Halloween Haunting Art Show – Featuring Jason Dowd

October 29, 2011 Jason Dowd will be the featured artist showing at “Rudolph’s Gallery” in Tarpon Springs, FL.  This show will debut in person some of the new fantasy line and horror lines to his famed series “Dreams, Nightmares, Fears and Fantasy” collection.

“Dreams, Nightmares, Fears and Fantasy” collection has been on display in Hong Kong, China and featured on Tampa Bay’s FOX 13 Good Day Tampa Bay.

Jason will feature these new series:

  • Alice in Wonderland (Fantasy)
  • Tinkerbell (Fantasy)
  • Beauty and the Beast (Fantasy)
  • Urban Legend of Carmen Winstead
  • Angel / Devil – Make a Good Choice
  • Haunting Dolls
  • Evil Clown
There will be food, drinks and entertainment.  On hand will be one of his models Faythe Monbleau performing an interpretive dance coreographed by her to Halloween music.  There will also be a band on hand.
Rudolph’s Art Gallery
39340 US 19 N.
Tarpon Springs, FL
Date:  October 29, 2011
Time: 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Admission:  FREE
You can meet and greet with Jason Dowd, purchase his work or just enjoy it.  It’s also a birthday bash for Jason celebrating his 33rd birthday on November 1st

The 411 on the Blue Man Group

You’ve seen them on TV or maybe you’ve heard friends and family share stories about them. Wide eyed blue men who deliver a concert and live performance on stage without even ever speaking a single world. If your interest in this exotic group has peeked then what better place to see them perform than at Universal Studios City Walk in Orlando! Whether you’re a high school graduate with your friends, a student on summer break, or a family on vacation, The Blue Man group is an entertaining show for all ages and audiences. College students with a valid student ID can get tickets for just thirty-dollars each.  Groups of fifteen people or more can also get special pricing.

 

Did you know?

  • You can get a show customized for your group or company.
  • There’s a Poncho section. It is the first four rows of seats in the theater closest to the stage. If you sit there you will be provided with a poncho to wear, because the performers work with some materials that splash and make a mess. So don’t wear anything that needs dry cleaning. Sitting in the poncho section doesn’t guarantee that you will get splashed but they provide the ponchos as a precaution.
  • There’s a school that trains you to be a blue man. The Orlando Education Center provides training to students in Grade 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12. http://www.bluemantools.com/education/

The Blue Man Group also run their own school. Learn more at the site: http://theblueschool.org

Daniel H. Wilson Talks About Robopocalypse

Interviewed and Written by Jonathan Lamella

What is Robopocalypse about? What was your inspiration for writing it?

Robopocalypse is the epic story of a widespread group of people surviving in a near-future in which all of our familiar technology stops working and starts trying to kill us. Along the way, a lot of badass events occur – things I’ve been wanting to write down for years.

 

When did you first become interested in artificial intelligence? And when did you decide this was something you wanted to study in college?

In college I discovered something called “genetic algorithms,” in which the solution to a problem is literally artificially evolved over time. It’s a small area of artificial intelligence, but once I started learning those techniques I couldn’t get enough.

 

Is there a certain message or idea about artificial intelligence in Robopocalypse that you want to get across to your readers?

I hope the book conveys how complicated and unpredictable human beings are. We are a very difficult species to coexist with. The artificial intelligence named Archos is trying to figure us out, to find a way to live alongside us as equals. Archos determines that force is the only thing we truly understand.

 

What are the most common misconceptions about robotics and A.I. technology?

People often talk about Asimov’s three laws when discussing robots, not realizing that anything written in English has no direct existence for a robot. Machines are programmed in ones and zeroes and they act in the real world – philosophical concepts roll off them like water off a duck.

 

How did you get started as a writer? And when did you know you wanted to one?

I learned a lot about robotics because I love thinking about our relationship with technology. As a natural consequence, I started writing about it. In an incredible turn of good luck, I found that people besides me were interested in reading this.

 

Any advice for aspiring novelist?

Passion goes a long way. Write only about things you know and love (besides yourself).

 

What can fans expect from you in the future?

Next summer my second novel, called Amp, will be released. It’s a standalone thriller set in the near-future, when human beings are starting to incorporate technology into their bodies. And sorry, there are no robots in Amp!

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Daniel H. Wilson is a roboticist, author of several trade books, and contributing editor to Popular Mechanics magazine.

He earned a Ph.D. in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, where he also received Master’s degrees in Robotics and Machine Learning. Earlier, he earned a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Tulsa.

