A One-Word/One-Line Interview With A 7-Year-Old Author

Gracee never has enough paper. I find remnants of stories and song lyrics all over my house. She loves pens and colored pencils and markers and notebooks. She likes to give me writing advice. She's very creative. And, yes, I'm prejudiced. She's my granddaughter!

We conducted this interview over a meal of Big Boy spaghetti. Thank you, Gracee, for taking the time to answer these questions.

Gracee in One Word

1.  What is your favorite sport?

Soccer.

2.  Strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries?

Strawberries.

3.  Who is your favorite author?

Polacco (Patricia.)

4.  What is your favorite animal?

Wolf.

5.  Flip-flops, slippers, tennies, or bare?

Flip-flops.

6.  What is your favorite Dairy Queen treat?

Slushie (blue raspberry.)

7.  What is your favorite subject in school (not gym)?

Writing.

8.  If you had to evacuate (leave) your house and had time to grab only one thing, what would it be?

Sister. (Note: Baby Lillee is now one week and two days old.)

9.  What instrument would you like to play?

Guitar.

10. Would you rather read about animals or people?

Do nonfiction books count? Animals. (But I like real people, too, like Rosa Parks.)

Gracee in One Line

1.  Do you prefer to write with pen, pencil, or computer?

Write in pencil, correct with pen, then type on computer.

2.  What is your favorite kind of music?

Country and rock, but I also like classic, like Fur Elise, and harp because it helps calm me down.

3.  What is your favorite book and why?

Thunder Cake because it teaches not to be afraid of a storm.

4.  What rule does your mom think is most important?

Don't talk back.

5.  What do you like to write about?

My family and where we go and what we do.

6.  What are some of your nicknames and which do you like best?

Gray, Gray-Gray, Mogli, Grace Face, Gracee Facee, Sis, Nerbie, Amazing Grace; I like Amazing Grace.

7.  What is the most important thing to remember when writing a story?

Write with expression.

8.  How did you learn to say onomatopoeia?

My teacher, Mrs. Entenman, made us say it over and over; it's easy.

9.  What do you like best about walking in the cemetery?

Flowers, stones, walking up the steps and hills, getting ideas--can you get me a notebook like yours?

10. What is your favorite vacation?

Gaylord Alpenfest because I get to see Roscoe the Clown.

11.  What do you like best about your grandma?

That's kinda hard because you do lots of nice things for me, but you make me laugh--like when you say, "no laughing allowed."

Gracee on One Thing

What one thing would you like to say to your readers or future readers?

Thank you for reading. I appreciate it. It really feels good. I hope you like my stories.

What one thing would you like to say to fellow writers or aspiring writers?

Calm down. Relax. Don't make it hard on yourself. Follow your heart. Feel what the story tells you.

Thank you, for sharing with us today, Gracee. You are an inspiration. And I love you.

Read more about Gracee's writing and tips:

7 Writing Tips from a 7-Year-Old
4 Tips From a 7-Year-Old to Keep Bum in Chair
Gracee--Gold Star Young Author

Copyright © 2010 by Sandra Heska King

Jennifer Hudson Taylor: One-Word/One-Line Interview

Jennifer Hudson Taylor writes historical and contemporary Christian fiction set in Europe and the Carolinas. Her debut novel, Highland Blessings, released this month, and the music on her video trailer (below) really gets to me.

You can order a copy from Amazon and even a signed copy direct from the author here!

How can you not love someone who has an ink bottle, quill pen, cardinal, and a dogwood blossom on her website and blog?

Jennifer lives in North Carolina, and in addition to writing, she speaks on several topics related to faith, writing, and parenting special-needs children. She's also a genealogy buff. I can't wait to get to know her better.

I accidentally asked her a couple questions (okay, three) that couldn't be answered with just one word. My bad. But I still like the questions and the answers, so they stay.

And, wow! So many followup questions I want to ask!

Welcome, Jennifer!

