This is Life @ OHP baby!
Hey ya’ll. It is I, your intrepid Jr. Editor back again with some great news. This news is so engrossing, so
engaging, so very world shattering that it will change the way you look at this life we live forever. But first I must aside.
I know things have been quiet around here lately so I want to ask you to wait for the other shoe to drop for a few hundred words more while I update you on what’s been going on. As many of you know we’ve extended the submission deadline for An Honest Lie Volume 3: Justifiable Hypocrisy. If you are going to submit I would suggest you do it now. Do it here. Do it now. Many of you already have and we truly appreciate it. I’ve read some very, very good stories and I’ve read some Great ones as well. I believe that AHL V3 is going to be our best volume yet! You guys are awesome.
Are you new here? Do you find yourself a bit confused about to what it is I refer? Well, we here at Open Heart Publishing pride ourselves in having released some of the finest books in the world of independent publishing. Our first two anthologies, “An Honest Lie Volume 1: Encouraging the Delinquency of Your Inner Child” and “An Honest Lie Volume 2: Delusions of Insignificance”, are chock full of great stories from some of the premiere emerging writers in the nation. One of those authors, C.B. Calsing blessed us with a fabulous collection set in and around San Louis Obispo called “All Along the Pacific”. We have also worked closely with the community through our opportunity project and put together, with the help of some very talented young people, “The Cave of Colors”. And our biggest book, our most controversial piece of work “The Children’s Book of Necromancy [Not Intended for Children]”. You can pick them all up here at our store.
Okay, you’ve done your due and sat through my PSA. You are now sanctioned to hear the news and you are not going to believe me when I tell you what we are doing this summer season. Well, by “we” I mean more specifically, Our Fearless Leader Debrin Case. He is embarking on a massive journey across our great nation to bring the Open Heart Publishing name to a home town near you. But he is not just promoting our company and our great products, oh no, Debrin is also bringing you a great message of vision and passion and nurturing both even if you have to start at Rock Bottom. He is embarking on a walkabout and, though he walks alone, he walks on behalf of us all. He, better than anyone, can tell you the depths of his vision and mission so I would suggest following his quest at his blog Ramble Tree and find out when and where he’ll be speaking at his mission headquarters Starting @ Rock Bottom.
I am completely proud of where we’ve been, I am excited to be involved with what we have going on now, and I see a bright and bold future ahead for us all. We love you guys. We do this for the love, but we also do this for the writers, for the readers, for the friends and fans, we do this for you. Take a moment to lend us your support. Submit your work, follow our Facebook and Twitter, and buy our books.
And Now … Our Fearless Leader Debrin Case
We here at Open Heart Publishing have had a ton of work on our plates but one bite at a time deadlines are being met and production is moving forward. With everything coming up on us in the next weeks I wanted to, halfway through; introduce you to our fearless leader, the Dictator of Deadlines, Debrin Case.
I remember when I first saw the friend request from An Honest Lie in my Facebook in box. I thought, “What the hell is an honest lie?” I’m glad I did the research because I was more than pleasantly surprised at what I found. There are so many small publishers out there, and I’m not one to point fingers, but Open Heart Publishing struck me immediately as one of the better ones. At the time Debrin was hiring and I was determined to get in on the Publishing business so I sent him an email. It wasn’t long before he got back to me and within a week he’d given me a call. I remember one of the first things he said to me was,
“I have to warn you I get a bit nervous around new people and when I’m nervous I cuss.”
It seems like such a small thing but it made him more real to me, more human, more accessible than the other interviewers I’ve had to deal with. I didn’t get the job then but Debrin and I remained in contact. When the time came he called me first and I appreciate it.
Debrin is a man with a focus and a plan and he does a fantastic job of bringing us all together to accomplish our goals. He may seem gentle and unassuming on the surface, but don’t be fooled he has an iron will and a remarkable depth of talent. He graces the Pages of An Honest Lie Volume 2 with a tale called Learning to Pray. today though we are going to talk to him about Open Heart Publishing and what exciting things are in store for us. But I’ll let him tell you about it.
Open heart Publishing: So you are the man who started it all. I feel I would not only be remiss if I didn’t ask, but I might get a few less than pleasant emails as well, so, what do you feel is a delusion of insignificance?
