Monthly Archives: February 2012

February 28, 2012

Character and conflict in The Liveship Traders

By Ellen Gregory

I’m currently reliving Robin Hobb’s Liveship Traders trilogy during my commute to and from work in the car. (Have I mentioned how much I love audiobooks?) I first read this amazing fantasy trilogy back in 2005 and it has since resided firmly near the top of my all-time favourite novels/series. Even so, I’ve previously read the trilogy only the once. Reliving it again now is a delicious treat – so much so that I find myself deliberately opting for peak hour, just so I can drive in the worst traffic and have 10 minutes longer each morning and evening with this brilliant story.

The Liveship Traders tells the story of the Vestrit Trader family, whose fortunes are derived from trade conducted by their liveship, Vivacia – a ship built of wizardwood, whose animated figurehead holds generations of family knowledge – and their struggle for survival in a world that is rapidly changing.

Unlike most ‘epic’ fantasy novels, the books do not have a single ‘all-powerful’ antagonist. Rather, the story relies on the life-and-death struggle of a cast of well-drawn and disparate (and desperate) characters in conflict with each other.

Some characters are more sympathetic to the reader than others, but even the ‘nice’ ones are supremely flawed. All are filled with conviction, and each character’s individual story is compelling and believable. Each acts according to his/her nature and the resulting events reflect cascading collisions of motive and desire.

In my view, The Liveship Traders is about the struggle for survival. The first book, Ship of Magic, focuses primarily on the struggle by several characters for mastery over the Vestrit family’s liveship, Vivacia (symbolic of life):

  • Althea Vestrit – Upon her father’s death, Althea learns that her beloved ship has been bequeathed to her sister and detested brother-in-law (Kyle Haven), who throws her off the ship. She vows to recover Vivacia through proving herself as a sailor and out manoeuvring Kyle.
  • Wintrow Vestrit – The son of Kyle Haven in training to become a priest, Wintrow is dragged from his chosen life by his father and forced to live aboard Vivacia and become a sailor. He battles his father’s dominance over him, while reluctantly coming to love Vivacia.
  • Ronica Vestrit – Mother of Althea and the business brain behind the family, Ronica needs Vivacia to be profitable to prevent an ancient family vow from committing her granddaughter in marriage to pay the liveship debt.
  • Captain Kennit – A notorious pirate, Kennit longs to be crowned king of the pirates and sail in his own liveship. Vivacia becomes his target.
  • Kyle Haven – Married to and ‘responsible’ for the Vestrit family, Kyle believes it is his role to save the family from ruin. (Kyle is the least sympathetic of all characters, and undoubtedly plays the role of ‘the villain’ in this first book for both Althea and Wintrow.) He attempts to turn the family fortunes around by using Vivacia to traffic in slaves.
  • Brashen Trell – Disowned by his Trader family, Brashen is struggling to ‘make a new life’ as a common sailor and dispel the taint of his youthful indiscretions. He alone of the major characters has no vested interest in Vivacia; his story is entwined with Althea’s, as he provides unconditional friendship, love and support for her.

Thus is Vivacia the bone of contention in Ship of Magic: loved and desired by Althea, resented and reluctantly loved by Wintrow, used and abused by Kyle; coveted and ultimately captured by Kennit; the vessel of hope for Ronica. The symbol of life thus becomes the object that threatens to tear apart the lives of these characters.

As a writer, I learnt a lot about character and conflict through reading this series. I love (and am in awe of) the way Hobb sets up a large cast of characters, gives each of them such strong, believable goals and then pits one character up against another. Because they have directly conflicting desires, each sees the other as an antagonist. Even Kyle (whom I detest) – misguided, foolish and cruel – believes he is acting in the best interests of his family.

Even more impressive to me is the way Hobb escalates the story through the trilogy and broadens her focus to reveal just how trivial the battle for Vivacia really is.

