Sunday, October 07, 2012

Curiosity Killed The Cat by Elizabeth Nelson Blog Tour Interview/Guest Post

Synopsis:
Katherine (“Kat”) thought she had the perfect marriage to International Lawyer Steven Flynn. Until he tried to kill her.

Katherine was the perfect obedient wife. She would do anything for her husband. That is, until she discovers he’s the ring leader of a human trafficking organization. The action is fast and furious, the dialogue smart and the sex scenes hot. Meet Katherine in Curiosity Killed The Kat as she goes farther and farther down the rabbit hole of political intrigue, sex, and revenge. Will she let herself be saved by love or will curiosity and a thirst for killer justice kill the Kat?



Guest Post:

A Reader or a writer, which would you rather be?
by Elizabeth Nelson

A reader first. A writer second. Without reading I wouldn’t have ever written anything. My mother was determined to get my sisters and I reading at a very early age. I remember her reading us bedtime stories every night. Soon she would encourage us to read along with her and before you knew it I was reading to her!

I think in order to be a great writer you must first be an avid reader. When I was living abroad teaching English my favorite evening activity became reading. There wasn’t anything else to do. I read all sorts of stories by all different styles of writers. Stephen King, Janet Evanovich, Sara Gruen, Garth Stein, Barbara Kingsolver, and Ann Patchett. All sorts of different writers. Their stories were my escape from the world around me. And because of them I studied different voices and ways to present situations; how to tell a proper story.

I read their books first and for most because I thought the book looked entertaining. Secondly I read different genres and writers to hear different voices. Finding your voice as a writer can be challenging but once you hit it, it can be very liberating. Granted some stories are easier than others.

Have you ever read Stephen Kings book, On Writing?…. If you haven’t you should. It’s an excellent guide for aspiring writers. Through storytelling and sharing his experiences you really can learn something special. I think it’s easy for us to look at King’s work and think that he was always a great writer. Like the rest of us, he had to really work at his craft. He had to work those mundane jobs to survive. I think it’s important to remember to focus on the journey and not on our failures. As writers we make ourselves vulnerable to easy criticism and because of that we have to develop thick skin when we publish our work.

When I was playing out the storyline for Curiosity Killed The Kat I drew upon great writers such as Dan Brown and John Grisham. But I wanted to add a strong female lead twist to my story. I wanted Katherine to find empowerment in making her own decisions and being a strong, independent woman. But in order for her to have this so called “wakeup call” she needed something to ignite the flame. Many of these ideas were drawn upon by other authors work. Without reading first, my imagination wouldn’t be as great.

Together, as writers, we can indirectly help each other be inspired to greatness through reading each other’s work.


Interview:
1. If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future? 

Back to the future! But only for a two or three week “vacation.” Picking a time-frame would be the most difficult. There’s so many great times throughout history I would like to experience. I would love to see the American West as it once was before European expansion. The 1970s disco era, platform shoes and fur trim coats would also be so much fun!

2. If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose? 

Michelle Obama, My Grandmother, Oprah Winfrey, Wangari Maathai and Benazir Bhutto

3. If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you? 

Water, Lighter and Fishing rod

4. What is one book everyone should read? 

Half the Sky

5. If you could have any superpower what would you choose? 

I would fly.

6. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? 

Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food

7. If you could meet one person who has died who would you choose? 

My grandmother

8. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? 

Smartstart with blueberries

9. Night owl, or early bird? 

Early bird

10. One food you would never eat? 

Olives

11. Pet Peeves? 

Liars, Noisy eaters and People who don’t follow through with their word

12. Skittles or M&Ms? 

Skittles. Taste the rainbow! haha

13. Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book. 

Read it because you love quality entertainment.

14. Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects? 

I’m currently working on other Romantic Suspense thrillers. I’d love to talk about them more but you’re just going to have to wait. It’s much more enjoyable to talk about something that is actually finished and real rather than being just all talk

15. What inspired you to want to become a writer? 

Originally it was a way for me to understand my thoughts and emotions. Then it became a way to escape the boring routine of high school. Now I combine both of those reasons to why I write. But I really enjoy telling a good story. A story that could very possibly be real. Though I prefer to stay out of the lime light I do really enjoy receiving readers response to the stories I write. If I was able to help them escape their own reality and delve into one of mine for a couple hours out of the day, I did my job.

16. Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published. 

It always surprises me when a complete stranger sends me an email saying how much they loved my book. It feels soo good.

17. If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world.. which would it be? 

Ishmael by Daniel Quinn

18. What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen? 

Where the Wild Things Are

19. What’s one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors? 

Keep writing. Keep having fun. And keep putting your work out for others to read.

20. If you could choose only one time period and place to live, when and where would you live and why? 

Is it cliché of me to say now? I love the accessibility and diversity in foods. I wouldn’t trade that for the world! As for a place to live… Perhaps the mountains of Vermont or the beaches of Hawaii. Tough call! Haha.

21. If you could be one of the Greek Gods, which would it be and why? 

For obvious reasons first and foremost I would be a goddess. Specifically, Phoebe. Phoebe was a Titan, one of the origina 14. She and Atlas were given dominion over the Moon, whose planetary power is that of Enchantment. I’ll flatter myself with enchantment.

21. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? 

Namibia, Africa

22. What is your favorite Quote? 

“A little rain each day will fill the rivers to overflowing.” – Liberian Proverb

23. When you were little, what did you want to be when you “grew up”? 

A Truck Driver. Hahaha.

24. If a movie was made about your life, who would you want to play the lead role and why

Julia Stiles. In 10 Things I Hate About You, her personality matches mine.

25. How did you know you should become an author? 

I didn’t. I just wrote and it happened.

26. Who are your favorite authors of all time? 

Audrey Niffenegger, John Steinbeck, Barbara Kingsolver, Ann Patchett

27. Can you see yourself in any of your characters? 

All of my characters are an extension of me in some way.

28. What’s the best advice anyone has ever given you? 

You can’t eat an elephant in one bite.

29. Hidden talent? 

Juggling

30. Favorite Food? 

Sushi

31. Favorite Candy? 

Sour Patch Kids.

32. How do you react to a bad review? 

At first it hurts. After all the time and effort I put into my work and all I receive is a bad review? It’s never fun. But after I cry (not really..haha. but maybe.) I really study to why the person didn’t like what they read. In the end its great motivation.

33. If you were a bird, which one would you be? 

Parrot.

34. If you could have a signed copy of any novel what would it be and why? 

The Harry Potter series. I think its incredible what JK Rowling has been able to do.

35. You have won one million dollars what is the first thing that you would buy?

A plane ticket to Thailand.

36. Which authors have influence you most how? 

Tough call. There are many writers who influence me and not just with writing style. I follow Nicholas D. Kristof religiously. Ann Patchett stories are just so amazing. But you see, these two writers are very different but both influence me considerably in one way or another.

37. What do you do in your free time? 

I’ll take my two dogs for a run on the beach.

38. If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be? 

Dessert First.

39. What’s your favorite season/weather? 

Autumn. The colors are positive inspiration.
40. How did you celebrate the sale of your first book? 

I drank a beer.

41. What is your guilty pleasure? 

Romance novels.

42. What TV show/movie/book do you watch/read that you’d be embarrassed to admit? 

The Bachelor.
43. Finish the sentence- one book I wish I had written is…

Half The Sky

44. Favorite places to travel? 

Africa

45. Favorite music? 

I’m really into Mayer Hawthorne lately.

46. In your wildest dreams, which author would you love to co-author a book with? 

Nicholas D. Kristof

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Romantic Suspense

Rating – R

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This tour hosted by Orangeberry Book Tours :)

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