Debrin Case: I feel it would be a travesty for me to interpret the meaning of this year’s theme or the masthead . This is something I would rather leave to the interpretation of the individual reader as opposed to defining it and ruining all of the fun.
OHP: I can understand that. What is An Honest Lie?
D. C.: Like a Delusion of Insignificance, I feel it would be a travesty for me to interpret the meaning of this year’s theme or the masthead. This is something I would rather leave to the interpretation of the individual reader as opposed to defining it and ruining all of the fun.
OHP: Looks like we are going to be sticking with the party line on that one. But I asked him! No angry emails! Open Heart Publishing and the An Honest Lie anthologies are becoming pretty popular pretty fast; tell us something about where you are planning to take them in the future.
D.C.: AHL is heading into its second volume and wow what a great collection of authors we have found for our readership this year. It does my heart good to see a new cast of amazing authors to work with for volume 2, and as we get ready to embark on volume 3 it can only get better. As to what else to expect from Open Heart Publishing, the best advice I have is to keep checking us out. A wonderful collection of short stories from C.B. Calsing entitled All Along the Pacific will be available later this year, the winner of AHL Vol. 1 will be announced, yet another wonderful opportunity project, and of course Volume 2 of An Honest Lie should be available by late October.
OHP: I can hardly wait; it’s looking pretty good right now. Is your desire to publish other writers as strong as your need to write?
D.C.: Absolutely, in some ways it is even stronger. They are both important sides of me and my own personal missions of creating accessible fiction, and to promote and find new authors.
OHP: I’ve read some of your work and I know what’s waiting in the wings as far as Open Heart Publishing goes, I find your imagination fascinating. Where do you draw your inspiration from?
D.C.: Like all artists, and the rest of humanity, my inspiration is an amalgamation of everything I intake into my life. Whether this is through food, drink, music, movies, T.V., books, internet, conversations with strangers, moments of road rage… etc, in the end everything I do is a byproduct of everything I have consumed.
OHP: so many bathroom jokes and waste to writing comparisons to make, so little time. In your opinion, which is the more important discovery of humankind… plumbing or the written word?
D.C.: Definitely plumbing. Though I would like to believe that the written word has changed the world far more vastly than any other human invention, it has also brought about more debacles, damnations and epiphanies than any other invention before or after. Yet, it is in fact plumbing that has done more in the ways of health, safety and the unity of mankind than was ever dreamed of before. Just like pants that go on one leg at a time, so too do we discover that everyone goes to the bathroom and perhaps this could be the very medium by which world peace could be achieved.
OHP: People miss the simplest things sometimes. Are you a writer or a publisher first?
D.C.: I am dictator first, everything else is highly suspect.
OHP: Are there any authors, besides yourself, that you enjoy reading?
D.C.: There are thousands of authors out there besides myself that I love to read. Too many to list and to many egos to inflame or deflate by a mere mention or deletion from that list. I am a voracious reader, and in fact often read books without trying to discover anything about an author before I devour their work.
OHP: Who would you say is your writing mentor/ hero?
D.C.: My writing heroine is Ariel Gore, her book How to Become a Famous Author before You Are Dead is like a bible to me. I read it far more religiously than I ever read any assumed to be “Holy” text. If you are an author or a publisher and have not read this book, then stop reading this article now and hit Google, or whatever search engine you prefer, and find out more about this amazing book right this second. Seriously, you won’t regret it.
OHP: I haven’t read it yet … I know, I know. Do you have a writing nemesis?
D.C.: I sure do, and I have to see that bastard every morning when I get out of bed and wander my way into the bathroom. If you never realize that you are your own worst critic and at times your own worst enemy then perhaps you need to reexamine your artistic endeavors.
Being an artist is about introspection, and introspection is not as easy as getting your temperature taken, on the contrary it is more akin to exploratory surgery on a primitive battlefield where the doctors are still blissfully unaware of the concept of infections caused by dirty hands.
OHP: Indeed! I know how much work goes into producing an awesome literary product; do you have any advice for aspiring publishers out there?
D.C.: Keep to your deadlines. Nothing else matters above your word and keeping to your deadlines.
Is your life in shambles, can’t pay the rent, need a new car… tough shit, keep to your deadlines.
The world is doomed, the wrong political candidate won the election, there is a race of mutant rats overthrowing your city… ah well, stick to your deadlines.
