All in the Family

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My family’s pretty talented, if I do say so myself. My parents were not very artistic. . . or even “into” the arts, so I’m not sure where our various passions came from, but they certainly do exist. I wanted to write from the time I was a kid, as did my younger brother Rob. Rob’s a mystery writer and song writer (you can hear his new song, How Many Homes do You Own? on his website) on top of his day job as a university librarian. My older brother Tom sings and is an amazing amateur photographer. My sister Joann, who started out as an artist and actress, now directs and produces plays for community theater. Her son, Chris Messineo, is a filmmaker who produces short films through his company OffStage Films. He’s also the creator of a website called MoviePoet.com that holds monthly contests for script writers. But the point of this post is that Rob just interviewed Chris on the blog Criminal Brief, where Rob’s a weekly contributor. Hop over there if you’d like to read more about Chris and the film making process as well as link to some of Chris’s short films. Like Rob, my personal favorite is The Bad Cat, starring our great neice, the adorable Joanna (above).

It’s rare that we can get the whole family together, but it’s such fun because everyone is so passionate about their music/writing/acting/photography/filmmaking/directing. I can’t wait for the next little family reunion. 

 

8 Comments

  1. Denise on October 15, 2008 at 11:48 am

    Your family reunions must definitely be interesting and fun! I think it’s so neat that your parents have so many talented children.
    As a true crime buff, I will definitely hop on over to the Criminal Brief!
    Diane, this might sound crazy, but your darling niece looks a lot like you!

  2. krysia on October 16, 2008 at 2:05 am

    sounds like a lot of family fun. at my house its just nice if no one winds up in jail or the hospital. Gunnar is getting big (we call him gman) he`s almost 4 months old. He talks a lot and thinks he can sit up. I have new pics of him at http://www.dropshots.com/lilfields he likes to sit in the chair and look around or watch sesame street. I found him an elmo that sings to ymca and he loves it. Its the cheapest toy yet that wasnt free that he will play with. Hes sleeping through the night but only in his carseat, he cant breathe well laying down thanks to what the drs say is allergies.

  3. brenda on October 16, 2008 at 6:08 pm

    What a great family…
    What are you ladies reading? I can’t get through HERETIC’S DAUGHTER…I am sorry, but I cannot get through it…I am sorry…I apologize…but if some of you have read this book, tell me what you liked, and I will try again…

  4. Denise on October 16, 2008 at 10:08 pm

    Brenda, I read “Shattered Dreams” by Irene Spencer in two days; my interest was aroused by The 19th Wife. It’s about the life of a polygamist’s wife. She first became a plural wife in around 1953 when she was 16 and bore 13 children. She was really something of a pioneer woman. It was a fascinating book, and I sure learned a lot of nitty-gritty stuff that I didn’t previously know.
    I’m now reading a new one “Time of My Life” by Allison Winn Scotch.

  5. brenda on October 17, 2008 at 1:16 am

    Denise, I liked those books…Have not read TIME OF MY LIFE…will look for it…thanks…Did you read H’s Daughter?

  6. Diane Chamberlain on October 17, 2008 at 10:20 am

    Krysia, I’ve GOT to find that YMCA singing Elmo for my grandsons! Gunnar’s adorable and looks so healthy. It’s hard to believe he had such a rough start.
    I’m reading Blood Done Sign My Name by Timothy Tyson for my book club. It’s about a (true story) racially motivated murder in 1970 in North Carolina, where I’ve lived for the past 3 years and where my books are often set. It’s also a history of race relations in NC in the last five decades. It’s a difficult read, because I’m constantly stopping to think and jot notes on the inside jacket. Last night, I wrote: “I expected this book to help me understand the south. Instead, it’s helping me understand myself.”
    Have any of you read it?

  7. Denise on October 17, 2008 at 3:28 pm

    I haven’t read the H’s Daughter or the book Diane is reading.

  8. Krysia on October 18, 2008 at 9:27 am

    I found Elmo at a 2nd hand store. You may have to look on eBay for one, I don’t think he’s made anymore. He was the best toy I’ve found yet, Gunnar really like him.

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