Friday, October 21, 2011

The Ultimate Interview

Another reminder: It's October and the holidays are just around the corner! A bound version of Novel Tips on Rice might be just the thing for that gift exchange at work, for your book club, as a hostess gift, or for that hard-to-buy-for friend. It's not only filled with some of our favorite recipes, but there are quotable quotes from the 6 of us, and the graphics in this little book are amazing. Consider giving yourself one as well. Contact us for more information.

Patti and Debbie gave us great advice and insight this week regarding the interview process, as well as sharing their own personal experiences. Expectations are a huge component of the process, especially on the part of the interviewee. One thing to note is that interviews of experts who can help in your WIP aren't just for authors who write non-fiction. Novelists also need the help and guidance of those who know more than they do about any given topic that pertains to their WIP. For example, I hope to schedule an interview with a weaver for the novel I plan to write next.

Since we're on the topic of interviews, I have a question for you. If you could interview anyone at all, famous or not, living or not, who would you choose? And what would your top two questions be for your subject? I know, narrowing it to one person seems nearly impossible. I'm sure we could all fill pages and pages with names of people we'd love to have a one-on-one conversation with. But for the sake of this exercise let's keep it to one person. I'll begin.
My interview would be with Harper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird. She has fascinated me for many years. These would be my questions:




  1. What drove you into seclusion after writing one of the most beloved and influential novels of all time?


  2. I've heard it said you chose not to write -- or at least publish -- another novel after To Kill a Mockingbird because you feared you'd never equal the success you attained with that incredible novel. But what is the real story? What did it ultimately cost you to write your novel?
Now it's your turn. Who would you interview, and what would you ask?

8 comments:

BK said...

I'd love to interview Zane Grey.

1. What was it like to be able to roam over great chunks of Arizona and see it's beauty in its near natual state and

2. Did it come naturally to you to have such an incredible way of making the landscape another character in your books or did you have to fumble around a bit to find it? How long did it take to master?

Nicole said...

Hands down: Johnny Depp.

Questions:

1.If I could help you see, feel, touch how much Jesus loves you, individually not generically, do you think you could believe?

2.What's the greatest gift you hope to give your family?

Wendy Paine Miller said...

Wow, this one might take some time. I can think of a dozen people off the bat.

Excellent question. Hoping to be back to answer it.
~ Wendy

Anonymous said...

BK: Zane Grey. Very interesting. And great questions.

Nicole: I'm a Johnny Depp fan. I'd love to see you conduct that interview.

Wendy: Any thoughts yet?

Megan Sayer said...

Agatha Christie. She is, with the exception of Terry Pratchett, THE most prolific and creative writer I've ever read.

I'd love to ask her about how she thought, how she interacted with people in general, and at what age she was able to see through them so clearly...she was so young when she started writing, and her insights into people are truly profound.

Heather Marsten said...

I'd love to interview St. John. I'd ask him,

1. What did you, the disciples, and Jesus talk about when you would have precious alone time?

2. What was said among Jesus, Moses, and Elijah during the Transfiguration?

Henrietta Frankensee said...

T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) has always fascinated me. My father has his books and one day I'll be old enough to read them.
1. What place in the desert did he find himself returning to, yearning for once back in England? 2. What thought went through his mind as his motorcycle spun out of control? 3. Did he ever admire anyone?

Sarah Davis said...

Sir Isaac Newton (I know he wasn't a fiction writer, but he did write some ground breaking stuff that we use today in fiction writing)

You accomplished so much in your life from your work with light and optics to re-establishing the monetary system of England to the Laws of Gravity, what do you wish to be remembered for after your death?

You spent the last years of your life studying not science but Scripture, why?