And our Sue's Clues Mystery Author is:
Our Mystery Author this round is Kristin Hannah.
Kristin is the author of such bestselling books as TRUE COLORS, FIREFLY LANE and her new release, WINTER GARDEN. Below she talks about her writing, the Firefly Fund and even American Idol, among other things.
When you finish here, venture to her website to learn more about Kristin and her writing.
http://www.kristinhannah.com/content/index.php
Thanks, Kristin!
1. Tell us about the Firefly Lane house parties that went on a couple of weeks ago. What were they and how did that come about? Did you have one yourself?
The Firefly Lane/Celebrate your stories house parties were an absolute blast!! 1001 parties were held across the country, all on the same day. More than ten thousand women read FIREFLY LANE and then came together to talk about the book, their lives, and the importance of girl friends. I was lucky enough to attend one of the parties—I kind of crashed it, actually—and I had a great time. That's one of the best things about being a woman—the way we can share our lives and become friends in an instant.
2. I also see you are fan of American Idol. Ellen made her debut this week. What did you think?
LOL. This is a most unexpected question, and as a fan of popular culture, I'm happy to throw my opinion out there. The truth is that I was a huge fan of Paula Abdul. I loved the way she nurtured and coached and mentored the contestants, and I think it's going to be tough for anyone to step into her shoes, especially someone who is not a singer. Paula was able to bring something to the judging table that neither Simon nor Randy can: performing experience. Ellen is a fabulous performer and a brilliant, funny, insightful woman, and I hope she can become a kind of mentor for the kids. They get a lot of criticism. I think they need someone to actually help them perform better. I'll keep my fingers crossed that Ellen can do it. It's too early to tell yet.
3. What other shows do you regularly watch?
It's actually embarrassing to answer this question, but here goes: The Biggest Loser, Fringe, Lost, Brothers and Sisters, Project Runway, and Grey's Anatomy.
4. I know you, like most of us here, are a huge fan of reading. What are you reading now?
At the moment, I am just about to start reading an advance copy of Carlos Zafon's first novel. It's called THE PRINCE OF MIST. Don't know yet if it's any good, but his first adult novel, THE SHADOW OF THE WIND, is one of my all time favorite reads.
5. The last time we talked, TRUE COLORS was just being released. I see it has hit #5 on The New York Times bestseller list! Congrats! That must be a great feeling?
Thanks! And WINTER GARDEN debuted at #4! It is a really wonderful moment to hear that your book has hit the New York Times list. Writing is such a solitary pursuit that sometimes you wonder if anyone is reading your work and what they think of it. So, hitting bestseller lists definitely answers one of those questions. :) I've discovered recently that blogs and Facebook and book signings can tell a writer even more. I LOVE hearing from readers on my blog or on my Facebook fansite. It really encourages me to hear that my books inspire and/or entertain women.
6.Tell us about the fund you've started to help women battling breast cancer. How can we help?
Thank you so much for asking. As you know, IBC (inflammatory breast cancer) is a truly deadly disease that is often undetected for too long. Women simply haven't been taught to look for the symptoms, and oftentimes physicians make the same mistake. I knew when I began writing FIREFLY LANE that I wanted to use the book to let women know what to look for. I've been incredibly humbled and moved by the women who have told me that reading FIREFLY literally saved their lives. Because of those stories, and my own (I lost my mom to breast cancer), I decided to do more than simply write about the topic. I started the Firefly Fund to help raise money to educate women on IBC. Anyone who would like to join me in this effort can go to my website and contribute to the cause. Even a few dollars can make a difference. Also, I have a tribute wall on my site where people can list names of people they've lost to breast cancer.
http://www.kristinhannah.com/content/firefly_fund.php.
7. Tell us about your new book, WINTER GARDEN?
Ah, WINTER GARDEN. I'm asked about this book a lot, and honestly, I'm never quite sure what to say. On it's surface, this is a novel about two women who discover that their cold and distant mother has a secret past. But it's so much more than that. It's a complex family drama, an epic love story, and a historical novel all at once. I've written quite a few books, seventeen, I think, and I can easily say that Winter Garden is my favorite. It will be interesting to see if readers agree with me. :).
Read Kristin's February 2009 interview... |
