AmandaBall
Resume:
Author:
Published novels:
Marriage 101 - pen name Dayne Gearner - published July 2005
To Marry the Millionaire - pen name Dayne Gearner - published August 2005
What Happens in Vegas... - pen name Dayne Gearner - published December 2007
Unpublished manuscripts:
Forever 11:59 - first book in a mystery series featuring the protagonist Carter Thompson
Poetry collection
Reflections on a 29 cent postage stamp - a collection of humerous annectotes
Manuscripts in progress:
Second Carter Thompson book
New mystery series featuring protagonist A.J. Chaney
Financial planning book
Cookbook
Romance novel set in Branson
Sci-Fi novel
Three children's book series
Stage play:
Stage play set in the old west, written with co-writer
Screenplays:
Screenplay about marriage
Screenplay about Texas high school football in the 60s
Screenplay about a fish out of water story set in a foreign country
Screenplay about a hostage rescue situation
Screenplay for western/hi tech/thriller
Journalism:
Spent one year as a staff writer for a weekly newspaper, The North Central Reporter.
Musician:
As a musician, Amanda has written over 330 songs.
--owns and manages a music publishing company, working to bring the music to the masses.
--Is an accomplished instrumentalist proficient on piano, organ, guitar and clarinet.
--Dabbles on banjo, mandolin, bass, accordian, drums
--Is an accomplished vocalist, who can communicate the mood of any song to an audience
--Is an accomplished studio producer, bringing in projects fast, on-time and under budget
--Performs live on special occasions either solo or as a group
--Occasionally performs piano shows-either as a solo artist or as background music
--Accomplished host and emcee of live events
Filmmaker:
As a writer, producer, director, Amanda, in conjunction with business partner Don Krejsek, has produced Two Bit Days, a short film telling the life of a country cowboy working in the city.
Their film company has produced three viewer created commercials, with Amanda behind the camera doing the directing and editing.
Actor:
Man with a Moustache-short film, July 2006
Two commercials for Darkwood Studios-open casting call, December 2006
Extra in Pearl - a feature about Pearl Carter Scott, that is being filmed in Oklahoma in Fall 2008. I was in the cafe scene.
Amanda Ball is a musician, author, filmmaker who has chosen to live a life of the creative arts.
Without art, then what is life?
Life is lived out on the edge, away from form, away from comfort. It's flying by the seat of your pants, and hoping that you get a breather every now and again. It's about finding people who stick by you (and those are few and far between). It's about taking chances, exploring the unknown, living without fear, taking chances, taking risks, and finding enjoyment in everything.
It's about finding the things that make you happy and grabbing onto them with both hands.
Creativity makes me happier than anything in the world.
Biography:
With a can-do attitude that anything is possible, Amanda Ball believes in living life to the fullest. Living a life on the edge is something that most people will never venture out of their comfort zones to do, but Amanda left the conventional comfort zone far behind eons ago.
With parents who support everything she does, even when to the outside world it seems like she's lost her sanity, it's been an amazing ride, a fascinating journey, and it makes one wonder what could possibly be next?
In fewer than four decades on the planet, Amanda has accomplished more than most people will ever dream of, but for her, it's not enough. Where will the journey go? Where will the path lead?
Born in Texas, Amanda started life as a country girl, with a childhood filled with travel and fun; books and learning; horses, cats and dogs, and people who encouraged her to follow her dreams.
Moving to Oklahoma at age 8, Amanda loves both states, and considers both states home. She graduated from Medford high school 4th in her class, and attended Oklahoma State University obtaining a degree in business administration in three years.
Amanda has worked many different "day jobs" trying to figure out a way to balance the creativity with the need to fill the bank account. Every artist knows how difficult it is to find that balance. Along the way, Amanda has worked a variety of jobs: librarian; accountant; secretary; retail; network marketing salesperson; newspaper reporter; and a whole host of crazy odd jobs besides.
It's been her living dream for the creativity to pay for itself, so that she does not have to work an outside paying job. But still, the struggle for the art makes the victories that much sweeter.
Along the ways, she's had a lot of fun, gained a lot of friends, had a whole lot of what could only be termed 'life experiences', owned a lot of fabulous cars, been to amazing places, seen a lot of football games, and cooked a lot of new recipes.
When asked what she'd be if she wasn't a musician/author/filmmaker Amanda answers that she'd be a chef.
Living the fullest in life and love, creativity and pain, joy and heartbreak...Amanda knows that it's all worth it.
So...as you're reading this...go chase your dreams. You might be surprised where they take you.
Favorites
Food: Mac 'n cheese
Meal: Steak and baked potato
Restaurant: Red Lobster
Books: Mysteries
Author: Laura Ingalls Wilder
Television: Deep Space Nine; Simon & Simon; Gray's Anatomy
Movie: Brokeback Mountain - before that the original A Letter To Three Wives
Actor: All time: Robert Redford - Current: William H. Macy
Actress: Thelma Ritter
Live show: Presleys in Branson
Way to spend the day: In freedom
De-stress activity: Driving down an open road
Downtime activity: Playing on the computer
Activites: Cooking, movies, spending time with friends, going to restaurants
Singer: Elvis Presley
Entertainer: Elvis Presley
What is the time when you're most alive:
There are too many to count.
If you didn't live where you live, where would you live?
Italy
Things I'm grateful for:
Love; freedom; the arts; my parents (no one has better parents than I do); V-8 Motors; Blue skies.
People are surprised to find out: ...that I can build a small block Chevy.
Dislikes: Crowds, shopping, small-minded people
Pet Peeves: People who think that just because they view things a certain way, that everyone will view things that certain way.
Songs that absolutely knock my socks off:
Couldn't love have picked a better place to die - Gene Watson
Lovin' arms - Elvis Presley
Kentucky Headhunters - Too much to lose
Willie Nelson - Angel flyin' too close to the ground