Review: DRIVE by Stephanie Fournet
I have loved everything I’ve read from Stephanie Fournet, and DRIVE did not disa[...]
I’m excited to have Carrie Firestone, author of THE LOOSE ENDS LIST, on A Book and a Latte today for a How I Write feature! Check out my Q & A with Lauren below, and be sure to follow the blog tour and enter the giveaway!
About Carrie Firestone
Carrie Firestone has lived in rural, urban, and suburban places, and, while she currently lives in the suburbs, she is decidedly a CITY person. She loves parties, and all kinds of music, and books about random people doing random things in random places. She loves to travel with her husband, and two daughters, Lauren and Emily. When she isn’t writing, you might find her reluctantly sharing her popcorn at the movies, trying to get people (or dogs) to do a conga line, or adding items to her loose ends list.
Are you a planner (outline, etc.) or do you “pants” it?
I “pants” it to the point where I have no idea what I write or where it’s going until it’s done. That can be scary, but it’s a lot of fun when my characters surprise me!
Do you write daily or sporadically when you’re inspired?
I used to write sporadically UNTIL I was inspired. Then I’d write all day and night until it was done. That was the case with draft one of The Loose Ends List. Now I have deadlines, so I try to write daily to stay on track.
What inspired you to want to become a writer?
I think I was born wanting to write. I was the kid writing in journals and making poetry books and teaching writing to my imaginary students. Whenever I had any kind of strong emotion, I’d channel it into some sort of cheesy story or sonnet.
What time of day do you find you write best? Or you enjoy more?
I definitely do my best work first thing in the morning. I drop off my children at school and race home to my coffee and my chair. Unfortunately, I end up forgetting to exercise. I think I’ve gained the “debut book fifteen.”
What kind of mood are you typically in when you write (happy, sad, etc.)?
I write in all kinds of moods. The weird thing is that when I start writing, I channel the mood of my characters. So I could be perfectly happy in real life, but bawling all over my computer (and vice versa).
Where is your favorite place to write?
I usually write in a big, comfy chair in my office or at our local Barnes and Noble café. But my favorite place to write is anywhere in New York City. The city energy squeezes out my creative juices.
How do you overcome writer’s block?
I go out and have an adventure. I walk around random places or take a mini-vacation and absorb all the stories on the faces of strangers. I’m mindful of tiny details I might normally miss and somehow my sensory journey always starts me on a new writing path.
What types of writing events have you participated in (NaNoWriMo, conferences, workshops, etc.)? Which was your favorite?
Maddie from The Loose Ends List came from NYC Flash Fiction. The contest provides writers with a genre, an object and a setting and I think we had to write a thousand- word story in a weekend. It was so much fun. I have been going to SCBWI New York conferences for years. I would never have published a book without the support of the SCBWI. I encourage aspiring writers to attend as many conferences as they can afford. I found my critique partners at SCBWI New York. It’s a fantastic resource for new writers.
Thank you so much for including me in your blog! Great questions!
Thank you for answering my questions! 🙂
Seventeen-year-old Maddie O’Neill Levine lives a charmed life, and is primed to spend the perfect pre-college summer with her best friends and young-at-heart socialite grandmother (also Maddie’s closest confidante), tying up high school loose ends. Maddie’s plans change the instant Gram announces that she is terminally ill and has booked the family on a secret “death with dignity” cruise ship so that she can leave the world in her own unconventional way – and give the O’Neill clan an unforgettable summer of dreams-come-true in the process.
Soon, Maddie is on the trip of a lifetime with her over-the-top family. As they travel the globe, Maddie bonds with other passengers and falls for Enzo, who is processing his own grief. But despite the laughter, headiness of first love, and excitement of glamorous destinations, Maddie knows she is on the brink of losing Gram. She struggles to find the strength to say good-bye in a whirlwind summer shaped by love, loss, and the power of forgiveness
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Readers, follow the tour (schedule below) for more chances to win, and be sure to enter the giveaway! You can find more How I Write features by clicking the image at the bottom of this post.
Tour Schedule
Giveaway
More “How I Write” Q&As!
These are some of my favorite author posts–I like reading how an author works. Nature inspires me to keep working when I can’t find the right words to type.
Twitter: bookandlatte
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Me, too! I love how every writer has a different process.