Monday, March 28, 2011

Turning the Tables & Blogoversary Giveaway


You might have noticed that my Second Blogoversary month had a bit of an interview theme. What better way to celebrate than to feature talented authors? The added bonus, of course, was that they all kindly offered a book to give away.

For the final week, I decided to turn the tables and let you ask the questions. What would you ask if you were interviewing a favorite author? And, okay, I can't resist; I have to ask one question - what would we be surprised to learn about you?

(If you happened to miss any of the interviews this month check them out: Patti Lacy, Marja Meijers, and Ann Gabhart.)

Final Blogoversary Giveaway                                                             


This week's giveaway includes a copy of She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell and a giant Hershey bar.  What would a Blogoversary celebration be without a good book and chocolate?  :)

To enter, please review the following details. Note the requirements - you must be a follower and leave your email address. I am thankful for everyone who stops by my blog, but my regular followers provide support and encouragement. This giveaway is meant to show my appreciation for those who take the time to stop by, comment, and share the writing adventure.           

Giveaway Details

• You must be a follower and leave a comment with your email address.
• Gain a bonus entry by posting this on Facebook, your blog, &/or Twitter. Please include link w/comment.
• Open to residents of the US and Canada.
• Deadline to enter is midnight EST, Friday April 1, 2011. Winner will be announced Saturday, April 2 and notified via email, and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Don't forget to share your thoughts on these questions:

What would you ask if you were interviewing a favorite author? What would we be surprised to learn about you?

I'll share the questions in Thursday's post.

Blessings,
Karen


Photo credit: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1154634

38 comments :

  1. I'd want to know who their favorite character to write was. And of course, why.
    ~ Wendy

    ReplyDelete
  2. I would ask, "does the toilet paper go over the top or under the bottom?" Tells a lot about a person, don't ya think?! Me, I'm full of surprises, which is why I'm not running for President :)
    Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

    ReplyDelete
  3. I would love to hear about her writing routine or how long it took to write her book. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Karen...I'm a faithful follower and my e-mail address is writingstraightfromtheheart@gmail.com.

    I would ask a famous author what he/she loves to write the most. What touches the very core of his/her soul? Did he/she always have a love of writing.

    What would you be surprised to learn about me? Well, maybe that I've worked as a contractor in a federal prison, a state prison, in an Alzheimer's Unit of a nursing home, and with pregnant and parenting teenagers. All true. Take care. Susan

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'd like to know how they maintained faith during those bleak times of rejection after rejection. I didn't look to see if anyone asked this question, so forgive me if they did.

    As for me...? I can't think of anything exciting enough to mention. In time I might, but right now I'm not feeling very secretive. Big bad bug is still hanging around.

    ReplyDelete
  6. One thing I'd want to know is when is it time to give up on an idea, if there ever is a time?

    Me? For anyone who has been reading my blog regularly there probably aren't many surprises--none that I can think of at the moment at least.


    Lee
    Tossing It Out

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wendy,
    Good one! I'd like to know the same 6hing. :)

    Jules,
    I think you may be on to something here. There's probably a scientific reason for our choices. And what, no run for president? lol :)

    Jennifer,
    Yes, this always interests me too. The process- I imagine it's different for everyone but it's interesting to hear about.

    Susan,
    Got you on the list! :) Good questions, and something I think that interests all of us.

    Joylene,
    Yes, I think we all could benefit from that. It can be hard to stick with it and move ahead. Feel better!

    Lee,
    Hey, that's a great one too. We all probably have ideas floating around that could use some of that advice. What, you're not a special agent or anything? :)

    Blessings all,
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hhhmmm... I would like to ask what their biggest struggle in the writing process is.

    As for me: I am not an over-emotional person, but I cry watching 'A Little House on the Prairie' :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Two years! Happy Blogoversary! They have gone by fast, haven't they?

    Take care. xxx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Karen .. two years - happy years ahead!

    I'd love to know what they do to relax ..

    Me - too many tall tales to tell .. piloted a glider at 16 .. now that's fun!

    Cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hmmm...good question! Maybe "If your life could be summed up in a book title, what would it be?"

    As for me, Beethoven brings me to tears. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am a PROUD follower :) bald (at) pld (dot) com

    Thanks for the comment on Family Fountain. I hope you got to check out DJ's blog. I think you will like it.

    Your questions:
    What would you ask if you were interviewing a favorite author?

    - What do you read? How do you research? How do you keep trck of your ideas, thoughts, noties? (For me, this particularly refers to nonfiction writing).


    What would we be surprised to learn about you?

    - I am reading and taking notes for a book I hope to write on WW2. Right now I'm almost finished researching for one chapter - "Women as Victims in WW2" - and I will write it and record it as a lecture. I'll circulate it on cd, and hope to raise some money to buy more research materials. WB

    ReplyDelete
  13. Karen:
    I would ask about how he or she practices time management issues?
    I am a follower, an glad to be one.

    cll4him(AT)sbcglobal(DOT)net

    I would suprise you and my casual friends that I have been 'through the wringer'a few times in my life. (Some close friends are aware of the times and the circumstances.)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Marja,
    Yes, this is a question I think that can encourage other writers, you know? :)

    Raymonde,
    Thank you! Yes, they have, and it's brought me friends like you. :) Hugs!

    Hilary,
    That's something I'd like to know too, and how much inspiration they gain from their down time. Good question!

    Jennifer,
    Now there's a good one! Hey, you know, that might make a good prompt! Glad you stopped by!

    Warren,
    Thank you! Added you to the list. Enjoyed your guest post on Proverbs 31. WW2, now that sounds like it would be interesting! You'll have to let us know how it goes.

