An Alternative Author Interview:

TCL’s Countdown Questions.

My fellow blogger Jill Doyle has a lovely thing on her blog called “Five on Friday” where she asks authors five questions that each require five answers. I thought this was really great, mostly because I’ve never done an author interview myself – at least not a good one. I mean, I’ve asked authors for guest posts, but so far, I’ve only given them one question to answer. That’s not really an interview. So, I thought that if I could come up with a set of fun questions to ask authors, maybe I’d do it myself. After quite a bit of thinking, I came up with the following:

• If you could visit five (5) places you’ve never been, where would you go and why?
• Name four (4) foods or dishes that you enjoy so much that they’ve practically become part of your personality.
• There is the past, the present, and the future – if you could choose, which of these three (3) would you prefer to live in, and why?
• Best and worst – you choose which – name two (2) of either your best moments of your life, worst moments of your life, or one of each.
• Name one (1) book you’ve read in the past year (or so) that you wish you had written, and why.

This week, I’d like to introduce you to my friend, author and poet Paula Light.

As happened with Jacey Bedford, I also “met” Paula through the internet; however, I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting Paula in person (maybe I will, someday). I’ve also never read anything she’s published, but I’m an avid reader of her blog, which should count for something, right? Here’s how Paula answered my questions.

• If you could visit five (5) places you’ve never been, where would you go and why?

London. Would love to see all the places I’ve read about in books my whole life, streets, buildings, names… just soak in that atmosphere.

Ireland. Looks so beautiful in the photos I’ve seen, plus would enjoy visiting the Game of Thrones filming location.

Paris. Naturally a romance reader/writer must visit the city of lights and love, plus I’ve heard they have a decent art museum.

Maine. After my European trip, I need to visit Maine to pick blueberries and check out the locations in Stephen King’s novels.

Boston. Can you believe I’ve never been to Boston? I really want a lobster roll! Oh, and I guess I should visit the historical sites too.

Big Ben (Courtesy of Pixabay)

Eifel Tower (Courtesy of Pixabay)

• Name four (4) foods or dishes that you enjoy so much that they’ve practically become part of your personality.

I know I’ll sound like a terrible bore, but I eat a Clif bar almost every day. They’re a really great source of protein and nutrients, and I can easily take one with me to work or wherever. And unlike other bars, these are actually tasty and satisfying. No, they aren’t paying me!

Grilled cheese, standard version, but I’m open to fancy ones every so often such as Brie with apples and fig jam (mmm!).

Onion bagel with Nova Scotia lox and cream cheese. ‘Nuff said.

I’m known for loving gourmet cupcakes, but pssst here’s a secret… I’m totally fine with a cupcake from the grocery store.

• There is the past, the present, and the future – if you could choose, which of these three (3) would you prefer to live in, and why?

I’d just continue plodding along in the present. I wouldn’t want to go back, for sure, and who knows what the future holds. I wouldn’t want to jump ahead and miss out on times with my family and kitty. He’s already 8 years old.

• Best and worst – you choose which – name two (2) of either your best moments of your life, worst moments of your life, or one of each.

I’ll go with the two best moments of my life:

When each of my daughters graduated from college. I’m so proud of both of them for all their hard work.

• Name one (1) book you’ve read in the past year (or so) that you wish you had written, and why.

Last month I read this really fabulous book of poetry called Swinging Sanity by a fellow blogger named N.F. Mirza and her verse was so honest and raw and beautiful it made me wish I could be more open in my writing, but I still do a lot of self-censoring, which I think inhibits my creative flow of good ideas.

Thanks, Paula! (Now… if those cupcakes are chocolate…)

Paula Light lives, works, and writes in Orange County, California. She is the proud mom of two lovely and successful daughters, and she’s now a grandmommy too! Paula has published six books of poetry and short fiction under her own name (but she needs to update this picture from her blog to include the latest one, which I added below), and she also writes romance novels under the pseudonym Anna Fondant! Add Paula on Twitter: @lightm0tifs.