Dissecting Writers:  Rachel

The following questions are taken from a profile of Scottish author Ian Rankin for bookshop chain Waterstone's: http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/pages/content/1285/  
Now all but two have been posed to Rachel (raorrick)
http://deepundergroundpoetry.com/poets/raorrick/    
 
 
What was your favorite childhood book?
 
 There are several...I had a teacher who read
'The Little House On The Prairie' books by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
 
That was always my favorite time of day, and how I learned to love reading.  
I got my love for words and rhyming from Dr. Seuss. My two favorites being Green Eggs And Ham and Oh The Places You'll Go  
 
Which book has made you laugh?
 
 Janet Evanovich has a series of books that I know will always make me laugh.
 I think there are 18 in the series so far...I have not made my way through all of them yet.  
 
Which book has made you cry?
 
 I am sure I have cried at several...I just recently read Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah that made me boohoo for a while.
 
 Some of Danielle Steel's drama books have made me cry too, though I couldn't name them off the top of my head.  
 
Which book would you never have on your bookshelf?
 
 Hmm...I am sure there might be one out there somewhere, but I have yet to find it.
 
 I probably wouldn't have anything on my shelf that goes against my own morals.
 
 Though I tend to be very open minded...there are still a few things I feel strongly about.  
 
Which book are you reading at the moment?
 
 I just finished The Help last night. I promised a friend I would come over and see the movie with her, but I refused to unless I read the book first.
 
 I am about to start a book a friend of mine just finished writing. He is letting me read it before he sends it to the publisher's.
 
I can't tell you the name of it though.  
I am also going to start The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo which was recommended to me by a patient I had.  
 
Which book would you give as a present to a friend?
 
 Depends on the friend of course...but I would make sure it was one I have read, and loved.  
 
Which other writers do you admire?
 
 You mean other than the DU community? Oy, let's see...there are so many. Of course we have the classic writer's that I am sure everyone knows, and I don't need to mention. If we are talking current I have to say:
 
Ann Patchett  
Stephen King  
John Grisham  
Dean Koontz  
Danielle Steele (drama novels)  
Tom Clancy  
James Patterson  
 
 I feel I am being obvious. I know there are so many more greats out there that I am not mentioning...not to mention some unknowns.  
 
Which classic have you always meant to read and never got round to it?
 
 I am almost ashamed to say I haven't read this, but Little Woman. I really want to read that book.
 
I have it, so it shouldn't be hard. I just haven't gotten around to it. I refuse to watch the movie unless I read the book.  
 
What are your top five books of all time, in order or otherwise?
 
 Oh my gosh...this is too hard. I can't say. Whenever I finish a book, it stays with me for awhile.
 
Then I move on. Hmm...  
I don't know if these are favorites, but for the sake of answering the question, I will throw some great one's out there that I remember reading.
 
Alias Grace by ............Margaret Atwood
 
I Know This Much Is True ....by Wally Lamb
 
The Color Purple... .......by Alice Walker
 
The Shining... ............by Stephen King
 
Bel Canto by.. ..............Ann Pratchett
 
 phew...that was tough  
 
What is the worst book you have ever read?
 
 My College Microbiology book...after I read that I was afraid to touch ANYTHING!  
 
Is there a particular book or author that inspired you to be a writer?
 
 I try to find inspiration in every writer, every book or poem that I read. I am currently inspired by the writers here on DU.  
 
[b]What is your favorite time of day to write? [/b]
 
I have three kids and a full time job...my only alone time is after they are in bed. So anytime after 10 pm is when I write.  
 
And favorite place?  
 
 My bedroom against my headboard holding my laptop.  
 
[b][b]Longhand or word processo[/b]r? [/b]
 
Word Processor. I type much faster than I write.  
 
Which fictional character would you most like to have met?
 I like this question. Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas. I would love to just sit and talk to him.  
 
Who, in your opinion, is the greatest writer of all time?
 
 Oy. William Shakespeare maybe.  
 
Which book have you found yourself unable to finish reading?
 Crime And Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky,I am sure it is very good.
 
I have started it a countless number of times, and never get past the first 20 pages...which happens to be chapter 11.  
 
What is your favorite word?  
 
 My favorite word is more of a noise, "oy"...I say quite often. Silly I know.