Ask the Author: Amanda Baker
Answered Questions (11)
Amanda Baker
Hmmm - with a bit of room to maneuver. These two sentences are extracted from my newly published epic environmental poetry story 'Casey & the Surfmen'. This fable appertains to the real horror story unfolding round us right now... This is from part ll of the story.
"Burning wind scorched the earth which was barren and grey,
no sun arose, no new day,
no moon of silver and shimmering white
consecrated the velvet night.
No sound but the scream of the mutilated earth
and the howl of The One who was there at its birth,
no noise but the weeping of babes in the womb,
no laughing but the chuckles from the tomb."
Enjoy...
"Burning wind scorched the earth which was barren and grey,
no sun arose, no new day,
no moon of silver and shimmering white
consecrated the velvet night.
No sound but the scream of the mutilated earth
and the howl of The One who was there at its birth,
no noise but the weeping of babes in the womb,
no laughing but the chuckles from the tomb."
Enjoy...
Amanda Baker
Although it’s been a fantastic Science Fiction week here on Goodreads and I’ve enjoyed the ‘craic’ with everyone else – I have to admit I’d not want to end up in the sci-fi world of my own making – Zero One Zero Two https://www.amazon.com/dp/1539762602 it is after all, despite a bit of romance and dark humour, the dystopian variety.
I would, however, be quite happy in the world of Eleanor my young kick-ass, time-striding dragon slayer https://www.amazon.com/dp/154479147X Who wouldn’t want to be entertained and infuriated by the Enquates or slay those murderous fiery creatures that have, through literary ages, manifest our fears and insecurities? Having said that, I might cast myself as one of the characters who does up Eleanor’s battle garb rather than one who gallops into the fray…
I would, however, be quite happy in the world of Eleanor my young kick-ass, time-striding dragon slayer https://www.amazon.com/dp/154479147X Who wouldn’t want to be entertained and infuriated by the Enquates or slay those murderous fiery creatures that have, through literary ages, manifest our fears and insecurities? Having said that, I might cast myself as one of the characters who does up Eleanor’s battle garb rather than one who gallops into the fray…
Amanda Baker
I’d like to say I will be completing Marcel Proust’s epic volumes. But, having read volume 1 ‘Swann’s Way’ and volume II ‘Within a Budding Grove’ a few summers ago, following a magazine supplement recommendation by Will Self, I’d rather chew nettles washed down with fermented ants’ wee. And if I ever meet Self I hope he has bunions cos I will stamp on his toes – hard.
400 pages on the path outside Proust’s house (the effete Proust -thinly disguised as the effete Swann) And that’s just for starters. I mean – I know life was slower paced back then but good lord - ‘À la recherche du temps perdu’ indeed.
It is as pointless dissing the classics as it is to complain that a 1950s movie is sexist (on the other hand so are a lot of modern movies and there is no excuse!) Everything has its place. Some books manage true transcendence and I will consider myself lucky if I get to re-re-read Don Quixote and/or Anna Karenina again in my life.
However, if anyone comes near me with a copy of Proust – watch out. I may not be armed or dangerous but I have my limits…
400 pages on the path outside Proust’s house (the effete Proust -thinly disguised as the effete Swann) And that’s just for starters. I mean – I know life was slower paced back then but good lord - ‘À la recherche du temps perdu’ indeed.
It is as pointless dissing the classics as it is to complain that a 1950s movie is sexist (on the other hand so are a lot of modern movies and there is no excuse!) Everything has its place. Some books manage true transcendence and I will consider myself lucky if I get to re-re-read Don Quixote and/or Anna Karenina again in my life.
However, if anyone comes near me with a copy of Proust – watch out. I may not be armed or dangerous but I have my limits…
Amanda Baker
I would love to have had a mysterious life so that I could mine it for plots. Sadly I am a straightforward person with a thankfully boring life. My work has to come from my imagination. However, I do use personal experience to help paint realistic backdrops for some of my books. I've never fought a dragon (see the Eleanor books) but I was a lawyer and a lot of the incidental information and characterisation in 'The Companion Contract' is my own direct experience. Oddly enough, some of the background detail folk find most unbelievable, actually happened...
Amanda Baker
You wont be surprised if it's a couple from one of my own books as obviously I write them as I like them. It has to be Sven the Severe and Lady Mia Adora Passionata Erosina Amora (you get that she is the love interest?) from my children's adventure book Eleanor & the Dragons of Death. It is epic love, also mixed race but on top of that they both rock most excellently in the dragon slaying department.
If it doesn't have to be romantic love then you cannot top Don Quixote and Sancho Panza in Don Quixote.
If it doesn't have to be romantic love then you cannot top Don Quixote and Sancho Panza in Don Quixote.
Amanda Baker
I only ever had WB once. In 2005 I had two novels contracted to a New York literary agency. My time with them was so awful I wrote nothing new for the entire year. Fortunately I hooked up with a respected experienced writer in the NE who'd had an identical experience. I followed her example and got out of my contract with that agency.
Amanda Baker
According to my middle daughter (when she was little) 'drinking tea ALL DAY!'
Amanda Baker
Not very original I am afraid. IF you are serious keep going.
Amanda Baker
Editing some comedy performance poetry
Amanda Baker
I got a rosette at my local library in about 1970 for a poem I wrote about Beatrix Potter...
Amanda Baker
Maybe I'm Not a Pigeon (humorous sortofautobiography and literary mashup) is a departure for me. I just spent 13 months being wrung through the fostering process and it brought a lot of stuff UP. It had to go somewhere...
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