I am so excited to introduce the latest author to tour my blog as part of the GCC, Allison Winn Scotch, whose second novel Time of My Life (released on October 7) has already garnered much well-deserved buzz. I had the pleasure of reading an advance review copy of Time of My Life this summer, and I could NOT put it down. I absolutely loved it, but don't take my word for it...People magazine called it "a clever, entertaining look at the compromises women make – and the dangers of getting what you asked for," and it's one of The Today Show's Top 10 Must-Reads for the Fall Season. Not only that, but The Weinstein Company just optioned film rights! *SWOON!*About the Book (From Publishers Weekly): "In her latest novel, Scotch tackles an oft-asked question—what if I had held on to the one that got away?—with an engaging, fast-moving, high-concept drama. Endearing Jillian Westfield seems to have it all: a loving lawyer husband, a healthy infant daughter, and a lovely home in Westchester County, N.Y. But cleaning spit-up and dealing with her husband's long office hours have begun to wear on Jill, and it hardly helps that she's just learned that her post-college boyfriend, Jackson, is getting married. The day after a deep, chi-clearing massage, Jill wakes up and finds herself seven years in the past, giving her the chance to revisit her life with Jack in Manhattan, when she worked as an advertising executive. Hindsight, of course, is anything but 20/20, and Jill's new choices hold unforeseen consequences for herself and those she loves. As Jill, through trial and error, rethinks her biggest decisions—such as her choice not to reconcile with her estranged mother—Scotch keeps one dexterous step ahead of page-flipping readers eager to guess the outcome."
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Love the premise, no? Allison is not only talented, she's also durn nice, as her answers to my question sampler platter reveal:
Love the premise, no? Allison is not only talented, she's also durn nice, as her answers to my question sampler platter reveal:
1) Now that you are published, what (if anything) have you changed about your writing routine?
Nothing, really. I still procrastinate as much as possible, and I still find it torturous to actually sit down and write! Okay, I guess something has changed, and that is that I write with more confidence because I actually think I know what I’m doing. So while the routine itself hasn’t changed much, the process behind it has, because I feel like now, I’m not just throwing something against the wall and seeing if it sticks. Now, whatever I write – since this is my second novel – had a good chance of ending up in a bookstore, which is both liberating and terrifying.
2) Do you listen to music while you write?
No. It’s funny: in college, I couldn’t write or do ANY work without music playing. I always either had my stereo or walkman on. (Walkman! Ha! That shows you how old I am.) But now, I find that I start listening to the lyrics and they block up my mind. I’m not capable of making up my own words while listening to someone else’s. In fact, I was just about to launch Napster while answering these questions, but decided against it because I thought it might throw me off. I dunno. Maybe I’m just getting old.
3) Have you found that as you've developed your writing and story telling skills, you watch movies or read books 'differently?'
Yes. Definitely. I have a very, very difficult time reading a book now for the pure pleasure of it. Don’t get me wrong – I read plenty of them. But as an author, I’m much likelier to examine them like a mortician might a body: I pick them over, examine the choices the author made, the dialogue, if I can assess where the plot is going, etc. I think it’s harder to surprise me now because I sort of know what goes on in a writer’s mind. Which isn’t meant to sound negative! I think that if you asked this same question of any author, he or she would tell you the same thing.
Nothing, really. I still procrastinate as much as possible, and I still find it torturous to actually sit down and write! Okay, I guess something has changed, and that is that I write with more confidence because I actually think I know what I’m doing. So while the routine itself hasn’t changed much, the process behind it has, because I feel like now, I’m not just throwing something against the wall and seeing if it sticks. Now, whatever I write – since this is my second novel – had a good chance of ending up in a bookstore, which is both liberating and terrifying.
2) Do you listen to music while you write?
No. It’s funny: in college, I couldn’t write or do ANY work without music playing. I always either had my stereo or walkman on. (Walkman! Ha! That shows you how old I am.) But now, I find that I start listening to the lyrics and they block up my mind. I’m not capable of making up my own words while listening to someone else’s. In fact, I was just about to launch Napster while answering these questions, but decided against it because I thought it might throw me off. I dunno. Maybe I’m just getting old.
