(no subject)
So, one of my favorite authors Mindy Klasky came up with the idea to have a virtual book tour to launch her newest novel Girl's Guide to Witchcraft. It comprised of people submitting up to five questions, and here is my contribution, which I warn is about as ecclectic as I am.
1. You maintain both a blog and a newsgroup, which vistors to your personal website are invited to visit. How to you feel that this interaction with readers affects fans of your works?
I hope that readers feel a greater bond to my works. When I was growing up - and reading massive amounts of fantasy fiction - I imagined endless conversations with my hero-writers. I never actually *wrote* fanmail (the notion of tracking down street mail addresses was daunting), but I would have loved the opportunity to correspond with Katherine Kurtz, or Katherine Kerr, or Orson Scott Card.I took a writing class from one of my true genre heroes - Nancy Kress. That class, and the casual go-for-coffee after that we all shared, was a fantastic opportunity to spin out ideas, to learn about the genre, and to glean advice about writing. I hope to share similar insights with some of my readers.
2. Your new novel Girl's Guide to Witchcraft may seem like a departure from the world of your previously published novels. Where did you get the inspiration for this work as well as your previous writtings?
In between the Glasswrights Series and GIRL'S GUIDE, I wrote a long, intricate fantasy novel (with dragons!), which was very dark - and has not been published. When I finished it, I was ready for something much lighter in tone. I started muddling around with characters, discovered Jane Madison, and GIRL'S GUIDE was born!
3. You went to school and became a laywer; you practiced for a period of time, however now you are working as a law librarian while writting. As a student, who is currently trying to figure out where she want to go with her life and how to best get there, I ask what were your amitions and how did you find yourself progressing down this path over time?
In high school, I'd had vague ideas about becoming a lawyer. In college, I was an English major - which was wonderful, because I read great things, learned how to apply critical analysis, wrote and wrote and wrote, and didn't have to worry about how I'd apply my undergraduate degree in the "real world."
The moment I started law school, I feared that I'd made a mistake. I enjoyed *practicing* law, but I disliked studying it. Gradually, I got to the point where I also disliked the gamesmanship of litigation (scheduling briefs to be due on holidays to disturb the other side, that sort of thing.) I always enjoyed, though, the client counseling side - teaching new things to people.
Librarianship gives me the chance to combine all those interests - reading, writing, learning new things, and teaching patrons what they need to know. For me, my careers have been a logical progression. I encourage people who are unhappy in their career to make changes - the benefits far outweigh the (structured) risks.
4. You obviously reading as well as writting. Perhaps you could enlighten the world with what some of your favorite books are?
In pretty much any genre, I'm a sucker for strong, consistent characters and steady, seamless writing. (I'm not big on flowery prose for flowers' sake, and I dislike most so-called literary vignettes, without plot or raison d'etre.) My favorite authors include Octavia Butler, Laura Caldwell, early Orson Scott Card, Dick Francis, Neil Gaiman, Nancy Kress, early Katherine Kurtz, George Pelecanos, Melissa Senate, John Steinbeck, and Minette Walters.
5. Finally, I love the description at the begining of Girl's Guide where Jane is making a "gigantissimo non-fat half-caf half-decaf light hazelnut heavy vanilla wet cappuccino with whole milk foam and a dusting of cinnamon." That drink sounds really good. Are you a coffee connisseur yourself, and if so, what is your drink of choice?
I usually drink coffee as dessert; tea is my choice for mundane caffeine-infusion.
My typical Starbucks order is a grande skim misto (cafe au lait) - pretty boring, I know, but I'm usually counting Weight Watchers' Points.
My favorite tea at the moment is Republic of Tea Ginger Peach, although I'm partial to most black teas with berry flavor.
So there are my lovely questions. I've read the first chapter over at her website. It seems awesome, and I can't wait to read the rest. Unfortunanly school is getting in the way of such things, but and I have been having issues finding it without harassing my friends for a ride somewhere. Worst that happens I have to wait until fall break to read it.
Fare thee well
1. You maintain both a blog and a newsgroup, which vistors to your personal website are invited to visit. How to you feel that this interaction with readers affects fans of your works?
I hope that readers feel a greater bond to my works. When I was growing up - and reading massive amounts of fantasy fiction - I imagined endless conversations with my hero-writers. I never actually *wrote* fanmail (the notion of tracking down street mail addresses was daunting), but I would have loved the opportunity to correspond with Katherine Kurtz, or Katherine Kerr, or Orson Scott Card.I took a writing class from one of my true genre heroes - Nancy Kress. That class, and the casual go-for-coffee after that we all shared, was a fantastic opportunity to spin out ideas, to learn about the genre, and to glean advice about writing. I hope to share similar insights with some of my readers.
2. Your new novel Girl's Guide to Witchcraft may seem like a departure from the world of your previously published novels. Where did you get the inspiration for this work as well as your previous writtings?
In between the Glasswrights Series and GIRL'S GUIDE, I wrote a long, intricate fantasy novel (with dragons!), which was very dark - and has not been published. When I finished it, I was ready for something much lighter in tone. I started muddling around with characters, discovered Jane Madison, and GIRL'S GUIDE was born!
3. You went to school and became a laywer; you practiced for a period of time, however now you are working as a law librarian while writting. As a student, who is currently trying to figure out where she want to go with her life and how to best get there, I ask what were your amitions and how did you find yourself progressing down this path over time?
In high school, I'd had vague ideas about becoming a lawyer. In college, I was an English major - which was wonderful, because I read great things, learned how to apply critical analysis, wrote and wrote and wrote, and didn't have to worry about how I'd apply my undergraduate degree in the "real world."
The moment I started law school, I feared that I'd made a mistake. I enjoyed *practicing* law, but I disliked studying it. Gradually, I got to the point where I also disliked the gamesmanship of litigation (scheduling briefs to be due on holidays to disturb the other side, that sort of thing.) I always enjoyed, though, the client counseling side - teaching new things to people.
Librarianship gives me the chance to combine all those interests - reading, writing, learning new things, and teaching patrons what they need to know. For me, my careers have been a logical progression. I encourage people who are unhappy in their career to make changes - the benefits far outweigh the (structured) risks.
4. You obviously reading as well as writting. Perhaps you could enlighten the world with what some of your favorite books are?
In pretty much any genre, I'm a sucker for strong, consistent characters and steady, seamless writing. (I'm not big on flowery prose for flowers' sake, and I dislike most so-called literary vignettes, without plot or raison d'etre.) My favorite authors include Octavia Butler, Laura Caldwell, early Orson Scott Card, Dick Francis, Neil Gaiman, Nancy Kress, early Katherine Kurtz, George Pelecanos, Melissa Senate, John Steinbeck, and Minette Walters.
5. Finally, I love the description at the begining of Girl's Guide where Jane is making a "gigantissimo non-fat half-caf half-decaf light hazelnut heavy vanilla wet cappuccino with whole milk foam and a dusting of cinnamon." That drink sounds really good. Are you a coffee connisseur yourself, and if so, what is your drink of choice?
I usually drink coffee as dessert; tea is my choice for mundane caffeine-infusion.
My typical Starbucks order is a grande skim misto (cafe au lait) - pretty boring, I know, but I'm usually counting Weight Watchers' Points.
My favorite tea at the moment is Republic of Tea Ginger Peach, although I'm partial to most black teas with berry flavor.
So there are my lovely questions. I've read the first chapter over at her website. It seems awesome, and I can't wait to read the rest. Unfortunanly school is getting in the way of such things, but and I have been having issues finding it without harassing my friends for a ride somewhere. Worst that happens I have to wait until fall break to read it.
Fare thee well