    Cecelia,
    That's a good question and something I think we all deal with. Got you on the list! :) I am sure you've had some interesting ups and downs.

    Blessings all,
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  15. I would ask my favorite author to impart the single bit of writing advice he/she deems to be more important than any other, and then explain why it is so.

    Something surprising about me? If I tell, then it won't be a surprise. :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Karen -

    I'm one of those faithful followers. :)

    susanjreinhardt AT gmail DOT com

    I always like to know what motivates an author to write, as well as their process.

    Blessings,
    Susan

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi Karen,
    I've been a follower for some time now.

    My question: What's the best writing advice you've ever received.

    Something surprising about me: I've never eaten a peanut butter sandwich.

    dvolkenannt (at) charter.net

    ReplyDelete
  18. Lisa,
    Yes, good one. I love hearing how we are all so different, yet the same!

    Susan R.,
    I know you are and I so appreciate it friend! :) Good question!

    Donna,
    I think that's a great one. And more than likely we'd see all kinds of answers! No pb sandwiches? Oh my!

    Blessings,
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hmm. I'd ask, "What writing habit do you have that you think others would benefit in their own writing?"

    And surprising thing about me? Umm, I have zero tolerance for alcohol. Not sure if that's surprising, but it's all I can think of!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I think I'd like to know how they balance their writing with managing their writing small business. What's surprising about me? I like pickled herring. You asked.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Okay, so, what is the most unusual thing you've done in the name of research?

    Me? My kids call me Cheryl when they want to get my attention... sometimes I tune out "Mom". (not fantastic, I know)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hey Karen, I'd ask how they work out their writing schedule. I'd like to think a published author experiences an easier writing schedule but my guess is, not.

    It's surprising I can't come up with someting surprising.
    sdlbishop2(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  23. A giant Hershey bar??? I'm in. Reading and chocolate just seem to go hand in hand. A winning combo if there ever was one.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi Karen, two years of blogging. Thats great. Happy Second Anniversary.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I would ask- did you want to give up often? And what does no one know about me? Umm....I hate to be away from my husband for long:)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Lydia,
    That's a good one, and one I think many of us would be interested in. Thanks!

    Carla,
    Pickled herring? Won't knock it till I try it. But probably not happening today. :) Good question, thanks!

    Cheryl,
    Now that's a good question! I bet there's more interesting research that happens than we can imagine!

    Sally,
    Yes, that would be an interesting one. I imagine it varies some, but must be consistent for success.

    Stephen,
    Yes, it is a winning combo! Great minds think alike.

    Rachna,
    Thank you! It's been a great adventure. Thanks for being part of it!

    Terri,
    Good questions! That's something that I would want to know. I'm with you; hate to be away from DH for too long.

    Blessings all,
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  27. I always like to know how many books the author has written (and in a special place in her closet) before they were published!
    I've FB and Tweeted your contest.
    lp(dot)lynnjdesigns(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  28. Congratulations, Karen, on your milestone.

    What would I ask? I think I'd ask how they stay encouraged and fresh, how they hang in there and don't give up.

    What would surprise you? Perhaps the fact that I write the column out longhand in my admittedly girlish writing book. :)

    rschrockmt@yahoo.com

    Tuesday blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Oh, how generous of you, dear Karen!

    How much money did you have in the bank when you quit your day job and decided to write full time? Or, did you just take a leap of faith out over the gaping chasm of tomorrow, and trust the Lord?

    Surprise! Although I love to smile, my teeth are yellow, a fact that bothered my mom for years. She's over it now.

    jeanettelevellie(at)gmail(dot)com

    Tell us something surprising about yourself, please!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Lynn,
    Ah yes, now that's a good one to know. Would probably be inspiring for the rest of us! Thanks for spreading the word!

    Rhonda,
    Good ones! From someone who has been there, done that. That could be a big help indeed. :)

    Blessings!
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  31. Jen,
    You know, that's an interesting one. The authors I know aren't independently wealthy, so you wonder what else they're doing to make a little income.

    Something surprising about me? Hmmm. I was raised just blocks from the ocean in southern NJ, but I really never cared for the beach. Exciting stuff, eh? :P

    Blessings,
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  32. Nom. I could so use that chocolate right now!

    A question I'd ask is how much their life changed once they went from writer to author, both how they looked at the industry and their part in it, and how it affected their personal life.

    Something surprising about me? I have an alien driver's license in my purse.

    Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse

    ReplyDelete
  33. *cool amigo eyes the chocolate and licks her lips* Somehow, her eyes will not leave the giant Hershey bar.


    My question: When do we seriously consider giving up on a book we have spent months to years writing?

    (((hugs))) cool amigo Karen. (Cool sunglasses on, coffee in hand, and Robyn is coolin'.)

    ReplyDelete
  34. Angela,
    Good questions! I'd like to know those things too. So, where exactly did you get this alien license? :)

    Robyn,
    Hmm, now I know what to get you for your birthday! :) That's a good question; I have to wonder how many authors have gone through this. Hugs back to you!

    Blessings to both of you,
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  35. Happy blogiversary! How cool you're doing giveaways. tmilstein at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  36. A famous author? I don't know...I think I'd ask what she thinks about writing rules. lol Just so I can hear again that it's okay to break them. Ha! I don't know what I'd ask. Maybe if they still loved writing or if it had become a job only.
    Great contest! I've heard Mitchell is a good writer. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  37. I like hear about an authors childhood. I think it reveals alot about a person.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Theresa,
    Got you on the list! Thanks for coming by!

    Jessica,
    Writing rules - now that's a good one! Will have to remember that one! :)

    Edmontonjb,
    That's a good point, and a good line of questioning to remember! Nice to meet you!

    Blessings,
    Karen

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. Have a blessed day!