\u00a0<\/p>\n
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<\/a><\/div>\nI’ve pulled together 40ish questions – some bookish, some silly – and have asked authors to limit themselves to answering only 10 of them. That way, it keeps the interviews fresh and connectable for all of us!<\/span><\/p>\n Today we are joined by\u00a0Laury A. Egan. She is the Why do you write?\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n I\u2019ve been What made you start writing?<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I What\u2019s your kryptonite as a Anxiety about making errors in the plot, typos, or punctuation If you could have a superpower, Flying. I would especially like this super power now because If you could spend the day with Hands down, no contest: Kate What are some of your favorite Kate Atkinson, as mentioned, but Virginia Woolf, who What are you currently reading?\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n I\u2019m What genres won\u2019t you read?\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Romance, Do you read the reviews of your Yes, I read my reviews What would you do if you could Keep writing. Unfortunately, living forever is not in the cards \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/p>\n \u201cI have long considered Laury A. Egan a <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Contrary<\/span><\/i> is an eclectic mix of twenty-one Social media links:<\/span><\/p>\n LauryA.Egan@EganLaury<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/laury.egan\/<\/a>\n<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/laurya.egan\/<\/a>\n<\/p>\n https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/lauryaegan.bsky.social<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/laury-a-egan-09096b3\/<\/a>\n<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.lauryaeganblog.wordpress.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nauthor of fifteen novels, ranging from literary, psychological suspense,
\ncomedy, to romance. Ninety of her stories and poems have appeared in literary
\njournals; most published in her collections, <\/span>Fog and Other Stories<\/i> and <\/span>Contrary<\/i>.
\nShe lives on the northern coast of New Jersey and is also a fine arts
\nphotographer and instructor as well as a former book designer. In 2024, she
\nreceived a New Jersey State Council on the Arts Individual Artist Award in
\nprose. Website: <\/span>www.lauryaegan.com<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n
\nwriting since age seven, at first as self-entertainment (I was an only child
\nwho lived far from town and classmates), but writing soon became my identity.
\nOn my tombstone will be the motto of my university, Carnegie-Mellon, by Andrew
\nCarnegie: \u201cMy heart is in my work.\u201d I am a writer, which is the first label
\nthat I would apply to myself. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nbegan my first poem in a bathtub at age seven\u2014yelling for my mother to bring
\npaper and pencil. She did and out poured a four stanza poem. Both of us were
\nastonished. The inspiration was the natural beauty of my surroundings\u2014a
\nbeautiful forest across the street, an orchard and meadow to the side of our
\nhouse, and a magnificent view of the Atlantic Ocean, Manhattan, and Sandy Hook.
\nMy early poems were lyrical, a trend that continued through to my four
\npublished volumes of poetry and also is evident in some of my literary stories
\ncontained in my newest collection,
\nContrary: Stories and a Play<\/i>. \u00a0<\/span>There
\nis a semi-autobiographical story in the collection, \u201cContrary,\u201d which harkens
\nback to my childhood.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nwriter?<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\nmistakes. I tend to read my manuscripts between 25 and 40 times (novels) and
\nperhaps a few less times for stories. As a former book designer for many years,
\nI also dread seeing the first formatted proof of a book because it usually
\ncontains lots of no-nos such as widows, incorrect hyphenation, and poor
\ntypography. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nwhat would it be?<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\nI could travel to places without taking public transportation or walking.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nanother author, who would you choose and why?\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n
\nAtkinson.\u00a0 <\/span>She is my favorite
\ncontemporary writer, with a sly wit, who creates so many funny lines and very
\nsmart observations that I am constantly impressed, page by page. I\u2019ve reviewed
\nher work twice and it\u2019s always tough to limit listing my favorite lines. I also
\nsuspect Kate would be a great raconteur if we met. I would love to ask her so
\nmany questions about her writing process! And, yes, maybe have a glass or two
\nof wine with her.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nbooks and\/or authors?<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\ninspired my literary stories and novels, and Patricia Highsmith, who fueled my
\nfascination with psychological suspense\u2014both genres appear in Contrary<\/i>, along with some forays into
\ncomedy and romance.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nin a Scandi-Noir period. So many excellent writers and mystery plotters! Jo
\nNesbo is a favorite, but I\u2019m also enjoying crime fiction by Anne Holt, Ragnar
\nJonnason, Lars Kepler, and Lilja Sigurdardottir. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nsci-fi, horror\u2014anything too weird or soapy. No Chick-Lit, either.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nbooks or do you stay far far away from them, and why?\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n
\nbecause I am very curious as to the opinion of bloggers and reviewers.
\nSometimes they notice an aspect of a novel or a story that hadn\u2019t occurred to
\nme. I learn from them as well as beta readers.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nlive forever?\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n
\nfor me (I have stage four cancer). But if I was healthy, I would love to travel
\nto Normandy, one of the few places I never visited, or to return to Mykonos, a
\nfavorite island and the setting for my novel, The Ungodly Hour<\/i>. I have traveled widely and would continue to do
\nso.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nmaster of the short story. This collection sets that view in concrete.
\nBravo!\u201d\u2014T.D. Johnston, author of Friday Afternoon and Other Stories <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n
\nstories and a two-act play. The collection focuses on social foibles,
\ndiscrimination, class, gender, romance, disability, dementia, and includes
\ncomedic tales as well as some dark dives into human psychology. The settings
\nspan America, Britain, and Greece, and the characters range from young\/old,
\nrich\/poor, and straight\/gay, with a contrary beagle making a star turn as does
\na ghost or two. The conclusion, \u201cDuet,\u201d is an intimate drama between a
\ntherapist and a woman who is dealing with the aftermath of a plane crash and
\nensuing disability. Stylistically diverse, the work spans literary and genre
\nfiction. <\/span><\/p>\n