21.9.09

Quick Q and A's with Carolyn MacCullough

Carolyn MacCullough is the author of several books for Young Adults, one being Once A Witch which I recently reviewed here.
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1) Once A Witch is your latest teen book. So, can describe it one sentence?

Once a Witch is about a 17 year old girl, Tamsin Greene, who comes from a long line of witches, but she herself has no magical power...or does she?

2) What inspired you to put Tasmin’s story to paper?

Exercise! I took up running for all of two weeks one April and in an effort to distract myself from the agony of exercise, I would study all the really cool old brownstones as I ran through Brooklyn. There was one house with a little gargoyle statue and I always wondered what stories he could tell if he could talk. Then I thought about a character who possessed the magical ability to make him speak. And then I thought about a character who didn't possess any magical abilities whatsoever, but who happened to belong to a family who was very Talented. What would she be like? And that's how I started hearing Tamsin's voice.

3) In Once A Witch most of the characters have “Talents”, otherwise know as magical powers, which leaves me to wonder what talent you would want to have if you could choose one?

Too hard of a question! I would love to be invisible, to fly, and to read minds. But I would also love to be able to rewind time even for a day or even just a few minutes to get a chance to "do over" things.

4) Do you have a favorite scene or line from Witch?

When Gabriel asks Tamsin out right after they've returned from time traveling to the 1800's and she says:

“I don’t know. I mean, you just took me back, like, a hundred years. Dinner would probably be so . . . anticlimactic now.” There is a small silence and finally I dare to look up at him. One eyebrow jabs upward. “If you and I went out on a date, the last thing it would be is anticlimactic.”

5) Is there one thing that you hope readers of your books take from them?
That everyone has a talent, no matter who you are. And that you should find that talent and focus on it, follow it and see where it takes you.

6) Was there a specific moment in your life when you decided, “ I want to be an author”?

I always wanted to be an author. But then I always wanted to be a lot of things--a pilot, a vet, and a princess in a tower to name a few.

7) What other hobbies do you enjoy besides writing?
Horseback riding. Swimming. Taking long walks in the woods. (This makes me sound athletic and I'm really not!)

8) Is there one book out there that you just wish that you had written yourself?

Wow--I love that question. Yes, there are so many books that I wish I had written myself. But I'm going to aim high here and say The Road, by Cormac McCarthy.

9) Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Persistence and patience are what you need to become published. That's more than half the battle. That, and read. Read everything out there--it will make you a better writer in the long run.

10) Are you currently working on any new projects? Perhaps, a sequel to Once A Witch?

Yes, I am working on the sequel--titled Always a Witch--it contains more Talents, time travel, undercover spywork, and of course some romance!

11) Is there anything else you would like to add?

Come visit me at http://www.onceawitch.com/!

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So, what are you waiting for? Go check out Once A Witch. It truly is a fantastic book! :)

31 comments:

  1. Awesome interview Lauren! I just love the questions you ask authors, they are great! I wish I can copy them LOL! Hehe.

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  2. I absolutely love the way you came up with the book! I find myself thinking of all sorts of crazy things while I am doing the unthinkable (exercising). How great that you were able to make something so amazing out of that!

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  3. Cute interview, wow she likes taking walks in the woods, isn't that scary?

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  4. Nice interview! :] I like to walk in the woods too!

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  5. great interview
    I like learning new things about authors.I look forward to reading this book

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  6. Hi :)
    Thanks for the great interview Carolyn - thanks for sharing.
    I am looking forward to reading ONCE A WITCH.
    Isn't the cover great?!
    :)
    All the best,
    RKCharron
    xoxo

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  7. I am glad to hear there is a sequel. Once I get attached to a character I like to read about them more than is provided in one book.

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  8. Great Interview, I didnt know that is going to be a sequel, I really want to read the book!!

    --Mariana

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  9. Lovely interview! I like the bit about her activities making her sound athletic (and she claims she's not?!). Great questions and answers - thanks for sharing!

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  10. I love the interview!
    and it´s great that the book is going to have sequel: Always a witch!
    i really want to read this book!
    oh! and is interesting What inspired to the autor!

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  11. Fun interview! I love the answer to number five. I am one who usually feels like I lack talent, but I think she is right, everyone has talents and something to offer.

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  12. Cool interview. I really liked the questions you asked and how they related to the book.

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  13. Great questions and answers! I enjoyed reading it and know a little more about the author. :)

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  14. Great interview! I totally understand about not being athletic cos I love horseback riding and swimming too! :P

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  15. That was a great interview and I cant wait to read it!

    Jordan

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  16. Nice interview, I'm so excited about this book.

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  17. aha! I totally guessed the sequel's name.
    the author came across as funny and I also like the scene from the book that whe quoted...

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  18. I liked the interview. Very interesting.

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  19. I loved the interview! That small excerpt from the book makes me want to read it even more. So glad to hear there's a sequel... I'm greedy, I always want more with books =) I think I might have to take up running too - get fit while giving inspiration a chance to rear it's head. My ideas usually always strike while I take a shower LOL.

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  20. Great interview. I love hearing what authors have to say about the writing process. Her favorite scene definately made me interested in the book!

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  21. I like Carolyn's advice for aspiring authors. Read everything out there. I'm trying to do that. :)

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  22. I've just taken up jogging myself,but unfortunately I cannot say that the result is going to be a book(that would be great though ;)).

    Carolyn's favorite sentence was a great teaser! Made me want to read Once a witch even more!

    Great interview, Lauren!

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  23. I think that this author is amazing!! She had some good advice, i think, because i have written stories before then stopped 3/4 of the way through because I feel I am missing something and I don't think the book will turn out well and so I stop, thinking that I will go back and finish it and I forget about it and it ends up in a notebook unfinished.

    I am so excited to read this book!! I agree with the line she likes from the book.
    -Missie :)

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  24. I've always loved witch stories (I miss the good old days of the Charmed show!) but after reading you review and the scene from #4!!! I have got to get my hands on this book!

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  25. Awesome interview! I wished I had woods to take walks in too!

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  26. she has some great advice - everyone has a talent. nice interview!

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  27. What's funny is that ever since I was a kid, if I wasn't reading, I was making up stories to entertain myself. Whether I was doing chores, lying in bed trying to fall asleep, eating a meal, or sitting in church (don't tell my mom!), I was writing a story in my head.

    Good to know that I'm in prestigious company!

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  28. I love learning more about authors and their insights. Thank you for taking the time to do that.

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  29. LOL! I loved her favorite line. Yeah I've heard a lot of great things about The Road and it was interesting to see that was the book she'd picked. Terrific interview with really great questions resulting in really cool answers.

    ~Briana

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  30. Once a Witch sounds fantastic! And it was fun to learn where the story idea came from. Great interview!

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  31. You had some really fun questions there (I might have to "borrow" some of them for my next author interview). She wishes she wrote The Road - this is one of my favorite books!

    Thanks for the interview!

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