In 2008, Wilson hosted The Works, a television series on the History Channel that uncovered the science behind everyday stuff.

Tugger’s Down by Tommie Lyn Review

 

A demon thirsty for the innocence of a child, a young woman falling in love with a bad boy, and an Aunt who rekindles a relationship with her nephew who depends on her for his very survival.

These are events that unfold in Tommie Lyn’s paranormal novel Tugger’s Down. The story revolves around Tucker, a three year old toddler stuck in a vegetable like state from his constant attacks from an evil sprit called Nudger, who will stop at nothing until he inhabits his body. The book opens with an  intense scene and grabs your attention and refuses to let it go. Tommie Lyn gives us an eery and hair raising description  of the demon Nudger in all his actions and dialogue. The attraction between Lacy and Porter adds a fantastic romantic sub-plot to the story. Although I wish there had been less scenes with them and more with Tucker and Nudger.

I loved all the characters, especially Tucker. I cared for him, worried about his safety, felt the intensity of his fight against the evil spirit Nudger, and rejoiced over his progress throughout the story. The writing is engaging with excellent style and dialogue,  void of cliches, and delivers a relatable human story with love, jealousy, lust, secrets, and family drama. All the characters were full of life and adventure but still set in a believable setting and background. While the story isn’t fast paced or filled with action throughout the entire story, it does keep your interest with the suspense built around the characters and their relation to Tucker.

Tugger’s Down is a clever page turner with well-developed characters and heart pounding suspense.  This a book you will not want to put down and I don’t say this flamboyantly. It can take me up to a month to read a book depending on its quality. I give it four stars!

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tommie Lyn has made her home in the beautiful Florida panhandle for almost 35 years. Her husband of 46 years (and high school sweetheart) retired from the Navy after being transferred there from Okinawa in 1975. Three of her novels and some of her short stories are set in the panhandle.

 

Twitter.com/TommieLyn 

Blog: www.tommielyn.blogspot.com 

Website: www.tommielyn.com

Smashwords: www.smashwords.com/profile/view/TommieLyn

Interivew with Kevin Newsome Author of Winter

Interviewed and Written by Jonathan Lamella

First, I’d like to thank you for taking the time to do this interview. I’m very excited to find out more about you and your debut novel, “Winter.” Tell us about yourself.

Thanks for having me. I’m a graduate student at the New Orleans Baptist Seminary, working on an MA in Theology, specializing in Supernatural Theology. I’m married to my best friend and have two amazing children.Winter is my first published book. I have a short story published in Digital Dragon Magazine and one published at the New Authors Fellowship…both of which will be featured in an upcoming short story anthology being produced by Splashdown Books, featuring stories from all the SB authors. I also have a critical essay published at TheOneRing.net. Links to all of those can be found on my website. I’m also the founder of the New Authors Fellowship. And the one thing people might not expect, but is a big part of my life, is that my bachelor’s degree is in music. In fact, I’ve composed and orchestrated for piano, voice, choir, and even wrote and recorded my own music in the promo trailer for Winter.

 

So tell us about your new novel “Winter” I love the cover. Very mysterious.

What should I talk about first? The cover or the book? Winter is about a Goth Christian who discovers she has the gift of prophecy. At its most basic, it is a story about God’s redemption and restoration of a broken life. There are two story lines: the first shows us Winter’s freshmen year of college, where she’s growing in God and learning to accept his call. She eventually has to face her fears by confronting a Satanic priest in order to save everything she loves about her new life. The second story line shows her freshmen year of high school, where she has to cope with the slow death of her mother, leading to her decline into the Goth subculture and experimentation with witchcraft. These stories are intertwined and parallel, giving you a composite look at the fall and restoration of Winter 

Now for the cover. The talented Holly Heisey put it together for me, based on a concept I pitched to her using an old Japanese horror movie poster as a reference. My talented wife, who’s a phenomenal photographer (www.newsomecreative.net), took the subject photograph…who happens to be the actress in the promo trailer.

 

How did you get started as a writer?

This is becoming one of my favorite questions to answer, and I hope the story doesn’t get old! I began writing at age eleven. My first story was fan-fic of a fantasy RPG video game I was totally into at the time (the original Dragon Warrior for NES). I hand wrote about three pages in pseudo King James English. Why? Because that’s what the video game used, of course. At the time, I was mostly into art and music, but I found that my drawings had stories that needed to be written. By high school, I couldn’t not write any more.

Why did you write “Winter”?

Why do you drink water? Why do you breathe air? I wrote Winter because I had to. I couldn’t help it. I’m a writer. So I write.

