Interview with Kelly Simmons
October, 2009
Kelly Simmons
SS: How would you describe your life in only 8 words?
KS: packed with words, friends, fur, and very dirty laundry
SS: What is your motto or maxim?
KS: when the croutons are gone, the salad is finished
SS: How would you describe perfect happiness?
KS: a cup of coffee and three laps: one for a computer, one for a child, and one for a cat
SS: What’s your greatest fear?
KS: the plot of STANDING STILL is my greatest fear
SS: If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you choose to be?
KS: other than the fantasy of having three laps, I would probably go to Rome and have pizza at an outdoor cafe
SS: With whom in history do you most identify?
KS: the suffragettes. i have bone-deep, ancestral female anger
SS: Which living person do you most admire?
KS: oh man, this is the part where I have to remember whose alive and whose dead . . .
SS: What are your most overused words or phrases?
KS: "that is totally unprecedented"
SS: What do you regret most?
KS: i have only slight regret for my wasted, and I do mean wasted, youth.
SS: If you could acquire any talent, what would it be?
KS: I wish I could sing
SS: What is your greatest achievement?
KS: perseverance
SS: What’s your greatest flaw?
KS: i have many flaws, but fortunately, a great deal of forgiveness
SS: What’s your best quality?
KS: i understand, and empathize, with every human condition
SS: If you could be any person or thing, who or what would it be?
KS: i am extremely happy inhabiting a human female form, but having thinner thighs would be nice
SS: What trait is most noticeable about you?
KS: the ability to find humor in even the sickest situation
SS: Who is your favorite fictional hero?
KS: gatsby
SS: Who is your favorite fictional villain?
KS: honestly, i prefer heroes
SS: If you could meet any historical character, who would it be and what would you say to him or her?
KS: Jesus, don't tell me you made man first. I don't buy it.
SS: What is your biggest pet peeve?
KS: whistling
SS: If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your days, what would it be?
KS: potato chips
SS: What is your birthdate?
KS: 8/22
SS: What were your previous occupations?
KS: journalist, advertising creative director
SS: What was/is your favorite job?
KS: feeding pureed apricots to happy babies
SS: Where did you go to high school and/or college?
KS: Waukegan High School. College dropout. Kids, don't try this at home
SS: Name of your favorite composer or music artist?
KS: Aimee Mann
SS: What is your favorite movie?
KS: Sophie's Choice
SS: What is your favorite television show?
KS: 30 Rock
SS: Who are your favorite authors?
KS: John Irving, Anne Beattie, Jane Hamilton, Mary Gaitskill, F. Scott Fitzgerald
SS: What are your 5 favorite books of all time?
KS: don't make me choose
SS: Is there a book you love to reread?
KS: The Great Gatsby
SS: Do you have one sentence of advice for new writers?
KS: If you write a lot, think more. If you think a lot, write more.
SS: What comment do you hear most often from your readers?
KS: "I love your descriptions." and "I love your short chapters."
Get more on Kelly Simmons at SimonandSchuster.com
Kelly Simmons
Quick Start
SS: How would you describe your life in only 8 words?
KS: packed with words, friends, fur, and very dirty laundry
SS: What is your motto or maxim?
KS: when the croutons are gone, the salad is finished
What Readers want to know...
SS: How would you describe perfect happiness?
KS: a cup of coffee and three laps: one for a computer, one for a child, and one for a cat
SS: What’s your greatest fear?
KS: the plot of STANDING STILL is my greatest fear
SS: If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you choose to be?
KS: other than the fantasy of having three laps, I would probably go to Rome and have pizza at an outdoor cafe
SS: With whom in history do you most identify?
KS: the suffragettes. i have bone-deep, ancestral female anger
SS: Which living person do you most admire?
KS: oh man, this is the part where I have to remember whose alive and whose dead . . .
SS: What are your most overused words or phrases?
KS: "that is totally unprecedented"
SS: What do you regret most?
KS: i have only slight regret for my wasted, and I do mean wasted, youth.
SS: If you could acquire any talent, what would it be?
KS: I wish I could sing
SS: What is your greatest achievement?
KS: perseverance
SS: What’s your greatest flaw?
KS: i have many flaws, but fortunately, a great deal of forgiveness
SS: What’s your best quality?
KS: i understand, and empathize, with every human condition
SS: If you could be any person or thing, who or what would it be?
KS: i am extremely happy inhabiting a human female form, but having thinner thighs would be nice
SS: What trait is most noticeable about you?
KS: the ability to find humor in even the sickest situation
SS: Who is your favorite fictional hero?
KS: gatsby
SS: Who is your favorite fictional villain?
KS: honestly, i prefer heroes
SS: If you could meet any historical character, who would it be and what would you say to him or her?
KS: Jesus, don't tell me you made man first. I don't buy it.
SS: What is your biggest pet peeve?
KS: whistling
SS: If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your days, what would it be?
KS: potato chips
General Questions
SS: What is your birthdate?
KS: 8/22
SS: What were your previous occupations?
KS: journalist, advertising creative director
SS: What was/is your favorite job?
KS: feeding pureed apricots to happy babies
SS: Where did you go to high school and/or college?
KS: Waukegan High School. College dropout. Kids, don't try this at home
SS: Name of your favorite composer or music artist?
KS: Aimee Mann
SS: What is your favorite movie?
KS: Sophie's Choice
SS: What is your favorite television show?
KS: 30 Rock
Questions About Books and Writing
SS: Who are your favorite authors?
KS: John Irving, Anne Beattie, Jane Hamilton, Mary Gaitskill, F. Scott Fitzgerald
SS: What are your 5 favorite books of all time?
KS: don't make me choose
SS: Is there a book you love to reread?
KS: The Great Gatsby
SS: Do you have one sentence of advice for new writers?
KS: If you write a lot, think more. If you think a lot, write more.
SS: What comment do you hear most often from your readers?
KS: "I love your descriptions." and "I love your short chapters."
Get more on Kelly Simmons at SimonandSchuster.com
