Tuesday, August 25, 2020

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.

28 comments:

  1. I could ask George Orwell the question for you, he is buried a few miles away but I have not doubt he would say it is turning out like 1984, some one is always watching

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    1. Would you please? Please let me know his response.

      Imagine...George Orwell buried just a few miles away. You could visit him any time you like.

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  2. I wonder the same thing about Jane Austen.

    Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.

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  3. I’d be interested to see what George Orwell has to say about the world today. I’d also be interested to hear from Bill Bryson, he is such a great author!

    Thanks for sharing your great list!

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  4. I love this post!!! Great questions, and I would love to know what their answers would be!

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  5. Ooh, I love your question for George Orwell!

    My post .

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  6. What a great group of questions. I'd ask Natalie Goldberg the same thing!

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  7. I love your questions for authors I'm familiar with! I especially like your Frog and Toad question. Those books were some of my favorites when I was young.

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  8. I love your questions for authors I'm familiar with! I especially like your Frog and Toad question. Those books were some of my favorites when I was young.

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  9. I love your question to Anne Lamott. I read her book where she talked about her demons and how she got to where she is today, but I have forgotten many of the answers. Perhaps I should take a look at it again...if only I could remember the title. Ha! My TTT interview with Jane Austen

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  10. Love your questions!! Especially the last two, they brought me a smile today.

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  11. I like how a lot of these questions are really personal. It would definitely make for some interesting conversations.

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  12. That Mo Willems question made me laugh. My daughter used to love those books.

    My TTT

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  13. All of these are awesome questions, especially the one with Dr. Seuss, Mo Willems, George Orwell and Arnold Lobel!

    Here’s my TTT!

    Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog

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  14. The Hillenbrand question is the one I want to ask all of my favorite authors: What's next and when can I expect it? LOL. Some authors are great about keeping readers up-to-date; others, not so much!

    Happy TTT!

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  15. Wonderful, and that last one was laugh-out-loud funny!

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  16. You came up with more than ten! I love your list. I only have nine in mine; it was taking me so long that pretty soon it was going to have to be "Top Ten Wednesday"!

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  17. Morning Deb! Aaah, these are so relevant. I'm convinced Jane Austen had to have a secret lover. You can't write about love without the experience.

    The George Orwell question! I think Animal Farm...!

    And the Franz Kafka question, I don't read him. He makes ME sad.

    Hope you are having a wonderful week! Take care!

    Elza Reads

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  18. I think Jane Austen had some secret relationship somewhere!

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  19. Great questions! I think I would be mostly tongue-tied if I met most of these people.

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  20. You really nailed it — each of your questions really goes to the heart of the writer’s work — not counting a few of them that I haven’t read. In some cases I’ve read biographies that come closer to the authors’ real life, but the questions are still pertinent.

    be well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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  21. I wish Orwell were alive to answer!

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