Tag, You're It

Mary Walling asked me these questions: 

1. You're on a deserted island for six months with one person ~ who would it be and why?
     
I'd have to go with Christ first and my husband next. No offense, Sweety...:o) I just have way too much to ask Christ firsthand.

2. You were caught in a meteor shower which left you with strange abilities. Now every time you eat chocolate, you can ... what?

 Travel through time. I'd get everything done, talk to all of those amazing people from the past, and learn the truth of everything!

3. A friend takes you to an abandoned castle that has been hidden for centuries. She heard a rumor that great treasure was hidden in the sixth tower. Would you venture inside or turn it over to the authorities to investigate? What would you find? 

 Absolutely no question, I'd spend as much time in that castle as possible, exploring, taking notes and pictures, and then I'd have a faux battle in it, and then I'd have a huge feast with medieval clothing and thousands of candles for all my friends. As for the treasure, I'd leave that for the people who own the castle.

 4. You can only drink one type of beverage for the next year - what would it be and why?

 I guess it'd have to be water, since that's the only beverage the body has to have to stay alive...:o)

 5. Have you ever had to face a fear of yours? What was it and how did you overcome it, if you did?

 I was afraid of being on my own. After high school I went up to Alaska with my cousin to work in canneries. She left me to go back to the lower 48 and I was left alone to try and find a place to live and work. It was petrifying at first, but I found out I could do it. It definitely made me stronger. (And I found I could gut 5 good-sized salmon a minute...:o)

 6. Have you enjoyed certain ages in your life more than others? What is your ideal age and why? 

 Every age has had its challenges. They've all had good points and things I wished were different. 

 7. Has anyone totally amazed you in life? Who and why?

People amaze me on a regular basis. Nearly everyone has great potential in them. Christ, the guy who had to cut out of his arm to get out of a crevasse, Queen Elizabeth I who ruled like a man but had feelings like a woman, Sir Edmund Hillary who climbed Mt. Everest, Mother Theresa, Joseph Smith, my husband and children, my parents, Jean D'Arc, George Washing and the rest of the Founding Fathers, the soldier who gives his life to save his platoon, so many people! 

 8. Have you ever written in a character in a story patterned after a real person ~ out of spite, because that person ticked you off? 

  Absolutely. It's the best revenge...:o) 

 9. Do any of your characters make you totally crazy because they have a mind of their own and take you places you hadn't planned on?

 Yes indeed. I've had characters totally jump the outline and kick it to pieces. Sometimes I even let them get away with it.

 10. What is your most favorite phrase/paragraph that you have written? Can you share it? 

 I'll have to think about this one and get back later, since I'm putting off polishing to do this little exercise.

 11. If you could sit down and talk shop with any writer from any time period - who would it be and why?

It would have to be either Shakespeare or Jane Austen. For Shakespeare, I'd have loved to ask him the meanings of a few of his soliloquies. For Jane Austen, I'd have loved to thank her for all the joy she's given so many people down through the ages. And I'd have asked her to write about fifty more books. I'd have thanked Shakespeare too...:o)

 12.  When did you first realize you wanted to write books and what genre?

I've had books crashing around in my head since before high school. They only managed to bash their way out about five years ago. My first outline (which never made it out of that stage) was Prima Nochta--a historical novel. The first one to actual make it to the end (and subsequently to the end of a 4 book series) was Watcher at the Gates of Day, my Dystopian series.

13.  Who is your favorite book character and why?  What is your favorite book? 

I almost hate to say. There are so many. One of my favs is Elizabeth Bennet of Pride and Prejudice. I love how she's an intelligent, witty person, but isn't too mean about it.She's vulnerable but she can verbally cut you into little chunks if you deserve it.

14.  Life can be a challenge
sometimes. What do you do that helps you to get through life's challenges? 

I go compose something on the piano or squirrel away with a good book. 

15.  I know that some of you do something special when you write.  I like to drink iced lemon water and eat peppermint patties(sugar free) or yum, dark chocolate.  What special something do you do when you write? 

I like to eat corn nuts. I don't like music or any other distraction unless I can edge it out. If I'm unsnarling a problem, though, I want it quiet. 

16.   My parents were my inspiration growing up.   Who has inspired you the most in your life?  Why? 

My mother told me bazillions of stories growing up. I was ALWAYS asking for stories from her bottomless well of imagination. She inspires me with her stellar example as well. My father inspired me not to be a quitter, and to search for the truth. 

17.  I have traveled a lot in my lifetime.  My favorite place to live was Colorado where there were four seasons and the beautiful mountains.  Have you traveled and if so, what was your favorite place and why? 

I also lived in Colorado and would move back in an instant. I've gone to all but 13 states, Canada, Mexico, and nearly all the European countries. My favorite places were Austria and Germany. I would dearly LOVE to go back. Greece was fun too. 

18.  Have you ever used a family member as a character in one of your novels? 

Once. He's not a family member anymore. 

19.  What have been the inspiration for the title of your novels?  A person, place or thing? 

There have been many. For Psyquake, my husband suggested it jokingly, among a whole bunch of silly things. He was amazed when I actually used it. 

20.  "What great thing would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?" 

Besides going to the Celestial Kingdom? I'd like to find several of my ancestors, find my family castle, climb K2 and several frozen waterfalls, map the ocean floor, and raise fantastic children to adulthood. 

21.  Are you a pushover for everyone who wants you to do stuff for them?
Why? 

Often. I feel that doing service helps negate a bunch of the rotten things I do. I hope the plus side of my ledger outweighs the negative side. 

22.  How much impact does your childhood have on your writing?

That's a silly question. A person's childhood provides their main frame of reference. I doubt there are very many people who can totally negate their childhood when writing. 

Check out Theresa Sneed's answers too.