But the best thing about this series (and Hobb’s writing in general) is the way she makes me feel when I’m reading. I laugh, I hate, I love, I cry when I’m reading these books. Her characters are among the best I’ve ever encountered.

Which books have affected you most powerfully? Fellow writers: What’s the best writing lesson you’ve learnt from reading?

14 comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in Book Review, Craft, Reading, Reflection

February 22, 2012

Five favourites: quotes or sayings

By Ellen Gregory

What constitutes a quote? Something short, snappy and meaningful? Or can it be long and eloquent — such as the soliloquy from Hamlet I recited at every ancient ampitheatre I came across when travelling in Greece, France and Italy?

Or maybe a quote from a favourite book — or a quote that inspired a favourite book?

So many to choose from! I collect quotes, write them down frequently, which only makes this harder. Here are five that have meaning for me:

1. From Hamlet Act 2, Scene ii

I have of late,—but wherefore I know not,—lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises; and indeed, it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory; this most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o’erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire,—why, it appears no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours. What a piece of work is man! How noble in reason! how infinite in faculties! in form and moving, how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension, how like a god! the beauty of the world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust?

(This is what I recited in all the ampitheatres all those years ago. I typed it out and stuck it into my travel diary, then later memorised it. It resonates with me mainly because of the scene at the end of the movie, Withnail & I . . . Richard E Grant with his soggy trench coat and dilapidated umbrella . . .)

2. From A man rides through, by Stephen Donaldson (chapter 32: The benefit of sons)

The metal of Geraden’s character had been tempered by bitterness, polished by dismay.

(From one of my all-time favourite fantasy series, this quote appeals because of the imagery and its appropriateness to my chosen field of study (which was the metallurgy of steels) . . . OMG I want to read it again now!)

3. From the Devil’s Dictionary, by Ambrose Bierce

Congratulation: The civility of envy.

(I had to have one from the Devil’s Dictionary here, but they’re all brilliant!)

4. Chinese proverb

A bit of perfume always clings to the hand that gives the rose.

5. Carl Jung (1875-1961)

The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed.

(This one appeals to me for many reasons as a writer.)

So there you have it. Five very different quotes or sayings that resonate with me. What’s your favourite quote or saying? Why?

12 comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in Favourites

February 20, 2012

Diary of a Devilcat: What to do with rodents

By Ellen Gregory

Hi, I’m Chenna, and I’m SO EXCITED that Ellen has once more unleashed my blogging prowess after two years of keyboard banishment, that I’m of half a mind to be good.

Nah. No way!

She damn well deserves the full devilcat treatment after halting my therapy in such an unceremonious manner. No wonder I’m so feral! I mean, here I was, going along fine with my very own blog, thank you very much, when suddenly I’m not allowed to use the computer any more. No explanation. Just a big fat no-you-have-to-stay-on-the-floor-now.

Well, rat-poo to that. As if she could keep me on the floor, anyway! But no matter how many times I sat on the keyboard chewing her wrist, or stuck my nose in her face as she tried to type, she hasn’t relented in two years.

But now I’m back, and I’ve saved up so many amazing devilcat stories to share with you all, that Ellen had better watch those wrists as I fight my way to the keyboard. If I have my way, I’ll get to post every Monday and shock you all with tales (and tails) of mayhem and murder. [Ed. The devilcat is wishful thinking.]

Speaking of murder… Let’s get the ball rolling with my most recent deeds of devilcat daring do.

There are these rats that live outside somewhere and seem to think it’s OK to run along the fence in my garden. If you ask me, they’re just asking for trouble when there’s a, you know, DEVILCAT watching them. I watch them for a bit, gauge their speed, their favourite routes, the tiny hidey-holes where I can’t reach them. And I time my attack purrfectly.

No-one’s gonna miss a few stupid rats, now, are they? (Well, OK, I admit I’m picking them off one at a time.)

