(This is crossposted on facebook from my blog! Cool!)
A long time ago, in a fit of laziness about this blog, I told people to post questions about anything and I'd answer them. It's been almost four years and I'm just about through them, so I'd like to invite that again: hit me! With the Qs! Leave them in comments and I'll make a list and get through them at least as fast as an old guy on a bicycle.
Meanwhile, I have been tagged by about sixtyfivehundrenty people on Facebook for this "25 things about me" kind of thing (I am NOT doing the Google Name meme, because every time I've tried it has come up way too dirty for my HP-fan-heavy readership). This list is not so much a response to that as a more generic list of things going on right now.
- Everybody bother John Noe (at his facebook?) to redesign my site. We owe each other birthday and Christmas presents (I still have Sue's and Lizzie's in my car ready to go out IT'S TERRIBLE I AM TERRIBLE) and he said for my birthday/xmas he'd do my site. I want to take him up on that. And it gets him MY gift faster. :P This page is a freebie template and I really want to start making it look more professional. So bother him. On his facebook. Right here.
- This has been a very long time coming, but I am a total convert to the Nerdfighter cause. I follow EcoGeek, have an account on the Ning, am almost done with John Green's books (seriously, read them; he's great), and have subscribed to the Vlogbrothers. The transformation is complete. Thanks Lizzie, you rat. Like I didn't have enough to follow. Sorry it took a year and a half for me to pick up on it. I come late to the party often. (Witness Harry Potter.)
- MyLeaky. Holy crap. Proud doesn't even begin to describe how I feel about this project, especially when I think we almost let Alex Robbin out of our grasp.
- I love the show Bones.
- I'm likely going to be in San Francisco in the first week of May for a book speech thing. More details soon and of course on Harry, A History.com.
- I'm going to be at Comic Con next Saturday! Signing books. Again details at Harry, A History.
- Two of Cheryl's author's books won awards at the ALA awards banquet and I'm so proud of her I can't stand it.
- I have discovered delicious Edy's lemonade ice pops, and the world seems so awesome because of them.
- Fitting It In is back and we are KICKING BUTT this time.
- I haven't seen a good movie in too long. Last Chance Harvey sucked.
- I love books so much. I just feel like saying it often, lately. I love books that make me think and laugh and hurt and cry and imagine and travel and sigh. And all the other things too.
- My mom seriously has a MyLeaky account and is using it without my help, which makes me proud.
That's all I got on this cold night as I'm still stinky from the gym but lack the energy to rise and shower.
Give me questions and answers you shall have!
My question is... any chance of you coming to DragonCon in September? The South misses out on a lot of the Potter fun - like any of the PotterCast tours, or WizardRock stuff, and I can't justify the plane ticket for LeakyCon though I'd love to be there... So I think it would be really wonderful if you could be at DragonCon (And even better if you can drag any of the other PotterCast folks down this way with you =)
When did you know that you wanted to write Harry: A History? Will you be writing another novel soon?
Ps: I'm sorry, I'm sure you've been asked this before, but I really haven't come across it anywhere, and I'm dying to know!
1. What would you do if faced with an ant invasion of your home?
2. Which would you choose if you had to give up either coffee or HP for life?
3. How difficult / easy was it to write Harry, A History?
4. What major writing piece are you working on right now?
Thanks for the shoutout, sweetie! You know I'm proud of you too.
If you're loving books right now, remind me to give you MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD next time I see you. It's amazing.
My questions for you: Under what circumstances do you do your best writing? Do you have a writing routine? If not, what would an ideal day look like for you (including writing as well as other things)?
AH! Melissa! You love Bones too!! I think I love you even more now! :) What was up with last week and there being no episode? That made me quite sad.
Question: When you lived in D.C. what was your favorite place to go? I'm planning on going to American University in the fall and I want to know what you did, since you went to Georgetown which is close by.
Thanks, and you rock!
I have to ask what EVERYONE else is asking, Melissa! Sorry! What was your favorite bit to write in "Harry, A History" and what was your dreaded bit to write in HaH?
