I just printed off the first 100 pages of her novel, and I'm so excited to read it!
So, without further ado, here are her questions!
When did you realize you wanted to be an author?
It was when I started to really read YA. I was a little hesitant about it at first because at the time, I felt like buying in the YA section made me look juvenile and immature. It was a mindset that in my 20's I should be more grown up - reading autobiographies and political novels and stuff. But when I started I just couldn't stop reading them. Devouring them. They took my breath away, made me cry hysterically, made me laugh like a loon, and I knew I wanted to affect people that way.
What genre do you like to write?
Westerns! No, YA
What authors inspire you?
Different ones for different things to write are inspirational. J.K. Rowling is my go to when I need to see how she created emotion with characters. James Dashner is great at nail-biting suspense. Laura Whitcomb weaves words like magic. Every sentence is beauty with her, no matter what she's writing about. And of course, Suzanne Collins, Kim Harrison, Garth Nix, Jenny B. Jones, Neal Shusterman, and C.S.Lewis. Tons more, but I bet you want to move on and all.
How often do you write?
I try to get something, anything, down every day of the week. I like thousands-of-words days but if I can write a decent paragraph it isn't a waste. Weekends are harder. I'm trying to find more discipline for weekend writing. I bet I could get 10x more done if I did.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Oh, pantser definitely! The first and last novel I plotted out, scene by scene, I screwed up beyond repair! It was awful. I had these set things I demanded of my novel but my characters I created just didn't want to do that. I ended up with a weird, unfinished ending that you could tell was rushed. It was like me and my characters dueled for the ending and no one won. Now I just write. I have an idea of my main character and maybe a second one. I give myself a beginning and a vague idea of how I want the MC to grow and then just sit down and type. They take me where I need to go. It always works out and I am much more satisfied and proud of the end result. One idea's rough draft actually finished thousands of words sooner than I intended, just because that was where it needed to.
Where do you write best, and do you listen to music while you write?
I love music. Most writers say that, but its the truth. And the kind depends on the scene and how I need to feel. Pandora Radio is the best website created for that. I write a lot at work and on my designated love seat. I tried to write at my desk before but can't focus when I'm there. Just doesn't feel right. I need to be comfortable or in a familiar atmosphere and the home office is most definitely not either.
What is on your TBR pile?
Oh, gosh. What isn't? A Matter of Magic, Personal Demons, Once a Witch, Divergent, Z, Neverwhere, Lament, Across the Universe, The Cinderella Society, Firelight, Paranormalcy, Angel Fire, Scorch Trials, Nightshade, The Adoration of Jenna Fox, Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, Bleeding Violet, Winter Garden, Matched, The Replacement, Nevermore, Halo, Seers of Light, Poison Study...oh I could go on and on! I have a disorder...YABookaholic much?
If Stephanie Meyer and JK Rowling got in a cat fight, who would win?
J.K.Rowling looks like she could throw some good punches if need be. I'd bet on her any day. Her characters would own Meyer's characters easily too. It's just facts, I only repeat them.
What is your “day” job?
Bounty Hunting unicyclist. Oh wait, you meant the boring one. Receptionist. Someone seriously called the other day to ask me what time we closed at noon. But it pays the bills and I have some awesome bosses so no complaints here.
What can you not leave home without?
(cell phones are off limits- NO ONE can leave home without one of those) Lint roller. 5 cats makes you constantly furry.
Mac or PC?
PC! I know how to trouble-shoot and replace parts in PC's thanks to a computer techy dad. Mac's are as good as Mar's to me. Wouldn't know where to start.
Favorite dessert?
Anything strawberry. Icecream, shortcake, cupcakes, pie, cheesecake. You get the picture.
Favorite desert?
Rangipo Desert. It's in New Zealand near 3 active peaks. That sounded like I knew what I was talking about, right? Totally just wikipedia-d that junk. But it does look cool and isn't as scary as the Sahara either.
Where is your dream vacation?
I would love to hop around Europe seeing all the famous sights and museums. One day, you know I will.
Finally, link us to your website, blog, fb, twitter and anything else you might like to shamelessly plug for yourself.
Sweet! Thanks! http://cejourney.blogspot.com/
Thanks so much, Abby. Been a great pleasure and I love your blog!
6 comments:
Great Interview Abby and it has been wonderful reading your blog Colene.
Thank you Andy! Thank you Abby! It was crazy to be checking up on Blogs and see my face there.
Great interview. It is funny isn't it how for some of us it's far easier to blaze a trail then to follow a track when it comes to writing the story.
Even though the twilight vamps are practically supermen JK's crew would trash them. That's even without my vision of Voldie, Dumbledore, and Harry putting aside their differences to wreck those Vampires as well.
Thanks Alex- man, all the people of HP together against Twilight? Yeah, they'd totally defeat them.
I certainly think so. But then it also depends on which side you're routing for because in either series story the good guys will always eventually triumph.
So really it would be like a battle of minds between JK and SM to see who could pull off the most plausible victory given the back stories and realities created in each series.
Very true. So if it's a battle of minds, it'd come down to who can write a better story? Personally, my pick would be JK.
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