Last month, I asked you, my faithful readers, to ask me questions—something you’d ask a writer. The idea was that I’d possibly put these up as a FAQ on my website when it’s done.

I got some fantastic, thought-provoking, interesting questions, and it’s taken me this long to adequately answer them. Thanks for being patient with me.

Now, without further ado…

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Lev

Well, I'm always interested in finding out what a person does for fun. Where do they find delight?

So, where do you find delight?

I find delight from de lamp and de sun!

No, seriously. I’ve spent some time trying to figure out how I define “delight.” There are things that bring me joy, contentment, satisfaction, happiness… Are these all aspects of delight, or is delight something specific? I’m still not sure I can answer that.

So, here are things that delight me, bring me joy, make me feel contentment, etc.:

Great sex. Laughter, both doing it and hearing it. Writing, when it flows from my subconscious and I know it’s good, and of course when I finish something or meet a goal. (And, of course, acceptance of said writing!) Creativity. Meeting a goal. A really, really good cup of tea. Crisp champagne. Godiva dark chocolate ice cream. Cheeeeesy pasta. A misty, cool day. A thunderstorm. A job well done. Hugs. Styx concerts. Art that speaks to me. Connecting with a friend I haven’t talked to in too long. The type of conversation where you both tumble over the words because there’s so many wonderful things to say, and you just connect, and you realize you’re more creative just from talking to that person. Being on the back of the bike, under a skyful of stars. When my car’s turbo kicks in. Water—swimming in it, lounging in a hot tub or soaking in a bathtub of soft scents, showering when I feel really grungy. Reading a book or story that entirely draws me in, that makes me laugh and/or cry, that makes me not want to leave the world in the book. Having people feel safe and welcome in our home. Our house, for that matter. Using my grandmother’s china. Roller coasters with big drops. Candles and incense. Intense music. The way cats smells when you bury your face in their fur. Watching birds of prey lazily circle and dip. Dolphins leaping out of a sparkling ocean. The beach, when the marine layer has come in, or when the waves are wild and dangerous. Finding a half-forgotten holy well in the depths of a British forest. Raising energy, connecting with it, feeling it flow through me and knowing that it’s as it should be. Mountains and trees. The moon. Sinking into bed at night, draping a leg over Ken, and hearing the cats purring in the darkness. Love.

Fiona

Here's one I thought of asking an author many many years ago, but never got round to it!

Where do you go (be it physically or mentally) for inspiration?

On one level, I’d say that going somewhere for inspiration is a dangerous thing—it implies that I need something outside, when my creativity comes from my subconscious. But, certainly, there are things that help jump-start the process, and since that’s probably what you’re asking, that’s what I’ll address. :-)

I often get a spark, an answer to a sticking point in a plot or whatnot, in the shower. I’m not entirely sure why, although I’d guess it’s because my conscious brain is focused on the ablutions, allowing my subconscious free reign to do it’s job. Many authors swear that the best thing to do is physical work or exercise, using a different part of their brain for awhile. Some authors meditate or do visualization before writing, to clear their head of other things; others do “morning pages” or otherwise write up those cluttering thoughts. Both have worked for me.

I’ve taken to making playlists for novels and/or types of fiction, to use the familiar music to put me in “writing mode” for my current project. Gwen Stefani’s “What You Waiting For?” is a great “get off your ass and put your hands on the laptop” kick.

Reading a good book can help inspire me, especially if it’s someone whose style/voice is compatible to mine. Nora Roberts makes me want to write, because she’s so prolific and makes it look so damn easy! Barbara Hambly is another. Wandering around a bookstore, looking at aaaaalllll the books, sliding my fingers between books and making a space where my own books will appear—I start to get anxious, feeling like I should get home and get back to work.

Teresa and I work well together as collaborators because we’re really good at bouncing ideas off each other and then building on them. Sometimes the hair on the back of my neck stands up when we’re doing that. She’ll say something, and then suddenly the right idea is just there.

