Interview with Dana Burgess

Interview with Dana Burgess

Hi Everyone! I'm a forty-something stay-at-home mom who has just about run out of people to stay home for. My four kids range in age from 17 to 25. My amazing husband says we have the ugliest dog in existence (but she is also the sweetest so we overlook that). No grandbabies yet but I do have two grand-puppies to love and spoil. To say I love to read might be an understatement. I also enjoy cooking, quilting, camping and hiking. What else would you like to know? Just ask - I'm an open book ;o).

Deirdra: What are your favorite kind of books to read and why?

Dana: It seems like I binge on books the way some people binge on food. For weeks all I read will be mysteries, then suddenly, I want to read historical fiction, then biographies. The easier question would be which type of books do I really not like to read – the answer would be erotica and science fiction.

Deirdra: How many books on average would you say you read a year?

Dana: I read at least two books a week so in a year, I guess that would be about 104 more or less.

Deirdra: What is the most recent book you read? Can you tell us a little about it?

Dana: The last book I read was “Darkroom” by Joshua Graham. The cover quote sums it up pretty well: “…a fascinating, fast paced … story of love and war, murder, terrorism, and a dark conspiracy”. I’ll be posting a review of it on my blog on June 22.

Deirdra: What is the most disappointing thing authors do?

Dana: Not hiring a professional editor! If you are going to put all that time, energy and emotion into writing a book, please hire an editor before you decide to publish!

Deirdra: Who are your top five favorite authors?

Dana: Very tough question! I guess I’ll say – Lisa Genova (I devour anything she writes); Kate Morton; Paul Coelho; Tatiana de Rosnay and Phillippa Gregory.

Deirdra: How do you feel about e-books?

Put your name here: I am a serious holdout. I do not like e-books! I did try but it just isn’t the same as curling up with a paperback. Not my thing.

Deirdra: If you could give a message to authors what would it be?

Dana: I have so much respect for all authors. To put so much into a project and then send it out to be loved or hated by the general population takes so much courage. I don’t think most people really understand how much work goes into writing a book.

Deirdra: Have you ever thought about writing a book?

Dana: I have thought about it. Unfortunately I have the attention span of a gnat when it comes to work. I just don’t have the dedication to pull it off. If I can’t finish it in a couple of months, I’m out.

Deirdra: What other talents and hobbies to you have?

Dana: I love to quilt. It satisfies my creative instincts.

Deirdra: Where is your favorite place to read?

Dana: Definitely the tub. No one can disturb me and I can read to my heart’s content. This may also play into my dislike of e-books. They are not exactly water friendly. At least paper dries out after it gets dropped in the tub.

Deirdra: Do you have a favorite reading snack?

Dana: If a book doesn’t engross me enough that I forget to eat, I generally quit reading.

Deirdra: What books have made you cry?

Dana: Sophie’s Choice for sure. The first book that ever made me cry, believe it or not, was Shakespeare’s “Antony and Cleopatra”. I still think theirs is the most romantic love story in history.

Deirdra: What books have made you laugh?

Dana: “Skipping Christmas’ by John Grisham for sure – much better than the movie! “The Uncommon Reader” by Alan Bennett is another.

Deirdra: What kind of books are you looking to read next? What is on your reading list?

Dana: I have been waiting for a break to read Ruta Sepetys’ “between shades of Grey”. Not to be confused with “Shades of Grey” which is NOT on my reading list at all. “between shades of grey” is set in Lithuania in 1941 and tells the story of a young girl trying to contact her father after they have been sent to separate prison camps in Siberia.

Deirdra: Is there any other message you would like to give the literary community?

Dana: It amazes me how friendly and kind everyone is. I had no idea that authors, for the most  part, were such down to earth people. I’m still in awe when I get an e-mail from an author about something I’ve written on my blog, or to ask for a review. Thanks for accepting me! And everyone is welcome to drop by and say ‘hi’ at my blog, Lets Book It – http://letsbookit.blogspot.com.