20 Questions with Author Andrea Lochen: the Final Installment

       

Today's the day! Local author Andrea Lochen will be doing a reading and Q&A session about her new novel The Repeat Year here at the West Allis Public Library TONIGHT Tuesday, August 13th at 7 PM in the Constitution Room.  In preparation for her visit, Andrea did a little interview with me in order for you dear patrons to get to know her a bit.  Today marks our final 2 questions!

      Q. 19: The chicken or the egg?  

    

      Definitely the chicken (but don’t ask me why)!

      Q. 20: Do you dream up your characters or are they based on real people?  

      There are definitely qualities of people I know (including myself) in all of my characters.  (Truthfully, there’s probably a little piece of me in every character I write.)  But it’s not a perfect one to one ratio, where someone could say, “Oh, clearly that character is based on So-and-So.”  The traits get redistributed and blended with behaviors and quirks I’ve also invented.

We have several copies of Andrea's book here at the library if you would like to prep yourself with questions but get one soon!  They are always flying off the shelves!  Signed copies of the novel will be available for purchase this evening at the reading.  Join us at 7 PM in the Constitution Room!

20 Questions with Author Andrea Lochen: Questions 17 & 18

Local author Andrea Lochen will be doing a reading and Q&A session about her new novel The Repeat Year here at the West Allis Public Library on Tuesday, August 13th at 7 PM in the Constitution Room.  In preparation for her visit, Andrea did a little interview with me in order for you dear patrons to get to know her a bit. I will be posting two of her responses each weekday until her visit on the 13th.  

      Q. 17: What would you say was the most memorable moment you’ve had while meeting another author? 

      As a student at the University of Wisconsin, I had a workshop with Lorrie Moore and I was totally star-struck.  She’s not only a phenomenal writer, she’s also an incredible, charismatic teacher. 

      Q. 18:Who is your favorite fictional character?  

      Emma Woodhouse.  Jane Austen once said of her that she was the heroine “no one but myself will much like.”  But I disagree, because I adore Emma; she’s so delightfully flawed and everything she does is in earnest.    

     We have several copies of Andrea's book here at the library if you would like to prep yourself with questions but get one soon!  They are always flying off the shelves!  Signed copies of the novel will be available for purchase at the reading.  Join us tomorrow for our final questions with Andrea!

20 Questions with Author Andrea Lochen: Questions 15 & 16

Local author Andrea Lochen will be doing a reading and Q&A session about her new novel The Repeat Year here at the West Allis Public Library on Tuesday, August 13th at 7 PM in the Constitution Room.  In preparation for her visit, Andrea did a little interview with me in order for you dear patrons to get to know her a bit. I will be posting two of her responses each weekday until her visit on the 13th.

      Q. 15: If you could change one thing that happened to you yesterday, what would it be?  

      

      This is kind of silly, but I wish I had remembered to bring a 20% off coupon to Bed, Bath, and Beyond.  I always get them in the mail and never use them, but the one time I went and bought something there, I didn’t have one with me!

       Q. 16: Do you have a phobia?  Bugs? Snakes? Fire? Elevators?  

      Weirdly, I have a phobia of jellyfish even though I’ve never actually been stung by one.  I’m hoping to keep it that way!  

      We have several copies of Andrea's book here at the library if you would like to prep yourself with questions but get one soon!  They are always flying off the shelves!  Signed copies of the novel will be available for purchase at the reading.  Join us next time for more questions with Andrea!  

20 Questions with Author Andrea Lochen: Questions 13 & 14

        Local author Andrea Lochen will be doing a reading and Q&A session about her new novel The Repeat Year here at the West Allis Public Library on Tuesday, August 13th at 7 PM in the Constitution Room.  In preparation for her visit, Andrea did a little interview with me in order for you, dear patrons, to get to know her a bit.  I will be posting two of her responses each weekday until her visit on the 13th.


Q. 13: Could you share an embarrassing writer's moment with us?

I've been fortunate not to have any embarrassing "writer's moments" yet.  But ask me some other time about embarrassing "teacher's moments."  I have a whole bunch of those!

Q. 14: Favorite guilty pleasure movie? Definition:  a guilty pleasure movie is a movie that you would never ever claim to be one of your favorites but you always watch it if you discover it while flipping channels.  

True Lies with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis—hilarious!

We have several copies of Andrea's book here at the library if you would like to prep yourself with questions but get one soon!  They are always flying off the shelves!  Signed copies of the novel will be available for purchase at the reading.  Join us next time for more questions with Andrea!

20 Questions with Author Andrea Lochen: Questions 11 & 12

Local author Andrea Lochen will be doing a reading and Q&A session about her new novel The Repeat Year here at the West Allis Public Library on Tuesday, August 13th at 7 PM in the Constitution Room.  In preparation for her visit, Andrea did a little interview with me in order for you dear patrons to get to know her a bit. I will be posting two of her responses each weekday until her visit on the 13th.  

      Q. 11: What did you learn from writing this book?  

      

      It sounds cliché, but the old adage, “nothing worthwhile comes easy” is definitely true.  Writing and revising a book for publication is definitely a journey that requires a lot of perseverance. 

     Q. 12:  Do you ever get road rage?  If so, what is your biggest driving pet peeve? 

      

     I’m a fairly calm driver so long as no one tries to hit me!

We have several copies of Andrea's book here at the library if you would like to prep yourself with questions but get one soon!  They are always flying off the shelves!  Signed copies of the novel will be available for purchase at the reading.  Join us next time for more questions with Andrea!

