1. Tell us about yourself and your most current project/s?
I’m a writer/producer from LA who has a puppet character that visits cool events and places in SoCal. But the book, Barry Under Your Bed, is about said character and his origins. It’s a kids book!
2. Where did the inspiration/idea come for this project?
In today’s climate, it seems like everything sucks. I wrote this to try to convey the importance of not judging a book by its cover, and that we are all the same inside. I feel like it’s an important message to get out to kids today with all the hateful rhetoric floating around.
3. What does the writing process look like for you?
Staring at the blinking cursor computer screen for hours until finally writing a few words and calling it a day.
4. How do you handle writer’s block?
Poorly. Very poorly. Usually with self-doubt and beating myself up until I get it right LOL
5. How do you feed your creativity when feeling drained?
Barry helps with that a lot. I do a lot of events, so putting him on my arm and letting the improv fly is a big thing to help me get out of those creative slumps and just trying to do something.
6. What advice would you give writers who feel stuck or uninspired?
Keep at it! Everything sucks, but you gotta find the intentional joy where you can. Make your own joy!
7. Have you ever thought about giving up writing? If so, what pulled you back?
I quit all the time, but trying to get my message out there brings me back.
8. How do you keep your voice or ideas fresh over time?
By not doing the same thing again and again. I try to spice it up and bring a lot of variety to what I do so it’s always something different.
9. What do you wish more people understood about the creative process?
That it is not all sunshine and roses and laughter. Sometimes it’s horrible and sucks, but it’s so rewarding at the end.
10. What is the most honest thing you’ve ever written - and did it scare you?
I wrote a book with/about Disney Imagineer Rolly Crump. It was in his voice, so it was very honest about the way things worked back at Disney back in the day, warts and all. It was very honest and we were worried people would rebel against anything that’s not the squeaky clean version of Disney they know and love, but it worked out well!
Where can my audience find you and your work?
You can find my work at www.jeffheimbuch.com and www.barryunderyourbed.com
Check out my review of his novel BARRY UNDER YOUR BED
