“And you still haven’t answered any of my one-hundred ten questions, or my follow ups.” ― Greg Farshtey
I think I’ve told you before that the Q & A part of any writing talk I give is my favorite. I don’t have to figure out what I’m going to say for that part of the talk. I just get to come up with answers. That isn’t to say that I always have the answers. But most of the time I come up with something to say if it’s about writing. If it’s something I can’t answer, I say I don’t know. If it’s something I don’t want to answer, then we move on to the next question. 🙂
I rarely get any of those type questions but when I talk to youngsters at schools, a kid will sometimes ask me how old I am. I always smile and tell them it’s not nice to ask a lady her age. Then I have people, usually adults on this one, who ask how much money I make writing. I usually smile on that one too while I’m saying I don’t talk money. But I love most of the other questions people ask. It can take you down some interesting roads that you hadn’t thought to traverse when you were actually sharing about writing.
Kids are generally much better at asking questions than adults. They aren’t shy. They love throwing their hand up in the air and waving it around to get me to let them ask a question. Of course, I have called on kids before who either had been trying to ask a question so long they’d forgotten it or else, they merely liked waving their arm around. I smooth that over by assuring them they’ll think of their question again later.
Several years ago I went to a high school and visited several classes. That was very interesting. Especially the class of rowdy kids who had a substitute teacher that day. But we still had fun and even though some of the kids sat on top of their desks while I talked nobody threw anything at me and they asked some great questions. So here are a few of them with my answers.
“Do you get to pick your covers?” Everybody is always interested in how the covers are designed. When you are published traditionally by a company the way most of my books are and not independently, the publishers’ art department comes up with the covers. They do often ask for the writer’s input. They might ask if you have a scene from the book to suggest. They want to know what the main characters look like and their personalities too. With my recent book, The Refuge, they asked me for descriptions of my Shaker village. So I sent some pictures of the Shaker village near me. And they incorporated one of those pictures into the cover. Very authentically Shaker. A followup question is usually which is my favorite cover. While my publisher, Revell Books, does a great job on all my covers, I really liked the cover of Angel Sister, simply because the little girl on the cover not only looked exactly as I imagine my character Lorena looking, she also had the perfect look on her face as she looked up at her “angel sister.” I also really like the cover of Words Spoken True and River to Redemption.
“Do you know any really famous writers?” I always disappoint the kids with my answer on this one They want me to have chatted with J.K. Rowling or Stephen King. I haven’t. I know some writers, but none whose names I could drop to get young readers excited. I have met Karen Kingsbury. That might excite some of you if your Christian fiction readers. She is going to be a featured writer at the Southern Kentucky Book Fest in Bowling Green on March 21, 2020. So that should be fun.
“What is your favorite book that you’ve written?” A hard question to answer. Like saying which is your favorite child when you have a dozen or maybe thirty-five kids. They’re all my favorites. But I do have to love Scent of Lilacs because it got me back into the published ranks after several years of rejections. One of my young adult books, Discovery at Coyote Point, is a favorite because the setting is based on one of my favorite places on the farm. Angel Sister because I used my mother’s memories of growing up in the Depression years are threaded into the background. River to Redemption because of the inspiring true story that I wrapped the fictional story around. I can think of reasons to decide each book might be a favorite, but maybe my favorite should be the one I’m working on or the one I just finished.
“Which book that you’ve written made you the proudest?” I didn’t have an answer for the kids years ago when they asked me that. I’m not sure I have an answer now. Each time I finish a book, I’m proud that I found the way to the end. Although relieved and excited might be better words than proud.
“Can you make a living writing?” Another impossible question to give a general answer. Some writers make a great living writing. Some writers get rich when their books are bestsellers. Most writers shouldn’t give up their day jobs if they aren’t already independently wealthy. I’ve had years I did okay and other years I worked for peanuts. But there was never any question of not writing although I have taken jobs now and again to help the household budget. Right now I write full time in between family time.
The kids that day didn’t ask any really zany questions although I expected a few zingers. They were kind and fun along with being noisy. I remember being worried the principal might show up to see what was going on.
Puppy Names & Giveaway
Thanks to all of you who suggested names for my puppy in my work in progress should said puppy show up along the mountain trails my character is riding. I got some great names to ponder. Also my giveaway is still going. Leave a comment and I’ll throw your name in my drawing hat for winner’s choice of one of my books. As always, you have to be at least 18 years old to enter and the deadline to enter is midnight EST February 18th. So make sure you get your comment in soon. I’ll announce the winner Wednesday. U.S. mailing addresses only for print books, but if you want to enter from a different country and you win, I’ll be glad to send you an e-book.
So what question would you ask if you were at a book talk I was giving? Or if you were listening to any writer talk about writing? Don’t be shy. Just remember it’s not nice to ask a lady her age. 🙂
Comments 32
I’m getting my question in just in time. Where do you get your ideas for writing? I grew up on a small farm, and I like to write children’s books about the farm animals. I notice you’ve written about Shaker’s , do you know someone personally that was a Shaker?
Author
You did just get in under the wire for the drawing, Jolynn. I’ll answer that first question in my post on Wednesday.
