MarchOn the back of the UK version of the incredible historical fiction March by Geraldine Brooks, there’s a P.S. section featuring a Q&A on her writing life. I’ve co-opted the questions and answered them myself.

When do you write?

All the time; sometimes just in my head.

Where do you write?

Usually at my dining room table but I’d like to find a way to move to the other side of house where we have a view of the River Thames.

Pen or computer?

Computer for sure. If I have to jot ideas down by pen, I’d as soon try to remember them in my head. If I’m within reach of my laptop and get an idea, I will get up from wherever I am and go type them in.

Silence or music?

Silence. I’ve tried listening to music, but my mind wanders and I can barely form coherent sentences.

How do you start a book?

From the very very first page even if it’s blank. I read all the review blurbs too regardless of how many pages there are.

And finish?

I plod to the end and never skip any pages even if the book is painfully tedious.

Do you have any writing rituals or superstitutions?

“Keep the pencil moving.” Sound advice from my high school math teacher, Duane Fee.

Which living writer do you most admire?

Tom Wolfe because he is tremendously prolific and unbelievably observant.

What or who inspires you?

My family.

If you weren’t a writer, which job would you do?

That’s easy. The one I was trained to do! Genetic epidemiology.

What’s your guilty reading pleasure? Favourite trashy read?

Guilty reading pleasure - action adventure like Tom Clancy.

Favorite trashy read - Hello! or People magazine. Actually, almost any blog would qualify too. :D

Care to answer these questions yourself?