Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Author Jamie Ford Shares His Favorites

Do you all remember back in September when I got to host the fabulous Jamie Ford for the 2015 #30Authors event?  Well, I was super excited for so many reasons.  I have adored his two published books, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet as well as Songs of Willow Frost.  Also, this amazing author lives in the same town as I do and he is a huge advocate for the library and independent bookstores.  Well, I took the opportunity to contact him and he gave me a little interview on the side in addition to the #30Authors event.  The sad thing is that life got busy and I somehow let it sit in my to-do box far too long.  And, I feel absolutely horrible about it!!  Today, I am here to fix this and share with all of you the exciting result of that interview from so many months ago.  I now share with you a few of Jamie Ford's favorites . . .

A favorite read from childhood. 
Not counting the time I found my father’s Playboy collection in the garage I’d have to go with Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. Even now I dream about Battle School. Also dream about my father’s Playboy collection…

A favorite read to get in the Fall mood. 
I actually read horror every October. Last year’s standout novel was Bird Box by Josh Malerman which was deliciously creepy. But…if you don’t want to sleep with the lights on, I highly recommend Blankets by Craig Thompson. It’s a graphic novel about first love that will break your heart, glue the pieces back together, and then break it all over again. Then again, to some people that’s kind of horrifying as well.

A favorite author with Montana roots or blossoms. (i.e., authors from MT or ones that write about MT) 
The late, great Ivan Doig. Ivan grew up in Montana, moved to Seattle, but wrote about the Big Sky State. I grew up in Seattle, moved to Montana, but wrote about the Emerald City. When I first met him and we shook hands I thought we might have a Freaky Friday moment where our minds jump into each other’s bodies.

A book that you find yourself recommending the most. 
It’s not a particular book, per se, but I end up recommending poetry a lot, especially to book groups. It’s a nice change of pace. And my go-to is usually Derrick Brown, who is a slam poet. Here’s a favorite piece:



To quote Richard Gere from Pretty Woman: “People's reactions to opera the first time they see it is very dramatic; they either love it or they hate it. If they love it, they will always love it. If they don't, they may learn to appreciate it, but it will never become part of their soul.” The same can be said about slam poetry.

A read that you love to revisit. 
This is a weird one but it’s The Harlan Ellison Hornbook. It’s a collection of his essays from the 70s and it’s become my literary comfort food. Harlan is brutal, and honest, and scathing, and vulnerable, and just sticks his heart (and chin) out there on the page. I’m such a fan of Harlan Ellison that I bought his first typewriter, a 1938 Remington Noiseless Portable, forged in the fires of Mt. Doom. It’s my preeeecious.

A huge thanks to Jamie Ford for this fabulously fun interview!  I had so much fun with this, and I am so sorry that it took me almost forever to share here with all of my readers.

6 comments:

  1. Wow, this is awesome! I love his books :) It's cool to hear he's a Harlan Ellison fan, I love his books too. So cool that you live in the same town!

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    1. Natalie A ... I love his books too!! I haven't read Ellison yet, but that will be changing!

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  2. Fun interview! How cool that he lives in the same town as you.

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  3. What an awesome interview! I'm so glad you two connected and hit if off. It is, after all, the entire point of #30Authors!

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    1. Allison @ The Book Wheel ... I am too! Thank you so much for that!! :)

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