Colleen’s Comments (group member since Apr 21, 2014)

Colleen’s comments from the Colleen Houck Book Club group.

Thanks to everyone and especially Lea for joining us this month! Our winner this month is Ashley! Don't forget to join next month's chat when my featured author is Wendy Higgins!

Frederick wrote: "Leah, you are, without a doubt, a stone-cold total babe!

How do you keep healthy/in-shape when you spend, I would assume, a lot of time being sedentary?

Thanks!"

That is so awesome! She is a stone-cold babe. hee hee =D

Lea wrote: "Colleen wrote: "Any must-haves while you write?"

So this will sound weird but I can't wear shoes when I write. I *hates* them, Precious. Shoes on my feet = not being able to think. So I write in s..."

I like the idea of a special notebook per book. It would be fun to doodle. I'm terrible at drawing but I love the idea of giving myself room to free write and word bubble.

Lea wrote: "Trudy wrote: "What made this genre the one you knew you wanted to write?"

I think I started writing YA because it reminded me of when I was a teen and was a voracious reader. Books were my refuge ..."

I think we're definitely twins. This year is my 25th anniversary.

Lea wrote: "Colleen wrote: "Is writing your first career?"

Nope! I've worked in health services research and health care policy since 1995. My specialty is in underserved populations and the providers that ca..."

Woah. Sounds like you need to write a medical drama!

Lea wrote: "Colleen wrote: "How did you get started writing?"

It know it sounds crazy, but I read Twilight. I hadn't read fiction in years and a friend told me I needed to read this book about teenage vampire..."

That is so weird! I was the exact same. I read the series and started writing. We are like twins!

Ashley wrote: "Will the Lantern’s Ember and Tiger’s Dream be available on audible soon?"

The Lantern's Ember was just sold a few weeks ago (January 2019) so it should be coming out sometime this year. Tiger's Dream isn't on audible, it's on Tantor Audio. I hope they will distribute on Audible at some point but as of now, it's just on that platform.

Trudy wrote: "Do you have a favorite candle to light when you’re reading? Or if not candles, some other form of calming sensation that helps you focus?"

When I'm reading? Not really. I usually read in bed so that's already pretty calming. If I'm not reading that way, then I'm dual tasking and listening to audiobooks on my phone. I LOVE audiobooks. Have you tried those yet?

Trudy wrote: "Would you ever write a book, or even a novella, about Nilima and Sunil?"

That would be fun. I love both of those characters so it might be nice to explore their relationship.

What's your favorite holiday and did you ever miss one because of a deadline?

Do you have a favorite conference now that RT is gone?

Any must-haves while you write?

What are your favorite types of books to read?

Do you write at home or somewhere else?

Is writing your first career?

How did you get started writing?

Thank you all so much for joining the chat! Our winner this month is Justicereads! Don't forget to join us next month for another chance to win books from my amazing guest authors!

Ana wrote: "For both Colleen and Julie, what was your inspiration in wanting to first begin writing YA books?"

I was first inspired by reading. I fell in love with a book series and wanted more books exactly like that and looked around and didn't find any. It made me wonder if I could write some. I gave it a try and ended up with Tiger's Curse.

One of your stories reminded me of Manny the Mammoth from Ice Age and it made me wonder if they actually did some real research for that movie. It was mostly regarding his name, Manny. Do you think there's a connection?

If you had to try Mammoth or Seal which one would you go for?