Questions I Would Ask My Favorite Authors

Jane Austen, why did you write so much about romance and yet never seem to have a romantic relationship of your own? Was it more fun to write about love than to experience it? Or did it elude you?

Bill Bryson, what is your favorite place to visit in your travels?

Kate DiCamillo, have you considered writing for grownups? 

Natalie Goldberg, I love your writing about how to write, but I don't like anything else you have written. Do you really know how to teach someone to write? Or do you really just know how to write about writing? Is that all one needs?

Laura Hillenbrand, you write so slowly, but when you do finish and publish something, it's magnificent. What are you working on now? And how long do I have to wait until you finish this next project?

Franz Kafka, were you a sad person? We've done lots of work on happiness now. You could probably be happier. But would your work suffer?

Maira Kalman, you write and draw. What is more satisfying?

Kathleen Krull, look at all of the biographies you have written. Which people are you most intrigued with?

Anne Lamott, your books are such a help for so many folks. What are your thoughts about brokenness and life?

Arnold Lobel, who are you more like, Frog or Toad?

George Orwell, is the world turning out to be more like Animal Farm or 1984?

Robert Pirsig, did you maintain your sanity after you found it again? What did you do to keep it that you didn't share with us in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? A lot of motorcycle riding?

Robert B. Putnam, you talked beautifully about the loneliness of America in Bowling Alone. How are we doing today? How can we do better?

Jason Reynolds, what is cooking in your brain right now?

Amy Krouse Rosenthal, your books were a creative light show. What sparked that? What fueled that?

Mo Willems, how are you like the Pigeon? Could the Pigeon be friends with Elephant and Piggy?

Dr. Seuss, do you like green eggs and ham? 

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Each Tuesday That Artsy Reader Girl assigns a topic and then post her top ten list that fits that topic. You’re more than welcome to join her and create your own top ten (or 2, 5, 20, etc.) list as well. Feel free to put a unique spin on the topic to make it work for you! Please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own post so that others know where to find more information.