Adrianna
asked
Gwendolyn Womack:
Hello Gwendolyn. I received your novel by UPS yesterday as I was locking my front door and heading to the beach. Perfect timing! I have a few questions, not one lol. First of all, I am curious as to why you waited so long to write your first novel? How did you come up with the concept for The Memory Painter? And how is it you went about the research for your first novel? I am now following you as an author.
Gwendolyn Womack
Hello Adriana, Thanks so much for your questions. I didn't realize I had this message pending. I must tinker with my Goodreads settings!
Let me try to answer in order… I waited so long to write my first novel because I really wasn't ready to write it any sooner. I had been focusing on writing feature screenplays for many years and always knew I would write a novel at some point. But it wasn't until I moved to Japan in late 2009 that the story had percolated long enough that I was ready to start.
The concept came to me one day quite clearly - neuroscientists had created a wonder drug to unlock past life memories. My first immediate thought was to set it in the future, but then I realized, no, it actually already happened 30 years ago in the past. With that idea, Bryan's character came to me simultaneously and then the story was off and running.
As far as research goes, I learn as much as I can from as many sources - books, the Internet, documentaries, magazines - basically anything that helps build the reality. I took a lot of notes.
Hope that answers your questions. Thanks!
Let me try to answer in order… I waited so long to write my first novel because I really wasn't ready to write it any sooner. I had been focusing on writing feature screenplays for many years and always knew I would write a novel at some point. But it wasn't until I moved to Japan in late 2009 that the story had percolated long enough that I was ready to start.
The concept came to me one day quite clearly - neuroscientists had created a wonder drug to unlock past life memories. My first immediate thought was to set it in the future, but then I realized, no, it actually already happened 30 years ago in the past. With that idea, Bryan's character came to me simultaneously and then the story was off and running.
As far as research goes, I learn as much as I can from as many sources - books, the Internet, documentaries, magazines - basically anything that helps build the reality. I took a lot of notes.
Hope that answers your questions. Thanks!
More Answered Questions
Cynthia Shannon
asked
Gwendolyn Womack:
How did living in Russia influence your writing and/or world view?
Jennifer Sweete
asked
Gwendolyn Womack:
I entered your Goodreads Giveaway for The Memory Painter tonight. I may not be able to wait that long, though, lol! I've been meaning to purchase this book for a while now but life, you know how desperately distracting it can be. Now I have to ask - should I read The Fortune Teller or The Memory Painter first or does the order matter?
Janet
asked
Gwendolyn Womack:
This was an amazing book. As an historian, I enjoyed the history, the painting and the mystery. I also wrote a review. I look forward to another book, in whatever genre you decide, because your ideas are great. You wrapped this story up beautifully. . . when will another book be out? Thank you.
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