 

What do you want readers to get from reading ‘Winter?”

The message of Winter is two fold. First, I wanted readers to see that there’s hope. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in your past or what your mistakes are, God can still accept you and use you. This book at its most basic is about Winter’s life…her decline and redemption. That’s the core of this whole series. The reader gets to see all the mistakes she made in high school, but at the same time how God is using her and changing her in college. It’s never too late to reconcile to God. And most importantly…though it may feel otherwise, God never gives up on you regardless what you may think.

What was your inspiration for writing “Winter?”

A question I get often, that goes along with this, is Why Goth? I knew immediately that I wanted to not only show the gift of prophecy, but to try to show what an Old Testament prophet might look like today. As is pointed out in the book, there’s a difference between having the gift of prophecy and actually being a prophet. Prophets do more than just have visions and dreams…and so does Winter.

But beyond that, and wanted the character to reflect someone God Himself would choose. In the Bible, God almost always chose the least likely. He chose the person no one would expect…certainly the religious astute would never expect them. He chose people like murderers, prostitutes, pagans, ect. And he transformed their lives into something amazing. Why? Because the most unusable of us are the ones who bring God the most glory when used.

In today’s society, what type of person would everyday Christians least likely expect God to use? How about a Goth girl, with a face full of piercings, a chip on her shoulder, and experience dabbling in witchcraft.

Do Gothic Christians really exist? If so, have you talked to them? How did you research them?

Of course they exist. It’s funny how so many Christians can’t seem to reconcile the two together. They think that all Goths are Satanic or Wiccan. But it’s not like that. Goth is not a religion, it’s a lifestyle…a personality type that most people don’t get because they don’t take the time to talk to them. Goth’s are usually more in tune with spiritual matters and the mortality of man than anyone else, and I think Christians could learn a lot from them. Have I talked to them? There is no “them.” They’re people, just like you and me. My research came from my own experience. When I was in high school, there were no Goths. But I was in the group that would have been. And I was a Christian. Several of us were.

Christians should stop getting so hung-up on appearances and spend more time ministering to the inner person. That’s all the really counts in God’s eyes.

 

Why do you think readers are so attracted to super natural fantasy, especially teenagers?

Because they want answers. We are all attracted to supernatural things because it’s real. We can’t help but be attracted to it. But the truth about supernatural things doesn’t often get taught. And so people fantasize about these things, and come up with fantastic tales of what they think or might want the supernatural to look like. Ghost hunting shows abound now. Vampire books and movies are only just the latest fad in supernatural entertainment. Just a few years ago it was haunting type movies. Remember Goosebumps? This stuff has been around forever. There will always be a fascination with the supernatural, because we are supernatural beings. What the church needs to do is provide some sound Biblical teaching about the supernatural world. That’s what young people are hungry for. Answers. And that’s why I’m specializing in supernatural theology.

 

What do you look for in a book?

I’m actually very picky over books. I look for great stories. But to be a great story, you need more than just an awesome plot or memorable characters…you need an awesome story. To me, a story transcends the elements put into the book. It’s something deeper and meaningful. It’s that thing that makes you slowly close a book and sigh. It makes you think about life in a way you’ve never done before. That’s what I want in a book…and great books like that are hard to find.

What is your favorite novel?

Picking one favorite novel is difficult to do. But I’ve maintained the same book as my #1 for many years. The Hero and the Crown, by Robin McKinley. It’s a stand alone fantasy, featuring a female lead in an ever-increasing epic battle. In a genre dominated by the use of a ginormous series, it’s refreshing to still read something that can stand on its own.

To see the rest of my top ten…go here. http://newauthors.wordpress.com/2010/08/25/kevens-top-10-favorite-books/

 

What inspires you as an Author? Where do you go to find inspiration?

Life inspires me. I try to write with a very real, relatable style. That’s because I feel a good story should be so relatable that it becomes a part of your life. I find inspiration in everything things, so that I can relate those small things in the same way I experienced them.

As far as story content goes…what can I say? I’m a day-dreamer. I don’t get inspiration from one source. It comes through music, books, Bible study, everyday life, my children, my wife, my work, movies. I’ll experience something that will spark a question or idea…and then it just grows from there.

I call myself a “crock-pot” writer. Because ideas slow cook in my head for months or years even, until they’re ready. Then I can write. Right now? No less than three books are in the crock pot.

 

What advice do you have for beginning writers?

