Ask T.M. Goeglein Anything! discussion

It's T.M. Goeglein here, and I'm ready to answer your questions. Ask me anything - about Flicker & Burn, about Cold Fury, about Sara Jane Rispoli, about Chicago - anything goes.

hi ted! i'd like to know what your favorite writing music is. do you listen to any chicago jazz to get in the mood? or are you more of a heavy metal dude?

Hi Ted, I'd like to know what Sara Jane's favorite book would be. Except for the one that's saving her life right now, of course.

Hi Ted, What got you into writing? Was it a particular book that inspired you?

What books do you read more than once? Do you read a lot of YA novels?

Jenni wrote: "hi ted! i'd like to know what your favorite writing music is. do you listen to any chicago jazz to get in the mood? or are you more of a heavy metal dude?"

hey jenni! the truth is, i listen to so much varied music while i write that a comprehensive playlist is impossible. i created a playlist for what i loved listening to while writing the first novel in the trilogy, Cold Fury, which should give you some idea of what i like. you can find it here: http://shadowmundane.blogspot.com/201...

have fun! thanks for the great question.

Julia wrote: "Hi Ted, I'd like to know what Sara Jane's favorite book would be. Except for the one that's saving her life right now, of course."

Hi Julia - SJ's favorite book is one she's had since she was a little kid - "Worst Case Scenario - Survive-O-Pedia, Junior Edition." It comes in handy! Best,

TMG

Patti wrote: "Hi Ted, What got you into writing? Was it a particular book that inspired you?"

Hey Patti - Probably movies as much as books, but I can never get enough of anything written by Elmore Leonard! Best,

TMG

Justin wrote: "What books do you read more than once? Do you read a lot of YA novels?"

Hey Justin - I re-read "Out of Sight," by Elmore Leonard, and '"The Long Goodbye," by Raymond Chandler, pretty regularly. And of course, the greatest YA book ever - "Catcher in the Rye," by J.D. Salinger. Best -

TMG

Hi Ted,
What's your approach to writing? Do you write every day with a set schedule? Are you a "ruminater?" Does plot or character come first?

Thanks.
Dianne

Hey Dianne -

I approach it like a dedicated plumber - I write 9 to 5, and overtime, if necessary. There are stretches of rumination, of course, which become part of the schedule; for me, writing and thinking about what I'm writing are the same thing. Plot or character - hopefully, they're as intertwined as two vines, impossible to separate. Think of Holden Caulfield - no other kid could've narrated The Catcher in the Rye. The story and him belong to one another. Thanks for the questions! - Ted

Hi Ted,
What inspired you to write the series? I love Sara Jane and her family, how did you come up with them?

Maria wrote: "Hi Ted,
What inspired you to write the series? I love Sara Jane and her family, how did you come up with them?"

Hey Maria - thanks for the question. Frankly, I tried to create a family that, from the outside, appeared as boringly normal as possible. Mom, dad, siblings, grandparents, small family business -- and then remove that normalcy bit by bit until Sara Jane realizes it's all a facade. Best - Ted

I like Sara Jane's name. How did you come up with it? Did you go through a lot of names to get to it?

Hey Maria -

I'm from a Greek-American family and it occurred to me that after a couple of generations pass, the ethnic first names tend to be replaced by more traditionally American-sounding names.My protagonist is third generation Sicilian-American and thus, rather than Ottorina or Concetta...Sara Jane.

Thanks! - Ted

Maria wrote: "I like Sara Jane's name. How did you come up with it? Did you go through a lot of names to get to it?"

Hey Maria -

I'm from a Greek-American family and it occurred to me that after a couple of generations pass, the ethnic first names tend to be replaced by more traditionally American-sounding names.My protagonist is third generation Sicilian-American and thus, rather than Ottorina or Concetta...Sara Jane.

Thanks! - Ted