Ask the Author: Alexandra Curry
Answered Questions (4)
Alexandra Curry
I am working on a novel about a woman whose life is in almost every way a mirror image of Sai Jinhua's life. Jinhua was an orphan. This girl comes from a large and messy family from whom she needs to escape. Jinhua was born in a time and place where she could make virtually no independent choices. My next heroine came of age in America during the roaring 20's, and she had a huge number of choices to make for herself, sometimes too many for her own good. Sai Jinhua travelled from East to West when that was new and surprising--and my new heroine left America and landed in Shanghai during the 1930's. As a writer, it's an incredible contrast between two women caught up in the East West dynamic from different sides of the planet and at different times in history. I hope my readers will agree!
Alexandra Curry
Hi Laura Lee. You cannot imagine how thrilled I am that you liked my book. And the answer to your question...it was really hard, but it just happened--the right story at the right time--and a lot of good luck! (Which is what I wish for you)
Alexandra Curry
There is nothing so inspiring, now that I have actually written one book, as an interesting person. Where you have an interesting person, there is undoubtedly a great story - and I find in talking to people, listening to their stories, asking them questions (or in reading about people, thinking about them, asking myself why might a person have done this or that, or why might she or he be a certain way, or what would happen if...) wonderful things begin to happen. And then there is language. I love words. I love finding ways to use language and words to set a scene and make it vivid. There is nothing like the feeling one gets when the sentence is just right.
And lastly - reading other writers' work. There are so many fabulous books out there, and when I find a writer whose story captivates and changes me, or changes the way I think about something, I am so inspired to work harder to be the best writer than I can possibly be.
And lastly - reading other writers' work. There are so many fabulous books out there, and when I find a writer whose story captivates and changes me, or changes the way I think about something, I am so inspired to work harder to be the best writer than I can possibly be.
Alexandra Curry
I do one of two things. Most often I take my dog for a walk. We walk 6 miles - which takes about an hour and a half - and it is amazing what comes to mind. I focus on a couple of things: one is what is going on around us as we walk. The second is first sentences. I often find that once I have that first compelling sentence to start the chapter, the paragraph - or the book for that matter, I am ready to charge ahead.
And the second thing I do? Hot yoga. It's hot, it is sweaty, and it really helps me focus!
And the second thing I do? Hot yoga. It's hot, it is sweaty, and it really helps me focus!
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