Monday, July 16, 2012

All Male Review Post: Lish McBride with Giveaway!

The question of the day, my Interweb buddies, is, “What do you do when you’re not writing?” 

After I stopped laughing, several answers immediately come to mind, most of them somewhat flippant. (It should be mentioned here, perhaps, that this is what always happens when anyone asks me a question about anything. I have a difficult time with straight answers.)

A few of my initial responses, in no particular order:
  1. When am I not writing? 
  2. I wish I were writing. 
  3. Sleep. Eat. Go outside. Maybe go see if my friends still remember that I exist. 
As I thought about these non-responses, I realized that, hey, they’re actually REAL responses. 

Writers, well, write. All the time. We’re like junkies constantly looking for the next fix. Even when we don’t have a pen and a notepad and act all obvious about it, we’re writing. When someone talks to me, I’m listening, yes, but on some level I’m dissecting your story. What words do you use? How do you use them? Can I steal some of your dialogue? What are you doing while you’re talking? Is it a movement I can take? When you’re telling me that story about how your great Uncle Murray farms chinchillas, somewhere deep inside I’m thinking, “Should I make one of my characters a chinchilla farmer? What if the chinchillas suddenly became rabid and attacked? Would that make a good subplot? Can chinchillas get rabies?”

Another thing: writers are magpies and we steal. Not in a kleptomaniac way. I’m pretty sure your good silver is safe. No, what we take is tiny bits of you. Which is why writers make terrible friends. Sure, we’re listening to your story, but we’re also mining it for our own needs. We want to take that funny thing you just said. It’s shiny and we need it. Trust me, my friends are used to me saying, “Do you mind if I use that?” I really can’t imagine why any of them still talks to me.

And that’s not all. When I’m not actively stealing your words, movements, and stories about people you know, I’m probably thinking about my own plots, characters and worlds. Maybe I’m not able to be at my computer actually writing at this moment, but you can’t stop me from thinking about it. Sometimes I even dream about plots. And I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to ask my boyfriend to repeat something he’s just said to me because I was thinking about something book related. So not only are writers terrible friends, but you also probably shouldn’t date us. We cheat on you with figments of our own imagination.

Sometimes, you have to go outside. If you don’t you eventually get rickets and run out of food and supplies. Then you’re that creepy person on your block and eventually people start rumors and before you know it the only visitors at your door have pitchforks and torches…

I forgot what I was talking about.

Oh. Right. Outside. When we finally do go outside, you can probably guess what we’re doing—we’re scanning people, places and things for stuff we can put into a story. We’re obsessed. There are times when writing almost seems like a socially acceptable mental illness. We can’t stop. Ever. But people seem okay with it. They put up with our crazy because it has a (hopefully) positive result. We tell them stories. We can’t stop that, either.

Most days, I struggle to balance my writing life with my real life. What I want to do is write all day and spend the evening with my family. Somewhere inside me is this perfect vision of a home office, a kid who respects a closed door and tiptoes around quietly, and a window next to my desk where I can stare out at the picturesque view and think. In this fantasy the house also cleans itself and someone else is running all the errands. Maybe I own a unicorn and the mailman brings me candy. I mean, as long as I’m dreaming, why not?

A few of you might even imagine this is reality. Well, at least up to the part where I brought up the unicorn. It’s not. I’m a new writer. I have to have another job because my kid likes to eat, and I’m pretty attached to having a roof over my head. My mailman doesn’t bring me candy, either. I have to get that on my own. So, in reality, when I’m not writing, I’m working at my day job. I’m volunteering at 826 Seattle. I’m ferrying my kiddo around. I’m walking the dog, doing the grocery shopping, and cleaning the kitchen. I’m looking at my calendar and crying because there is no blank space for me to not do things. Because when I have free time, I’m trying to catch up on my reading, my emails, my blog posts. I’m calling back my friend who texted me a week ago because she hasn’t seen me in awhile and I’m being a hermit again. Only I’m not. I’m just way too busy. And the more I think about all of this, the more I’m realizing that while my initial answers were originally my way of cracking a joke, they are also, honestly, heart-breakingly true.

