Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Quentin Terrentee-Nose . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Quentin , appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
As soon as I was evicted from my internal infant dwelling, I knew I wanted to be a writer and cartoonist — which is why there was so much graffiti left behind in my mother’s womb. I was just bursting with creativity, although my soiled diapers constantly revealed it was something else. At an extremely tender age, I fell in love with TV, movies, cartoons, comic books, story telling, and my mother’s gold high heels — which went quite well with my form-fitting Mickey Mouse jumper. I began storytelling, drawing and imagining myself in all kinds of futuristic adventures, which mostly involved escaping the far-reaching clutches of the IRS. My very first girlfriend, at age 6, told me she just absolutely could no longer handle the outlandish adventures my imagination conjured for us to experience. As she walked away from me forever, I had to remind her that I made her up too. It’s a little heartbreaking to note the large number of frustrated girlfriends my uncommonly fertile, overactive imagination had cost me by the time I was 35. The only good thing to come of it was that I saved a ton of money, because they were all imaginary too.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I, Quentin Terrentee-Nose, am a published author who is in love with trying to make people LAUGH LONG AND HARD — which is why every single page in my newest book has nothing but pictures of me printed on them. Hey, I’m not saying I’m funny looking, because at this one business I frequent, women always want to take me home — mostly because they confuse me with those poor creatures anxious to escape that overcrowded city animal shelter. And I guess it doesn’t say much for me that as I was being birthed, my mother took one look at her newborn and then tried to hang herself with the umbilical cord. Okay, some serious info on me — but be warned that usually when I’m serious, I’m only joking. I was born in Chicago, but curiosity, wanderlust and adventure caused me to do all of the following: travel abroad to live in England and Saudi Arabia; work as a musician (trumpet); become an in-studio camera operator for CBS News/Oklahoma City affiliate, KWTV Channel 9; a production employee for many years at PARAMOUNT PICTURES/Hollywood; a movie actor; a TV talk show audience warm-up comedian; a gameshow contestant/winner on EXTREME GONG, an internationally televised show based on the wildly popular, THE GONG SHOW; and a spaced-out author who loves doing book signings and appearing on TV/radio shows — with or without my parole officer present. My current book, SINUSFELD is a book of cartoons I wrote under the pseudonym, “Quentin Terrentee-Nose”. It centers on a group of noses discussing today’s current topics of concern, with my trademark humorous takes overshadowing any faint hope of approaching seriousness. The numerous reviews at Amazon.com are all 5-star, so far! This book is my baby. It’s just like the TV show SEINFELD — except that it’s completely different. Being on book tour with my most current literary work is a dream come true. And a challenge because in self-publishing, you have to devote yourself to your project from conception to marketing. Some days you just want to cry because of the mountain set before you, such as nerve-wracking edits or extended tour delays because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But as you climb, climb, climb, interest generates. And appearance invites materialize. And you begin to feel like, hey, this just might work!
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, it’s the book-event appearances. I love when people in and apart from the entertainment industry marvel at the diverse topics I write about. I graciously and excitedly accept accolades from anyone. One time a janitor found a copy of one of my books in the trash. He started reading it and laughed so hard that he took it home, and laughed all the way from first page to last, as he tore out each page and lined his parrot’s bird cage with them. With all my varying moods, I use several pseudonyms to display my crazed literary personalities, without having to color-coordinate my pants and shoes to match a court-mandated hospital strait jacket. My real name is Donnell Owens, but I go by “Quentin Terrentee-Nose”, “Chicken Doodle Soup”, “The Man From A N.K.L.E.”, “Fault Dizzney” and a few more. But no matter who I appear as at any book event, the reward is the acknowledgement from book sales that the wonderful shoppers really dig my being way out there. And I love taking goofiness to the extreme as I interact with the public. I can in many cases motivate those awesome bookstore shoppers to roll goofy right along with me! And I have the video to prove it! Cuz, uh, if I get arrested, I’m taking folks with me.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I was on my way to becoming a nurse. I was in training and became the equivalent of a Certified Nurse’s Assistant. Being able to help the ailing is a wonderful and a truly honorable calling. But somewhere along the way it dawned on me that if the only enjoyment I’m truly receiving is during snack breaks, when I lick all the used needles before disposing of them, I might need to try something else. Being creative was always THE thing I wanted to do. I’ve always slept, ate and drank writing — which is why my homework was always soggy when I turned it in to my teacher. I knew I had to answer my own heartfelt calling and keep at it, which brings me to where I am today. Even with struggles, disappointments, more disappointments and sometimes tantrums, I made it into bookstores! In just achieving that personal milestone, it kind of brings a tear to my eye as I think of something my loving mother said to me just before I moved out of her house. She said, “Move out of my house.” Yes, there are challenges and setbacks to borne when pursuing dreams like this, for sure. But if you keep at it and stay true to your passion, some awesome things can transpire as you stick to your journey. I’m self-published nutcase, Quentin Terrentee-Nose, author of SINUSFELD. And I can tell you personally that ordinary peeps like myself can also see their kookiest dreams come true!
**Special thanks to DEUCE BIGELOW film star and NBC-TV/SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE alum Rob Schneider for hanging out with me. Don’t tell him the gun I used to persuade him was made of chocolate — although you’d think he’d catch on when I put the barrel in my mouth and started smacking and moaning.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://legitandbythebook.com/
- Instagram: Icebergtonypublishing
- Facebook: @Donnell Owens