We've seen a rise in self-publishing with sites like Blurb and Lulu.com as more and more authors turn away from traditional publishing. What motivated you to put these stories in audio form instead of publishing them as a book--either on your own or with a publisher?

I've been thinking a lot about how digital media is changing the way we read. With two small children, the easiest way for me to soak in good stories is to download audio books or podcasts like This American Life onto my iPod and listen while I walk through town, clean my apartment and cook. These stories in particular I thought would be good in audio format--partly because they are shorter than most short stories in print media, and partly because their composition seems congruent with oral tales. I also liked that it doesn't even mess with print rights for any future publication options.

Listening to these stories reminds me of the time in my life when I was young enough to have someone read to me. Who are your favorite storytellers these days? Do you have any particular voice you turn to when you want to hear a good story told out loud?

Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes, author of Women Who Run with Wolves and The Creative Fire, is one of my favorites. I hang on her every word, and I can listen to her stories over and over again. I love hearing Anne Lamott read her stories aloud, and every time I hear a story from The Story Corps project my eyes fill with tears. Hearing anyone tell their story in their own voice is so intimate.

You've entitled this CD Solstice: Stories of Light in the Dark. For some solstice is another day on the calendar, for others it's a holiday to note. Can you tell us a little bit more about your take on solstice and how these stories speak to that?

I watch the way the seasons change carefully, and I appreciate rituals that mark those changes. Watching the cycles of nature gives me insight to the cycles my own body and soul traverse through in the course of the year. For me, solstice is about the departure and the return of the light, and the season of darkness I particularly dread. Stories of comfort and warmth in the midst of shadowy times are what I need this time of year, and in this collection I give them as an offering to anyone who feels the same.

What's your advice for would-be storytellers out there who are energized at the idea of creating a recording vs. publishing a short story in paper form? Feel free to add any blogs or websites that were helpful.

Look into all the options. Audio books and spoken projects can be sold in download form through iTunes, longer works can be serialized in podcasts at podiobooks.com, and making an audio CD is more accessible now than ever before. A friend recommended Radio: An Illustrated Guide (the This American Life comic book) to me, which is available here, and I would second that recommendation for technical how-to's and all the getting started nuts and bolts. Listen to audio stories and pay attention to what works and what doesn't. Most importantly, don't underestimate the power of your own voice.

What's your wish for Solstice: Stories of Light in the Dark?

I'd be thrilled if it made its listeners feel known, understood, and a little less alone. I hope it encourages other artists to take their projects that don't fit into traditional formats and think of some non-traditional ways they could send those gems into the world. Perhaps by taking a risk with a non-traditional format and with using my own voice (despite all the insecurities I feel about it), I may embolden others to do the same.

You can order Jen's CD on her site jenlee.net.

Photographer Erin Darcy has a crisp autumn photo essay on everything to love about October--ten things to be exact. Now there's a meme to help any artist or photographer stay engaged and inspired. Don't miss Erin's Autumn set on her Flickr photostream.

If it's more raining than lovely wherever you live, this autumn photo from Wayfaring Wanderer will soothe your soul. If you prefer fields of gold, check out this lovely photo as well.

Struggling with studio time and wondering if you're really worth the time and effort to create art? Set aside a few minutes to watch The Artist's Creed featured this week on Diary of a Self-Portrait. This simple video affirms everything important about the process of making art.

And if you're looking for a just right gift, to help an artist friend find her fall groove, Goddess Leonie introduces her custom soul story paintings, the perfect commission for a friend, sister or loved one in need of personalized inspiration. An amazing artist, storyteller and kind soul, Leonie Allan offers the whimsy and playfulness of SARK with the deep down goodness of artists like Jane Ray. Check out her blog along with her shop on Etsy.

 What blogs are reminding you of fall today?

What happens, however, when a woman decides her future is not in the office or the classroom, but in the studio or the theater? The arts require a serious time commitment, long before substantial paychecks follow--if ever. Many women decide to push their creative dreams aside because of this, and others, determined to find material success and recognition for their work, decide partners and children simply don't mix with the time commitment required.

