Remembering the First Camp Hollywood By Tam Francis In honor of this year’s Camp Hollywood, I go back in time, into the archives of Swivel: Vintage Living Magazine and tell you what is was like to be at Camp Hollywood that first year (1998)… The First Night Blinking lights beat the rhythm of the Hollywood […more…]
~ Making History Come Alive Through Vintage Sewing ~ by Tam Francis I recently had the honor of playing opposite my daughter in a charming period play called Chicago Gypsies, set in the early 1930s. Sometimes I wonder if they cast me because I know how to sew, but I was cast and given instructions […more…]
~ In Search of Sam Butera ~ by Steve Conrad edited by Tam Francis As I finish work on my ghost story collection I thought I would share an interview Steve Conrad did for my magazine Swivel: Vintage Living. Steve is a dance instructor, producer and deejay. He runs the successful Arizona Lindy Hop Society. […more…]
~ Don’t Be Cheap: Why You Should Spend Money on Your Novel’s Cover Art ~ by Tam Francis I’m on the verge of self-publishing my ghost story collection. This seemed like a no-brainer. Literary agents are not usually interested in story collections and although I found some small presses willing to publish collections, I have to […more…]
~ Short Story Compilation? Learn How to Write Back Cover Copy ~ by Tam Francis As I approach the publication of Ghostoria: Vintage Romantic Tales of Fright, I struggle with writing back cover copy, also known as, the blurb. Many blogs and sites have wonderful advice on writing blurbs, but very few talk about how to sell […more…]
Confessions of a Neo-Swing Dancer: Truth be Told by Tam Francis Writing Isn’t Enough I’ve written a fictional jitterbug novel, the first draft of a sequel and a ghost story collection of vintage, romantic tales of fright. I love old movies. I still wear vintage and sew from vintage patterns, but the truth is: since we […more…]
What’s your Swing Dance I.Q. ? Test your history and Lindy Hop Knowledge here. Are you Advanced, Intermediate, Beginner or Total Newbie? ♦ ♦ ♦ Which Dance Group was Frankie Manning NOT in? Congaroos Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers Rhythm Hot Shots Hot Chocolates The Ballroom Most Associated with Lindy Hop is? The Hollywood Palladium The Savoy […more…]
~ The Biggest Jitterbug Contest in History ~ By Peter Loggins edited by Tam Francis I’m thrilled to share another article by dance historian Peter Loggins. I was fortunate to have Peter on staff when I published Swivel: Vintage Living Magazine. I’m happy to take it from the printed page to the digital world! Take […more…]