Q&A with Fiona Robyn discussion

Hello! Thanks for joining, and do feel free to invite your friends by clicking on 'invite people' on the right - the more the merrier.

If you'd like to say hello I'd love to hear about one of your favourite books, what you're reading right now and one other fact about you.

I'm just about to start 'Bodies' by Susie Orbach which is about how society shapes women's relationships with their bodies. One of my favourite books is Lorrie Moore's Self Help. And my fact is I grow my own garlic. Over to you!

Hello! I didn't know we could do this on Goodreads, nice to be invited. I am just reading two short story collections (as always!): Elegy for Easterly by Petina Gappah for review for The Short Review, and just got The Turing Test, by Chris Beckett, which won the 2009 Edge Hill Short Story Prize. Loving both books, very very different!

I LOVE Lorrie Moore, Self Help is excellent. I just read If No-one Speaks of Remarkable Things by Jon McGregor. Wow.

Hello! Thnaks for the invite!
Currently i am supposed to be reading gao xin - soul mountain and neal stephenson 'quicksilver' but i am eyeing Alice Hoffman's 'third angel' wistfully >_<
i just finished susan hill's 'man in the picture' which was really cool!
I pretty much will read anything and everything am a greedy reader!

Welcome Tania - I didn't know either - only found out about this feature today. I knew you were a fellow Lorrie Moore fan. And I love IFSORT by McGregor too - as you say, beautiful.

Saharial - hi! I've never read Alice Hoffman, but read somewhere this morning that she got a bad review recently and put the reviewers details online so her friends could harrass them... so I think we should stay on her good side ;) Good to see you both here.

Fiona wrote: "Welcome Tania - I didn't know either - only found out about this feature today. I knew you were a fellow Lorrie Moore fan. And I love IFSORT by McGregor too - as you say, beautiful.

Saharial - h..."


really?? hehe - i follow her on twitter but i think i missed that one!!
All her work is very addictive (for me anyway) but I would recommend 'the River king' and 'blue diary' as favourites. 'Blue Diary' is particularly poignant.

G'day!

I am currently reading the letters of H. P. Lovecraft and August Derleth that Hippocampus Press put out this year, for review purposes. I am enjoying them. As for a favourite book, I would love to give Chris: brennan's Poems a plug. A classic of post-Symbolist literature, and a book that should launch a thousand+ other books.

I am also planning a non-fiction book of essays on Australian poetry.

Hello Fiona

Thanks for the invite. As usual I have rather too many books on the go. The ones which are currently at the top of the pile are Nine Gates: Entering the mind of poetry by Jane Hirshfield, [Refuge:]e by Adnan Mahmutovic, The thing around your neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Close Range by Anne Proulx.

Somewhere near the bottom of the pile is Blue Diary by Alice Hoffman.

My fact is that we grow purple podded peas. And yes we do have seed to give away (if you're in the UK).

Thank you for the invite, Fiona! I am almost done with "The Blue Handbag" and am thoroughly enjoying it. (I would be done except for that pesky think called work. LOL) This is a great idea and I look forward to the discussion. My favorite genre is fantasy - David Eddings, Terry Brooks, etc., but I read all types of books and love to stretch.

Hello! Thank you for inviting me to this discussion. I am currently reading several books: Writer Mama by Christina Katz, Writing the Life Poetic by Sage Cohen, and Fearless Confessions: A Writer's Guide to Memoir by Sue William Silverman just to name a few. Nonfiction books typically take me a longer time to read, where I will read fiction within a day or two. I just finished reading The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield and Of Bees and Mist by Erick Setiawan - I thoroughly loved them both.


A favorite book??? Yikes, I love SO many. Two that have really impacted me: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and The Wishing Year by Noelle Oxenhandler.

Interesting fact: I am a book addict. I own nearly 500 books. I could start my own library/book store :)

Glad to meet all of you and to have a chance to discuss reading/writing with Fiona!

Hello, I am Shannan. I am currently reading too many to list its all in my currently reading list and my favorite book so far this year is OF BEES AND MIST by Erick Setiawan. One interesting fact about me is that I am compulsive book buyer.

Hi. I haven't read any of your books yet but I am working my way through a range of new authors. I am currently reading Fred and Rose by Howard Sounes. I started the group: collection of authors so that we could all read some new authors and learn new things. Tracey.