The documentary film, Who Does She Thinks She Is? addresses the audacity of women who refuse to choose between family and art, determined instead to elevate art and convince their family and friends that this path is as valid as any other. The documentary tracks women who have refused to choose art over family and who are giving themselves over to the commitment of the call to create that will not let them go--bring their loved ones along all the way.

Here's the trailer:

Do you feel the pull between art and family? How do you navigate the desire to create with the voices of society that say the only work that matters is the work that gives you the most pay for your time and efforts?

Watch this space for interviews from women artists who are living into these dreams--with their families, with their partners--refusing to choose one over the other, determined to integrate their call to art with the deep connections they experience with the ones they love.

The film opens at the Angelika Film Center in New York on October 17, 2008.

Until then, check out inspiration from amazing mother artists Hula Seventy, Chookooloonks, Kim Indresano, Me Ra Koh and Keri Smith.

You decided to go to Squam Art Workshops (SAW) this year even though you're a professional writer. Was it scary to be in such an image rich learning environment when your primary medium is words?

When deciding whether or not to go to SAW, I kept saying that I felt scared. But then I stopped and listened to myself and realized that I really wasn't afraid; I just felt like I should feel afraid. My inner gremlins of doubt had me convinced that an art retreat was something scary, even though my heart knew that it wasn't.

Being around so many artists was both new and familiar to me. Because a lot of the women who attended the retreat are bloggers, the vibe was like a more bohemian version of a BlogHer conference – held in the woods! Being around so many visually-inclined people was different, but not uncomfortable.

On the second day, I took a Travel Journaling class. The instructor set us loose in the woods and told us to create whatever kind of art our hearts desired. I immediately thought, "Oh, well, I'll write." But then I decided to stretch myself a little and try something new. I gathered up my paints, brushes, and some little blank postcards and trundled down to a gently rocking dock on the lake.

And then something magical happened: I found liberation in using images to capture my surroundings and my experiences.

I adore words. But since I know I'm supposed to be "good" with them, writing can sometimes feel a bit daunting, especially when I long to capture a visual or ephemeral scene. It's easy to let the craft of writing get in the way of true expression.

But since visual art is so new to me, I was free to just play and make a mess. I even painted a whole postcard with big swaths of extra paint I'd mixed up, just because I liked the color and thought it fit my mood. You can't do quite the same thing with just a bunch of words. So in a way, being in an image rich environment was liberating.

That said, I'm still not thinking of myself as an artist. It took me a long time to claim the name of "writer," but "artist" feels like something different altogether. To me, "artist" feels wilder, more exotic, still something beyond my grasp. I'm interested to see if that changes over time.

What surprised you the most about the experience?

I was most surprised when I looked at my big painting from the first day of class and realized that I didn't hate it. I'd spent the whole class loathing it, bemoaning my color choices, wondering how so little of me had ended up in this thing that I had created. But after I gave it – and me – some space, I discovered little bits and pieces in it that I actually liked. That was a total surprise. And a big lesson about how I react to being frustrated (which is to either run away or get angry). But being forced (or perhaps "encouraged" is a better word!) to stick with it was so valuable in the end. It helped me to overcome my innate desire to do things perfectly. (More on that below.)

What classes did you take and how did you find the learning environment? How do you think exposure to art making in this way will impact your writing?

I took Painting as Process with Lisa Occhipinti on the first day. She did a great job of combining demonstrations with time for us to try things on our own. Her encouragement and ideas are what kept me from ripping up my painting and fleeing to the safety of my cabin!

On day two I took Travel Journaling with Penelope Dullaghan, which was a very free-flowing class. Penny provided some art supplies and some good prompts in case we got stuck. I ended up with a prompt that got me painting on my little postcards. It said: "An acorn gives you three wishes. Find an acorn, sketch it, and then list your three wishes." I'd found the quintessential acorn the day before and decided to paint it. (My three wishes? They're a bit cryptic, but I think you'll get the gist of it: 1. Dream cottage. 2. England, Ireland, Iceland, and Italy. 3. Book.)

