'The Year The Swallows Came Early'~ Day Three

This is the last day of the tour of Kathryn Fitzmaurice's book, 'The Year the Swallows Came Early'. Today I am going to give you the last part of my interview, and some Tour Searching Tips.

Before we get started, dont forget about my book give away!(look at the end of the post...)

How long have you been writing in general?

Kathryn Fitzmaurice; I have been writing seriously for five years. But really, I’ve written in some form or another my whole life. I started with poetry as a teenager.

Do you have any advice for young authors?

Kathryn Fitzmaurice: Write what you know.

Do you listen to music while you write? What kind?

Kathryn Fitzmaurice: I cannot listen to anything when I write. If my dog even barks, I’m completely distracted. My two teenage boys listen to their iPods while they study, and I’m baffled as to how they retain even one detail! I’m the same way in the car when I’m trying to find my way; no one can even talk to me. How embarrassing is that!

What is the first thing you do when you get a new story idea?

Kathryn Fitzmaurice: I love this question! The first thing I do is write the first paragraph. If it doesn’t make me want to know/read more, I don’t write the story.

What are some of your favorite books or authors?

Kathryn Fitzmaurice: This is a very hard question for me to answer because I am one of those people whose favorite color changes each year. Right now, I am in a lime green phase. But I have always loved Kate Dicamillo’s books.

Who influenced you the most to write, and how?

Kathryn Fitzmaurice: My grandmother was the one who most influenced me to write. She gave me my first real writing lesson the summer I went to stay with her. I was thirteen. I watched her write every night, and she told me many little secrets about writing. For example, she said that one’s subconscious does a lot of the work, but you have to know how to encourage it. I have a book she gave me about how to do just this very thing. It’s called, The Subconscious Writer.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you bring with you, and why?

Kathryn Fitzmaurice: In this order, it would definitely be: 1.) Chap Stick, (because I’ve been addicted to Chap Stick since I was fourteen years old) 2.) My dog, Holly, (because she is the best dog in the world and I miss her even when she’s away at the groomer), and 3.) The super huge box of white chocolates from Godiva, (because they are my favorites.)

And now for the 'Tour Searching Tips'.

For a basic reviews, visit these blogs:
(don't forget about my review...)
A Christian Worldview of Fiction
All About Children’s Books
Booking Mama
Cafe of Dreams
Dolce Bellezza
Homeschool Buzz
Hyperbole
Looking Glass Reviews
Maw Books Blog
Never Jam Today

For a review including strengths and a weakness, visit:
A Christian Worldview of Fiction

For give aways, vist these blogs:
(there is one on my blog, too)
All About Children’s Books
Never Jam Today
Becky’s Book Reviews

For a favorite line, or a quote, visit any of these blogs:
A Christian Worldview of Fiction
All About Children’s Books
Cafe of Dreams
Homeschool Buzz
Hyperbole
Maw Books Blog

For interviews, visit these blogs:
(I had an interview, the second part is just above...)
Becky’s Book Reviews
Dolce Bellezza
Looking Glass Reviews
Maw Books Blog

For basic info on the format, visit:
Cafe of Dreams

For information on foodology, and foodology lists, visit:
Cafe of Dreams
Reading is My Superpower

For recipes, visit:
Dolce Bellezza
Hyperbole
Maw Books Blog

For more background to our featured author, Kathryn Fitzmaurice, visit:
Looking Glass Reviews

For a food discussion, visit:
Looking Glass Reviews

For a 'book talk', visit:
Never Jam Today

For a list of 'food in chapter titles', visit:
Maw Books Blog

For other 'guides' to the tour, visit:
KidzBookBuzz.com
Reading is My Superpower

(If the information I posted is incorect or needs to be updated, leave a comment and let me know!)