Ask the Author: Nancy E. Blanton
Answered Questions (11)
Nancy E. Blanton
It would have to be down the rabbit hole into Alice's wonderland. I would just wander about with the Cheshire cat, hopefully be invited to a tea party, hang out with a few caterpillars, meet the queen, and just enjoy the surprises as they come. There is some scary stuff, some crazy adventures, some confusion, some fun, great beauty and marvelous wonder, but no terrible danger.
Nancy E. Blanton
Interesting question! How would you answer that one? Little is happening there, mostly because of my focus elsewhere. Our fundraiser is drawing many views but unfortunately no one is turning out. Hope things are going better for you!
Nancy E. Blanton
As I am researching my third novel, all of my reading this summer pertains to the 1637-1641 time period. I am reading biographies of the Countess of Carlisle and the Earl of Strafford, and CV Wedgwood's The King's Peace, about The Bishops War with Scotland. I am also reading Robert Wilton's Traitor's Field, a spy thriller from that time period.
Nancy E. Blanton
One is that I never knew my grandfather on my father's side, and wonder what his life may have been like. My sisters and I traced the family origins to a farm in northwest Tennessee, and I found my grandfather's small house near Nashville where he repaired furniture. I know there is a story there, but no one is left who can tell it. I could, one day, make it up.
Nancy E. Blanton
I love Diana Gabaldon's Claire and Jamie Fraser of the Outlander Series. Both are strong and distinct characters, they support each other, fight, have power struggles, unite in their goals, and maintain romantic spark. But I especially like their dialogue. It feels real, makes me laugh, touches my heart. Neither character is like anyone I have ever known, and yet they are believable.
Nancy E. Blanton
As a former journalist, I learned that when I was stuck it was because I did not yet have all the information. So for me, when I feel stuck I turn to my research and ask, what is it that I still need to know? Another solution is always a long walk. It clears the head and opens pathways for inspiration.
Nancy E. Blanton
For me, writing means I always have something interesting to do and do well. I am not into gardening or cooking, knitting or painting. I am drawn to stories, words and books. In addition to something to do, writing is also a place to go that always welcomes me with wonderful gifts.
Nancy E. Blanton
Right now I am working on a prequel to Sharavogue. Several of my readers told me they would be interested in learning about Elvy Burke's father, and how he came to be in such dire circumstances before Elvy was born. It has been fascinating to research this story, and occurs at the crux of some events that changed history.
Nancy E. Blanton
Write what you love, because you may be living with it for a long time. Writing can be difficult and discouraging, and when you want to quit you will find yourself framing sentences in your head when you are driving, walking, showering, whatever, and then you realize you are a writer whether you want to be or not. So write, and love it. If you spend much time worrying about getting published you will drive yourself crazy, so don't!
Nancy E. Blanton
Inspiration can come from anywhere -- a dream, a conversation, and image, a news article or another book, and so on. When I start researching a particular period of time, I usually have one or more characters in mind and the events of the time suggest what is about to happen and what the characters will do. I am also inspired by learning about historical people and things -- all research will take me down a path to something that fascinates me or that I needed to know.
Nancy E. Blanton
The idea for Sharavogue came from a phrase that I awoke with one morning and could not shake. The phrase was "snow path to Dingle" and because the feeling was so strong I began immediately researching what that phrase meant. I started in the obvious place, delving into the history of Dingle in Ireland. A brutal massacre occurred there that led me eventually to the march of Oliver Cromwell, and this is where Sharavogue begins. For a while "The Snow Path to Dingle" was my working title, and later it was moved to a chapter title.
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