COMPOSTING...WHO ME?

So if you haven't heard, I'm building a +TinyHouse and have been open to all of the possibilities that come with it. 

Except one.

Composting toilets!

Um, NO, No, Hell No and Aint No Way In Hell !

OK, so I know that some of you might not understand my STRONG dislike of composting toilets. Well let me explain the ins and outs of composting toilets 101.

First, a composting toilet is just what is sounds like. It composts your waste and then you can use it on your gardens to grow that really good veggies. 
OK, so I think I just threw up a little bit in my mouth with that sentence.

Second, I don't like smelling my own poo let alone having it in my home, un-flushed, for at least 6-12 weeks at a time. Oh, it gets better.

Third and this is for the male population. You can never, ever ever STAND to use the bathroom.  This is because your 'aim' wouldn't be good enough to make it in the small opening that the urine is to go in. (See the picture)

So the whole idea behind a composting toilet is to minimize your carbon footprint by eliminating the over usage of water. So in terms of the composting toilets, most of the time you will see these on boats (the smaller versions) so that fishermen can fish without having to worry about pooing in the river. (insert gross face now)

OK, back to the explanation. 

Composting means that when you go to the bathroom, you will divert your urine into a holding tank; that you will have to empty at least once a month. 

Stop! I have included two pictures so you will understand what I am talking about. See the container on the front; with the black strap. That's for your urine. The crank on the side is for 'mixing' and the larger part at the bottom; well that's the part that holds your poo.


You mean my urine will be in a container, in my bathroom for a month? YEP but you can empty it every day if you like but that's not the objective. And where would I empty it? "oh, anywhere that you can rinse it away with water. Or maybe just in a spot that you know won't run back towards the house".

Oh, did you miss the part that your urine and poo can never mix. Or maybe you have figured out that your poo can never be near, around or close to water.


So when you poo; you open a little trap door in the toilet, 'do your business' as I was told and then you will use saw dust or peat moss to cover your poo. You will then crank a handle (that sits on the side) and "mix" it until the poo is covered. 

Yes, you read that right people. You mix it like you are mixing up a mud cake.

Now here is where it gets interesting. You can NOT put tissue of any kind in the composting toilet. You have to wipe and discard of the tissue in a trash bag. (here is a use for all of those grocery bags you have laying around your house) You could even use baby wipes but again, don't put it in the toilet.

To wipe the toilet; you can use vinegar; but don't let any liquid fall into the section that holds your poo. "The smell will not be a good thing." And that is EXACTLY how it was told to me. Oh and then make sure you watch what you eat because maggots could be a problem. But that's "a simple fix".  Just empty your composting toilet into your garden and start again" Yeah; I couldn't believe it when they said that to me either. (I can see some of your faces already)

Can you imagine if you are having a 'stomach issue' one day. The splatter alone would make you go running to the gas station or to the nearest Lowes or Home Depot to install a regular flushing toilet.

If you don't believe what I am telling you; please feel free to look up +NaturesHead composting toilet on Youtube or Google it. You will be amazed.

Now do you see why I just CAN'T do a composting toilet and lucky for me; I don't have to. I may be going tiny but I haven't gotten to the part that I want my own poo to be taking up residence in my house with me. 

My bodily waste and I have an understanding. 

When I 'release' you from your internal prison; you and I will never interact again. That is how it is supposed to be.

Hash Tag Thriller13

For the past month I have been tweeting about +Thrillerfest and I have been having a blast.

Well, it all started with the announcement that there would be a contest...now let me stop there because all I read was 'contest'. I have no idea if there is a prize, or recognition of some kind..all I know is that there is a CONTEST and I have to win it...if I don't I will be disappointed.

See for me, its all about the competition and now that the contest has started, I am obsessed with tweeting. I tweet at least 20-25 times a day, and not just about Thrillerfest. I tweet about my blog, I tweet about my job (the other one that requires I spend 8 hours of my day with middle school kids) and I tweet about upcoming events, like Thrillerfest.

