A COVID Q&A — An Interview With My Writer Self

I began this post a few years ago, and decided now was the time to share it. I wasn't keen to blog about covid-19 again, so it seemed like the perfect time for a Q&A. Some of these answers you may be aware of, and others, not.

​Here goes — enjoy!

1. Book or movie and why?

Although my desire is to read the original (and unabridged, for that matter), time does not allow me to read classics or other literature as I would wish. So, to avoid being totally ignorant of the works, I will watch an "original movie version" of a book, hoping it's as close to the intent of the author as possible. There will be a time in my life where I will inhale all the books I have put aside as I have home educated our children. And the time is NOW! One benefit of this sheltering-in-place is more time to read. Yay!

2. Real book or e-book?
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Both. Less than half are real books — dozens of them piled under a table, all categorized, waiting to be read. Since I am a minimalist now, and may have to move in the next year or two, I have been purchasing e-books on all topics and genres. I like them for convenience, and the sake of my budget, and because I can carry my iPad everywhere. But the real books have my vote for the many-faceted experiences of reading that folks have enjoyed through the ages!

Regardless of which I choose to read at the time, I ALWAYS write a review — at minimum, on Goodreads and Amazon. They are the mainstay of an author’s career, and it is a gift I can give to my fellow creatives.

​3. Funniest thing you've done in the last 5 years?

Well, maybe not the funniest, but funny. One spring, I accompanied my husband on business trip to Florida. Unfortunately, our flight was delayed, and by the time we arrived at the airport late in the evening, I was slap-happy. My husband, a night-owl, was his usual silly self. We got onto the tram to take us to our rental car, and somehow, we decided to take a selfie (always my doing). It wasn't until I was adjusting the view before clicking, that I noticed the dolphin behind us. When I pointed it out to Dan, he posed as if it were kissing him, and thus the silly pic.

My hubby and me in Florida

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4. How would your best friend describe you?

Excited about everything in life, especially when we were younger. I was always trying something new — sometimes a fad that lasted a few months, like permed hair and wigs, and sometimes it stuck, as in my love of exploring new places. I love variety. Back in the day, Becky would order a vanilla ice cream cone, and I would choose what she would call a 'peanut butter-pistachio-bubblegum' concoction!

Becky & Me!

​5. Do you put yourself into the books you read/write or the movies you watch?
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Come to think of it, subconsciously I do. I'd love to be the heroine, if her life is lived well. Or sometimes, I wish to be another character who could warn the heroine, "Wait — don't do that! Be patient. It will all turn out okay." Any character that could change the course of history in context of the story is whom I would like to be.

As far as my writing goes, I'm aware of only one middle-grade novel I wrote that, in retrospect, had two main characters whose personalities matched my husband’s and mine. All the rest have bits of people I know, but I don't set out to write a story with my friends and family members written in. There's an author quote going around that says something like this, ”Don’t get me angry, otherwise I may write you into my story and kill you off.” FYI — that is not me!

​6. Favorite kind of car and why?

I am attracted to the unusual, so, the Nissan cube (in moss green 2010), a Mini Cooper in reef blue, or VW pea (I found on Pinterest) is my kind of vehicle. Of course, it would only fit me and one other person, so I will wait until the "empty nest" stage to consider one! And now that I'm a minimalist, I'm looking for my ideal tiny house. But shhhhhh. . . don't tell my husband. ☺️

7. Would your choice of party be a catered meal or barbecue out back?

That's a hard one. Of course, it would depend on the season here in the Midwest. I love steak, so let's just say the BBQ. Since I have food intolerances, my diet is limited. But if I could eat anything, it would be catered — probably be an Italian meal full of diary and gluten!

8. What's your favorite season and why?

My favorite time of year is Spring. My name "Jarmila" is Slavic, and means 'lover of Spring'. Yaro, the masculine form of Jarmila was my father's name, so I am left with pleasant memories of him as well as owning his name! My birth flower, incidently, is the Lily of the Valley. I was thrilled to find a pink variety for my garden!

It's the fresh warmer air after winter that I love, along with the promise of new life. The budding of flowers and leaves, and the birth of insects, birds and mammals are part of the scene. It's Creation coming to life anew every year! And lately, green is my favorite color.

My pink lilies-of-the-valley!

​9. What specific lesson have you learned - Spiritual, educational, occupational?

I'm always learning, but, I think in the context of writing, it's the idea that "my time will come." I need to be faithful in reading and writing what God has ordained for me each day, and He will work out the timing. My books and articles will be published when it will benefit me, and most importantly, others, the most. I must be patient!
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Spiritually, I am learing to TRUST and LEAN on Jesus for my CONTENTMENT, even as I wait out the coronavirus crisis. My times are in His hands, and nothing can bring on or prevent my death until it's time for me to go home to Heaven.

10. Besides writing, what's your favorite thing to do when you get some extra time?
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I love to travel and visit new places. It could be a new store or museum; it doesn't need to be exotic. I also enjoy wandering through boutiques or museum shops, admiring new products and clothing. Stopping in at our local resale shop is also a relaxing and enjoyable diversion. But, I'll need to wait a while before I can go out and explore again!

​11. What's one place you can be found at least one time every week?

Definitely at church. I would miss worshipping God and fellowshipping with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Meeting on Zoom each week during the Covid Crisis is not the same! I look forward to the day I can finally give hugs again.

Second would be our local library — can't imagine a life without books! And they've been extremely helpful in finding information, whether I am doing research for my next novel, or need another historical fiction fix!

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If you are curious about my unique childhood, check out this blogpost. Was anything surprising to you? Do we have anything in common? Let me know below!