Colleen Houck Book Club discussion

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Colleen
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Oct 09, 2018 10:32AM

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I've been writing as long as I can remember. Before I even started school, I used to write little stories and then pay my sister to illustrate them. (Sadly, I'm a terrible artist.) But when I was in fourth grade, a teacher complimented me on a story I'd written for a class assignment and I was hooked. All through high school I worked on the school newspaper, but in college I really fell in love with creative writing and knew that's what I wanted to do. So, I switched my major from journalism to English. Still, it took me many more years to get up the courage to pursue publication.

Both!
Ice cream flavor?
Butter Pecan
Cake or Pie?
Pie
Coke or Pepsi?
Pepsi. But Diet Dr Pepper is even better!
Cocoa or Tea?
Cocoa!
Fav sandwich?"
Turkey on sourdough with tomato and avocado

I'm frantically working on finishing up edits for the sequel to The Bone Charmer before taking on a big cross country move. We're leaving Washington State and headed to the Washington D.C. area. Exciting, but exhausting!
Breeana wrote: "Colleen wrote: "How did you get started writing?"
I've been writing as long as I can remember. Before I even started school, I used to write little stories and then pay my sister to illustrate the..."
I think that's so amazing that you knew what you wanted to do at such a young age. It took me forever to figure out writing was something I wanted to do.
I've been writing as long as I can remember. Before I even started school, I used to write little stories and then pay my sister to illustrate the..."
I think that's so amazing that you knew what you wanted to do at such a young age. It took me forever to figure out writing was something I wanted to do.
Breeana wrote: "Colleen wrote: "Any must haves while you write?"
Diet Dr. Pepper. :)"
One of my faves!
Diet Dr. Pepper. :)"
One of my faves!
Breeana wrote: "Colleen wrote: "Chocolate or caramel?
Both!
Ice cream flavor?
Butter Pecan
Cake or Pie?
Pie
Coke or Pepsi?
Pepsi. But Diet Dr Pepper is even better!
Cocoa or Tea?
Cocoa!
Fav sandwich?"
Turkey ..."
OOOH favorite pie? Are you a baker?
Both!
Ice cream flavor?
Butter Pecan
Cake or Pie?
Pie
Coke or Pepsi?
Pepsi. But Diet Dr Pepper is even better!
Cocoa or Tea?
Cocoa!
Fav sandwich?"
Turkey ..."
OOOH favorite pie? Are you a baker?
Breeana wrote: "Colleen wrote: "What's up next for you?"
I'm frantically working on finishing up edits for the sequel to The Bone Charmer before taking on a big cross country move. We're leaving Washington State ..."
I had no idea you were a neighbor! I'm an Oregonian myself. I'd be terribly heartbroken to leave the northwest. Is it for a job? School?
I'm frantically working on finishing up edits for the sequel to The Bone Charmer before taking on a big cross country move. We're leaving Washington State ..."
I had no idea you were a neighbor! I'm an Oregonian myself. I'd be terribly heartbroken to leave the northwest. Is it for a job? School?
What's the best advice you've ever been given? (It doesn't have to be about writing) Mine was during my bridal shower. A very old lady told me, "A well-fed man is a happy man." I have since learned that a truer statement has never been made in the history of the world. ;)

Both!
Ice cream flavor?
Butter Pecan
Cake or Pie?
Pie
Coke or Pepsi?
Pepsi. But Diet Dr Pepper is even better!
Cocoa or Tea?
Cocoa!
Fav sa..."
So many favorite pies! I love banana cream, strawberry, pecan...But sadly, I haven't had sugar in over a year (it aggravates migraines for me) so I haven't baked anything in a long time!

I'm frantically working on finishing up edits for the sequel to The Bone Charmer before taking on a big cross country move. We're leaving W..."
We're moving for my husband's job. We've lived in the D.C. area before and really loved it, but we'll definitely miss the PNW.

My story is pretty boring. :) I got my agent through good old fashioned querying and she sold the first book we submitted. (Which I'm so grateful for.). I had plenty of rejections along the way, though!

Ohhh, what a great question! And a hard one to answer! My uncle once told me never to pass up the opportunity for a nap. He said one day I'd long for all the naps I'd never taken as a kid. At the time, I didn't pay much attention, but once I became a mother, he suddenly seemed very wise.

I've been writing as long as I can remember. Before I even started school, I used to write little stories and then pay my sister t..."
Maybe it was just because writing was literally the only thing I was good at. I don't have an athletic or musical bone in my body. It was writing or bust. ;)

Yes, I have. But every time I think I might write in a different genre--contemporary, for example--fantasy elements end up creeping in, and I'm right back to writing speculative fiction. Magic is sneaky that way. But maybe someday I'll pull it off! :)

I was completely sucked in by Holly Black's THE WICKED KING. So good!


I was the same way! I used to bring home stacks of books during school breaks and tear through them one after another. I don't think I ever finished two in a day--you have me beat there--but it wasn't unusual for me to read one every day. What I wouldn't give now for a whole week or two to do nothing but read. Magical! :)

I'm a bit of both. I usually have enough plotted to serve as kind of a road map--a beginning, an ending, and a few major turning points--and then I pants it from there.
My average writing day starts around 8 a.m. and ends about 3:00 p.m. I often have music in the background, but it can't be anything with lyrics or I can't focus. Something about other people's words in my ear make it impossible to write my own.
I usually write in my office at home, though occasionally I'll meet friends in a cafe for a writing date, or mix it up and write somewhere else, but most days you can find me at my writing desk. Same time, same place.
Breeana wrote: "My uncle once told me never to pass up the opportunity for a nap.."
I love that one! I'm writing that one down.
I love that one! I'm writing that one down.
Breeana wrote: "I'm a bit of both. I usually have enough plotted to serve as kind of a road map--a beginning, an ending, and a few major turning points--and then I pants it from there.."
I'm a bit like that. I plot the main points and then makeup all the in-between parts.
I'm a bit like that. I plot the main points and then makeup all the in-between parts.
What's one fantasy or magical creature you want to write about but haven't included in a book yet?


Paris!!! I visited for the first time last summer and it was even more magical than I imagined. I only had three days there, but I'd love to go for a month and spend my days strolling down the streets and writing in the cafes. So beautiful!

It's probably totally cliche, but I'd love to write a dragon book.

Ohhh, so many! I love Leigh Bardugo, Holly Black, Mary Pearson, Sara Zarr, J.K. Rolling, Jenny Han, and of course, Colleen. As for a different genre, I'd love to be able to write a contemporary novel as compelling as Sara Zarr's work. She's so brilliant at characterization.
These are kind of random but: What are some of your favorite book covers of all time that aren't your own? Do you have a preferred font that you write in? Do you have any funny typos you've ever written?

Some of my very favorites are THE LAST NAMSARA (the book is also fabulous) and SNOW LIKE ASHES.
I almost always write in Times New Roman, but sometimes if I'm editing and I need a fresh look at the manuscript, I'll change the font to something random and it has a way of making typos jump out at me.
This is more an autocorrect thing than a typo, but whenever I write the phrase "bare arms", my computer wants to change it to "bear arms" which gives me a visual that always makes me laugh.
Thank you so much Breeana for the awesome book chat this month! Our chat winner is...Miranda! Congrats! Don't forget to join me in July when I'm featuring a new book by another amazing author!
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