Sheep Interview: Cover Model Jason Vendryes + Giveaway

Check out Jason's theme music

Do we have a treat for you today! Everyone has checked out Jaci Burton's smoking hot cover for Taking A Shot. Well those abs are here, right now! They are attached to one of the most charming and sweetest guests we've had, Jason Vendryes.

girl, look at that body, he works out!

Sharon: Welcome to the Flock Jason *passes a tray of moonpies and grape Kool Aid* Here is the flyswatter…um, you will know what to do with it when the time comes.*cuts eyes to Katie and kicks roll of duct tape under the table before guest gets worried*

Katie: Now, now Sharon I will as ever be on my best behavior.

*Sharon looks at Jason, then fly swatter and back to Jason. gives curt nod*

Jason: I'm happy to be here. Thanks for the invite!

Sharon: For our fans who don’t know you, can you tell us a little about yourself

Katie: And please take your shirt off while you do it. Fear not, this is what we ask all our guests to do. *nudges Sharon, hard*

Jason: Well, who am I to argue your customs here at I Smell Sheep? Here's my shirt. Katie, you can keep it, I have more at home.

Katie: *stuffs shirt into purse*

Sharon: *hangs head*…so embarrassing..

Jason: Now, for your readers who don't know me: I'm an American actor and model. I've appeared on shows like The Beautiful Life: TBL, Big Lake, Bravo's Fashion Hunters, Dr. G Medical Examiner, Dog Bites Man, and Disney's Ultimate 10 as well as a few films such as the recently released W.E. On the modeling side, I've been in multiple fitness magazines, walked runway for Nike and Adidas, and shot print work for several swimwear and underwear companies. I can also be found on the cover of Jaci Burton's new book, Taking A Shot, which was released earlier this month and is already on the USA Today and New York Times Bestseller lists!

Sharon: Have you been on any other book covers or was this your first?

Jason: I was on the rerelease of Prince of Wolves, making Taking A Shot my second cover, but my first original release.

Sharon: *runs to google cover*…oh! Niiiice….

Katie: Would you like to continue doing book covers and how did you get into this to start?

Jason: I'd love to do more covers! I've been asked to do several others, but sadly my schedule conflicted with the shooting dates. As far as how I started, I was just in the right place at the right time. I was fortunate to meet some people who took a liking to me and helped get me started in the business. I booked the cover for Taking A Shot from some of my photos online.

Katie: You do know that the women who read these genres are a lusty bunch? Not me of course, no I'm all about class and never do I cross boundaries- Oh my! How did I end up sitting on your lap? Silly me, well since I'm here we can just continue on with your answers.

Sharon: *points at swatter*

Jason: I never took you for being part of that lusty bunch, I could tell your level of class right away. I must say, I'm quite impressed by Katie's sly moves! It’s not often someone sneaks on my lap while I take a quick glance away.

Sharon: Which Disney Princess would you like to date?

Katie: I would like to add that you can nominate anyone as a Princess, like let's say the two fine gals in front of you. *winks* Your choice of course.

Sharon: *headdesk*


Jason: Ha! This is too funny!! I attended the University of Central Florida, which is close to Disney World, and I actually went on a couple of dates with a few Disney Princesses. Nothing against either of you... I met them first. Maybe we can get Disney to make their next princess movie about you two!

Katie: Yes I can see it now "The Smutty Princess and the Girl with the Optimus Prime tattoo". Should be a hit!

Sharon: er…yeah, I have a thing for Optimus, but you didn’t answer the question Jason…are you a Mulan/Pocahontas type or Cinderella/Snow white type?

Jason: oh yeah, the question! I'm more of a Belle/Ariel kind of guy. Well, completely human Ariel. Half fish would be deal breaker for me.

Sharon: What music do you listen to while working out? Driving in your car?

Jason: I listen to a wide variety of music no matter what I'm doing. Today I was listening to Rival Sons and Led Zeppelin in the gym. Just now in the car I was listening to Jack Johnson's Pandora station.

Sharon: You do a lot of charity work. Which ones do you work with and why?

