Submission Requirments

 Submission Requirements – The Holiday Café

 What We Publish: 

 We will accept any fiction, non-fiction, poetry, interviews, essays, photographs or drawings.  Provided the content is not plagiarized, X-Rated, or racist the topic/subject matter at hand is at your discretion.  If it is deemed not appropriate it will automatically be deleted without further discussion.

The contributor will maintain all rights to his/her work.   We just ask that you do not submit us anything that you have sent to several journals for publication, we would like new works.

 We would like all articles to be submitted in Word and photos in a jpeg format.  If you do not have word, feel free to submit your works in the body of an email.  Email submissions to holidaycafe.nicole@gmail.com

 If your submission is accepted, you will hear back from Nicole, who will begin the editing processes on your articles.  Nicole will email you when she receives your works, this however does not mean she has read them at that time, she will get in touch with you for editing suggestions and final decisions if the works are deemed publishable or not.

 If your works are not deemed suitable for The Holiday Café don’t give up, try again.  Work at it and resubmit.  

Letter from the Editor - Summer 2017

Hello Cafe Readers,

Hope this issue finds you well... It has been a hot and wet summer here so far in Pittsburgh, but hey, I am not complaining - I will take the hot and rain over cold and snow any day!

First and foremost, I would like to thank Rachael Bindas, who not only scored an interview with author T. Gephart, but also helped me out with this issue, doing various tasks.  I am hoping I can convince her to help for the Fall issue as well...

We have a pretty jammed packed issue, as mentioned above we have an interview with T. Gephart, and also BLaCK CaT MOan - who opened for the legendary Buddy Guy, along with a painting from Mary Dunn, along with other fantastic pieces.

As always, I cannot make this happen without you - please send submissions to holidaycafe.nicole@gmail.com

Enjoy the warm weather and see you in the fall!

T Gephart Interview - Summer 2017

T Gephart is an internationally and USA Today best-selling author from Melbourne, Australia. Gephart is the author of the Lexi, Black Addiction, Power Station, and #1 Series, as well as several standalones. Her latest novel, Train Wreck, will be released on July 10th. You can find her on Facebook at T Gephart, or at www.tgephart.com

1. How did you begin writing?

I started writing on a dare. I have always been a storyteller, my travels in life have meant that I had a lot of interesting experiences to share and I have enjoyed sharing them with my friends. I loved how entertained they were by my antics, and it made me happy, but as far as formal writing went, I didn’t see myself as a writer. Then on a dare, I wrote a book for my friends as a Christmas present. It was filled with some of my craziness (stories that had actually happened) and fiction—this was my chance to embellish and colour it how I wanted—but I never intended or expected it to be published for general consumption. We were supposed to read it, laugh about it, and then move on with our lives. After reading my first “book” they begged me for a second part and pushed me to self publish it. I wasn’t interested and was resistant for a while but finally I put it out there more so they would stop badgering me. Again, I assumed it would be thrown out into the world and we’d all go back to our lives like nothing happened. Ironically, it seemed fate had other plans and my first book, “A Twist of Fate,” got noticed with readers devouring it. I assumed it was a fluke so when I pushed publish on my second book I didn’t expect much, but again I was wrong. It seemed that readers enjoyed my voice and my craziness so I decided I would continue until I didn’t enjoy it anymore or they stopped reading. I’ve just finished writing my 16th book so I guess neither of us are done just yet ;-)

2. Many of your books take place outside of Australia, in the U.S. How do you make sure to capture the atmospheres of the American cities accurately, while still living in Australia?

My first series, “The Lexi Series,” starts in Melbourne and then moves to New York and there’s a novella, “Lexi,” set in Rome. Other than that, all of my books are set in the USA. I have been travelling to the US since 1994. I was an 18 year old—gasp, I’m really that old—and decided I wanted to go to LA by myself and see the world. Of course, it wasn’t as awesome as I thought it was going to be (Pre-internet meant I didn’t know I’d booked a hotel in a not so nice part of town) but it whetted my appetite for travel and I came back a few—a LOT— more times. New York was and still is one of my favorite cities which is why most of my books are set there. I won’t write about a place I’ve never been, and I am lucky enough to have lived in the US and have a lot of friends and family still there. It means I have a good grasp of not only the geography but of the vernacular as well. I also make sure not to assume; if I don’t know something I make sure I ask a local, Google can’t give you the personal touch.


