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Since Cloaked in Secrets is going to print VERY soon, I thought it was time for a contest! I spent hours trying to think of a good one, but I wasn’t pleased with any of the ideas I had. Then I had a thought. I often have people ask me about me, my writing, where I get ideas, what is coming next, and a million other things. Since this is my website, it’s kind of hard to do an interview on myself. Seems weird. However, I’ve decided that’s what we’re going to do. You ask the questions, I’ll pick the ones I want to answer and if your question is picked, that’s one entry. If ten of your questions are picked, you get ten entries.
There is no age limit. If your four year old wants to know if I’ll write a book about a kung-fu gecko, let him. I’ll probably answer it. The first person to ask a question gets credit for it. Similar questions may be combined. I will likely give both questioners credit unless they’re just too similar. The contest ends when I receive the final proof copy.
I’m going to have TWO prizes.
First place: A hardback copy of Cloaked in Secrets
Second place: A paperback copy of Cloaked in Secrets
So, get your thinking caps on!
Also! Don’t forget. The day I order the books is the last day you can get in on the pre-order specials. Pre-order specials must be purchased by that date. I’ll give you a few day’s warning, but don’t wait too long. The savings does add up!
July 2nd, 2010 at 6:49 pm
How many books have you sold?
I loved Noble Pursuits!
July 2nd, 2010 at 6:54 pm
Frankie’s question: Can you write a book about someone who goes back in time?
Cassie’s question: What do you do when you can’t think of anything new when you’re writing your books?
Adric’s question: What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re bored?
July 2nd, 2010 at 6:56 pm
Cassie’s question #2: I love the Hardy Boys. Are you planning on writing any mystery books?
Adric’s question #2: How many kids in your family are afraid of the dark? (insert chuckle from mom here lol)
July 2nd, 2010 at 7:09 pm
Do you know how many books will be in the Wynnewood series?
July 2nd, 2010 at 7:09 pm
Is April your favorite month?
July 2nd, 2010 at 7:10 pm
How do you pronounce your name?
How often do people ask you if its a pen name?
How do you map out a new book? Do you write the ending first?
Do you see your characters in people you meet or do you base your character off of people you know or are you just that awesome?
Why did you chose to write this particular series?
July 2nd, 2010 at 7:27 pm
Do you tell stories to your kids?
July 2nd, 2010 at 8:01 pm
You have a lot of stories in process…do you get them confused when you pick one to work on?
Do you have to go back and re-read the last chapter(s) to continue writing?
July 2nd, 2010 at 8:03 pm
Do you “force” your characters into the role you create for them or do you let them lead?
July 3rd, 2010 at 2:27 am
question 1: Where do you get the motivation to write each chapter?
question 2: How do you decide what each characters roles are going to be?
question 3: What inspired you to start writing?
question 4: Whens your favorite time to just get into writing your book (Ex: morning, afternoon, night time)?
question 5: Does your Family read your books before they are published?
question 6: What is your favorite book that you have written?
question 7: Do you only work on one book at a time or more than one?
July 3rd, 2010 at 5:53 am
Nathan – Why are there so many weird words?
Abigail – How long did it take you to type it in?
Nathan – What’s the main thing that is going to happen in the new book?
Nathan – Why did you make a dragon in it?
Bethany – Is there a unicorn in the second book? (Cloaked in Secrets)
Abigail – Is there going to be a third book in this series?
Bethany – Is Cloaked in Secrets funny?
Nathan – Is the second book (CIS) going to be full of action?
Sean – What was your inspiration for this book?
Sean – Why did you chose England (over say Germany – it could have been an angry book)?
Olivia – Are you going to have a character named Olivia? (She can write on walls and play with everyone else’s Legos)
Miriam – Do you have a character that giggles a lot? (like me)
July 3rd, 2010 at 5:55 am
Bethany – Are there turtles in the book?
Caleb – Do you have any hippos in the book? If you do, what sound do they make? My hippo says Baroo’.
Sean – Have you considered using the phrase, “I have a bad feeling about this?”
Susan – Do you find yourself wanting to use quotes from movies in your books? Because as I read the ones I read, I found myself saying them. lol
July 3rd, 2010 at 8:02 am
How’s Cara coming?
Christopher – Can I have a copy of the next book you write?
Erin – Can I be a character in your books?
Sean – Mommy said you like trains? Can you write a book about trains…maybe with dinosaurs in it?
July 3rd, 2010 at 8:05 am
Christopher – What is Dove’s secret? (nice try, huh?)
Michele – Will you finish Junie for me?
