Margaret Atwood's creative process

I'm still psyched from seeing Margaret Atwood at her reading Tuesday night, and booksigning yesterday. Ack! I never thought I'd get to meet my literary idol. She's amazing.

I was especially inspired by her answer when someone asked why she writes in so many different forms - poetry, speculative, literary, you name it. She said: "Because nobody ever told me not to." A great reminder to one of my writing rules - go with your gut.

One of the highlights of her reading came at the end, when she actually sang the theme song for the fictional Mole Day, and ended with audience participation.

Some have criticized her for rejecting labels of her work. Her book In Other Worlds (of which I now have a signed copy - woo hoo!) delves into this, but basically, she said most of her work which others want to label as SciFi take after the Jules Verne model, which "has its feet in plausibility, and such a thing is theoretically possible."

When an audience member questioned the world for A Handmaid's Tale, she cautioned that "any set of human laws can be reversed. They're made up by people. After 9/11, The Patriot Act passed with barely a blink."

Here's another treat - she shares her creative process:



And a little more advice. :)

Casting Call: Ground Rules

Ground Rules was another fun fantasy to write. I love it when the characters come to such vivid life.

Alice Garner's a children's book illustrator who loves her job. She knows she's one of the best. But this year, despite nabbing a dream job illustrating a Christmas story by a famous children's author, she just can't deliver. So she wishes on her Christmas angel. Seven times.

Alice is caring yet feisty, vulnerable yet won't put up with crap. Even from an angel. Something about him tells her he has issues. Maybe a few she can help with. :)

Alice is actually named for the actress I had in mind while writing: Jennifer Garner. Jennifer always struck me as sweet, yet she could be a kickass heroine with the best of them.

Luke's a Watcher Angel. Not a very happy one. His job leaves him less than enthused. And Christmas - well, the holiday ranks even lower. Luke can't muster enough cheer to say 'happy holidays' let alone have one. So when Peter sends him to Earth on Christmas Eve to help Alice, he does what any unhappy angel would do. He mixes margaritas.

Luke hasn't yet mastered the fine points of his job either. He has no wings, no feel for humans' problems, and little sympathy for Alice, who seems to be doing just fine. Except that she's not. Knowing he'll catch Hell if he fails, Luke brings his unique take to the task. Helpful in a snarky way.

Since the first page, Luke has been Sean Bean. Ah, Sean on a motorcycle. In my kitchen, mixing margaritas. Sweet Christmas angel, yes.

Michael Goodman's an internationally known children's author, loved around by the world by his readers. Not by adults. Around them, Michael's surly, impatient, and downright unpleasant. Well, he too has an excellent reason. Two, in fact. But you'll have to read Ground Rules to learn what they are. :)

Ewan McGregor's the perfect Michael Goodman. Handsome, a versatile character actor who can play charming and surly equally well.

Check out more about Ground Rules here! Or make my Christmas wish come true and buy it here. :)