You might be thinking this is purrfectly normal feline behaviour. And it is. But right here I’m going to reveal my new Devilcat Tip #1:

“A devilcat always leaves dead rodents (preferably disembowelled) where they might be stepped on by unsuspecting humans.”

You got that? Good.

My favourite trick is to leave them on the bedroom floor sometime during the early hours of the morning. Only after I’ve played with them for an hour or so, of course, their guts spilling over the floor, droplets of blood decorating the floorboards…

The best place so far has been right in the bedroom doorway, and blessed-catgods did Ellen shriek! The one last week, right next to the bed, got a pretty good reaction too.

Makes me want to go catch another one, right now… [Ed. Oh no, please no!]

While I’m out doing that, why don’t you share with me your favourite places to leave dead rodents? We could have a competition to see who can get their humans to shriek the loudest, or something. And don’t forget to come back next week, when I’ll have another cool story and devilcat tip!

10 comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in Diary of a Devilcat

February 13, 2012

A timely reminder that creativity needs fuelling

By Ellen Gregory

Yesterday I took a walk with a friend in a local State Park called the You Yangs. The park comprises a series of about four modest granite peaks — little more than hills, really — surrounded by scrubby native Australian bush and grassland. Beyond, the land is relentlessly flat and cleared for farming, but within the State Park the landscape is rugged and hilly with spectacular views.

Every time I do something like this, I ask myself why I don’t do it more often. Sure, it takes a little bit of planning and coordination, but the rewards are plenty: fresh air, exercise, fellowship, scenery, wildlife…

What’s that? Time, you say?

Oh, right, it’s the time. Yesterday’s expedition took up more or less an entire day out of my precious weekend. Despite the fact that the You Yangs are only an hour or so out of the city, there’s also the packing of lunch, sorting of gear, approximately four hours of walking… and then the aching weary bones and muscles at the end of it.

Yes, it wiped out a whole day. A day in which I didn’t work on my second career or complete any of the other tasks on my ever-expanding to-do list.

It would be so easy to rule out the prospect of  ‘distractions’ on the weekend… (No, sorry, I can’t join you for <insert social activity> because I have this other career that needs my attention… I’d love to see that movie/performance/show, but I really don’t have time…) In fact, I could easily allocate every second of my weekends and evenings to something related to writing and associated supporting activities.

I could sit at this computer, stare into the bright screen, non-stop for fourteen hours a day. Probably.

When I was invited to walk in the You Yangs, I knew a moment’s hesitation. I am completely slammed at the moment, hardly knowing where to start with all the things I want to achieve in my ‘spare time’, having to choose which ones get done and which ones do not. Really, I want to do everything!

So, despite my love of bushwalking, I hesitated. But then it hit me that a day away from a computer would be A GOOD THING and that I’d been complaining about my inability to do exercise, and I found myself agreeing to the expedition. And looking forward to it. I knew everything else would still be waiting for me when I got home, and that even if I stayed home and slaved for an entire day I still wouldn’t reach the bottom of the pile. A day away from it all would give my eyes and back and brain a break.

What I hadn’t considered was how stimulating I would find a day out in the bush. Health benefits aside, the expedition fuelled my imagination into overdrive, until I’d mentally lined up about four blog posts. Every scent, sound, view inspired some world-building or plot consideration. I found myself contemplating how to describe the smell of damp eucalyptus in a fantasy context, and how to convey the hollow call of the wind.

Yesterday’s outing serves as a timely reminder for me of how important it is not to get too caught up in lists and targets and words and goals and process. For writers at least it’s absolutely essential that we take the time to upload life experiences almost as often as we focus on downloading our stories onto paper or the screen. The time-worn expression is ‘grist for the mill’; it’s still a fabulous metaphor.

Creativity is not a bottomless well. It needs to be topped up frequently, by as varied means as possible. The more you put in, the more you get out. Before Sunday’s ramble, I’d been feeling exhausted and starting to wonder whether I was going to be able to keep up the pace I’d set myself. Starting to wonder whether there was in fact more to life than the long hard slog I’d chosen.

