Carolyn Hart---an Agatha for the new millenium!

Kicking off a new season with another author--Carolyn Hart!

Carolyn Hart is a long-time favorite of mine (y'all know I LOVE MYSTERIES!!) and her Death on Demand series is reminiscent of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple books, with Broward's Rock, South Carolina substituting for St. Mary Mead.  Annie Darling is a younger, more attractive, married version of Miss Marple...but it's all about the small-town ambiance that makes these books enjoyable.

Like the other authors...Ms. Hart graciously answered my silly questions and we exchanged many e-mails where we discussed books and the writing process.  Here's the gist:

1.  Broward's Rock seems like the perfect resort town.  Is it patterned after a real-life place?

    Ans. We started vacationing on Hilton Head island in the 1970s. Broward's Rock is a fictional version of Hilton Head as it was in the '70s though BR is much farther off shore. The alligators nosing through dark water, the scent of sea and sand, and the rustle of palm leaves are very real.

 

2.Your new mysteries are set in Oklahoma, which seems a stretch from South Carolina.  Where do you live?   (I promise not to stalk you!)

   Ans.  I live in Oklahoma, vacation in South Carolina. I've enjoyed using local backgrounds in the Bailey Ruth ghost series and also in What the Cat Saw, though both towns are fictional. My first book set in Oklahoma is Letter from Home, a story of the homefront in WWII.

 

3. Here's the segue--what is your decorating style?

 Ans.    My mother collected antiques and loved stately surroundings. Once when asked what decor I admired, she paused, said thoughtfully, "Carolyn likes everything to be spare. Windswept." I always thought that was very accurate. 

 

4.  What is the writing process like for you?

 Ans. Painful. Agonzing. Discouraging. I am always terrified I won't be able to finish the book.

 

5.  I have written a couple of blog posts on voice--how important do you think it is to keep it in mind as you write?

    Ans. Voice is inherent in writing and not something that has to be created. Voice is who you are.

 

6.  You have won numerous prestigious awards for your mysteries.  In twelve words or fewer, how does that feel?

    Ans. Heartwarming.  Because readers read the books, I am able to be a writer. I am forever grateful. 

 

7.  Any words of wisdom for those bloggers who wish to write professionally?

Ans. Care passionately about what you write. Somewhere an editor will care.

 

KIRBY here:  As I mentioned, she and I exchanged numerous e-mails over the course of a week, and she was nothing but encouraging to this wanna-be writer.  To take the time to help a sister (in crime) out was a lovely thing to do!  Thanks, Carolyn!!

Feature Friday--It's Eclectic!

Kirby: Today, I'm talking to (well, exchanging e-mails with) Kelly at Eclectically Vintage.  Kelly has a great style and she's also a great junk-finder, which is a trait I admire.

1. As a mother of twins, what was it like trying to take care of two babies at once?
          I didn't know any differently.  The fact that I had never changed a diaper before my girls
          were born really had me jumping right into the frying pan!  Oh, and I drank...a lot!

2.  Buttercup or citrine?
          I used to love holding buttercups under my chin when I was a kid--I always saw
          yellow hence my overwhelming urge to butter everything.

3.  How do you feel about Ball jars?  (This is not an inappropriate question, by the way.)
         I love the old blue jars with zinc lids and there's nothing I like more than inappropriate
         laughter so bring on the questions.

4.  Did you prefer The Backstreet Boys or N Sync?
         Ugh--the lesser of two evils would be N Sync--it spawned Justin Timberlake, after all.

5.  I understand that Jersey is an "interesting place."  Care to elaborate?
          I sense some sarcasm.  I can be at the beach, ski slopes, farmland, great shopping, and
          factory smog all in less than one hour.  What's not to love about a place where  you
          can buy a Bump-it on every street corner?

6.  Fast food or pizza?
          Pesto pizza on the grill is my latest obsession--with a large glass of wine of course.

7.  If you could take a vacation on an unlimited budget, where would you go?
          I'd hit every Four Seasons between here and Timbuktu.  There's nothing better than
          exploring an unknown place.

8.  Have you ever tried your hand at plumbing?
          No, but I've had a couple of cases of plumber's crack.

9.  If you could make a planter out of anything this summer, what would it be?
           I found a huge industrial-sized colander at the thrift shop and filled it with geraniums.

10.  Are there any bloggers that you follow (not in a stalker-ish way) whom you read without fail?
           I have a few restraining orders against me, so unfortunately I can't elaborate.

Kirby here:  Thanks again to Kelly for this interview.  Now, go check her out (not in a weird way) at Eclectically Vintage!!





This Friday, we're quirky!

Today, I'm welcoming Karen from Somewhat Quirky!  Her blog is fun to read and she has some GREAT decorating ideas, so when you're finished reading this, you should check it out!

