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Interview with Reading Group
12/13/2005 9:43:00 PM
by Julie Palella
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| I was asked to join in on a discussion about my book, MacGregor's Curse, by a reading group in CA. |
I received an Email asking if I would be interested in discussing my book, MacGregor's Curse, by a reading group in California. Of course, I said yes, considering the fact that my book has made it across country and is was being read by a reading group. YIPPEEEEE
They called tonight with a conference phone and there were 22 members in the room. Fortunately, they all loved the book! Thank God.
Here are some of the questions they asked me, in case any of you are ever approached by a reading group. It was a lot of fun and a great honor!
Question 1: Are any of the characters in your book written from people you know?
Answer: I think every author tends to do that. It's only natural to write what you know. I am a people watcher and always have been. I took a little bit from everyone one I know and they were integrated into a character. Although, not all characters resemble someone I know. Some characters pop up out of the blue and write themselves.
Question 2: What inspired you to write about Scotland? Have you ever been there? Your descriptions were so vivid, I felt like I was there throughout the book.
Answer: Well, thank you! I have never been to Scotland, although I have always wanted to go there. I chose Scotland because of the history behind it.... the wars against the English. They fought for honor, and I admired that. There is still honor in the world today, but the more I researched, the more I found that honor means something alltogether different today then it did in the past. I spent many, many hours in the library researching Scotland's past.
Question 3: What made you decide to write? Were you read to as a child? Did you always write?
Answer: I didn't always write and I was not always read to. My parents always read. There was never a time that either of my parents were not reading a book. We all followed in their example and all four of us (siblings) have always read. My first love with books came from the Chronicles of Narnia. As I got into my late 30's, I decided to write some short stories, which in turn won contests. That inspired me to try my first novel...and it was successful. Not right away, of course, but it was successful.
Question 4: Who is your favorite author?
Answer: I have several. For romance and fun, I love Nora Roberts. Stephen King is way up there on my list along with Dean Koontz. I read every genre except catagory romance. I know those are very popular, but they don't hold my attention.
Question 5: Who inspired Marcus? He is my favorite character in your book, even though he is not the main hero.
Answer: Actually, Marcus is my favorite character as well. He was written almost completely after my father. His sense of humor, kindness, compassion...all my father.
Question 6: Have you ever met any of your favorite authors?
Answer: I have personally met Janet Evanovich, Dean Koontz, Trisha R. Thomas and Tina Wainscott. They are all an inspiration to me.
Question 7: How do you find time to read and write at the same time?
Answer: I will never stop reading. There is never a time that I am not in the middle of a book. I think if I stopped reading, I would have a very hard time writing. I do switch genres that I read as I write. If I'm writing a thriller, I tend to pick up thrillers. I love to read even more than I like to write.
Question 8: How many hours of sleep do you get?
Answer: Not enough!
Question 9: What are you working on currently?
Answer: I am working on a thriller that takes place in Naples, Florida. It's what I know, it's about the people, the place, the Gulf...everything I love about Naples with some supernatural thrown in to the mix.
Question 10: How does your family react to your writing? Are they supportive? Do they feel neglected?
Answer: My husband is extrememly supportive. He has given me more ideas than I know what to do with...and very good ones. When I am stuck in a scene, he will mull it over and come up with an answer for me everytime. He doesn't mind my writing all night as long as I tuck him into bed...(room laughs). Well, every marriage needs SOME quiet time! My daughter is now 18 and is also very supportive. I don't know how writers do it with small children that constantly need attention. My hat is off to them!
Question 11: Do people ask you if you can help them get their manuscripts published?
Answer: All the time. It's hard enough to get my own published! Maybe one day, when I'm extremely rich and famous, I can help them out. I am always happy to look at anyone's manuscript though, and the writers groups that I belong to are extremely generous with their critiquing and sharing of Agents, Publishers...etc. I don't know what I would do without them.
Question 12: You wrote Elizabeth's character as a scientist who just happened to take some herbal healing classes...how did you know what herbs and plants would help with healing and how did you know what was native to Scotaland at the time?
Answer: Research, research and more research. There was a time that I had at least 15 books from the library on herbal healing and the history of healing. I needed Elizabeth to have some basic healing skills without being a nurse or a doctor.
Question 13: Your ending was such a shocker! Why did you do that? I think I understand the reasoning behind it, but I can't stop thinking about Alexander sitting by that lake...wondering about Elizabeth...wondering if she's dead or alive.
Answer: You just answered your own question. (Room laughs). That's exactly why I wrote it that way. I wanted Alexander to stay with people long after they shut the book and it looks like it worked!
Question 14: How did you get your dialogue to flow so well. I've read many books where the dialogue just doesn't seem natural. I felt like I was sitting there in the middle of the conversations with them. I cried with Lily, I laughed with Alexander, it all just...flowed.
Answer: Well thank you! Dialogue is hard to write, so that is a huge compliment! I always say my dialogue out loud. I ask myself: Would someone say that? If the answer is yes, I leave it in. If the answer is no: I re-write. I re-wrote a LOT of the dialogue.
That was it. They were very nice! They are reading my second book, Whispers by the Sea in February and I have agreed to do another conference call with them.
Thanks to all the members of the reading group that took the time to read MacGregor's Curse! I appreciate it more than you know!
Julie
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Julie Palella
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