Review, Interview, Giveaway -- Oh My!

Aberrations
Penelope Przekop

Today I'm happy to feature Penelope Przekop's Aberrations as the latest title on my reading resolution. Not only am I happy to report that I thoroughly enjoyed Przekop's novel, but I also had the opportunity to interview her about both her book and her writing process.

That's not the best part, however!

I'm also proud to host a giveaway of Aberrations -- and trust me, this book is one you'll want to read. For details about entering to win a copy, read to the bottom of this post. But first, my review.

THE REVIEW

Angel doesn't have your normal, run-of-the-mill problems. She's never filled the void created by her mother's death, her father is untrustworthy, and she's screwing a married man. But that's not the worst of it all -- she's a narcoleptic to boot. When her father decides to move on (and move in) with his girlfriend, Carla, Angel doesn't handle it well. It soon becomes clear that her father is hiding a secret about Angel's past, and she's determined to discover the truth at any cost.

The above synopsis might make Aberrations sound like a superficial mystery -- but that couldn't be farther from the truth. Przekop delves into the nature of aberrations, the good and the bad. One's aberrations, like anything in life, can be viewed positively or negatively; it's our perception of our differences that truly matter. Do they define us, limit us, constrain us? Or do they add spice, becoming a venue for thought, discussion, and growth?

Angel's journey is one we all share, even if we don't share her narcolepsy. At the novel's beginning, Angel is defined by her narcolepsy and lets it control her life. By the end of the novel, Angel has learned some profound lessons and has come to view narcolepsy as only one small piece of her pie.

Overall, Aberrations is a thought-provoking, well-written novel that was a joy to read. Przekop reminds us to celebrate our differences and learn from our own personal aberration.

In a nutshell: Fast-paced and profound, Aberrations reminds us to celebrate what makes us individuals and grow in the process.

Bibliolatry Scale: 5 out of 6 stars

THE INTERVIEW

What sparked your interest in aberrations as a theme? Of all the hundreds of "aberrations" in the world, what made you focus on narcolepsy for your main character?

The theme emerged based on my initial interest in writing about narcolepsy, as well as some of my own aberrations. I have a degree in Biology, and after learning about it, had always found narcolepsy fascinating from a biological perspective. I recognized that it was usually made fun of in movies and television, and that it had not been fully addressed in the literature. I also thought it could serve as a metaphor for how we can all be susceptible or guilty of sleeping through our lives at times. And it’s an aberration that isn’t easily hidden. It provided a perfect avenue to show Angel’s loneliness and seclusion.

Do you think a happy life is the result of ignoring or embracing one's aberrations? How can our own aberration(s) become a vehicle for happiness, in your opinion?

Well, I don’t want to sound like Dr. Phil or Tony Robbins ... but I don’t think it’s wise to ignore our aberrations. I do believe that embracing one’s aberrations whether emotional, physical, or situational is a good first step to figuring out what to do about them. What you choose to do, feel, say, and think about them makes all the difference. My belief has always been that no matter how bad something is, if we choose to think positive— positive outcomes will result. In a way, it’s a “Captain Obvious” concept, but one that alarming numbers of individuals can’t seem to put into practice. I’m not saying it’s easy. It’s hard as hell sometimes, but choosing the alternative feels like giving up.

Why did you choose Darwin as Angel's study of interest? How does his evolution complement Angel's?

I actually wrote a graduate term paper on Charles Darwin for my History of Science course in college. I was fascinated with his story of holding back what he knew or believed for the sake of his family and society. As I developed the novel, it seemed to fit on multiple levels. Angel is evolving, as are the other characters. Her father is holding back and suffering, and while we come to understand why, we also struggle with his decision to do so, and how in part that decision is based on fear. Darwin’s evolution complements that of Angel’s father although she’s also evolving. What she learns about Darwin gives her an avenue to discuss and confront her feelings about her father.

