And the winners are…

Chrystalla Thoma for What have you learned from the books you have written?

Jackie B for making me spurt OJ on the monitor Of all the people in all the world living or dead who scares you the most? Why? (my initial answer was "my mother")

Eileen for Which writers influence you the most — and why?

Thank you everyone for some really awesome questions. They were shockingly tame so now I don't need to put a warning on the blog [image error] I will be answering the three winning questions this week, so stay tuned.

Now, to answer everyone and scare you all off forever…

What's your typical writing day like?

I write exclusively on Tuesdays and Fridays, with a little most other nights. Now, when I say writing, I mean the entire deal. That's actual new words on the page, editing old work, marketing my books, blog posts, and so forth. "Writing" as a career is a lot more than updating my word count on Twitter these days.

I try to get the big stuff done, especially editing, first thing in the morning. My mind is generally clearer and the house quieter. If I'm doing first draft material, I can write that just about anywhere and at any time.

In November, I finish and submitted my SF novel, "Road to Hell." I took most of December off to recover from the brainmelt that happened. I planned to send out "Tranquility's Blaze" so spent January reading through it, and making changes. I'm nearly done and it should be leaving the house this week.

Then, I'll go back to the deadline plan I have. I always set those up, so that I'm on track. Generally, I'll meet about 75% of the goals. I judge if I can take a little time off based on how things are going deadline-wise (even if they are self-imposed).

I want to visit Newfoundland some day. Tell me something fascinating about it

What folks say about Newfies are true: we really are a nice group of people. Newfoundland is a stunningly beautiful and rustic place, but it's the people that others always talk about. When 9/11 happened, a town of 10,000 people took care of 7000 passengers who were diverted there. They brought them into their homes, their churches, their schools. They fed them, clothes them, let these strangers make long distance phone calls. How could you not love a place like that?

For the ABC special on Newfoundland (that pronounces our name wrong ,but we'll let it go), click here. (the ending has a religious message from the poster of the video, but you get the general idea)

When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

I don't really remember. I got my first typewriter at 12 and pumped out a multipage story that night. It was the first story I'd ever written and it just came naturally. Haven't really looked back after that.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I've never really been much of a traveller, so probably just going back to the east would be fine. However, I wouldn't mind living in rural Britain for a couple of years. I have a history degree and would love to see all of the places that I had studied.

What has been the wildest adventure of your life–so far?

I have no idea. I've not done a lot of crazy things. I was in the reserves when I was in university, though. I got to fire a rocket launcher. I don't know many other people in day-to-day life that can say that [image error]

What three things would you take with you if you had to flee the zombie apocalypse and why?


Cannon fodder, SAS survival guide, canned meat. The reasons should be obvious….


If the world was about to end, with you being the only survivor, and you could take three books with you to safety, what would they be and why?

The SAS Survival Guide, Persuasion, and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

If you found yourself trapped in an alternate universe where fiction was illegal, how would you cope?

I'd make picket signs and start protesting. I lack the coping gene.

Why isn't there a version of the game Monopoly for zombies, werewolves and vampires? After all they're sorta people too.

Would the game board sparkle in the sunlight? Dear god.

If you could only use one published work of yours to barter for food, beer, whatever, on the alien planet you crashed landed on, which one would it be?

Oh lord. I'd have a lot better luck if I just sold my body into slavery or something.

What fictional character would you like to visit for a weekend and why?

Bella from Twilight. That girl needs a good, stern talking to about what "creepier stalker" means.

When you write a work of fiction, how much of the story do you have in mind when you start writing? and a related question- Do you ever look back over something in process and wonder where did that come from?

I always have the big things in mind – who, what, when, where, why, and how. Sometimes, bits and pieces will change to make the answers to those questions more logical. Or, I come up with an idea that's better than the original way I thought things should be done. I'll change things accordingly.

I actually find it very difficult to do anything without being overwhelmed by ideas. I have entire notebooks filled with story ideas, scene ideas, and concepts that come to me. When I die, I hope these are given to an author who has no ideas of their own, so that someone else will have time to write them!

Where on The Rock would you most like to live if given the chance to move back?

I plan to move back there, or one of the Atlantic Provinces, when the kids graduate high school. I would probably move near where I grew up, but not in the same town. I want to have a nice big house and a nice big lot, grow potatoes, and write while watching moose eat said potatoes.

And from facebook:

How do you make brownies?

I have never successfully made brownies. They tend to be too gooey in the centre for my taste.

What is an "Alberta Clipper?"

It's a really stupid name that someone put on a cold front entering the US from western Canada.

Thanks once again!