Bess Weatherby - Closet Novelist

I'm a New York nanny and closet-novelist. No seriously. I live in a closet. My life is extremely fancy.

1. In your fantasy works, do you often make up completely new worlds or interweave your ideas into the existing world?

I won’t set something in our current world because it’s just far too complicated with all the mass communication. I don’t know how Gossip Girl does it. But I also don’t know how Tolkien did the opposite, creating an entire world of his own. That would take a lifetime. Oh wait, it did. My third book was historical fiction...ish. Let's just say I like to embellish. Now I’m somewhere in-between; my characters have cars and crossbows. They ride horses and bomb people with fireworks. Let's just say the Fourth of July is going to be a whole different holiday.

2. Do you have any projects outside YA fantasy?

Yes. I’m writing a book about my grandparent’s life. Muz – she’s fabulous. And Art – he’s hilarious. Especially when we call him Fart. Which I think he likes . . .

3. Where do you sit when writing? Do you use the computer or regular old pen and paper?

I used to strictly compose on my computer, but that's difficult to lug around the city. I keep imagining writing a blog post to tell everyone that my computer has been stolen and I've lost everything. So I have gone back to straight old moleskin notebook and sharpie. This is especially difficult on the subway. I got yelled at the other day by this old lady who said my pen smelled bad. Harsh?

4. What is/are your favorite blog(s) outside of the group?

Oh boy. Here we go.

• Meredith at “Fairy Tales and Cappuccino”
• Linda at “Visiting Reality”
• Elena Solodow at "You're Write. Except When You're Rong"
  
• Sari Webb at "Confessions of An Aspiring Author"
• And, of course, Rachel Harrie!

5. What is your favorite fantasy creature (elf, dwarf, werewolf, etc.)?

Elves. No question. I still want to be one when I grow up.