I would like to welcome Dina Silver, author of
Kat Fight and
One Pink Line to The Book Bag today. I loved
Kat Fight ~
read my thoughts here ~ and I have
One Pink Line on my TBR list. At the end of this post, there is a chance to win an Amazon gift card ~ so go check it out!
I asked Dina to answer the question I always like to ask authors. I love hearing what all they have to say about their writing process.
So Dina ~ I have heard other authors say that they 'hear voices in their head' and that is how they write their books: the characters are telling their stories. Not being a writer myself, that concept has always intrigued me.
When some people hear voices, we get them medical attention, others end up becoming writers. Does this happen to you? How do you come up with your stories?
When I’m writing dialogue, there are times when I can absolutely hear conversations between two characters in my head. For me, I would compare the process more to watching a scene in a movie or TV show, where I’m observing these two people having the conversation. What is there body language, what are their feet doing, are they holding anything, how long are they pausing to ponder what they’re thinking…or is the conversation more rapid fire?
Writing dialogue is one of my favorite things, and I always feel really pressured to make the conversation sound authentic, and not add in words simply because they look good on paper, or would make a funny joke. Since I hopefully have my reader invested in the story with lots of other fluff, as the writer, I have to be careful not to lose them with contrived conversations between characters.
Stephen King, in one of my favorite books by him, On Writing, has a really great theory on dialogue: “Dialogue is a skill best learned by people who enjoy talking and listening to others - particularly listening, picking up the accents, rhythms, dialect, and slang of various groups. Loners often write it badly, or with the care of someone who is composing in a language other than his or her native tongue.” This was great news for me because I LOVE listening to people’s stories!
Ten Fun Facts about Kat Fight
1. The first time I met my future husband was on a blind double date. He was dating my friend Susie, and I was set-up with a guy who reviewed nude film scenes for a living. My date from that night has turned his obsession with nude celebrities into a million dollar enterprise. Check him out at Mr.Skin.com.
2. I fell in love with my husband the second time I saw him. He approached me at the health club and asked me for a ride home. After he exited my car I knew we would be married one day. I wish I could explain how I knew - but I can’t.
3. Once I divulged my affection for my husband to my friend Susie - who had dated him - her reaction was nothing like Julie’s was in the book. She was extremely understanding when I told her…and she wants to make sure everyone knows that.
4. I went to a gay bar called the Manhole one Halloween night with three gay co-workers of mine. My experience was identical to Kat’s, and I have never had so much fun in my life.
5. Brooke’s relationship with Drew is based on that of a very close friend of mine. She’s an accomplished, witty, energetic and truly amazing woman. I disliked her husband since their wedding day, and watched her spend 15 years with him and his indiscretions. Brooke’s car chase scene in the book was based on an actual event that my friend’s husband put her through as he drove circles around her with his mistress in the car. It gives me great pleasure to report that as of January 2010, she is finally divorced.
6. I met my future mother-in-law the same way Kat meets Ryan’s mom.
7. I dated a guy named Rob when I lived in L.A. for a year. He was a lifeguard, and we met exactly the same way Kat meets Rob at the beach. I woke up with a man being arrested for pleasuring himself next to be - also thankfully unbeknownst to me - and the lifeguard on duty that day became my boyfriend.
8. When my husband was six years old, my mother-in-law used to grill him about what he should say to his future wife if she didn’t want to go to his mother’s house for dinner.
9. I don’t have a gay best friend, but I would really like one.
10. I do have a gay babysitter, however, and his name is Adam. He has been sitting for my son since he was three years old. Adam hopes to have kids of his own one-day and marry the man of his dreams. Nothing would make me happier.
Author Bio:
Dina Silver is a writer, red wine drinker, cheese fry lover, and future cat hoarder. She currently lives with her family in suburban Chicago. Inspired by how she met her husband, Kat Fight is Dina’s second novel.
Connect with Dina!
TWITTER: @DinaSilver
**Everyone who leaves a comment on the tour page will be entered to win a $10 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of Kat Fight before August 6 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.**
