John KixMiller and the Protectors of the Wood Team

Writer John KixMiller is the author of the Protectors of the Wood illustrated ecofiction adventure series. Books 1,2 & 3, Phoebe Comes Home, Phoebe Breaks Through, and The Ghost Girl have been completed so far. He is currently working on Books 4 & 5, Abby & Wendy and The Red Jewel.

On April 28th, 2019, Mary Woodbury, curator at Dragonfly.eco, listed the Protectors of the Wood book series under North America in her article “Around the World in 80 Books: A Guide to Ecological and Climate Themes in Fiction”. In 2019, Phoebe Comes Home, Book #1 was listed as #1 on Goodreads best ecofiction listopia.

With over 82,000 followers on Facebook, the Protectors of the Wood team interacts with fans on a daily basis, and posts weekly episodes and illustrations from the book series reaching audiences all over the world.

The Protectors of the Wood podcast started in 2017 and now includes 123 episodes. It is created by seven voice actors and musicians, and is now on the 4th book of the series, Abby & Wendy. The Protectors of the Wood team is also working on an animated 27 minute film titled Phoebe Comes Home.

The Protectors of the Wood band and podcast team have performed with music and readings at a wide variety of coffee shops, food coop, bookstore, school yard, bars, restaurants, and churches in Brooklyn, New York. Our combination of drama and music is available on our website protectorsofthewood.com (see Creation Care Night) and social media (@protectorsofthewoodbookseries). The Protectors of the Wood Band has released two albums, Spoke word…Unplugged, and The Dreams We Dream. A third album, Heart in my Hand, will be available soon.

JOHN KIXMILLER

"Remember The Kids." -Babe Ruth

John KixMiller worked for thirty years for the Center for Family Life in Sunset Park, serving in a variety of positions at the Beacon Program at PS 503/506, including Beacon Director and Neighborhood Center Director. Over the past five years he developed a gardening program for children as a part of the after school program. He is a graduate of Princeton University, the Wurzweiler School of Social Work, and Farm School NYC. He is the author of A Schoolyard in Brooklyn (The New School, Institure for Urban Affairs), and coauthor with Helene Onserud of "A Community Center Model for Current Urban Needs" (included in Group Work Practice in a Troubled Society).

He is married, the father of two children, and lives in Brooklyn, New York.

TAMARA KACHELEMIER

"Imagination Rules the World" - Anonymous Fortune Cookie

Tamara Kachelmeier is an audio engineer, composer, sound designer, re-recording mixer, poet, pianist, vocalist, social media manager, and producer. She plays Phoebe, Penny, Tiny, and Wendy in the Protectors of the Wood podcast and eco-fiction web series.

Tamara Kachelmeier received a Master of Fine Arts degree in Media Scoring from Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema. She studied music education, voice, piano, audio engineering, music production, sound design, and composition at Brooklyn College, Gustavus Adolphus College, Berklee College of Music, McNally Smith College of Music, MCTC, Full Sail University and The Academy of Art University. She currently runs Ghost Dog Studios, a music and film production company residing in Brooklyn, New Yorkk, and is pursuing a Computer Science degree.

She has written music that has appeared on the History Channel and CNBC. Tamara has also mixed and created sound designs for films that have appeared at the Sundance Film Festival, Big Apple Music Festival, Art of Brooklyn Festival, Comic Film Festival, Art City Short Film Festival, Genre Celebration Festival, Barcelona Planet Film Festival, Court Metrage Festival de Cones and Top Indie Film Awards.

Tamara is an ecowarrior who is fascinated by bioacoustics and is in the process of composing music with plants and brainwaves.

www.tamarazara.com

@ghostdogstudionyc

@tamarazarara

Interview with Illustrator Carlos Uribe

Edited and filmed by Cynthia Dunston www.protectorsofthewood.com

CARLOS URIBE

"An artist cannot live by praise alone."