Fun that you write children’s books about farm animals that you know about from growing up on a farm. I know about some of those farm animals too.
My Shaker books are all historical fiction, set back in the 1800’s. All the Shaker villages except one in Sabbathday Lake, Maine are no longer active. Some of them are historical sites now that draw in tourists who enjoy learning about how the Shakers lived like the Shaker villages here in Kentucky. Both have been restored and are open to the public for an entrance fee. I researched the Shakers in historical accounts and use the physical setting of the Pleasant Hill Shaker Village here in Kentucky as the model for my fictional village of Harmony Hill. There are only two Shakers remaining at the village in Maine and they keep going with the help of a large friends’ group. Maybe I need to do a new post about the Shakers to talk about some of their history. I do a Shaker Wednesday post on Facebook with snippets of history about the Shakers.
What was it that made you want to be a writer? and a great one at that!!
When I’m asked my age, I simply say “I’m old enough to know better”
Author
And I surely am old enough to know better, but then sometimes I don’t, Peggy. 🙂
I al aye wonder about a writer’s process and workspace. Do you have an office or do you just write wherever you are at the moment?
Author
That’s a question that I think many of us wonder about, Ann. I like hearing about other writers’ process of writing too. So as I told Lucy, I’ll answer your question and hers on Wednesday’s post. Maybe I can find some pictures to share too.
How do you balance writing, enjoyment, family, etc. ?
Author
Great question, Lucy. Tell you what. I’m going to answer your question and Ann’s too on Wednesday’s post. So hope you’ll check back then.
Would you ever write a biography of a ‘famous’ person, and who might that be?
Author
I have never considered writing a biography of a famous person, Marji. I think you’d have to be a lot smarter than I am to do a proper biography of someone famous. I just make stuff up. I may expand on this answer on Wednesday’s post.
Continue to love all of your books, Ann! I am SO looking forward to the new Appalachian one! I bet you sometimes wish you could be more than one person! With all you do, I’m sure it would help. 😉. Just please don’t stop writing!
Author
Thank you, Judi. I so appreciate you telling me that you like my books and that you’re looking forward to An Appalachian Summer. That has me smiling. I don’t know that I wish I was an extra person. Hard enough to keep this one of me straight. LOL. But I do wish I was a faster writer. I don’t plan to stop writing any time soon, but sometimes I wonder if I might run out of words.
I was wondering if you punctuate your sentences as you are writing, or go back and fill it in later after you have got your thoughts written out. I can see doing periods and commas as you type, but things like quotation marks may slow you down while just trying to get your words written.
Author
That’s a fun questions, Connie. I don’t think anybody has ever asked me that before. I’m sure you are right that some people don’t worry about punctuation as they’re writing although I don’t know if that’s true. I do know it is very hard to read a manuscript of any kind without punctuation. Our eyes need those periods and commas to help us understand the sentences. I do punctuate as I go. I do add those quotation marks while my characters are talking. I like writing dialogue. That’s my favorite thing to write. I love it when my characters start talking. I have had reviewers say my characters talk too much and don’t say enough, but I don’t pay any attention. I like it when they talk. I do have to do editing after I’ve written the story and sometimes while I’m writing the story. At those times I can correct punctuation problems. Commas are sort of out of favor for many writers and I don’t always like it when my editors put commas in where I don’t think commas need to be. But sometimes they are right and I’m wrong. 🙂
What’s the chances you will expand on the cozy mysteries? Another 3 book series? Even one would be nice.
Author
I haven’t completely ruled it out, Loretta. I do enjoy reading mysteries and liked writing my cozy mysteries mostly because of the characters and the small town setting. So who knows? Maybe. I can’t imagine writing three more in Hidden Springs right now, but one would be nice.
I think you are wonderfully generous with your time to us.😊 I have been on Q&As at book clubs😰 on my.. Everyone asks-the-same-question😕 I know my few I think up a bunch no one asks. Then they just take it and recycle it😕aaugh
I cringe. Except sometime you can win a 📚 Book. I have stayed for hours for this
Reason. Has yet to work do not know if there is a trick or what😯
I took daughter to book signings when she was in grade school. We met a lot of Authors then. They did talks and readings. But that’s a long topic.😁
Your Covers are fabulous 💖 if they come out how YOU imagine them perfect. I most often but by covers.
I first found Barbara Ross that way many many years ago in a grocery store in a small town. We relocated a lot for husbands job. Bookstores were not always easy to find. When your a big Reader YOU Always look finding a book shelf in a wall Covers jump out at you when you have groceries & Kids in a hurry. Hers were clear,Coastal, inviting, either a nice beach, deck and chairs, slight ripple in water, a deal a lighthouse, small words let you know it was a mystery of murder. It was NOT dropping blood from the top down making you look or feel like a perv. You know? I am a mom & wife won’t have that in my cart. Haahaa.
I have dog names of you need a few.. I would send them to you sit need them?
Boomer and Buster just 2.
I also have Author stories but I don’t know if what topic we are on.
Blessing to you
Author
Kathy, you are so right about how important a good cover can be to attracting new readers. I’ve picked up books because of the covers before too. I’m pleased with the covers on my books. Revell does a great job on all their books. Not just mine.