Carla believes that Angel needs "to relearn her ABCs." How can one apply this idea to her own life?

At the beginning of the book, Carla believes, like Kimmy, that life is supposed be a certain way, and that anything that doesn’t follow that path is a deviation from the norm. However, neither of these characters is enjoying the ABC reality they feel so strongly about. Throughout the story, Carla learns that life can’t occur in ABC order, and that it’s okay. This slow and subtle realization begins to soften her and enables her to bond with Angel in a way that doesn’t seem possible at the onset.

Can you discuss your writing process? Do you compose with a pen and paper, or on a computer? Do you use dictation? How do you edit, by hand or as you type?

I write using a combination of pen and paper, and computer. I do edit a lot by hand however. Ultimately, I have to read what I’ve written on a printed piece of paper. I read out loud a lot because I need to listen to the flow and music of the words. I’ve come to appreciate how much creative writing is a combination of left and right brain thinking. There is the imagination, emotional investment, and the beauty of words, but there must also be planning, order, and strategy. I plan out as much as I can before I begin writing a novel (I’m on my third now). I’m a bit methodical initially. Then I put apply my right brain to the left brain plan. I wrote a blog entry about using both sides of the brain for creative endeavors. If interested, you can read it here.

Is there a particular time of day during which you're more productive? Are certain times of day better for certain writing tasks, such as composing or editing?

For years, I only wrote at lunch time and at night. I had so little time to write that I learned to write almost anywhere that I could find 15 free minutes. Now I’m able to write more throughout the day. I haven’t established a solid routine yet because I happen to be traveling quite a bit these days. I set creative goals for the week, and then map out when I will work on what. I paint as well so I factor in time for that. I’ve done a lot of writing on airplanes and in hotel rooms lately.

Do you have any writing rituals? Candles? Food and drink? Music?

I don’t have anything that I’d call a ritual but I do always listen to music when I write.

Do you ever find yourself faced with writer's block? If so, what techniques do you find most helpful in overcoming it?

If I have a plan to write (which I always do), I usually do it even if I don’t feel like it. I’ll just write whatever comes to mind even if it’s horrible— just to keep moving forward. I’ve learned over time, that once I have something on paper, I can always make it better. When I’m not in the best writing mood, I just accept it and forge ahead. It used to bother me, because I’d read what I wrote, and get into an “I stink” funk, but now I have more confidence in myself and my ability to eventually get it right. I coach myself through the “off” times. Sometimes I’m so “on” that I have to jump out of bed to go write, or pull off the side of the road to write things down. I’m lucky I haven’t had a car accident over the years. Those are the times when I can usually fix all the crappy stuff I wrote the day before. So my advice is that if you feel blocked just write stuff, even if you know it’s bad. The other thing that works for me is that I often write dialogue when I’m in a “non-writing” mood. That’s the part that comes easiest for me so I focus there.

Which author has most influenced your writing? What book has?

This is a tough question to answer. The authors who have most influenced my writing overall are Dostoevsky for his ability to illuminate the human condition, Ayn Rand for her ability to make a novel stand for something beyond the story, and James Michener for his ability to create a believable world inside a book. These are writers I read when I was younger. Some of my more recent influences are Philip Roth, Junot Diaz, and Albert Camus.

If I had to choose one book, it would be Crime and Punishment. I’ve always been an avid reader, and have wanted to write, but when I read Crime and Punishment in college, something in me absolutely knew that I not only wanted to write, but that I wanted to say something honest, powerful, and timeless. I wanted to find my own way to do that. For some reason I knew that going the English Degree way wasn’t going to get me there so I kept studying Biology. But I knew I would be a writer ... someday ... At the time, I didn’t know what I would have to say yet but I knew it was brewing. It’s still brewing and I’m still working on it. I don’t feel that I’ve arrived yet.

As a reader, what annoys you the most? What annoys you the most as a writer?

