I felt so lucky this summer. Great press for A HOUSE TO DIE FOR, including a televised interview, several engagements at book clubs, three or four library events, and the opportunity to speak to the Maine Women's Network as part of their "Amazing Women" series. Really, can there be any bigger thrill for any of us than talking about our writing?
Last week I answered my own question. What's more rewarding than discussing our books? Sharing our story with an aspiring scribe.
With me in the photo above is Nicole Glidden, an eighth grader from Cushing, Maine. We're in the library of her school where she interviewed me about being and becoming a writer.
It turns out that Nicole, who pens science fiction, is quite the Katie Couric. Her questions ranged from the basic (When did you first know that you were a writer? My answer: From the minute I could grasp a pencil) to the specific (What do you do when you get writer's block? My reply: I shift gears and work on another part of the story.) She asked me about my major in college (Comparative Literature) and my minor (French) and whether I was a New York Times Bestselling Author. (Ummm...not yet.)
We talked about the process of writing: plotting, creating characters, and writing believably gory scenes. Nicole struggles with the same things we do, and feels the same satisfaction when she gets it right. She asked me who reads my fiction first, and I told her about my husband, my agent, and my good friend Lynda. She nodded and told me about her friends' reactions to her stories. She told me that her mom is a loyal reader, despite her preference for romance.
The experience of sitting at the little table with Nicole was different than addressing book club attendees, or getting up in front of a group at the library. I was talking one on one with a writer, someone alot like me many moons ago. I urged her to keep plugging away, to persevere despite the many obstacles life would throw in her way -- the same advice we have all found one way or another.
I inscribed a copy of A HOUSE TO DIE FOR to this determined young woman, and then I wished her all the luck in the world. Because when it comes right down to it, even Katie Couric needs a little luck.
7 comments:
Wonderful post, Vicki! We were all Nicole at one time, weren't we?
It is fun to talk to people about writing, but it's very, very cool to talk to students about writing. Their passion really shines!
Lovely post.
Vicki- I did a library panel in Valencia, CA a few years ago with author friend Tekla Miller (one of those where no one shows). There were only two people in the audience, plus a mother who had brought her kids in out of the rain to wait for the bus. It turned out the fourteen year old son had an interest in writing and asked dozens of spot-on questions.
It gives me hope for the future.
Great, Vicki. Lots of the high schools out here in Silicon Valley have programs where writers visit. Yes, it's terrific talking to the aspiring bestselling authors, but do you wonder if anyone should tell them about how hard it is to make a living at our trade?
I'm quite sure she'll remember you for the rest of her life, and treasure the book. One day, when she's being interviewed, she'll mention a writer who gave her encouragement!
Hey thank you all for your comments. Sorry I'm so late in looking but I was ON VACATION (yippeee!) which I'll blog about sometime as it was the setting for the 3rd Darby Farr.
Anyway, I do appreciate the feedback and to answer Keith's question (do you mention how hard it is to make a living?) my response would be no, not unless they ask. Hey it's tough making a living doing anything these days, why not do something you love? For all I know, Nicole's dad is a lobsterman, and you wanna talk about hard ways to earn a buck...
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