And there is. There must be. Because if I don’t allow myself to experience more than wordcount and blogpost and blog-comment and tweet, the creativity well will run dry and the mill will grind nothing but dust. Slog — yes. But not to the exclusion of everything else.

So how about you? Does the natural world replenish your soul, or is there some other activity that ignites your inspiration? Are you ever so focused on your goals that you’re in danger of forgetting to ‘get a life’? Do share!

 

21 comments   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in Reflection

February 11, 2012

Talking audiobooks with Diana Lesire Brandmeyer

By Ellen Gregory

This week I’m a guest over at Diana Lesire Brandmeyer’s blog talking on the subject of audiobooks…

Three reasons why audiobooks are awesome

The rise of the e-book over the past few years has sparked some fun discussions about the various merits of ‘tree’ versus ‘e’… But there’s a third format that doesn’t seem to get all that much airtime – the audiobook. I constantly hear people say how they need to ‘read’ a book, and can’t absorb the words or the story when they are forced to listen. While I daresay this is true for some people – we’re all wired differently after all – I’m willing to bet a large number have never actually tried listening to an audiobook. I’m here to tell you they’re awesome!

To hear my three reasons you’ll have to click on over!

2 comments   |  tags: , , | posted in Flitting off elsewhere, Reading

February 10, 2012

Friday with Friends: Julie Kenner/ J.K. Beck

By Ellen Gregory

Today I’m absolutely stoked to have best-selling author Julie Kenner (who also publishes as J.K. Beck) as my ‘Friday friend’. Julie is perhaps best known for her Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom series, the first of which, Carpe Demon, is currently being made into a movie. (See below for her full bio.)

Julie shares some of her career insights with us — and methinks I’d better take heed of her writerly advice at the bottom :-)

What’s your most recent published work, and what are you currently working on?

Thanks for having me here today!

Let’s see…most recently, I’ve had two short releases. One was a fun romantic novella in Holiday Hideout with Jill Shalvis and Vicki Lewis Thompson. As you can guess, it was holiday themed – I did New Year’s Eve. It was a “cabin romance” between two people who’d been madly in love in college, separated by life, and who made a promise to reunite five years later. It was a lot of fun to write!

I also have an e-original out. Shadow Keepers: Midnight is a  novella (though it’s listed on Amazon and B&N as a short story—I don’t know why!) in my J.K. Beck Shadow Keepers series. I was really excited about that one because I wanted to write a story to not only fill the gap between books 3 and 4, but also because I thought that the backstory for the two characters – Caris and Tiberius – deserved to have its own story.

It’s the first historical I’ve done, and I really enjoyed writing it. The characters are both strong and I loved putting in a tinge of Romeo and Juliet. I hope readers of the series don’t miss it, as I think it really adds a lot to Caris and Tiberius’s backstory (they’re the couple in the 4th book coming soon).

So they’re making your best-selling novel Carpe Demon into a movie… (how exciting!). How will you feel if they tear out the guts of your plot and make up their own story with your premise and characters (as they do with so many books made into movies these days)? What do you think of this practice? Do you have any input to the script?

Honestly, I’m certain that things will change in the translation to the screen, but I’ve been nothing but impressed with the folks at 1492, who genuinely love Kate. They’ve recently hired director Andre Overdal to work on the script, too, and I was fortunate enough to chat with him a bit recently, and I know that he’s a fan of Kate as well. So I feel that overall her story is in good hands.  The truth is, though, that my books are my books and the movie is a different animal. I feel blessed that Kate has a shot at getting on the big screen (and that means I have a shot at buying that ever-important dress for the premier), but I don’t expect a page for page translation. I’m just excited to see how it does play out!