As a reader, I think superficial books annoy me the most. Of course, I love to be entertained but I only have so much time on this Earth, and when I spend hours reading a book, I want to learn something from it. As a writer, I get annoyed and frustrated that the time I have to write is limited. It’s not so much how many hours in the day I have, but rather how many years I have left. I’ve been writing for a long time but it’s been slow because I’ve had to deal with other priorities. I’m not bitter about that but I fear that I need more brewing time, and that I may not meet my writing goals in what happens to be my lifetime. I realize that it may sound a little morbid, but that thought is a strong drive for me, especially now that I’ve hit middle age. You start to realize that you have less and less time to waste.

If forced to choose, which three books -- excluding your own -- would you want to have with you on a deserted island?

Assuming that I have to take three novels, I’d choose Crime and Punishment, The Scarlet Letter, and The Fountainhead.

What is the best advice you can offer to aspiring writers?

Don’t give up if it’s what you really want. Reality Check: If there’s something else you want just as much, focus on that instead because becoming a successful writer is a long road that may never end. But if you’re in it for the long haul, be more methodical. Set short term goals and stick to them. Before you know it you’ll have met your long term goals. Also read as much as you can! Don’t copy anyone else’s style or voice. Listen to your words; use your ears more when writing.

Besides reading and writing, what are some of your favorite hobbies?

I love to paint. It’s my fairly new hobby for me but I’m extremely serious about it. I also love to go camping. We go a few times a year. We’re not hard-core campers; we have a fridge in our trailer. I love movies, and can’t see enough of them. I’ve thinking about taking a stab at adapting Aberrations or my other novel for the big screen. I may tackle that after I finish the novel I’m currently working on.

Finally, do you have any future projects planned? Anything for us to anticipate?

Yes, I have four projects that are currently being handled by my agent. One is another novel called Boundaries. The other two are non-fiction projects. One is called War & Peace: Tales from the Delivery Room, and the other is called Aberration Nation: What to Read When Life Sucks. It’s based on my blog, Aberration Nation. I’m also half way through a third novel called Centerpieces. I’ll also be completely overhauling my web site and blog over the next couple of months, and am quite excited about that. I’m fairly diverse in my creative endeavors, which I hope will work for me, and keep people interested in what I have to say. So as you can see, I have several irons in the fire. I made a commitment last year to downgrade my career in the pharmaceutical industry so that I can focus more heavily on my creative endeavors. Hopefully I can make a bigger splash over the next couple of years. I’ll never give up!


Thanks, Penelope, for an awesome interview. And may I just say that I'm quite chagrined by the four -- FOUR -- major projects you have underway. I'm still slogging through the same book from a few weeks ago. Ugh.

Anyway, on to the *really* good stuff -- it's time to give away a copy of Aberrations!

THE GIVEAWAY

What to win a copy of Aberrations? Silly question, I know -- of course you do. The winner will be chosen at random; to enter, read on:

- to enter once, simply leave a comment in this post
- to enter again, post about my giveaway on your blog (just be sure to return and leave a link in the comments!)

The giveaway ends Friday, March 13th (cue the ominous music). The winner will be announced via a post on this site, so be sure to check back or else subscribe to my feed so you don't miss it.

Best of luck to you!

An interview with Karen Harrington

Janeology
Karen Harrington

Today I'm pleased to announce that author Karen Harrington has agreed to answer my not-so-original questions about reading and writing. Harrington has written Janeology, and you may visit her website to learn more about her and her novel.


1. How does your reading life influence your writing life?

Very much. Many times when I'm reading a book, the way an author structures his/her book gives me an idea about how to structure a piece I'm working on. For example, after reading Susan Vreeland's Girl in Hyacinth Blue, I felt empowered to include a series of linked family stories in the novel. Reading her book and seeing how it worked made me realize a story like that could be done successfully. At other times, another person's writing just underscores why I love to write in the first place. For this reason, so many of my books have sentences underlined in them or pages dog-eared.