Ok, well it seems I tweet about them a lot, but they are planning such great things like panel discussions on "violence in books, when is it to much" or "why did they kill of my favorite character" or "being ready for combat". See I can't listen to people talk about those things unless I go to Thrillerfest and unless I tweet about them, they (the powers that be that are planning Thrillerfest) wouldn't know how excited I am about it.

So, tweeting about Thrillerfest is such a great thing and going to Thrillerfest is right up there with buying a new pair of stilettos, that I have to do it. (side note: Yes, I have stilettos shoes packed and ready to go and I know I will be buying more before July 10th when I head to NYC.

So #Thriller13 and find me on Twitter. I'll be the one with a 'comment' every 30 minutes or so.

Introducing...part 2

B. Swangin: Do you think there is a difference between being an author and being a writer?



 DB Corey: I think the difference between a writer and an author is the publishing part, of course. Being published allows you to claim the title of, author. But if you ask me what I am, I’ll tell you I’m a writer, unless I’m feeling especially full of myself. Then I’ll tell you I’m a novelist.



DB Corey
and his lovely wife Maggie



B. Swangin: Can you finish telling us about your ritual while writing.

DB Corey:  I get my best ideas at night, when my mind is free from the daily drudgery. Eventually I have to tie all these scenes together.  That’ when I fire up the laptop, checks emails, browse MSN, and just goof off trying to “loosen up” so to speak. Then, when I’m ready, I like to re-read the last scene or two that I’ve written, and start writing by re-writing to get to the next creative (and I use the term loosely) phase. It’s like picking up a book you’ve been reading,  but have laid aside for a day or so. You open to the bookmark, back up a few paragraphs, and refresh your memory. My writing process is much like that. Then it just kind of flows until I get tired, or my muse goes to bed.

B.Swangin: I can empathize. When your muse goes to bed that the time you should rest. Because once your muse is up...man, things can get hectic.
Can you tell us what does it mean to you that you have a book about to be in print?

DB Corey:  More than I can convey. It was never about the money (don’t tell my publisher that). It’s about accomplishment. I’m in my 60s. I’m a middle-class worker bee. I’ve done some cool things in my life, but never really achieved what I thought I could—what I thought I should—until now. I don’t expect to become  a household word because of one book, but it’s something to be proud of, a small mark I can leave behind that proves I was here,  and I just wish my mom were still alive to see it.

B. Swangin: Well, of course it isn't about the money...well, we will keep that between us...lol....and I must say for 60, you look very good. I thought you were in your 40's. Maggie is a very lucky woman.
Well folks, I have to let DB Corey get back to work on his edits for his novel, Chain of Evidence and last question, when can we look for this hot new thriller?

DB Corey: Well if everything goes as planned, it will be released in June, just in time for Thrillerfest 2013

B. Swangin: Good luck and thank you for sitting down with me. Much success.

Introducing...

Today, I introduce you to DB Corey.

He recently signed a contract with Intrigue Publishing in June and I wanted to be the first to sit down and talk to him about his journey.

B.Swangin:  When did you realize that you wanted to be an author?
DB Corey:    In 2005, I challenged myself to write a novel; only because my new girlfriend (now my wife) said that my emails were so good I could be a writer. Actually, I was only trying to bed her, but I bought into it just the same. So I cobbled together my first novel just to see if I could write an entire book. After determining that a novel should be around 80-thousand words, I decided on a premise, and wrote the opening line:

” Call me Ishmael.”

                HA! I wished!

                Ok. I’m only kidding. But, the truth of the matter is that I started writing a book. After several days of Seek & Destroy on my laptop (I can’t type), I caught myself checking the word count every couple of pages. It was nowhere near 80-thousand words. That was when I decided that writing a novel was not about word count, it was about sex, so I stopped checking. When I finished about a year later, I had to admit that it was the worst thing I’d ever seen, that I couldn’t write a lick, and should have paid more attention in high school English. But … I also decided that, if I were to bed my new girlfriend, I should try again. And this time, I should do it better. Sex is a powerful motivator.