3. In your website biography, you seem to pride yourself on living an ‘eclectic’ and ‘unconventional’ life. What is the craziest story from your personal experiences that you’re willing to share with fans?

I’d like to plead the fifth LOL. I have so many crazy, crazy stories, some of which I’m not sure whether or not the statue of limitations have passed. Trying to think of one that would be suitable for print. Ummmmmm. Okay, this one I think is safe considering I’m no longer in the country. And it’s not too crazy per se but still a lot of fun. When I was in Ireland last year I infiltrated the set of Vikings (History channel series) I walked around the sets and snooped around like a complete stalker. I have photos of myself sitting in Lagertha’s chair and walking around Ragnar’s house and the Viking village. I was on set for about an hour and a half before the crew realized I wasn’t an “extra” LOL. I wasn’t arrested but politely asked to leave. I will say that my mouth and my Aussie accent have gotten me out of a lot of trouble. ;-)

4. Your protagonists seem to be strong, empowered, self-made women that are deeply in tune with their femininity and sexuality. How do you think your protagonists affect the existing literary landscape?

I write characters I want to read. It’s that simple and I think there are a lot of readers who also want to read strong woman. That doesn’t mean they can’t have some softness and vulnerability to them. I want the light and the shade to all my characters and we—women—are so critical of ourselves and each other I hope that my characters force readers to examine how we see each other. I don’t think my writing is ground breaking, and there are many, many authors with strong and compelling women in their pages so I’m not arrogant to think that my books and/or characters are altering the landscape. I feel like more a ripple, which is hopefully part of a bigger wave, and together we are creating strong women in fiction reflective of the strong women in our reality.

5. What advice do you have for writers looking to self-publish, rather than sign with publishing houses?

Publishing houses publish what they believe is marketable, not necessarily what is “good”. They are accountable to their bottom line and taking risks isn’t always part of that equation which means they have to pass over things that are brilliant but might not have wide appeal. Self-publishing gives you more freedom and greater control and when done correctly, can give you a HUGE sense of accomplishment and financial reward. When I became a USA Today bestseller, it was my name listed as the publisher and that felt pretty amazing. I am a CEO of my own corporation, and I make the decisions of when, where, or how I write. But that doesn’t mean I get to put out a half rate product or that I don’t have the pressure of a deadline. I think there are people who believe that self-publishing is inferior but this is not always true. I employ and contract designers so that my covers are professional, editors so my work is polished, promotional and marketing people, as well as others. It’s a costly exercise to get a book to market and those want to do it shouldn’t be tempted to cut corners. Respect your readers, don’t think they won’t notice or deserve less than your best. But if you do it right, then there is no greater reward than sitting back and knowing you got there under your own steam. The BIG FIVE publishing houses are no longer the gatekeepers, which means it’s an exciting time to publish. Make a decision that is right for you, and don’t let ego be a deciding factor. It’s nice to see a book on a shelf but it’s even nicer to have written a book you believe in and can stand behind.

6. Where do you see yourself and your writing in the future?

I constantly joke I’m one book away from busking under a bridge somewhere. LOL The industry, like all areas of entertainment, is fickle. What was “hot” and “in demand” can change so quickly so I don’t write to trend. I write how I always have written—what I want to read and hope others do too. I can’t stress it enough, ego has no place here. I know that I will be writing for the rest of my life. I’m a storyteller, I always have been, but whether my stories are commercially available will remain the decision of my readers. Publishing is expensive and when it no longer becomes viable, then I will do something else and my “books” will once again be gifts for my friends. Hopefully I have a long career ahead of me; in literary terms I am a baby, but if it all goes away tomorrow I have had one hell of a ride and regret nothing. Plus, it made a great story ;-)

7. Do you have anything else you would like to add?

The best advice I have to give for ANYTHING (not just writing) is to it do it with 100% commitment. I have a sign that sits in my office that reads “I was warned not to bite off more than I could chew, but I’d rather choke on greatness than nibble at mediocrity.”  There is absolutely no shame in failure, to have tried something and epically crashed and burned. It makes you a better person, and it sure as hell made me a better writer. So don’t fear failure; instead welcome the lessons it’s going to teach you. And when you do finally succeed— and you will—it will all be worth it.

