Showing posts with label list. Show all posts
Showing posts with label list. Show all posts

4 January 2015

Author Q&A Session #16: With Joanna Bolouri

Hello and welcome,
Today I present you one of the most fabulous authors,




Me: Hello and welcome to my blog, Joanna. Congratulations on your debut book, The List. Can you please tell us briefly about the story behind, The List?

Joanna: The List follows a year in the life of Phoebe Henderson who decides to reinvent herself by making a list of ten things she's always wanted to do in bed - a bucket list for between the sheets, in an attempt to get her ex boyfriend Alex out of her system once and for all.

 

Me: What was the inspiration behind such a hilariously engaging story, The List? And was it based on any real people from your life?
Joanna: The idea came about after a conversation with some friends. I think most writers draw inspiration from real life but sadly the majority of this is fiction!

 

Me: Can you tell us one trait of Phoebe Henderson that intrigue you the most?
Joanna: I like her sense of humor, probably because it's very close to mine.

 

Me: What is your take on friends with no strings attached kind of relationship? Do you feel in this modern 21st century, men and women are opting out more for a "friends with no benefits" kind of relationship before committing themselves with their soul mates?
Joanna: Definitely, although I don't always think it works. I think one person is always hoping for something more - it's human nature.

 

Me: This is a dare question totally! What was your source of research for this witty and sexy novel? Say something other than 50 Shades of Grey!
Joanna: I haven't actually read 50 shades of Grey! Research came from websites, conversations, experience and a very vivid imagination!

 

Me: Describe your journey so far as an author? And was it always your one true dream to be a writer? And name any one writer who's books impacted you a lot in your childhood?

Joanna: Stephen King is my favorite author. He definitely inspired me to write, as do most authors I read! I think a good author will inspire me to try harder. My journey so far has been surreal! I went from hoping someone would read my first novel to being published in 12 countries.

 

Me: Since you're a single mother, so is it difficult for you to juggle both your writing hats as well as motherhood?
 

Joanna: It was initially. When my daughter was small I looked after her during the day and wrote at night. Now that she's older, I can work while she's in school (and at night) - the thing I find hardest to juggle is a social life - I don't get much free time.

 

Me: And how do you get away from all those writing stress and daily stress?

Joanna: I sleep! I listen to music, I read, I watch horror films with my best friend and I try to see my friends as much as I can.

 

Me: What's next up on your writing sleeves? Please tell us briefly about it.
  

Joanna: My second novel, I Followed the Rules is out in 2015. It's about a writer who's tasked to follow an infamous dating guide for her weekly column, forcing her to rethink everything she thought she knew about romance and dating.

 

Me: Thank you Joanna for sparing time to have this interview with me for my blog. I can only wish you luck in all your future endeavors. Keep writing those fabulous books!
Joanna: Thank you for having me!
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Joanna's Bio:


Joanna Bolouri is a writer, blogger and much older than she once was. Represented by Kerry Glencorse at Susanna Lea Associates. Her first novel ‘The List’ was published by Quercus in April 2014 and translation rights have been sold to – Turkey, Slovenia, France, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Portugal, Germany, Brazil, Croatia and Spain.
She’s currently somewhere in Glasgow working on her second novel ‘I Followed the Rules’ to be published by Quercus 2015.




Connect With Joanna On: Facebook | Twitter | Author Website | Goodreads | Email

 
  

2 January 2015

It's Time to Make a New Year Resolution List!



Happiee New Year to all my followers as well as to all my friends and fellow bloggers out there!

I know, it's been already a day and I still have not wished you guys. Maybe, I should be more responsible about my blogging in 2015. Ahhaa, sounds like a New Year's Resolution!! Yes, my friends, on this very blog post, I'm going to resolute about certain things that I'd like to follow on 2015. Since, it's again that time of the year, when we firmly make our minds resolute to certain do's and dont's that we will adhere to! So without any negative thoughts, I'd like to share away my list of resolution with you all.



Resolution#1: I 'will' clear out my to-be read shelf by the first quarter of 2015 and 'will' make a new to-be read shelf


Yes, I still have 87 books to read and I must clear out those books and fill with all the new and upcoming books by March. I know it sounds very tough, but my aim will be to finish off reading those 87 books. So with a confident mind, I'd like to promise myself to read 87 books by March.
 

Resolution#2: I 'will' shop less and save more money


Yeah, I confess that I've a shopping problem.. I mean I'm a shopaholic and I don't expect you guys to say that "Aditi, We are here with you" just like in the movie called, "Confessions of a Shopaholic" No, it's not that bad, but it's also not that good! Instead, I'll learn to maintain the records of all my accounts, in fact, I will open Fixed Deposit accounts and Recurring Deposits accounts in my bank to reach my goal. I have to learn to shop sensitively. So I take a solemn pledge to save 1578.99 $, i.e. 1 lakh rupees by the end of this year.

Resolution#3: I 'must' tone down my abs/stomach


Firmly, I swear that I'll use my old and dusty treadmill to at least tone down a bit, not too much toning, but at least by some inches. And I 'will' wake up in the early morning to follow my aim and 'will' also follow a healthy diet. I'm seriously not kidding! I want to be successful at least on this particular resolution of mine.

Resolution#4: I 'will' blog more


My blog's only 2 months old and I'm already drifting apart from it with each passing day, especially, I've no clue about the blog on the occasions like Christmas, Durga Puja or any holiday. And I swear that I'll write more about funny and quirky stuffs, and will constantly drive myself to grow my blog's traffic/readers/followers. Hence, my pledge will be to a successful blogger.

Resolution#5: I 'will' try to be a more better person




Yeah, I guess everyone has this on their resolution list to be more caring, responsible, loving etc.. And just like those people, I too want to solemnly pledge myself to be a better human being and if possible will commit myself to the betterment of this planet. Or at least I will try to be a better daughter and a better friend in the year 2015. And my only motto will be: "Laugh More and Worry Less!"


Resolution#6: I 'will' say NO to a lot of stuff in my life


First, I'll say a big NO to my old life. I will now adopt other habits and passions. I will say 'NO' to all the negative things in my life and to all the negative people in my life. I will even befriend some of my I-don't-know-who-the-hell-he/she-is Facebook friend; it is another way of saying 'NO'. And I will also say 'NO' to my old habits like sulking. I will 'NOT' whine about certain unfortunate situations and will 'NOT' feel jealous/complex about stuffs, people, animals etc. So in a way, I'll start trusting myself more and more in the year 2015.


Resolution#7: This is my last pledge: I 'will' travel to somewhere nice and exotic


It's time to get away from my old and boring city life to somewhere new and exotic. It can be a family trip or a self-trip and for that purpose, I need to save more money instead of buying stupid and random stuffs. It's high time that I start traveling and experience the world with my own eyes.

So, my friends, I'd like to sign off on a positive note and will not think even for a second that I won't be able to keep up with my resolution list, instead, just like Adidas and Nike brands tagline, I'll say to myself: "Nothing is Impossible" and "Yes, I Can".

See you on my next blog post!
Until then,
Happy Reading!