The Tale of Hawksworth

At last month's Heavenly Sinnners Writer's Guild, Dulcinea Hawksworth, Bryony's director of marketing Dulcinea Hawkswoth and group founder and coordinator, asked members to interview someone and write about them.

Kristina Skaggs, author of "Dead Serious," which is available for reading on the "Harold Masters" link at http://www.bryonyseries.com/, submitted the following last night after interviewing Dulcinea:


It takes a few tries to get into a head like Dulcinea Hawksworth.  Outwardly, she’s bubbly and talkative.  There are a few taps on her shoulder, a few mental hand-raises to grab her attention, finally she turns, and smiles, and then there she is—all yours.

On the path to becoming an author, there are many trails to get lost on.  For Ms. Hawksworth, journalism came first, then communications, then public relations, all inspired by wanting to write commercial jingles.  One can imagine young Dulci sitting fireside humming along to Oscar Myer with her brother, Doug.  The two create sing-song lyrics about marshmallows, popsicles, and cat litter.  They laugh, giggle and each creates a future based on how the word marshmallow rhymes with the words beef callow.

It wasn’t until college that Ms. Hawksworth came to her first conclusion.  Writing has a purpose.  And her second; free speech comes with a bad grade, if it’s not the kind of free speech your Writing 101 teacher expects.  Feminism, as it turns out, is not an option.  It is necessary.  It is a right.  It is every woman’s dream to be equally expressed as her male counterpart.  Her teacher explained against Hawksworth belief that it should be a blend of one’s personal choices.  Yes, feminism has a time and place, but does a woman need to stand on a soapbox each time a male opens the door for her?  Ms. Hawksworth bonded with her mother’s own experience dealing with biased professors.  She learned early that expressing a point of view is a privilege, not a right. 

After college, Hawksworth dabbled in advertising, media, and impressing the illusive target market.  Currently Duclinea Hawkswoth writes for the Patch.com/Minooka site and helps to realize the dreams of her fellow author friends as their public relations manager. 

What Dulcinea wants: a perfect blend of public relations, marketing, and journalism.  What about a published book?  Not necessary.  For Dulcinea and writing  the more the merrier. 

The Business Brains Behind the Bryony Brand, Part 3

7) What might we find in your CD player?

“The music I like is very eclectic: At this moment - Veruca Salt, Aerosmith, Cole Porter, and meditation music are currently in the cd player- and when I’m undecided the shuffle function on my mp3 always serves me well. I appreciate and enjoy just about everything except hardcore country and rap.”

8) Why did you become involved with Bryony’s marketing?

“Because Denise always pushes back when I push further, and she answers all my questions. Denise is brilliant and makes magic on so many levels, while still managing to keep it together, but I don’t think she realizes that.”

9) What are your goals for the future? For Bryony?

“To move to a warmer climate.” (Giggles). “I want to grow the Bryony brand just to see where it goes. I can envision good things because Denise is such a huge fan of her work—she’s in tune with her inner three-year-old—and who doesn’t want to hang out with a three-year-old child spirit? Because of her crazy work schedule, Denise Unland keeps vampire hours, and when you get to work with vampires, you can stay up all night and watch the sun rise.”

The Businesss Brains Behind the Bryony Brand, Part 2

The second part of the interview with Dulcinea Hawksworth, Bryony's director of marketing.

4) In what types of outreach projects have you participated?

“I created and designed a CD of original music by local artists, Voices, to benefit victims of domestic violence and their children. I developed an outreach program for teens and went into the high schools and talked about the warning signs of domestic violence. A lot of teens start dating at fourteen and fifteen, so it’s too late if we wait until their twenties to start talking about things like dating/domestic violence; the cycle is already established. I’ve organized events and produced plays for V-day. I’ve also been involved with the Y-Me national breast cancer organization.”

5) How do you decide when to provide marketing services for an artist?

“Artists are typically not very good at marketing, but people who are willing to keep art alive hold a very special place in my heart. I like projects that have creative integrity, and I like working with open-minded individuals who are willing to think creatively when it comes to their business and are willing to actually pay attention when I answer their questions. Learning Marketing 101 the first time around is very cost effective. It only gets out of hand [for clients] when I have to repeat myself."

6) Please tell us about your own artistic ventures.

“I love anything tactile; I love the texture of art, which is why I like sculpting. I can sit down and watch a movie with a big glob of clay in front of me and when I’m done it’s a tree or something else I love. I make jewelry; I keep a journal and jot down things as they come; and I like to paint, although I don’t think I’m a very good painter- I get a lot in my hair and other random places.

The Business Brains Behind the Bryony Brand, Part 1

Meet Dulcinea Hawksworth, Bryony's director of marketing.
In this first of a three-part interview, Dulcinea discusses her love for public relations and her marketing style.

1) When did you realize public relations and marketing was the field for you?

“By accident, while working in non-profit. I really liked the fundraising aspect, of being able to help people and work with the community. Ever since I was a small child, my family has always given back. It makes me happy to make enough money to get the bills paid and be able to have that aspect in my life. I’m not a high roller—I don’t live the extreme life—but I get to do what I want to do, and I enjoy the clients I work with.”

2) What unique traits do you bring your clients?

“People have accused me of “Creative Activism”, stirring the pot and rainmaking. Growing a brand is like growing a plant or raising a child… It takes a village, (aka marketing team). You have a seed of an idea, and it’s my job to take that idea and run with it. All of my clients want the same thing: they want me to make them shine. I’ve worked in many facets of the community, which brings us to my little black book. If I can’t do something for a client, I know someone who can.”

3) Why did you gravitate toward community outreach and social justice?

“You’ve got to do what you love. Once I got a taste of it, I wanted to feel good about helping people in the community where I work and live. I’m also an artist, but it’s very, very hard to make a living sculpting in the desert.”