Jason: I hold a dear place in my heart for Give Kids the World, Dreamflight, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation and really enjoy being in a position to help add brightness to the lives of those kids and their families. I work closely with an organization called ReCreation based out of Asheville, North Carolina. They rebuild homes for people who desperately need it but otherwise couldn't afford it on their own. The great part is that its groups of middle school and high school students coming to work on the homes, so you get to help someone in need and teach kids some useful life skills. I was part of a youth group that went each summer growing up, so I was once one of those middle/high school students. I also donate and have helped raise awareness for charities like the UN RefugeeAgency and Artists for Peace and Justice.

Sharon: Great causes! Are you from the Asheville area? I have always lived in NC, love it!

Jason: No, I grew up in Wellington, Florida. I did go to North Carolina twice a year, aside from my ReCreation visits. I'd go skiing at Beech & Sugar Mountains in the winter and white water rafting & camping in the summer.

Sharon: Do you have any thoughts about model stereotypes? Has it been an issue for you? Do you think female models have it harder or easier in the industry?

Katie: Is this a bad time to start stuffing bills in his pockets? Yes. No?

Sharon: *picks up swatter and whacks Katie* Sorry about that Jason…

Jason: Ohhh, so that's what the fly swatter is for! I've had some stereotype issues creep up. A few people have told me they were surprised I wasn't a "meathead" and I've read some interesting interpretations of my personality based on my photos. I think like any stereotype, some people fit into those formulas but most do not. I don't believe women have it more or less difficult than men in the world of modeling. Some jobs are for guys, some for women, and then we're all putting ourselves out there to be judged.

Sharon: If you could have a theme song play every time you enter a room, what would it be?

Jason: Jason Mraz's "Living in the Moment" would be my theme song. I believe he's putting it on his new album which releases next month, but I'm sure you can find it on YouTube already. You should check it out; such a great song.

Katie: Has anyone ever told you that you look a lot like Eric Banna?

Jason: Yeah, I've heard that before.

Katie: Does it creep you out? If not can I pull out this rugby uniform, I just so happened to have in my purse, and can you do a little Aussie accent?

Jason: Not at all, where's the uniform? Arvo mate, lets get on the turps and throw shrimp on the barbie at knock-off time.

Sharon: Haha! He could be the next Crocodile Dundee, just younger…and cuter J

Katie: *passes out*

Sharon: You probably run into celebrities in your line of work. Had any fanboy moments?

Jason: I got to hang out with Michael Jackson a couple of times and managed to keep my cool while I was with him. Afterwards was a different story. Once I actually processed it, I was like, THAT WAS MICHAEL FREAKING JACKSON and had my freak out moment and called everyone I knew. I think my only ungraceful celebrity encounter was with Susan Sarandon. I was talking with a friend at a party in New York and she walked up out of nowhere, started talking to us, and we both froze like deer in headlights. It was quite embarrassing.

Katie: Did you do the Moonwalk for him?!

Jason: No, I probably would've fallen on my butt if I tried! I did get to put on his sequenced glove! That thing was a lot heavier than I imagined it would be. Not that I really spent much time thinking about the weight of Michael Jackson's glove.

Sharon: Is there a natural wonder of the world you would like to visit or a place that leaves you awestruck every time you see it?

Jason: I really want to explore the pyramids of Egypt one day. I'm always awestruck whenever I visit Red Rock out in Vegas or the Grand Canyon.

Katie: Does this also mean you like to 'climb on'? Sharon! Don't look at me like that! This was an innocent honest question a term for climbers!

Sharon: *grabs duct tape* excuse me Jason, Katie and I are gonna have a moment…

Jason: You two crack me up! Sharon, Katie is completely right though, that's an actual term. I've been to an indoor climbing facility called Climb-On. So yeah, I guess I do.

Sharon: Oh, crap! You just threw gasoline on the fire that is Katie….

Katie: What’s a passion you have outside of the modeling world?

Jason: I love traveling to new places. I just got back from a trip to Singapore and Indonesia. It was my first time in Asia and it was so much fun! I got to try new foods, meet a ton of interesting people, and even got to ride an elephant! I also like playing beach volleyball, rock climbing, and playing my guitar. Of course, nothing would be fun without sharing it with people I cherish.

Katie: So, for the ladies who wonder…does that mean you have someone "special" in your life to share these experiences with?

Jason: I have a lot of special people in my life, especially my mom and dad. They're my number one fans. They were actually up visiting me this past weekend. They kicked off my love for traveling when I was a kid. They were always taking my sister and me to new places.

