By: Loni Cameron

Writing because she must, Charlene Jones is our latest volunteer for the membership spotlight. While performing with veteran Linda Stitt (co-host of Words and Music Salon in Toronto since 2008) from the early 1990’s to 1999 all across Ontario, Charlene gained a rich trove of experience in being at the microphone. Charlene has led an interesting, deeply creative life and we are eager to learn more about her.

Tell Us About Yourself

Do you have another job besides writing?

My real job involves forming threads of pure energy that emit from the stomach of other people. I take those threads and unravel them, one at a time, until they form a smooth, cohesive whole. While this happens people frequently cry both for their own internal emotional release and because they feel so sorry for someone whose life purpose is to unwind these knots.

Tell us a bit about your latest book, and what inspired you to write such a story.

My life has been impossible, so the book is called My Impossible Life. I was scheduled to die at 16 but did escape being held captive by two armed escaped criminals. From there things got interesting as I traveled the world exploring different healing modalities and experiencing death defying feats like sailing the Gulf of Mexico during tornado season. Only a fool would, you know.

Why do you write?

Because I have no option.

Tell us five random things about yourself.

I have spoken of my genius for cat’s cradle elsewhere so will remain modest, if I can, in describing how dust motes do not settle when I hold a rag in my hand, and the sun burnishes more brightly after I wash windows. These are simple experiences but profound in the way of all ongoing human activities.

What other types of artistic talents do you have?

I have an inborn ability to balance china plates, many of them, on my head at one time. It is a delicate art form and often has been the main focus at dinner parties.

Who do you think you are? Tell us how you define yourself?

My mother often demanded this question of me as though I had an answer. I still do not.

The Process of Writing

Do you get along with your muse? What do you do to placate her when she refuses to inspire you?

My muse adores me. Unfortunately, she is a gypsy fortune teller, prone to standing on rocks in the midst of fast-moving streams, wandering at midnight to open fields to gaze at planets, emerging from meadows in time to spook campers and known to spend many hours just staring at water, sky, earth and whenever possible, a small fire. Or a large one if small is not available.

I say this is unfortunate because many do not see her, and those who do often flee in fear. I on the other hand have noticed the poems trailing from her fingertips as she walks toward the moon.

Describe your writing work environment.

Internally it is a place of chaos and conundrum, where concepts bounce themselves across shelves containing nothing but quantum material. Astrophysics does apply but only in small quantities and a love of string theory sounds itself with violins from the center of the place.

What is your favourite place to write?

I am a fan of Mars. Yes, I think Mars although Saturn is quite a good, close runner up.

On Reading and Ideas

Do you have a major accomplishment you’d like to share? A hurdle you’ve overcome?

My genius revealed itself in the little understood capacity of making a cat’s cradle cuddle creatures from another dimension. It is just something innate. One either can or cannot no in-between.

We’d like to thank Charlene for sharing her personality and creativity with us. We hope her muse doesn’t spend too long staring at the fire and allows her poems to filter into Charlene’s endeavours.

As an esteemed eight year Professor at Sheridan College, Charlene Jones refined her skills regarding the daily art of how to keep people engaged while trying to read, write, and impart information. As a radio host of her own program on Whistle Radio from 2013 to 2015, she engaged readers and guests with warm interview techniques. As a podcast host of her website Soulsciences, she continues to interview writers from around the globe. She has been in the spotlight, creating and coaxing others through the spotlight for over two decades.

If you would like to participate in the Member Spotlight here on the Easy Writer, please email Loni at lonicameron42@gmail.com.