Are you actively seeking an agent/publisher yet?
July 3rd, 2010 at 8:06 am
Does your family ever give you input on characters?
July 3rd, 2010 at 8:06 am
Michele – Are you enjoying working with Craig?
July 3rd, 2010 at 8:13 am
1. Where in your house do you write best?
2. Do you write because/when you’ve set aside time to write, or do you have to wait for inspiration to come?
3. How old were you when you wrote your first story?
4. What was your very first story about?
5. Did you know as a child you wanted to write?
6. Do you correct mistakes (spelling, punctuation, etc – easy stuff) when you see them as you write, or wait to go back later?
7. Do you write on the computer or on paper?
8. Do you enjoy writing mushy stuff any better than you did a few years ago?
9. Did you ever finish your story of Ecnedaced(not sure I’m remembering that right)?
10. Are you going to publish your Santa story?
July 3rd, 2010 at 9:17 am
HOW do you find time to write?
What is your favorite of your published books?
What is your favorite of your as-yet-unpublished books?
July 3rd, 2010 at 2:02 pm
If any book you wrote could be made into a movie, which book would it be?
And who what actors would you like to see play the lead roles?
Is there any actor/actress you can see playing any of your characters?
Do you hear music in your head as you are writing? Meaning, if it was a movie, this is the type of song you want playing during that part.
Do you desire any of your books be made into movies, or would that lose the books “soul” for you?
Who edits your books and how does that work?
When are you going on a book tour?
I want to know if you are going to shop Santa around to a publisher, I know its been asked already, but I want to know also.
July 3rd, 2010 at 2:14 pm
1) What does your family typically eat for dinner when you are in a writing frenzy?
2) If you were asked to have your books turned into movies, would you?
3) What do you do to bring out your creativity or when you are having a writer’s cramp and can’t think of what to write about?
July 3rd, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Mitchell wants to know:
1) Have you looked into getting your books approved for the AR reading program so school children can get credit for reading them?
2) Is Lord Charles Morgan still the lord of Wynnewood Castle in the second book?
3) When reading the first book of the series, I came away feeling like Dove was just like any other little girl and don’t understand why the villagers treat her so badly, does the second book reveal the reason?
4) I love book series with lots of books — can you make Wynnewood a 10-book series?
Zachary asks:
1) Have you considered adding monkeys to your stories? (Would be funny if it was a barking monkey — yes, I’m silly.)
Cari asks:
1) How do you keep your many story-lines straight?
2) Do you ever find you are confusing one story with another (since you have so many going at once)?
3) Have you ever started writing one story only to have a character within that story demand it’s only story be told which results in another book?
4) Do your characters have their own “life” so to speak or do you feel you dictate how their life exists?
July 3rd, 2010 at 3:41 pm
1) How long did it take you to write your first book?
2) How many books in all have you written now.
3) Do you ever sleep?
4) How do you find time to do everything you currently do?
5) Do you have a housekeeper do the housework while you’re writing?
6) How many late night writing sprees do you usually have?
7) Will you be having any book signings in AZ? “)
9) Having not read any of your books yet, are your plots christian or just good wholesome reading or ?
10) Are you in any bookstores in AZ that you know of?
July 3rd, 2010 at 8:45 pm
Which book is Kevin’s favorite?
What do your children think of Wynnewood?
What is your must have snack while you write?
Do you have a time of day that you are more inspired?
Have you thought of naming a character Sweetie?
How soon will the third book be released? (This is from my girls, lol.)
Will you write another children’s series from another time period?
July 3rd, 2010 at 8:46 pm
Has the book writing slowed down you other interests such as sewing?
July 4th, 2010 at 7:19 am
1. Does Kevin read your books?
2. Does Kevin or your kids ever make fun of anything you’ve written?
3. How do you decide on/come up with character’s names?
4. Have you written non-fiction?
5. If you were to write non-fiction, would you write a book about someone you know personally, such as yourself, a friend or family member; or would you write about someone/something famous/historical?
6. Have you ever knowingly put people you know in your books? Espically your children?
7. What would your kids think if you put them in a book?
8. Would you ever write a book in German?
July 4th, 2010 at 11:34 am
Do you see yourself in any of your characters? Which one or ones?
Do all of your characters have a real person that they are based on?
Will you publish Princess Paisley?
July 4th, 2010 at 11:36 am
Which of your characters is most like you? Kevin? Lorna?
July 4th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Jonah wants to know: when is the last book coming out? *lol* impatient, isn’t he?
July 4th, 2010 at 6:27 pm
What tips do you have for those who have an interest in writing?