Write. Write. Write. If you want to be a writer, you have to write. It takes years of practice. Sitting around thinking about writing or talking about it or studying it, does you no good if you’re not applying it. That’s the number one thing. Write. And the number two thing is read. Read books in the genre you want to write. Find writers whose style you enjoy and who you wish to emulate. Devour there words. And then write your own.

Don’t forget to hone your craft. Assume every other writer is better than you, and learn from them. Find some books on self-editing and plot development. Get a mentor.

But you must write.

 

Last question. What can your fans expect next?

Well, the first thing they can expect is to see me in Splashdown Book’s upcoming short story anthology Aquasynthesis. In it you’ll find two of my short stories and a deleted scene from Winter.

Next fall of 2012 I’m planning to release the second book in the Winter series. I’m working on it hard and heavy as we speak. This book takes everything everyone loves from the first book and multiplies it by at least ten.

 

Contact information:

kevennewsome.com

www.facebook.com/thewordcrafter

http://www.twitter.com/kevennewsome

www.youtube.com/kevennewsome

An Epitaph for Coyote by Bryan R Dennis

Review written by Jonathan Lamella

Here lies Henry Pluck — corporate cubicle rat and frequenter of nursing homes. A perfectionist at work and an eater of sandwiches, he drove an import, lived alone in a box, and was virtually indistinguishable from any other office drone in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Daily life and reality come crashing into an adventure in Bryan R. Dennis’s  novel,  An Epitaph for Coyote. I’ll admit this was way out of my usual genre BUT I was surprised to find a great story of fantastic characters, intelligent dialogue, and well crafted scenes that show daily life antics in a way that engages us and sometimes gives us a little chuckle. The characters  live and breathe with each their own individual voice and personality. When they speak you know it’s them. Too many times novels throw us generic and poorly created characters that all sound the same. But it’s obvious that Bryan R Dennis has a talent for making characters that reflect real life but maintain a powerful and exciting voice in a fictional world.

The relationship that spouts between Henry and Rosa keeps us turning the page, wondering what Rosa will get him into next.  I loved the message the story conveyed about waking up to what we really want from life and living our dreams and having a purpose and passion that drives us. Something that lets us know we’re making a difference in the world and with people.  The plot revolves around Henry’s growing relationship with Rosa and how he begins to understand her way of thinking. The plot picks up pace near the end as we slowly discover Henry and Rosa’s fate. This isn’t a fast paced or action filled story, although there are some tense scenes, however, the story is rich with thought provoking ideas that I think more stories should hone instead of just showing mindless action and characters. This is an excellent novel and I highly recommend it. I give it three stars!

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Born and raised in the cornfields of Illinois, Bryan enlisted in the Army upon graduation from High School and served his term overseas. Afterwards he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and enrolled in UNLV’s college of business. It took a degree in Accounting, years of daydreaming in cubicles, and a collection of stories piling up on his hard drive to learn he is a writer and not an accountant. “An Epitaph for Coyote” is his debut novel.

Blog: www.bryanrdennis.com

www.facebook.com/BryanRDennis

www.twitter.com/BryanRDennis

Interview with Whats Up On Thee Websites Jesse Daley

Interviewed and Written by Jonathan LaMella

I recently had the privilege to speak with Jesse Daley, Co-Host of ‘What’s Up on Thee Website and who also has small roles on Nickelodeon’s TV series “Big Time Rush.”  I got to learn more about him, where he’s come from, what he’s currently doing, and where he plans to go in the future.

 

When did you first know you wanted to be an actor? 

I have always been interested in the entertainment industry, however it really wasn’t until a few years ago that I thought I’d give it a shot in the ‘business’ as an actor!

What was your first TV/Movie appearance? 

The first job I had was a being a model for “Motorola” !  It was a print campaign which ended up being international which I thought was pretty awesome!  After that I started being an ‘extra’ on certain shows on networks such as Disney/Nickelodeon, and I’ve slowly worked my way up to some small speaking roles recently!

You’re the Co-Host of “What’s Up on Thee Website. How has that been for you? What’s the best part about it? 

I have LOVED being a part of “What’s Up!”  It is really fun for me to be able to talk about current events, (usually positive ones as there is enough negativity in our world).  My co-host, Jennifer and I have not recorded a new episode in quite a while as we have been busy but we’re hoping to do more episodes in the studio soon!

You’ve been spotted on Nickelodeon’s TV series “Big Time Rush” What’s it like to be contact with the cast?

I’ve been very fortunate to have some small roles on “Big Time Rush”, everyone is extremely kind and welcoming.  The main actors, James, Carlos, Logan and Kendall are really good guys and I’ve become friends with them!

