Interview with Elle Newmark
Posted by Simon & Schuster on October 6, 2009What Readers want to know...
SS: What is your greatest achievement?
EN: It's either writing a novel or raising children. Both incredibly difficult and equally rewarding
SS: What’s your greatest flaw?
EN: Impatience with stupid people
SS: Who is your favorite fictional villain?
EN: Tom Ripley—a sociopath with touching vulnerabilities. He is so terrifyingly human.
SS: Which living person do you most admire?
EN: The Dalai Lama because, well, you know.
SS: With whom in history do you most identify?
EN: Maybe Alfred Hitchcock. Like me, he was a late bloomer and a little odd
SS: What are your most overused words or phrases?
EN: Seriously. I mean that's the word: Seriously. I'm not kidding. Seriously, I use seriously way too much. I'm serious.
SS: How would you describe perfect happiness?
EN: To wear the world like a loose garment.
SS: What’s your greatest fear?
EN: not writing well
SS: If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you choose to be?
EN: In a clean well-lighted place working on my next novel
SS: What do you regret most?
EN: Nothing. It was all necessary.
SS: If you could acquire any talent, what would it be?
EN: Dancing like leaves in the wind
SS: What’s your best quality?
EN: Perseverance
SS: If you could be any person or thing, who or what would it be?
EN: A great writer
SS: What trait is most noticeable about you?
EN: I'm friendly? How would I know what other people notice.
SS: Who is your favorite fictional hero?
EN: Robinson Crusoe. Love a resourceful man.
SS: If you could meet any historical character, who would it be and what would you say to him or her?
EN: Buddha. I'd ask him how you find enlightenment WITHOUT leaving your children behind.
SS: What is your biggest pet peeve?
EN: pettiness
SS: What is your favorite occupation, when you’re not writing?
EN: reading
SS: What’s your fantasy profession?
EN: Ballerina. The swan neck, the stork legs, the breathtaking leaps. Oh, yeah.
SS: What 3 personal qualities are most important to you?
EN: Intelligence, Integrity and Humor
SS: If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your days, what would it be?
EN: How horrible! But if I had to choose, I guess really really good brick oven pizza. Can I at least get different toppings?
SS: What are your 5 favorite songs?
EN: American Pie, Il Partiro, The Boy in The Bubble, I Will Survive, Fly on The Wall
Questions About Books and Writing
SS: Is there a book you love to reread?
EN: Sophie's Choice
SS: Who are your favorite authors?
EN: OMG, there are so many. Those that pop up immediately are Geraldine Brooks, John Steinbeck, Ian McEwan, Tom Wolfe, Peter Mathiessen, A.S. Byatt, Gregory Maguire, Richard Russo, Chris Cleave, Sebastian Faulks, Tolstoy, Isabelle Allende, Kazuo Ishaguro, David Mitchell, William Styron, David Sedaris, Vladimir Nabokov, Barbara Kingsolver...I could go on and on...
SS: What are your 5 favorite books of all time?
EN: Of Mice and Men, People of the Book, Sophie's Choice, The Remains of The Day, At Play in The Fields of The Lord
SS: Do you have one sentence of advice for new writers?
EN: Keep writing.
SS: What comment do you hear most often from your readers?
EN: My readers appear to enjoy my descriptions of places and food
Quick Start
SS: How would you describe your life in only 8 words?
EN: one surprise after another after another after another
SS: What is your motto or maxim?
EN: remember to breathe
General Questions
SS: What were your previous occupations?
EN: From the beginning: Shopgirl, Popcorn girl in a theatre, grocery checkout girl, babysitter, costume jewelry salesgirl, single mother, freelance coywriter, commercial illustrator
SS: What was/is your favorite job?
EN: Copywriter because it's writing. But I learned something from all of them.
SS: Where did you go to high school and/or college?
EN: I went to Alvernia High School for young ladies in Chicago. Then to Loyola University and the University of Illinois
SS: Name of your favorite composer or music artist?
EN: Andre Bocelli. His voice takes me out of myself
SS: What is your favorite movie?
EN: Love, Actually
SS: What is your favorite television show?
EN: The Daily Show
Get more on Elle Newmark at SimonandSchuster.com
