I partake.

If your novel “Jazz Baby” is made into a movie, which actors/actresses would play the main characters?

Wow! That’s a great question. I saw the movie Hick last year, which starred Chloe Grace Moretz. Based on that performance, she’d have been perfect to play Emily Ann “Baby” Teegarten. I could imagine Dakota Fanning as well—many years ago. I think it would probably have to be an unknown actress at this point. For the other characters, well, I could see Matthew McConoughey as Tanyon Thibbedeaux. I think Christian Bale would make a great Frank Rydekker. Gwyneth Paltrow might be a good fit to portray Aunt Frannie. As for the other main characters, I’d really need more time to consider the possible candidates.

And who will direct it?

In a perfect world, it would be either Louis Malle or Francois Truffaut. But since those two brilliant directors are no longer alive, I’d be thrilled to find Jane Campion at the helm.

I hear you enjoy loud music. If your life were a song, what would the title be?

“Beautiful Chaos” would be the title.

And who would you sing it with?

Metallica—unless I could convince Led Zeppelin to reunite again.

Have you Googled yourself lately?

Sounds like a naughty question! I Google myself about once every month, just to see if there’s anything book-related that I might have missed. It’s always interesting, finding non-English websites offering Jazz Baby for sale.

KINDLE NINJA: I never thought 'Googling yourself' could be naughty, until now. Haha.

You said on Twitter “Follow me, or the puppy gets it” What’s the score now? (Followers vs. Puppy getting it)

I’ve got about 7300 followers at the moment. The puppy hasn’t gotten it yet. But I’ve never said exactly what “it” is he’ll get. It could be something good, like a Milk Bone, a chew toy, or a visit to a doggy day spa. Or maybe he just gets neutered over and over again, like a sadistic version of the movie Groundhog Day!

KINDLE NINJA: Haha!

What would you rather be doing now? (instead of answering these questions).

Finishing my second novel comes to mind. I should have had it completed by now, but it’s not even close to being done. I took some time to put together a collection of my short stories for publication. Hopefully that will buy me some time to get the next novel finished.

 I’d assume I’m the person you’d want to drink Milk with (since you agreed to this interview), but who’s the person you’d want to have coffee with?

I drink tea, not coffee. I quit coffee about sixteen years ago while giving up cigarettes. I’d love to have just one more day with my little brother—drinking tea or not! He’s been gone for three years now and I just miss him every day.

 How do you like your coffee?

When I drank coffee, I drank it black, no sugar or cream.

How do you feel about doughnuts without holes?

I love a good blueberry fritter. But doughnuts of any sort are fine with me!

What’s the best way to decompress?

Put my earbuds in and crank up Metallica, Led Zeppelin, or the Beatles. I love music of all sorts. Music truly soothes the soul (even the heavy stuff). Also, I have a guitar; I like to turn up the amp and just make some noise.

If you had superpowers, what would it be?

My superpower would be to have a brain like Google. Then I’d know the answer to everything in the blink of an eye. I’d go on Jeopardy and other trivia-based game shows and I’d rake in the money.

What’s the book you wished you’d written?

That’s a toss-up between To Kill a Mockingbird and The Poisonwood Bible. Both are brilliant but I would give the edge to The Poisonwood Bible. Barbara Kingsolver is just magnificent as an author. She’s one of the all-time greatest.

Celebrity you want to have dinner with?

Quentin Tarantino. He’s just so cool and interesting. Pulp Fiction is my all-time favourite film. Dead celebs? Steve McQueen (the actor, not the very-much alive director). He’s been dead for over thirty years now and he’s still the coolest guy in Hollywood.

And what would you eat?

Steak, I suppose. A nice medium-rare ribeye with a baked potato and fresh salad.

What’s the book that positively shaped you?

The Bible. I began to seriously study it about eighteen years ago, going into the original languages to get to the meat of what is really being said. It has completely transformed my life. No, I’m not hyper-religious, quoting scripture all the time. I’m just living my life in stark contrast to the way I lived in the 1980s and 1990s—which would have eventually killed me. Way too much partying back then. No focus for what’s important.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how excited are you about life right now?

I’d give it a solid 8. There’s always room for growth and improvement.

Metallica or Bon Jovi?

Most definitely Metallica! Metallica and Led Zeppelin are my two favourite bands. Bon Jovi is okay, though. I saw them in concert back in 1985, before they hit it big. They opened a show for Ratt. Truthfully, they were better than Ratt. But Bon Jovi can’t compete with the mighty Metallica!

Nicholas Sparks or Dan Brown?

Nicholas Sparks—though I’ve never actually read either of these authors’ works. I’ve seen movies based on Sparks’s novels. A little too chick-flicky but not bad.

J.K. Rowling or Stephenie Meyer?

Which one of these two would I choose first to hang by her toes from a tall hickory tree all night in a cold Michigan winter? Why that would be Ms. Meyer. But J.K. would be directly next in line! I’m so not a fan of either of these two writers. I tried to watch a Twilight movie once. I think I managed a whole ten minutes before I had to turn the channel. Just awful! I’ve only seen a few minutes of one of the Harry Potter films, as well—though the Potter flicks look far more interesting than the stiff “acting” involved with the Twilight movies. I just see these two ladies as so overrated. Selling millions doesn’t make an author a great writer (though I admire that they’ve both accomplished so much in the writing arena). But perhaps my opinion is formed by the fact that both authors write for a much younger audience than my old age!

  

Lastly:  Ninjas or Rockstars?

How about Ninja Rockstars? Or Rockstar Ninjas? You’re a Rockstar, Kindle Ninja! I really enjoyed this interview. Your questions are fun and loose. Thank you so much for having me.

Thanks for your time. Glad you enjoyed the Q&A.