Welcome everyone to
"Won't you be my neighbor". It’s hot outside. Is it hot where you
are? You will never guess who I ran into here in Florida. The delightful IlimaTodd!
Angie: What are you doing kickin' it in the
Sunshine State?
Ilima: Beach vacation, baby!
We flew from Utah to Atlanta where we met up with my husband's family (he's in
the middle of 7 kids) and drove the caravan down to the gulf coast. Sand,
beach, sun, pool, Olympics on TV, and playing with cousins from dawn to dusk.
It's been wonderful. Are you loving Florida, especially since you're just about
unpacked?
Angie: I like it so much
more than I thought I would. I love rain and green. If I could just transplant all of my family
and a few mountains I may never leave :)
Before I ask my first question I have
a little bit of set up for the people. A while back I won a book on Kelley Lynn's blog and when I gave her my address she said, "Do you know Ilima
Todd? She's a writer that lives in American Fork Utah too." I was
totally surprised because I did know Ilima but I had no idea she was a writer.
We had both been on the costume committee for American Fork
Youth Theater. Ilima can sew a great costume! Seriously the girl has
skills. I on the other hand am mostly good at bossing people around :)
Ilima: Small world, huh? That's too funny that
Kelley introduced our "writer selves" to each other. As I recall, you
were the costume queen and I was just a lowly peon. I do like to sew though,
and along with most other things, I wish I had more time to do it.
Angie: That leads up to
my first question...I have found that writers tend to be pretty creative
people. What creative things do you go besides sewing and writing?
Ilima: Back in the day I
used to run and do triathlons, play guitar, and tap dance—I was a regular
Ginger Rogers. Four kids later, I'm lucky if I have time to get dressed before
noon. Seriously though, besides writing, reading, and the occasional sewing
project, my time is spent homeschooling or carting my kids around to activities
like youth theater.
Angie: I have no idea how you write and home
school. Seriously! Do you have some kind of schedule? Fill me in because I
need more structure in my life.
Ilima: After lunch every day, the little ones have
a nap while the older ones do school individually, so sometimes I can squeeze
in an hour or two of writing then. But mostly I write late at night after the
kids (and husband) have gone to bed. I have a hard time focusing with
interruptions, so a silent house is a treat. And I am so not a morning person.
To be honest, I am far from supermom. Can you say paper plates, frozen
lasagna, and a cleaning lady?
Angie: You have a cleaning lady?!?! I'm so jealous! I'm a late night
writer too and not a morning person either. I don't think you can be both :)
Okay how about a fun question? I know
you are a fan of the love triangle, if you could put three famous literary
characters into a love triangle who would you pick and why? (they must be from
different books)
Ilima: Oh, man. That's a hard one. Can one of the
characters be me? I'd love to have to choose between two swoon-worthy guys.
Haha.
Okay, I'm gonna pick Katniss from The Hunger Games,
Brigan from Fire, and Cricket from Lola and the Boy Next
Door.
Even though Katniss is kind of a reluctant hero who can be unlikable at
times, I just want to give her a big hug and say, "You go, girl!" And
she totally deserves something happy in her life.
Brigan is my favorite fictional male character--a tough, strong, leader
yet thoughtful and compassionate too. If I have another child, I'm naming him
Brigan. Or her. Either way. :)
And Cricket because…hello? It's Cricket! And if you haven't read Lola yet,
stop what you're doing and read it now. Except read Anna and the French
Kiss first. Because hello? St. Clair?
Do you like how I squeezed in one more guy in there. I swear, I think I
might invent the love octagon.
Angie: Those are great
choices! I've never read Fire. I guess I need to meet Brigan, but I'm a St. Clair
fan all the way!
Next question...This is a fun one.
You announced on your blog last week that you have got an agent!!! So exciting!
I also read that you had multiple offers of representation. How did you pick
who to go with? And what three questions do you think are crucial to ask a
prospective agent (when we all get "the offer")?
