Bonnie Ferrante – Speed Date Interview
You the Readers are the Interviewers. Here is your chance to get answers to the questions you always wanted to ask your favorite Authors. Authors will be coming into the blog for a Speed Date Interview. They will only be there one day and you can only ask them two questions.
Pull up a chair, put on your best smile and make the best impression of yourself.
Personal and inappropriate questions may not be answered at the Author’s discretion.
Ask an Author two questions and be entered to win in our monthly giveaway. You could win a package of free reads from the RJ book vault. We will be asking Authors to select the best question they were asked on the day they day they posted on the blog. We will also be picking random winners from the general questions.
Once the Speed Date interview is done the Interview staff will be going in and selecting a group of questions and answer to post on the RJ Authors Interview Webpage.
http://www.romancejunkiesreviews.com/artman/publish/interviews.shtml
Blurb for Dawn’s End Betrayed by her fiancé, Nicole Newman has put her love life on hold. She loses herself in fantasy, becoming isolated and despondent. When a voice from the woods identifies himself as the man of her dreams and asks for her help, Nicole is unsure whether she being stalked or about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. Who, or what, is this mysterious being?
Dawn’s End, a place of simplicity and goodness, is being overcome by a gruesome darkness. Possessing bits of information, Nicole and the dark man are told they must complete the quest before Nightfall becomes permanent. How far can she trust this not-quite-human? Can they save a world, possibly two, when Nicole isn’t sure she can save herself?
BIO
Bonnie Ferrante writes fiction and non-fiction for young people. Her fantasy romance novel, Dawn’s End was released May 30, 2011. (The sequel, Dawn’s End: Poisoned will be released within the month.) Gordon Korman selected her story The Amida Tree as a winner in a 2010 NOWW writing contest. Also, her story on bullying was chosen by Anne Coleman. She has been published in the YA anthologies Many Cultures, Many Voices: Collection Two, Takes, and Close Ups: Best Stories for Teens. Her work has appeared in various children’s and adult magazines and anthologies. She wrote for a regional newspaper for three years and her work is posted on CBCNews.ca.
Bonnie loves living in Northern Ontario, Canada even though she spends most of the long winter indoors writing. She chants, bikes, gardens, reads, stitches, volunteers, studies the Dharma, paints, plays/works on the computer, attends live theatre, enjoys being trounced in scrabble by her husband, Fred, and is often found ripping up pieces of her yard or stripping furniture. She hates cooking and cleaning and loves her robot vacuum, (too bad it can’t move the furniture). Her son, stepsons, and extended family keep her young. Once upon a time, she was a grade school teacher. She has entirely too much imagination and not enough opportunity to indulge it.
Have you checked out my 2 minute promo video yet? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Or8GHBuea8
Buy Dawn’s End at https://www.nobleyoungadult.com/Books/291 or at the Amazon Kindle store.
Visit my site at http://my.tbaytel.net/bonnieheather/index.htm
August 20th, 2011 at 6:41 am
Good morning everyone. It’s a sunny morning here in Thunder Bay but we’re expecting rain, thunder and lightening this afternoon. Here’s hoping the power doesn’t go off when I’m answering questions. I’m looking forward to sharing ideas with you.
August 20th, 2011 at 6:43 am
Oh, great first impression. I spelling lightning wrong. ;-(
August 20th, 2011 at 6:55 am
Hi Bonne, I live in Southern Ontario, near Kitchener..We already had the power go out here and the storm is not where near. Just one of those flukey power outages…
What has your summer in been like.. have you done anything fun and exciting?
Is there another genre you would like to try writing?
August 20th, 2011 at 7:10 am
My summer has been focused on my family and gardening/landscaping. My newest project, making a cobblestone area for a fireplace is going to extend into next year. It takes a long time to find exactly the right rocks.
Because our winters are so long, we have recently decided to take our vacation trips then. I like to be here for the short summers.
I love writing romance and fantasy. However, I just finished a heavily researched historical novel (but a touch of fantasy crept in there as well). I have several other ideas buzzing around.
August 20th, 2011 at 9:12 am
what is the most interesting thing you learned since becoming an writter.
August 20th, 2011 at 10:39 am
Hmm, that question can be taken different ways.
