Andrea Hurst's Blog - Posts Tagged "inspiration"
Q&A with Andrea On Writing
Curious about Andrea's writing process?
Earlier this year, Andrea answered questions about her debut novel The Guestbook. Check it out below!
Q: Can you tell us something interesting about your writing process?
A: My process has been different for each book, but there is always one main event that inspires the story and everything moves from there.
My latest book came from a dream. It inspired the characters, and with this novel, the main protagonist, Cathy, just started talking to me in first-person present tense and told me her story in 42,000 words. After that, I filled in the story through research, world-building, and some personal memories.
Q: What part of the writing process is the easiest/hardest for you?
A: Writing the first draft, when everything is flowing and I don’t have to engage my left brain as much, is easier. The hardest part for me is anything that requires precise detail work, such as line editing.
Q: Who is your favorite character (that you’ve written)?
A: Cheesy as it sounds, that’s like choosing a favorite child. I spend months, sometimes years, with each character, and each is special in his or her own way.
Q: Is there anything you’re working on now?
A: I’ve just completed a draft of my new women’s fiction novel, Always with You, which takes place in the 1970s on the Russian River in California. I describe it as Bridges of Madison County meets Ghost with a twist.
I’m also working on the second book in my Madrona Island Series, Tea and Comfort, which features Kyla, the mysterious and beautiful tealeaf reader and herbalist.
Q: Where did the idea for your book come from?
A: A few years ago, I was at the Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast on Whidbey Island with a good friend. Every spare moment she got, she was reading entries in their guestbook. Finally, I asked he what was so fascinating, and she said that she loved hearing about other people’s lives, experiences, loves, and adventures. In that moment, the story just took hold of me and never let go.
Q: Are any of the characters inspired by someone in real life?
A: Yes. The elderly sisters, Betty and Shirley, who live next door to Lily, are based on some very dear friends. All the other characters are fictitious, but have qualities of people I have known.
Q: Do you follow a writing schedule, or just write whenever you get the chance?
A: Every Wednesday, I go down the Coupeville Pier and join the group of writers at a coffee house that overlooks Penn Cove. We call ourselves Just Write. Writing can be very isolating, and I find the company of other writers to be very supportive.
The rest of the week, I try to write as many days as possible around my busy schedule as a literary agent, developmental editor, and instructor.
Q: Do you listen to music while you write, or do you prefer quiet?
A: I really prefer quiet when I’m writing, but I enjoy music when I’m thinking and imagining the book.
Q: If you could jump in to any book and live there, which book would you choose?
A: I wouldn’t mind living in my first book of the Madrona Island Trilogy, The Guestbook. Lily lives in a beautiful bed and breakfast with the love of her life, wonderful friends, and great food. Who could ask for more?
Find the original March 2013 interview on The Twigasm here:
http://thetwigasm.blogspot.com/2013/0...
Earlier this year, Andrea answered questions about her debut novel The Guestbook. Check it out below!
Q: Can you tell us something interesting about your writing process?
A: My process has been different for each book, but there is always one main event that inspires the story and everything moves from there.
My latest book came from a dream. It inspired the characters, and with this novel, the main protagonist, Cathy, just started talking to me in first-person present tense and told me her story in 42,000 words. After that, I filled in the story through research, world-building, and some personal memories.
Q: What part of the writing process is the easiest/hardest for you?
A: Writing the first draft, when everything is flowing and I don’t have to engage my left brain as much, is easier. The hardest part for me is anything that requires precise detail work, such as line editing.
Q: Who is your favorite character (that you’ve written)?
A: Cheesy as it sounds, that’s like choosing a favorite child. I spend months, sometimes years, with each character, and each is special in his or her own way.
Q: Is there anything you’re working on now?
A: I’ve just completed a draft of my new women’s fiction novel, Always with You, which takes place in the 1970s on the Russian River in California. I describe it as Bridges of Madison County meets Ghost with a twist.
I’m also working on the second book in my Madrona Island Series, Tea and Comfort, which features Kyla, the mysterious and beautiful tealeaf reader and herbalist.
Q: Where did the idea for your book come from?
A: A few years ago, I was at the Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast on Whidbey Island with a good friend. Every spare moment she got, she was reading entries in their guestbook. Finally, I asked he what was so fascinating, and she said that she loved hearing about other people’s lives, experiences, loves, and adventures. In that moment, the story just took hold of me and never let go.
Q: Are any of the characters inspired by someone in real life?
A: Yes. The elderly sisters, Betty and Shirley, who live next door to Lily, are based on some very dear friends. All the other characters are fictitious, but have qualities of people I have known.
Q: Do you follow a writing schedule, or just write whenever you get the chance?
A: Every Wednesday, I go down the Coupeville Pier and join the group of writers at a coffee house that overlooks Penn Cove. We call ourselves Just Write. Writing can be very isolating, and I find the company of other writers to be very supportive.
The rest of the week, I try to write as many days as possible around my busy schedule as a literary agent, developmental editor, and instructor.
Q: Do you listen to music while you write, or do you prefer quiet?
A: I really prefer quiet when I’m writing, but I enjoy music when I’m thinking and imagining the book.
Q: If you could jump in to any book and live there, which book would you choose?
A: I wouldn’t mind living in my first book of the Madrona Island Trilogy, The Guestbook. Lily lives in a beautiful bed and breakfast with the love of her life, wonderful friends, and great food. Who could ask for more?
Find the original March 2013 interview on The Twigasm here:
http://thetwigasm.blogspot.com/2013/0...
