Won’t you be my neighbor—Emily R. King

Do you have on your comfy sweater? Did you change into your sneakers? Because I did, and now I’m ready to start. (I almost sang you all a song, but it didn’t really translate to the blog :)

Angie: So, lets get started. Welcome Emily R. King to the first post of "Won't you be my neighbor." I got a whole slew of questions that may or may not be writing related. And isn't she cute! I never have a collar bone when I'm pregnant!

I love Emily! She just the nicest sweetest person, and such a talented writer. I know because she has let me read her wonderful manuscript. 

Emily: Let you? I thought I bribed you by reading yours. : ) Thanks for having me, Angie!

Angie: So let’s start with the question everyone is dying to know. What are you wearing right now? LOL. That sounds pervy. I don't mean it to be.

Emily: Bawhahaha! It's 10:17 am, I've been blogging for two hours, and I'm still wearing my bathrobe. I have bedhead and all. Yeah, I'm one hip lady.

Angie: Ha ha! Me too! Jammies and all. But if you were wearing say...your junior prom dress at 10:17 am then that would really say something. But a bathrobe just tells us you are laid back and casual!

Emily: Or just lazy. :D

Angie: No, never lazy. Okay, question number two... If you were a candy bar, what candy bar would you be?

Emily: A Reese's Peanut Butter cup, because I'm sweet AND salty.

Angie: Nice. I love those. Now I'm hungry. Ooo, here's a goodie... What is your best physical feature? And don't say eyes. Eyes are a cop out.

Emily: The truth? My butt—or so I've been told. It's the one part of my body that gets oogled the most. Unfortunately, it's not as nice as it used to be. Sitting and writing all day has seriously depleted its niceness.

Angie: Writer butt! Ya, I know what you're talking about. I can totally relate. Here is something I've always wanted to know... How do you get around to so many blogs every day? Every time I go to comment you've already been there. What is your secret?

Emily: No sleep? No, really, I'm a fast reader and Google Reader helps me scroll through new blog postings quickly. If you don't use it, get on it! It'll save you a ton of time.

Angie: I'm must be slow because I can't figure Google Reader out. I may need a tutorial. What about this question... Tell us something about your MS or WIP that is unique.

Emily: The demon hunters in my MS arm themselves with Taser guns and pepper spray. They don't want to kill hosts (the mortals possessed by demons), so they use non-invasive ways to disarm them and then dispel the demons with the help of their mightiest weapon, a Sun Stone ring.

Angie: Your demon hunters kick butt. I'd want them with me in a dark alleyway. What is your biggest strength as a writer and your biggest weakness?

Emily: My biggest strength is my determination. I will NOT give up.

My biggest weakness is my pride. I wait too long before asking for critiques, and have shot myself in the foot many times because of this. If I had reached out to other writers for help, I would be much further in my writing career than I am now.

Angie: Those are great! Determination is a must. But I also have to say that you rock at writing action. Action is hard to write well. Any tips?

Emily: Don't add too many details and descriptions. Make it move along quickly, just like in an action film. Movement is key! Oh, and keep your reader guessing. If they know your MC is going to win, it lowers the suspense.

Angie: That is great! I love to learn from other writers and books, so...What was the last book you read and what did you learn from it?

Emily: I just finished reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, again. What I learned is paragraphing. J.K. Rowling opens her dialogue by pushing it to the next paragraph. For instance:

Finally, his large purple face crumpled with concentration. Uncle Vernon stopped in front of Harry and spoke.

"I've changed my mind," he said.

Some writers wouldn't start another paragraph, but I prefer J.K. Rowling's style and have adopted it as my own.

Angie: I do that too. White space. White space. White space. Right?

Emily: Yep!

Angie: So a few times a year I get to be a judge for local and state scholarship pageants, and I can't let you go without a pageant question. How would you broker peace in the Middle East? I'm just curious whether you have a plan or not. 

Emily: Ha! No, I can't say I have a plan. The hatred is so inbred, the children are taught it from birth. Even if I dethroned every leader and installed better leadership, the lessons the children have been taught by their fathers would still reign.

I don't mean to be a pessimist, but I doubt the Middle East will have peace until the Millennium. No one, save God Himself, can stop the hatred there.

And on that happy note, thanks Angie! This was a ton of fun. Now I'm going to get dressed for the day and find myself a peanut butter cup, then get back to revising. Love you, girl!

Angie: Thanks Em. You were awesome. If I was scoring your last question I would give you a 9. Well thought out and articulate! You rock!

Seriously, thanks. That was ton of fun :)

Emily: Thank YOU!

So there you have it the soon to be wildly famous Emily King. Go check out her awesome blog and give her a high five :) Now I’m changing out of my sneakers…but I will keep the sweater.

-Angie 


Daily reminder of the I'm Hearing Voices Blogfest starting next Monday :) You can always write your posts ahead of time and be all prepared and stuff.