Sharon: Jeez, just when I think you can’t get any more perfect…yay! for great parents. Mine rock too

Sharon: If you could eat only one food for dinner for a year, what would it be?

Jason: Is this post modeling career? I think I could eat pizza every day, as long as I could vary the toppings. Oh, and moonpies with grape Kool Aid.

Katie: Jason, you do know that flattery will get you everywhere yes?

Jason: Why, whatever do you mean?

Sharon: *smacks Jason and Katie with fly swatter*

Katie: Now it's time for some rapid fire questions! Jason, sit back don't worry about the blind fold we are placing on you *evil laugh* and answer with the first thing that pops up. Ready? Go!

Katie: Chick flick or Action packed?

Jason: Action packed

Sharon: got a favorite?

Jason: I like comic based movies: Iron Man, Captain America, Batman, Transformers, and Kick Ass. Of course, there's a total 80s side to me that loves all the Schwarzenegger, Stallone, and Willis flicks too.

Sharon: yes, my friends…he just got more awesome!

Sharon: moonlight or sunlight

Jason: Sunlight

Katie: Do you sparkle in the sun? hehe

Jason: I body doubled for Taylor Lautner once, so I guess that makes me more of a werewolf... no sun sparkles for me.

Sharon: score one for the shifters! Woot!

Katie: Hard candy or Chewy?

Jason: Chewy... sourworms... mmmmmm

Sharon: bungee jump or cliff dive?

Jason: Cliff dive

Katie: Coke or Pepsi?

Jason: Neither, I don't like soda

Katie: Jason my sweet, sweet man. We are having a Coke vs. Pepsi war going on so if you HAD to pick one which would it be? *mouths the words PICK COKE*

Sharon: *slaps duct tape over Katie’s mouth*

Jason: Actually, I would pick Coke. It’s more of an American classic. Plus, I crack up at those polar bear ads.

Sharon: *sob*

Katie: YES!

Sharon: Bert or Ernie?

Jason: Bert

Katie: Time Travel or Space Travel?

Jason: Time

Sharon: If you could go back in time, when and where would you go?

Jason: classic Hollywood era, 20s and 30s. There's something so romantic and magical about that time period to me. I love watching all those old films.

Sharon: flip flops or deck shoes?

Jason: Flip flops

Katie: Horseback riding or Cow Tipping?

Jason: Horseback riding

Katie: Shirtless? Sharon! Stop hitting me with the fly swatter!

Jason: OUCH, that one looked like it hurt! I'd totally be shirtless, unless it was freezing out. I hate being cold!

Sharon: puppies or kitties?

Jason: puppies

Katie: Godzilla or King Kong?

Jason: King Kong

Sharon: horse or Harley?

Jason: Harley Night Rod Special

Katie: Wow he even has it picked out!

Jason: Yes! I have my motorcycle license. I don't ride too often, but when I do, it’s a Can-Am Spyder. They're pretty fun, but I want a Night Rod!

Katie: Sexy blonde or Sexy brunette? (On yeah I made him pick ladies!)

Jason: Sexy brunette

Katie: My heart is breaking. I just heard it crack right in half. *pouts*

Jason: You made me pick! I really don't have a preference, there's a lot more to a person than their hair color.

Sharon: Mary, Mary Quite Contrary or Mary with the little Lamb?

Jason: Mary with the little Lamb of course!

Sharon: Okay, now you are just sucking up…here have another moonpie

Jason: No sucking up here. The choice is simple; a Mary who is stubborn or one that has a pet lamb. I'll choose the pet lame; Mary Quite Contrary sounds too dramatic for me.

Katie: Sexy Librarian or Sexy Cop?

Jason: Sexy librarian

Sharon: Anything you would like our readers to know about, upcoming appearances, movies or charity events?

Jason: Unfortunately, I am working on several projects at the moment but none have been officially announced so I can't talk about them... yet.  Once I'm allowed to reveal more information, I'll be posting it there.

Your readers can follow me on

 Twitter and Facebook.

Katie: If an author or agency wanted to book you would they find that information on your website?

Jason: Yes, they can visit jasonvendryes.com to get all of the appropriate contact info.

Sharon: Thanks for taking the time to talk with us!