An author needs an extension on their piece, an artist is having issues, your printer is going away on holiday, who cares… Keep your deadlines.
OHP: Why do you feel the need to write?
D.C.: Communication. Communication and communion with the rest of the human race is the endeavor of all people the world over. Whether this is via speech, interpretive dance, collages, decoupage, crochet or writing the need is the same it is in its presentation where we discover all of the dissimilar ways in which we are so similar.
OHP: Besides short stories what other writing endeavors are you currently engaged in?
D.C.: Tons of them. Currently I am working on 4 different books, and I am preparing 3 more volumes to be published this year by Open Heart Publishing.
OHP: It has been a pleasure picking your brain. Just a few more questions; what do you feel about the following quote “Imagination is more important than knowledge?”
D.C.: I believe Einstein was more accurate than he could have ever dreamed, and as the day’s move forward into months, then years, decades and eventually eons we will see just how far down the rabbit hole we can go while taking what we perceived of as reality along for the ride.
OHP: According to Anatole France “To die for an idea is to set a rather high price on conjecture,” in your opinion what do you believe is worth dying for? What do you believe is worth living for?
D.C.: I believe that everything is worth living for, I have yet to find one truly worthy reason to die and for this reasoning alone I am currently refusing any model of living which concludes with such an outmoded way of thinking.
OHP: Mark Twain once said that “You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.” What do you believe he meant by that?
D.C.: There is a bigger picture in all things with which you may be blissfully unaware at any given moment. As such you aren’t always seeing or understanding what is actually going on at any moment. Pay close attention to everything and all of the details. No matter how unusual, bizarre or even downright ordinary things may appear… they aren’t. They never are.
OHP: Most people have two stories for doing anything… a plausible excuse and the real reason, why do you really write?
D.C.: I write, therefore I am.
Or is it; I am, therefore I write?
Or is it simply, I enjoy telling a story whether good or ill conceived and in the end I want to get paid for it?
Yes to all of the above, and then a whole bunch more that I am quite sure would quite easily become a philosophical debate about the existence of bubblegum on the dwarf planet of Pluto and how that is causing certain politicians’ to vote no to better funding for public education art programs.
OHP: There is a great deal of talking going about your book “A Children’s Book of Necromancy”, I hear that anyone that reads it can become quite powerful and even learn how to raise the dead. Is this true?
Absolutely, Davin. “A Children’s Book of Necromancy,” is absolutely the most important coloring book ever to be published, and I personally promise with absolute barnum sincerity that anyone who reads this book will be able to raise the dead.
If you want to know more about this amazing volume visit the official website here, and you can also visit us at Animefest 2010 in Dallas,TX where you can meet myself and Darcy Melton (the illustrator).
OHP: We are coming up on the publication day for An Honest Lie Volume 2: Delusions of Insignificance very fast. Do you have any plans for a third volume?
D.C.: Yes I do, but you will have to wait until next year to hear more.
Debrin Case has been making the story more interesting since 1970!
Debrin Case holds a B.A. in English Literature and is currently the founder/publisher of Open Heart Publishing, a company that promotes, showcases, and opens doors for new authors with its annual anthology
“An Honest Lie,” but also for children through its charitable project called, “The Opportunity Project.”
Additionally, Debrin oversees intuitive writing workshops, writes grants for charities (non profits and artistic endeavors), and is an experienced storyteller, ghost writer, and fiction writer.
Previously held the positions of editor for Hedge Wizard Press, and also co-editor for Red River Review.
When asked of the validity of his tales he will normally reply,
“My stories are 50% bullshit… and the rest is questionable, but at least they are honest.
http://debrincase.com/
Featured Publisher and Featured Author- Debrin Case
Joining us today is Debrin Case, founder and publisher of Open Heart Publishing and author of “Edgar’s Last Christmas,” a story in the upcoming “An Honest Lie, Volume 1: Encouraging the Delinquency of your Inner Child.”
Debrin, what do the names “Open Heart Publishing” and “An Honest Lie” mean to you?
The name Open Heart Publishing was actually my girlfriend’s idea.
I had originally intended something more butch, with flaming skulls, vicious looking scorpions and hooded snakes caught in the act of striking and whatnot. You know, something that lends itself to a feeling of rebellion. My originating vision even had official leather jackets and plans to open an account with the Dallas Harley Davidson dealership.
