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As a rather new blogger--I was but a twinkle in a blogger's eye last year, so to speak--I was both excited and apprehensive about participating in Book Blogger Appreciation Week. I certainly wanted to express my gratitude for all of the blogs--the dozens upon dozens--that I love to read and that make my day a little brighter. But I'm so new to the game; what could I have to contribute? I was particularly concerned about the BBAW interviews, where participating bloggers are paired to interview each other. I loved the concept, but felt I simply lacked the experience to have anything to say.
In a stroke of luck, for my BBAW interview, I was paired with Lisa of Lit and Life. Lisa, like me, is a newcomer to the book blogger world. We get each other. We remember what it's like to be new because we are new. My anxiety went away, and in the process, I learned about the author of a blog I will certainly be following from now on!
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And here is Lisa in all her glory:
1. An oldie but a good: what is your favorite book and why?
Pride and Prejudice; I love the dialogue between Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy.
2. I see that you like flea marketing (and I can relate!); do you look for books there as well?
The only books I look for at flea markets are old children's books, which I collect. I'm pretty picking about buying used books; it's terrible to say but I don't like them once their pages are yellowed.
3. Since you love both cooking and reading, what is your cookbook collection like?
I do have a fairly big cookbook collection but don't use them as much as I should. I'm pretty prone to freelancing when I cook.
4. What is your favorite movie adaptation of a book?
That's a tough one! I love movies but I'm not always happy with adaptations of books I like. I do really like the most recent adaptation of Pride and Prejudice but mostly for the scene at the end in the field!
5. Do your husband and children share your love of reading?
All of the guys in my house like to read but none of them read as much as I do. My daughter really doesn't like to read which makes me so sad. I keep trying to find her that book that will really grab her and turn her into a reader.
6. What have been the highlights of blogging for you? Any negatives?
I have been happily surprised with the sense of community in the book blogging world. I really feel like I'm making friends, even if that makes my family laugh at me. The only negative is that I've become somewhat addicted to reading blogs now--which makes my TBR list grow daily but cuts into my reading time.
7. What criteria do you use when reviewing books?
I like to start my actual review with the things I liked about a book. I've been lucky since I started blogging in May and haven't picked up anything yet that I've had a hard time doing this. Next I'll get into what I didn't like about the book. But I always try to end on a positive note--even if it were just to say that maybe this just wasn't the right book for me or that it wasn't the right time for me to read it.
8. On your blog, you list the top five books you've read this year; why those five?
The Help, City of Thieves and The Housekeeper and The Professor all had wonderful characters first and foremost. The Mighty Queens of Freeville was such a positive book and made me laugh. People of the Book has this fabulous looks back into history. And I felt like all of them were really well written.
9. How do you choose your quotes of the day come from?
I've used several sources for my quotes. Sometimes I just starting going down a list until I find something I like. Sometimes I'm looking for something particular. I started with the idea to only use book related quotes but that went by the wayside one day when I found a really funny quote I wanted to use. My sister even sent me the one about the grandfather.
10. Do you have any plans for your blog looking forward?
I'm hoping to get my very computer-savvy son to help me put together a header and go to a three-column format. I love when I can figure out how to change or add something new on it. After the first of the year, I'm toying with the idea of hosting a challenge.
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Again, please check out Lisa's blog at Lit and Life, as she truly has a wonderful writing style!
A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of reviewing The Blue Pen by Lisa Rusczyk. I found it very compelling, and a great read that I couldn't put it down. For that reason, I am honored that Ms. Rusczyk agreed to an interview here on Falling Into Words. I hope you will enjoy her responses as much as I did!
---------- How would you describe The Blue Pen thematically?
The story explores elements of the paranormal in relation to symptoms of mental illness. It also plays out Cleo's family drama. Parker is a catalyst to bring Cleo full circle in her life experiences.
As you mentioned, there are touches of the occult in several places which sometimes converge with mental illness. How did that plot element come about? Was it something you were already interested in, or did Cleo's story take you there?
It's definitely something I have a personal interest in. I'm fascinated with the similarities between symptoms of mental illness and the paranormal. It was intended as the main theme of the book from the beginning. I wanted to write something that a reader might relate to on either side of the coin.
I found Cleo to be incredibly dynamic and mesmerizing. What was her inspiration?
Cleo just popped out of the pen. I don't know where she came from. She started out being a bit more crass, but as I wrote her character, she mellowed and I altered her earlier attitude.
The other main character, Parker, is a journalist. Have you worked in the field? I found the tension between "good" and "bad" journalists very interesting.
I've never worked as a journalist. I have a pretty bad job history, actually! Mainly I've worked as a sound tech and waitress, but now I freelance write and do proofreading/programming for my brother's company.
How much of the settings and characters are inspired by your own life?
The characters don't feel like they come from anyone I know, but the setting of the Beacon could be any number of dark punk clubs I played in during my punk rock playing years. Also, in the past I had a tendency to overindulge in drinking, so writing about it seemed natural. I spent every summer until I was sixteen in Philadelphia, so that is why I chose to put Cleo there. It's a great city, and I could see it supporting a place like the Beacon.
I can typically pinpoint the moments in my life that instigate large changes. Was there any such moment for you in relation to creating The Blue Pen?
I wrote the novel over a five year period when I lived in Phoenix, Arizona and was married. I spent seven years in the desert and it changed me quite a bit. When my husband left me, I became more determined to see one of my books get published. That doesn't have to do with creating it, but it did push me to work as hard as I could to make my career dreams come true. As far as creating it, I can't think of a particular moment, just long nights in the computer room typing away madly.
Who are your influences, both literary and non-literary? Which ones played a role in The Blue Pen?
I'm usually influenced by whatever I'm reading at the time, or TV shows and movies that fuel my imagination. Oddly, I think music influences me the most in writing. Music has so much mood and feeling in it that I am greatly inspired by it and often feel moved to write certain ways during or after hearing certain songs or albums. I listened to a lot of Radiohead while writing The Blue Pen.
Do you typically write in a linear fashion, or out of order where inspiration takes you?
I write in linear fashion, but plot a step ahead in my mind. I don't outline, but rather have a rough direction of where I want the books to go.
Outside of reading and writing, what are your hobbies?
I write and play music, though not as much as I used to. I also occasionally indulge in massive amounts of time loss due to playing MMORPGs, online gaming. I can't do that right now because I have dial-up, but soon I'll have satellite Internet and the gaming may begin again! I also love to snuggle up with the boyfriend with some Star Trek.
Lastly, if you can, tell us a bit about where you're going from here.
I have three more novels coming out with my publisher, two in an urban fantasy series called Sam the Night Person and Full Moon in December, and a young adult fantasy called A Dream of the Past. I'm working on a middle grade fantasy novel about cats mainly these days, a sequel to A Dream of the Past, and a book about twins with mental illness.
---------- Thank you, Lisa, for taking the time to metaphorically sit down with me. Again, I posted my review of The Blue Pen a couple of weeks ago, and I urge everyone to check it out!
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