Jennifer Hudson Taylor in One (almost) Word

1.  What was your favorite childhood toy?

     Fitzerina.

2.  What was your least favorite subject in school?

     Math.

3.  What was your first job?

     Collating.

4.  What did you eat for breakfast this morning?

     Waffle.

5.  What was the last movie you saw?

     The Scarlett Pimpernel.

6.  What was the last movie that made you cry?

     The Blind Side.

7.  What is the tallest building you've ever been in?

     Toronto Tower.

8.  Would you prefer a picnic or a restaurant meal?

     Picnic.

9.  What would Akira say is your greatest weakness?

     Impatience.

10. You just won a week's vacation of your choice. Where will you go?

     Scotland.

Jennifer Hudson Taylor in One Line

1.  Describe your most embarrassing moment.

     In college during the '92 elections, I fainted holding a Bush sign while Hillary Clinton demanded her guys pull me out of the crowd so I wouldn't get trampled, and she told them to give me a bottle of water.

2.  What is the best thing about being the parent of a special-needs child?

     You can't afford to take your child for granted, and you feel so very thankful and blessed for each milestone they accomplish.

3.  Share your favorite time management tip.

     Avoid email, Facebook, and Twitter.

4.  Who is one person you'd like to visit and why?

     Joyce Meyer, because she is so full of godly wisdom. 

5.  What is your very first memory?

     My uncle giving me a balloon before he drowned.

6.  What is your favorite thing about Bryce MacPhearson?

     He means well, but still manages to get into trouble regardless of what he does.

7.  What wisdom from your mother still sticks with you?

     Don't worry about what everyone else thinks; concentrate on what God thinks.

8.  What Bible character do you identify most with and why?

     I admire Queen Esther for her courage, but I've been compared to Deborah, the prophetess of Israel.

9.  Describe the favorite room in your house.

     My bedroom is roomy, comfortable, and private--like a sanctuary.

10. What was the most surprising thing you discovered while researching your family history?

     That my Morgan ancestor from Glamorgan, Wales hosted King Charles II and was bestowed the governorship of Jamaica.

Jennifer Hudson Taylor on One Thing

What one thing would you like to say to your readers or future readers?

Out of all the wonderful books out there and all the things to distract your attention and strangle your time, thank you for choosing my book and taking the time to read it. I hope you will enjoy it and hope you'll give my other books set in different time periods a try.

What one thing would you like to say to fellow writers or aspiring writers?

If you are unpublished, never give up on your dream of publication. God's timing will come. To all writers, don't get so caught up in the "writing rules" and judging and critiquing that you forget how to read for pleasure.

Highland warrior Bryce MacPhearson kidnaps Akira MacKenzie on her wedding day to honor a promise he made to his dying father. When he forces Akira to wed him, hoping to end a half-century feud between their clans, she struggles to overcome her anger and resentment. Yet her strength in the Lord becomes a witness to Bryce. But there is a traitor in their midst . . . and murder is the ultimate weapon.



Jennifer's Website
Jennifer's Writing Blog
Jennifer on Facebook
Jennifer on Twitter

Thanks so much, Jenn for taking the time to help us get to know you better!

Copyright © 2010 by Sandra Heska King

Candace Calvert: One-Word/One-Line Interview

It's National Nurses Week (May 6-12), and so I've invited one of my favorite nurses, who shares a first name with my favorite--and only--sister, to visit The Write Pursuit.

Candace Calvert writes medical fiction where she offers healthy doses of drama, romance, humor, and hope.

She's lived it. She shares it.

And if you're a nurse, be sure to visit her blog this week. Tell her how long you've been a nurse and what type of nursing you do (or did), and you'll have a chance to win an autographed copy of either Critical Care or Disaster Status.

And now--here's Candace!

Candace Calvert in One Word

1. Who was/is your favorite TV doctor?

     Bailey.

2.  Look to your left. What's the first thing you see?

     McKenna.

