may-akda and Pagsulat coach Randy Jernigan is not a man who likes to sit on his laurels when there's something that needs to be accomplished.

With his newest book's success ebbing, The Life and Career of Marie Osmond, the may-akda is about to release a segundo celebrity sketch in his "Stars" series, on comedian Ellen DeGeneres.

Upon meeting up with Randy at his paborito Asian eatery on a beautiful Sunday morning in his tahanan state of Utah, we hug, exchange pleasantries (I can't help but gasp that my friend has Nawawala an enormous amount of weight--180 pounds to be exact) then we enter the establishment and take a seat.

My intention for this interview is simple--to get up close and personal with the man that inspired me to write professionally. I first met Randy seven years nakaraan when I took his creative Pagsulat class at his Writers Studio of Utah, where I lived at the time. So much in my life has changed since then--for the better, I might add. I'm now a professional writer, living in New York City and actually making a living at a craft I'm very passionate about.

What made you decide to leave magazine Pagsulat and would you ever consider going back?

"I began to feel that I had gone as far as I could go as a writer in that genre. I loved what I was doing. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for the opportunity that I was ibingiay to write for everyone of those magazines, but as you well know, a writer needs to keep growing and climb other mountains. There were other genres I wanted to work in and perfect.
One thing I've always taught my Pagsulat students is that you need to develop your talents in other genres so that you don't stagnate.
Would I ever go back to Pagsulat for magazines--I've learned to never say never. I'm very grateful for the experience and If I find something to write about I'm sure I would ibigay a lead into one of the editors and maybe they'd want me to do it. Who knows?"

When you announced your "Stars" book series, the tabloids seemed to attack you--was that a bad experience for you as a writer?

"It was the worst time of my freelancing career. The first names we announced were Daniel Radcliffe and Ellen DeGeneres and right from the start the tabloids went on attack. I hated waking up in the morning and turning on my computer because I knew there would be some terrible story, accusing me of saying things I never said. One tabloid accused me a saying Dan was an alcoholic and drank on the Harry Potter set. Another accused me a saying that Ellen and Portia were filing for divorce and couldn't get along. Nothing could have been further from the truth. One online rag actually sinabi that they had an advanced copy of my Ellen book and that I had sinabi such and such--when I hadn't even written the book yet.
Most of my mga kaibigan that know me well, know of my affection for both Dan and Ellen and that I would never have written such things.
It was a terrible time for me. Even after I published my Marie pamagat several haters began posting mean-spirited comments about it, all because of the influence of those tabloids. Was just a terrible time for me but I made it through."

I hear you're going to reopen The Writers Studio--is that true?

"I'm seriously considering it. I think there's nothing I pag-ibig madami than working with new writers. I've been working with Les Bailey of late. He's a spectacular may-akda and has such a passion for his craft that he inspires me to be better at it. He came to me a while back and asked me to help with his new project, The Vampire Game--it was so amazing that I just wanted to be involved. I do some press work and oversee publicity for the project. I'm so proud of Les--his talents are so amazing and he's such a great guy. I've totally fallen in pag-ibig with him. All my writer have a special place in my heart."

I recently read that you're working on a new telebisyon project about God for a British market. What can you tell me about this project?

"Not a lot, just because it's not customary to spill too many beans about TV projects. But I'm thrilled to get to work on a telebisyon project again. Especially for a British market--you know I pag-ibig anything English! It's working pamagat is God, Faith and Humanity and it's a look at how people's faith in a higher being has the power to effect mighty change in people's lives. I'm right in the middle of working on it now--I'll keep you informed about its progress."

What payo would you give a new writer that wants to get serious about his or her craft?

"Find a good Pagsulat class and get involved. I've found that when you get a group of writers in one room the synergy is nothing less than amazing. It can inspire you to new heights and lead you in the right direction. Always write about things you have a passion for. My best selling book was Losing to Win! My book where I tell my story about my weight-loss and new way of living. It was a subject that I had a serious passion for so I you could see the passion in my writing.
And never give up on your Pagsulat dreams!