I’d like to welcome Juliet Chastain to my blog today. A little about Juliet:
As an ex-fashion photographer, Juliet Chastain says that, in a way, writing fiction is a lot like photography. She takes a few elements—models and clothes in photography, characters and setting in her writing—and makes them come alive in a compelling story.
And now t
o the interview….
What is the easiest part of writing for you? What is the hardest part?
There is no part I’d describe easy. The hardest is usually getting that first draft on paper. But once in a while magic happens and it practically writes itself.
Do you have any advice to aspiring writers?
Just go ahead and write as though you were talking to a friend. Don’t get tied up in knots trying to sound literary.
Name some of your favorite books.
Pride and Prejudice, the first Harry Potter, Moby Dick, anything by Jane Smiley
Do you have a writing regimen?
Get up in the morning, go for a walk and think about what I am going to write, come back, get something to eat and take it to the computer and fiddle with e-mail and generally try to avoid writing but eventually get to work. When I run out of steam in the writing department, I switch to revising and PR and the annoying must-dos of daily life
What are the perks of being an author?
You never have to wear uncomfortable clothes to work—in fact you can work in your pajamas if you want. Sometimes I skip my morning walk and get right to work in my pjs. And it’s fun imagining people from different times or cultures. I’ve been working on a series about Gypsies and I’ve learned so much about those rather mysterious people. Then there are totally imaginary creatures, like the man-wolf in Cry of the Wolf. I’m writing another story about him and the woman he loves in which he explores the difference between his animal and his human nature.
You are having a dinner party. You are able to invite one literary character, one president, one musician, one sports figure and one movie villain.
Literary Character: Elizabeth Bennet
President: Lincoln
Musician: John Lennon
Sports Figure: Jesse Owens
Movie Villain: the vampire Lestat (although I liked him better in the book)
Quickies:
Fuzzy socks or slippers? Neither. Flip flops—I live in Florida
What’s your favorite shape? round
Crayons, markers or paint? Paint
Spanish or French? French—I studied it for four years and have never been to France–yet
Word Association:
Writer: Madness. Oh dear, that was my first thought.
Cheese: wine. Crackers would be good too.
Bestseller: I wish
Supermarket: hatred and loathing. I hate shopping for food. Now clothes, that’s different!
Now you get to ask me a question:
How on earth do you find time to run this great blog you have? I drink a lot of coffee and stay up until ungodly hours of the night!! BTW, thank you for the compliment!
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer these questions!
And thank you—it was fun!
For the Love of a Gypsy Lass is Juliet’s latest book, from Breathless Press –
Blurb:
While trying to woo Gypsy singer Talaitha Grey, Lord Harry Beresford does everything wrong. Is her attraction to him strong enough that she can forgive him?
Lord Harry Beresford is used to having everything his way—that is, until he falls in love with Gypsy singer Talaitha Grey. Proud Talaitha is as unimpressed by his title as she is by his wealth, but can she fight her powerful attraction to the man behind those things?
breathlesspress.com/juliet chastain
Amazon.com/The-Captain-Courtesan
You can learn more about Juliet and her collection of out-of-the-ordinary heroes at julietchastain.com, and contact her at juliet@julietchastain.com or on Twitter or Facebook