Katie: Yes, thank you Jason and don't worry all clothes will be returned to you before leaving.

Jason: It was my pleasure. Like I said, you can keep the shirt. However, I'll be needing my underwear back. How you got them off without removing my pants or without me even knowing is beyond me!

Katie: I'm that good Jason. *winks*

***GIVEAWAY***

Jason will send a lucky winner a signed picture PLUS Jaci Burton is offering a copy of Taking a Shot to one winner.

To enter:
1. Leave a way to contact you
2. If I gave you $100 to donate to a charity, which one would you pick?
*double entries for followers

P.I. Barrington blog tour guest post + giveaway

Today we are handing the blog over to author P.I. Barrington. She is going to tell us what she finds difficult to write about. We are just one stop on her Isadora Daystar book tour. Be sure to check out the other stops listed at the bottom of this post.

When drug addled assassin Isadora DayStar finally snags a major interplanetary killing job, she thinks it will both support her habit and revise her status as the laughingstock of her profession. Instead, she embarks on a journey that brings her face to face with her tortured past.

Before I get into the nuts and bolts of writing, I'd like to thank you Sharon for allowing me to join you!

Most authors have areas that they find difficult to write except perhaps Stephen King whose longest stretch of writer's block can't be more than fifteen seconds, lol! Joking aside I think the hardest part of writing for me is when I have a character that is debased in some way. Not all my characters are debased, but many times I have to take them to places they and I don’t want them to go. Isadora DayStar is the ultimate example of that in that she's a drug addicted ex-military prostitute when she can't succeed at assassin jobs. It almost sounds comical but it's the furthest thing from that. At the basis of her downward spiraling life is a tremendous amount of guilt—which I find is one of if not the greatest motivator for people's behavior good or bad—and she tries to bury it by ironically using the same drug that caused the guilt in the first place. To that end, she has to engage in any and all behavior that will get her that drug, anything to feed the addiction that keeps the guilt at bay and that includes prostitution of the most awful kind. Those scenes are hard to write but even harder to think about in the movie in my head.

I think that the way I have to work through those scenes is a sort of method acting, you have to get into that character's head; what she (or he) feels especially desperation, fear or utter humiliation in Isadora's case. It's almost a cycle: the more you get into her head, the worse it is to write it all out. Yet you can't shy away from it—the story has no point otherwise. Sometimes you can feel the humiliation even as you write or as the scene develops in your brain. You can hear the dialogue and how it's being said, the little quirks as the character speaks or acts. But I'm not talking about graphic details of the acts of prostitution—I'm talking about something worse: shame. For me as an author, it's pretty much all about psychology—the things that everyone feels or does; good bad or ugly. Everyone feels shame or humiliation in their lives—it's something that the readers know and can identify with character because they know what it feels like. Those real emotions, the real inner conflicts are the true story. To be true to your work you still have to sit down and write it all out; it's kind of cathartic. Once you get the hardest part done, it usually becomes your favorite because it usually is the best part of your writing—the most intense and effective for your reader as well as yourself. It's difficult to write those scenes—sometimes extremely difficult—but I think that's where your best writing comes from—the hard part.

Finding P.I. Barrington

website-FB-twitter

***GIVE AWAY***
You can win an ecopy of Isadora Daystar!

1. Leave your contact info

2. Tell us which space ship you would like to hitch a ride on? (ex. Enterprise, Serenity, Millennium Falcon...)

Contest ends: April 14 at midnight

Tour Schedule
March 31 http://closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogspot.com

April 1 http://francespauli.blogspot.com

April 3 http://ismellsheep.blogspot.com/

April 5 http://beauty-in-ruins.blogspot.com

April 6 www.readingreality.net

April 9 http://noraweston.wordpress.com

April 11 http://livetoread-krystal.blogspot.com/l

April 12 http://sweetsouthernhome.wordpress.com/

April 14 http://amdase.blogspot.com

2nd Annual Boogity Boo Awards

[The coveted Sheep trophy]

Boogity Boo Awards 2012

To celebrate the two year anniversary of I Smell Sheep we once again bring you the ever loved and most coveted Boogity Boo Awards! The Boogity Boo Awards are held annually to honor all the wonderful folks who took time out of their busy lives to interview with us. We thank you and give each of you the opportunity to win one of

four coveted I Smell Sheep trophies. In addition our site will donate a sheep, in the winning authors' names, to a third-world family in need through the amazing organization World Vision.