On the final day, I was in The Superhero Life with Andrea Scher, who was assisted by Jen Gray http://www.jengray.com and Jonatha Brooke. The class was a mixture of photography tips and life coaching. We broke the ice by doing photo shoots with partners, complete with crazy props like pink wigs and fun hats. Then we got into the heart of things by working with a partner to uncover our core values. That was a great exercise and reconnected me with some things I already knew to be true about myself: that my guiding principles in life are a sense of Joy & Wonder and a need for Connection.

Any new blog crushes? What blogs and resources did you discover?
I'd heard of the magazine "Cloth, Paper, Scissors" before, but had never looked at it. We got a free issue in our goody bags and I realized that it's a great resource to learn about mixed media art. I think that seeing what other people are making and what materials are available will be a huge help to me as I explore this new path.

Other inspiration from the weekend includes two lovely new books: Taking Flight: Inspiration + Techniques to Give Your Creative Spirit Wings by Kelly Rae Roberts and Ordinary Sparkling Moments Christine Mason Miller . I'm also in love with Elizabeth MacCrellish, the amazing, vibrant woman who organized the whole event with grace, aplomb, and love.

What would you say to another writer who's considering giving art a try? Any bits of advice for keeping perfectionism at bay?

Oh, perfectionism. My constant companion and enemy. When I get frustrated, my fight or flight response kicks into high gear. This had me wanting to rip up my painting on day one and start over. And I just wouldn't believe anyone when they said they liked my painting. All I could see were the flaws.

Even before I went to SAW, I could have allowed myself to be overwhelmed by the materials I needed. I didn't know what matte medium was or what kind of brushes to buy, or even how to pronounce "gesso." (FYI for you other newbies: The "g" is soft, like in the word gelatin.) So I went to the art store and said, "I need these things. Can you help?"

And here's what I'm learning: It really and truly is okay to be a beginner. I'm realizing that not knowing isn't shameful or embarrassing or an indication of my intelligence, skill, or capacity. It just means this is all new to me. There's no shame in that! In fact, it's exciting, fun, and beautiful to learn something new.

I'd encourage writers to give visual art a try, even if they've spent their whole lives thinking (like me) that they can't draw or paint. By giving my verbal mind a bit of a rest, I've come back to my writing with renewed love. Playing with visual art has also helped me to really pay attention to the world around me and look for new ways to express that in words. Plus, because I am so word oriented, I found that it's fun to mix writing and text into my art images. It's a little bit of the safe and familiar mixed in with something new and exciting!

I know you've been thinking about narrowing the focus of your blog for awhile now. What prompted your decision to change the format?

I started my first blog, "Cool People I Know," more than two years ago. I created that space initially to shine a light on cool people doing interesting things in the form of short essays and audio interviews. As the blog evolved, I began to enjoy the creative process of asking questions and playing with words so much that I began to turn my focus inwardly – exploring and sharing my own life observations. Writing became a near daily (late night) practice and getting reconnected to the artist side of myself became a critical creative outlet for me.

During the past two years, I've loved connecting with creative bloggers (many through BlogHer)... artists, photographers and creative writers... and those relationships continued to inspire and really fuel my creativity. I found that my focus expanded into poetry, the creation of a collaborative life list wiki and digital video vignettes, and ultimately on my return to photography with the purchase of a digital SLR one year ago. Just as a traditional artist likes to try different forms of media to continue to grow and evolve, I explored different methods of digital media to express myself creatively.

As I spent more and time looking through life with my new lens, I found that the process of crafting my posts was shifting. Initially, I'd craft my post using words and then select an image to support my concept. But the more I shot, the more my images began to lead the thought process behind my posts. I found that the words began to take a supportive role and that "Cool People I Know" as a canvas actually limited my ability to really focus on photography. So on July 9th, I retired that blog and launched LittlePurpleCow Photography (using Squarespace) – a photoblog and online portfolio of my images.

Your photographs are so exquisite which should not surprise me one bit, but I was really taken back in your bio by what a strong background you have in art--both in your family history and your personal experience. Is this focus on photography a continuing thread for you or do you feel like you are in the process of reclaiming a part of yourself that got lost along the way?

Thank you so much. Photography (and art that straddles left- and right-brain thought) has indeed been a continuing thread, and yes, I am finally reclaiming a part of myself that got lost along the way.