2. What book inspires your "writerly envy" – that is, which book do you wish you had written yourself? Why?

Ten years ago, my answer would have been A Farewell To Armsby Hemingway. That particular story was, and is, so lean and realistic. His style stayed with me for a long time until I realized that, as a reader, I liked stories with a little more meat on the bones. About a year ago, I read Durable Goods by Elizabeth Berg. Right now, that is the book I wish I had written. There’s something very conversational about Berg's writing, as if she is actually telling you a story over a cup of coffee. It reads so easily and simple, with just the right amount of purple prose, which is how you know it was a very hard piece to write.


3. Which classic stands as an example of all that you dislike in writing?

I can't really think of anything that stands out in this way. Of course, I read many of the classics in school and not all of them were inspiring and often they left me thinking, "Why is this book a classic?" Now that I've written a few books myself, I understand more about the challenge of just getting words down on paper in any order so I find that I'm allergic to severely disliking anyone's writing. I expect I may grow out of this allergy one day.


4. Which author, living or dead, has influenced you most? How?

As I mentioned in #2, Hemingway was a huge influence. Two of my favorite writing professors had a great affection for him and their enthusiasm was contagious. In those classes, I remember how all the writers broke down Hemingway's work and could see how lean it was, how it didn't get in the way of the story. Those rules of lean writing stayed with me through my years as a speechwriter and now as a novelist.


5. How do you write, with a paper and pen or with a computer? Does your method of writing change as your work progresses?

When I am outlining a story, I start with pen and paper. Then, I write exclusively on the computer. The method of writing doesn't change from draft to draft, but the location does. When I'm first starting a piece, I can write just about anywhere, with any music or distraction. When I'm really getting into the final drafts and working out the problems of the plot or an awkward passage, I find that I need to be in my house, alone.


6. Do you make time for both reading and writing each day? How do you juggle reading, writing, and motherhood?

I definitely write everyday, even if it's just a paragraph. I don't always make the time to read. I'm probably like most people who wish there was more time. As for the balance of roles between writing and motherhood, I am lucky this year that both my girls are in school three days a week. I have the luxury of fifteen hours a week to myself for the first time in five years, so I use this time exclusively to write and edit. And now that I'm a mother, I realize that I had time to write twenty-five novels! What did I do with all that time?


7. Speaking of reading and writing, which, if you had to choose, is more important to you? Which of the two could you not live without?

I'm going to do that thing with this question that no questioner likes and say "I can't answer this." The truth is that both are equally important to the writer. It's almost a "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" situation because reading is essential to the writer and the more good books you read, the more you want to write.


8. If you could own only three books for the rest of your life (not counting your own), what three books would you choose to keep? Why these three titles?

First would have to be a dictionary for all obvious reasons. I use a dictionary every time I write so I could not live without it. If we are talking strictly fiction, the first would Durable Goods by Elizabeth Berg because I’ve found it's one of the few books I want to read more than once. And for the same reason, I'd keep The English Patientby Michael Ondaatje – another book I've read several times. And last, Madame Bovaryfor its powerful language and story (and because I keep trying to write the modern version of this book).


9. Do you have any special "rituals" to prepare yourself to write? (For example, do you have to have a certain cd playing, or a certain drink in hand?)

For each new project, I do like to choose specific music that gets me into the story quickly. I find that music can get me into the writer mood faster than anything else. I usually create a soundtrack on iTunes for each project. And of course, I must have copious amounts of coffee!


10. Do you ever suffer from writer's block? If so, what techniques do you use to get through it?

I get asked this question a lot and, until I'm proven otherwise, I always say that I don't believe in writer's block. For me, this kind of block usually has to do with fear of something that prevents a writer from continuing. I love the quote from Sylvia Plath – "The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt." I think this is so true. It's where the block comes from, which is why a creative person must believe in herself above all things. For me, if the story I'm working on is one that I'd like to read, that's all I need to keep going.