1.  If you could redecorate one room in your house, what would it be?

Well, dream world would be finishing out our basement which would equate to laundry, exercise, work, and storage rooms.

2.  How do you feel about granite?

Granite is nice. For me I would prefer concrete, soapstone, wood, marble, quartz...wow I guess it's pretty far down on my list - this coming from a girl who has ugly laminate countertops!

3. You live in Michigan--do you change your décor when it gets cold and snowy?

Except for the mantle, my mess stays pretty much the same year round.

4. Would you rather spend your money on a great meal or cute shoes?

Well, if you asked me 20 years ago it would have been shoes. Now - definitely a great meal.

5. Chartreuse or Seafoam?

All greens have a place in my repertoire.

6.  We know that you exercise a bunch.  What workout do you find gets the best results?

 

The best workout is the one that you will do. Period. Personally, I do elyptical workouts and P90X2.

 

7. Do you collect anything?

Mostly things with a purpose, like suitcases and citrus juicers. I have quite a bit of architectural salvage. And junk. There is always junk.

8. How many houses have you redecorated?

At least 6 for myself and a few more for others. But my mind redecorates every room I visit.
9. If you could vacation anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Italy. With Paris a close second. Places with wine.

10. Do you have any "go-to" bloggers that you read every day?

I'm a cluster reader so I read a couple or five days at a time.  Some of my favorites are Gwen Moss, Flower Patch Farmgirl, It All Started With Paint, K Appeal, Bliss Ranch, Dreaming In Color, Simply Vintageous, Silo Hill Farm, Miss Flibbertgibbet, Little Miss Maggie, What We Keep, Backyard Bungalow, and of course The Space Between.

Kirby Here:  Thanks so much to Karen for stopping by and answering my silly questions.  Next week I'll be featuring another great blogger!

Women Who Blog Welcomes a SUPERSTAR! (This is where I do my very best Mary Katherine Gallagher)

Welcome to Feature Friday on Women Who Blog!

If this is your first time here...thanks for stopping by and I hope that you'll visit again!

 



Kirby:  Okay, I probably send out a dozen or so e-mails a month, asking folks if they would like to participate in Women Who Blog.  There are friends who are unfailingly helpful and are willing to immediately reply in order to help me out (that's you, Hens!) and there are folks who have better things to do (understandably, as answering a bunch of silly questions from a middle-aged wanna-be is weird).   Of the dozen folks I e-mail, about half of them are real-life writers.  I don't expect any of these folks to actually help me out...it's more of a hit-or-miss with REAL authors, as they are busy 'really' writing.   After all, it is the way they make their living.

But mystery writers are another breed, apparently.
(For those readers who do not know I am writing an entire series of mysteries, now you do know.  For those of you who believe I will one day [a] finish these mysteries, and [b] have them published...God Bless You. You and my mom.  Keeping the faith is a good thing, although a tad foolhardy.)

Every mystery author I have contacted (like June's featured author, Margaret Maron) has been gracious and patient and willing to answer my silly questions.  Today's author has a big pile of pot roast on her plate, with cake waiting in the wings...yet she took a few minutes to answer my crazy questions.  THROUGH HER ASSISTANT'S ASSISTANT!  (I cannot imagine how ridiculously famous you have to be to have an assistant, yet she has an assistant to assist her assistant.  Hay-seuss!)

So...here she is...a woman whose books DEBUT at number one on the NY Times bestseller list which is like the hugest thing that can happen to you as an author.  That means that people are WAITING for your book and they order it ahead of time!  *sigh*  Oh well...without any further adieu, here's

Janet Evanovich!

 



1.  First, let me say that many of my readers really love your books, particularly the humorous characters of Grandma Mazur and Lula.  How important do you think it is to inject humor into your books?
        Along with the elements of romance and danger, humor is the most important component in my books.  I guess I was blessed with a pretty good sense of humor, because most of the letters and e-mails I get are from readers who tell me stories about how they crack up while reading in public.  Apparently, crying while laughing on public transportation can cause fellow passengers to change seats.  I've also learned from victims that it's not recommended to read my books while drinking a carbonated beverage. 

2.  Most home décor/DIY bloggers feel comfortable following a specific pattern on their blogs.  Your books also follow a particular pattern--is that at the request of your publisher, or do you just feel more comfortable with that format?
        I'm just comfortable with my format.  So far, my publishers have been pleased.

3.  How does it feel to be on the New York Times bestseller list, in twelve words or fewer?
It feels great.  Hey... that's only three words.

4.  Do people recognize you when you're out and about on your normal errands?
        I write seven days a week and seldom get out and about.  I occasionally get recognized on a run to the store for Cheez Doodles, but the great thing about authors is that we don't get recognized very often -- I guess the pictures on our dust jackets are too small.

