Friday 15 June 2012

Friday interview with Joanne Faries

Today, Joanne Faries has popped over to be bombarded with questions. I met Joanne during the A-Z Challenge where she blogged about a wide variety of things, including Guns N Roses, jellyfish and opium!

Welcome to my blog, Joanne... I hope you're ready... 
 
What’s the best thing about being a writer? 
Saying, "I'm a writer" without stammering over the words, and having a book (My Zoo World) to prove it.

And the worst?   
Rejection is still difficult at times, especially when I think a piece was perfect for a publication. I sent them my little gem, and they tossed it in the trash. But I do re-polish and send out again.

What’s your writing routine like? Do you have one?  
I have no routine. Just when I think I'll have a writing day, plans change. I do try to jot down thoughts at any time to spur me on when I do plop in front of the computer.  

What are you working on at the moment?  
I have several poems in various stages of disarray. I'm also working on a new collection of humorous essays - tentative title is Athletic Antics. 

Why do you write?   
I like to make people laugh, and enjoy the word play.  

What inspires you?   
Nature for poetry. Peoples' stories and real life situations for fiction. I expand and exaggerate from teensy actions. My co-workers are a constant source of crazy.

Do you have a day job?  
I'm a documentation specialist for an aerospace testing lab, and work 3-4 days a week. We test processes, and as my boss says, "Get to break things, rust things, and test boundaries." 

Why did you start blogging?  
In theory, to promote my "platform" and all of that "What you should do to be successful stuff."  I'm lousy at promotion, butI found I enjoyed the blog for myself, I try to keep it steered toward writing, and often it's a warm-up exercise. 

Has it helped or hindered your writing?   
I'm fortunate that I don't have to make a living at writing. That pressure stressed and sucked the life out of creative aspects.  The blog is an outlet. I also write a movie review column for the sheer joy of writing - it combines my love of movies and of putting pen to paper. My husband's aunt distributes The Little Paper of San Saba and I contribute whenever and whatever I want. It's a town without a cinema, so readers are at my mercy. I review blockbusters, artsy flicks, and I feature What's in Your Queue? Those are my Netflix choices - fave recommendation right now is Portlandia. 
Thanks so much for being here today, Joanne.
Thanks for having me. I enjoyed meeting you through the A-to-Z Challenge.

Joanne blogs at Word Splash
You can find her book - My Zoo World - on Amazon here!


My Zoo World is a humorous memoir of animal encounters with a twist. Among published animal tales, very few are skewed with a touch of fear and laughter on every page. Unlike books written by pet-loving authors, these chapters introduce the reader to a manic menagerie of animals: a snapping Shetland pony, a bowling ball playing pit bull, and a terrified turtle that tolerates distress. Meet Benji, the cat, Muff, the dog, and more. Friends are convinced they can overcome Joanne’s concerns with their precious pets. Join them and root for the animals as you read My Zoo World.

30 comments:

  1. Lovely interview! I definitely agree that it is cool to be able to say "I'm a writer" without feeling weird about it lol!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree too - although I missed the opportunity a couple of days ago and mentioned my day job instead!

      Delete
  2. Great interview! I find it interesting where authors find inspiration. We all find it in different places and in different situations. I'm like you, I find a lot in the people around me. I love to watch people (sounds creepy, huh? LOL).

    Michelle :)
    www.michelle-pickett.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not creepy at all - people-watching is a writer's staple!

      Delete
  3. Thanks Annalisa for having me. Just awoke in Texas to a rainy day. Hope everyone has a great writing/reading weekend

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great interview! I love hearing about other people's writing and blogging experiences.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why people start blogging always fascinates me, mostly because I can't really remember why I did!

      Delete
  5. I'm lousy at promotion as well, so I just stick to fun on my blog. Athletic Antics sounds interesting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And yet there can't be many bloggers who don't know your name, Alex :-)

      Delete
  6. It's always informative to read an author's perspective. I especially like the silly-fun subtitle "If all Dogs Go to Heaven..." Thanks, Annalisa and Joanne.

    xoRobyn

    ReplyDelete
  7. I appreciate the nice positive comments from your blog fans. Very encouraging. The rain stopped and now it's quite hot (93 or so F) and humid. Typical Texas. Again, thanks so much.

    ReplyDelete
  8. This business of blog interviews fascinates me - do you do your own blog as well as filling someone else's? How do people find interviewees? Does anyone interview the dustman or the dentist or is it always other writers?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I asked for people to volunteer to be interviewed, and I also approached a couple that I wanted to interview. As this is a writing blog, I'd probably mostly interview people that other writers would want to know about.

      But in a few weeks time, I'll be interviewing a reviewer!

      I'm sure, on your blog, you could interview anyone you think your readers would find interesting.

      Delete
  9. 'And the worst?
    Rejection is still difficult at times, especially when I think a piece was perfect for a publication. I sent them my little gem, and they tossed it in the trash. But I do re-polish and send out again.'

    This made me all gooey, inside ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was watching an Ian Rankin interview and he said something similiar of writing the perfect novel, and then realising it isn't perfect as soon as anyone else reads it (his agent, editor etc).

      Delete
  10. I'm another fan of the 'expand and exaggerate' approach.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Interesting questions and equally interesting answers. It's good to get other's perspective on writing and blogging.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Rek - I'm still practising this interviewing lark. It's harder than it looks!

      Delete
  12. Really interesting! I love hearing about the things that inspire other writers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too! It always makes me feel like I'm doing it right :-)

      Delete
  13. Great interview. I hope to be able to one day be able to say, "I'm a writer," without stammering over the words.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm going to try it the very next time someone asks me what I do... if I don't chicken out!

      Delete
  14. I love this interview. I relate to the not making plans to write. If you do they're sure to go awry. All the best Joanne. D.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love writing for that very reason - it's so flexible.

      Delete
  15. Great learning more about you, Joanne. It's nice to be able to write for fun and without pressure. You are in a good position in your writing life.


    Lee
    Tossing It Out

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great interview. An aerospace testing lab? Wow, that sounds like a cool place to work in:)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Love the sound of your day job. It's taken me a long time to be able to say "I'm a writer" too. I suspect that men writers don't have the same problem but I'm not sure why.

    ReplyDelete

Please comment - I love a good chat!

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.