I had been travelling and couldnt post this earlier.My apologies.
I had reviewed 'THE READERS OF BROKEN WHEEL RECOMMEND' some time back when I got the chance to read an advance copy of the book.I had really enjoyed the story and can fondly recall it even today.It is the perfect book to perk up your spirits and one which can be enjoyed with a mug of hot chocolate.
I was curious about Katarina Bivald,the author and was thrilled when I got the chance to ask her a few questions.
Katarina Bivald grew up working part-time in a bookshop. Today she lives outside of Stockholm, Sweden, with her sister and as many bookshelves she can get by her. She’s currently trying to persuade her sister that
having a shelf for winter jackets and shoes is completely unneccessary. There should be enough space for a book shelf or two instead.Limited success so far.Apparently,her sister is also stubbornly refusing to even discuss using the bath room to store books.Katarina Bivald sometimes claims that she still hasn’t decided whether she prefers books or people but, as we all know, people are a non-starter. Even if you do like them, they’re better in books. Only possible problem: reading a great book and having noone to recommend it to.
On to the interview:
I had reviewed 'THE READERS OF BROKEN WHEEL RECOMMEND' some time back when I got the chance to read an advance copy of the book.I had really enjoyed the story and can fondly recall it even today.It is the perfect book to perk up your spirits and one which can be enjoyed with a mug of hot chocolate.
I was curious about Katarina Bivald,the author and was thrilled when I got the chance to ask her a few questions.
Katarina Bivald grew up working part-time in a bookshop. Today she lives outside of Stockholm, Sweden, with her sister and as many bookshelves she can get by her. She’s currently trying to persuade her sister that
having a shelf for winter jackets and shoes is completely unneccessary. There should be enough space for a book shelf or two instead.Limited success so far.Apparently,her sister is also stubbornly refusing to even discuss using the bath room to store books.Katarina Bivald sometimes claims that she still hasn’t decided whether she prefers books or people but, as we all know, people are a non-starter. Even if you do like them, they’re better in books. Only possible problem: reading a great book and having noone to recommend it to.
1. I loved your book, ‘The Readers Of Broken Wheel Recommend’ and I am curious about why you chose to set the story in Broken Wheel, Iowa?
I love books about quirky small American towns, and in the end, I just created a town where I could live for the years it took me to write it.
2. What was the most challenging part about writing this book?
To keep at it, I think, and keep editing it. What separates a publishable book from an unpublishable one is not the idea, nor the plot or the theme or the characters, but the stubbornness of the author.
3. There are various characters in the book, each with their own quirks. What inspired these characters?
I love quirky characters and books about them. When I set out to write my own book, it sort of came naturally to me.
4. Would you describe in brief your journey as an author?
I’ve always known I wanted to be a writer, but somehow I never really gave it any focused effort. As if I was so sure of my dream that I didn’t really think I had to actually work on it. Or perhaps I just didn’t want to subject my dreams to reality?
And then, when I was 25, I said to myself: pick any idea, write any book; it doesn’t have to be good, it will probably never be published, but finish something. From Chapter 1 to The End.
It was published, eventually, but it took years of re-writing and a lot of rejection letters. In fact, I don’t think there’s a publisher in Sweden, large or small, who hasn’t at one time or another rejected my novel. Even my own publisher has rejected an earlier draft of it. But it was necessary: the story needed it.
The rest has been a dizzying and strangely everyday experience: it turns out that being sold to some 25 countries, seeing dream after dream after dream come true, doesn’t really alter the fact that life is basically an everyday experience. As it should be.
5. Who are your favorite authors?
It’s almost impossible to answer; I have so many. Terry Pratchett, Lee Child, Jane Austen, Sherman Alexie, Fannie Flagg… the list just goes on and on.
6. Who or what is your biggest inspiration?
Other people’s conversations: I eavesdrop a lot.
7. Which book besides yours would you readily recommend to readers?
Every time I read a new book that I love I try to force all my friends to read it. Just last week I tried to convince a friend of mine that what he was really looking for was some light reading on loss and grief; I had just finished C.S. Lewis A Grief Observed. He promised to read it but then somehow managed to “forget” the book at my place. Fortunately I have since bought him his own copy. Although I did the same thing with a great book about the plague, and I have this suspicion that he hasn’t read it yet.
8. Which book are you currently reading?
C.S. Lewis Surprised by Joy.
9. What advice do you have for new authors?
Eavesdrop. Talk to everyone you meet that’s older than you. Life has a way of being stranger than fiction.
10. Do you really like books more than people?
Oh, I like people too. It’s just that they’re better in books.