As you, our Academy, makes your vote you will also be entering for a chance to win a $20 gift-card from one of the following: Amazon, Barnes & Nobel or the Book Depository.

Honorable Mentions~ I would personally like to first and foremost thank my Mother, Linda Dalton, for taking the time to let me interview her in 2011. She had hopes of becoming a children's author but passed at the beginning of this year. It's my wish and gift to her that some day soon I will be able to indie publish her book. I love you from the depth of my soul and miss you every day, keep dancing until I get there!

Pearls Cast before McPig for the constant support and friendship, Liz at Fictional Candy for being the badass mama she is, our Facebook group you all know how awesome you are, Joleene Naylor for including us in her Lot's O Links, a lot!

Four nomination categories are listed, you will be required to enter your vote for each one. Once your vote for each has been placed you will not be allowed to vote again. Let's keep things fair and let the winners get the glory of a clean win! Now here's an example of how to vote in the Rafflecoptor form below:

EXAMPLE

Funniest Rapid Fire: 1

Best Response taken completely out of context: 6

Sexiest Book Couple: 4

That's just...cool: 5

Let the voting begin!

Sexiest Book Couple

1. Dani Harper- Connor & Zoey

2. Larissa Ione- Arik & Limos

3. Karina Cooper- Silas & Jessie

4. Lisa Kessler- Caslisto & Kate

5. Stephanie Rowe- Nigel & Natalie

6. Keri Lake- Colton & Allie

7. Alayna William- Harry & Tara

Funniest Rapid Fire Response

1. Gini Koch- {writing as her character}Night In or Night Out? I live with Jeff Martini. Night. IN.

2. Marjorie Liu- Grey Skull or Autobot City? Autobot city. Absolutely, unequivocal, Autobot city. I would polish Optimus Prime's windshield anytime.

3. Merrie Destefano- Cake or Pie? Love them both-I can't choose! This is like Sophie's Choice. Okay, I confess: CAKE! With lots of frosting.

4. Sean Cummings- Polar bears or Grizzly bears? Yaks. We don't appreciate them enough and that's a crime frankly.

5. Todd McFarlane- Super Brains or Super Power? Super Brains. Because super brains would hire the super strength guy to work for him. Every time.

6. Christina Henry- Y'all or Yous guys? I'm originally from New York, yous guys!

7. Elizabeth Kolodziej- Edward Cullen or Bill Compton? Bill Compton over a sparkly virgin vamp any day!

8. Sean Page- DC or Marvel? Both, comics are the supreme art form.

Best response taken completely out of context

1. Caris Roane- I still feel guilty, but why, why, did he have to come into my house?

2. Wayne Simmons- I would eat the brains of a braineater.

3. Robert Kroese- As I type this, I'm listening to Night Ranger.

4. Shawn Kupfer- Either the guy with the elephants or the guy with the sweet black van and the cigar.

5. Scott Nicholson- I wound't sleep with anyone who might kill me. At least, not anymore.

6. Crista McHugh- Definitely NOT the chilled monkey brains from Temple of Doom.

7. Linda Poitevin- So THAT'S what the vibrating sheep were all about!

8. Dawn Chartier- I love giving people happy endings.

9. Sherry Soule- So far, I've had a bat, wolf spier (these spiders are HUGE), salamander, lizard, slugs, black widow spider, and a centipede.

That's just...cool

1. Amber Scott- It left a deep, vacuous hole that only hunky men and magic could fill up.

2. Kevin Hearne- But you know that lizard thing that Obi-wan was riding around in the last movie? I totally want one of those.

3. Michele Hauf- I LOVE a faery dude.

4. Dan Abnett- I don't think you could empathise much with a real trigger-happy bastard.

5. Following the Nerd- Yesterday's nerd is today's norm.

6. Renee Pawlish- I fell in love with Elvis when I was in high school.

7. Chris Strange- I get a little too aggressive with glitter.

8. Jason Barret- Elvira. I loved that long black hair and that push up bra!!

Awards are open to EVERYONE and end April 30th at midnight. Spread the word for your favorites!