11. Which author inspires your idol-worship? Is there anyone you'd be absolutely gaga to meet in person?

I think it would be great to meet Stephen King – both as a writer and as a person. He seems to have remained very real and true throughout the years. I'd love to have a conversation with him about his career perspective and if he is ever truly satisfied with his work.


12. Beyond simply telling a good story, what do you see as a novel's most important function (or functions)?

When a reader is deeply engaged in a story, she is transported to another place and time. I think this is one of the great balms of life – to be able to get lost in a story and forget one's life for a few hours. Like other forms of entertainment, a book can offer escapism. And many brilliant novels also offer insight into life that may speak to someone's soul or offer them a new perspective. I like to believe that if at least one other person has imagined something and written about, then there must be something both private and universal about it that connects all people. That said, I don’t know if writers should necessarily be conscious of these functions while they are writing. They should just write because they want to personally see how a story turns out. But these ideas do tend to be the end result for readers.


13. Finally, it's an open-mike question. What would you like my readers to know about you and/or your work?

First, I hope readers would enjoy Janeology and be left with a hunger to know more about their own ancestors and family stories, because that was the curiosity that captured my attention as I was writing it. Now that the novel has been out for several months, I have a new perspective on that particular story (I'm still revising it in my head), the publishing business (it takes a certain personality to endure) and how I hope to develop as a writer. Among my favorite novelists, I've noticed that it is often his/her fourth or fifth novel that is the stellar, incredible book that makes me go back and read all the previous books to observe how they developed. Ever so humbly, I hope this is the path I am on.

Anything can look perfect...on paper

Perfect on Paper: The (Mis)adventures of Waverly Bryson
Maria Murnane

I've had the pleasure of speaking with Maria Murnane, author of Perfect on Paper as part of her Virtual Book Tour. Unfortunately, Maria's post was scheduled to appear Friday, not Saturday, so I apologize to anyone who expected it yesterday.

First, however, here's a brief word about Perfect on Paper (via Amazon):

Anything can look perfect...on paper. When her fiancé calls off their wedding at the last minute, Waverly Bryson wonders if her life will ever turn out the way she thought it would...or should. Her high-powered job in sports PR? Not so perfect. Her relationship with her dad? Far from it. Her perfect marriage? Enough said.

Perfect on Paper is a humorous tale of Waverly's efforts to cobble the pieces of a broken yesterday into a brand new tomorrow. What does the future have in store for her? Will she finally find what she's looking for?

Her dates? Cringe-inducing at times, definitely entertaining. Her friends? Often amused, definitely supportive. Her new crush? Possibly intrigued, definitely a catch. The results? Hardly perfect, definitely just right.

And now on to Maria, who took the time to answer my (not altogether original) questions. When you're finished reading the article, be sure to visit her websites (which I linked to below). Thanks, Maria!

What is your writing process?

Hmm, right now I'm not working on another book (yet, fingers crossed), but the process for writing the Perfect on Paper was pretty regular. I would write for a couple hours nearly every morning, and then a couple hours nearly every evening. And in between I would jot down a lot of notes to myself on post-its, etc. Many times I'd wake up in the middle of the night with an idea for something I wanted to include in the book, so I'd keep a notepad by my bed. And as for the writing itself, when I wasn't exactly sure where to go next with the story, I would go back and edit/rewrite what I?d already written. It worked well that way because the regular reviewing/editing forced me to stay on track and kept me from looking back and suddenly realizing "holy crap I really need to delete the last 100 pages." Now that would have been a bummer.

How do your family and friends react to your writing?

When I first started writing a book and told my friends and family what I was doing, they all had the same reaction, which was that they were afraid they wouldn't like it! My good friend Lindsay and my brother-in-law Brett both said they were literally terrified to read it because they wouldn't know what to say to me if it was awful. BUT the good news was they fell in love with the story and immediately wanted more (I was emailing them chapters from Argentina, where I was living at the time). My sister Michele told me that five pages into it she completely forgot that I was the author because she got so engrossed in the story. My dad said he was laughing so hard reading it at a café that he actually started crying at one point, and a couple women came up to him and asked him if he was okay. My mom sent me an email saying she was up until four in the morning reading it one night because she just couldn't put it down -- I think her exact words in the email were OH MY GOD MARIA you ARE a writer!!

