20 QUESTIONS WITH: Wendy Wax, author of Ten Beach Road

20 Questions with Wendy Wax, author of Ten Beach Road

About the Author

Wendy Wax is the author of eight previous novels. A former broadcaster, she lives in the Atlanta suburbs with her husband and two teenage sons, who have turned her into the shortest member of the family. 

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WENDY -- Thanks so much for stopping by BookHounds!

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1. Bookmarks or dog ears?
Totally dog-eared; I never have a bookmark—not even one of my own—when I need it.

2. Dust jacket on or off when reading a hard back?
Off!
 
3. Favorite author?
Mary, this is way too hard a question; kind of like picking only one favorite food. Or restaurant. Or vacation spot. I’m just not up to the task!
 

4. Favorite genre’?
I’d probably have to say ‘women’s fiction’ although that’s a pretty huge umbrella. Will you forgive me if I say, ‘see above?” 

5. What is the best book you have read in the last year?
Again, it would be difficult to choose just one; there are so many great reads and authors out there. But since I copped out on the previous questions, I will say that although I’ve enjoyed a lot of wonderful books in the last year, One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus probably stayed with me the longest. 
 

6. What book would you most like to see made into a movie?
Am I allowed to say The Accidental Bestseller? There’s been a good bit of movie interest and my fingers are cramped from crossing them so hard!

7. E books: Friend or foe?
Friend. Although I’m sorry they’ve made things so difficult for brick and mortar bookstores, I can’t help feeling that an additional format is a good thing. 
 

8. Was there a book that inspired you to write?
Again, not to try to wiggle out of this, but I think it’s more a result of how may books I’ve loved and the experiences they provided than any one book that set me on this path. My goal is to give to others the gift of ‘escape’ that I so enjoy.

9. What are you reading right now?
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. It’s wonderful!

10. What is the last book you bought just for the cover?
I can honestly say I don’t do this. As an author I’m hyper sensitive to the fact that the cover often has less to do with what’s inside than we’d like to think and is many times not exactly what the author might have chosen.

I am, however, drawn to titles even though we often don’t have complete control over those, either. I bought Angry Housewives Eating BonBons by Lorna Ludvick because I was so intrigued by the title.
I also sometimes have ‘title envy.’ I felt this for Carol Snow’s Here Today, Gone to Maui. My own favorite title was an early romantic comedy I wrote titled, Leave It to Cleavage.

11. What is the last book you received in the mail?
The FBI Career Guide by Joseph W. Koletar. I’m not applying, just researching!

12. What is the number of books you own?
I’m not good at math and I’m afraid I can’t count that high. I’m going to have to go with ‘a lot!’

13. What is the first book you remember reading by yourself as a child?
I’m pretty sure it was a ‘Mrs. Piggly Wiggly’ book. Maybe Mrs. Piggly Wiggly and the ‘I thought you saiders?’ (This title has stuck in my head for so long that I’m not sure it’s completely correct.)

14. Do you have a favorite place to read?
I don’t have a favorite spot, but I do like to read lying down. (Which can make working a bit tricky.) At the moment I’m trying to lie down to read as far away from the refrigerator as possible, because reading and eating have been inextricably tied together for me since childhood. I’m really trying to break this habit, but so far it’s just slowed me down; it takes a lot longer to get to the refrigerator and back now!

15. What is next for you, publishing-wise?
Ten Beach Road, a story about three women who lose almost everything in a Ponzi scheme and are left with only co-ownership in a derelict beachfront mansion was released on May 3rd. I just started writing a book tentatively titled, Reality Check—about two estranged best friends. It’s due out in June 2012. 

16. Do you have a favorite place to write?
I prefer my office with the door closed and in complete quiet. But as long as there’s a window to look out of while I work, I’m okay. 
 

17. Do you have any pets ?
No, just a husband and two sons—none of whom are as well-trained as they might be.

18. How does your garden grow?
I live in Atlanta where the seasons, especially spring, are glorious. But most of the things that come back every year were put in long before we moved into our house. As much as I love fresh flowers, my approach to gardening is a bit Darwinian--only the strong survive! 

19. The last thing you Googled?
Atlanta zip codes
 

20. What makes you cringe?
I’m having a hard time getting used to the lack of punctuation and capitalization in emails and texts. I’m the slowest texter in the world because I just can’t bear to leave that stuff out. Oh—and people who talk on their cell phones at the top of their lungs in public. There are a lot of things strangers shouldn’t be forced to listen to.

Don't forget to pre order your copy today! Or you can enter to win my copy and read my review ....HERE 

Oh and just to shame Wendy about the bookmarks....I have really nice one to go along with the book I am giving away.  :)