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Ask the Author: Ellen Wittlinger

“Ask me a question.” Ellen Wittlinger

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Ellen, Susan here. I'm trying to buy a few more used books for my Little Free Library's "Banned Books" celebration week later this month. I've already picked up two more Hard Love and Parrotfish, of course, and I will put out Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry, To Kill a Mockingbird, and 1984 (which I've been saving). There are just too many new banned transgender books. What are the top 2 or 3 choices?
Ellen Wittlinger Hi Susan. Great you're curating your LFL so well! In truth, I haven't kept up with the YA world much since I'm only writing plays these days, but I looked at this list: https://www.nypl.org/books-more/recom... and there are a few titles/authors whose names I recognize. They've been around a while and have garnered awards. If I Were Your Girl by Meredith Russo and Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender. Stay Gold by Tobly Smith I've heard of recently too. And Tomboy, which is a graphic novel, might also be good. Thanks for being such a thoughtful LFL owner!
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Ellen, Have you read The Garden of the Evening Mist of Miss Benson's Beetle?
Ellen Wittlinger Hi Anna! Hope you're doing well. I haven't read it or even heard of it? Do you recommend it?
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Who is your favorite fictional couple, and why?
Ellen Wittlinger Will and Louisa in Me Before You. Love the building of the relationship between these 2 unlikely people. Also, gallons of tears at the ending.
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How do you deal with writer’s block?
Ellen Wittlinger For me writer's block means I've gotten afraid of failure (which always seems to be sniffling at my heels.) It's not easy to outrun it, but you have to figure out a way to keep yourself writing--about anything--until your confidence comes back.
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What’s the best thing about being a writer?
Ellen Wittlinger The freedom to work whatever hours you want in whatever clothing you want to. You still have to do the work, but you can do it at midnight in sweatpants and fuzzy slippers.
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What are you currently working on?
Ellen Wittlinger A YA novel set in 1965, mostly in Disneyland.
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How do you get inspired to write?
Ellen Wittlinger I don't count on inspiration, although some days it's there. But you can't wait for it or you'll never accomplish anything. If you're going to finish writing something you need to show up every day and do the work, inspired or not.
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Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?
Ellen Wittlinger Local Girl Swept Away has very old origins. When I lived in Provincetown, MA in 1975, two young women were swept off the breakwater in a windstorm. Only one survived. I've been mulling the story possibilities since then and finally found my own take on it.
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Ellen Wittlinger
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