Joanna Newsom, Bjork, Depeche Mode, Mozart, Talking Heads, Liz Phair, Johnny Cash, Alanis Morissette, Geoff Muldaur, Wall of Voodoo, Gershwin, Sixpence and None the Richer, Sophie B. Hawkins, Tracy Chapman.
Movies
So many. A few: The Lives of Others, The Man From Earth, Shakespeare in Love, Office Space, Blade Runner, Notting Hill, Brazil, The Mothman Prophecies, Name of the Rose, Bride and Prejudice, Gladiator, Groundhog Day, Lost In Translation, Happy Accidents (a fantastic time travel love story), The Family Man, Master and Commander, Much Ado About Nothing, Gattaca.
Television
Classic movies, science programs, the History Channel, Discovery, etc. But I'm not completely pure; I occasionally waste my time watching sports.
Books
So many. A few of my all-time favorites: Huckleberry Finn, Watership Down, the Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson, The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, Green Mansions by W.H. Hudson, the Little House on the Prairie books, The Island of Dr. Moreau, A Farewell to Arms, The Giver -- I could go on and on. Some of the recent: The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean, Dope and Come Closer by Sara Gran, The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau, No Country For Old Men and The Road by Cormac McCarthy, The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, Project 17 by Laurie Faria Stolarz, Becoming Chloe by Catherine Ryan Hyde, and House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski.
Heroes
My NASA engineer father helped us land on the Moon. I am extremely proud of him for that. We have home movies of Dad goofing around in zero gravity with two 500-pound packages, one in each hand. Also people like these: Dikembe Mutombo, Emily Dickinson, Abraham Lincoln, Philip K. Dick, Sharon Olds, Thomas Jefferson, Bjork, Bill Russell, Freddie Mercury, Harriet Tubman, Loren Eiseley, Dr. Ronald L. Mallett, and Nicola Tesla.
Here is the cover of my third book, DAYS OF LITTLE TEXAS. It's the story of a preaching prodigy named Little Texas who started on the tent revival circuit at age ten, and is now a 16 year old faith healer. One night he heals a dying girl in a blue dress who then starts appearing wherever Little Texas preaches. Is Lucy a stalker? Or something even worse?DAYS OF LITTLE TEXAS is unlike any ghost story you have ever read.
I grew up in north Alabama surrounded by cotton fields and Saturn V rocket engines that every few days blew smoke through the pine woods that looked just like clouds. The NASA test stands rattled our windows on a regular basis when they test-fired the massive Apollo engines. These days I'm a technical writer at NASA's
Marshall Space Flight Center. But what I really like doing is writing books that scare me.
My second book, BREATHE MY NAME, is about a girl named Frances who has a terrifying secret: eleven years ago, her mother murdered Frances' sisters and nearly killed Frances herself. Now Frances is in high school just trying to live her life and forget the past while crushing on the strangely wonderful new guy, Nix — until the day her mother sends her a chilling message: I need to see you. Please come right away. We have to finish.
My debut novel, TEACH ME, is about a science-minded girl named Nine who falls in love with her poetry teacher. But after things turn physical, Nine's life spirals into a dangerous nightmare of obsession and revenge.
The North American continent, circa 1500-1720. I fantasize about being an explorer,
sans any raping and pillaging. But I'm also part Cherokee, so I'm at
least 1/8 noble, proud and a total friend of nature.
Hiking and exploring "undiscovered places" like caves. Sitting still in deep natural places and just watching and listening. New scientific discoveries like Lake
Vostok in the Antartic, a massive subsurface lake that hasn't seen the light of day for millions of years which NASA says resembles conditions on Jupiter's moon, Europa.
Learning about quantum
theory, which dovetails nicely with a lot of Eastern philosphy. No, I can't do the math. Yet.
Archeology, e.e. cummings and Sharon
Olds, the
Mars Rovers Spirit and Opportunity, South Dakota, college sports (they invented the term "smashmouth" down here), playing basketball, road trips to strange faraway places, Chumley's
in the West Village, NYC, a literary watering hole for writers like
Hemingway, Parker, and Fitzgerald (you can still see their
signatures on the walls), mysterious ancient structures, historical sites famous and
obscure, digging holes, trees, the afterlife, amazing comebacks, wildflowers, and lumberjack competitions. Ha. Just checking to see if you are still awake.
