Ask the Author: Olga Werby
Answered Questions (13)
Olga Werby
I came to America as a refuge. The story of how that happened -- secret communications, the secret service interrogations, hidden data, the waiting out in Germany, Austria, and Italy -- would make a rather nice little thriller although not a mystery. After all, I know how it all turned out.
Olga Werby
I'll be honored!
Olga Werby
Are you sure there is no coffee? We have coffee, but the milk is sour and there is no sweetener?!
Olga Werby
Myst -- I would travel into the book worlds of Myst and Riven: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myst. And yes, there were books too, so it counts as a "read". I love the imaginative and mesmerizing landscapes and a tragic tale. I also love that nothing jumps out at you. I want to look and enjoy the scenery and not be accidentally eaten or shot or killed...or have to kill or hurt anyone. I like to keep my murders only to my main characters. Places I visit, I prefer much more peaceful. When asked if I would want to visit any of of my books, I said "God no!" I stand by my answer...
Olga Werby
Summer is long, as measured by books. Right now, I'm in the middle of "How Not to Be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking" by Jordan Ellenberg.
I'm a hungry reader, going through books like candy. I tend to oscillate between fiction stories and science books.
At the moment, I'm writing a very long short story -- so my mind is racing on what happens next to my character. So reading a science book is a perfect side dish to my creative endeavor. And who knows what's next?
I welcome suggestions!
I'm a hungry reader, going through books like candy. I tend to oscillate between fiction stories and science books.
At the moment, I'm writing a very long short story -- so my mind is racing on what happens next to my character. So reading a science book is a perfect side dish to my creative endeavor. And who knows what's next?
I welcome suggestions!
Olga Werby
This sounds like a question about a romantic couple, but I would prefer to answer it with a platonic answer. One of my favorites is Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, especially in their newer incarnations which award Dr. Watson with more personality and freedom of action. But I have just discovered a new author (and I am in love!): Neal Stephenson. He has an amazing way with language and the man is nothing but a thorough researcher of every topic he writes about (thank you, thank you, thank you for writing intelligently about Riemann Functions!). Yesterday I finished his Baroque Cycle trilogy, and I would declare that the relationship between Isaac Newton and Dr. Daniel Waterhouse was perfect. So at the moment, they are my favorite couple.
But if I were to go back to my childhood, I would pick Peter Blood and Arabella...
But if I were to go back to my childhood, I would pick Peter Blood and Arabella...
Olga Werby
I don't have any personal knowledge of being a writer in Russia, but I have some experience of being a reader. I grew up there and remember vividly not being able to get my hands on books I wanted desperately to read... Some because they were banned there, some because translations were not available, some just because things were hard to get back then. Some books were copied by hand and circulated about, each recipient careful to treat the fraying pages as holy relics.
Before my family left, we had to sell all of our books. I was desperate to read them all before they were taken away. I read to the very last moment (the man came at 12:30 at night to take the boxes away...). Some of those books (and stories) I've never saw again.
Before my family left, we had to sell all of our books. I was desperate to read them all before they were taken away. I read to the very last moment (the man came at 12:30 at night to take the boxes away...). Some of those books (and stories) I've never saw again.
Olga Werby
Start another story.
Olga Werby
Learning what happens next!
Olga Werby
Write! It takes a lot of writing to get good at it. The more you write, the more stories are born inside of you, the more you need to write them down.
Olga Werby
"Twin Time" -- a story of twin girls one of whom is autistic traveling through time...
Olga Werby
I have many stories in my head... some get out, eventually...
Olga Werby
I know a lot of children with autism (and I have worked with families that have children on the Autism spectrum). I wanted to write about a family dynamic where one child requires an enormous amount of attention, while the other doesn't dare ask for too much. And so a story of twin girls, one with autism and one without, was born.
My grandmother grew up in rural Russia, partly before the 1917 Revolution. Her family was rich (and had some sort of title) and didn't survive the change in regime well, even though they provided a lot of services for their community including running an orphanage. My grandmothers story was amazing -- heart wrenching and mesmerizing -- running away rom killers in the middle of night, having some family members shot while other staved to death...
And I write science fiction...
So I wanted all of these ideas combined into one story -- the result is "Twin Time". The story of twin children -- one autistic and one not -- traveling through time to Russia before, during, and after the revolution.
"Twin Time" will be out at the end of 2015. I hope you read it!
My grandmother grew up in rural Russia, partly before the 1917 Revolution. Her family was rich (and had some sort of title) and didn't survive the change in regime well, even though they provided a lot of services for their community including running an orphanage. My grandmothers story was amazing -- heart wrenching and mesmerizing -- running away rom killers in the middle of night, having some family members shot while other staved to death...
And I write science fiction...
So I wanted all of these ideas combined into one story -- the result is "Twin Time". The story of twin children -- one autistic and one not -- traveling through time to Russia before, during, and after the revolution.
"Twin Time" will be out at the end of 2015. I hope you read it!
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