Carlos Uribe was raised in Queens, New York. He was molded by his impacting, loving parents who instilled a since of pride, morality, artistic expression and political purpose as he began working at age 15 in Manhattan. He grew professionally under the apprenticeship of print shop owner/close family friend whom he refers to as uncle Joe. This is where this young art enthusiast was exposed to and subsequently became interested in print making and graphic art. His work experience there was enriched being surrounded by seasoned artists, musicians and writers, most of whom had liberal perspectives and convictions as they frequented the Uribe home. Hence, the psychedelic turbulent late '60s through the dark avant garde late '80s, were Carlos' favorite eras. This time-span was when art activism, expression and purpose was a sign of the times and paramount in many underground circles. Uribe, who once lived and worked in California and explored theatre, circus performance and even art of fencing, remained on the west coast and moved to scenic New Mexico. He later relocated back to his native New York where he continues to hone in on his art precision and detail while fortifying seeds of brilliant art, be it sketches, paintings, graphics or screen prints.

With advanced college degrees earned in recent years, Mr. Uribe has administered life changing art programs and has taught in Sunset Park, Brooklyn where his presence is noteworthy and appreciated by the community where he now lives and serves.

Interview with Lawrence Tate Illustrator and motion graphic designer Edited and filmed by Cynthia Dunston www.protectorsofthewood.com

LAWRENCE TATE

"Do or do not there is no try." - Yoda

Lawrence Tate is an illustrator artist and motion graphic designer residing in Brooklyn, New York. His eye-catching artwork has appeared in various galleries, young-adult books, and restaurants in New York City and overseas.

Tate is currently working on a cyberpunk graphic novel and an eco-fiction web-series which includes illustrations, graphic design, storyboarding, and motion graphics.

Lawrence Tate attended the Art Institute of New York and has a degree in Multimedia Design. When he is not in front of his computer and drawing desk, Lawrence enjoys watching anime and syfy films.

http://www.t8studio.com

@mrtate02

EDWARD GUZMAN

Edward Guzman was born and raised in the heart of Sunset Park, Brooklyn, where he still resides. His ambition is to explore an array of professional opportunities in the recording and music industry. Edward became keenly aware of this vision at age 14 as he prepared to attend Brooklyn High School of the Arts. It was there where he co-founded the rock group Three Random Words. Known for his soothing and rock-out vocals and prolific songwriting, as in one of DREAMS WE DREAM’s favorite, “I Don’t Wanna Know” (Save Me Sum). He also plays George and Jeremy in the Protectors of the Wood podcast.

Edward Guzman performing "Believe Me Baby"

JOSEPH VITALIANO JR.

Joseph Vitaliano Jr. is an actor / voice-actor with a passion for creativity, story-telling, drama and humor. A native New Yorker and CUNY graduate (Brooklyn & Hunter College), he’s always loved playing characters and entertaining people with voices and accents. In addition to working with the Protectors of the Wood / Pancake Studios team, he is also a graphic designer, artist ( illustrator, cartoonist, sculptor ) and cosplayer.

GABRIELA BAEZ

Gabriela Baez is an electric bassist and audio engineer from Brooklyn, New York. She is completing her first year as a Sonic Arts MFA student at the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema at Brooklyn college where she studies audio engineering and sound art. Gabriela is excited to be embarking on a new path in her audio career by voicing one of the main characters in the Protectors of The Wood book series, Abby. She is passionate about making positive changes in her community by being a teaching artist in the music tech nonprofit Sonic Arts For All and joining the effort to fight climate change with the Protectors of The Wood team.

I Need You © 2019 All Rights Reserved From The Ghost Girl (page 82) Performed by Gabriela Baez and Edward Guzman Written By John Kixmiller Shot & Directed by Cynthia Dunston Edited by Mia Milosevic I NEED YOU Sometimes I'm walking on rainbows Sometimes I'm locked underground But if I hear you say It's all okay There's Nothing compares with that sound I'm lost but now I'm found I care about a lot of things I guess I try and try just to do my best But if it's not right with you There's nothing I can do I'm lost before I begin God help the shape that I'm in God help the shape that I'm in God help the shape that I'm in Just come back to me I'll be yours for free I'll do all the good I can do It's just that I need you Sometimes I'm stumbling through my day And there's no light upon the way There's nothing I can see It's dark as can be Hold my hand and see me through I'm lost if I don't have you -John KixMiller

OLIVIA ROSANE

Olivia Rosane is a freelance writer and editor with a passion for environmental and social justice. She recently earned a Master's in Art and Politics from Goldsmiths, University of London for which she designed a project imaging sustainable communities surviving in post-climate change London. In addition to working with the Protectors of the Wood team, she is also a freelance reporter for EcoWatch.

