Sunday, September 2, 2012

GUTGAA Meet and Greet


Hello. Nice to meet you. I'm Ilima Todd and though I'm not officially participating in GUTGAA, I am one of the first round judges and will shamelessly use any opportunity to meet new friends in the writer-blogger world. So, welcome. Here are my answers to the meet and greet questions. I can't wait to hop around and get to know you all a little better!

Where do you write?
I'm a writing nomad. It could be on our giant desktop in the library or my laptop on my bed. But my secret? I'm getting my very own writing room as soon as I have the time to clear out our playroom and move all those toys (my kids are getting way too old). So I'm THRILLED for that.

Quick. Go to your writing space, sit down and look to your left. What is the first thing you see?
Um. Diet coke. I should seriously invest in an IV and just straight shoot the stuff. Don't judge me.

Favorite time to write?
Late night, after all the kids are tucked in bed. I can't write with distractions so this is the only way to go. And waking up early is SO not happening.

Drink of choice while writing?
Um. I think you know the answer to that one. :)

When writing, do you listen to music or do you need complete silence?
Music, definitely music. I am a devout listener of the M83 station on Pandora, but sometimes I have to play music that relates to what I'm writing. For example, a section of my last book took place in a futuristic, edgy city and I HAD to listen to techno/dance music.

What was your inspiration for your latest manuscript and where did you find it?
The one I've just started (my fun book!) is from my family history. My fourth great grandfather served as a captain on one of James Cook's ships to Hawaii in the late 1700's. He helped King Kamehameha unite the islands by providing guns which gave the king an edge in battle. As a reward he was given the daughter of a chief in marriage. So it's a love story. What other kind of stories are there, really? :)

What's your most valuable writing tip?
Don't. Stop. Writing. It's a rough and many times lonely journey, but if you love it, don't give up.

And my mini bio?
Here's the one Deana posted on her 1st Round Judges Revealed post:

Ilima Todd is a homeschooling mom of four by day, writer by night (usually late late night) rep'd by Jennifer Skutelsky of Veritas Literary. She writes YA sci-fi and fantasy with lots of kissing while listening to the M83 station on Pandora. Sometimes she thinks her husband is a sleeper-cylon but doesn't think avocados are the greatest invention ever. She knows it.

Thanks for stopping by and good luck with GUTGAA!

30 comments:

Robin said...

Glad to hear you're still working on your "fun" book. I am amazed that you can write to music-esp. techno. Fun post!

Jodie Andrefski said...

Hi there! I just found out about GUTGAA so I'm a little late to the game, but I think it sounds amazing! Don't worry, I'm not judging about the DC...I should be doing the same with coffee, and technically, diet coke is probably not as bad for you.

Yay for you for getting a writing room! That's my dream. One day....

Anyway, nice to "meet" you!

Jodie
www.2000words.biz

Kyra Lennon said...

Great answers, Ilima! :D

Clare said...

Um. Diet coke. I should seriously invest in an IV and just straight shoot the stuff. Don't judge me. - Erm, yeah, can I get me one of those too!

Great getting to know more about you, Ilima! :D

Unknown said...

Hi Ilima, How great to have your own writing room. I write YA Sci-fi and fantasy as well, and look forward to getting to know you.

Jaye Robin Brown said...

I just got my writing room this year, and I LOVE it. Still isn't finished, but it will eventually be perfect.

Your WIP sounds fantastic.

Suzi said...

I would love to have my own writing room. Unfortunately it won't happen until my kids move out of the house. And considering the youngest just started kindergarten, that won't happen for quite a while. :)

Anonymous said...

Nice to meet you! I'm not participating in the #gutgaa contest, but just wanted to say hey when I saw your blog. As a fellow SAHM, I am also a nomad writer, so I know exactly what you mean. Hope you have fun as a first round judge!

Nicole McLaughlin said...

how lucky that you're getting a writing room. Jealous! :) And you're current story sounds amazing! Love anything historical. (although I don't write it myself! LOL)

Charlie N. Holmberg said...

Totally get the Diet Coke thing. ;)

And wow, homeschooling four! My sister is considering home school--it seems like such a commitment. I'm impressed. :)

Very nice to meet you!

Kimberly Gabriel said...

I love that you call yourself a writing nomad. ;)

Anonymous said...

AMEN to the writing-after-the-kids-are-in-bed. I've been sad lately because the baby's sick so I have to keep getting up. Not conducive to writing at all. I tried explaining that to him, but...

Hope you get that writing room cleared soon! Then, like me, you can procrastinate by decorating, puttering around in there, and so on.

Kathryn Purdie said...

Ooh, I didn't know a new writing office was in the works! How awesome for you. I can't wait to see it when it's done!!

Heather Murphy said...

I have a writing room too but I don't use it yet. I think I need to make it more "homey" first. It is not very inspiring yet.

Anonymous said...

"Writing nomad" I love that. If I could figure out a way to so it, I would write while hiking.

Unknown said...

Hello! I am also a Diet Coke addict. ;) Someone should invent an IV for it. We could make millions!

Wendy Jo said...

You are amazing. Homeschooling four kids AND writing? Wow. Just wow.

Unknown said...

Coolest inspiration of the day goes to you!

Angie Sandro said...

I'm also into family history research. I love Learning the stories of those little known ancestors and discovering how their lives intersect my own...the things we share like love and family despite the distance in time.

Johana Vera said...

Hi! Lovely to meet you!
My IV would have to shoot coffee, but I absolutely share the sentiment.
Read you around ;)

Kate Larkindale said...

I'm envying your writing room even though you don't have it yet....

Kelley Lynn said...

Haha. An IV. You and me both Ilima! Can't get enough diet coke!

Anonymous said...

That sounds like a fascinating manuscript!

Nicole said...

That's such an amazing family history - sounds like a great love story!

Carrie-Anne said...

Your WIP sounds interesting. Is it a historical?

Angela Cothran said...

I totally just judged you for the Coke thing :)

Sarah Ahiers said...

Hi! I'm stopping by from GUTGAA! And yes, the don't stop writing bit is very true. Half the the time the trouble you get into because of writing can be solved by more writing!

Jeannette said...

I'm glad you did the meet and greet! You write fantasy and sci-fi with lots of kissing? Awesome. :) Nice to meet you!

Jamie Zvirzdin said...

Thanks for helping out! We lived in Bologna, Italy for almost a year. It was a great experience. You have a very willing husband!

Jamie Z.
www.jamiezvirzdin.com

Dr Margaret Aranda said...

I never met a Judge before and this is my first time doing a BlogHopFest, so it is wonderful to visit your happy blog and meet! I'm a Stanford-trained anesthesiologist and critical care doctor who was a trauma patient for uhmmm...6 years. 3 1/2 years on an iv no kidding and I actually like the thought of Diet soda through an iv... makes me laugh ;-). Loving these days with GUTGAA!

Dr Margaret Aranda
www.drmargaretaranda.blogspot.com
www.girlpowerinamm.blogspot.com