For the best effect, please read the headline of this post with an incredulous tone š
1) What are you reading?
Just like I work on multiple project in my writing, I read multiple books, both ebooks and print, cause I kind of have this problem. I canāt stop buying books of any variety (!)
So hereās my current reading list:
- 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. Although Iām sure it suffers in translation, Iām enjoying this novel immensely.
- InFusion by Scott Overton. Iām beta reading this SF novel for an author friend. Iāll save my specific feedback for him, but, just so you know, I think itās great š
- The Art of Work by Jeff Goins. On finding your calling. Itās kind of serendipitous that I found out about this book back in January.
- Moon Called by Patricia Briggs. I picked this up last year after seeing Patricia at Ad Astra. I figured I should get off my butt and read it . . .
- Pain, Porn, and Complicity by Kathleen McConnell. An academic work on SF&F movies and television series. Itās been a while since I dipped my toes in that particular non-fiction pool.
- Lock In by John Scalzi. Iām listening to this on Audible. Narrated by the inimitable Wil Wheaton.
2) What was your favorite read in the last year (or month, orā¦)?
My favourite reading of recent recall is A Turn of Light by Julie Czerneda. I rated it five stars, though I havenāt written a proper review. Yet. This is the kind of fantasy novel I love to read. Itās also the kind I write and there were a lot of similarities between Czernedaās Jenn Nalynn and Ferrathainn Devlin, the protagonist from my WIP. I was enthralled to the end š
3) Do you have a favorite genre?
Yes and no. I favour fantasy novels of any age range, but I also read science fiction, historical fiction, the classics, mysteries, and romance novels (though I must say I havenāt read many of those recently). I try to alternate fiction and non-fiction reading, as well. Again, most on my non-fiction reads tend to be writing craft books, but I also read as a form of research for my various works in progress, and sometimes, stuff that Iām just interested in. I learn something from everything I read, even if I donāt particularly enjoy the book. In other words, I read as a writer.
4) Bend one step further: are there alternative forms of writing or art that you have found inspiring or even dabbled in?
In my āsearchingā phase of university (the undeclared years) I majored in music and art at different times. Performance anxiety put the brakes on my music career, though I still love to sing. I was summarily drummed out of art class when my professor called me nothing more than an āillustrator.ā From time to time, I still sketch, but Iāve honestly never been very good. Iāve sunk all my creativity into my writing for a number of years now. In 2000, I did the crazy, being in between jobs, and auditioned for a Theatre Cambrian production of Hair (Y2K). I sang and danced in that, for what itās worth š
6) Back to your main inspiration: Do you have āmentorā titles for the writing you are working on?
Iāll reframe this in terms of ācomps,ā or comparative works. As I mentioned above, I learn something from every book I read, so I donāt have any āmentorā titles, per se, though I would identify several novels/authors whose work I aspire to.
- The above-mentioned Julie Czerneda and her A Turn of Light. Iāve committed to read more by Julie.
- Juliet Marillierās Celtic legend inspired Seven Waters series.
- Guy Gavriel Kayās novels. Though he writes in a created world, it is based on painstaking historical research. Iām not that dedicated, but I love the stories he writes. Heās actually made me cry in the reading.
- Sherri S. Tepper. Just anything she writes. I love her ideas. Or should I say lurve?
6) If you didnāt already do this for #4, what music inspires your writing?
Okay, now youāre going crazy. Or you will if I offer up all 963 songs on my iPod (!) Suffice it to say that any music I like is generally something Iāll add to my playlist. I have music from the 60ās, 70ās, 80ās, 90ās, and the new millennium. I like some pop, a lot of alternative, celtic, and world music. I also have more eclectic selections on CD: The Rites of Spring, Satieās gymnopedies, The Symphonie Fantastique, Carmina Burana, Gregorian chant, a number of Sequentia recordings (including the Eddas), gamelan music, Tibetan singing bells, shakuhachi flute music . . .
My favourite artists (Iāll pick up just about anything they release):
- Imogen Heap
- Tori Amos
- Sarah Slean
- Florence + the Machine
7) Have you ever thought of this: what book is your main character reading?
Interesting question. Iāll even answer it.
- Ferathainn Devlin: Sadly, all of Ferās reading would be studying for her forthcoming initiation, so all of it would be history, scholarly works on magic, or non-fiction works on herbs and simples, astronomy, and the like.
- Charlene Kalveras: School textbooks, and, because of whatās happened to her father, true crime.
- Gerod: Owing to his impoverished upbringing in an environment of medieval feudalism, Gerod doesnāt know how to read. He learns, though.
- Marushka: She hasnāt had any formal schooling, hopping around the world in a magical hut, so sheās had to teach herself everything. She steals books from libraries and reads omnivorously.
8) Do you have a favorite book, article or magazine for writing advice?
Again, I have several š
- Writing the 21st Century Novel, Donald Maass. Currently on loan to a member of my critique group. Actually all of Maassās books have helped me immensely.
- Any of K.M. Weilandās writing craft books.
- Any of Roz Morrisās Nail Your Novel series.
- And the books that have helped me find my way to the writing life: Natalie Goldbergās Wild Mind and Writing Down the Bones; Julia Cameronās The Right to Write; Heather Sellersā Page After Page and Chapter After Chapter; Stephen Kingās On Writing; Terry Brooksās Sometimes the Magic Works; Jane Yolenās Take Joy; and Ursula K. Le Guinās The Wave in the Mind.
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Alrightie, then!
Iāll have a wee Sundog snippet tomorrow about miscellaneous stuff, ācause sometimes you need miscellaneous stuff, you know?