5.  Finally, because most of my audience is interested in home décor--how would you describe your house?
        It's very light and airy -- lots of white and pale yellow with splashes of primary colors to accent.  I'm lucky that I have a great view of the water from my home office window.

Kirby again:  So there you have it--best-selling author Janet Evanovich taking a few minutes out of her very busy day to answer my silly questions.  If you don't know her books...well, I kinda don't believe you.  If you DO know her books, you should check out what she has to say on her website, evanovich.com.  I especially love that she says she feels like Christie Brinkley when she wakes up, but by the afternoon she feels more like Roseanne.
It was AMAZEBALLS (right, Hens?) that Janet took time from writing to answer a few questions, and I cannot thank her enough!

 

Today's victim interview is Suzan from Simply Vintageous.

She hails from one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Montreal, where she paints furniture and has interesting conversations with her husband, John.

(She also quotes song lyrics incessantly, but we like her anyway.)  Here's how she reacted to me prying into her innermost thoughts:

1.  What do you think of heated floors?  

 I'm menopausing Kirby - heated anything is definitely O.U.T.  Now floors with air conditioning built into them would be heavenly.

2.  How do you feel about ceramic tile?   

Well I've never actually given that any thought - and I need far too much time to figure it out - I don't know how I feel about terracotta either now that I think of it.  Now I'm going to spend the rest of the day searching within myself to see how I feel about it - and I have a feeling tonight I'll be no wiser.

3. Did you ever pretend you were an Olympic athlete?   

I used to LOVE swimming and diving - but really, I wanted to be an actress. Maybe I could have been the next Esther Williams?

4. Beer or wine?  

Both - not together but love both.

 

 

 5.   If you are out cruising around town at midnight, are you more likely to get fish and chips, or Tim Horton's?  

Fish and Chips - Tim Horton's is for the morning after.  A big fat chocolate donut is the perfect remedy for too much Wine ( or Beer )

6.  Your HONEST opinion regarding burlap is… 

 Overrated - I prefer drop cloths

7.  Where is one place you have visited that you will definitely try to return to? (Or, if I’m using my English teacher grammar, to which you would like to return?)     

PARIS.................. if I ever win the lottery I'm buying an apartment there ( after I've had my facelift ) and I'm going to walk around eating croissants - and saying things like " J'ADORE " and " Magnifique " and wear hats ................

8.  You love pink--Fuchsia or Bubblegum?    

Fuschia 

9.  You're always quoting song lyrics--what song on your iPod (or in your album/CD collection) do you feel best represents who you are at this point in your life?   

BOTH SIDES NOW - that's what I feel - everyone else in my life, however, might think WITCHY WOMAN is more fitting.

10.  One blogger you love to read is--- 

This is one of the hardest questions you can ask - there's just too many of them Kirby! You of course - but if I could only pick one - let me see now - nope - I can't do it - next question?

Oh there's no more?

Well - I could have went for another 10 !!!

 

Kirby here--thanks again to Suzan for having some fun with this!  Next week, there is a surprise guest!

Feature Friday might be starting with paint!

If you don't know Linda at It All Started With Paint, you should. 

She is kind, supportive and lots of fun. 

She is also addicted to Mason Jars.  And I could tell her that Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana was started with Mason Jar money.  I could also tell her that the fave cheer of Ball State students is "Ball U!  Ball U!" but I won't because that sounds slightly sketchy.  So, with no further ado from me, here is my interview with the lovely Linda:

 

 

 

1.  Gas or electric? 

Gas.  Really Kirby?  You set me up for bathroom humor right out of the gate? 

Now I'm concerned about the questions that follow ... :)

2.  Which do you hate less--dishes or laundry?

Laundry.  My husband does it. Oh wait, he does the dishes too ...

 3.  If you are in need of a midnight snack, what do you crave most? 

Chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.  No, wait, a Nestle's crunch bar.  Or maybe chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream topped off with a Nestle crunch bar.  And whipped cream.  Can you tell I'm on an evil diet and hungry as I answer this?
 

4.  You live in my favorite big city.  What is your fun thing to do in Chicago? 

 Neighborhood pubs. One on every corner.  Oh, and this isn't a "to do" but I love driving down Lake Shore Drive on a beautiful day and crossing the river to catch the Bob Newhart shot ...
 

5.  If you found $10,000 in the dryer after you ran a load, what would you spend it on (for your home, of course)? 

 Well, I don't do the laundry. So my husband would find it.  Hopefully he'd share ... and we'd redo the kitchen.
 

6.  Peach or pumpkin? 

To eat, peach.  To color, pumpkin.
 

7.  You are now famous for your Mason Jars.  Do you have a project in mind that you haven't done yet?

 I've been dreaming up something that incorporates all the current trends: mason jars, burlap, book pages, ASCP, Chevron, milk paint, and a pallets.  It's gonna be HUGE, I tell ya!

