Dylan H. Jones: Bay Area Author Portraits

Crime fiction. Detective fiction. Mystery. I’m not exactly clear on the nuances that distinguish these genres, but I can tell you that I’ve been hooked for a while.  I’ve fallen in love with eccentric detectives ranging from Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, to Donna Leon’s Guido Brunetti.  So, you can imagine my delight when I had the chance to photograph Dylan H. Jones, author of the Tudor Manx Mysteries. 

Dylan is a native of the Isle of Anglesey in Wales, where his first book Anglesey Blue takes place, and has been living in Oakland for the last twelve years.  When he’s not writing, he runs his own video content agency, Jones Digital Media.  After our shoot to update his author portrait, he was kind enough to give us a bit of his time for an interview. Have a read and get to know your not-so-local, local author.

Oh, by the way, if I’m not returning emails, I’ve probably got my nose buried in Anglesey Blue; I highly recommend you check it out.  Don’t worry if you get addicted, he has another book coming out in March!

Find Dylan online at: www.dylanjonesauthor.com or go directly to Amazon to buy his books.

-Nancy


Have you always been a fan of crime fiction?

As a kid, I loved reading horror stories then graduated to crime fiction later in life. I’m pretty genre-agnostic. If it’s well written, with a compelling plot and sympathetic characters I’m fully hooked.

Who are your favorite mystery writers?

I love reading the Scandinavian writers like Jo Nesbo and Henning Mankell.

On the British side, I never tire of Val McDermid or Ian Rankin.

Recently, a friend turned me onto Dan Choan, an American writer who’s known for his ‘literary crime’ novels, which I think just means they’re very well written!

When you start a new book, do you begin with a clear idea of the plot outline, or does it unfold as you’re writing?

I start with a very general idea of what the story is, then it becomes clearer as I write. Or sometimes, even muddier. That’s the pain and joy of writing.

What do you love about your protagonist, Detective Inspector Tudor Manx?

He’s tenacious, doesn’t take himself too seriously but is incredibly dedicated to his job.

He’s also dealing with many demons and personal issues which keep catching up with him, which add depth and mystery to his character.

What’s it been like writing about your birthplace, the Isle of Anglesey?

It’s been a trip! It’s surprising how much you remember once you start writing about a place you left several decades ago. I still go back most years, but it’s good to write about it from several thousand miles away, it gives me a fresher perspective.

What is your writing process?

Three to four hours most mornings if I can, then the day job for the remainder of the day. I do a lot of re-writing as I go along. I’m not one of those writers who can motor on without sweeping up my work from the day before work and making it better.

Favorite place to write?

Cafe Trieste in Oakland.

Coffee or tea?

Coffee in the morning, tea late afternoon. (I know, clichéd Brit!)

What’s next for Tudor Manx?

The next book comes out on March 18th. It’s called Doll Face. Manx faces a twisted serial killer who leaves mysterious, religious texts buried deep in his victims. Not for the faint of heart!

877-881-7221 | nancyrothstein.comnancy@nancyrothstein.com

Adventures in Family Photography

Photographing children and families with children is one of the best parts of what I do…and a great workout; trying to keep up with youngsters is no joke!  Not long ago, I once again had the lovely experience of photographing Shannon, Rachelle, and their growing family — one of the sweetest you could ever meet. And just like all my returning family clients, I am truly honored to know them, watch their family grow, and capture their most important moments for them.  I love these sessions because they feel like a reunion with old friends.

I first had the pleasure of photographing Shannon and Rachelle at their wedding in 2008. Then came pregnancy and newborn photos with darling boy Dylan and, recently, the same with darling girl Ellie. Ellie was still in mama’s belly at the time of this shoot, but she arrived happy and healthy soon afterwards and was absolutely precious in her recent newborn portraits. (Stay tuned for more on Ellie.)

Notice how happy everyone looks in these images, especially little Dylan? Well, there’s a bit more to the story. See that beautiful stone stairway? The minute Dylan saw it, all he wanted to do was climb, and climb, and climb some more. He was on a mission and simply had no time for photos. It would be an understatement to say Dylan was unhappy when we suggested a break from climbing. And he wasn’t shy about sharing his feelings.

 

So how did we get from that state of mind to these happy images?  With a little patience and a lot of fun. Through years of experience, I have learned to quickly build a rapport with young kids and redirect if things start to go awry. For starters, I first spend time just connecting — without cameras and other equipment. I gauge whether a child is in a shy or outgoing mood in order to match their energy. I might even enlist them as “assistants”, asking them what we need to get done and how they think we should do it.

In Dylan’s case, something as simple as a silly face contest did the trick. Before you could say “stairway”, he was all ready to smile for the camera!

Parents often worry that their shoot won’t go well if their children aren’t perfect angels at all times. But no one’s are, and that’s okay. This is supposed to be fun!  Kids don’t have to be perfect to have a perfect family portrait photo shoot. They just have to be themselves, have fun, and we get to make it great!

– Nancy

877-881-7221 | nancyrothstein.comnancy@nancyrothstein.com

Inspiring People: Bay Area Headshots

Stephanie_Gee-0010RTDo you have a powerful sentence that describes your mission in a nutshell? Here’s one to get you thinking….

“Global community advocate building awareness and connections across cultures step-by-step.”

That’s a mouthful, and a meaningful one.  Who does it describe?  Meet Stephanie Gee, a recent client who I found absolutely inspiring.  

Stephanie is a San Francisco native who has witnessed the city change and grow. While she embraces many of the new developments, she also cares about preserving San Francisco’s identity and advocating for those who are marginalized.  After ten years working in Sales at Google, she left the company in early 2016 to travel and to volunteer. Last year, she traveled to sixteen countries throughout Latin America, Asia, and Europe and she’s also been involved in volunteering with various social impact organizations within the Bay Area and abroad.

