28 thoughts on “Reader Friday: Dinner With an Author”

  1. I didn’t answer last week because I couldn’t narrow my answer down to one author, but my questions would be

    1) When are you happiest?

    2) What do you feel that you have left to do?

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Terry!

  3. Sorry I didn’t participate last week. I think it was one of the days the electricity was off or the cable/internet was down.

    Anyway, in the spirit of last week’s civil disobedience, I think I’ll have a dinner party. And, since Garry posted yesterday on returning from the “other side,” I think I will include C.S. Lewis and Charles Dickens. Aw, heck, let’s invite Shakespeare, too.

    My two questions for all the guests:
    1. Which one of the books (or plays) that you have written, do you think is your best.
    2. How do you like to celebrate the holidays? Would you invite one living author, or would you have a grand dinner party?

    Sorry, Terry. I’ve always enjoyed stirring the pot.

    Have a great holiday break! See you next year.

  4. Since I invited all of TKZ to dinner, it’s going to be a long evening. I better stock up on liquid refreshments.

    The obvious question is “Why do you write?” But I asked that in a blog post a few weeks ago, so I already know the answers. Instead, I’ll go with these:

    1. How would you define literary success?
    2. If you ruled the world, what ten books would you require everyone to read?

    • Interesting questions, Kay. I’d be interested in knowing what “success” means to others. For me, it’s getting my work out into the world.
      Your second question would require a lot of thought (and liquid refreshments.)

  5. My guest list is the TKZ gang.

    1. Where do you get ideas for blog posts when you run dry?
    2. What author is your biggest influence? And why?

    Terry, you’re gonna bust me for asking three questions but a rule breaker can’t help it.

    • I’m not sure anyone in this group feels any obligation whatsoever to abide by rules. Or even guidelines.
      For your first question, it’s by reading other blogs.
      For the second, I think this came up in another post a while back. I’ll stick with the answers I gave then. Sandra McDonald and Linda Castillo: the former because she mentored me when I was simply goofing around with fanfiction; the latter for showing me there were no hard and fast lines I had to stay inside.

  6. I would ask Patricia Cornwell over. I only have one question for her: How does she get motivated to do all the research for her novels and stay on task?

  7. One of my guests is JSB, and I would ask him:

    1) If you could talk to your 12-year-old self, what advice would you give the scamp?

    2) If you had to choose one decision you’ve made over your lifetime so far, which one would you change? Which one would you not change?

    I’m waiting . . . 🙂

    And Merry Christmas . . .

    • We’ll see if JSB is around to answer. As for me, every decision I’ve made has shaped the me I am, so I don’t think I’d change any one of them. The twelve-year-old me wouldn’t have listened to any advice.

    • 1) If you could talk to your 12-year-old self, what advice would you give the scamp?

      Don’t be concerned with what other people think about you, except your parents, your teachers, and your best friends.

      2) If you had to choose one decision you’ve made over your lifetime so far, which one would you change? Which one would you not change?

      – I would have accepted the offer from Ralph Andrews Productions to audition as a game show host.

      – Hands down: Marrying Mrs. B.

  8. I’ve narrowed my dinner companion to Andrew Nagorski, author of “1941: The Year Germany Lost the War.” My questions:

    1. “Do you want to hear about the time my father met Paderewski?”
    2. “How did you like my WWII book?”

  10. This is a dinner, full of chatter and conversation. My only question/request would be to tell a story about yourself, your life work, your family, or anything real. This is how I get to know folks best, by listening to their stories, because story comes from the heart, while answers to questions come from the head.

    The Leprechauns though, they will ask all the questions they can think of. And be prepared for some doozies once the mead is flowing.

  11. I agree with others, there is an awesome abundance of talented writers here on TKZ who take the time to share their knowledge with us. 🙂

    If I met any of a long list of gifted authors in person, I’d be so impressed my mind would go blank. I’d just want them to talk about whatever they wanted. I’m sure there would be a mix of personal stories and writing gems, and perhaps I would eventually thaw out enough to think of some questions… Maybe.

Comments are closed.