B. Swangin:  I would say so...lol...Tell us how you found your current publisher.
DB Corey:  Funny story. I stopped by a book signing Austin Camacho held in Annapolis just off the Main Street docks. I’ve know Austin for several years and always tried to support him, knowing damn well he’d have to respond in kind if I ever managed to get a book into print. While chatting with him over a cup of coffee, he told me that he and his wife Denise were going to launch Intrigue as a full-fledged publishing house in the near future. I asked if he was looking for manuscripts, and he invited me to the Meet & Greet they set up to get it off the ground. As is my way, I couldn’t find the Meet & Greet because I didn’t have a GPS, so I emailed him the material several days later. After reading the manuscript, they requested a meeting. The rest, as they say, is history.

B.Swangin:  What ritual do you have when writing?
DB Corey:  I have a black tee-shirt my wife gave me. It reads, “Oh, this is SO going in my next novel.” I wear it when I sit down at the laptop. I also have a room that I set up for writing, and writing only. If you’d like a peek, it’s on my Facebookpage.  

BSwangin: Due to a hectic time, I have to end our conversation, but come back on Thursday for the conclusion of this interview...Until Thursday....

Thrillerfest...and yes it was a THRILL

Where should I begin?

Well I could start with the trip to New York. Also a great time. This year I traveled with Intrigue Publishing as this was the year that they wanted to let everyone know about this new publishing company.

I could start be telling you about the wonderful panels I was in; like, how to write humor in your work which was moderated by Karen Dionne and one of the panelists was Mr. Brad Parks, author of Faces of the Gone. Great novel; and no, I'm not just saying that because I know him and he is cute AND he won a Shamus Award...It really is a great book.

I could be telling you all about Eriq La Salle, yes from ER on NBC. I could be telling you that he is cuter than ever or that he has a voice that drips sexiness from it but I'd rather tell you about his new novel, Laws of Depravity which he wrote based on the accounts of the mass murder of the 12 disciplines of Jesus but set in present day.

I could be telling you all about the Melodie Johnson Howe who was the witch on Bewitched who fell in love with Darren. You can't even imagine when I walked in the room and saw her, my mind instantly went to, "OMG (yes I really did say it) that's the witch that cast the spell on Samantha's husband." Then when I got to take a picture with her...again...OMG!

I could even tell you about meeting Jon Land. Yes, author of Strong Justice and he is a cutie pie as well. I got his book and sent him a friend request the next day and history was made..OK, not history but another friend was made.

OK, well my night wasn't only spent with the cute guys. I actually did talk about myself and got introduced to Steven James. Well actually we were 'breakfast buddies" on Saturday morning and his book Queen was nominated for an award on Saturday. Oh, Steven is an editor and writer for The Writers Digest Magazine.

I could be telling you all of that but what I really wanted to tell you was that I had the best FUN of my life meeting new authors and seeing old friends and making new friends. I had a ball talking about my writing and listening to other writing styles. Oh, and I learned that Brad Parks is a 'pantser" so take that all of your 'outliners". Why is that important you may ask, it is because I am a PANTSER and proud of it. Don't know what it means...well you will need to read my blog in a couple more days to find out what that is.

How is that for a cliff hanger?

Upcoming conferences-Are you going?

Today I will talk to you about conferences you should attend; even if you don't write in that particular genre. Why would you want to attend a conference that doesn't pertain to your particular writing style?
Simple answer: The more you get to know about other writing styles, the more you can incorporate them into your writing style.
Love is Murder is a conference held in Chicago every year and it is geared towards the mystery writers. I have never gone, but in February of 2012, I will attend. I am so excited to be a part of that it is well worth the cost.
Thrillerfest will be held in New York in July of 2012 and although I went this year, I am doubly excited to attend again next year. This conference is geared towards mystery and thriller writers. Although I am neither of the two; I will proudly network with all of the authors there.
After all, networking as an author is THE main reason to go to such conferences. You not only get to learn about other authors but you also get to 'hang' out with NY best selling authors. Where else would you get to be in the same room as R.L. Stine and Karen Slaughter?
I hope to see you at one of the many upcoming conferences in the new year. If you see me, come up and say hello; after all; I love to talk about writing.
Happy Writing!