Monday, April 16, 2012

Finalist #2

Finalist #2 is Carla Harker


Tell us about your book:
A smuggler accused of treason must discover who set her up before the government hunts her down. What she learns could shatter the country.


Why do you want to attend Backspace?
I've heard it's one of the best writing conferences in the world. And also, I'd get to meet a certain shark-like agent.


Are you afraid to eat lunch with a Shark?
Utterly terrified, of course. Wait, did you mean the ocean-going kind?
No, not really.


 West Side Story: Jets or Sharks?
I confess I've never seen West Side Story.


 If you could save the life of any one fictional character who would it be and why?
Lester Burnham from American Beauty. His character growth was uplifting, and his death was all the sadder because of it.


Is there a book that makes you think "If I could write one thing like that, I’d die happy."
No. I've read plenty of better written books, but I can only write my way.


What's the most terrifying thing you've lived through?
Real danger: finding out the driver of the car I was in was drunk. Not real danger: rappelling down a 300' sinkhole in Belize.


When you're published, what will you do to Pay It Forward?
I would actually like to do something similar to this, assuming I have an agent crazy nice enough to help.

31 comments:

Brent Stratford said...

Congratulations Carla. Sounds like your story would be a real page turner. Best of luck to you.

Britni Patterson said...

Congratulations Carla!

Lanette said...

Your novel sounds intriguing, Carla. I completely agree with you regarding Lester. That was my answer, as well.

ProfeJMarie (Janet Rundquist) said...

Yay Carla!

And yay for Belize! I love Central America.

Brandon said...

Yay Carla!

Jessa Russo said...

Haha, Carla, I hadn't seen it either! I watched it just so I could see what my answer would be, and could barely get through it! (And that's coming from someone who loves musical theater!). Somehow I did know most of the songs though, so that's weird.

Congratulations!!!!! I can't wait to read all of these great books!

Dana said...

Congratulations, Carla - based on the description, I'd read your book!

Angelica R. Jackson said...

Another set of interesting answers! Congratulations Carla!

Dana said...

I doubt she'll tell us, but I'm going to ask anyway - because the worst that will happen is that she won't tell us.

And besides, I've never been shy about raising my hand and annoying the crap out of . . . oops, I mean, asking the teacher lots of questions.

Ms. Shark - have you already emailed all of the finalists and are just waiting to post one/day, or do you email them the day/night before and ask for answers?

Thomas said...

Congratulations to both finalists. I can only imagine how thrilled you must be.

Janet - out of curiosity over your tweet regarding 1099's. Is income (royalties, etc) derived from a New York based publishing firm and/or paid through a New York agency, considered to be New York source income to a non-New York resident author and therefore subject to New York state income tax (and maybe NY City as well)?

Jessa Russo said...

@Dana - I applaud your bravery, but I think Janet will be ignoring that question. She likes to know we're all chomping at the bit while we wait.

She's an evil genius that way.

Laura Hughes, MittensMorgul said...

Congratulations, Carla!

Brandon said...

@Dana -- I've asked twice, I think. Silence each time. It is the poor author's burden to wake up in the middle of the night drenchd in cold sweat screaming, "SHARKS!" "QUERYBUNNYS!" "TRANSYLVANIAN JUDGES," and the like.

I know your pain.

Anonymous said...

Congrats, Carla! Best of luck in the finals. :)

Cindy C said...

Congratulations, Carla! Your book sounds like one I'd love to read.

The BOCO Review Blog said...

@Thomas - your income attributes to where you, the earner, hang your hat. I have about 8 1099s this year from freelance work and they are from all over the country. I will be filing them all in my home state.

What a phenom of a contest. I can't believe she's going to make us wait and only dribble out a finalist a day!

Terri

Robin Ruinsky said...

To anyone terrified of lunching with the Shark. You'll be fine as long as you don't try to make small talk by comparing the Lusitania with the Titanic.
Seriously, not kidding. Don't even go
there. Sensitive subject.

Regina Castillo said...

Congratulations! Isn't it exciting for y'all?

Dana said...

Thanks for the commiseration, folks, but no worries. I don't think asking questions is brave - it's just a good thing to do in general. In my experience, you get further in life by asking/doing instead of sitting in the corner, twiddling thumbs/nail biting/worrying.

Now then, back to work for me - and I'm pleased to report that my work day is turning out to be pretty freakin' great :)

Happy Workday Wishes to All Y'all!

Bill Plante said...

You must remember this: the Pacific Tiger Shark bumps its prey first, as does the New York Shark, who is exceedingly more dangerous, she not only bumps, but bites and spits you out.

DeadlyAccurate said...

Thank you, everyone. I have no doubt the competition is very stiff, and my congratulations go out to all the other finalists.

@ProfeJMarie (Janet Rundquist): So far Belize wins as my favorite vacation spot. The Black Hole Drop* was the best activity I did out of a long list of activities, with the Actun Tunichil Muknal cave a close second.

Carla

*And I say that as someone scared of heights.

Brandi M. Lynch said...

Nice job! Congrats and good luck for the finals!

Ann Landsberger said...

Congrats, Carla!

Lisa Gomley said...

Congratulations Carla!

I agree with several people that posted...your book sounds like one I will want to read.

@Dana...thank you for asking. I agree with you about asking/doing is better than twiddling your thumbs. And if we get an answer from the evil shark, maybe some of this OCD I have developed will go away. Check email, check Janet's blog, check phone. Rinse and repeat...over and over!

Judith Gonda said...

Congrats Carla! Your book sounds super!

Sarah said...

Congrats Carla!

@Lisa Gomley, I feel you. I've been obsessively checking the blog and twitter for updates; to the point I don't know how I'm going to fill my time when the contest is over!

@Dana, I too am dying to know the answer to that question.

elizabeth norris said...

Congrats Carla! I love the movie American Beauty. You're so right about Lester!

BP said...

WHY IS THIS THAT NOBODY WATCHES WEST SIDE STORY? WHERE IS THE CULTURE OF AMERICA!? Why am I writing in all caps? I'm loving these answers, all the same, though!

Julie said...

Congrats Carla! I'm glad I'm not the only one who's never seen West Side Story (though I oddly know almost every song).

LN said...

Congratulations! Sounds like a great novel!

Rick Anderson said...

Way to go, Carla. Super congratulations!