I learned a great deal about history when researching.
I’ve learned that the publishing industry is in a great deal of flux and it is difficult to predict where it is headed, which makes decisions about submissions a little tricky. I’ve also learned that the writer has little control over the book once it leaves her hands.
I’ve learned a lot about how I see and interpret the world and how difficult that can be to put into words.
August 20th, 2011 at 11:28 am
You mentioned a lot of extra curricular activities – name something you would like to do that you haven’t (as yet)?
If you could visit anywhere, where would it be?
August 20th, 2011 at 11:43 am
One history fact that I learned was that England did not burn their witches, as I assumed. They hanged them. Heretics were burned at the stake.
August 20th, 2011 at 11:50 am
Hi Catslady,
I just realized I should be addressing the person who poses the question. I’m learning as I’m doing.
And the questions – You mentioned a lot of extra curricular activities – name something you would like to do that you haven’t (as yet)?
Extra-curricular activities. . . . Well, unfortunately, I’ve been restricted for the last few years by a medical problem with my feet so, although I’ve always wanted to climb a pyramid, that’s not going to happen. However, I really, really want to sail over the countryside in a hot air balloon. Flying is the coolest. I love airplanes and helicopters but I suspect a balloon would be a different sensation. More natural. Quiet. I’ve always wanted to try sailing on a small boat and had the chance this winter at a Punta Cana resort to use a small catamaran. Even though I got a fierce sunburn, I loved it!
I’ve dabbled with painting, which I love, but find spatially challenging. I would love, however, to illustrate one of my unpublished children’s books and get it out there.
Question two will be in a second post.
August 20th, 2011 at 11:57 am
If you could visit anywhere, where would it be?
Wow, there are soooo many places I would like to see. Unfortunately, some, like India, I would want to be traveling first class and that’s out of my reach.
There are many places in the Far East I find fascinating. I’d especially like to see the wide variety of Buddhist monasteries and statues. I’d like to go to Plum Village where Thich Nhat Hahn’s follwers stay. Burma would be fascinating as would Tibet.
I’m currently saving my airmiles for a trip to Mexico. I hope to go when the humpback whales are migrating.
Jamaica sounds cool. I’d like to go on a Caribbean cruise.
Scotland interests me, especially if I could find the places my ancestors lived.
In Canada, I’d like to see Alberta (Edmonton’s the gigantic mall) and the Prehistoric Dinosaur Park, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Quebec City.
August 20th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
How did you react when you sold your first manuscript? Did it happen right away or did you receive lots of rejections?
August 20th, 2011 at 12:36 pm
My writing evolved in trickles. A short story published here, a kid’s story there, even the occasional poem. Then two stories were selected for a regional anthology. There was a huge launch and a big fuss. I had been writing a humor column for the paper and some fans showed up for the book launch. That was really cool.
I did, and still do, receive dozens of rejections. The market has become tighter since I started writing. With so many free sites, it is harder for a writer to sell her work.
I stopped writing for several years due to other demands in my life but now it is my full-time obsession. Rejections are never easy to take, but it is probably more difficult now that writing is my major focus. The most frustrating thing is form rejections. I just want a HINT as to why it didn’t sell.
As well, responses as slower than ever. Ironic, since many are submitted via email.
My first book, DAWN’S END, has gone through numerous rewrites and three major plot changes over several years. I have to admit that the first versions I sent out did not deserve to be published But, I’ve very happy with what was.
I suppose it’s good that success is coming little by little. My mother used to say, “Nothing worthwhile is easy.” and I think she was right. Rejections just make me work harder. I’ve had to work extremely hard for everything in my life, so I don’t expect becoming a successful writer will be any different.
August 20th, 2011 at 12:37 pm
Oops, forgot to say, thanks for the question Carol M. Also, if you are experiencing rejections, don’t despair. Just keep learning and improving and trying.
August 20th, 2011 at 12:46 pm
Thanks, Bonnie! I’m not a writer but I sometimes wonder how long a person will keep trying to get published before they give up. I think the way it happened with you is good. You know you can do it and you keep trying without thinking about quitting.
August 20th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
Several times I have read that it takes about ten years for a writer to reach their potential. There is also the new theory that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to perfect a skill. So, it might be a good idea for young writers (or artists of any kind) to analyse how many hours they have spent practising their art before they give in to frustration.