3) Have you found that as you've developed your writing and story telling skills, you watch movies or read books 'differently?'
Yes. Definitely. I have a very, very difficult time reading a book now for the pure pleasure of it. Don’t get me wrong – I read plenty of them. But as an author, I’m much likelier to examine them like a mortician might a body: I pick them over, examine the choices the author made, the dialogue, if I can assess where the plot is going, etc. I think it’s harder to surprise me now because I sort of know what goes on in a writer’s mind. Which isn’t meant to sound negative! I think that if you asked this same question of any author, he or she would tell you the same thing.
4) What vacation would be most inspiring to you as a writer?
A combination of relaxation (on a beach) and rejuvenation with things like hiking, exercise, massages (though not one that sends me back 7 years!). I’ve discovered that my best ideas often come to me when I’m working out – it’s almost like my body gives my brain a chance to turn off and just roam free, and in some way, I’m able to tap into my creativity. So that would definitely be important for said vacation. I’d also need some time to just vegetate and catch up on my sleep! I guess the other option would be to explore an entirely different culture: travel to Asia or Africa, which I’d LOVE to do, but in terms of pure writing, to be honest, I really write about characters and issues that feel intrinsic to me…I’m not sure that my next book will be Out of Africa or whatnot, so while exploring new places and things is always good brain fodder, I don’t know if it would actually inspire a new book. But you never know. Hmmm, now that I’m thinking of it, maybe that’s just what I need!
5) What is one of your strangest / most quirky author experiences?
How lame am I? I don’t really have any strange experiences. Maybe my readers are just too normal? Ha! Gosh, I trying to think of something really quirky and fun, but…I got nuthin’. I do get a lot of random mail from my blog, but I wouldn’t call these people strange: just aspiring writers who want tips on how to make it in the biz. Actually, I think anyone is nuts to try to make it as a writer…so do these emails count?
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Thanks Allison! And now go buy yourself an early Christmas present: Time of My Life by Allison Winn Scotch.
I'm back with a new post on Halloween (there's a scary thought, huh?) And I might bring my little dog, too.
A combination of relaxation (on a beach) and rejuvenation with things like hiking, exercise, massages (though not one that sends me back 7 years!). I’ve discovered that my best ideas often come to me when I’m working out – it’s almost like my body gives my brain a chance to turn off and just roam free, and in some way, I’m able to tap into my creativity. So that would definitely be important for said vacation. I’d also need some time to just vegetate and catch up on my sleep! I guess the other option would be to explore an entirely different culture: travel to Asia or Africa, which I’d LOVE to do, but in terms of pure writing, to be honest, I really write about characters and issues that feel intrinsic to me…I’m not sure that my next book will be Out of Africa or whatnot, so while exploring new places and things is always good brain fodder, I don’t know if it would actually inspire a new book. But you never know. Hmmm, now that I’m thinking of it, maybe that’s just what I need!
5) What is one of your strangest / most quirky author experiences?
How lame am I? I don’t really have any strange experiences. Maybe my readers are just too normal? Ha! Gosh, I trying to think of something really quirky and fun, but…I got nuthin’. I do get a lot of random mail from my blog, but I wouldn’t call these people strange: just aspiring writers who want tips on how to make it in the biz. Actually, I think anyone is nuts to try to make it as a writer…so do these emails count?
~~~
Thanks Allison! And now go buy yourself an early Christmas present: Time of My Life by Allison Winn Scotch.
I'm back with a new post on Halloween (there's a scary thought, huh?) And I might bring my little dog, too.
I absolutely LOVED this book. It's such a fun read.
ReplyDeleteJunebug, I just finished this book. Loved it!!!
ReplyDeleteAllison just found out she hit the NYT Bestseller List--well-deserved!!! Congratulations, Allison! :)
ReplyDeleteOkay, my book club is actually reading this one in January! Yes, we'll print out your blog and pass it around.
ReplyDelete