Then my girlfriend was kind enough to remind me that I’m not that fellow.
In all seriousness, though, her idea worked very well with my vision for the publishing company I wanted to create. In my vision, it would be a publishing house dedicated to giving new authors a voice. Writers who wanted to create new paradigms through social awareness and those who want to create new avenues of expression through art and literature.
As to what An Honest Lie means, well, that is still open for debate. I have my own interpretation for that phrase, as do many of the authors who answered interview questions in a similar fashion to this, and I will neither confirm nor deny the validity of their understanding of the masthead, nor will I explain my own originating vision.
Figure it out for yourself, it is a mystery and one I do not plan on revealing.
One of the upcoming books from Open Heart Publishing is “The Cave of Colors.” This book is part of the Opportunity project. Can you tell me a little about the Opportunity project?
Open Heart Publishing works hand in hand with youth organizations to instruct the future generations about the positive changes they can make in the world around them, as well as the limitless opportunity their lives will offer them so long as they are willing to look for those opportunities. Through the crafts of writing, art, editing, marketing and publishing these groups create a book the children then sell, and 100% of the profits benefit a charity of the children’s choosing.
I began the Opportunity project as a way in which to create a perpetual fundraising effort that could be of financial benefit to the charity and nonprofit groups that are chosen to work with the Opportunity project, as well as a way to encourage young people in the crafts of publishing, writing and self expression.
Far too often the finances earned from donations or even grants just isn’t enough and these groups have to attempt to find new streams of income in whatever capacity they can – whether that would be bake sales, or car washes and yes, even books. What makes us different than the standard “Book Project” for charity is our direct involvement with the kids involved with the organization we chose to work with.
To be considered as a candidate for having the youth of your charity become involved with the Opportunity project, express your interest via email at opportunityproject@debrincase.com.
In addition to everything else on your plate, you’ve just declared your intent to participate in NaNoWriMo, in which participants write a 175-page novel in 30 days. How do you possibly have time to do this, and would you encourage others to do the same?
Honestly, I don’t have time for this. As every writer knows, life gets in the way of writing.
With running a publishing company, maintaining a happy home, taking care of three lovely furry kids (that’s animals to the laypeople out there), writing grants, working on publicity, planning distribution, finalizing projects on the verge of being published, bathing, eating and occasionally sleeping, I truly shouldn’t attempt doing this project at all.
All of that aside though, the key point to this is I want to do it.
I have thought about doing NaNoWriMo for years and for whatever reason I always talked myself out of attempting it. This goal is monumental; 50,000 words in a month is not an easy task. If you don’t believe me, look at the folks that try and do not succeed as opposed to the people that do.
Even against these odds, I’m jumping into the madness with both feet. I just made a rough outline, gave it a working title (Title: And Filbert said the World was Flat), and I even made a mock cover for it.
Whether I complete the goal or not, I am looking forward to challenging myself in this fashion. Would I recommend others to attempt this? I would and I do, go ahead and visit the official site: www.nanowrimo.org. If you feel up to the challenge, sign up today.
Sounds like a double dog dare. Who or what would you say has been most instrumental to the development of your voice as a writer?
Everything.
I wish I could break it down to one specific thing or an individual, but in truth every part of my existence has lent itself to shaping my voice. From the moments of great pride to moments of pitiful shame, each and every failure or success is tied directly to who I am at this moment, and it would be a disservice to deny any aspect, whether little, big, embarrassing, upsetting or insignificant.
From the guy that shot me the finger at me when I was seven years old to the first teacher who encouraged me to pursue writing as an avenue of creative expression. It’s all in there.
Tell me about your story in “An Honest Lie, Volume 1: Encouraging the Delinquency of Your Inner Child,” “Edgar’s Last Christmas.”
“Edgar’s Last Christmas” is a tale told in a narrative voice about the predicament a child may have to face if they happen to be slovenly or perhaps ungrateful, or it could explain the reason why socks are the least-desired present under a Christmas tree.
That’s right, folks; don’t buy anyone socks for Christmas. They are truly a horrible gift idea and one that will not be appreciated.
If you need an awesome gift idea for Christmas, just remember that people love books, especially anthologies (hint hint).
What was the most exciting part of working on An Honest Lie, and what was the most frustrating part?
