Friday, October 15, 2010

Interview with Linda Hall PLUS Giveaway!!

Hi everyone! Today I have author Linda Hall with us. She is the author of the new book, Critical Impact. And she has offered to give away a copy of this book to one of my blog readers. 

Thank you for being with us today, Linda!!!

How long have you known you wanted to be an author?

I think I was born knowing that I would write. I was constantly making up stories when I was a little girl. They usually involved me doing some heroic act to save my school and my friends. Sometimes I even wrote these stories down. I wish I had some of them now, but I don't.
I've always had jobs that had something to do with writing. I've worked as a journalist and freelance writer.  

Can you tell me a little bit about your newest book?
CRITICAL IMPACT is a storyline that has been brewing in my mind for a long, long time - ever since my husband volunteered at a community mock disaster. This exercise was to help test the readiness of police, ambulance, hospital and Search and Rescue. It was my husband's job to help make the 'victims' look real with stage blood. :) During that time my 'writer's mind' began questioning - what would happen if this 'mock' disaster turned into a real one??

At that moment a future plot idea was born, And now, finally, many years later, CRITICAL IMPACT is here. CRITICAL IMPACT is the story of a 'mock' disaster turned real. The heroine is a makeup artist who has volunteered to help make victims look real and the hero is a police officer. But, I don't want to  give any more of the plot away! :)

When a reader gets done with your book, what do you want them to come away with?
I want them to have the satisfaction that they have spent an enjoyable time with a few wonderful people.

Is there a place you have always wanted to visit? A vacation spot, historical monument, overseas, etc?
I've done quite a bit of traveling, and really enjoy visiting other places and experiencing other cultures. I was born in the U.S. and now live in Canada and even though I've been to Australia, Taiwan, Japan, the Caribbean, UK, I've never been to Europe. I'd like to go to to Spain, France and Italy. And I'm sort of interested in visiting Iceland and Greenland.

If you could have dinner with 2 people, who would they be? 
I thought about this. I came up with dozens of famous people and names - people from history, great writers that I admire, people who have made a difference, and then I decided no - who I really would love to have dinner with would be Sheryl and Jane. These two are very dear friends of mine that I haven't seen in almost 40 years. I would love for us all to get together again. Sheryl was my roommate in college and Jane was a friend from high school. We're all on Facebook, but it would be so wonderful to sit down to dinner face to face with them.

What one event would you love to be at? Historical or future?

I would love to take a trip to New York and attend a Broadway play.

Do you have a favorite hobby?
My husband and I have a 34 foot cruising sailboat that we basically move aboard during the summer. (Think - travel trailer that floats.) One of my favorite pastimes is to sit aboard our boat with a good book. I love reading, and often read a novel per week. I feel bereft if there isn't a novel that I'm currently reading. So, maybe being out there on our boat is a favorite place of mine. As for a hobby - I'm not sure. I don't collect stamps or anything. I think there would be hobbies I would enjoy - such as jewelry making - but I simply don't have the time. Life is always a compromise. I read and write instead of Oh, and I also enjoy movies.

Is there something about you most people wouldn't know?
I know how to operate a sextant. And that's all I'm going to say. If you don't know what a sextant is, well, you'll just have to Google it.

Do you have any suggestions for the aspiring writer?
Read. And then read some more. And then more. The most prolific and best writers are readers. Read a novel every week. Read the kind of books you want to write. Turn off the television and read a novel.

And how can they connect with you?

I love to hear from my readers.
My website is:
http://writerhall.com
I have a Facebook group  which is: 
http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2321974504


READERS-Linda has offered a giveaway of her book, Critical Impact. To enter the giveaway, the MANDATORY ENTRY is to leave a comment telling me the latest book you read that really made an impact on you. That made a difference in your life. 

EXTRA ENTRIES-You must do the mandatory entry first and please leave a separate comment for each entry.
1.Follow my blog through GFC.
2.Subscribe through RSS Feed.
3.Follow me on Twitter.
4.Tweet about this giveaway. Can be done 3 times a day. 
5.Tell me if you have read any of Linda's other novels. 