Do you have any long term goals? Plans with future projects, tv shows, movies, ect? 

At this point I am taking everything a day at a time.  I’d love to work on TV shows in the near future as a series regular.  I enjoy comedic roles, as well as some more dramatic/serious ones.  I think being on a soap opera would be kind of fun actually!  The plot lines in those are pretty ridiculous!

 

How do you like to spend your free time? Any hobbies, interest, or activities?

I love the beach!! and I love to surf and skate!

What is your advice to anyone considering a future in acting or any other career?

My advice to anyone and everyone is to follow your dreams.  If you have a goal and work everyday towards it, you will meet it. Also I believe that we all should treat each other with respect. And finally–have FUN.  Life’s awesome..so live it up!!!

 

You can follow Jesse Daley on his Official Twitter page and check out his official website at:

Twitter.com/jessedaley

Jessedaley.wordpress.com

 

Communication Is the Key to Success

As I look through websites looking for artists of all mediums to interview and feature on this magazine, I found it quite a surprising journey; and not in the way you would expect.  What I’ve found is the inability to contact these artists for various reasons.

One major reason is they don’t have a website.  Other reasons are they have a website but fail to have a proper contact page, or they use these forms that fail to work right.

Sadly these talented artists found a way to expose their work yet they will find it harder to excel to the next level because they are improperly using their resources and tools that work for them and their art.  Its frustrating to see this.

Like it or not our world and the way we do business is changing.  Regardless what you think art is still a business, even if you don’t make money at it the goal is to expose your work to the world, and the internet has been the platform that most people rely on and one that can bring you international viewers.

Unlike most jobs art is universal, people can buy your work anywhere anytime; that’s why its key to utilize your resources at hand.

Why is it important for people to contact and talk with you?  As an artist many times you can receive special commission jobs.  These jobs can run more than your normal work because its customized.  In order to obtain these jobs your viewers need to be able to effectively communicate with you.  Another reason is your fans love the opportunity to talk with you because it makes it more personal for them to have a one on one relationship.  It makes them feel special, which in turn brings in more views, fans and requests.

The Excuses

Through out my journey to discover artists I have often asked them my they refrain from posting their e mail.  Believe it or not most of them are afraid of spam and they feel the forms will fight spam better.  WRONG!

My business website for my photography studio has a form.  Believe it or not I get more SPAM from that form than I do anything else.

I hate SPAM more than anything, it is a nuisance I agree but I refuse to let it keep me from my goal or mission with my art.

What To Do

First of all I suggest using a form but still post your e mail address.  As an artist I also strongly suggesting that you never use your personal e mail for communication.

With Google and Yahoo offering free e mail accounts, set one up there strictly for business purposes.  If you get SPAM here, so what.  Most of these e mail services have decent SPAM filters.

Next I suggest placing your e mail as a puzzle.  For instance you can make it look like this, I am using the magazine’s e mail  theexpressionistmag [at] gmail [dot]com.  You can also place the e mail address in an image.  Bots can’t read an image as long as you don’t make the image a hyperlink to mail you.

Why is this important since I have a form?

I have found through asking people directly why they tend to not use a form.  The answer is this… “They don’t believe that the intended person receives the e mail”.  I can see their point of view.  They don’t know if you have an office of people working for you who sees the e mail request and deletes them.  With a direct e mail for you they feel more secure in knowing that you have received your e mail.

Some artists may still have their staff screen their e mail address correspondence too, but its a greater chance that you will receive that e mail that not.

Do yourself and your art a favor and make yourself open to correspondence.  If you are afraid of criticism then let me tell you, you are in the wrong field.  Art is about criticism, and a good artist takes the good and bad compliments and makes it into something positive.

 

 

Niki Taylor: Defying the Odds

The glamorous life of a supermodel is one I could only dream of having.  Jet setting all around the world; sipping expensive champagne from crystal flutes; waking up each and every day with my own team of hair and make-up artists at my bedside; earning thousands of dollars just to smile pretty in front of a camera.  Ah yes, sounds quite alright to me.

For Niki Taylor, life as a supermodel wasn’t always golden.

Niki, who started professional modeling at only fourteen,  was forced into growing up well before her time.  A mother of twin boys by the young age of twenty, and a divorcee just two short years later.  She suffered a heart-wrenching loss and nearly lost her own life.  Cosmopolitan once quoted Niki saying, “I may be 23, but I feel like 50.”

