Monday, March 7, 2016

Question of the Month with Michael D'Agostino


This month Michael asks:

Have you ever met an idol/influence/someone you really admire? How did it go?”

Yes I did, actually. A couple of years ago, RIT hosted a lecture series featuring Margaret Atwood. When I was in high school, The Handmaid's Tale was required reading and I loved it. When I read the book years later as a writer, I loved it even more. The voice of the protagonist is masterful. If you are a fan of The Hunger Games or The Divergent Series, this is quite a different type of dystopian tale, but I highly recommend it.

One thing that really stuck with me about Atwood's talk was her advice to writers trying to break into the publishing business: "Don't whine about it." That got a big laugh. 

After the talk, there was a reception and book signing. I picked up a few books including The Year of the Flood and The Blind Assassin. When I got up to the front of the line, she asked me my name and said, "Tamara? A romantic name."

So that's it. I'd say it went pretty well. 

This is a blog hop, so please join us. Here where you can sign up. 

26 comments:

  1. That's awesome! It's also great that you got to listen to her talk and get some advice.

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  2. Fun! I have a note to go back and re-read some of her novels. I enjoyed them the first time around.... :)

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  3. Glad you also had a good experience meeting an author you admire.

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  4. haha great advice from her indeed. Whining goes nowhere.

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  5. Oh, you have a romantic name. ;) I've used Tamara for the name of an island. :)

    How awesome you got to hear her talk. I need to check out her books!

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  6. Oh, you have a romantic name. ;) I've used Tamara for the name of an island. :)

    How awesome you got to hear her talk. I need to check out her books!

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  7. I've never had that pleasure. It'd be awesome though, to meet Stephen King. Tamara is a romantic name, my nieces name too!

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  8. That sounds like a great experience. And your name is romantic.

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  9. I agree that it is a romantic name!! That's awesome that meeting your idol went so well. :)

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  10. How neat to meet Margaret Atwood! I probably would have been groveling just a little. :)

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  11. She sounds awesome! That comment aout your name makes me think she always has her writer's brain switched on.

    A Life Examined

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  12. I've read Handmaid's Tale and Year of the Flood--both pretty good books. You can use her response to you as a model someday when people are lined up for you to sign their copies of your book.

    Arlee Bird
    A to Z Challenge Co-host
    Tossing It Out

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  13. I keep missing this event regardless of the email reminders. I met Dean Koontz once and had my picture taken with him. Congrats! on your moment.

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  14. It sounds like you had a great experience! I've heard of The Handmaid's Tale, but I didn't know what it was about. I might have to add it to my never-ending TBR list :)

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  15. I've been considering to join this blog hop. I will probably sign up now (or sometime this month)

    Cold As Heaven

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  16. Handmaid's Tale was required reading for us too! You're so lucky to have met her :)

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  17. That must have been pretty cool to meet her and have her say that about your name. I agree with her.

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  18. Oh, that's nice of her to say. I've heard she can be somewhat caustic sometimes--glad that wasn't the case with you.

    Mine is Chuck Wendig. I'd long loved his blog, so was a bit shy about approaching him, but am so glad I did. He's been an awesome friend and source of support ever since.

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  19. I still have to read A Handmaid's Tale. One day real soon, I will.

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  20. How cool to meet the author. I have to ask, when you say RIT, are you referring to Rochester Institute of Technology? (curious as my son is a freshman there) ;) Stopping by from a-z!

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  21. I'm not a Margaret Atwood fan, but I do hear that her dystopian or sci-fi-type novels are her best. Glad you had a positive experience meeting her.

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  22. Great wee story, glad your idol didn't disappoint 😊
    Andrea from D's Company #atozchallenge

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