3.  When you drive without cruise control, is your foot usually lead, light, or exact?

     Lead. (Your secret's safe with us.)

4.  You and Erin Quinn (from Disaster Status) are spending a girl's night out. Where do you go?

     Linedancing.

5.  What is your favorite board game?

     Scrabble.

6.  If you turned up missing, where is the last place your friends and family would look for you?

     Casino.

7.  As a child, what food did you refuse to eat?

     Peas.

8.  When cleaning your house, are you a gentle breeze or a tornado?

     Tornado.

9.  You're feeling very creative. Where are you?

     Kitchen.

10. What are you usually doing at 9:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning?

     Caffeine.

Candace Calvert in One Line

1.  What would Leigh (from Disaster Status) say she liked best about working with you?

     That we share a love for horses and that I understand the heartbreak of betrayal.

2.  What was the most memorable gift you ever received?

     From God: my children; from a person: a braided bracelet fashioned by my daughter out of strands of hair from my beloved mare, Winter Winds.

3.  What do you miss most about the ER?

     The bonds among the ER team and the satisfaction that comes with "being there" for someone in a time of great need.

4.  What is the strangest thing you've eaten when you didn't have time to cook?

     (Confession and recipe): Put a big blob of peanut butter in coffee cup, mix in a huge clump of brown sugar and hefty sprinkling of chocolate chips, add spoon--instant Reese's!
 
5.  What is the difference between a strong woman and a woman of strength?

     A strong woman struggles to stay "tough and in control," relying only on herself; a woman of strength finds peace and joy through faith in God.

6.  What is your most treasure souvenir and why?

     Christmas ornaments collected on world travel with my wonderful husband--keepsakes of adventures--romantic, funny, exotic, and unforgettable.

7.  Who was your favorite teacher and why?

     Gloria Kempton, author and online instructor, showed me that I could actually touch people through my writing--I made her cry.
 
8.  What is on the top of your to-do list when preparing for company?

     Lists and . . .  lists of lists, sometimes in colored ink.

9.  How do you capture writing ideas?

     I am a sponge for things around me--soak it up, squeeze it out through the keyboard.

10. Who do people say you look like and why?

     A woman recently told me that I look (in profile) "just like Vivian Leigh in 'Gone with the Wind'"--frankly, my dear, I don't see it.

Candace Calvert on One Thing

What one thing would you like to say to your readers or future readers?

From my heart: thank you. Your response to my stories of hope has encouraged me beyond my frail dreams. When I (finally!) stopped saying, "Who . . . me? You've got to be kidding!" to God's insistent call to write Christian fiction, it was both exhilarating and completely scary. But like my heroine, Claire Avery in Critical Care, I'm reminded that God has a plan. Getting to know my readers is such a lovely part of that.

What one thing would you like to say to your fellow writers or aspiring writers?

Network with writers and other industry professionals--if you're writing Christian fiction join ACFW. Don't write in a vacuum; writers need honest, constructive input, a sense of direction, concrete goals, cheerleaders and (sometimes) a shoulder to cry on. The relationships you build with other writers: Priceless.  

Thanks so much for visiting, Candace! You are an inspiration to me as a person and as a writer!

I appreciate your hosting me here, Sandy--and the challenge. The hardest thing for a writer to do is give a one-word answer! I've enjoyed the opportunity to connect with your readers--thanks much.

~Candace

Charge nurse Erin Quinn escaped personal turmoil to work on the peaceful California coast. But when a hazardous material spill places Pacific Mercy Hospital on disaster status and stresses staff, she's put to the test. And thrown into conflict with the fire department's handsome incident commander who thinks her strategy is out of line.

Fire Captain Scott McKenna has felt the toxic effects of tragedy; he's learned to go strictly by the book to advance his career, heal his family, and protect his wounded heart. When he's forced to team with the passionately determined ER charge nurse, sparks fly. As they work to save lives, can they handle the attraction kindled between them . . . without getting burned?

Watch for Code Triage--coming September 2010!

