Ask the Author: Jan Notzon
Answered Questions (17)
Jan Notzon
Jo, I'm really sorry you found the vocabulary distracting. I tried to limit myself to the point at which the only appropriate word I could think of was the one I used. I do love painting as thorough a picture as I can. Perhaps I get a little carried away. I use a thesaurus only when I've used a word twice in close proximity: maybe five times in the writing of The Id Paradox. I'm really sorry it was distracting for you.
Some readers like it (as you can see from the first review I got (something along the lines of "Jan reminds us of what a rich language we have"). Another reader objected to the philosophical portion. I guess you can't please everyone.
But I very much appreciate your feedback and will keep it in mind as I continue my journey as a writer.
Cheers,
Jan
Some readers like it (as you can see from the first review I got (something along the lines of "Jan reminds us of what a rich language we have"). Another reader objected to the philosophical portion. I guess you can't please everyone.
But I very much appreciate your feedback and will keep it in mind as I continue my journey as a writer.
Cheers,
Jan
Jan Notzon
Ida and Mae sat on their front porch on a hot, humid summer day, sipping iced tea and gossiping. Mae paused for a second, fanning herself and said, "Whew, what a horror this day is!"
Jan Notzon
I'd go to "The Last Temptation of Christ". The reason's obvious.
Jan Notzon
Thanks, Richard. I did. I thought createspace had sent me to him but found out they don't do such things. I guess he just saw my request and found my other email. There are so many things about the web that I'm mystified by.
Jan Notzon
Gary: Thanks so much. I've contracted with CreateSpace for this one but will definitely keep you in mind for the next.
Jan Notzon
The Battle For Spain; Watership Down; Imagi e Me G ne; The Just City; Robinson Crusoe; The Road Not Taken; The Brick and the Rose
Jan Notzon
Why did my paternal grandfather garner an audition with the NY Philharmonic but not pursue a musical career?
Jan Notzon
Strangely enough, I'd have to say Samuel Hamilton and his wife from East of Eden. I think the exchange between the two of them concerning exegeses of The Bible is hilarious. Steinbeck describes her (which is one of my favorite descriptions in all literature) as follows: "She had a dour Presbyterian mind and a code of morals that pinned down and beat the brains out of nearly everything that was pleasant to do."
Jan Notzon
OMG, Laura there are so many. Thanks for asking. I've o Witness, Darkness At Noon, A Peoples's History of the US; I want to read Maple Lee Faussi's Leaf but couldn't find it; Fiona Hogan's Death Comes Calling; The Sea Wolf; Fingersmith, Mr. Norris Changes Trains; Laurel Heidtman's The Body on the Barstool; Miriamne the Magdala, JB Richards, I think. So many wonderful books, so little time!
Jan Notzon
I wish you many, many more.
Jan Notzon
Perhaps I mistook the question mark for the exclamation point. Hey, I'm 65!
Jan Notzon
Hmm...good question. It's a combination of life and imagination, places I know and situations I imagine from the things that concern me: what is the purpose of life? does it have any? what is the nature of evil, and how does it flourish? how do we forgive ourselves for being human? Etc., etc.
Jan Notzon
I answered that in the first question: but, research, other writing I like, things that happen to me or to others...my own demons.
Jan Notzon
Well, I finished my 2nd novel months ago and nobody from the publisher seems to be able to tell me what the holdup is on publication. Consequently, I've started my third. We'll see...
Jan Notzon
I don't know if I'm the person to answer this but, I was an actor till acting stopped being fun. Try to enjoy the process because who knows if it will ever amount to anything.
Jan Notzon
The thing that gets the endorphins flowing is writing myself out of a corner I've written myself into. But just letting my imagination go is loads of fun.
Jan Notzon
Honestly, I just sit there and let my mind wander, or I do research (which always stimulates my writing), take a few notes, read some prose I really like for inspiration (John Steinbeck, William Styron, Khaled Hosseini, et. al.).
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