When I’m not writing…

When do I stop writing? I never stop writing.

I’m pretending I’m not thinking about writing.

I’m working, cleaning, eating, sleeping, all so I can write.

I’m wishing I were writing…

BIO:

Lish McBride was raised by wolves in the Pacific Northwest. It rains a lot there, but she likes it anyway. She spent three years away while she got her MFA in fiction from the University of New Orleans, and she liked that too, although hurricane Katrina did leave much of her stuff underwater. Her main goal in going to college was to become a writer so she could wear pajamas pretty much all the time. Currently, Lish lives happily in Seattle where the weather never actually tries to kill you, with her family, two cats, and one very put-upon Chihuahua. She is slowly building her garden gnome army.

She is also the author of Hold Me Closer, Necromancer and Necromancing the Stone.

You may contact her at LishMcBride@gmail.com, should you, for some reason, wish to do such a thing. You can also find her on facebook and Twitter.
**************

Ah, real life. The true torturer of all artists. Now you see why I love her writing? Everyone so needs to read this book! Even though I love nothing but a straight answer and no snark... *cough* Yea... right. ;)

Lish has provided me with a book for a giveaway. I'm footing the bill for shipping (woe is me) so I'm keeping it US only. Trust me international peeps, I still wuvs ya, and I swear you won't be sorry if you pick up this book. Now if I can only get my hands on Necromancing the Stone which will be out in Sept... Oh yea.. the giveaway...

Hold Me Closer Necromancer
Sam leads a pretty normal life. He may not have the most exciting job in the world, but he’s doing all right—until a fast food prank brings him to the attention of Douglas, a creepy guy with an intense violent streak.
Turns out Douglas is a necromancer who raises the dead for cash and sees potential in Sam. Then Sam discovers he’s a necromancer too, but with strangely latent powers. And his worst nightmare wants to join forces . . . or else.

With only a week to figure things out, Sam needs all the help he can get. Luckily he lives in Seattle, which has nearly as many paranormal types as it does coffee places. But even with newfound friends, will Sam be able to save his skin?
Just fill out the rafflecopter form below!
PS Necromancer: A Novella is currently free! Whee!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

28 comments:

  1. Well, when I am not reading. I usually write poems, I love to express my feelings in any ways possible. I am also learning professional photography

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  2. When I'm not reading, I'm usually working, boring but true. Well, maybe not so boring because one of my jobs puts me around books all the time so talk about temptation! Yeah...pretty much when I'm not reading, I'm counting the seconds until I can once again. *glances at book within arms length*

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  3. When I am not reading I am playing Hamlet potato hockey, lol sorry i had to!! She cracks me up with Carrie Harris. No really, when Im not reading, I am writing, getting new tattoos, or snuggled up with my cat Hendrix watching cheesy horror flicks.

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  4. Nope. I don't mind at all. Steal from me, or steal me if you'd like. I love the idea of bits of me being included in a story. I sets me on my way to immortality. hehe

    Awesome guest post, Lish. Thanks for being so forthcoming about your non non-writing time. :)

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  5. When I'm not reading, I'm...sleeping! I wish! Seriously, it's more of a boring answer like working or playing with my cat - who is not boring! Thanks for this amazing giveaway - I would love to win!

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  6. I wish I would write more, I almost never do! but then i do read a lot and I love it

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  7. Then you were truly born to write! Do your friends or family ever tell you something and then say, "Don't put this in your book!"

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  8. Well it is always nice to see how a writer's brain works, When I am not reading, I am stalking blogs looking for my next read.. no doesn't sound like a junkie, right. Then I plot my reading pile and what is going on the blog and look forward to those luxiourious reading minutes! thanks for the giveaway!