Ilima: I have two agented CP's and had an inside
view to their "getting an agent" experience. The one thing that
struck me was how much their agents LOVED their manuscripts. I decided that's
what I wanted—someone who was as passionate about my book as I was. And in
talking with Jennifer and Katherine of Veritas Literary, it was like chatting
with my girlfriends about a book we all loved. They loved my world and
characters and caught my vision for the novel. And when Jennifer said she was
upset with me because the boys in my book were both so delicious and she wished
Nine could've had them both, I may have fist-pumped on my side of the phone.
Hmm, three crucial questions? Off the top of my head: 1) What are your
plans for revisions on my book? 2) How do you think it will stand in the
marketplace? 3) What are the details of the contract?
I would also do research online to make sure the agency is legit and has a
good reputation
Angie: That is so exciting to think that
somewhere out there in the world is an agent that loves your book as much as
you do :) And those are great questions. I don't think I would have thought of
number 2. In fact I'm not sure I know what it even means *she says sheepishly*.
Can you elaborate?
Ilima: I probably just
worded it weird. It really means—how well will it sell to a publisher today?
This was important to me because my book is sci-fi – dystopian – futuristic –
post-apocalyptic, and I know the market
is flooded with these genres right now.
Luckily, my agent thought my story was very original and unique enough
to stand out among the rest and doesn’t think she’ll have a problem placing it.
So…that question might not be a concern for some.
Angie: No, I think that is
a really good question. It is also great to see where they see your book
selling.
So speaking of your book REMAKE, this
is something I'm really interested to know (and I'm sure other people are too).
First off I've heard it is written beautifully, but I have a question about the
concept.
On your website it says "In a time when people choose their genders,
Nine wants to be remade into a boy hoping it will make her brave." Are
you at all worried that people will think the concept of a girl wanting to
change her gender to a boy is I just know that people will judge on the idea
alone. Am I even making sense?)
Ilima: I know it's an edgy
concept, and as I was drafting it I worried readers might put the book down for
this very reason. Since then, though, so many have told me I walk the line
between too-controversial and just-controversial-enough very well. Without
giving too much away, I'll just say I think I handled it well and no longer
have any reservations about sharing it. I took some risks with this book, and I
think they paid off…you'll just have to read it and find out! :)
Angie: I'm planning to! I think there is no better place to tackle hard
topics than in stories. You can give a voice to real issues and empathy for
characters we might not normally understand.
Last question. Are you ready for it?
Tradition dictates that it must be a pageant question :) So...What
are three words that best describe you? And why?
Ilima: World peace. Wait, wrong pageant question. Three words to describe me? Ridiculously
good looking.
Okay, seriously:
1) Naked—First off, I think clothes are annoying and wish we could just
all be naked all the time. But I'm naked emotionally as well. I'm a terrible
actor and I wear my heart out on my sleeve. If I'm upset, you know it. If I'm
happy, you know it (clap your hands :). So though at times this can be really
annoying and/or embarrassing, you always know where you stand with me.
2) Mother—I think this word encompasses so many things: patience, love,
self-sacrifice, joy. It is my most honored role and one I feel so blessed to
have.
3) Avocado—Not only is it my favorite food in the whole world, but it
perfectly describes me. Lumpy, smooth, squishable, delicious, solid middle,
goes with everything, green, likes warm weather, you can hold it in your
hand...maybe it doesn't perfectly describe me, but they are
delicious!
So yeah: Naked mother avocado. Sounds about right. Also, it could double
as a band name.
Angie: LOL! That is the best answer ever! Can I give you an 11? What am
I saying? Of course I can. This is my show!
I love it! Can't say I'm a fan of
avocados or being naked but I love the symbolism of your answer. I agree it
would be an excellent band name :)
I'll let you get back to your
vacation, but thanks so much for taking time to hang out with me. I'm so
excited for you! Please let us know when your book sells to publishers!
Ilima: Don't worry, I'm sure
I'll be shouting that news from the rooftop. :) Thanks for the fun chat, Angie!
Angie: Anytime
:)
If
you all haven’t been to Ilima’s blog you really need to go! She is always full
of great tips and beautifly written posts.
Happy
Tuesday everyone! Thanks for stopping by.
-Angie