Do I have input? No, not really. My undergrad degree is in film, and I do write screenplays (I have one that I wrote with a partner knocking around Hollywood right now), but back when Demon was originally optioned, it didn’t even occur to me to ask. I was a relatively new mom, still working full time as a lawyer and writing about three books a year. Now, I’m glad it’s not on my plate. It keeps my head in the world of the books, and I can go watch the story on the big screen and munch my popcorn (in my fabulous dress!). Will they show me the script once the new version is done? I imagine so, and I’m sure I’ll give notes (it’s the lawyer in my; I can’t read something without a red pencil) but I’m not the filmmaker, so they can ignore me if they want!

Do you know who’s playing your main character, Kate Connor? Who would you like to play her?

I know who used to be attached, but since she’s no longer, I don’t feel comfortable shouting it out there. I was thinking about who could play Kate recently, though (I don’t usually “cast” my books, but when there’s a movie possibility it’s hard not to). I actually really like Jennifer Aniston or Jennifer Garner. They both have the ability to do the physical part of the role, while still seeming down to earth. As for Allie, Kate’s teenage daughter, if Miranda Cosgrove (iCarly) could still play a 14 year old, I think she’d be awesome.

You’re currently juggling two identities: How are you finding that? Is there much crossover of fans?

There is a lot of crossover, which is great. What I’m always fascinated by are the folks who have no idea I’ve got the other identity. Since it’s such an integral part of my life now, I just assume everyone knows!

It’s getting easier. I’ve recently consolidated my websites so as to have a Julie Kenner/J.K. Beck site, and I’ve moved my J.K. Beck Facebook page under my Julie Kenner profile. The end result of that is that I can post J.K. Beck stuff from my phone. Before, it was a different log in, and the poor JK Facebook profile wasn’t getting attention. Of course, folks still need to migrate over to the page… (folks! If you’re reading, migrate! Migrate!). And if anyone wants to Like either Julie Kenner’s or J.K. Beck’s pages, the links are in the sidebar of my website, http://www.juliekenner.com (ok, commercial is now over!)

What’s the best feedback you’ve had from a reader/fan? Which of your personas gets more fan mail?

Julie Kenner gets more fan mail, but she’s had over 30 books, and of J.K.’s, only 3.25 have hit the shelves (3 novels, one novella). The best story? I received several emails after 9/11 from people personally impacted by the tragedy who said how much they appreciated being able to lose themselves in a story. That was really powerful. I also wrote an essay in Everything I Need To Know I Learned From Judy Blume about a relatively rare autoimmune disorder that I dealt with as a teen and young adult, and I received a very sweet letter from a young woman who was thanking me for writing about it, and about how she appreciated not feeling alone with her diagnosis.  That also really struck a chord with me.

What has been your biggest break as an author?

Other than that all important first sale, I’d have to say the movie option. As a result of that deal, I was able to move up my timeline and quit my day job and write full time.

What’s your number one tip for writers still working towards publication?

WRITE. Don’t keep editing the same chapter over and over again. Experiment. Write more stuff. Finish a book. Put it away and start another one. And then write some more.

About Julie Kenner

Praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations,” bestselling author Julie Kenner’s books have hit lists as varied as USA Today, Waldenbooks, Barnes & Noble, and Locus Magazine. Julie is also a two-time RITA finalist, the winner of Romantic Times’ Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Contemporary Paranormal of 2001, the winner of the Reviewers International Organization’s award for best romantic suspense of 2004 and best paranormal of 2005, and the winner of the National Readers’ Choice Award for best mainstream book of 2005. She writes a range of stories including sexy and quirky romances, young adult novels, chick lit suspense and paranormal mommy lit.

———————————————

Thanks so much, Julie, for visiting today!

What do you all think about books being made into movies? I’ve seen some terrible adaptations recently. But there are some good ones. Where do you think film-makers should draw the line?