CYNTHIA DUNSTON

Cynthia Dunston is an aspiring documentarian who is graduating from City College’s Film BFA program in May of 2019. Her focus behind the camera is driven by her passion to use cinematography as a pathway for storytelling. Her hope is to one day work for National Geographic as underwater cameraperson. With Protectors Of The Wood, Cynthia shoots and edits our patreon videos and helps come up with ideas for new content to help the world change the way we treat our environment.

MARITZA PABON

Maritza Pabon is a Graduate of Long Island University with a Masters in Human Resource Management - currently a Manager in a Marketing Engineering firm. She has been a Board Member/Secretary and part of the Worship Team of Brooklyn Hope–Free Methodist Church since 2012. She taught Sunday School to youth from the surrounding neighborhood for over ten years.

She is fluent in Spanish and English being of Puerto Rican descent. She has been part of an NGO in which she translated from the podium alongside Keynote Speakers during International Conferences in Nicaragua, and Mexico and weekly meetings in Brooklyn, New York.

When pursuing an acting interest, she was cast as an Extra on a Woody Allen movie – Radio Days.

Fortuitously, she was looking to make a break into Voiceovers when she was approached by POTW to participate as Dr. Bear, and later, the voice of Glenda.

She counts herself blessed to participate on such a fun, collaborative, and creative effort towards looking for a solution for the current global climate change problems facing us in this world. She belongs to the Sierra Club, and is a fan of Olivia Rosane having recorded a recitation of her poem - “Footprints”.

TOM E. MORGAN

Producer, Arranger, and lead singer of The Protectors of The Wood Band (2014-2019), Tom E. Morgan was discovered by R&B/Blues legend, Johnnie Taylor at age 11. His experience spans from Dallas, New York, Amsterdam, Lucerne, Geneva, Zurich, Germany to Jamaica. He has shared the stage and studio with the likes of Roberta Flack, Meli'sa Morgan, Lenny Kravitz, Bon Jovi, Sandra St. Victor (The Family Stand), Sabrina Starke, and D'Influence.

A native son of Dallas, Tom E. (pr. Tommie) was heavily influenced by Ray Charles, The Temptations, The Spinners, Sam & Dave, Ronnie Dyson, Isaac Hayes, Al Green, Prince, and his favorite, Aretha Franklin. He is a graduate of Arts Magnet School of Performing Arts at Booker T. Washington in Dallas, preceding Erykah Badu, Norah Jones and Roy Hargrove. He later attended Cedar Valley College as a Vocal Jazz Performance major. There, he received master classes from legends like Sara Vaughn and Jazz drummer, Max Roach. He later met and took pointers from his idol, Al Jarreau. Tom E. then expanded his training as a singer/actor/dancer for The Dallas Theater Center, as well as, The Dallas Black Repertory Theater.

After years of modeling for major designers like Ralph Lauren and singing at NYC venues like The China Club, Blue Note, Joe's Pub, Nells and Fat Tuesdays, as well as, appearing on Coca Cola and Carolina Rice jingles, Tom E. Morgan's self-produced debut album is TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT. He is now enjoying the positive feedback and industry rumbles of The Protectors of The Wood Band's latest album, DREAMS WE DREAM.

JONATHAN VERGARA

Jonathan Vergara produced, mixed, and mastered both of the Protectors of the Wood albums (Dreams We Dream and Spoken Word... Unplugged!). He is an audio engineer, music producer, audio mixer and mastered residing in Brooklyn, New York. You can find him working on hit records at Pancake Recording Studios in Brooklyn, New York.

Gideon Chase is a writer and storyboard-artist for Regular Show, a painter/illustrator, and an amateur game-designer. Chase created illustrations for the first book in The Protectors of the Wood Series (Phoebe Comes Home).