I’m not going to answer that question, I’m just wondering. Does it have something to do with tagging animals? Except it seems like the game is a lot older than tracking animals, so who knows.
Anyway, KD Sarge has tagged me on a writing meme, and so here we are. Rules of the game: answer the questions, come up with eleven of my own, and tag more people to keep the game going.
1.) Of your characters, who would you most like to have as a real-life friend?
Hm. I think I’ll go with Sara from Bleachers. I tend to twist friendship themes into just about all my stories, but Sara can be depended on to make sacrifices for her friends, and to work tirelessly to make sure things are set right. She’s also able to be fairly open-minded to trying new solutions when her normal standbys fail.
2.) Which would you not want to be around anywhere but in the pages of a book?
Oh man, that’s easy. Paran, the Queen’s advisor, from the Trilogy. I’ve got some nasty characters, but Paran is the king. Here’s someone whose ideas and morals are so twisted that even when you see where he’s coming from, you still can’t remotely justify his actions. Plus he’s not above some truly terrible manipulations, and there is pretty much no limit to what he will do to get to the ends he desires.
3.) When a song bowls you over and you have to hear it again and again, what is probably the reason? (Great voice, real emotion, clever lyrics, et cetera)
It depends. It can be lyrics, or it can be beat, or it can be both. Sometimes a verse will hit just right, and all of a sudden entire scenes can appear. Beat’s probably stronger than lyrics, though, honestly. I like songs based off their beat, but when you get a perfect blending of meaning and musicality, it’s the best.
4.) Of everywhere you’ve been, where was your favorite place to be? (Home is a perfectly acceptable answer!)
I adored York. I’ve been a lot of places, but York has a tangible feel of ancientness. I know that’s not a word. But when you step inside the walled part of the city, something resonates.
I also really liked northern Austria, with the Alps towering overhead, and the deep, dark lakes and occasional forests. Completely different feel from an ancient city, like York, but powerful all the same.
5.) Where do you want most to go?
I want to see the Great Wall of China. Absolute top of my list.
6.) What is the meaning of life? (okay, okay–YOUR life.) What do you think your life is about?
42. Life is hard. I am not a terribly introspective person. But I think that life needs to be enjoyed and shared.
7.) What’s the best thing about what you do for a living?
Since I work from home, I get to set my own hours. And if it’s a slow day, it’s totally okay for me to go watch an episode of Merlin with lunch.
8.) What do you do when you need inspiration?
I listen to music, and I look at nature pictures on the internet. Nothing gets the ol’ juices flowing better.
9.) When you need some time for you, where do you go?
I go to my local coffee shop, grab a table by the window, drink some tea, and do whatever needs to be done.
10.) Plotter or pantser?
Combination. I tend to pants the beginning of a novel, and then, somewhere around halfway, I plot out the rest to make sure that all my subplots and strings are concluded successfully and logically. Short stories are outlined completely before I start, otherwise I can’t get going.
11.) To close with a (fairly) easy one–talk about a book. Any book. 
I just finished The Island by Tim Lebbon. I’m not typically a fan of his – he’s too dark for my tastes most of the time – but he’s my husband’s favorite author and so, occasionally, I am talked into reading one of his novels so we can have an intelligent conversation about the book. However, I actually really enjoyed this one. Good characters, just the right amount of stuff going on, lovely description. I admit I called the ending from 50 pages out (I said to myself “There is only one logical way this can end”) but I can do that with most books, so.
Let’s see, I shall tag my lovely writing partner Sarah, my sister so she’s forced to update her blog, and the infamous and extremely devious Ian Dudley. You’re welcome to tag yourself as well, if you’d like. Just let me know you’ve done it!
Questions for you to answer:
1.) What was the first story you ever wrote? Spare no embarrassing details.
2.) What’s your favorite nonfiction topic to read about?
3.) How much research do you feel like you need to do before you start a new story?
4.) Writing challenges (ala Nanowrimo) – useful, or merely stress-inducing?
5.) Why do you write your main genre?
6.) What genre/author/book do you secretly love but would never admit to in polite conversation?
7.) What’s your favorite movie-adaptation of a book?
8.) What is your favorite type of cephalopod?
9.) What is your writing tool of choice?
10.) What are your feelings about the proper usage of whom?
11.) What are you doing to bring yourself closer to your writing goals?