Photography first clicked for me at the age of seven when Santa Claus left a Kodak point-and-shoot under the tree for me. It was the best gift I had ever received and I took it with me everywhere. I'd create compositions with my friends at school during recess and remember getting swept up in my own world as I studied the Statue of Liberty through my tiny viewfinder. Years later, I convinced my mother to share her Polaroid and saved up my allowance to purchase my own film cartridges. At that time, though, I was primarily focused on traditional art – drawing, painting, pastels and pen & ink.

My love of photography renewed when I received a 35mm Minolta SLR during my senior year in high school. I had planned to attend the University of Georgia as a Scientific Illustration major, but kept up with photography as a hobby. Thanks to a photography class with Dr. Robert Nix at UGA, I discovered that photography was in fact a form of fine art. I continued to shoot and develop black and white prints from my SLR and a pinhole camera made of balsa wood, while I carefully illustrated insects and animals with painstaking detail. Following graduation, I took a left turn and became submerged in a career of interactive design and development (first CD-Roms and then the Web beginning in 1996). Fast forward twelve years, and here I am rediscovering my love of photography with a digital SLR and a vow to migrate my career to full-time photographer status.

What are your favorite photoblogs at the moment? Who do you look to as a guide or mentor as you grow and develop as a photographer?

I must confess, my favorite photoblog is Shutter Sisters and not because I'm contributor. I continuously learn and get inspiration from my sisters, Tracey Clark, Kate Inglis, Karen Walrond, Maile Wilson, Andrea Scher, Paige Balcer, Irene Nam, Sarah-Ji and you, Jen. I'm also a fan of Anna Kuperberg, Gayla Trail, Ree of Confessions of a Pioneer Woman, and my recent find thanks BlogHer08, Me Ra Koh.

Beyond the photoblogs, flickr is my second home. I've discovered so many talented photographers in that space and follow my flickr groups and photostreams for Kimberly Brimhall, Jennifer König, Danisoul, Jeneyepher... the list is long. I seek out photographers who shoot the unexpected. I'm looking for a perspective different from my own.

Nikon or Canon? Any advice for the novice looking to buy her first digital SLR?

"Buy the best Nikon you can afford." I remember my photography professor making that statement and it sticking in the back of my mind. For the past couple of years, I had been shooting snapshots with a digital Canon Powershot – a camera I could fit in my purse and use to snap quick pics of my family – but was often frustrated with the results. The shutter speed delay and auto settings just didn't give me enough control over the images.

So, when I set out to purchase a digital SLR last year, I first looked at the images from photographers I came to follow online and then sought their advice. And when I found out that Josh Hallet and Karen Walrond both shot with Nikons, that sealed the deal for me. So I ordered my Nikon D80 with the 18-55mm kit lens online at B&H, and have since purchased two lenses, a 50-200mm and a 50mm f/1.4 to expand with my creative needs.

As for advice:
1. Buy the best Nikon you can afford. If you are buying an SLR primarily to shoot quality images of your family and friends, skip the kit lens and purchase a 50mm lens - the f/1.8 or f/1.4 to start. (Yes, I know there are Canon fans out there that shoot unbelievable pics, but Nikon is the one for me.)
2. Seek out a local photography group or take a digital photography class at a local art center/school to learn the basics of photography and how to use the manual settings of your camera. Try one manual setting at a time, then build on what you learn.
3. Purchase and install a photo editing software application on your PC that fits your budget and creative needs. I use iPhoto or Adobe Photoshop Elements on my Mac. I've heard good things about Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and Picnik for online photo editing.
4. Sign up for a free flickr account so you can archive and share your images online with family, friends and other photographers. You can easily upgrade to an inexpensive Professional flickr account if you find that you need more storage space.
5. Join some flickr groups such as ShutterSisters, NikonSisters, Project365, or specific image groups that relate to your interest such as Italy in Black & White or Flowers with Insects. Image sharing and exploring will keep you inspired.

Where's the learning curve for you right now in your photography--that one shot you're dying to master? What particular skill do you wish for your toolbox at the moment?

