{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Spirit Animals - with Deedre Daniel and Guest: Owl Goingback","description":"Do you dream of being an author, but you make up excuses not to do it? Do you harness your fears, or do you allow them to control you?   Meet Owl Goingback, an award-winning author, who has been writing professionally for over 30 years. He talks to Deedre about: \ud83c\udf99How he became a full-time working author. \ud83c\udf99Overcoming the shame and embarrassment that first-time authors typically face. \ud83c\udf99Dealing with critics. \ud83c\udf99How reading horror novels could help us conquer our fears. \ud83c\udf99The real appeal of horror stories and why people gravitate to them \u2013 especially during bad times. \ud83c\udf99How he creatively taps into what he knows to explore (and create) unknown worlds.   \ud83c\udf99How his motto about work: (Always say \u201cyes\u201d and worry about it later!) led to many lucrative writing jobs. \ud83c\udf99Judging a book \u2013 and people \u2013 by their cover.   \ud83c\udf99How our imaginations are so powerful that often the best writing, photography, and other art forms are those that intentionally leave out details so our active imagination can fill in the blanks. \ud83c\udf99The thrill, excitement, and sometimes letdown of meeting celebrity crushes.   \ud83c\udf99 A family of fans that scared him. \ud83c\udf99Kissing up to a robot boss. \ud83c\udf99Ghost stories, little people, and a water monster \u2013 oh my! \ud83c\udf99Spirit animals and the meaning behind them. \ud83c\udf99How to spot a shyster Shaman. And so much more! This episode ends with some new questions from The Very Interesting Game \u201cHALLOWEEN\u201d edition. Find out what this author would paint on his front door to keep scary people out.   Bio: Owl Goingback has been writing professionally for over thirty years and is the author of numerous novels, children\u2019s books, screenplays, magazine articles, short stories, and comics. He is a three-time Bram Stoker Award Winner, receiving the award for novel, first novel, lifetime achievement, a Nebula Award Nominee, and a Storytelling World Awards Honor Recipient. His books include Crota, Darker Than Night, Evil Whispers, Breed, Shaman Moon, Coyote Rage, Eagle Feathers, The Gift, and Tribal Screams. Owl's stories are often inspired by his Native American heritage. In addition to writing under his name, he has ghostwritten for Hollywood celebrities. l In addition to his writing endeavors, Owl served as a sergeant in the United States Air Force, owned a restaurant\/lounge, and worked as a cemetery caretaker.   Do you know someone who lives a fascinating life or looks at the world through the lens of humor? Nominate them to be on a future episode by simply sending several ridiculous and intriguing questions about them to Service@interestingconversations.com. No need to send a BIO or fill out a lengthy application! If your nominee is selected, you will receive a shout-out on that episode, a SHUT UP and SAY SOMETHING!\u00ae sticker, and a mug of your choice from the merch page on interestingconversations.com.   Contact or Follow Deedre Daniel here: https:\/\/interestingconversations.com\/links\/ Originally recorded on October 3, 2022   ","author_name":"Shut Up and Say Something!\u00ae with Deedre Daniel","author_url":"https:\/\/interestingconversations.com\/shut-up-and-say-something-podcast-with-deedre-daniel\/","html":"