Born March 5, 1975 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Nicole Renee “Niki” Taylor was destined to make it big in the modeling world.  The blonde beauty with the sparkling eyes and broad, blinding white smile had the perfect “All American Girl” look.  While most high school freshmen girls were just tyring to fit in with their surroundings and find acceptance among their peers, fourteen-year-old Taylor already had a highly successful career as a supermodel.  She became the youngest model to earn a cosmetics contract.  At the tender age of sixteen, Niki signed a multimillion dollar deal with L’Oreal and then later on with CoverGirl.  The teen also won the title of being the youngest face to ever grace the cover of Vogue.  Niki had become one of the most recognizable faces in the industry.  “Modeling came naturally to me.  I was just a normal kid who’d fly to Paris or New York City for the shows, then go back to school as if it were what everyone did,” Niki once told Cosmopolitan.

The stunning model, daughter of Ken and Barbara Taylor, grew up in modest suburbia.  The Taylor family lived in Pembroke Pines, which was only about ten minutes from my childhood home and was only seconds away from my brother’s house.  With such close proximity to where I spent much of my time, I often found myself driving by the Taylor residence.  The grass was always a vibrant green and neatly manicured.  Most often there seemed to be a pick-up truck parked out front, and the house, which was nicely shaded by trees, looked happy and full of life.

Ken Taylor, Niki’s father, was an officer with the  Florida Highway Patrol, while mother Barbara worked as a real estate agent.  They eventually left their careers to be with Niki on her modeling jobs.  Joelle and Krissy, the other two Taylor daughters, were just as beautiful and personable as their supermodel sister.  However, Joelle never took to modeling.  Krissy, on the other hand, who was the youngest of the three girls, fell in love with photo shoots and runway.  So much so, she started up her own modeling career and even appeared on the cover of Seventeen with sister Niki.

Despite their glamorous career choice, Niki and Krissy kept grounded.  Friends described the girls as “down to earth” and “unaffected.”  Niki chose to remain close to her Florida home rather than relocate to New York City or Los Angeles.  Growing up near the Taylor girls, I often crossed paths with them when out with friends.  Niki and Krissy attended many of the same parties and social functions as I did.  And once I started college in Davie, Florida, I saw them even more.  We knew all the same people there and went to all the same places.  Krissy, a cowgirl at heart, hung out occasionally at the Davie rodeo; a popular site for all the local college kids, much like myself back in the day.  Niki, too, was often seen at the busiest spots in town.  There she’d be, enveloped by the prettiest and most well-liked girls, and of course, the cutest of boys.  The last time I ran into Niki, she was having dinner with friends at the local Bennigans.  I had just gotten into a fight with my worst enemy (now good friend) that night, and Niki was concerned.  That was just how she was.  She was a true friend to all, caring and selfless.

Life back then for the Taylor sisters was happy and virtually worry-free.  At nineteen, Niki met Matt Martinez, a hunky semi-pro football player.  The two fell in love and eloped.  Shortly after, Niki got pregnant with twin boys.  She gained over 70 pounds, but only three months after their birth, dropped the weight and went back to modeling.  Two years later, Matt and Niki ended their marriage in what was considered by many close to them as a “bitter divorce.”

Then, on July 2, 1995, Niki encountered her worst nightmare.  The young woman walked into her family’s Pembroke Pine home only to discover her beloved sister, Krissy, lying lifeless on the floor.  Niki frantically dialed 911, and Ken Taylor, tried with all his might to revive his daughter.  No one was able to help, however; Krissy had died.  She was only seventeen.  The youngest Taylor girl thought to have suffered a massive and fatal asthma attack, but later was found to have died from a hidden and rare heart condition known as Right Ventricular Dysplasia, or RVD.

Though devastated by the loss of her sister, Niki had to continue on with her own life, which meant motherhood and modeling.  Eventually the stress Niki had been trying to avoid for so long had caught up with her and she turned to prescription drugs such as Xanax and Vicodin.  Niki became depedent on the drugs and was often seen falling asleep while dining out at restaurants.  In February of 2001, the internationally known supermodel, checked herself into a Maryland rehab program, which lasted 28 days.

Niki decided it was best to cut back on her shoots and rather be with her twin boys.  Her emphasis at this point in her life was spending less time in front of the camera and more time as a mother.  And though her modeling career took the back burner, she still was seen as the most famous model of the time.  After all, it was then that Niki earned a coveted spot on the cover of Sports Illustrated and continued to work for CoverGirl as well as Nokia cell phones.

That spring, Niki got invited to visit a few of her friends in Atlanta, Georgia.  In the early morning hours of April 29, 2001, Niki almost lost her life.