I tend to shoot a lot of nature and found objects in natural light. I seek out interesting compositions found in everyday life and often find myself creeping in close to capture interesting or abstract shapes and textures. People challenge me most. As much as truly love talking with people and sinking into deep soul-searching conversations about life and aspirations with fascinating people, I get really nervous behind my camera when I'm face-to-face with someone other than a family member. But I want to master that technique...that ability to really capture the soul of a person, regardless of the setting.

I've enjoyed watching your passion for photography really soar this past year. What's fueled your creative drive?

Since the loss of my mother several years ago, I'm realizing more and more that life is short and that we don't have much time to really leave a significant mark on this earth... to live up to our potential... and to exploit the talents that have been given to us. A few months ago, I shared a link to a set of my flickr Project 365 images with a creative friend of mine. We were exchanging IMs and during that exchange he asked me why I wasn't pursuing photography as a career. I paused before responding and typed back "the timing isn't right" or something like that. He replied with "what are you waiting for?!" I had no response, but decided on that day to pursue photography with a passion.

I've been truly grateful for each and every visitor to my blog and to my photostream in flickr. Connecting with creative souls online continues to challenge and inspire me each day.

Of Jen's many superpowers one of my favorites is her gift for a phrase, a line or a story that heals you right where it hurts. I have been on the receiving end of this wisdom and this love more times than I can count now, so I am all the more delighted that Jen's taking the plunge and publishing Don't Write: A Reluctant Journal in real live book form so that her goodness can reach beyond the lucky circle of friends who find peace and happiness dozing on her little red sofa in Brooklyn.

Anyone who has ever tried to commit words on paper knows how quickly the voices rise, bargaining, begging you to please for the love of God, your father, your sister, your mother, do NOT write that--anything but that. It's crazy making to hold in your stories, even when doing so can be in many ways the most tender and brave way to get back on the road to love and home and the truth of where everything good began.

Jen's journal is the perfect companion for this kind of journey and I hope this limited edition short run is completely sold out by people who have a heart for courage and who understand before the pen ever hits the page, that getting it all out--even for your own eyes only--is more often than not, the most radical and healing act of all. You can order Jen Lee's journal here.

Other blogs and books that will equally inspire you to uncover what's on your mind?

Pre-order Keri Smith's How to Be an Explorer of the World, the perfect guide for self-discovery through the excavation of your surroundings and environment.

Also on the shelf for purchase, Christine Mason Miller (aka "Swirly") is releasing Ordinary Sparkling Moments, a guide to the magic waiting to be mined in mundane moments.

Need a good kick in the pants? Pick up Stephen Pressfield's The War of Art, a timeless classic when it comes to meeting resistance to writing or art with courage and confidence.

Having trouble getting through The Artist's Way? Join The Artist's Way blog and get all the encouragement you need to not only make your artist dates, but break through everything that's made you think "don't write" since the beginning.

What's been helping you get through your reluctant moments as an artist, a writer or otherwise creative person? Comments are open for your best tips on defying all those reasons you've been holding back.

 a portion of this post is cross-posted on my blog jenlemen.com 

Seed the revolution. HopeRevo is issuing an challenge this summer for all you guerrilla artists who also are harboring some hope in your heart. Create a seed bomb and leave it ready to bloom in your favorite urban jungle. See Renee Garner or Krystyn Heide for more inspriation. Other variations on the theme? Plant a hardy sunflower seed in an unexpected place and see what kind of happiness summer sun brings.

Take a walk on the bright side. ShutterSisters is hosting a photo walk at Blogher this year. Join Tracey Clark and company for an afternoon of taking in the sights and seeing what you can find through the viewfinder. Whether you are in attendance or not, there's nothing stopping you from setting that day aside to click the afternoon a way--thanks, Natala, for the suggestion! If you're looking for alternate venues, why not your local farmer's market or favorite old library. Color and texture is what it is all about.

Free Ice Cream Day. This is on my to-do list for a repeat performance from last summer when our local ice cream truck owner and I decided to host an ice cream free-for-all for the neighborhood kids. All it took was a note on the neighborhood list-serv and a blog post and our kids were in ice cream heaven. Want a less fundraising heavy alternative? Why not pick up a 24 pack of popsicles from the Safeway and make your way to the nearest fountain? We've done this, too, and it's a fantastic way to make friends and spread a little summertime good cheer.