Rachael Bindas is a freelance writer and editor from Pittsburgh, PA. She focuses mainly on fiction, but still harbors a deep love for poetry. Her work has been featured in Moledro Magazine, Aeons, The Curious Element Magazine, and The Holiday Cafe.

Bokeh Unicorn - Summer 2017

Mary has been painting since the age of 12.  Throughout her life, she dabbled in oils, and now, since she has retired, Mary has been at it full time.  Her mediums have expanded to include acrylic and pastels.  Three years ago, Mary became a certified Alexander wet-on-wet* instructor.

Additionally, over the last few years, Mary has been exhibiting all over the Pittsburgh area.
For eight years, she has been teaching acrylic painting at Pat Catan’s, as well as various companies that offer painting parties, and through her own DaVine Creations-paint parties in the home.  Her recent endeavor is teaching at Paint Parties and More located in White Oak, PA.

Mary has more exciting news in the paint arena as she began free painting lessons on her YouTube channel.  The painting above is an example of one of her finished paintings that she instructs via her YouTube.  She does this as a step-by-step process using acrylic paint.  It’s fun and simple, and most people can accomplish the painting as she provides outlines that help the viewer draw the actual subject.  All materials used are listed for the viewer’s convenience.

If you would like to learn to paint, check out her channel.  All one has to do is subscribe and enjoy the journey.

To see how to paint the above  Unicorn go to this link.

* Wet on Wet is a technique of applying many layers of oil paint but not waiting until the previous layer is dry.

Outer Banks Soul - Summer 2017

With Memorial Day weekend behind us, summer is said to be in full swing. It’s that time of year when most people will take a vacation to some place new and exciting, or return to a favorite location close to their hearts.  I fall into the latter category, and while my vacation won’t happen until right after Labor Day, I’m already impatient with anticipation about our trip to my favorite place in the world, the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Many Pittsburghers are frequent visitors to the affectionately nicknamed “ribbon of sand” that juts precariously out into the Atlantic Ocean, and my (and my family’s) history with the place started a long time ago. My grandparents began visiting the spot for themselves in the seventies, and I grew up listening to my mom and her siblings tell stories about camping on the beach countless times throughout my childhood. I even remember, at about age six, having a tiny pink t-shirt that read “Nags Head, NC.”  “What’s Nags Head?” I remember asking my mom, puzzled over the odd sounding first word and its partner. “A town near the beach,” she replied.

I’d have to wait until the summer I was eleven before experiencing this “Nags Head” myself, and although that first trip was more than twenty years ago, it was the start of my love for a place whose charm, history, and undeniable sense of peace has settled into my heart and soul.

Any article or vacation website can tell you about the unspoiled beaches, the original oceanfront cottages from the early 1900’s, or the family-owned restaurants dotting the coast on this 130-mile stretch of barrier island. But over my ten visits to this beautiful spot, I’ve learned to appreciate more of the little things that would stir any traveler’s soul.

For me it started by learning how to swim in the tumultuous ocean – jumping over waves, letting them roll over or under you, and how to recover when one knocked you out flat. I learned to deal with the burn and tang of salt in my eyes and nose, and the scrape of the sand against sunburned skin. I spent countless nights being rocked to sleep in a beach house on stilts that swayed in the coastal winds, and although I was entranced by their beauty and elusive nature, to admire the wild horses of Corolla from a distance.

