Usually I write a little blurb here - a total lie about me meeting up with the author doing the interview even though I do these via email - but I can't even... I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Andy replied to my email. Yay!
Okay. Let's see what Andy has to say about reading, writing, and zombies!
It’s the zombie apocalypse and writers have got to stick together to survive. Pick 3 authors to be on your zombie apocalypse killing team and tell us why you’d choose them.
Andy says: Stephen King: He knows how best to survive in a horror landscape
Hugh Howey: He’s an avid and skilled sailor. Best place to be in a zombie apocalypse is the ocean
George R. R. Martin: Because the fanbase will still insist on more A Song of Ice and Fire, even after the apocalypse.
Meredith says: Interesting, these are the top 3 authors picked for this question. I'm glad you didn't reserve George for bait like some other authors have - you know who you are. But the ocean... hmmm... according to Max Brooks (World War Z) zombies can live under the water and pull themselves up on the anchor line. I think Hugh could take on a few zombies though, he does push-ups and stuff.
If Stephen King and J. K. Rowling were drowning in a river, who would you save first? And now you have to tell us why.
Andy says: J.K. Rowling. She’s younger, so I’m saving more years of human life. (I always go with whoever’s younger when people ask me a question like that).
We authors are voracious readers. My TBR list is approximately 8 miles long. What are you currently reading?
Andy says: I just started “The Bone Clocks” by David Mitchell.
What is the one book that you could read a million times and never get bored with?
Andy says: “I, Robot” by Isaac Asimov.
Last year my favorite read was The Martian by Andy Weir. What was your best read of 2014?
Andy says: I really enjoyed “What If” by Randall Munroe.
This year my favorite read has been The Dog Stars by Peter Heller. What’s the best book you’ve read so far in 2015?
Andy says: Tough one. I’ll go with “The Fold” by Peter Clines.
You’re a writer by day and a superhero by night. (Take off those geeky glasses Superman) What’s your superpower?
Andy says: Teleportation. I’ve always wanted to be able to teleport instantly to anywhere in the world. Like in the book “Jumper”.
Meredith says: I've always said I'd teleport myself to someplace without traffic, most likely a beach.
I have writing spots all over my house: my desk, my couch, the patio, and my bed. Where’s your favorite spot to write?
Andy says: My desk. Boring, I know. I have a tower, not a laptop. So that’s where my computer is.
We’re supposed to love all of our children equally, but there are some scenes I’ve written that really stick out in my mind. Tell us your favorite scene from your book The Martian.
Andy says: I really liked the launch of Iris (the resupply probe that fails). I think the scene came together really well and I’m pretty sure I caught a lot of readers off-guard when the booster failed.
Meredith says: I was caught off guard. I had so much hope and then... boom.
Sometimes a little too much of myself slips into my characters. Which one of your characters most resembles you?
Andy says: Oh, definitely Mark Watney.
I’ve always got tunes rocking while I’m writing. Tell us five songs that are on your playlist.
Andy says: Actually, I can’t write with distractions like that. I’ve tried, but I just can’t concentrate with music, so I need silence.
If you could tell an aspiring author one tiny tidbit of information, what would you say?
Andy says:
Andy says: Stephen King: He knows how best to survive in a horror landscape
Hugh Howey: He’s an avid and skilled sailor. Best place to be in a zombie apocalypse is the ocean
George R. R. Martin: Because the fanbase will still insist on more A Song of Ice and Fire, even after the apocalypse.
Meredith says: Interesting, these are the top 3 authors picked for this question. I'm glad you didn't reserve George for bait like some other authors have - you know who you are. But the ocean... hmmm... according to Max Brooks (World War Z) zombies can live under the water and pull themselves up on the anchor line. I think Hugh could take on a few zombies though, he does push-ups and stuff.
If Stephen King and J. K. Rowling were drowning in a river, who would you save first? And now you have to tell us why.
Andy says: J.K. Rowling. She’s younger, so I’m saving more years of human life. (I always go with whoever’s younger when people ask me a question like that).
We authors are voracious readers. My TBR list is approximately 8 miles long. What are you currently reading?
Andy says: I just started “The Bone Clocks” by David Mitchell.
What is the one book that you could read a million times and never get bored with?
Andy says: “I, Robot” by Isaac Asimov.
Last year my favorite read was The Martian by Andy Weir. What was your best read of 2014?
Andy says: I really enjoyed “What If” by Randall Munroe.
This year my favorite read has been The Dog Stars by Peter Heller. What’s the best book you’ve read so far in 2015?
Andy says: Tough one. I’ll go with “The Fold” by Peter Clines.
You’re a writer by day and a superhero by night. (Take off those geeky glasses Superman) What’s your superpower?
Andy says: Teleportation. I’ve always wanted to be able to teleport instantly to anywhere in the world. Like in the book “Jumper”.
Meredith says: I've always said I'd teleport myself to someplace without traffic, most likely a beach.
I have writing spots all over my house: my desk, my couch, the patio, and my bed. Where’s your favorite spot to write?
Andy says: My desk. Boring, I know. I have a tower, not a laptop. So that’s where my computer is.
We’re supposed to love all of our children equally, but there are some scenes I’ve written that really stick out in my mind. Tell us your favorite scene from your book The Martian.
Andy says: I really liked the launch of Iris (the resupply probe that fails). I think the scene came together really well and I’m pretty sure I caught a lot of readers off-guard when the booster failed.
Meredith says: I was caught off guard. I had so much hope and then... boom.
Sometimes a little too much of myself slips into my characters. Which one of your characters most resembles you?
Andy says: Oh, definitely Mark Watney.
I’ve always got tunes rocking while I’m writing. Tell us five songs that are on your playlist.
Andy says: Actually, I can’t write with distractions like that. I’ve tried, but I just can’t concentrate with music, so I need silence.
If you could tell an aspiring author one tiny tidbit of information, what would you say?
Andy says:
1) You have to actually write. Daydreaming about the book you’re going to write someday isn’t writing. It’s daydreaming. Open your word processor and start writing.
2) Resist the urge to tell friends and family your story. I know it’s hard because you want to talk about it and they’re (sometimes) interested in hearing about it. But it satisfies your need for an audience, which diminishes your motivation to actually write it. Make a rule: The only way for anyone to ever hear about your stories is to read them.
3) This is the best time in history to self-publish. There’s no old-boy network between you and your readers. You can self-publish an ebook to major distributors (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc.) without any financial risk on your part.
2) Resist the urge to tell friends and family your story. I know it’s hard because you want to talk about it and they’re (sometimes) interested in hearing about it. But it satisfies your need for an audience, which diminishes your motivation to actually write it. Make a rule: The only way for anyone to ever hear about your stories is to read them.
3) This is the best time in history to self-publish. There’s no old-boy network between you and your readers. You can self-publish an ebook to major distributors (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc.) without any financial risk on your part.
Connect with Andy Weir
(This is the famous Andy Weir. Idolize him - or at least read his awesome book)
Thank you, Andy Weir, for being awesome and participating!
ReplyDeleteHello, Andy! I knew there was a movie coming out, but I hadn't known it was based on a book. That's what I get for reading other genres!
ReplyDeleteExcellent answers!
Andy Weir just picked up a new fan! Awesome trailer! Love the cast and a long time fan of Ridley Scott! Great interview Meredith!
ReplyDeleteThanks :)
DeleteIt was one highlight of my year