As previously mentioned, I was nominated for the Sunshine Blog by @LMBryski, an LOL-inducing Canadian who loves food as much as I do. And she saves lives. Literally. She’s an ER doctor! Bless her heart. Her first novel Book of Birds comes out in a couple of months, too. I’m telling ya, this one’s going places, folks.
So, first, I answer some questions given to me. Second, I nominate others and give them some questions to answer. Yeah… about that second part. I’m kind of a recluse, see, and that not only goes for real life, but also the Internet. The only two people I’d feel comfy nominating have already been nominated to do the Sunshine Blog. I’m going to have to think on that last part for a bit and see who I can come up with. In the meantime, and without further ado, my answers…
What is your advice to other writers that has helped you?
Oddly, the advice that has helped me the most came from a complete stranger, over Twitter. Unfortunately, she wasn’t very nice about it, which, being the delicate, thin-skinned newbie that I was (and still am) sent me scurrying back under the covers for days. I was a mess… flipping it this way, flopping it that way, holding it up to the light… but eventually I came to the conclusion that, however rude and insensitive her tweet had been, she was right. Her advice? I’m paraphrasing, but it went something like this: Stop worrying about what other authors are doing, get off Twitter, sit your ass down and write.
Don’t get me wrong, social media is important, integral even, to what we’re all trying to achieve here, but it also has the potential to be a crutch for our ever-present insecurities to lean on, am I right? So, whenever I start getting sucked into the black hole of social media, I picture myself as a bedraggled woman in ratty slippers and a coffee stained housecoat surrounded by an old typewriter and waist-high crumpled sheets of paper and rejection letters barking:
LISTEN, SWEET CHEEKS, YOU WANNA BE A PUBLISHED AUTHOR? THEN GET OFF THE TWITTERS, SIT THE EFF DOWN AND WRITE.
*shoves coffee stained housecoat into laundry, smiles nervously*
OMG, you guys. I think I blacked out. How long have I been answering this question?
What was your favorite TV show as a kid?
Bewitched, hands down. I lived for that half hour of Samantha’s hilarious nose-twitching hijinks. I also loved: Fantasy Island and Wonder Woman. Linda Carter rocked those badass bulletproof bracelets like nobody’s business.
Where in the world would you like to live and why?
I’m not a big water person, so uh, we can scratch beachy-type places off the list. Bugs, snakes, spiders and bats can all go to hell as far as I’m concerned so the rain forest and Australia are out. I’m a pasty white girl who sizzles like bacon in the sun, so the desert (and Arizona) is also out. I’m a huge fan of history and historical places, though. Love folklore. Enamored with castles. Adore potatoes… I’m about as tall as a leprechaun… and I dig red hair. There you have it, I would like to live in the Irish countryside.
Mountain, volcano or cloud. Which one and why?
Are we talking places to hang out? Places to have lunch? Let’s go for settings for novels, shall we? YA Fantasy: Mountain. Suspense Thriller: Volcano. Paranormal Romance: Cloud.
What is your favorite cereal?
Cap’n Crunch in my youth. However, my palate has graduated from Crunch Berries to Cinnamon Life these days.
If you could name a star, what would you name it and why?
I already have. He’s eight-and-a-half years old, and he still lets me call him honey bunny baby boo boo. He’s a mamma’s star.
What is your essential item for traveling?
Socks. My feet are always cold. In fact, I sleep with slippers on. Not even joking. Oh, and my glasses. I’m as blind as a bat without them.
What famous person have you been in the past? Describe how it feels.
I was going to say Howard Hughes minus being a tycoon, flying airplanes, long creepy fingernails and peeing in jars, just because, you know, as previously mentioned I’m somewhat of a recluse. Then I remembered I have no problem eating a day old, half-eaten Pop Tart off my son’s plate. I’m pretty sure that’s something germophobe Howard would have avoided at all costs, so now I’m thinking Marie Antoinette… One, because I have big hair; two, my spending habits at Target are out of control; and three, I am a huge fan of cake.
Do you believe in magic? Why or why not?
I do, but I believe in Karma more. Why? Well, that’s a story for another (life)time.
Agnes says we need you to save he world. How do you do it?
Call Wonder Woman. Seriously. Ain’t nothing that woman can’t handle. In case you’re wondering, yes, I would totally be her sidekick.
What song best describes your current life?
Not to get all sappy here, but my wedding song. It described my life ten years ago and it describes my life now, especially the very first line. I’m working on the first draft of my first novel and… the tears, the frustration, and good Lord, the uncertainty. A writer’s life is a lonely one, and not just for the writer. It would be a gross understatement to simply say that my husband has been there for me and call it good. Not when he’s sacrificed hours upon hours of time with me so I can spend it with my characters instead. Not when he’s cleared every obstacle out of my way so I can lob a few in front of my protagonist. Not when he’s endured my flagrant displays of less than flattering character traits. And definitely not when he’s done so without question, without hesitation and without complaint. Nope, I’m going to finish this book to prove his sacrifices weren’t in vain.
My second, less sappy choice is Emimen’s Lose Yourself:
- I feel like an underdog most days.
- I have a soft spot for Detroit.
- I, too, have spaghetti on my shirt.