Also, Love Bones (but live in Uk so am behind you! :(
Randopm question (about books): when you were younger and hadn't discovered Potter, what was your fave book?
A little while back, it was mentioned on PotterCast that Harry, a History was going to be recorded as an audio book. Is that really happening or was it just PotterCast humor? And if it is happening, will it be "read by the author," or someone else? kthnxbye :)
Hey, Melissa!
From one bibliophile to another, I've got to ask:
Besides Harry Potter, what are some of the books closest to your heart? (i.e., if you had to give away most of your library, and could only keep a few books, which would you chose?)
Hey Melissa,
I'm glad this Question and Answer idea is back.
First of all, I've said it before and I'll say it again, bravo on MyLeaky. I would love to know how this project came into fruition. I can scarcely imagine the shear volume of work that is involved in organizing the from-scratch creation of a social network although I'm certain your leadership played a vital role.
My question is this: Can you describe what it's been like to rise to relative-celebrity within the community that you hold so near and dear and helped, in part, to foster? It seems like you've managed to stay true to yourself and your morals (which is a rare and heartening thing to see, these days). What must it be like to have thousands of online friends, a small fraction of whom you actually know? I get frustrated enough with tags and invitations from my meager 300 Facebook friends.
I am fascinated by the Internet's ability to bring like-minded people together. And I would love to hear your thoughts on the "fans of a fan" phenomenon.
Best of luck and I look forward to meeting you (again) at LeakyCon.
Yours,
Jordan (from Columbus)
Inspired by the fiftypeopleonequestion.com project...
*If you could wake up anywhere, real or fictional, tomorrow, where would it be?
*What do you wish to happen by the end of the day?
Hello Melissa!
My question for you is this: you mention in HaH that you wrote a fanfiction, and I'm assuming it's on sugarquill, but what was your pen-name and/or the title of the fic?
And if you said it somewhere in HaH, I apologize for missing it!
Oh, and if you want an absolutely incredible movie (and soundtrack for that matter), check out Slumdog Millionaire! It is one of the most beautiful and inspiring films I've seen in a long time!
*If you could have any pet/animal mentioned in the HP series (other than Hedwig), who would it be and why?
*What is your favorite song on Jingle Spells 2? (Mine is "I've Been A Very Naughty Girl This Year")
*And lastly, why oh why don't I have a time machine, so I can go back and have an HP Confessional camera room for the last three books?!?
I also love books and Bones and good movies. Wow the common.
You should check out Chuck and Scrubs and Slumdog Millionaire. I promise you it is great. As is Rachel Getting Married and Revolutionary Road.
Boys like girls or McFly?
always wanted to know this. lol
Harry, A History is amazing btw.
best book I've read since HP.
thankyou
Hello again,
I just bought "We Are Wizards" from iTunes.
While watching, I was slightly embarrassed to see that you'd already discussed the "fan-of-a-fan" phenomenon in the film. Anyway, if you'd care to elaborate more, I would appreciate it. If you'd rather not repeat yourself, I understand. ;)
"We Are Wizards" is an excellent documentary, by the way.
Hi Melissa!!
Here's my question: If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only have two books with you, one by Jo and one by any other author, what would they be??
This Q & A thing is an awesome idea!! :)
~Madeline
I was thinking about trying to send you an e-mail and hope for a response, but seeing as you've posted this, I figured I'd ask here...
What advice would you give to a future journalist wanting to write about musical theater? How would one go about trying to find such a writing position? I'm thinking of moving to either New York or London, so any thoughts comparing the two cities would be amazingly helpful as well.
Thanks!
I am loving your book and trying to steal away more time to read it. I live near DC. Will you be coming for a book signing here? Since I'm not done your book you may answer this question but I'll ask anyway. What do you think makes people so desperately want to be a part of Harry Potter's world? It's not any safer, well maybe now, but it's not a perfect wonderful easy life. Magic does not solve everything. Well I'm one of those people that would love to spend time in his world. Thank you for your help with the illusion that I am.