James “Chad” Renegar, a stockbroker and a good friend of Niki’s, hit a utility pole while trying to retrieve a ringing cell phone in his car.  It is reported that at least one other passenger, aside from Niki, was traveling in the car at the time of the accident.  The weather that fateful morning in Atlanta was stormy, and the roads were wet, not to mention winding and curving.  Niki, was in the front passenger seat during the low impact crash.  The driver and passengers checked themselves and their car over, and realized they were all fine.  The car only had minor damage and no one seemed hurt or injured in any way.

All was well, or so the friends thought.

Once back on the road, Niki began feeling ill.  Her stomach started to hurt and within minutes, Niki was bent over in extreme pain.  She urged her friend to stop the car and pull over.  “I need to get out and walk around,” pleaded Niki.  By the time they stopped, the supermodel was overcome with pain and became dizzy upon exiting the car.  Collapsing into the wet grass, the last thing Niki could remember was the driver hovering over her and calling 911.  Niki blacked out completely.

The next thing she could recall were all the horrific and terrifying nightmares.  The images in her head still haunt her to this day.  “I was being chased and people were cutting me.  There were grizzly bears and people floating in a pool,” recounts Niki during an interview for the Bio Channel’s Celebrity Close Calls.  Not only were the visuals disturbing, but Niki felt extreme thirst and hunger.  “I saw the Devil trying to take over, and wanting my soul.”

Even after waking, Niki’s nightmares ceased to end.

“I wake up in the hospital then and see my mom and dad, doctors and pictures of my sons,” recalls Niki.  “I remember looking at them and feeling despair.  I wanted to get out of there.  I wanted to speak, but couldn’t.  I could look down and I saw tubes everywhere on my body, including a trach in my throat.”  More than anything, Niki felt paralyzed.  Without being able to speak and move, she had no way of communicating with those around her.  She couldn’t even hold a pen to write a simple note.  The doctor’s explained to Niki that she had been in the hospital for over a month; a total shock to the model who felt she had only been there for a mere moment.

As Niki’s story goes, after her friends called for help while she lay unconscious in the grass, paramedics rushed to the scene and took her to Grady Hospital.  Trauma surgeon, Jeffrey Nicholos had just begun his shift.  He didn’t have much hope for Niki; her prognosis was grim.  Within the first 24 hours, Niki had undergone three surgeries and had to have her blood volume replaced ten times, as she was bleeding profusely.

The next surgeon arrived.  Niki was barely clinging to life at this point.  In the hands of surgeon #2 was Niki’s liver, which had been torn in half.  Apparently, the seat belt which Niki had been wearing while in the car, cut her liver in two.  How ironic that something Niki depended upon that night for saving her life, could ultimately take it away. Niki flatlined; not once, but twice.  Doctors informed Ken and Barbara Taylor to start making funeral arrangements, and discussed moving Niki’s body.

Somehow though, Niki defied the odds.  No doubt there would still be plenty of challenges.  For three months, doctors had to keep Niki’s abdomen open from the breast bone down to the pelvic bone.  Her body only loosely strung together by a set of large stitches, necessary to do for all of her numerous surgeries.  According to Niki, the constant re-stitching and scrubbing of her abdomen was brutally painful.  No amount of morphine could help alleviate the extreme discomfort Niki felt.  She described these experiences as “excruiating.”

In total, Niki endured 41 surgeries in this three month time frame.  In Niki’s second month, she finally was able to write, but was still quite challenged.  She recalls it was very frustrating and could only make out a scribble.  Another hardship were all the heavy pain meds that Niki was on.  She was constantly drowsy and sedated.  The meds were necessary for proper healing.  For if Niki was in too much pain, her body would be unable to heal properly.

The ICU became Niki’s new home.  She spent months there, taking her delicate life day by day.

On her last day in recovery, Niki’s trach was removed.  This was one of her most profound moments while in the hospital.  Niki knew that having the trach taken out meant she was going to live; however, the experience was also physically intensive.  After the trach was removed, Niki recalls how strange it felt to take her first breath, unaided.

For the entire three month duration of Niki’s hospital stay, she never once was able to see her six-year-old twin boys, except in photographs.  Children under the age of ten were restricted from visiting in the ICU.  For Niki, her sons’ absence was “the most terrible thing.”  Niki says she is alive today because of her children.  She wanted to survive for them and the fight she made while in the hospital shows just how much she wanted to see her boys again.  While recovering, Barbara enlarged a few photos of her twins and taped them to the ceiling in Niki’s hospital room so they could be seen each time Niki opened her eyes.  When she could finally see her boys again in person, it was a most joyous moment.  “They ran to my bed; they had grown up so much,” smiled Niki.  “They gave me the motivation to fight.”