Who I'd like to meet: Ray Bradbury, Audrey Niffenegger, Anne Heche, Gary Numan, Russell Crowe, Johnny Depp, Mark Twain, Moira Kelly, Chrissie Hynde, Abraham Lincoln, Dr. Ronald L. Mallett, Philip K. Dick, Nikola Tesla, Coleridge, Emily Dickinson, Cyril Kornbluth, Tracy Chapman, Boris Karloff, Laurie Anderson, H.P. Lovecraft, Sara Gran, Emma Thompson, Ben Kingsley, Dikembe Mutombo, and a whole slew of YA writers and readers.
THE DARK PATH is out now and took just one week to become the #1 best selling Horror on Fictionwise and eBookwise! You can read the entire prologue for FREE here: http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/b93042/?si=0
I’m elated about being a 2009 SemiFinalist for the AMPAS’ Nicholl Fellowship! http://www.oscars.org/awards/nicholl/fellows/finalists.html Alabama girl is getting closer to Hollywood again. :)
And Kudos on having Bjork on your page! She's got to be one of my favorites. Isobel is definitely a beautiful song. My favorite song she does is called "In Our Hands." Post was my favorite album of hers. Medulla was great, too.
And I see you like Joanna Newsom.
I want to buy a harp because of her. (Ps. have you ever noticed that she sounds like Lisa Simpson sometimes?)
Anyways, It's great to know I have so much in common with my favorite author.
I must admit, I didn't think you'd actually write me. But I'm glad you did.
I'd like to say that I first read Teach Me in my Sophomore year in high school. It was an accident.
My creative writing teacher assigned us all books to read and write a summary of. I was originally assigned To Kill A Mockingbird, but my teacher handed it to another girl, and I got Teach Me.
At first I was going to hand it back, but I read the back panel first. Intrigued me right away.
I read the first chapter, and immediately fell in love.
The analogies you use, and how you really feel in tune with all of Carolina's emotions and thoughts captivated me. It is so beautifully written.
I've read it 4 times since then.
And I've read all your other books and fell in love, too.
But still, there are no words to describe how Teach Me changed my life. You have captivated me. I can't thank you enough for your beautiful words.
All the love in the world,
Your fan, Amelia S. Rogers.
Ps. Last year I named my bicycle Wilkie. Hope that doesn't sound too nerdy.
I just want to keep you posted on what's going on this way.
The Soul of a Man Anthology is the winner of the 2009 Best Short Stories/Anthology from the African American Literary Awards Show. Read an excerpt of my contribution, "Like Father, Like Son", at http://joeyisinit.com/excerpt.html.
My lastest entry on http://joeypinkney.com is "5 Minutes, 5 Questions With... KL Brady, author of The Bum Magnet". Leave a comment on my website, I would like to know what you think.
Here is the link: http://www.joeypinkney.com/interviewed/k-l-brady.html
Don't be a stranger. Let me know what's going on in your neck of the woods.
so first of all I'm from germany so excuse me if my english is bad or whatever^^ I'm currently reading Teach Me, for I guess the 20th time?? :D I just want to thank you for giving me this brilliant book!!
I just want to keep you posted on what's going on this way.
Please pre-order your autographed copy of The Soul of a Man Anthology featuring yours truly, Joey Pinkney, from http://JoeyIsInIt.com. My story is entitled, "Like Father, Like Son".
It was published on Father's Day, June 21, 2009 by Peace In The Storm Publishing. Read an excerpt of "Like Father, Like Son" at http://joeyisinit.com/excerpt.html.
My lastest entry on http://joeypinkney.com is "JoeyPinkney.com Presents.... Author Marc Lacy, The Soul of a Man Anthology" Leave a comment on my website, I would like to know what you think.
Here is the link: http://tiny.cc/marclacyvideo
Don't be a stranger. Let me know what's going on in your neck of the woods.
ah. my high school? really? gives you a high school name for your next young adult book. haha, no. you said you like my profile? or... I don't know. and thanks for accepting my friend request :]
Show our military there are still plenty of people who appreciate their service and sacrifice. Pass this YouTube video link to every person you know so it will eventually reach every present and former military person across the globe! Love your freedom? Thank your military. :-)
I hope you find time to read Peek-A-Boo and please comment me at the SNM Reader Guestbook? Thank You! http://www.snmhorrormag.com/snmaugustissue2.htm Your Friend, Brian Johnpeer