I’ve been stalking K.M. Weiland for some time. Hanging out at her website. Dogging her around the blogs. Soaking in life advice and writing wisdom. Admiring her gifts of detail and discipline. Immersing myself in the middle ages in her new book, Behold the Dawn. And she has such a sweet spirit. I want to be like her when I grow up.So since I wanted to get to know her even better, I asked if she could stop by my blog and answer a few brief questions. And she agreed!
Since Katie’s novel is set in the set in the 12th century, I decided to ask her 12 questions in 2 categories.
K.M. Weiland in One Word
1. Where would you go on the ideal vacation?
Hawaii.
2. What was your first paid job?
Secretary.
3. Would you prefer to swim or ice skate?
Swim.
4. What is your greatest weakness?
Impatience.
5. When it comes to “stuff,” are you a keeper or a tosser?
Tosser.
6. What musical instrument are you?
Drum.
7. What would Marcus Annan say is your greatest strength?
Battles!
8. At a theme park, do you head for the roller coasters or the shows?
Coaster.
9. Who was your childhood hero/heroine?
Cowboy.
10. Where do you behold God?
Details.
11. Would you prefer to eat (peasant) bread or (elderflower) cheesecake?
Cheesecake!
12. What one-word message did you take away for yourself from Behold the Dawn?
Perseverance.
K.M. Weiland in One Line
1. What is one of your favorite quotes from Behold the Dawn?
“In the corner, flint struck against steel, sparks danced airborne for a moment, and then the expected flame burnt a golden hole in the darkness.”
2. Would you prefer to travel by car or plane and why?
I much prefer car travel; airports are exhausting.
3. What do you battle?
Myself; impatience and tactlessness are two of my banes.
4. When you are feeling down, what lifts you up?
A bouncy song, a good movie, sunshine, chocolate, and above all, the knowledge that God is in control of the little things and the big things alike.
5. When you’ve been away, what do you like best about coming home?
My own bed!
6. If you were to die today, what song would you like sung at your funeral and why?
Nicole Nordeman’s “Legacy” comes to mind: “I want to leave a legacy / How will they remember me? / Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough / To make a mark on things?”
7. If you could live in any period of history, when would it be and why?
Probably the 1940s, though I may be a bit prejudiced right now, since I’m working with a new story idea set in that period.
8. What was a good word of advice someone gave to you?
What people think of you isn’t as important as what God thinks of you.
9. How would Lady Mairead complete this sentence for you? I wish . . .
. . . she wasn’t so mean to her characters!
10. When did you know you were a writer?
It was a gradual awakening, I guess, since I’ve always told stories; probably the “official” realization was when I was about twelve.
11. What has your past taught you?
To look outside the box, keep an open mind, and never settle for an easy answer.
12. What is your favorite writing outfit and why?
Jeans, sweatshirt, and fuzzy blue slippers–because I gotta be warm to write!
K.M. WEILAND ON ONE THING
What one thing would you like to say to your readers or future readers?
Thanks for being there! In the cutthroat world of publishing and marketing it can sometimes be easy to lose sight of why I’m doing this. But whenever someone tells me they loved one of my books or that they were encouraged by a blog post–that makes my day. That’s what it’s all about. Being able to touch the life of someone else, even if for only a moment, means I’ve accomplished something worthwhile.
What one thing would you like to say to your fellow writers or aspiring writers?
Don’t give up, and don’t sell yourself short. Writing, first and foremost, is a mode of self-expression, of reaching out and connecting with the world around us. Being published, being read, making the NYT best-seller list, that stuff is just icing on the cake. You’re a writer even if you never accomplish that. But, at the same time, don’t allow yourself to settle for less than the best. Discipline yourself, drive yourself to become a little bit better every time you sit down at the keyboard. Success only visits the dedicated.
ABOUT THE BOOKSynopsis: Marcus Annan, a tourneyer famed for his prowess on the battlefield, thought he could keep the secrets of his past buried forever. But when a mysterious crippled monk demands Annan help him find justice for the transgressions of sixteen years ago, Annan is forced to leave the tourneys and join the Third Crusade.
Wounded in battle and hunted by enemies on every side, he rescues an English noblewoman from an infidel prison camp and flees to Constantinople . But, try as he might, he cannot elude the past. Amidst the pain and grief of a war he doesn’t even believe in, he is forced at last to face long-hidden secrets and sins and to bare his soul to the mercy of a God he thought he had abandoned years ago.
The sins of a bishop.
The vengeance of a monk.
The secrets of a knight.
About the Author: K.M. Weiland writes historical and speculative fiction from her home in the sandhills of western
Copyright © 2009 by Sandra Heska King
Thanks so much, Katie, for stopping by my blog on your tour. It was fun!
Great Job on the questions Sandra. Very inspiring read for all who continue to pursue goals/dreams.
Loved the video. It helps to think backwards sometimes about what our legacy will be.
Bless You:)
Sandy, what a clever interview! I'm like you–I want to be like Katie when I grow up too. She is a remarkable young lady!
I loved that song, too! I'm not sure I ever heard it. And yes, Katie's advice should encourage anyone climbing any mountain!
Bless you, too.
Thanks, Linda. It was fun! She is a remarkable gal. I hope I get to meet her in person some day.
"I want to be like her when I grow up."
Me too!! And not just as a writer, but also the strong woman of God I see her to be. She's amazing. 🙂
Great interview! I enjoyed getting to know more about Katie!
I was amused at the writing garb. Sounds like mine; sweats, t-shirt, and house-clogs (which is like fuzzy blue slippers, for guys).
Sandra,
I enjoyed the One Word, One Line interview. Great idea!
~Kleigh
The Spill …
Check out the spillage:
http://www.kleighjar.blogspot.com
What a fun interview! 🙂 Thanks for sharing more of Katie with us, Sandra! 🙂 Kinda funny that all of us older women look up to and respect Katie when she's younger than us… (I think I'm only a few years older than her, though I'm not 100% sure on her age!) That's something you should be impressed about, Miss Katie!
Loved the song, Katie. Totally agree. Cheesecake, definitely! And I also have to be warm when I write. 🙂
@Sandra: Thanks so much for having me today! I've been very blessed to get to know you!
@Melinda: I'm glad Sandra included the video. Don't you love that song?
@Linda: Shucks. :p
@Lorna: Double shucks.
@Kleigh: Thanks for stopping by! It was a brilliant idea of Sandra's, wasn't it? I had a lot of fun with it.
@Liberty: Don't go growing old before you time, young lady. 😉
Whoops. Missed Phy and Jody! Thanks for stopping by, both of you.
Sandy and Katie, What a fun and unique interview. I loved it! Thanks to both of you. Blessings to you both!
Thanks, Lynn!
Katie, you are a wonder! God be with you.
John
Bennington
If I'm a wonder, it's because He *is* with me. 🙂 Thanks for commenting, John!
@Lorna and John: Totally awesome what He can do with someone who draws their strength from Him!
@Phy and Lynnette: My slippers are white, and I must have heat blowing on feet. I love cheesecake, but I totally bonded with Katie on the chocolate thing!
@Jody, Kleigh, and Lynn: This was so much fun to do!
@Liberty: I suspect I'm old enough to be Katie's mom–or maybe worse. But we are all just brothers and sisters in Christ, and our wisdom is counted in terms of years. So glad we can learn from each other no matter what age we are.