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Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Getting to know me

Several months ago author Ingela Hyatt had ten authors answer a set of questions. So I thought I'd go ahead and share my anwers here.







Questions:Q:If you were stranded on a desert island and could only have three books with which to read for five years, which three books would you take and why?

A:The Bible (for the stories and the spiritual inspiration), SAS Survival Handbook (to help me remember all I learned when my sons were in Boy Scouts) and something long and that I’ve never read. Can I have a pencil and paper? Then I could also write.




Q:If you could travel back in time for a month long vacation, which Era would you visit and why?
A: Oh, for only a month? My first thought on reading this question was the old Chinese proverb/curse ‘may you live in interesting times’. But if it’s only for a month, then I’d chose the American Revolutionary period. This is the beginning of the United State and the first definition of ‘American’. Perhaps the siege of Boston early in the conflict, or maybe be in Virginia at the time of Yorktown. I might get to meet/see one of the founding fathers.




Or perhaps the court of Queen Elizabeth I, but then I’d probably be in the kitchen scrubbing the pots and pans, so think I’ll go with the American Revolution



Q; If you could meet anyone of your characters in person, who would it be and why?

A: The heroine of my WIP, to find out why she’d turn down/resist the wonderful hero I’ve made for her. I need some reason to keep them apart so that I actually have a story. I really have to work to have conflict in my stories. Like I say, I met this guy, we went out a few times, he said ‘let’s get married’ and I said ‘OK’ , which is nice, but an awful short story.


Q; If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

A: I’ve been fortunate enough to travel extensively though out the US, so I’d love to go back to the UK – to re-visit all the places we went the first time and to see all the places we didn’t see the first time. To see more of Scotland, and to visit Wales.


Q: What is your favorite Season to write in and why?

A: Well, I’ve written stories in summer, spring and fall. Because there is an actual historical event in my stories, that sorta dictates which season it will be. Since a lot of the action in my stories occurs outside (cowboys, you know), guess why I’ve avoided winter time. Maybe I can come up with a Christmas story some time.


Q; What genre (if any) have you always dreamed of writing but haven't found the time and/or desire to write?


A: Want to write a Scottish historical, and if there was a market, one set in Ancient Greece. And the American Revolution.


Q: If you could meet any author in the world (dead or alive) who would it be and why?

A:Janice Holt Giles or Ellsworth Thane. Both wrote wonderful historical series that entranced me as a young reader. And yes, they are historical novels, but each had strong romantic thread.


Q: If you could meet any mythological or legendary creature/person, who would they be and why?

A: Legendary person – I’d go for George Washington. A really fascinating character who’s become more a caricature in modern times. But if you read any biographies, he was a very complex and fascinating man. And after visiting Mt. Vernon, and sitting on the back porch looking down over the lawn that falls away to the Potomac river, I know why he always spoke about wanting to go home.


Q: What is your favorite "guilty" pleasure and why?

A: US Soccer – I love international soccer, follow the World Cup qualifications and the cup itself. Why else would I be willing to get up in the middle of the night to watch the games that were played at 2am my time (2004 Cup)? Luckily this year the difference in time is better. US v. England on June 12 – check your local listing.



Q: What is the "coolest" or most interesting thing that has happened to you since becoming a published author?


A: I get to teach workshops and on-line classes. I’ve taught History, and now I’m teaching writing. And you get to meet so many other authors. My next on-line class is through the Orange County Chapter of RWA http://occrwa.org/ Another Time, Another Place - Tools to Transport the Reader starting May 10th.




Where would you go if you could travel back in time for a month?




Kentucky Green. Journeying to her childhood home of Kentucky, April Williamson allows nothing to deter her. Certainly not Dan McKenzie who’s duty bound to escort her. Dan believes the frontier of 1794 is no place for women. But in spite of their mutual attractions, a dark secret in his past means April cannot be his.

20 comments:

Paty Jager said...

Fun answers, Terry.

justpeachy36 said...

That was a great interview. Feel like I know more about you now.

Lisa Kessler said...

As long as it would only be a month and I could come back home... I would probably choose being in Austria so I could see Mozart conduction one of his Operas...

Or I would go back even further in time to Chichen Itza so that I could read Mayan and understand how they learned all the of science and astronomy... So many mysteries are down there in the jungle!

Fun blog!

Lisa :)

Jackie Allen said...

When in history would I like to visit? Well, it has to be after flush toilets were invented, so I'm opting for the roaring twenties. I can just see myself as a flapper. (Thin, of course.) Jackie Allen

Terry Blain said...

Jackie,

If it was for more than a month, I too, would choose when I could get a hot bath/shower.

But for only a month, the living in the 1770s would be like camping for a month. I could do that.

Toni Noel said...

Love your photo, Terry, and the wealth of history that comes through in your blog.

Toni

Cynthia Owens said...

Great post, Terry! If I could live "somewhere in time," it would be in Dublin, Ireland during the 1916 uprising. Talk about interesting times!

Blythe Gifford said...

Giles and Thane are two of my favorites! So glad to see someone else who knows and relishes them!

Caroline Clemmons said...

Very interesting, Terry. The American Revolution fascinates me also, and I think I'd choose Virginia. Maybe. As Jackie Allen said, after flush toilets were common is more appealing. Who am I kidding? I couldn't survive without air-conditioning and modern appliances. Because, even though a lot of people had servants, my luck would be to be one of those servants. LOL

Terry Blain said...

Blythe,

Yes, Giles and Thane are my role models for writing history. It was Giles influence that made me write my first historical set in Kentucky.

And when I visited Williamsburg after reading Thane it was like coming home (Thanks to Rockefeller who started Colonial Williamsburg preservation)

Terry Blain said...

Cynthia,

Very interesting times to choose. Nice to see something different.

Terry Blain said...

Thanks, Toni,
Glad you found your 'sparkle'.

Terry Blain said...

Caroline,

Yep, bet we'd be the servants, and not the lady of the manor. At least I know none of my ancestors were upperclass. But my great-great-great-great grandfather used to go huning with Daniel Boone. Does that count?

Kathryn Albright said...

Hi Terry,
Sorry I'm a day late! Loved the answers to some of the interview questions. For me, if I could visit anytime in history, I think I'd like to visit Jerusalem at the time of Jesus. Yup...that would really be something. It's fun to imagine from the safety of where we are today--not so safe then!

Thanks for an interesting post!

Terry Blain said...

Oh, Kathryn,

What a choice! You are much more adventurous than I.

Anonymous said...

Enjoyed reading the comments. If I could go back in time, I would have loved to go with Lewis and Clark to explore the West. How exciting to see new people, new animals, and beautiful rivers and mountains. And to see the "other" ocean for the first time, wow. Of course, you can tell I am an out-of-doors person.
If for just an hour, I would have loved to sit down with Winston Churchill and talk to him.
Joy
JWIsley(at)aol(dot)com

Terry Blain said...

Oh, too cool, Lewis and Clark sounds like fun (ok, just for a month).

Sally said...

Time travel would be great but I, too, figure I would be the scullery maid. I lived in Louisville, KY for 5 years. It is a beautiful place and any books set there interest me.

Carol L. said...

I'd also like to say I couldn't survive the heat without AC. But I would love to go back in time to the 40's.And that's only because to go to 1700's Scotland I'd either be freezing or suffocating :)Too chicken at this time in life. :)But I really would love to meet those kilted highlanders.
Carol L.
Lucky4750@aol.com

Unknown said...

I love to read books set in Kentucky, I guess because I live in KY and its a beautiful place!

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