A Traveling Jones…
I’m heading out on Sunday morning to Chicago, a city I love yet haven’t visited in the last fifteen years, my traveling time cut way back
when I left my in-house job as an editor at a textbook publisher. Back in the day, my schedule took me away
from home for a total of two-and-a-half to three months a year, visiting
campuses, talking to professors, and trying to find some new authors to sign to
our list. I didn’t enjoy traveling then
because I had a small child and was away what seemed like all the time. Now, though, after fifteen years of working
in my attic, I look forward to a little time away.
when I left my in-house job as an editor at a textbook publisher. Back in the day, my schedule took me away
from home for a total of two-and-a-half to three months a year, visiting
campuses, talking to professors, and trying to find some new authors to sign to
our list. I didn’t enjoy traveling then
because I had a small child and was away what seemed like all the time. Now, though, after fifteen years of working
in my attic, I look forward to a little time away.
This next trip, I’m lucky enough to be traveling with my
good friend, Mary Ann, who is an intrepid international traveler and who has
arranged every last detail of the trip, right down to the brunch reservation we
have the minute we arrive in the Windy City.
I like taking the guess work out of where I’ll be eating eggs benedict
on Sunday morning.
good friend, Mary Ann, who is an intrepid international traveler and who has
arranged every last detail of the trip, right down to the brunch reservation we
have the minute we arrive in the Windy City.
I like taking the guess work out of where I’ll be eating eggs benedict
on Sunday morning.
While in the Chicago area, I’ll be speaking at the Oak Lawn
library (Monday night at 7:00) to a group of people—size to be determined—about
my series, writing, and anything else that pops into my head. One thing that I’ve taken to doing lately
during speaking engagements, however, is responding directly to frequently
asked questions so that those questions are answered before we get to the
Q&A portion of the evening. I think
I’ve hit them all, but what I’d love to hear from all of you out there in the
Stiletto-wearing world is any question you’d like to ask an author that you
haven’t heard asked before. The person
who asks the most pertinent question that gets added to my speech will win one
copy of the Advanced Reader’s Copy of EXTRA CREDIT, the latest Alison Bergeron
title to be published in December of this year.
library (Monday night at 7:00) to a group of people—size to be determined—about
my series, writing, and anything else that pops into my head. One thing that I’ve taken to doing lately
during speaking engagements, however, is responding directly to frequently
asked questions so that those questions are answered before we get to the
Q&A portion of the evening. I think
I’ve hit them all, but what I’d love to hear from all of you out there in the
Stiletto-wearing world is any question you’d like to ask an author that you
haven’t heard asked before. The person
who asks the most pertinent question that gets added to my speech will win one
copy of the Advanced Reader’s Copy of EXTRA CREDIT, the latest Alison Bergeron
title to be published in December of this year.
So, get cracking.
What do inquiring minds want to know from those of us who toil in solitude,
creating imaginary worlds?
What do inquiring minds want to know from those of us who toil in solitude,
creating imaginary worlds?
Maggie Barbieri
How about this one:
If you, as a writer, were a kind of ice-cream, what flavor would you be?
🙂 Sorry, I really REALLY want an ARC of the next Alison book. 🙂
Do you think that you are mostly a solitary person who easily moved into and fit well into such a day-to-day situation OR do you think your job has taught you to be solitary, shaped you into the mold? And, as a follow-up, do you like the solitary aspect of the work?
@Laura, I'll try to hook you up. 🙂
@Vicky, great question but you know me: do YOU think I like the solitary aspect of the work? Ha! I need a water cooler and my friends to come to the attic so I can speak to someone other than the dog or cat during the day.
Maggie
How do you decide who to kill in your books?
Ooooh. Good one.
Who's the one character that it hurt you to put in harm's way?
Oooohhhh! I love these. Thanks, Linda and Kelly. Let's see what the rest of the day brings but I already have a favorite in mind…but all of these will be added to my talk. Thanks! Maggie
Have you based any of your characters on your own personality traits? If so, were they good traits or bad traits?
How about this:
Do friends and family treat you any differently now that they know–in black and white print–how your mind works? When you say "I'd kill for that brownie," do they take a step back?? (All in good fun, by the way.)
I'll tell you one that some asked Jan Burke when she was so kind to come our dinky library. "How can I get my book published?" I couldn't believe someone did that. Can't remember exactly what Jan answered, but it was nice.
When you are writing, does your plot and your character take over your life, and how do you you keep your focus while dealing with your other life?
Will read your book any way possible 🙂
Ok, folks, Kelly has hit on a question that has plagued me through the writing of my next book…so…ta-dah! Kelly, you're the winner. I'll contact you offline to find out where to send your ARC.
Thanks, everyone. This was a lot of fun. Maggie
Hi Maggie:
I was in the audience at Oak Lawn PL. Wonderful talk.
I can totally relate to you. I am Irish Catholic southside of Chicago, neighborhood full of police officers and fire fighters.
Love your books and so glad you are still going to keep the Allison B. series going.
Hope you enjoyed my wonderful city.
Kathy O'Leary
Kathy! So great to hear from you. It was great to meet you; so glad you liked the talk. I did indeed enjoy Chicago. I must get back soon but first I must lose the 10 pounds I probably gained while there! Maggie