Andrea Downing
Back to school
favorite: pens or notebooks?
This has to be
notebooks! When I was about eight or
nine years old, I wrote my first novel in one of those speckled black and white
school notebooks and, ever since, I’ve had a great attachment to them. I always keep a Moleskine Notebook in my
handbag and have some kind of pad by my bedside. I’ve been known to get up in the middle of the
night several times with thoughts for books that need jotting down. The trouble is, by morning those thoughts are
not always readable.
Hiking or jumping in a
pile of leaves?
Definitely jumping in a
pile of leaves. I’m not the most
enthusiastic of hikers; I think my desire to hike was first killed off by my
ex-husband, who saw hiking as some sort of endurance test. Then, of course, out west you need to take
along bear spray so that also dulled the enthusiasm. Now, jumping in a pile of leaves, you can
listen to the crackle and crunch of the leaves underneath, watch the leaves
float off like rare birds and enjoy the colors, all without much effort or
danger.
Halloween or
Thanksgiving?
Difficult one since I
love both. At Halloween I’m really
pleased to answer my door to all the children and see what costumes are popular
this year, chat with the kids a bit and listen to their comments about the
candies I’m offering. On the other hand,
really nothing beats Thanksgiving and sitting around a fabulous meal with all
those you love.
Hot buttered rum or hot chocolate?
Hot chocolate, hands
down. I’m a chocoholic so it has to
be. If I’m allowed to mention a brand,
let me tell you Valhrona is heaven on earth, heavy and like drinking a melted
chocolate bar.
Who's book (besides one
of yours) are you most looking forward to reading?
It would have to be The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, which just
won the Pulitzer Prize. I’ve read her
other books and they are always lessons in what a book should be. One can only aspire…
