Olaf Olafsson's Blog, page 2
June 13, 2012
Getting to Know the Author: Part II
Q: Apart from writing novels, you have a successful business career. What do you do? A: I run what’s called corporate strategy and international strategy at Time Warner. My job is just like it sounds: my colleagues and I work on strategies that help Time Warner at home and abroad. It’s not the creation of ...
June 7, 2012
Getting to Know the Author: Part I
Q: What is your writing schedule? A: During weekdays I write mostly from around 6 to 8:30 in the morning. I used to write from the evening and into the night, but years ago I switched to mornings. At night I might do some research or make notes, but for a first draft I prefer ...
May 31, 2012
When in Tuscany
Q: Food is one of the great pleasures enjoyed by your characters in Restoration. Are you a fan of Tuscan cuisine? A: You can’t go wrong having a meal in Tuscany. The food is wonderful, in any little place, on or off the beaten track. Tuscan and Mediterranean cuisine is my favorite kind, so it ...
May 23, 2012
Restoration and the Art Trade
Q: Restoration gives readers a glimpse of the covert Nazi art trade in Florence. Did you learn much about this world before writing the novel? A: The Nazi plan to loot masterpieces during the war was far more extensive than I ever would have guessed. In my research, I learned that these acquisitions numbered in ...
May 16, 2012
The Inspiration for Restoration
Q: How did you know you wanted to write Restoration? A: Inspiration is always something of a mystery. You never know why a person is productive at one point or dries up at another. It’s something I experience as a writer all the time. When I finish a book, I usually go through what I ...
May 15, 2012
Thank you
I would like to take a moment to say thank you for all of the wonderful responses I’ve received from readers since the publication of Restoration. Over the next few weeks, I will be answering more questions about the novel; if you have any thoughts you’d like to share about the story or questions that ...
March 16, 2012
Audio Excerpts from Restoration
Since the publication of my newest novel last month, friends have recorded a number of audio excerpts from Restoration. I'd like to share them with you here. Click on the links below to listen: On the Front Line Train From Rome Alice and Connor The Blue Coat The Painting Part 1 The Painting Part 2 ...
February 10, 2012
The Nervous Breakdown: Interview with Olaf
The Nervous Breakdown's Marc Vincenz recently sat down with Olaf for a conversation about the newly-published Restoration and the history that informs this novel. Olaf also discusses his writing habits, literary influences, the art of balancing creative work with his daily work (as Executive Vice President of Time Warner) and much more. Read the full interview here http://www.thenervousbreakdown.com/mv....
February 7, 2012
Restoration: In Stores Today
I am pleased to announce that Restoration is now available in stores! Set in the hills of Tuscany in the 1940s, my newest novel is centered around a pair of love triangles and a forged Caravaggio. For more information about the novel, or to read reviews, check out HarperCollins' page about the book. http://www.harpercollins.com/books/Re... And I enjoy hearing from ...
January 18, 2012
Restoration – Inspiration from the diaries of Iris Origo
Q: The historical context for Restoration draws on the life of Iris Origo. Who was she? A: Iris Origo was born into a wealthy family and grew up in Florence. She was groomed for high society life in England and the U.S., but in her early twenties she left that life behind to marry a ...