This giveaway will end 10/22. Winner will be chosen through Random.org They have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

25 comments:

debbie said...

I would have to say The Last Child, made an impact on me.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

skkorman said...

The latest book that had an impact on me was "Bitter in the Mouth," by Monique Truong—truly a brilliantly written book. It made me want to know more about synesthesia, and so I spent a good deal of time researching the topic.

skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

Kathy Habel said...

I just read a great book called Snow Rising that really made me think.
bkhabel at gmail dot com

Kathy Habel said...

I follow on GFC
bkhabel at gmail dot com

Kathy Habel said...

I follow on twitter @toobusyreading

Mystica said...

I just finished Still Missing and the impact it made on me is the strength and determination shown by a human being despite all odds being against her. The will to live.

Mystica said...

I follow you on GFC

Gale said...

I lived on a boat as a child, and spend much time sitting on deck reading a book. :-)

The book "The Gift of Being Yourself: The Sacred Call to Self-Discovery" really had a strong impact on me...it sounds like a wishy washy title but its a very challenging and life changing book. Read it with some dear friends.

Right now my dear friends and I are reading The Screwtape Letters, which is a book that, apart from the Bible, probably has had the most life changing impact on me...but you see this is probably the 20th time I've read it so it's not impacting me afresh as much now, which is why I thought of the other first.

By the way...there's a version of that free online read by John Cleese (which is actually the way I first "read" it...so I guess you could say I listened too it 20 times.) It's excellent. Here's the link:

http://www.radiomickdanger.com/ListShows.php?seriesname=The+Screwtape+Letters

ecarian at yahoo dot com

Gale said...

I have not read any of Linda's other novels...

And I posted this just to add one thing to my already long post. Her book was about a disaster prepardness excercise that turned into reality...well, I had that happen! When I was in 4th grade in California our school was doing earthquake preparedness excercises. They tried to make it realistic by playing rumbling noises on the loudspeaker, having some kids pretend to be hurt and such. During the week we were doing that a real earthquake happened (a small one). The windows started rattling and the teacher said "Everyone get under the chairs!" and I kept thinking "How did they get the windows to shake like that?" I thought it was another drill.

heidi330 said...

A book I read,,,,
Love Lessons...wonderful book...
Great post, this book sounds like its going to be a great read and I may learn somethings to do in case it would happen anywhere near me and thats always a good thing to have..

Heidi

heidijohnjeff@verizon.net
follower GFC

Linda Kish said...

Saving Sammy. My son has OCD and I find this book comforting since I went through a lot of what the author did.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Kristie said...

I just read unlocked by Karen Kingsbury. Made me think about autism, bullying and suicide.
kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com

Kristie said...

I'm a followe on Google Reader.
kristiedomelson(at)gmail(dot)com

Kristie said...

I'm a follower on GFC. Thanks!
kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com

Julie said...

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah-made me appreciate my best friends
more
aunteegem@yahoo.com
thanks

Julie said...

No I have not read any of Linda's book but I sure would love to read this one
aunteegem@yahoo.com

Charlotte Kay said...

Jerry B. Jenkin's book entitled "Riven" made a big impact on me! It made me appreciate Christ's death on the cross more than ever before!
charsaltz at yahoo dot com

Charlotte Kay said...

I am a GFC follower:)
charsaltz at yahoo dot com

Charlotte Kay said...

I follow on Twitter
charsaltz at yahoo dot com

Charlotte Kay said...

I have not read any of Linda's book YET!
charsaltz at yahoo dot com

clenna said...

I'm reading Royal Marriages. Impact: The marriages back then (1500 - 1900's) were crazier than today's marriages.

clenna at aol dot com

clenna said...

I follow via Google .

clenna at aol dot com

clenna said...

I follow via RSS feed

clenna at aol dot com

clenna said...

I have not read any of her books but this one sounds great.

clenna at aol dot com

Giveaway Lady said...

And the winner was #15!! Congrats Kristie:)

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