Behind the Pen: with J.A. Saare (+giveaway)

I love interviews.  But I find the artists behind the stories equaling intriguing, and I think they deserve as much limelight as their characters. So here instead of a list of questions about the story, the plot, and the characters I ask authors the same 11 questions about themselves and hopefully get a glimpse behind the pen...

I recently read/devoured Dead, Undead, or Somewhere In Between and I instantly wanted to know more about the artist behind the story.  So, I was thrilled when Jaime agreed to answer my silly questionnaire.  If you're unfamiliar with the book you can read my review here. And because I enjoyed it so much, I'll be giving away a copy to one lucky commenter.  




Giveaway Details:

• US and CA only
• Your comment is your entry
• If you're a follower of the site you get an extra entry
• Book can be ebook or print...your pick
• Contest will end Sunday Nov 14th
• Winner will be announced here Monday Nov 15th so be sure to check back!

Q1: What is the last book you read?

Fallen by Lauren Kate. How can you possibly deny that beautiful cover?  Not to mention, fallen angels are the “in” thing and the book was a captivating read.  I have Torment here, waiting for time in my reading chair.  I’m interested to learn where things go.

Q2: If you were stuck on a desert island, what book would you like to have with you?

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.  It has become my favorite book.  The author writes in such a simplistic fashion, but the characters are written in such a way that you can’t let them go.  Though the title, Never Let Me Go, isn’t intended for a reader to take literally, that’s how the book is for me. I just can’t seem to let the damned thing go.

Q3: What is your favorite swear word?

Any variation of the versatile word fuck.  Fuck me.  Fucking hell.  Fucking shit. I’m fucked. If I can apply it into a sentence, I often do.  If my brood picks up on my poor language skills, they are going to make the Osbournes look like the Cleavers.

Q4: What is your biggest pet-peeve?

Mean people.  We live in a world where there is already so much hate being spread around. Why add to that?  I’m a tad snarky here and there, but I’d never intentionally do something to hurt someone else.  I don’t understand why some people feel the need to tear others down.

Q5: What quality do you most like in a man?

A quirky sense of humor.  My poor husband has to have that or he couldn’t deal with me. *grin*  I think that’s why we have what we do with each other.  I can say something totally off the wall, and he’ll come back with something I don’t expect.  It keeps things interesting.

Q6: What quality do you most like in a woman?

Compassion.  By design, many women are nurturers.  The world needs more of that.

Q7: What profession, other than your own, would you like to attempt?

That’s a toughie!  Originally I wanted to become a teacher.  Now I think I’d like to do something to entertain.  Perhaps theater.  Oddly enough, I’m embarrassingly uncomfortable at being the center of attention, so maybe I should consider doing something else -- like being a door greeter at Wal-Mart or something.  I worked in an adult video store in college and enjoyed it very much, so maybe I could work in a video store.  I love talking movies with people (or just talking to people in general).

Boy, don’t I sound ambitious?

Q8: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I’d love to travel and visit other places, especially Italy as my husband is Italian and has family there, but as far as living somewhere, I think I’ll stick with Alabama.  I was born here, love it here, and can’t envision myself anywhere else.  Boring, I know, but this is my home, and I don’t have any inclination to leave.

Q9: What inspires you?

My children, cornball as that sounds.  I never knew what it meant to truly love, fear, or care for something more than myself until they were born.  They serve as a constant reminder that there can be good in the face of bad, and even when I’m gone, a part of me will remain. 

Q10: If you could be one person (dead or alive) for a day who would you be?

Edgar Allen Poe.  I would love to delve into his mind for a day, although I’m fairly certain I might be disturbed at what I found.  He seemed to be such a complex man, and I would have loved to know more about his method.

Q11: Mac or PC?

As much as I wish I was a cool “Mac” person, I own and love my PC.  I’m not very good with technology and the way Mac is designed and works frightens me. ;-)

Thanks so much for having me on the blog! It was great to visit and chat with you!