I’m pretty much open to any family friendly stories here so share away. And I’m sorry you haven’t had luck winning books yet. I’m sure if you keep trying, your luck will kick in one of these times. I’m never lucky in any kind of drawings for things either. I say if there are two names in the pot and I’m one of the names, the other person’s almost sure to win. 🙂 I used to do giveaways and make one prize just for those who told me they’d never won anything before. Other people have names that seem to rise to the top to win all the time.
I’m interested in how you said they take your questions and recycle them. The authors do? Maybe if that’s what you mean, we sometimes don’t know an answer and just change the question to something we can answer. 🙂
Hi Ann!
I wonder if you know when you are in the process of writing a book, do you know it’s going to have/need sequels? Or do you decide when you’re done that the story must continue?
I have always loved all your books! It is truly a treat when a new one is published!
Author
That’s an interesting question, Gwen, and one I’m not sure I’ve thought about before in exactly that way. In the stories where I have written sequels, the Heart of Hollyhill books, the Rosey Corner books, and the Hidden Springs mysteries, I did have in mind more than one book about the same characters when I wrote the first one in the series. With the Hidden Springs mysteries, I had hopes that the mysteries would be popular enough with readers to continue on through even more than three stories. And I wouldn’t mind writing one more in each of the others as well. I think even when I don’t have sequels in mind, I do sometimes want to write more about the characters I’ve become fond of while writing about them. Sometimes my publishers agree that readers want more books about those characters and sometimes that doesn’t work out.
My question is not too difficult— Do you ever sleep???
Between cooking, keeping house, walking your dogs, being active in church, going to book signings, eating, writing your newsletter and your blog, answering questions, having contests, picking winners, mailing out wins, taking pictures, spending time with friends and family not to mention authoring your books when is there time to sleep???
WHEW! I’m worn out asking the question—you, dear Ann, are one amazing lady!!!
(I’m sure I’ve left things out that could be added to this list—one that just popped into my head is decorating and shopping for the holidays. And I can’t forget the time you spent visiting your mother. I’m sure this list could go on and on…….)
P S My favorite answer when someone asks my age is “Old enough”
😊
Author
I’m going to remember your answer as old enough when I get asked that question. 🙂 I sometimes say “older than dirt.” But that is really older than I am.
I sleep at night like I should. I don’t have as much reading time as I’d like, especially when I’m struggling to get a book written the way I am now. Doing blog posts and responding to reading friends here is the easy part of my days. And the dogs have to be walked or they drive me crazy. Our church isn’t real active right now. We only have Sunday morning services and our pastor is getting older with health problems so we don’t have many activities. We need some younger people to get things going but right now we’re just hanging in there.
I do love having contests and letting someone win one of my books, but when you list it all like that I’ve wondering if I need a virtual assistant. But I’d still have to do my own posts and comments. I wouldn’t want anyone doing those for me. I probably spend too much time at my computer not writing on that book but having fun talking to you all. And when Mom was sick, everything else had to take a backseat to caring for her. Those were difficult years for writing and family.
And I definitely need to hire somebody to come in and clean my house. Do you think I could turn the cooking over to my husband? No, I better keep that job. When you list everything like that, I get tired reading it too. But some of those things I don’t do all that well. In fact, I should probably go sweep the floor right now.
Mostly right now, I need to get my new book written. Prayers appreciated. You all are the best.
You definitely could write a self help book on time management or a blog. 😊 In the meantime there are things that I’m certain I didn’t include in that list—reading your Bible and prayer time is one—how did I leave that out?!
We all love hearing from you and definitely don’t want you to give that up! Praying for you. 🙏🏻
Author
Thank you, Karen. You remind me of how some things shouldn’t be skipped.
Are you going to give us more Josie?
Author
I would love to write one more Hollyhill book, Nancy, but right now nothing is in the works. I could let her do more reporting from Hollyhill on her blog, but I’m not sure she had enough people who enjoy hearing from her or if anything interesting is happening in Hollyhill right now. 🙂
Which of your books would you most like to see made into a movie?
Author
I have people often tell me this or that story would make a great movie. Unfortunately, Lisa, none of them are producers. LOL. But I don’t know which might translate to the big screen. An agent once told me that my books were too involved with too many characters to make a Hallmark movie. But maybe These Healing Hills would be good. The Call of the Midwife did okay on television. But you didn’t really ask me which I thought might be made into a movie. You asked which I might like see made into a movie. That’s a different question. I’m not sure I can pick. Maybe Angel Sister?? So which of my books do you think might make a good movie?
I would love to see any of your books in movie form. Since it was the Shaker books that I read first, I’d maybe start with those.
What’s the most unexpected yet rewarding aspect about being an author,Ann? 💜 Psalm 33💜
Author
That’s an interesting question, Emily. I’ve been writing for so long I’m not sure I can come up with a most unexpected. Perhaps it’s being able to get to know some of my readers via the net. That’s been fun and was certainly unexpected when I started writing years ago. Then there was no internet. But I think the most rewarding is just having a story come to life on paper or computer screen.