Good question Carol.
I’m dashing off to pick up family but will be anxious to see what wonderful new questions will be waiting when I get back.
August 20th, 2011 at 6:53 pm
How do you make your character click together and bring them alive?
Do you bring your everyday life object into a story I mean a pet or etc?
Lisa
August 20th, 2011 at 7:09 pm
Hi Lisa,
How do you make your character click together and bring them alive?
I hope I don’t come off as totally wacky when I say that I have conversations in my head, sometimes even out loud. I think in dialogue. It’s like I’m watching a play in my head. Sometimes, I will have a plot but the characters will take over and start interacting in ways I didn’t expect. If they start to deviate too much from my plan, I have to reassess who they are. I may have to recreate the character so that they will do what I want. More often, they lead me somewhere better than my original idea. So, I just go with it.
I will use pets to get a good grip on how they would behave in a situation, places I’ve visited that suit the plot line, and so on. However, dreams, imagination, and daydreams play a big part in fantasy novels.
Thanks for the question.
August 20th, 2011 at 7:19 pm
Hi Bonnie, it’s really great to see a Canadian author. I hope you’re enjoying the summer and getting in plenty of biking and gardening time.
1. You have been a school teacher and now a writer. Do you find any similarities between the two professions?
2. Which comes easier for you, writing fiction or non-fiction books and why?
Have a great weekend
August 20th, 2011 at 7:41 pm
Hi Na,
1. You have been a school teacher and now a writer. Do you find any similarities between the two professions?
What an interesting question.
I did a lot of writing as a teacher. Often, there were not enough materials to teach the curriculum so I had to research and create reading level appropriate materials. I also love drama and wrote plays for my school club.
As a teacher, I had to see the students’ point-of-view in order to understand how to help them. I believe that has helped me put myself inside my characters’ heads.
As a grade school teacher, I usually worked nights, weekends, and holidays in order to provide the best learning experience possible for my students. I was organized and set my standards high. This has helped me with greatly with my writing. I’m used to working long hours independently.
As a teacher-librarian, I valued researching and have used this with fiction and nonfiction. I’ve worked with teachers and students of all ages in a variety of ways. I learned how to compromise and encourage others. This helps when working with an editor.
Writing fiction is more fun for me; it feels more self-indulgent. However, I tend to become more attached to my story and sometimes have difficulty letting go. Writing nonfiction, however, can be fascinating. I love learning new things.
Although the mechanical skills are similar in writing fiction and nonfiction, fiction uses the imaginative side of my brain while nonfiction requires more organized, linear thinking.
So, which is easier – I think it depends on my mood or the point I am in the work I’m creating.
Thanks for the question. I made me think about something I hadn’t before.
August 22nd, 2011 at 6:53 am
Great promo video! Very nicely done.
How do you choose your characters’ names?
If you could blink your eyes and fix one thing in the world, what would it be?
~Lindy
August 22nd, 2011 at 3:40 pm
Hi Lindy,
Thanks for the comment about my promo. It’s the first time I’ve done something like that. I hope to have the promo for the sequel up soon.
How do I choose my characters’ names? First, I decide what sound I want my culture to have and try to choose from a similar culture by using baby name books and on-line baby name sites. I’m a big believer in the meaning of names, so the name has to suit my character in sound and meaning. Then I look over the names I have chosen and see how they relate to each other. Do they rhyme, start with the same letter, or have similar spellings? If so, I will change one or all. Then I try reading them out loud in a sentence. If they are awkward to say, I’ll change them again. Sometimes, even when I am happy, something will come up in the news or another book that will convince me to change them again. I do the same thing with terms. For example, in Dawn’s End, Larina was Alaric Morrel’s cullen, but when the Twilight series came out, I changed it to calia.
If I could blink my eyes and fix one thing in the world, what would it be? I would change people’s inability to see beyond their cravings. Desires based on insecurity are at the root of over-consumption, violence, discrimination, just about everything damaging to the earth and to our psyches.
Caio,
Bonnie
September 8th, 2011 at 4:40 pm
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May 25th, 2012 at 12:01 am
What a great list. How did you get that on your blog?