Candace Calvert's website

Candace Calvert's blog

Candace Calvert on Facebook

Candace Calvert on Twitter

Copyright © 2010 by Sandra Heska King

K.M. Weiland: One-Word/One-Line Interview

I’ve been stalking K.M. Weiland for some time. Hanging out at her website. Dogging her around the blogs. Soaking in life advice and writing wisdom. Admiring her gifts of detail and discipline. Immersing myself in the middle ages in her new book, Behold the Dawn. And she has such a sweet spirit. I want to be like her when I grow up.

So since I wanted to get to know her even better, I asked if she could stop by my blog and answer a few brief questions.  And she agreed!

Since Katie's novel is set in the set in the 12th century, I decided to ask her 12 questions in 2 categories.

K.M. Weiland in One Word

1.  Where would you go on the ideal vacation? 

     Hawaii.

2.  What was your first paid job?

     Secretary.

3.  Would you prefer to swim or ice skate?

     Swim.

4.  What is your greatest weakness? 

     Impatience.

5.  When it comes to "stuff," are you a keeper or a tosser?

     Tosser.

6.  What musical instrument are you?

     Drum.

7.  What would Marcus Annan say is your greatest strength?

     Battles!

8.  At a theme park, do you head for the roller coasters or the shows?

     Coaster.

9.  Who was your childhood hero/heroine?

     Cowboy.

10. Where do you behold God?

      Details.

11. Would you prefer to eat (peasant) bread or (elderflower) cheesecake?

      Cheesecake!

12. What one-word message did you take away for yourself from Behold the Dawn?

      Perseverance. 

K.M. Weiland in One Line

1.  What is one of your favorite quotes from Behold the Dawn?

     "In the corner, flint struck against steel, sparks danced airborne for a moment, and then the expected flame burnt a golden hole in the darkness."

2.  Would you prefer to travel by car or plane and why?

     I much prefer car travel; airports are exhausting.

3.  What do you battle?

     Myself; impatience and tactlessness are two of my banes.

4.  When you are feeling down, what lifts you up?

     A bouncy song, a good movie, sunshine, chocolate, and above all, the knowledge that God is in control of the little things and the big things alike.

5.  When you've been away, what do you like best about coming home?

     My own bed!

6.  If you were to die today, what song would you like sung at your funeral and why?

     Nicole Nordeman's "Legacy" comes to mind: "I want to leave a legacy / How will they remember me? / Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough / To make a mark on things?"

7.  If you could live in any period of history, when would it be and why?

     Probably the 1940s, though I may be a bit prejudiced right now, since I'm working with a new story idea set in that period.

8.  What was a good word of advice someone gave to you?

     What people think of you isn't as important as what God thinks of you.

9.  How would Lady Mairead complete this sentence for you? I wish . . .

     . . . she wasn't so mean to her characters!

10. When did you know you were a writer?

     It was a gradual awakening, I guess, since I've always told stories; probably the "official" realization was when I was about twelve.

11. What has your past taught you?

     To look outside the box, keep an open mind, and never settle for an easy answer.

12. What is your favorite writing outfit and why?

     Jeans, sweatshirt, and fuzzy blue slippers--because I gotta be warm to write! 

K.M. WEILAND ON ONE THING

What one thing would you like to say to your readers or future readers?

Thanks for being there! In the cutthroat world of publishing and marketing it can sometimes be easy to lose sight of why I'm doing this. But whenever someone tells me they loved one of my books or that they were encouraged by a blog post--that makes my day. That's what it's all about. Being able to touch the life of someone else, even if for only a moment, means I've accomplished something worthwhile.

What one thing would you like to say to your fellow writers or aspiring writers?

