Today Im thrilled to be a part of the Prized 2011 blog tour and welcome Caragh M. O'Brien to TBR's. Last year one of my ya favorite books was Birthmarked- the story of a young midwife living in a dystopian society, where the Enclave controls the fate of all born children.
Welcome Caragh to the blog, today Im just going bombard you with some fun questions.........
Q&A
Did you have to do any traveling or research when you wrote Prized?
First, Tina, let me thank you for inviting me to stop by on my blog tour! It’s nice to be here. My research for Prized dates back to my teens, actually. I took a canoe trip with two of my brothers that ended on Lake Nipigon, in Canada, and we nearly drowned there one night in high winds. Fortunately, when we capsized, we were close enough to haul ourselves to an island. I've never forgotten the area, and I used it as the basis of the setting in Prized. More recently, I did research on drug addiction, epigenetics, infertility, autopsies, herb lore, and mineral deposits to have sufficient background to write the novel. The research was engrossing.
Seeing how your main character Gaia is technically a midwife.....what do you think of the practice and would you use one?
I’m friends with an absolutely terrific and extremely devoted midwife who has answered detailed questions for me while I've worked on the series. I have deep respect for midwifes and consulted one when I was pregnant. I’m also grateful to the OB/GYN’s who delivered my babies, and to the anesthesiologists and nurses who assisted. Ironically, my first pregnancy was excluded as a “pre-existing condition” when I was added to my husband’s insurance plan, so I’m fully aware of what good medical care costs. We mothers deserve access to fully-covered, top-notch medical care, and the right to choose what that care is.
Last great movie you saw?
I recently saw 50/50 with the incredibly appealing Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogan, and Anna Kendrick. It was one of those awful movies where you sit in your seat trying not to cry, especially because you've just been laughing so hard. I’m still all wrung up about the friendships in the film, frankly. I think writer Will Reiser did an extraordinary job.
What authors have inspired you or your work?
Jim Shepard was my writing teacher in college, and he was the first to encourage and inspire me in a way that mattered. Steve Dixon inspired me in graduate school with his passion for stories and his innate generosity. More recently, Teri Hall inspires me. She’s an amazing friend whose writing ideas push me to think and whose work habits make me vow never to be lazy again. I know you were probably asking what works have inspired me, but it has made all the difference, at critical times, to know a few of the people behind the books.
What three dystopian novels would you recommend to readers?
Rand’s Anthem (1938), Orwell’s 1984 (1949), and Ness’s The Knife of Never Letting Go (2009). What’s fascinating to me is that they propose to be about the future, but they speak to our times.
Prized Code #11: F
Thanks so much Caragh for stopping by today and chatting with me. I used a Midwife for my last child and it was a tremendous experience, I also had my baby at the hospital though, so Im glad too for medicine, Dr.s nurses and all those that take care of labor and delivery.
Be sure to stop back later today for my review of Prized. Want to Check out all the Stops on the tour and learn more about the author, please go... HERE!!!
I need to read those 3 novels :)
ReplyDeleteI heard 50/50 was really good.
Great interview.
I can't wait to read Prized! I also LOVED The Knife of Never Letting Go!
ReplyDeleteI still need to read Birthmarked, I'm such a huge fan of dystopians and I just haven't gotten to it yet! I can't even imagine all the research that goes into writing a book, but how much fun would it be to learn something you might not have known otherwise? Love the sound of this series, I need to move it up my TBR list. Awesome interview!
ReplyDeleteSo much research had to go into her books! :)
ReplyDeleteI want to see 50/50!
I <3 The Knife of Never Letting Go!
Gah! I still haven't read Birthmarked, but what a scary RL experience that ended up being invaluable to your work! Amazing.
ReplyDeleteI cried like a baby when I watch 50/50. Great film.