Friday, July 27, 2007

A Meme for Writers

Both Sabrina and Heather tagged me with the latest meme of the blogosphere.

1. What's the one book or writing project you haven't yet written but still hope to?

Lately I’ve been playing with the idea of doing a Russo-esque book on life in a small town. I find I’m loving the little quirks about living here and that I have a ton of fodder for stories.


2. If you had one entire day in which to do nothing but read, what book would you start with?

Man, I have a huge TBR pile. It’s actually two shelves in a bookcase in my bedroom. I’m on a Russo kick right now so I’d finished Nobody’s Fool and then move to Risk Pool. Like I’d ever have a day to just read.


3. What was your first writing "instrument" (besides pen and paper)?

I had a manual typewriter that I remember working on even as far back as kindergarten. I loved the smell of metal and ink and ribbon. The feel of the keys and the thunking sound they make. I want to get another one some day. But the first “real” book I wrote in high school was done on my Apple IIe. In the hallway of my house where the swamp cooler blew across me. I had broken my thumb in gymnastics and couldn’t swim or get it wet or any of the normal things you do in inland California in the summer, so I camped out in front of the computer and swamp cooler and wrote my first 100 page historical transporting all of my classmates back in time. I also taught myself to program in BASIC that summer.

4. What's your best guess as to how many books you read in a month?

Depends on the book and what all’s going on but I read about 6 and listen to about 2 in the car. I don’t read as much as I used to and I’ve been trying to work it into my schedule more. I have a feeling that when winter comes I’ll have more reading time.

5. What's your most favorite writing "machine" you've ever owned?


My current Mac PowerBook G4. Though if I had it to do over, I’d get a smaller laptop and a big screen to hook it into when I’m using it at the desk.


6. Think historical fiction: what's your favorite time period in which to read? (And if you don't read historical fiction--shame on you.)


Well, the time period I transported my classmates to, the American West, 1880s. It was such an amazing period of change, on the cusp of modernity.


7. What's the one book you remember most clearly from your youth (childhood or teens)?


Easily the Little House books. I read them over and over and over. That’s probably where my fascination with the 1880s West comes from.

Sabrina tagged one half of my usual tag-ees and Heather got the other half. So if you haven’t been tagged (or even if you have and want another group of people to read your answers) consider yourself tagged and leave a note in the comments when your answers are up. I’m thinking Jeanne here ;)

6 comments:

Heather said...

We had a IIe! I played Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego and Matterhorn on it. You would put these floppy disks - the big ones that actually were floppy - and the game would begin.
And I think you could capture the quirky smalltown life perfectly!

Georgiana Daniels said...

I'd forgotten about the wonderful smell of ribbon--and black fingers when it needed changing. I love the idea of transporting your classmates back in time! Hope you saved the story!

Erica Vetsch said...

I followed you here from G's blog. I loved the Little House books too. I about wore out my copy of Farmer Boy.

Unknown said...

Hi Erica. I recognize you from the blogosphere. Thanks for stopping by!

You know what I also thought of? The Midwest feels a lot like home to me and I wonder if that's from reading the Little House books?

Sabrina L. Fox said...

"I don’t read as much as I used to and I’ve been trying to work it into my schedule more. I have a feeling that when winter comes I’ll have more reading time."

Can't wait for you guys to get snowed in for the first time. ;) Or for your kids to have snow days. Sigh. You're in for a treat this year...oh and a little bit of a headache with the driving. But yeah, you'll have more time to read. LOL.

Unknown said...

Have you forgotten the Arizona summers already? You can't do much out side. I have more time to read and write in the summer than in the nice winter months.