The most exciting part was reading every one of the four thousand submissions received for this anthology’s first issue. We received stories from all over the country, and reading each author’s unique perspective on the theme (Encouraging the Delinquency of Your Inner Child) was truly exciting.
It was also the hardest part, especially when we had to make our decision about who would take part in the inaugural edition.
We passed on some excellent stories, a few feelings were hurt, and though we believe we chose the best tales that adhered to the theme, there were a few great ones that slipped through the cracks.
You’re the author of another upcoming book from Open Heart Publishing, “A Children’s Book of Necromancy.” Tell me a little about that.
I think it would be best to begin by asking, what is necromancy? Necromancy is the magical art associated with death, and more specifically, with the dead.
A Children’s Book of Necromancy teaches its readers an astounding miracle that anyone can perform with very little effort. It proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that you can do anything. When you are finished reading this book, you are guaranteed to learn how to raise the dead and all without any of that pesky business of losing your immortal soul.
And besides all of that, it’s also a coloring book. This book is not recommended for children.
What other projects are upcoming at Open Heart Publishing?
Well of course we have the next installment of An Honest Lie. This time is Volume 2: Delusions of Insignificance, The Next Opportunity Project, and we also have three new projects that will be revealed in the months ahead.
Let’s assume you’re on Death Row. It doesn’t matter why. What meal would you choose for your last?
For some reason this question conjures up images in my imagination of being killed by a French firing squad, and so if I am going to go I might as well have the perfect meal.
Southern fried chicken with tazzo ham gravy, deep-fried bacon-infused polenta wedges, vine-ripened tomatoes with mozzarella, fresh basil and a Greek vinaigrette, wilted spinach with bacon, bleu cheese and pecans, Homemade biscuits with freshly churned butter, more chicken, pan-fried summer squash, aw hell some cornbread too, a little breath mint (as in green onions), and a risotto cheese thingy made with a smoked gouda cheese, then I’d finish with some shortbread cookies with some rich percolated Kona coffee flavored with about 2 oz. of 25 year old single malt Irish whiskey (Bushmills).
If the bullet wouldn’t get me, the meal surely would.
I’m seeing two themes: bacon and fried. Very recently, the theme for An Honest Lie, Volume 2 was announced: Delusions of Insignificance. How was the theme chosen?
The themes that are chosen for An Honest Lie are themselves a definition of our masthead. If you pay attention to the themes, perhaps you will be able to discover the meaning of it all. I’m giving out a lot of clues here, think of it like a riddle, or an extended Koan, if you prefer.
Finally, Debrin, do you believe in life after death in any form?
I believe in life after death in many forms. One of my favorites happens to be in the form of various kinds of art, music, stagecraft, dance and most assuredly stories.
You can help my own selfish goals in this matter by picking up all three books that debuted from Open Heart Publishing in 2009. These of course being An Honest Lie, The Cave of Colors (with musical soundtrack created by Lisa Umbarger and Jennifer Mayes), and A Children’s Book of Necromancy.
As to religious/ spiritual views about the subject, or theories involving the environmental recycling patterns of particles of subatomic matter, these things would be better discussed over a stiff drink and enough humor to alleviate whatever ails the world at that particular moment.
Like storybook characters of old, Debrin Case has traveled through “Faery,” that semi-mythical realm that resides someplace between the ears and the heart. Like many fellow pilgrims ahead of him who have survived this transformation, no one is quite sure whether he came out a poet or a madman. As a matter of fact, neither is he.
And he is quite alright with that.
Debrin Case holds a B.A. in English Literature and is currently the founder and publisher of Open Heart Publishing, a company that promotes, showcases, and opens doors for new authors with its annual anthology “An Honest Lie,” but also for children through its creative project called, “The Opportunity Project.”
Additionally, Debrin oversees intuitive writing workshops, writes grants for charities and artistic endeavors, and is an experienced freelance storyteller, ghost writer, and fiction writer (Publisher’s note (I.E. See shameless self-promotion) be sure to pick up a copy of “A Children’s Book of Necromancy” illustrated by Darcy Melton and written by D.C., a delightful romp where you are guaranteed to learn how to raise the dead…. Coming soon (this book is not recommended for children)).
He has also held the position of editor for Hedge Wizard Press, and co-editor for Red River Review.
When asked of the validity of his tales he will normally reply, “My stories are 50% bullshit … and the rest is questionable, but at least they are honest.”