After months in the ICU with a sewn up abdomen, having endured numerous surgeries, receiving 100 units of blood and flatlining twice, Niki recovered.  Her once torn-in-half liver, regenerated itself completely.  The organ is the only one of its kind that can heal this way.

With severe liver damage, massive internal hemorraging and a shattered vertebra, no one expected Niki to live.  And during her three months in the hospital, anything that could’ve gone wrong, did.  Doctors never could explain how a low-impact car accident could result in such life-threatening injuries.  After all, Niki was wearing a seat belt, and the car’s estimated speed at the time of the accident was only 28 mph.  There was no evidence of drugs or alcohol influencing the driver’s system.  According to medical experts, only one out of ten could live through injuries of that magnitude.

Niki Taylor’s survival is, indeed, a miracle.

Ten years after the tragedy, Niki continues to model internationally and is now the mother of three, with a fourth on the way.  When not spending time with her children or walking the runways, Niki dedicates her efforts and passion to several charities such as Teen Driver Safety and the American Red Cross, which she fought for while appearing on the hit show, Celebrity Apprentice.

When Niki was asked how she beat the odds, she said there were a number of different factors involved.  “I got through the residual with a strong support system.  I am also thankful for good doctors and all the donated blood.”  And, of course, for Niki, her twins played a pivotal role in her recovery.  Niki knew she had to be strong and keep fighting on their behalf.  She also believed in the “power of prayer.”

Perhaps it just wasn’t Niki’s time to leave this Earth; God had other plans for her.  Or maybe, Krissy, Niki’s late sister, had something to do with her fate; heavenly intervention, if you will.

Today and everyday, Niki is reminded of her accident.  She still bears the physical scars.  For whenever she looks in a mirror when getting dressed, the memories of her nightmare penetrate her mind.  She remembers the pain, her helplessness, and her fear.  But with the bad, trickles in the good.  Niki knows just how incredibly lucky she is to be alive.  In her interview with Cosmopolitan Niki was quoted to have said, “I’ve been through a lot, but everything has been a learning experience.  It’s made me a much wiser, stronger person.”

Life is fragile, and no one understands that better than Niki Taylor- supermodel, mother and survivor.  The incredibly gracious Niki states, “Every day is a gift.”

Kim’s Tip of the Week: Vitamin Power

I used to love those little Flinestone vitamins as a kid.  I’m not talking about the gummy variety found on shelves today, but rather the ones that were hard yet chewable.  Delicious, and almost candy-like as far as I was concerned.  I took two a day as a child growing up, but then once I entered my teenage and young adult years, it was “bye-bye” vitamins.  Now, as a 35-year-old woman, I have come to realize the great importance of these little miracle pills.

Vitamins come in many shapes, textures and flavors these days.  For those “kids at heart,” there are adult gummies.  Tasty enough for my preschooler, but full of just the right minerals and supplements for me.

Before my pregnancies, I filled up daily on folic acid.  I strongly recommend this for women looking to have a baby.  It’s a great prenatal.  Once I became pregnant, I made sure to regularly take my doctor recommended vitamins which were essential for the baby and for me.  Even after pregnancy, it is important to use a vitamin, especially if you are nursing.

Last year, I became very dependent on my vitamins and began specifically using Vitamin C, after being diagnosed with a reproductive ailment.  It was amazing how quickly I recovered once I started with my daily vitamin regime.  Although I have recovered, I still use a vitamin each and every day.  Not only do they keep me healthy and full of energy, but they are amazing for my skin, nails and hair.  My skin looks radiant, and my hair and nails are growing like crazy!  I use a multi-vitamin specifically designed for women.  A vitamin of this kind addresses women’s special needs, such as breast and reproductive health.  In addition, I take Vitamin D3.  There have been recent research findings showing a link between breast cancer prevention and this vitamin.  I also make sure to continue with Vitamin C, as this supplement helps tremendously with one’s immunity and with preventing various types of cancers.

So, if you are looking for a happier, healthier, and prettier you, be sure to use a vitamin daily.  There is one out there for each and everyone.  And if you find yourself becoming nauseous after taking your vitamin, be sure to pair your pill with food.  My suggestion is to take your vitamin either at lunch time or before bed, when your belly is more full.

Be well, be beautiful, girls!

xo-Kim