The horses, which are descendants of wild Colonial Mustangs, are just one piece of history Outer Banks offers.  That history, like the ocean, is also something that took time for me to learn to understand and respect. As a preteen, and even a teenager, I was always slightly bored by the Wright Brothers Museum and the ubiquitous posters depicted the “Graveyard of the Atlantic.” But as I grew older, I found myself drawn to the varied past of the place and really started paying attention and seeking out information. I could spend hours writing or talking about the historical significance of the towns, but for now it will suffice to say that considering its relatively small size and secluded location, history is as varied here as it is in almost any town in the US.

The Wright Brothers Memorial commemorates the first successful, sustained flight in the sandy dunes of Kill Devil Hills, and although it was significantly larger decades ago, Jockey’s Ridge National Park is still home to the largest sand dunes on the East coast. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was one of the last recipients of Titanic’s distress call in 1912. That same lighthouse was actually moved inch by inch in 1999 to save it from beach erosion. And Virginia Dare, who the “beach road” is named after, was the first American-born child in the English Colonies of the New World.
While absorbing all of this history, I also found an explanation about my Nags Head t-shirt from so long ago. In the sixteen and seventeen hundreds, ships were lured close to shore on dark nights by lanterns hung from a horse’s–or—nag’s—head head and walked along the dunes, causing the ships to wreck in the shallow shoals. Pirates were responsible for many of these wrecks, and their ships, which were stocked with barrels of rum, went down in the churning sea. The rum they carried was said to be strong enough to “kill the devil,” and certain contraband, so when those barrels washed ashore, they were buried in the dunes of the beach. Hence the name “Kill Devil Hills.” Today, more than 1,000 shipwrecks have been documented off the coast, and many of them can still be seen from a plane, or even poking up from the sea floor during low tide. One of those shipwrecks even belonged to the infamous Blackbeard, whose last battle took place off the coast of Ocracoke in 1718.

It took two decades and ten or so visits to the Outer Banks for me to discover all of this, and so much more. And while this history and entertainment is certainly part of the reason I fell in love with the place, I also now believe I was on these beaches during significant times in my life. The first few visits found me struggling with adolescence and self-esteem, then growing to a confident and fearless teenager. When I was eighteen, the trip to the beach served as a sort of balm for the recent death of my grandfather, one half of the team who had discovered this family vacation spot so long ago. And when I brought my boyfriend –now husband—to the Outer Banks in 2009, I was excited to share it with him, but nervous that he would think it boring after his repeated cruises to the Caribbean. I was over the moon when he smiled at me over the table at Awful Arthur’s, declaring that he had just eaten the best tuna in his life, and I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him as we watched the sunset from Jockey’s Ridge and he lamented with me on our last night at the Atlantic Street Inn.
I always tell people that I cry when I arrive in the Outer Banks, and I cry when I leave. But in between those tears, I spend time shopping unique boutiques, soaking up the sun on the weathered deck of a beach house, and breathing in the salt air that seems to put a spell of tranquility on anyone within its reach. One day, I hope to call this place my home.

Stacy is a 2003 graduate of West Mifflin Area High School and has completed two courses with The Institute of Children’s Literature. She writes novels for teenagers and adults, both of which can be found on Amazon. Stacy lives in Munhall with her husband and fur kid, and besides writing, enjoys reading, Penguins hockey, and traveling.

The Imagination Project - Summer 2017

Take a second. Remember when you were a kid, and everything in the world seemed so…possible? Imagination is the essence of childhood, allowing kids to grow, think, and explore their environments. Now imagine, that environment is a doctor’s office, a medical daycare, a hospital unit…

Pediatric patients deserve all of the happiness and lightheartedness of an imaginative childhood, and it is our mission to make that possible.

This year, the University of Pittsburgh welcomed a new, magical organization to campus: The Imagination Project (TIP). This student-run operation aims to brighten the lives of pediatric patients and special needs children in the community. TIP volunteers bring famous children’s characters to life, as they visit with medically fragile children, who need a little extra light, laughter, and wonder in their lives.

TIP’s members aim to make fun, meaningful experiences for the children and their families. The organization’s volunteers undergo Character Conditioning—extensive training and research where they learn to become their assigned character. It is very important that our actors are always prepared to give an authentic performance. The visits range from individual bedside appearances to attendance at large group events: tea parties, sing-alongs, story time circles, dance parties, anything that we can do to bring a child’s favorite character to life.

