#NailbitersNovel Blog Tour: Interview with MK Williams (Part Two)
On Monday, Nailbiters author, MK Williams, shared her writing inspirations and offered advice to emerging writers. Today, MK is back to share her reading preferences, her currently reading lists, and fav and least liked books.
What books are currently on
your night stand?
I am currently reading two books actually. The first is It Can’t Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis
and the second is The Simple Path to
Wealth by JL Collins. I’m reading the latter with my husband, we are both
fans on Collins’ blog so when we published his own book, we had to read it!
What’s the last great book you
read?
I really enjoyed Station
Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. Nora Gecan, the artist who created the
cover art for Nailbiters, recommended it to me. It did not disappoint! I
couldn’t keep myself from finding any spare second to keep reading to see what
would happen next.
What genres do you especially
enjoy reading?
I definitely enjoy fiction over non-fiction, but I try to
keep an open mind. I usually don’t stick to one genre when I am reading,
sometimes I feel like a good mystery, other times I want to get wrapped up in a
historical drama. I tend to listen to what friends are recommending, but I also
try to seek out new books that aren’t getting a lot of attention. Sometimes
there are diamonds if a rough and you never know until you give them a try.
What’s the last book that made
you cry?
I was very moved by Reading
Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi. It is a wonderful read and I would highly
recommend it to anyone, male or female. It refreshed my world view and reminded
me that what I perceive as a daily problem is so small compared to what others
are experiencing.
What’s the last book that made
you laugh out loud?
The MaddAddam
series by Margaret Atwood was excellent. There were some very serious topics
that were covered, but some she did provide great comic relief in a few
sections that were much appreciated. I was engrossed in the series! I’ve loved
each book by Margaret Atwood that I’ve read, so I’m sure I’ll be reading more
of her work in the near future.
What book read for school had
the greatest impact on you?
A Simple Heart
by Gustave Flaubert was the most impactful. It is very short, probably better
described as a short story, but it was so great and well written that I still
find myself thinking about that parrot.
And which book did you hate
reading as a student?
This one is easy: Catcher
in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. I’ve never liked it. I know so many people out
there think it is the best book ever, but I just don’t feel that way. I tried
to read it again a few years ago to see if some perspective would change my
mind and I couldn’t get past the first 20 pages.
What kind of reader were you as
a child?
I had two phases of reading as a child. The first was
very reluctant and hesitant, this phase lasted until I was fitted for glasses.
I used to get horrible headaches when I tried to read anything, then I could
finally see and I learned to love reading! I have always been a slow reader, I
don’t speed-read and I don’t have a desire to learn any speed-reading
techniques. I really enjoy taking my time to enjoy the story and I don’t mind
if it takes me a bit longer because of that.
Which childhood books and
authors stick with you most?
It may be something that many people of my generation
say, but J.K. Rowling and the Harry Potter series changed my life. I was an
outcast in school, but I always felt like I could fit right in with my friends
at Hogwarts. I know that if I hadn’t been able to read those books, much of my
joy in middle school and high school may have been difficult to come by.
What do you plan to read next?
Do you have a tbr pile?
I’m thinking that Fight
Club by Chuck Paluhniuk will be next on my list, but it will depend on the
availability at the library. I find that keeping track through Goodreads has
been such an amazing tool. I used to have little post it notes with book titles
on them, but now I can just keep track online and mitigate the risk of
forgetting a recommendation.
(If you missed part one of the interview, feel free to check that out, here)
Tomorrow, be sure to check out Erica’s review of Nailbiters on The Literary Apothecary