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  9. Ummm *looks up at the ceiling for inspiration* I spend my time....getting bucked off fresh horses-green broke for you city folk, or not well trained-and hiking on the desert rocks. (Generally I don't get bucked off my horses though it does happen on occasion, usually when I'm riding in Black Pine Areas!!!)

    Interesting enough? Thanks for the interview!
    Haley@www.passingthepages.blogspot.com

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  10. "“Should I make one of my characters a chinchilla farmer? What if the chinchillas suddenly became rabid and attacked? Would that make a good subplot? Can chinchillas get rabies?”

    Um. I think this maybe the greatest line of thinking ever. I wish my mind worked like this. Seriously. How much fun would that be? Also, I very much want to read a story about rabid chinchillas, I think there's a huge market for it ;-) Such a great guest post, thank you Lish and Melissa!

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  11. LOL! I love your humor :) Awesome post :))

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  12. When I'm not reading, I'm checking out blogs on the internet about books (and reading), or playing on Goodreads listing all the books I have to read and reading descriptions of books, or looking at books on Amazon.com. :D I also rearrange my books on my many book shelves and talk about books with my sister. Other than that, I work (and read before work and at lunch), I occasionally watch television and if I'm extremely bored I might actually clean something.

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  13. Um when I'm not reading...really? Do I ever not read...er...driving to work, yeah. I'm not reading then. I think I'd get pulled over by those nice men in blue if I did...

    Lol. Um, when not reading, I'm on the blogs, or at work, or running with the kid...then we have the dreaded cleaning thing around the house as well. gaa...

    lol. Thank you!

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  14. Well if i am not reading i am on blogs, or doing the authors giveaway and then trying to win the goodies and then posting them on utube desitheblonde or posting win on fb and then twtting

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  15. This book sounds awesome! It's been on my wishlist forever - I would love to win a copy!! :)

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  16. great post! Congrats on the new release and thanks for the giveaway!

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  17. Spend time with my family and work and television.

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  18. When I'm not reading I spend my time fighting off the evil army of cockroaches planning to invade my room (time to call the exterminator), running around the mountains with the track team (but I let them go in front so the mountain lions won't eat me), and smothering myself in giant tubs of ice cream in front of the gym windows (You'd be amazed at how much weight those people lose with me there) :)

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  19. When I'm not reading i'm listening to music, spending time with my family and taking care of my guinea pigs. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  20. Awesome post. When I'm not trying to find time to read I'm playing with my cats & fighting off evil younger siblings. Why is there such a major age gap? -_- And prepping for college.

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  21. I've heard good things about this book and look forward to reading it myself.

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  22. Interesting post, so glad to read another author post. Every author thinks so different and yet the same. They are always thinking, eating, breathing, dreaming writing.

    Heather

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  23. What a great post! That trailer is too funny...and a little creepy. LOVE IT!! LOL This book sounds so good and I LOVE the cover!!

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  24. I love stories of all types. When I'm not reading, I'm watching tv or a good movie

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  25. When I'm not reading does that time exist... Oh yeah when I'm sleeping. When I'm not reading I like to find different blogs about reading and go to good reads and find all the books I want to read. Then if there is time in the day I spend it with my chihuahua and husband.

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  26. When I'm not reading, I'm usually thinking about reading, buying books to read, or trying to win books to read. As you can see, I like to read, just a little bit.... ;-)

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  27. When I'm not reading, I'm normally working at my towns library, doing college stuff, or doing some fun school work. lol wait, did I just say school work was FUN? HAH!

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  28. Sadly enough, when I'm not reading you can probably find me playing some Bingo Bash on Facebook. I am a little addicted. Ok, maybe a lot. In fact, I have it loaded on another tab because I just *have* to get a stinkin' bingo today or I'll be depressed LOL. Yep, I need a life :)

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Thanks for commenting! I ❤ comments!