Don't give up, and don't sell yourself short. Writing, first and foremost, is a mode of self-expression, of reaching out and connecting with the world around us. Being published, being read, making the NYT best-seller list, that stuff is just icing on the cake. You're a writer even if you never accomplish that. But, at the same time, don't allow yourself to settle for less than the best. Discipline yourself, drive yourself to become a little bit better every time you sit down at the keyboard. Success only visits the dedicated.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Synopsis: Marcus Annan, a tourneyer famed for his prowess on the battlefield, thought he could keep the secrets of his past buried forever. But when a mysterious crippled monk demands Annan help him find justice for the transgressions of sixteen years ago, Annan is forced to leave the tourneys and join the Third Crusade.

Wounded in battle and hunted by enemies on every side, he rescues an English noblewoman from an infidel prison camp and flees to Constantinople. But, try as he might, he cannot elude the past. Amidst the pain and grief of a war he doesn’t even believe in, he is forced at last to face long-hidden secrets and sins and to bare his soul to the mercy of a God he thought he had abandoned years ago.

The sins of a bishop.

The vengeance of a monk.

The secrets of a knight.

About the Author: K.M. Weiland writes historical and speculative fiction from her home in the sandhills of western Nebraska. She is the author of the historical western A Man Called Outlaw and the recently released medieval epic Behold the Dawn. She blogs at Wordplay: Helping Writers Become Authors  and AuthorCulture.




Reposted from Beholding God--11/18/09

Copyright © 2009 by Sandra Heska King

Mary DeMuth: One Word/One Line Interview

Mary's in the kitchen cooking up spaghetti sauce today in the midst of a hectic schedule. While she attends to her writing and various family needs, bloggers battle for interviews. Thin Places officially released this week to rave reviews, one of which can be found here.

At any rate, I elbowed my way through the crowd and begged for just five minutes to do a quick, light-hearted (almost) interview. And just a taste from the crockpot. Yum.

Mary DeMuth in One Word (sometimes two)

1.  When you are hanging around the house, what is most likely to be on your feet?

     Fuzzy socks.

2.  Your pastor friend says you have an "overactive conscience." What would he say is underactive?

     My positivity.

3.  What is your favorite kitchen item?

     KitchenAide.

4.  When you are at the beach, do you prefer to splash, walk, or bake?

      Bake.

5.  Would you prefer a country, folk, or hip-hop tune.

      None.

6.  Are you usually early, late, or on time?

     On time.

7.  Who is your favorite comedian (living or dead)?

     Brian Regan.

8.  Would you rather play first string on a losing team or second string on a winning team?

      Second.

9.  Would you prefer a sporty convertible, an SUV, or a pick-up truck?

      Convertible!

10. What one-word message do you want people to take away from Thin Places?

      Hope.

Mary DeMuth in One Line

1.  If you were not a writer, what would you be and why?

     I'd own a bakery because I love to bake and make people feel at home.

2.  What is the best advice you ever received?

      Find gifts in others.

3.  What kind of horse did you have, and what was its name?

      Thoroughbred-Morgan; her name was Epic.

4.  Which historical person would you like to meet and why?

      Jesus, just to touch Him.

5.  What is the hardest part about writing a memoir?

      Being afraid of what people will think.

6.  Besides the lack of advertising, what was your favorite thing about France?

      The food and lifestyle.

7.  What is your favorite quote?

      "Suffering keeps swelling our feet so earth's shoes don't fit." ~Joni Earekson Tada

8.  Which of your five senses would be worst to lose and why?

     Sight, because I'm already clumsy.

9.  What is your favorite children's book and why?

      The Little Engine That Could because it typifies my life; I keep going.

10. What is something you like to do to treat yourself?

      Lunch with a friend.

Mary DeMuth on One Thing

What one thing would you like to say to your readers or future readers?

That Jesus is capable and willing to heal you from the darkest secrets.

What one thing would you like to say to your fellow writers or aspiring writers?

Tenacity is what differentiates between the published and unpublished.

Here are some places where you can catch up with Mary

Mary's Website

Mary's Writing Blog

Mary's Cooking Blog

You can also follow her on Twitter and on Facebook.

Copyright © 2010 by Sandra Heska King