An Alternative Author Interview:

TCL’s Countdown Questions.

This time I’m featuring author
Brianne Moore!

I believe I saw Brianne’s debut novel “All Stirred Up” offered as an ARC, but it looked a bit too romancy for me (yes, I did judge it by its cover. Sorry, my dear! But now that I see it is a retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, and that is is also culinary fiction, I think I’ll have to go back and read it too). However, when I saw her second book, “A Bright Young Thing” it looked and sounded so wonderful, I had to ask for it. I was thrilled that I got the ARC because I can’t really resist a good, historical, women’s fiction novel, and I was very glad I did! Well, as is my wont, after being so impressed, I had to ask her if she’d participate in this little alternative author interview.  Let’s see how she replied to my five, fast, and fun questions.

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

Japan—I am entranced by the culture and my son’s fascination with trains has made me really want to ride on their high-speed railways.

Greece—The history! The food!

Thailand—Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

India—Again with the culture, and again with the food!

Prince Edward Island—A random one, I’ll admit, but I grew up watching Avonlea, a TV show set on PEI and based on the books of LM Montgomery and ever since I’ve wanted to visit the island. It just looks so lovely!

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

Crème brulee—classic and delicious!

Pretzels—My snack food of choice. Oddly difficult to find good ones in Scotland; we got a Costco membership pretty much just so I could get my hands on their giant barrels of sourdough pretzels! Sourdough bread—I made this frequently even before it got popular and could honestly eat an entire loaf myself (and it’s a really big loaf!)

Roast chicken with crispy potatoes—Nothing beats it

Carmel pecan tart—My mother’s recipe. Another thing I could eat in its entirety in one sitting.

• 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/or 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 tend to block memories of the worst moments out, because I don’t have the desire or energy to dwell on negativity, so we’ll go with the best! First up is the day my husband proposed to me. It was amazing—we were vacationing in London, one of my favourite ever cities, and we took a day trip to Windsor. After touring the castle, we went out on the Long Walk. It was beautiful weather, the daffodils were just coming out, it was quiet and uncrowded, and he asked me—it was exactly the kind of no-big-fanfare proposal I’d been hoping for. And just after I said yes the heavens opened up and it started pouring! We laughed and ran to the nearest hotel to wait out the storm in the bar, drinking champagne to celebrate.

The second best moment (if I can group two together) was finding out I was pregnant with each of my two boys. I wanted to be a mother so badly, and we had a bit of a challenging time of it. It was the most delightful surprise!

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

The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel. She is utterly, utterly brilliant, her way with words is just astonishing to me. She’s a huge influence on my writing.

Thanks Brianne! To be honest, I never felt the pull to visit anywhere in Asia until I read Muriel Barbery’s recent novel, “A Single Rose” so now my interest is piqued to visit Japan! By the way, my daughter has been there and she said their high speed trains can be a bit scary – but just because the doors open and close very quickly, so… FYI if you ever get to go there.