 8.  If you had to choose one song that best represents you, what would it be? 

 Rock Lobster.  I'm a matching towels kinda gal ... :)
 

9.  Is there a place you'd love to visit (though lawd knows why you'd want to leave Chicago...)?  London.  And Ireland.  I've never been across the pond.
 

10.  Who is one blogger whose posts you never miss? Aside from you, Kari @Thistlewood, Kelly @View Along the Way, and Bliss @Bliss Ranch. 

 

Kirby here:  Thanks to Linda for being a good sport AND a good friend!  Make sure you check her blog out!

Today, I have a real treat--a "real" writer!

(Okay....please don't misunderstand me.  We are all "real" writers...but today's guest has had published two very successful series of mystery novels. Books!  With pages!  And covers!  That someone else paid to have printed!) 

Anyway, now that I have offended you folks, I would like to introduce today's interviewee, Margaret Maron.  She writes the Sigrid Harald and Deborah Knott books and has a list of awards as long as my (flabby upper) arm.  These awards include the Edgar, the namesake of last week's interviewee.  Coincidental, no?
If you like mysteries, I highly recommend you check out her books, because her characterization is great--I feel like I know these people.  But for some reason I always pictured Dwight bald...I have very specific ideas about how my pretend people should look.

Margaret (yes, I am being presumptuous calling her by her first name, but I don't think she'd mind) lives here in NC and uses many of our great locations in her Judge Knott books.  She was great about putting up with my silly questions and was very prompt in getting back to me and was an all-around good sport.

Here's how she answered my questions:


1.  Most of my readers are Home Decor/DIY bloggers.  So before we begin the interview in earnest, would you describe your house?

Let's see. . . eclectic? eccentric? idiosyncratic? Definitely one of a kind. Our house began as a 1200 sq.ft.  vacation home, a 3BR, 1B, featureless box with a back porch that ran the full 50' length. Over the years, it's sprouted wings, had walls knocked down, doors and windows moved. It's now about 2600 sq.ft with all sorts of odd spaces. It has 6 doors to the outside and 31 windows.  It should tell your readers something that we have three fuse boxes. I've never cared about luxury, but I do care about comfort. When I sit down, I want a place to set my coffee cup and I don't care if it's a piecrust antique or a wooden box. You can set a glass of iced tea down on any surface in our house without worrying about water marks or white rings. Polyurethane is my friend. (Yes, I can hear your readers shudder and gasp.)  I'm big on repurposing furniture and will always try to build it before I buy it.

 

2.  You write your series set in NC with characters that are familiar to those of us who live in the south: farmers, good ol' boys, folks
who drink too much and lose their tempers, people who will buy "brandy" off the back of a truck, old-fashioned church-going women.
Is there an underlying message in the fact that your protagonist is "Judge Knott?"
 

Not really.  Her first name, Deborah, comes from the Bible. ("And Deborah judged Israel at that time." Judges 4:4) I gave her Knott as a last name thinking I might use punning titles for the books. By the time I decided that was a dumb idea, she had already appeared in print in a short story that won the Agatha Award and it was too late to change her name.


3.  What is the writing process like for you?

Heaven when it's going well, hell when it isn't. Writers stare out of windows a lot, but you can't wait for the muse to drift in and inspire you. You have to wrestle her into your office and tie her to a chair. The only inspiration I get is from staring at the computer screen,

4.  How does it feel to be on the NY Times bestseller list, in twelve words or fewer.

 Incroyable! (and I don't speak French)

5.  If you could redecorate one room in your house, what would it be? 

My supposedly "formal" living room.  It may be time to rethink the ca. 1900 white wicker armchairs, the ca.1960 kitchen cabinet that serves as a lampstand, and the ca. 1930 oak dresser that serves as a sort of  a sideboard. (I cut the feet and mirror off of it and added shelves across the knee hole.

 

6. I have written a couple of blog posts on style and voice.

 How important do you think it is to keep those in mind as you write?
 

I don't know about style, but voice is key for me. Josephine Tey and Rumer Godden are my absolute idols. Their characters just rise up off the page, fully rounded and fully engaged.
7. Any words of wisdom for those of us who are interested in writing professionally?

Finish the article. Finish the story. Finish the book. Treat it as a job and work at it every day. I myself do not believe in "writers's block." Dentists don't get up in the morning and say, "I'm blocked on filling cavities." English teachers don't say, "I'm blocked on teaching punctuation." They go to work and they do their jobs. If you want to be a professional writer, you have to treat writing like a profession.

Kirby here: I want to thank Margaret for taking the time to correspond with me and for her graciousness.  She was very patient with my silliness!  (And those of you who know me, know I can be silly.)  I have a few other interviews with writers waiting in the wings, and of course I have some other blogger interviews.   I think.  Laura?  Linda?  Anyone?