If all kinds of summer inspired goodness isn't in the cards for you at the moment, you might enjoy this nice collection of art and design blogs with summer mood in mind:

Dear Ada has lovely paper cut outs on display.
Aesthetic Outburst will make you wish for a hankie.
Interior Divine will make you rethink your aversion to all things Victorian. I promise.

Research and apply to artist retreats and residencies for later in the year. This is one of those important tasks that artists tend to neglect when in the throes of a compelling project. Why not bring that laptop to the kitchen counter and power out some applications while the kids debate peanut butter or jelly? Mid-year when you are writing your heart out at Soapstone or soaking up the inspiration at ArtFest you will make this a summer priority every year. See Deanna's blog for a wonderful collection of tips and tricks for the application process.

Beef up the blog. Your kids might not let you hole up in the studio for three hours, but pass out the popsicles and steal an half-hour on the computer and no one will mind. Add images to Flickr, add new artists to your blogroll, clean up your Etsy store--a little housekeeping in the blog department will be one less thing you have to overhaul or tend to when your time to make art comes back in September. And while you are at it, why not back up all those images? As someone who has had three fatal hard drive crashes in the last two years, I promise you won't regret it.

Organize your studio space. During the school year I am quick to finish a project and plow into the next one without properly organizing and filing my latest accomplishment. I've learned that summer is a good time to make sure all the madness covering the studio floor makes it into proper files for future reference and safe keeping. Add to this any upgrades needed in the studio--new chair? new drafting table? new scanner?--and you are ensuring your fall and spring studio time is majorly productive. Check out the on-my-desk blog for inspiration.

Clean up, clear out, declutter. Last summer I had this strong sense that I needed to spend the summer systematically clearing out my house. I resisted, not realizing that I would spend the coming year embroiled in major art projects and international travel that required an unprecedented amount of time and attention. Almost daily, I regretted not listening to my intuition as each new pressing deadline threw my house into new levels of chaos. This summer I'll be preparing for the future by making space and creating order that will serve me all year long.

Stock up on supplies, materials and visual inspiration. When my kids were very young and I was a new artist, I spent one summer on the front porch painting collage papers while my kids played in the yard. With nothing to do but play with color and accumulate stacks of paper, I inadvertently created an arsenal of powerful art materials that fueled my creativity for many months to come. Other summers I've dragged the kids to art museums, promising a ride on the Smithsonian carousel after they had their fill of Romare Bearden, Georgia O'Keeffe or Jackson Pollack. So far, no one has been disappointed.

No matter what, your schedule will return to normal come fall and you'll be all the more ready to dive into your art if you use your summer months to prepare. Do you have any other art-savvy tips for summertime blues? Leave your two cents in the comments below.

Dreamer Girl Netherlands Silvia (aka Dreamer Girl) writes of everyday matters with the perspective of a painter and the soul of a muse. Ethereal photographs adorn her pages along with quotes from the likes of Mary Oliver, personal poet to artists everywhere. If you like the feel and texture of Chronicles of Me, you'll especially enjoy this dreamer girl's blog.

Belle and Boo United Kingdom. Formerly of MillyMollyMandy, this Britain-based blog captures the calm of a newborn nursery and the whimsy of A.A. Milne's Christopher Robin and company. A perfect blend of art and photography, this blog manages to capture a serious sense of place while not neglecting updates on current illustration projects--both of which are delightful. Don't miss the Etsy shop.

iHanna (Sweden). Hanna is the maven of all things arts and crafts on the web. Her love of fiber and textiles makes for happy browsing, and her Link Love page will send you out and about to the finest arts and crafts blogs in Europe and behind. Don't miss her shop here.

Irene Nam (France). Over the years, Irene Nam has scaled back her blog to the bare essentials, but I promise if you are not a fan already, you won't be disappointed. Her daily photographs generate their own special calm, and Irene's unique experience as a mother of twins gives her pages double the delight.

Who do you love to read when you need a little art and design inspiration from a faraway place? Are you an art and design blogger creating a bit of beauty across the pond? Leave us your url in the comments below.