Author Interview: Joy Preble (Dreaming Anastasia)

I love reading SO much, but you know what else is way cool, getting the chance to interact with awesome authors! I know so many authors write as a sidejob to their main job, have children and other responsibilities and they still take time out to stop by and answer questions. Just amazing.

Anyways on to the interview!

Joining me today is Joy Preble, author of Dreaming Anastasia, which was released in September of 2009.

Q: You've been reading books your whole life, how does it feel to now have a published book that others are reading?
A: Honestly, sometimes it's a sort of out of body experience, but definitely that best experience ever! I'm sort of used to it now, but I'm not sure if you ever really get used to walking into a bookstore and seeing stacks of books with your name on them. Or to see yourself as a discussion topic on Goodreads or Yahoo! It takes some adjustment. But it's certainly an honor and a pleasure when people want to talk to me about Anne and Ethan. I love the idea that I have taken an idea from inception to publication and now other people get to share these characters with me in this way.


Q: Do you have a favorite character from your novel?
A: Really, I love them all - even rotten old Viktor has a soft spot in my heart. But I will say that Tess is one of the most enjoyable characters to write. She says what she thinks and doesn't have much of a filter so I find that both freeing and amusing. She's a great foil for Ethan in the sense that he is so locked inside himself sometimes and she just goes toe to toe with him - perhaps even more than Anne sometimes. That's great fun for me as a writer.

Q: Was there a particular piece of writing or author that piqued your interest in writing?
A: No one person or work in particular, but I have had a life long love affair with books and reading. I am a voracious reader, book talker, and huge fan girl of authors. That creative life has always drawn me in - it just took me awhile to realize that I could actually/should actually pursue writing books and not just magazine and newspaper pieces.

Q: Have anything in the works?
A: All sorts of stuff. Stay tuned for breaking news very soon, but let's just say that I don't think you've heard the last of Anne and Ethan and company. Also working on a novel set here in Texas that I describe as a story of love, faith, football and the redemptive power of a plate of double pecan waffles and hash browns. I hope everyone gets to see it someday.

Q: What are some of your favorite books/authors?
A: Too many to name, but I'll try. In the children's genre, I think Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle will always be my favorite, along with Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I love a lot of the old-fashioned kids' books - Five Little Peppers and How They Grew; Sydney Taylor's All of a Kind Family series. Love those! Currently, I'm just in awe of Suzanne Collins and her Hunger Games series. And I'm a fan of literary fiction, too - Anne Tyler's books and John Irving's - amazing! If you've never read The World According to Garp, you must absolutely promise that you will do so. It will change your life! And as for classics - I think Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is one of American lit's greatest works. Plus Michael Chabon! Have you read his books? He is a genius. I could go on and on. This is how much I love books. Sometimes someone will say to me "Oh, I don't read much" and I think, okay, but oh, what you are missing!

Silly Randomness:

Q: Summer or winter:
A: Winter. And this year in Houston, we actually had one. Complete with snow! Okay, not much snow. But there were actual flakes.

Q: Favorite tv show/movie?
A: Too many to name, but I will take a stand in the Whedonverse and say that Buffy the Vampire Slayer - seasons 1- 3 are my all time favorites. As for movies, I love too many to list. I'm definitely a sucker for sports movies and Christmas movies with happy endings. And comedies. Pretty much anything except real slasher films. Those just bore me. (sorry if you're reading this and you're a fan of the genre)

Q: Favorite social network?
A: Hmmm... Facebook has gotten kind of bossy lately; always asking me to friend someone or join something. So while that was my favorite, I think I'm edging toward team Twitter these days - which totally surprises me since I've only been tweeting since this summer and I had to be dragged into it kicking and screaming. But now I kind of like it. This probably means it's about to cease being where the cool kids hang. That's usually how it is for me. By the time I figure something out, everyone's moved on.

Q: Read books or listen to them?
A: Read.

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by Joy, I really appreciate it!! :)

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Well there you guys go! I pretty much ask authors the same thing with a few varying questions but if there's anything you would like me to ask from now on just email me your suggestions! Thanks!

Sherry <3