Hi, my name is Tara and I live in VA. My favorite book... hmm... probably Like Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen. I just started The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski.
Interesting fact: I moved a lot when I was younger and went to 3 different Kindergartens in 3 states all in the same year. I went to 2 middle schools and 3 different high schools and still graduated on time.

Hey, I'm Jamie from Nashville, TN. I'm a photographer, so I love to see art in the making and am pretty excited to do so here. The cultural differences should be fascinating as well...

Hands down, my favorite book is Travels with Charlie by Steinbeck, as I love people, and people (with their idiosyncrasies intact) are main subject of said book. I'm currently reading A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khalil Hosseini, The Praise of Folly by Erasmus of Rotterdam, Homer and Langley by E.L. Doctorow, a Simple Heart by Gustave Flaubert, and the Seventh Harry Potter (don't judge me too harshly...).

And for entertaining randomness - If I could figure out a way of carrying around an IV bag/stand from which I could drink a constant drip of black coffee, I would do it in an instant.

Hi,
Thanks for the invite. What a great place this is!
I am currently reading Jodie Picoult Second Glance. I read a variety of books and recently enjoyed Home by Manju Kapur.
I live in Sweden at the moment, so it's not so easy to go into a bookshop and browse and buy. I've missed being in the UK and on the spot just to purchase as the fancy takes me. And I have heard of Amazon. But I haven't used it, yet.

Hi! Thanks for the invite. I am currently reading The Bell Jar and of course I'm loving it. I couldn't pick a favorite book if my life depended on it, but I enjoy Jodi Picoult a lot and a ton of YA novels.

Hmm, a fact about me (I'm not so sure it's interesting) is I've read that dictionary twice.

Hi! Thanks for the invite! Currently I'm reading Of Bees and Mist and The Shack. For fun, I'm reading Mommywood. I could never choose a favorite book, there are just too many that I love! A fact about me is that I love buying books so much, that I probably have more sitting on my to-be-read shelves than I'll ever get to!

I have started on The Secret History by Donna Tartt, and am enjoying it immensely, and not for the reason that I once wanted to be a professional Classicist!

Welcome all! So glad that this place has got busy already.

Phillip - those books make you sound very learned ;) I'll have to watch out for Chris Brennan.

Caroine - ah, Jane Hirschfield is one of my favourite poets - I'm a sucker for zen too. And Proulx too... love the sound of your peas, they sound very pretty.

Donna - so glad you're enjoying the book. Yes, work does have a habit of getting in the way of serious reading! I used to read fantasy when I was younger but haven't for years - I like films/tv though.

Sarah - Sage Cohen is a friend of mine and I LOVE her book - I hope you're enjoying it. I know I'm biased but I do think it's wonderful. And yes, wasn't Eat Pray Love fab?

Tara - Of Bees and Mist gets two mentions in this list - must be a sign that it's worth checking out. Welcome!

Jamie - I think a bit of Harry Potter mixes in well wtih the rest of your list! The Steinbeck book sounds interesting. I have huge holes in my literary knowledge, and that's one of them.

Hello Lynne in Sweden! I use Amazon plenty, but I'd also recommend The Book Depository (who are about to expand to the US I think) at www.bookdepository.com - they do free worldwide delivery and I've been very happy with them. But as you say Lynne, nothing like a browse...

Tasha - yes, The Bell Jar is great. I read a Jodi Picoult last year - she is an amazing story teller. And that is an interesting fact - I'll come to you if I get stuck on a word!

April - the character in my next novel is going to be called April - good to meet another one! Yes, I have to be careful not to buy more books than it's possible to read...

Phillip - yes, I think that's a great book.

Well seems like we have lots of good reading taste here in this group.

I just looked into Of Bees and Mist, It appears it has not been published here yet. Did you guys get advanced copies or has it been released in other countries already?

Tara wrote: "I just looked into Of Bees and Mist, It appears it has not been published here yet. Did you guys get advanced copies or has it been released in other countries already?"

I got an advanced copy from Barnes and Noble first look. Its wonderful. I live in the US. I think it releases in September here.

Thanks for the invite.

Currently reading The Holy Bullet by Luis Miguel Rocha (ARC) and From the Other Side by Lorelei Buckley (halfway through both of them).

