Sheri J. Kennedy nominated me for the Writer Q&A Tag. I answer ten questions of her choosing, nominate ten people of my own, and ask them ten questions they answer on their blog.
Without further ado, here are the questions she asked of me:
1.If you could write full time, would you? Why or why not. If you already do, would you want to change that? Why?
The truthful answer is, I don’t know. If I didn’t have to work a day job, I’d certainly dedicate more time to writing, but also to my art and jewelry. Doing art shows, writing, creating, it would definitely be a full-time job. Now if only I could make full-time money at it, I’d be set!
2.Tell me about your favorite character in literature. Why are they your fave?
Sherlock Holmes. I grew up reading the mysteries about him, and have always had a deep affection for the character, both his virtues and his flaws. His attention to detail is something I’ve always emulated and rarely achieved, but it remains a goal. His need to escape reality is something I’ve achieved to a saddening degree at times.
3.How long did it take you to write your first book? How long to get it published?
The first book I wrote was a travel guide to Ireland. I’d already written some of it in a long essay detailing steps on how to plan your own trip, complete with budget website links and a step-by-step process. However, when my friend and publisher suggested I write it into a book, I dove in. I think it took me about three months to create the first draft.
The first novel, on the other hand, was a different process. For many years, I was urged to novelize the circumstances of my parents’ love affair, which involved a 30-year search, finally culminating in a happily-ever-after. I didn’t think I had the skills at first. Once I’d gotten my travel guides published, I plunged ahead and wrote it. And rewrote it. Several times. That was about six months to a year of rewrites, with long bouts of inactivity between. It took several rejections to get that published, finally by a micro-publisher who was also a gaming friend of mine.
4.What do you think the best books have in common?
Reality. Seriously, I’ve been completely broken out of the story by heroines who have no flaws, sex scenes that have glitter and moonbeams. Real life doesn’t happen like that. It has giggling and tripping over your feet, and simple tragedies. Perhaps the drama is what draws other, and certainly it adds to the plot, but no life is constant 24/7 drama. Show us the little scenes of love and sweetness in between.
5.What do you like to eat or drink while writing?
Usually I just have water next to my computer, in a bottle with a screw-on top… because my cat will knock over anything I’m foolish enough to leave unsecured. And if I’m eating at my computer, I have THREE cats and a dog anxious for some handouts. Usually at least one cat is on top of the small riser that my monitors are on, obscuring whatever I’m typing. So, no food while writing!
6.Did you ever have one of your characters surprise you? In what way? If no, why not?
Absolutely. In my WIP, Call of the Morrigu, the goddess, The Morrigan, appears in 1798 Ireland. She is pissed! But I had no idea how she would end up, personality wise. She managed to turn out quite different and with a greater sense of humor than I had first imagined. I knew she was going to be a highly sexual creature, a bit of a shock to 1798 society, to say the least. But to find a quiet humor and wisdom was more surprising. Well, she is a Goddess, after all!
7.Regarding writing environment: Quiet or Noisy? Alone or With Others? Indoors or Outdoors? Hot or Cool?
Quiet but with music playing (usually Celtic, ranging from Enya to Dropkick Murphys, or 1980s Rock), alone, indoors, warm. And with internet connection. While it is a great distraction, it is needful for spot research for historical details.
8.Regarding preferred stories: Happy or Complicated? Fantasy or Reality? Character-driven or Plot-driven? Scary or Funny? Classic or Modern?
Complicated (why is this an opposite to happy?), fantasy, character-driven, funny, classic or historical. Outlander is a great example.
9.Tell me about your favorite character in your work in progress. What’s your favorite thing about them?
Fionnuala is a daughter of King Lir, of the Tuatha de Dannan. She is the eldest of four, and all her siblings are brothers. She is responsible, knows her duty as the eldest child, and deeply grieves her mother’s death in childbirth. However, she rails quite often against her expected duty. She argues with her Raven (her teacher and bond-mate) about such things often, but she still does them. I like that she rebels in ways that don’t hurt others.
10.Why do you write?
Because I love telling stories. I love relating scenes, people, plots. I’ve always written travel logs, since my first trip in 1996. And I’ve loved reading since before I could remember. This way I have a certain type of immortality, despite me never having children. I’ve left something in the world that might be remembered when I’m gone.
So my nominees are as follows:
And any other author that sees this and would like to participate and answer my questions. I named the above ones as authors that I interact with here on WordPress or on Facebook, whose books I have purchased, and/or whose stories I have read. I thought it would be fun if you’d share answers to these questions with us:
- What is your dirty reading pleasure?
- Do you ever create characters based on living people? Are they people you know or celebrities?
- What’s your least favorite part of the writing process?
- What do you think the worst books have in common?
- What do you like listening to music while you’re writing? What type?
- Have you ever had a book end completely different than you thought it would?
- What is your favorite type of plot to read – character-driven or plot-driven? Is that also how you write? Why or why not?
- Tell me about your favorite character in your work in progress. What’s your favorite thing about them? What is your least favorite thing about them?
- Book club. Who do you invite? Dead, alive, etc.
- Why do you write?
Have fun answering and don’t forget to tag another batch of writers. Thanks for sharing!
Don’t miss information on Celtic myth and history, as well as practical travel planning tips, and hidden places, in my travel books.
– Stunning, Strange and Secret: A Guide to Hidden Scotland
– Mythical, Magical, Mystical: A Guide to Hidden Ireland
More info at Green Dragon Artist :: Home ,
Christy Jackson Nicholas, Author , and
Tirgearr Publishing – Christy Nicholas
Celtic Fairies, Fables, and Folklore! Bestselling author (top #100 Amazon Canada, #1 in Paranormal Fantasy, Amazon Canada) Christy Nicholas, also known as Green Dragon, is an author, artist and accountant. After she failed to become an airline pilot, she quit her ceaseless pursuit of careers that begin with 'A', and decided to concentrate on her writing. Since she has Project Completion Disorder, she is one of the few authors with NO unfinished novels. Christy has her hands in many crafts, including digital art, beaded jewelry, writing, and photography. In real life, she's a CPA, but having grown up with art all around her (her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother are/were all artists), it sort of infected her, as it were. She wants to expose the incredible beauty in this world, hidden beneath the everyday grime of familiarity and habit, and share it with others. She uses characters out of time and places infused with magic and myth. Combine this love of beauty with a bit of financial sense and you get an art business. She does local art and craft shows, as well as sending her art to various science fiction conventions throughout the country and abroad. Facebook: www.facebook.com/greendragonauthor Homepage: www.greendragonartist.com Blog: www.greendragonartist.net Twitter: www.twitter.com/greendragon9
Historical fantasy, time travel adventure, and urban fantasy 
[…] Nicholas, who blogs over at Green Dragon, challenged me to answer these 10 questions. Here is the blog where she issued the challenge. So I answered her […]
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