Hey everyone! Today, a few hours off schedule but today nonetheless, we welcome fabulous Canadian author Leanne Dyck, here to talk about The Sweater Curse and her short story contest. Stop by, leave a comment, and be sure to enter her contest!
Take it away, Leanne!
1. Howdy! Please introduce yourself, tell us an interesting fact about you, and if you were an animal, what would it be?
Hi Mindy,
Greetings from sunny Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada
Writing is a solitary sport, but I’m a team player. I bat for the Crime Writers of Canada, kick for the Victoria Writers Society and am in goal for the Mayne Island Writers’ Group.
When I’m not writing I’m knitting. I was a knitwear designer for approximately nine years. In fact, I changed careers the day The Sweater Curse was published.
2. Tell us a bit about your book--something you wouldn't find in the blurb.
Something you won’t find in the blurb, eh? Well, how about this. The Sweater Curse could serve as your introduction to the rich Icelandic-Canadian culture.
3. What was your inspiration for this story?
Most of my stories are inspired by my life—The Sweater Curse is no exception.
4. Do you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser?
I’m a very flexible plotter.
5. When diving into a new work, how much research do you do and how do you go about doing it?
I’m prepared to do as much, or as little research as required. Research resources that I’ve used include web-based material, books and friends and family.
The Sweater Curse required that I do some research on Icelandic folklore. I found Nelson S. Gerrard’s book The Icelandic Heritage very helpful.
6. If you could be one character from your book, who would it be and why?
I feel I have most in common with the lead character Gwen Bjarnson. Why would I want to be her? Well, let’s see she’s a lot better looking, has a more affluent background and is far younger than I am.
7. And if you had to be stuck in an elevator for 42 hours with one of your characters…?
Definitely, I would choose Jaron Cardew—my perfect man. He’d entertain me while keeping me claim and would ensure that we were rescued.
8. What was the hardest part of writing this book?
Writing the synopsis.
9. Why romantic suspense? Do you write any other subgenres of romance?
The Sweater Curse is a lower case ‘r’ romance, upper case ‘s’ suspense.
Currently, I’m writing a young adult adventure that has elements of romance.
10. What books have most influenced your writing or your outlook on life in general?
One book in particular gave me hope when I had run dry. Joline Godfrey’s Our Wildest Dreams: Women Entrepreneurs Making Money, Having Fun, Doing Good
I’m inspired, encouraged and informed by my fellow authors. Two writing books that have been especially helpful are Stephen King’s On Writing and Nancy Lamb’s The Art and Craft of Storytelling.
11. Quick! The Departed, Shutter Island, or Inception?
Shutter Island
12. Anything I didn't ask you about that you want to shout out to the world?
I’m running a short story contest
Here’s the scope…
Write a short story (500 words or less) about your favourite sweater. Send entries to leanne@oknitting.com The story will be published on the popular Sweater Curse blog (over 5, 000 page views since October, 2010). One lucky contributor will win a copy of the thriller The Sweater Curse. Enter today. Contest ends on March 20, 2011 Visit http://sweatercursed.blogspot.com for details.
Blurb:
Aspiring knitwear designer Gwen Bjarnson is stuck in Purgatory. To escape, she must re-examine her life, journey though her past and right a wrong.
But which wrong?
Young and in love, she works to establish her career, except fate has different plans. One rash act and she loses everything. Never resting, always seeking, and yearning for what she can no longer have, Gwen faces the truth: if she remains, others are destined to die.
How will she solve the mystery before it is too late?
Blog: http://sweatercursed.blogstop.com
Website: www.oknitting.com
Buy Links:
Decadent Publishing: http://www.decadentpublishing.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=The+Sweater+Curse&osCsid=t3kaqh806hb9bgc1kg566kn80
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/36891
Thank you, Mindy. I so sorry that I was so late to your party. It was a pleasure visiting with you.
ReplyDeleteI see that I forgot to tell you which animal I would want to be. I have three cats and I would love to come back as any of them. They live a (well deserved) pampered life.
Let it be stated that I in fact love cat people. Pleasure having you! <3
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