A favorite, well, two favorites are The Woodsman by Don Wright and The Spiral Path by Mary Jo Putney - I have read and re-read both of them often.

A favorite overall author is Judith Tarr - I've re-read a few of her books quite often.

Hey Thanks for the invite.
Im currently reading a Lion called Christian, and then Im gonna read The Holy Bullet. Im on the look out for your books. Im very intrested in reading some of your work. Hope all as well and again Thanks!

"Tara wrote: "I just looked into Of Bees and Mist, It appears it has not been published here yet. Did you guys get advanced copies or has it been released in other countries already?"

Hi Tara :) I also got a copy of "Of Bees and Mist" from Barnes and Noble. It was very good. The First Look club is a lot of fun. We are getting ready to start a new book, but the next one should be open for registration between the end of August and the beginning of September.

hello Fiona! Thanks for inviting me.I'm currently reading Chocolat by Joanne Harris, Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter,Lighthousekeeping by Jeanette Winterson, and The Wisdom of Donkeys by Andy Merrifield. I want to read Bring me the Rhinoceros and other Zen stories. I buy most of my books from charity shops - a brand-new book is a great treat! I was lucky enough to win a copy of The Letters - I thoroughly enjoyed it and plan to read everything you've written. One fact about me - I have a long-held dream of living in Italy someday and I am working towards it slowly but surely.

Oh I should look into that!

Hi Gabby - welcome. I haven't heard of any of the authors you mention, but have made a mental note. So many books, so little time...

Cody - good to see you here - hope you find some more book suggestions here.

Katia - hello! Chuffed you liked The Letters. Ooh, Italy - that does sound exciting. I'm a fan of Jeanette Winterson but haven't read anything of hers for ages...

Indeed :)

I was introduced to Lorelei Buckley via a site I do reviews for. Rocha via GoodReads.

I liked both of their books for different reasons - Ms. Buckley is paranormal field, Mr. Rocha is a thriller type read - though for my own reasons Ms. Buckley is going to go on the "go back and investigate further at a later time" - just my own thing as I did like the story.

The Woodsman (and it's follow up The Captives) are based on real events in the US around the French-Indian Wars. The Spiral Path is second in a trio of contemporary books by Ms. Putney and while I like all three, Spiral Path is my favorite.

Hello and thank you for the invite Fiona. I must confess, I have never read any of your books (head down in shame, hands clasped behind back and right foot shuffling back and forth). BUT, now that you have my attention, that will change, I'm sure. Any suggestions as to which one of your writings would be the best to start with?

About myself: I'm a medical transcriptionist and work from home (pros and cons to that). Expecting our 5th granddaughter (working on all-girl football team).

Books I've read -- too many to list. I love mystery and suspense. Most recently finished re-reading Eric Wentz's "Piercing the Veil," a military/special ops thriller, and was blown away by this author's masterful writiting.

Currently reading "The Prodigal Shepherd," "Bad Girls of the Bible," "Six Lessons for Six Sons," and one that I won in a giveaway, "Nikolski."

Thanks for having me here...I'll shut up now!!

Hi Christina - good to see you here. And it certainly isn't compulsory to read any of my books ;) Both of the ones out so far are mystery stories of a sort - The Letters follows divorcee Violet as she moves to the sea and starts getting letters from the past, and The Blue Handbag follows Leonard as he becomes a reluctant detective to unravel a mystery involving his dead wife.

I work from home too - isn't it great? And congratulations on your soon-to-be-5th grandchild. Bet they keep you busy...

Thanks for the recommendations!

Warmest,
Fiona

Carry on saying hello if you haven't yet - don't be shy...

Hi there :-)

Hello Louise - good to meet you ;)

Hi Tay - good to meet you and congratulations on your (soon to be) baby sister!

;)

Hello. I got pulled into the group when I saw your post on my feed about needing bloggers! LOL Anyway, I'm Heather. I'm currently reading The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf. So far as favorites, man. I don't have A favorite book. I fave MANY favorites! LOL The Inkheart trilogy, Michael J. Sullivan's Riyeria Revelations, which starts with The Crown Conspiracy, and many others.

Hi Heather - good to meet you... I know what you mean about it being difficult to pick a favourite (or ten) :)