Links and other relevant details:
ISBN-10: 149262344X
ISBN-13: 978-1492623441
PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks Landmark (January 19, 2016)
TWITTER HANDLE:@katarinabivald
FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/
GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE
LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/
Thank you Katarina for your time and answers.
READERS, RECOMMEND YOUR BOOKSTORE!
Sourcebooks Launches Reader Voting Campaign to Grant Money to Community Bookstores
NAPERVILLE IL (January 5, 2016) — Independent publisher Sourcebooks announces the “Readers, Recommend Your Bookstore” campaign, which will give grant money to three nominated bookstores. The “Readers, Recommend Your Bookstore Campaign” is inspired by the phenomenal support booksellers have given The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald, which was selected as the #1 Indie Next Great Read for January 2016.
Katarina Bivald’s international bestselling debut novel, The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend, is a charming, big-hearted story about the joy of books and the transformative power of community bookstores.
“Bookstores are the heart and soul of their community and have enormous impact on readers’ lives,” said Dominique Raccah, founder and CEO of Sourcebooks. “The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend inspired us to create a campaign that will not only give back to a few deserving bookstores, but hopefully highlight all the many wonderful bookstores that service communities across the country.”
Anyone can nominate their favorite bookstore at http://books.sourcebooks.com/readers-recommend-your-bookstore-sweepstakes/. Sourcebooks will award the winning bookstore with a $3,000 prize; two additional bookstores will each receive a $637 prize (the population of Bivald’s fictional Broken Wheel, Iowa). In addition to bookstores receiving prizes, weekly giveaways for those who nominate will be held throughout the campaign. Voting began January 4, and runs until February 19, when the winning bookstores will be announced.
The rest has been a dizzying and strangely everyday experience: it turns out that being sold to some 25 countries, seeing dream after dream after dream come true, doesn’t really alter the fact that life is basically an everyday experience. As it should be.
5. Who are your favorite authors?
It’s almost impossible to answer; I have so many. Terry Pratchett, Lee Child, Jane Austen, Sherman Alexie, Fannie Flagg… the list just goes on and on.
6. Who or what is your biggest inspiration?
Other people’s conversations: I eavesdrop a lot.
7. Which book besides yours would you readily recommend to readers?
Every time I read a new book that I love I try to force all my friends to read it. Just last week I tried to convince a friend of mine that what he was really looking for was some light reading on loss and grief; I had just finished C.S. Lewis A Grief Observed. He promised to read it but then somehow managed to “forget” the book at my place. Fortunately I have since bought him his own copy. Although I did the same thing with a great book about the plague, and I have this suspicion that he hasn’t read it yet.
8. Which book are you currently reading?
C.S. Lewis Surprised by Joy.
9. What advice do you have for new authors?
Eavesdrop. Talk to everyone you meet that’s older than you. Life has a way of being stranger than fiction.
10. Do you really like books more than people?
Oh, I like people too. It’s just that they’re better in books.
Links and other relevant details:
ISBN-10: 149262344X
ISBN-13: 978-1492623441
PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks Landmark (January 19, 2016)
TWITTER HANDLE:@katarinabivald
FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/
GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE
LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/
AMAZON LINK:
Thank you Katarina for your time and answers.
Sourcebooks Launches Reader Voting Campaign to Grant Money to Community Bookstores
NAPERVILLE IL (January 5, 2016) — Independent publisher Sourcebooks announces the “Readers, Recommend Your Bookstore” campaign, which will give grant money to three nominated bookstores. The “Readers, Recommend Your Bookstore Campaign” is inspired by the phenomenal support booksellers have given The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald, which was selected as the #1 Indie Next Great Read for January 2016.
Katarina Bivald’s international bestselling debut novel, The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend, is a charming, big-hearted story about the joy of books and the transformative power of community bookstores.
“Bookstores are the heart and soul of their community and have enormous impact on readers’ lives,” said Dominique Raccah, founder and CEO of Sourcebooks. “The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend inspired us to create a campaign that will not only give back to a few deserving bookstores, but hopefully highlight all the many wonderful bookstores that service communities across the country.”
Anyone can nominate their favorite bookstore at http://books.sourcebooks.com/readers-recommend-your-bookstore-sweepstakes/. Sourcebooks will award the winning bookstore with a $3,000 prize; two additional bookstores will each receive a $637 prize (the population of Bivald’s fictional Broken Wheel, Iowa). In addition to bookstores receiving prizes, weekly giveaways for those who nominate will be held throughout the campaign. Voting began January 4, and runs until February 19, when the winning bookstores will be announced.
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