So I remember thinking that if no one else in the world thought I was a funny writer, at least my friends and family did, which I guess when you think about it is all that really matters anyway.

How do you balance your writing life with your "normal" life?

My "normal" life is doing freelance marketing writing for technology companies (my site for that is www.winksink.com if anyone wants to take a look), and when I'm not doing that I spend my time doing what I can to get the word out about Perfect on Paper. That includes interviews like this, as well as speaking engagements, book signings, and even attending book clubs that have chosen my book. It all seems to work out pretty well; if I had a 9 to 5 job I'd never be able to put so much energy into marketing the book! Being a self-published author is definitely a labor of love, and I really do love it. Every time I get an email from a reader I've never met saying he or she loved my book, it makes my day. Seriously, I've had days where I just felt AWFUL, and then boom there's an email from some lady in Indiana, and all of a sudden I'm smiling.

How does your reading life influence your writing life?

Hmm, good question. My reading life is all over the map, jumping around from non-fiction to novels to history books and back. But now when I read a novel I definitely notice things that I like or don't like much more than I used to. I'm always taking mental notes.

Anything else you want to add about Perfect on Paper?

I actually reread the book last week for the first time in a while, and I have to say its main message is good for me to remember, even now. I still tend to worry too much about how I think my life "should" be like instead of just enjoying my life as it really is. I often tell my friends that no one is keeping score in life but you, so don't worry about what other people think--- but sometimes I forget to do that for myself!

A quick note to readers out there, if you like my book, PLEASE write a review on Amazon and on my site (www.mariamurnane.com) and become a fan of it on Facebook! I am hoping the publishers who turned me down before will change their mind once they see how well my book has been received. Thank you so much for your support!


Further reading...

Maria's website
Perfect on Paper via Facebook
Perfect on Paper via Amazon

Bee Balms & Bibliolatry

Bee Balms & Burgundy
Nelson Pahl

From the outside, it appears Nick May has it all: he’s successful (and, even better, self-employed) and dating a beautiful woman with whom he shares a tumultuous relationship. Unfortunately, said bombshell is a raging bitch. Okay, so maybe he doesn’t have it all.

Fortunately, Nick knows enough to dump this shrew, and his method of doing so is quite ingenious: he kicks her out of his apartment before flying home to see his mother. Now that’s a smart move. While visiting his mother, Nick reconnects with Mia, his next-door neighbor and old friend. And he couldn't have come at a better time, for just as he is struggling with recent life changes, so too is Mia coping with some problems of her own.

Mia copes in part through her garden, taking comfort in the beauty that surrounds her. Her favorite flower, the Bee Balm, is one that I've never heard of before, which isn't surprising because I'm known for killing plants, not helping them thrive. Hey -- at least I can finally cook, and as anyone who knows me can attest, this is a giant leap in the evolution of Bibliolatrist.

If I didn't have a black thumb, I could probably grow this

As a participant in Pahl's virtual book tour, I had the pleasure of asking him a few questions. His responses are below, followed by a link to his website in case you'd like to learn more about the author and his work.


1. Do you believe that everyone has a soulmate, or is finding love just a matter of being in the right place at the right time?

I believe in soulmates. I just believe that we all have about 10,000 potential soulmates roaming this huge planet, and if we're lucky (or sometimes bright enough), we run across him or her. But, I don't know about that idea of "the one." Yet, even having only 10,000 potential soulmates on a planet of six billion people is pretty romantic.


