This week I’m hosting Lisa Phillips with Double Agent (US and Canada only), Karen Barnett with Out of the Ruins (US only) and Robin Shope with Wynn in the Willows (US and ebook only Worldwide). If you want to enter the drawings for the books, please leave a comment on your post with your email address. I will not enter you without an email address (my way to contact you if you win). If you don’t want to leave an email address, another way you can enter is to email me at margaretdaley@gmail.com. The drawings end Sunday (May 25th) evening.
Interview with the heroine from Out of the Ruins by Karen Barnett:
Abby Fischer, 1906.
1. Abby, tell me the most interesting thing about you.
I’m pretty ordinary, but my father says I have a gift for working with plants. I suppose that might be true. Plants are easier to understand than people, after all.
2. What do you do for fun?
Two things. I love to be outside, particularly walking in my family’s orchard. I also love to read. And reading in the orchard? That’s heavenly.
3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?
Social calls. I always seem to say or do the wrong thing. The only way I can survive them is if I have my sister Cecelia along. Then she does all the talking.
4. What are you afraid of most in life?
Cecelia is the only one who truly understands me. Ever since she was diagnosed with cancer I’ve been terrified of the idea of losing her. I’m not sure who I would be without my sister.
5. What do you want out of life?
I’ve been tending the peach trees since I was old enough to hold the pruning shears. Papa says one day the orchard will be mine.
6. What is the most important thing to you?
My primary goal right now is to see my sister overcome cancer. She seems to be giving up, but I’m determined do whatever is necessary to fight for her life.
7. Do you read? If so, what is your favorite type of book to read?
That’s easy! I love adventure stories, like those written by Rudyard Kipling and Robert Louis Stevenson. I recently discovered a favorite new author—Jack London.
8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I would learn to be more talkative and entertaining. Men flock about Cecelia like bees to a flower. I’ve never attracted anything except mosquitos on a warm summer evening.
9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?
We have a couple of barn cats, but they’re not very social. When I was little, we had an old sheepdog named Schatzi, but I don’t remember him very well.
10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?
I’m pretty attached to my home and my family, but if you promise it’ll only be a quick trip, I’d be curious to see the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
