Q: Is it possible to be a good writer without being a good reader?
A: No, I don’t think so. You might read a how-to book on writing technique, but seeing that technique applied by a skillful author in a great story connects all the dots.
Q: What book(s) are you reading now or planning to read?
A: I am currently reading The Shack and I’m planning to read Water For Elephants.
Q: If you were stuck on a deserted island and could only bring one book with you to read, what would it be and why?
A: My Bible. It’s got everything --- romance, comedy, drama, history, adventure, hope. It’s multi-faceted and reflects more layers of truth the deeper you look into it.
Q: If you could have dinner with 3 writers (dead or alive) who would they be and why?
A: Ray Bradbury --- my favorite fiction author. Anne Lamott --- for her authenticity in finding faith. Harper Lee --- for all the obvious reasons (only one incredible book?).
Q: Have you ever read anything you're too embarrassed to admit (except in this interview)?
A: Yes. Lamb by Christopher Moore. It was a hilarious fictional ‘account’ of Christ and his childhood pal, Biff. The ‘Church Lady’ would never approve, which made it even more fun to read.
Q: Do you have a favorite book from when you were a child?
A: It’s a tie between Blue Willow and The Witch of Blackbird Pond.
Q: Who is your all-time favorite heroine in literature and why?
A: I would have to say Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird. She has a great voice and a wonderful viewpoint, and because she’s an innocent child, there’s an added element of tension for her welfare.
Q: Who is your all-time favorite hero in literature and why?
A: Frodo Baggins. He is so endearing that by the end, I found myself emotionally invested in Frodo’s journey to the point that I was ‘pushing’ him up Mt. Doom to fulfill his quest, to his almost certain demise. It was almost heartbreaking to say ‘goodbye’ to the characters when the story ended. So I started over with the first book...
Q: What is your favorite first line from a book?
A: “The seller of lightning rods arrived just ahead of the storm.” From Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes. And what a ‘storm’ it turns out to be!
Q: What books, if any, have ‘changed your life’?
A: Again, it’s a tie, between The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho for encouraging me to pursue my dreams, and The Time Traveler’s Wife for giving me permission to re-frame some regrettable childhood experiences.
Excerpted from Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon © Copyright 2009 by Debbie Fuller Thomas. Reprinted with permission by Moody Publishers. All rights reserved.
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