2. What was the most difficult aspect of writing Bee Balms & Burgundy?

The revealing of my specific love nature. I don't have a camera in other people's bedrooms, hence I only know intimacy according to my experiences. Therefore, it's impossible not to reveal your love nature if you showcase intimate scenes within your story. That can be a little strange when your sister in-law reads the book then stares at you throughout Thanksgiving dinner, you know? She just didn't know "those things" about you.


3. What drew you to the romantic genre? Are you a romantic at heart?

Uh, I just had a story, you know? I didn't plan on the genre. In fact, I don't know if I'll ever write in this specific genre again. I know my second title isn't a love story, per se. And I know my next three titles won't be. Am I a romantic? I guess if Nicky is a romantic in the book then I, too, am a "romantic." I see myself as more of a sensualist in that regard; for me, romance and sensuality are entwined. A hug is romantic, and it's a must for any proud sensualist, whereas some romantics can live a thousand miles from their partner and still feel "romantic" about them.


4. If you were to write another novel in a different genre, what genre would you choose? Why?

I've just published my second title. It's in a new genre that's billed as "romance noir." It has a love story undercurrent, but it's also a tragedy through and through. It's dark, haunting, graphic to some degree. Again, I didn't choose the genre; it chose me. I lost a loved one, I had a ton of emotions raging through me, and I started, flushed out, and edited my second title in less than five weeks. Sometimes that's how it happens. Fourteen months for Bee Balms & Burgundy. Five weeks for Two for Tuesday. This is an odd profession.


5. Which author has had the greatest influence on your outlook as a writer?

No contemporary authors, really. I read mainstream people like Vince Flynn, John Grisham, Nevada Barr, Nora Roberts, whomever. But none have had any influence on my career in the least. People like Emerson, Thoreau, Fuller, a poet by the name of Sara Teasdale, these are people that make me want to write. But no "author" has had any influence on me. "Writers" influence me. (LOL.) Sorry to sound so pretentious.


6. I know this question is a bit commonplace, but it's one that genuinely interests me: when you compose, do you do so using pen and paper or a computer? Do you notice a difference in your writing depending on the medium being used?

I use a computer. I note things using pen and paper, all the time, but I "write" using my computers. I get ideas while with a friend, visiting my brother, biking, even while making love. So, I reach for the pen and paper and grab that thought before any part of it can elude me. But it all goes straight to my computer when I'm near it, immediately. I guess I don't really see a difference between mediums. It all takes place amid the story itself, the whole mental process of writing, so real life setting and/or tools become rather irrelevant in those terms.


7. If you could only pick only one "desert island book" (excluding your own books, that is), which book would you choose, and why?

Old Man and the Sea, Hemingway. So subtle yet so sublime.


8. In Bee Balms & Burgundy, Mia finds solace in nature, specifically in her garden. Do you also take solace in nature? What specifically gives you comfort?

Absolutely. I'm a sucker for the mountains and forests. In fact, I'm currently in the process of choosing a new residence in a more appealing natural setting. I love the connection of nature to spirit. I'm a guy with earth and water signs up and down his chart that desperately needs nature on a day-to-day basis. (That's why I despise the cold, dark, dead Midwest winters.)


9. How does writing affect your life? How has it changed it?

There's a necessary creative outlet that wasn't really there before. I find that because of such, I don't seem to have the same issues many of my friends and family do. I guess I'm saying that I have a purging mechanism. If a loved one dies, I pour it into a book. If I'm politically dissatisfied--which I always am--then I pour it into a book. Even if I'm horny and single, I can pour that into a book.


10. What are you listening to right now? Is there a certain music that aids the writing process, or do you prefer to compose in silence?

I have several friends in the indie label music industry. I also have a couple of business ventures in the realm. So, I'm always listening to ambient music, world music, contemporary jazz, or an audiobook. At present, I'm listening to a Twin Cities ambient group called Amazonas and their CD "A New Day." (Makes me wish I was back in Santa Fe, sitting on top of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.)


Thanks, Nelson!