23 comments   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Fridays with Friends, Reading

February 8, 2012

Let’s talk about choices

By Ellen Gregory

Tonight I chose to watch Legally Blond on TV instead of working on my WIP. My plan was, of course, to write during the movie, which I’ve seen multiple times. I’d opened a bottle of wine and decided that a position stretched out on the sofa, laptop on knee, would be far more comfortable than sitting perched at my desk. It had been a hard day at the office, after all. The movie — which I happen to also own on DVD — would be no more than a backdrop to my productive tap tap tapping.

As it turns out, I would have been better served to inject the DVD and watch the movie without advertisements. At least then it would have finished more quickly, leaving more time with the TV switched off for me to resume productivity… Because I did not produce one word during the two hours I sprawled in front of that movie. I watched the entire program avidly, commercials and all.

So… Let’s talk about choices.

I blogged recently about the craziness of having two careers. My conclusion was that I write because I can’t not write, but this is perhaps a convenient perspective. A writer friend of mine has regularly stated on her blog that she will not complain about her crazy schedule because she chooses to live her life this way. That struck a chord in me.

Everything in our lives comes down to choices. Whether or not to run a red light. Or visit our family. Or turn up to work. Or make it to the gym. As writers we become fixated on choices during storytelling. The choices our characters make define the plot — and the characters themselves.

Thus do I choose to write, to have two careers. This decision defines me. I must not complain either.

Sometimes it is hard, however, when one is about to explode from all the activities one has chosen to fit into one’s life, not to scream with the frustration of it all. Right now, for example, I am tearing my hair out trying to determine how to squeeze exercise into my schedule. When every waking minute outside of career #1 is accounted for — currently a combination of working on my WIP, blogging, reading/showing support for other WANA112 participants’ blogs, plus a news and Dr Who TV-dinner allotment of 1.5 hours per day — where is the workout to go?

Again, I have to make a choice.

Which brings me back to tonight’s choice. What possessed me to try to write with Legally Blond on TV? I love that movie! Deep down, I knew when I put it on that my productivity would suffer. (I did, however, manage to squeeze in a half-hour walk before dinner.)

Sometimes the choices are hard, and this is perhaps where discipline comes in. I have previously discussed the whole ‘bum on seat’ concept, and usually, if I make it as far as opening my WIP document, I produce the goods. Thus I am a little bit mad with myself for wasting a writing opportunity this evening.

However, I also recognise that I am currently tired and emotional (for various reasons). I tell myself that, just as we can choose to take on a second career and have a crazy life, so can we also choose to take a break every once in a while.

How about you guys? How often do you cut yourself some slack and give yourself some chill-out time? How closely related are ‘choice’ and ‘discipline’?

21 comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in Reflection

February 5, 2012

Over at Liv Rancourt’s blog

By Ellen Gregory

There’s lots of blog love going around in my world at the moment. Just as I hosted S.M. Nonnemacher here on Friday, so have I appeared as a guest over on Liv Rancourt‘s blog.

Liv, who is a Seattle-based author of speculative fiction, asked me to share some insights on what it’s like to live in Melbourne — which was last year named the world’s most livable city by The Economist.

I was delighted to share my thoughts as to why we might have received this accolade. Naturally I feel it has much to do with… coffee.

Read the post here.

4 comments   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Flitting off elsewhere

February 3, 2012

Fridays with Friends: S.M. Nonnemacher

By Ellen Gregory

Today I’m launching the Friday with Friends series, which is (as the name suggests) a series of guest posts from fellow bloggers.

Today we have the fabulous S.M. Nonnemacher, who’s working on her first Young Adult (YA) novel (see full bio below). I asked her to share with us some of her top reading tips:

What’s your favourite novel in the whole wide world?

There are two things I look for in great books—the ability to invoke emotion, and humour. I love a book that can either make me cry or make me laugh. But I will always hold a special place in my heart for those select few that can make me do both.

I can’t explain why, but the book that has done this the best for me (over and over—I have two very frayed hard copies and an electronic copy) is PS, I Love You by Cecilia Ahearn. For those who haven’t read it, it is a story of a young woman (29-30) who loses her husband to a brain tumor very early on in the book. Through a series of monthly letters he penned before his death, her husband helps her to move on with her life.