If you could change one thing that happened in Shadow and Secrets what would it be? Why?
Do you like your Coke over ice or straight from the can?
What are your thoughts on Dr. Pepper?
M&Ms; plain or peanut?
Have you ever thought of writing a sewing how-to?
How often do you save your work as you type?
July 4th, 2010 at 6:43 pm
ooh, I’ve been meaning to ask this one:
In Willow you mention her, but she is also a character in your Aggie stories — How did you come up with the name Cari for one of the twins? The reason I’m asking is growing up I never met another C-a-r-i Cari and now that I’m an adult I’m seeing that name a lot more but it’s always younger people (30′s and under). Don’t want to just assume you named her after me.
July 6th, 2010 at 9:32 pm
Have you ever totally scrapped a partially written book, because you just didn’t like it?
How about for any other reason? (Does that count as 2 entry questions or one?)
Which stage of the writing process is your favorite?
When your characters won’t behave, what do you do?
July 7th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Which is more relaxing to you: reading or writing?
From Bethany (6yo): have you written any little kids’ books?
From Jeremy (16yo): on average, how long does it take you to write a book?
July 7th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
question from Jeremy above—amended to mean “produce a printed one”, since you already basically answered “write”——
From Jeremy again: is it pronounced Win-wood or Wine-wood?
From Nathan: what is the most frustrating time in writing—beginning, middle, or end?
July 7th, 2010 at 5:13 pm
Not a question, but a comment. I have the same method for eating M&Ms. Great minds and all that…
Do you enjoy reading your books?
Would you enjoy doing a book tour?
Do you prefer a certain type of pen for autographs?
What are some story ideas you have running around in your mind?
And what sewing blog were you talking about?
What authors do you enjoy? Do they inspire you in your writing?
What is one thing you could NEVER write about?
What is one thing you would love to write about but don’t feel you could?
July 7th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
Which character is most like you?
Do you ever have characters that do not turn out like you thought they would when you first started writing about them? Do you change it to make them who you want them to be or just go with it?
Which character do you WISH you were most like?
Which character do you admire the most in your books?
Will you have more books with Grace and Nolan?
What about Lane and Matt, what are they up to these days?
Do the characters in your different books ever “collide” in your mind? Tell me what a meeting between Lane and Aggie would be like.
Guess what! When I was reading Noble Pursuits, I imagined Grace looking like you. Not sure why. Just did. (And yes, I realize that’s not a question.
)
July 7th, 2010 at 7:53 pm
Which character do “expect better from”? (I meant that you keep thinking they will “do the right thing” and they don’t.)
Which character grew in ways that surprised you?
Do you have any characters that “get your blood boiling”?
Do you have any other books besides the Wynnewood series that are set in a historical time period? If so, do you enjoy researching for these books or do you prefer writing stories that can mostly just “come from your mind and experiences”? (I personally think researching for historical fiction would be fascinating!)
Are there any of your books that you would not want your younger children to read yet? If so, why not and when do you think you would let them read them?
July 7th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
oops! I originally put this comment/question on the wrong post. Feel free to delete the other one.
Have you met new friends either online or in real life due to them reading your books? Is it fun to have “fans” or is it more creepy?
July 7th, 2010 at 7:59 pm
What do you do to overcome writer’s block?
July 8th, 2010 at 8:42 am
are there any new characters? from Jonah
July 8th, 2010 at 8:42 am
is the dragon in this new one? from Jonah
July 8th, 2010 at 8:43 am
do you know what Jonah looks like? from Jonah, LOL!
July 8th, 2010 at 8:43 am
Ben would like to know if there will be any monkeys in the story
July 8th, 2010 at 8:44 am
don’t you hate all my naggy writing questions?
July 8th, 2010 at 8:44 am
is the midwife still in the story? from Jonah
July 8th, 2010 at 8:45 am
Ben would like to know if there’s going to be anything scary
July 8th, 2010 at 8:49 am
are there any more assassins? from Jonah
July 8th, 2010 at 9:13 am
How long does it take to write a book? (Rebekah B.)
What is your favorite part of writing? (Mary B)
If you were no longer able to use a computer, would you give up writing or grab the pad of paper?
Pen or pencil?
July 8th, 2010 at 9:14 am
Does have book published freak you out?
July 8th, 2010 at 9:16 am
Oops.
That should read…Does having books published freak you out?
I was overcome by emotion. Forgive my error.
July 14th, 2010 at 10:16 am
What color is you laptop?
July 23rd, 2010 at 2:21 pm
What age were you when you started writing? Were you a little girl?