Ask the Author: Gary A. Nilsen
Answered Questions (9)
Gary A. Nilsen
I considered all the books and all the worlds I've read about, but one answer always rises to the top - I would travel to the world of Harry Potter and apply for a position at Hogwarts to teach Muggle Studies.
Gary A. Nilsen
Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan, The Beast is an Animal, by Peternelle van Arsdale, and The Last Days of Magic, by Mark Tompkins
Gary A. Nilsen
Great question. So many books present individual protagonists where the story, despite any romantic attachments that may develop over the course of the narrative, focuses on the individual. I would have to say that, as of my current reading history, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark are my favorites. Love and commitment tends to erode under the stress of cataclysmic events. Given the onslaught of forces seeking to destroy both Katniss and Peeta, that they were able to stand by one another in the end was satisfying. I'm sure many would go for bigger couples like Scarlett and Rhett, or Gatsby and Daisy, or even Romeo and Juliet, but given my very soft heart for dystopian stories, I have to go with Katniss and Peeta.
Gary A. Nilsen
Having the ability to move between worlds and know fascinating characters without ever leaving your chair...
Gary A. Nilsen
The idea for Alfheim wasn't born from any one thing; rather is comes from a mood, a sense of place that came from a dream when I was 9 or 10 years old. In that dream I was kidnapped and taken into a magical world. I remember that one of the girls, who were all dressed in green (almost like leprechauns) was a classmate of mine. I don't remember the details of the dream, except that in the end, they brought me back to my house in Brooklyn and left me near the front door of the sunlit hallway. I came away with two things that never left me: waking and desperately wanting to go back to sleep to resume the dream and a panic of wanting to go back to their world so badly. It awoke a sense of wonder in alternate worlds and a love of fantasy. When I read Twilight, even though I'm not the typical member of the intended demographic for that novel, I realized that it was okay to let go and write from the position of passion. The result was Alfheim...
Gary A. Nilsen
Inspiration comes from so many sources. It's about keeping the window open so you can FEEL the breeze. Pay attention to the feelings it generates. Inspiration can come from seeing a commercial that resonates somewhere inside, a movie that taps into your psyche, a piece of music.
Gary A. Nilsen
Dotting i's and crossing t's in making the final version of my novel as perfect as it can be. Then it's on to continuing work for the novel's sequel.
Gary A. Nilsen
Never give up, learn patience, develop a thick hide...
Gary A. Nilsen
There really isn't any such thing. What writers often face is uncertainty in how the story should be moving forward, which usually ends with someone walking away from the keyboard or the notepad. The solution is counter-intuitive; you simply sit down and write. What comes out might be "flushable", but it will end with finding the path again.
The other symptom is lack of motivation which stems from the daunting feeling of not knowing what you're doing. My answer to that? Sit down and reread some of your work, it will spark the creativity inside you and start the process moving forward. It's like turning the key to start your car's engine.
The other symptom is lack of motivation which stems from the daunting feeling of not knowing what you're doing. My answer to that? Sit down and reread some of your work, it will spark the creativity inside you and start the process moving forward. It's like turning the key to start your car's engine.
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