The best part about the mission is that is allows college-age students to give back to their community in a fun and loving experience. They get to witness the impact they are making, rebounded in the excitement of a child's reaction. It is truly making magic.

"It's kind of fun to do the impossible" ~ Walt Disney

BLaCK CaT MOAN - Interview - Summer 2017

1. Can you tell our readers a little about your band, BLaCK CaT MOAN?

BLaCK  CaT MOAN  is an Americana/Blues Roots Band that coined the phrase, "New Vintage Blues." With St. George Byich on guitar and resonator and TK Mundok on vocals and harmonica,
they bring to life a music that harkens back to early folk field recordings and the Delta.
BLaCK CaT MOAN have been playing Folk, Jazz & Blues Festivals since 2013. In 2014 they opened for American Blues/ Soul singer, Billy Price, and in the summer of 2015 they went into the studio to record their album, “the SAINT, the MUNK & the MOAN," which has received internet radio play as far as Croatia.

BCM took home 2nd place in the Western Pennsylvania Blues Challenge in early 2016 and in August won 1st place in the First Annual Northern West Virginia Blues Challenge, and performed in the 2017 International Blues Challenge, held in Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
With inspiration from Robert Johnson, Mississippi, John Hurt, and the recordings from Chess Records, BLaCK CaT MOAN does not mimic other musicians of that era, but rather brings a new vibe to a classic art form. While drawing inspiration from Robert Johnson, Mississippi, John Hurt, and the recordings from Chess Records, BLaCK CaT MOAN brings an entirely new vibe to a classic art form.

2. Recently, BLaCK CaT MOAN opened for the legendary Buddy Guy. How did you get to be the opening act?

What a great story. We did a fundraiser at MOONDOGS in Blawnox back in January to promote our trip to Memphis. We had a beautiful Burlesque Troupe work with us that evening as our opening act and I think we made a great impression. We were set to play at MOONDOGS the weekend before Buddy Guy  with the Burlesque Troupe again, so George and I got together for a rehearsal. Mike Elko, the concert promoter for The Palace Theatre in Greensburg, called MOONDOGS looking for a two piece opening act for Mr. Guy. Ron Esser said he knew just the band and rang me up right then. That was about twelve days before the gig.

3. What did you take away from that performance? 

What I personally took away from our performance with Buddy Guy was that, a room, is a room, is a room, no matter the size or who happens to be filling it at that time. The true stage is inside you, and your true audience is inside you. If I can keep it as simple as that, the house and the audience will always be happy with the experience.

4. There are stereotypes with artists which include lack of income. I know you have been in the art scene for a while. I feel you are talented and respected in both the music and art industry. What advice would you give to break that stereotype? Also, for artists that are just hitting dead ends or hitting points of frustration, what advice would you give to them? 

I do think it's funny that the stereotype still exists and that your family will associate you with a starving artist if you tell them you want to paint or make music. The irony is that the majority of magazines show people in the entertainment world but they are not associated with being an artist - they're a celebrity. Being an artist doesn't mean being on the cover of a magazine, being both regarded for your work and destroyed for your life choices.

There's a perception that it must be all or nothing.
Thankfully , we now how have so many online platforms to exhibit work and promote ourselves;, being an artist can be a more mainstream idea. My advice is simple:, keep being yourself, keep doing your art as honestly as you can, as long as you can, and someone will catch on.

5. What do you want to do next? Who do you want to play with or open for in the future? 

I always want to keep surprising myself. Taking yourself out of your comfort zone forces you try a new approach, so, I plan on exploring.
At this point, the way I currently am expressing myself, with BLaCK CaT MOAN anyway, it would make the most sense to open for or play with Jack White. I have a huge respect for him as an Artist. It will make for a good show, and a Great Collaboration.

You can find BLaCK CaAT MOAN on Facebook, or you can listen to and download the album, "the SAINT, the MUNK & the MOAN" at blackcatmoan.org
  T.K. MUNDOK's artwork can be found on Instagram.