Author Interview & Giveaway: Janette Rallison
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
12:07 PM
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18 Comments
Labels: Author Interview , Birthday 2010 , Giveaway
Labels: Author Interview , Birthday 2010 , Giveaway
So more than once I have mentioned how much I love, love, LOVE Janette Rallison's books. And its still true. It will always be true. I was SO happy when she agreed to be part of the bash. Check out this fabulous interview with her, and then enter the giveaway!
Janette's Website
Janette's Blog
Janette's GoodReads page
Hmmm. Not really. Makes me think I should do something interesting next birthday.
Every time my children complain about not being old enough to do something, I offer to give them one of my birthdays so they can grow older and I can grow younger, but so far I've never managed to cheat time that way.
We recently discussed this on Squeaky Books: How do you feel about “love at first sight” in novels?
I've known people who've fallen in love at first sight and it worked out great for them. I fell in love at first sight once (attractive guys will do that to you) and the guy dumped me after three months--so that time around I was not such a fan of love at first sight.
In novels, I generally don't think it's a good idea to have characters fall in love too quickly, let alone at first sight, because it creates a credibility problem for the character. A lot of readers will feel like the character is just a flakey romantic. And yes, I was a flakey romantic during the previously mentioned episode of LAFS. (The accronym LAFS sounds a bit mocking. Fitting really.)
Also readers want to experience falling in love with the hero. If the heroine for no particular reason immediately loves him, the author is robbing the reader of that falling in love feeling.
Is there anything you have to have when you’re writing? (music, quiet, chocolate, etc.)
When my kids were young I could manage to write in chaos and noise. Now I need quiet. Chocolate is good too though.
You often set your books in places you’ve lived. What do you think of the old mantra “write what you know”?
It's much easier to write what you know. Right now I'm working on a book that has scenes in Boston and Egypt. I've never been to either of those places and it's driving me crazy to try and write about them. Seriously, I keep threatening my husband that I'm going to get on a plane to Boston or Egypt or both. Youtube is great for showing you all sorts of things but sometimes you just need to experience the places you're describing.
Unless of course you're writing stories about say, death, murder, or hell, and then I don't recommend realism.
The most enjoyable to write was My Fair Godmother. If you want to liven up your manuscript, throw in the Seven Dwarves and a dragon. Gold. Guarenteed. I don't think I ever got writer's block while working on that novel.
Just One Wish was probably my most difficult to write--not that I got stuck on it. It just made me really sad to research children with cancer. I cried while writing a lot of scenes and while revising them. And I do a lot of revising so that meant a lot of crying. I don't know how authors who write a lot of sad novels manage to do it without being an emotional wreck all day.
And finally some random fun provided by the random plot twist generator:
He shakes an ice cream carton at me and demands to know who in their right mind thinks a serving size of ice cream is a 1/2 a cup.
I stammer that the ice cream industry is obviously run by Lilliputians.
He grunts in agreement and asks me to point out a dessert made by normal size people. I point him to the cookie isle, then flee from the store before he can check out their serving sizes. Two Fig Newtons? Snort! Who eats only two?
Anything else you'd like to say?
Laughter is good for you. Therefore reading my book is like working out--only more fun.GIVEAWAY TIME!
Thanks to Janette generously donating some swag, and fabulous blogger Chantele donating a copy of It's a Mall World After All, I have a SUPER prize-pack to give away! That's right! I have My Double Life and My Fair Godmother swag as well as a hardcover copy of It's a Mall World After All. Definitely a prize you'll want to win. And previously mentioned blogger Chantele is hosting it on her blog! Check it out:
LOL what a great interview, I love that last question...I read recently that if an author is writing an emotionally charged scene but they feel nothing you know there's something wrong with the scene, I have to agree - it's amazing to me what Janette said about Just One Wish...so beautiful
ReplyDeleteAnother author interview that made me laugh :) I swear, this is so much fun learning about some of these amazing authors! I've been wanting to read My Fair Godmother for quite a bit! Awesome interview AND giveaway!
ReplyDeleteSo. Funny.
ReplyDeleteTeehee, I like the part about the ice cream. :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome interview!
ReplyDeleteI love her books!!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant interview. I've been wanting to read these books ever since i saw them on goodreads.
ReplyDeleteMelissa
I've loved all the books by Janette that I have read. I haven't read any that are up for grabs! Got my fingers crossed!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Janette, but somehow I don't think I've read any of the books up for grabs! Awesome.
ReplyDeleteJanette is awesome as are her books! I'm up for a trip to Egypt anytime, just call me!
ReplyDeleteI loved Just One Wish!
ReplyDeleteAHHHH im so excited, Janette is one of all-time favorite authors! awesome interview!(:
ReplyDeleteJanette is a nut and she is way too skinny to even know about a serving of ice cream:) Fun interview. Her books are ALL fabulous!
ReplyDeleteYou mean the recommended serving size of ice cream isn't half a gallon? Then why do they sell it that way?
ReplyDeleteGreat interview!
Great interview!
ReplyDeleteAshley @ Ashley's Bookshelf
I loved the interview. I've never read any of Janette's books, but Fair Godmother looks very humorous.
ReplyDeleteI'm really intrigued by the book that's set in Boston and Egypt...
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Janette's books. I have read every single one of hers, even the ones that you can't get anymore. It's great to have something that is totally YA, but I can relate with and makes me laugh out loud!
ReplyDelete