The first time I read this, I was alternating between laughter and tears so often that my husband was concerned something was wrong. Even better, it can still make me laugh and cry, even after 20+ readings. :-)

What book has had the most profound impact on you?

I have to say, I really struggled with this answer. So many books have impacted me. I really can’t narrow it down to one, but I can get it down to one author. :-)

When I was a kid, I loved to read. My favorite author was Judy Blume. I read her books over and over. I wore many out, but would still read them, even if the binding had split, making one book two. Her characters were my friends as much as many of my real-life friends were.

If my parents wouldn’t let me do something a character in one of her books was allowed to do, I would often pull the, “but my friend So-and-so’s parents said yes.” I am amazed at how often this worked, especially since I now know that my mom read every book I did before she gave it to me. Oops! ;-)

I was a shy kid, so I didn’t have as many friends as I would have liked. (What can I say, I am a shy extrovert.) Her books made me feel that I was surrounded by friends, even when I really wasn’t. They formed the love of reading that has carried me into adulthood, and drove my desire to write. It doesn’t get much more profound than that! ;-)

Is there one particular ‘classic’ you think everybody should read?

I would probably answer this differently every day. I love reading classics, but I can’t say that there is just one that I think is the best. Some of my favorites are Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, and George Orwell’s 1984. (Wow, that last one really doesn’t fit in with the rest, does it?) ;-)

Do you have a favourite writing ‘how to’ book?

This is another tough one. Usually, whatever I am reading at the time. ;-) My favorite writing book is probably On Writing by Stephen King, which chronicles his journey as a writer. For motivation, I go for The War of Art by Stephen Pressfield, which teaches writers how to overcome resistance (aka procrastination) to reach their goals. I am also a big fan of Bob Mayer and Kristen Lamb. :-)

Tree-book or e-book?

E-book all the way! :-) I was sceptical when I first got it, but it didn’t take long to win me over. I have the Nook Simple Touch, an e-ink device. It is my second Nook (I also had the original), but both were e-ink devices, mainly because I love to read outside. :-)

I love the portability of it—I always have my entire e-book library with me at all times, including my rather large to-be-read pile. I love that my Nook saves my place, and carries that page over to the app on my phone, just in case I find myself Nook-less (or, occasionally, with dead battery). ;-)

Where is your favourite place to read?

My absolute favorite place to read in on the beach, but that only happens once a year. At this time of year, I like to curl up in the corner of my sectional sofa with a blanket and a cup of tea. In the warmer months, I love to sit outside in the sun. :-)

Care to share your ‘to-read’ pile with us?

Another reason why I love my e-reader—it has over 50 books on it right now!! LOL! At the top:

  • Death Benefit—Robin Cook
  • Supernaturally—Kiersten White
  • The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks—E. Lockhart
  • Staying at Daisy’s—Jill Mansell
  • Beauty Queen—Julia London

The list goes on, but is made up of mostly YA, Romance, and Action/Suspense/Mystery type novels. :-)

Thank you so much, Ellen, for having me today! This has been a fun interview! :-)

About S.M. Nonnemacher

S.M. Nonnemacher has loved reading for as long as she can remember. It didn’t take long for her to realize that she enjoyed creating her own stories as much as reading the creations of others. A lifelong daydreamer, she sometimes claimed her “characters” as actual friends, especially when it meant getting her way with her parents. Now, she writes full-time, diligently working toward the publication of her first Young Adult novel. When not writing or spending time her beloved husband, she can be found with family and friends, at a community theatre rehearsal, at a minor league baseball game, or relaxing with a cup of coffee or tea and a great book.

A huge thank you to S.M. Nonnemacher for sharing her thoughts with us all.

19 comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , | posted in Fridays with Friends, Reading

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