That happens, too, when I get out of my own way, trust the process, and allow the words to pull me along.

Randomthoughts

If you could have written one book, which book would it be, and why?

The Bible, provided I signed a good contract. Can you imagine the royalties?!

I’ve thought about this one a lot, actually. (Which means it was a good question!) There isn’t any book already written that I wish I’d written. I can’t write the same book as someone else, so any book already written would be very different if I wrote it. There are a lot of books I want to write, that I hope to write. There are some I know I’m not ready to write. There are some I don’t even know about yet—but I know they’ll rise to the surface of my subconscious when I need them.

There are certainly authors whose works I admire, and I can say “I’d like to create strong characters as well as Guy Gavriel Kay,” or “I’d like to be as prolific and diverse as Nora Roberts,” or “I’d like to master the turns of phrase the way Barbara Hambly does.” But I don’t want to write their books. I want them to write their books, so I can enjoy them.

Jenn Reese

What are your favorite kinds of stories/books to read? Are those the same kinds that give you inspiration? Do you write those kinds of stories/books?

On one level, I’d say a good book in any genre. But I know that’s not what you’re asking. My first love is, and probably always will be, fantasy, although I’ve grown pickier over the years and shy away from the “big fat fantasy,” in part because the worldbuilding is often weak. I still like medieval fantasy if it’s done well. Love Renaissance-based fantasy. Urban/contemporary fantasy. I enjoy many types of romance, even as I’m picky about that, too. I enjoy paranormal romance, but also erotic romance and anything that moves me (which means, I think, that I believed in the characters).

These are definitely what give me inspiration. If I’m writing in a particular genre/subgenre, I tend to read only books in that genre. Although a great book in any genre can be an inspiration, a spark, a challenge. I do write the stories/books I like to read—fact is, I think I often write them because they’re something I want to read…

Melusine

Mine is similar to Jenn's...who are your favourite author(s)? In other words, whose books will you always read when they are published (if author still alive that is) and whose books do you love to read and re-read?

Favorite authors: I’ve been known to order Guy Gavriel Kay’s books from Canada so I can get them before they’re released in the US. I can read them over and over, although I have to be careful not to let them affect my writing (when I read his work, I have to fight not to write in a bad pastiche of his style/voice, which I adore, and my own, which is just different than his).

I adore Barbara Hambly’s work, both fantasy and mystery. She has a way of immersing you in the world and in the characters, and her description is flawless.

Charles de Lint, although he’s been a bit hit-and-miss for me lately. Neil Gaiman. Terri Windling. Peter S. Beagle. Christina Jones. Nora Roberts (later stuff). Tim Pratt.

I buy Kristine Kathryn Rusch/Kris Nelscott/Kristine Grayson (depending on genre, and she does them all well!) books as soon as they come out, because she’s a great writer and a friend, and how a book does in the first month of publication has a large impact on the writer’s next book deal.

I’ll be snapping up Phae’s (Phaedra M. Weldon—a new writer to watch!) books for the same reason, even though I’m one of her first readers and will have already read each one at least once. Actually, stuff by a lot of my friends and Oregon Coast Writers mates.

Books that touched me when I was younger, even if I don’t re-read them regularly, still hold a close place in my heart: The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Changeling, The Princess Bride.

The one book I read again and again is The Silver Metal Lover by Tanith Lee. It’s my “comfort” book—the one I can open to any page and start reading, and immediately be immersed in the world, the characters, and the story. I’ve read it at different times of my life, and every time I’ve gotten something new out of it. (We shall not speak of the “sequel,” which was a decent book in its own right, but mangles the effect and intent of SML.)

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Thank you all for your wonderful, thought-provoking questions! You five absolutely rock!

(I’m still open to more questions—if anyone has any, post them as comments to this [generally within the same month—if it’s later, I don’t go back and check for comments, so in that case, e-mail me]).