I thought an interview would be perfect way to share her perspective; read on for some interesting tidbits, and some motivation to find a way to care for others and make the world a better place.

Where were you born? Is there something about that place you carry with you?

I’m a San Francisco native, born and raised. I love the city and its various communities who are willing to stand up and speak out for what they believe in.

Do you have a morning ritual?

Most mornings I’ll take my dog out for a 4-5 mile walk. She needs the exercise to burn off nervous energy, and I use the time to listen to my favorite morning show or podcasts.  

What is your favorite thing to cook?

Hmm.. that’s a tough one. I don’t eat a lot of meat, so I prefer to cook recipes that are centered around vegetables. Although, I do have a sweet tooth so I tend to bake more often than cook.

What is your favorite spot in the Bay Area?

My neighborhood, the Mission. There are a number of places where I can meet a friend for a delicious cup of coffee and a tasty treat.

What do you love about tech in the context of social change?

Technology has made sharing and learning about information easier. Individuals can create virtual communities across borders and mobilize action towards supporting causes they believe in more quickly.  

I’ve also been fascinated to see how tech has influenced the way people learn and work today. My homeschooled niece dials into a virtual classroom with other homeschooled children living in other states. I once had a manager whose commute was so long that she worked from home a couple of times a week so she could see her children when they were awake.  Although some of us may have difficulty drawing a line between work and personal time, the presence of tech allows us more flexibility in our schedules to achieve a better work-life balance.

Fill in the blank. Happiness is _________.

… something that comes from within –  it’s all about perspective.

What’s your advice for folks who want to make the world a better place, but don’t know where to start?

I can completely understand that challenge. I suggest that they reflect on which issues move them the most and then start searching for local organizations who are addressing them such as volunteermatch.org and idealist.org.

Who inspires you these days?

My mother is my number one inspiration. Although she passed away from breast cancer 8 years ago, her life left an impression on me because she gave back to the community in multiple ways. She instilled in me the values I still believe in and live by today. When she passed, I started reflecting on what I would care about at the end of my life, and I realized that nurturing relationships and helping others matter the most in terms of a successful and meaningful life.

How did you go from local to global in terms of your advocacy work?

My first introduction to global advocacy was in high school when I participated in mission trips with my church youth group. We had the opportunity to travel to Jamaica and Belize where we worked on construction and taught kids vacation bible school. Then in college, I spent a year abroad studying in Vienna. I enjoyed connecting with the individuals I met with from different cultural backgrounds. Finally, in 2016, I decided to make a major shift in my life. After ten years at Google, I left to travel, to learn more about other cultures, and to volunteer with different communities. I was presented with a number of volunteer opportunities locally and abroad, and I signed up for them. My experiences taught me: need is everywhere, focus efforts on supporting a few issues, and it’s important to engage with other communities. The less we view others as “foreign” and “different,” the more time we have for solving problems and making an impact.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I’ve learned too often that life doesn’t work out according to a plan so I haven’t given much thought to the details of my future. Five years ago, I wouldn’t have believed that I would leave the security and comforts of Google without another secure job lined up. However, my wish for the future includes remaining connected to international communities and possibly living abroad supporting a global issue I care about.

What are the top three organizations doing great transformational work that we should all support if we can?

There are three local organizations and one national organization I currently support: SF Achievers, the Breast Cancer Emergency Fund (BCEF), Refugee Transitions, and the International Rescue Committee. All of them work towards addressing breaking cycles of poverty.

Thanks, Stephanie. I admire the work you do!

-Nancy

877-881-7221 | nancyrothstein.comnancy@nancyrothstein.com

#Mightybell: The Best Home for Your Niche Community

Mightybell is the latest product for “identity networks” from the community-minded brain of entrepreneur Gina Bianchini. Mightybell provides a blank canvas for “community entrepreneurs” to quickly and simply create a space for a network of people who share a common interest or identity to meet each other, break the ice and build relationships. There, they can nourish the intimacy of a small community, on a large — even global — scale, so they and their peers “can learn faster and make better decisions” in any specialty, profession, interest, cause, discipline, identity, life stage, diagnosis or passion.

Gina_Bianchini-02-21-2016-0050RT-Grey

“We’re passionate about unlocking a new breed of community entrepreneurs bringing together people who wouldn’t otherwise meet around the things that are most important to them.” — Gina Bianchini

 …

What do 26,000 craft hairdressers have in common?  They come together in their own “identity” network called Hairbrained, powered by Mightybell, on their own native mobile and web apps. Other examples of a Mightybell identity network are Beyond Type 1 and GENDR. These identity networks are literally changing lives for the better by providing crucially needed community connection and support.

The platform comes in four monthly commitment levels from free to enterprise.  Long gone are the days of the uni-dimensional forum! Imagine having what feels like a custom app without a huge investment or programming skills. Mightybell is making this easy, people!!

A Mightybell network helps you connect with other individuals with similar interests, ask questions to real people with real answers, and encourages you to meet community members near you. I have a few ideas for communities I’d love to build on Mightybell. Build yours too — and invite me!

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I’ve had the pleasure of photographing Gina and the Mightybell team over the last several years.  With a focus on community creation, it is no wonder they’re such great group of people.  It’s always a pleasure to meet new members of the team at their offices in Palo Alto.

Thank you, Gina, for being such an inspiration. Congratulations on the success and growth of Mightybell; I’m excited to watch the platform continue to bring people together effortlessly.  This is the best of tech; empowering human connections and literally transforming lives.  Well done.

– Nancy

877-881-7221 | nancyrothstein.comnancy@nancyrothstein.com