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!