20 Questions with Author Andrea Lochen: Questions 9 & 10

Local author Andrea Lochen will be doing a reading and Q&A session about her new novel The Repeat Year here at the West Allis Public Library on Tuesday, August 13th at 7 PM in the Constitution Room.  In preparation for her visit, Andrea did a little interview with me in order for you dear patrons to get to know her a bit. I will be posting two of her responses each weekday until her visit on the 13th.  

    Q. 9:  What do you consider your biggest failure?  

    

     Losing touch with some of my childhood friends.  Like my main character, Olive, I regret not nurturing some of the important relationships in my life, and I wish I could go back and change that.  

     Q. 10: Early Bird or Night Owl? 

     

     Early Bird, although in terms of writing, afternoons are when I tend to really hit my stride.  

We have several copies of Andrea's book here at the library if you would like to prep yourself with questions but get one soon!  They are always flying off the shelves!  Signed copies of the novel will be available for purchase at the reading.  Join us tomorrow for more questions for Andrea!

20 Questions with author Andrea Lochen: Questions 7 & 8

Local author Andrea Lochen will be doing a reading and Q&A session about her new novel The Repeat Year here at the West Allis Public Library on Tuesday, August 13th at 7 PM in the Constitution Room.  In preparation for her visit, Andrea did a little interview with me in order for you dear patrons to get to know her a bit. I will be posting two of her responses each weekday until her visit on the 13th.   

Q 6: What was your experience with libraries while you were growing up?
  
Ah, such happy memories!  Every week, my family would go to the library and check out a huge stack of children’s books to read together.  I still love reading aloud and being read aloud to. 

      

Q 7: Favorite karaoke song? 

Journey “Don’t Stop Believin’ ”


We have several copies of Andrea's book here at the library if you would like to prep yourself with questions but get one soon!  They are always flying off the shelves!  Signed copies of the novel will be available for purchase at the reading.  Join us next time for more questions with Andrea!

20 Questions with author Andrea Lochen: Questions 5 & 6

Local author Andrea Lochen will be doing a reading and Q&A session about her new novel The Repeat Year here at the West Allis Public Library on Tuesday, August 13th at 7 PM in the Constitution Room.  In preparation for her visit, Andrea did a little interview with me in order for you dear patrons to get to know her a bit. I will be posting two of her responses each weekday until her visit on the 13th.  

Q 5: Did you write a lot as a kid?  If so, what was one of your crazier ideas for a story?

I’ve been writing since I was eight years old, and I loved mysteries and scary stories, so I had a lot of crazy ideas.  One of my favorite stories I wrote is about a girl tracking down and saving the Easter bunny after he is “rabbit-napped.”

Q 6: Have you ever not been able to finish reading a book?  If so, what was it?  

By nature, I’m not a novel-quitter, because I like to give books a fair chance, but there are so many amazing ones out there, that if I’m really not enjoying a book, I’ll stop midway.  I can’t think of any books I’ve given up on recently though.  


We have several copies of Andrea's book here at the library if you would like to prep yourself with questions but get one soon!  They are always flying off the shelves!  Signed copies of the novel will be available for purchase at the reading.  Join us next week for more questions for Andrea!

20 Questions with author Andrea Lochen: Questions 3 & 4

Local author Andrea Lochen will be doing a reading and Q&A session about her new novel The Repeat Year here at the West Allis Public Library on Tuesday, August 13th at 7 PM in the Constitution Room.  In preparation for her visit, Andrea did a little interview with me in order for you dear patrons to get to know her a bit. I will be posting two of her responses each weekday until her visit on the 13th.

Q. 3: Are there any occupational hazards to being a novelist?  

    

      There are definitely highs and lows. Some days (when the writing comes easily, when you get good reviews, etc.) you’re on top of the world; other days (when you’d rather do absolutely anything but write or your book gets criticized, etc.), you feel like staying in bed.  So it’s really important to enjoy the good moments!

      Q. 4: Dogs or cats?  

   

     I love both!  My dog, Maddy, is the best of both worlds, a cat-like dog.  As a Bichon Shih Tzu mix (her breed is called a “teddy bear”), she’s cuddly and the perfect size for your lap, but she also loves to play and be taken for walks.

We have several copies of Andrea's book here at the library if you would like to prep yourself with questions but get one soon!  They are always flying off the shelves!  Signed copies of the novel will be available for purchase at the reading.  Join us tomorrow for more questions for Andrea!

20 Questions with author Andrea Lochen: Questions 1 & 2

Hello library patrons!

Local author Andrea Lochen will be doing a reading and Q&A session about her new novel The Repeat Year here at the West Allis Public Library on Tuesday, August 13th at 7 PM in the Constitution Room.  In preparation for her visit, Andrea did a little interview with me in order for you dear patrons to get to know her a bit. I will be posting two of her responses each weekday until her visit on the 13th.  So here we go!

20 Questions with Author Andrea Lochen: Questions 1 & 2

Q: 1. What do you do when you are not writing?

A: I teach English at the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha.  In my free time, I love to read, bake, and take my dog for long walks.  I also volunteer as a Big Sister through BBBS of Metropolitan Milwaukee, which is incredibly fun and rewarding. 


Q: 2. If you had to choose one flavor of ice cream to describe your personality, which flavor would it be and why?

A: Hmm….what a philosophical question!  I would have to say mint chocolate chip—two very unique flavors that complement each other surprisingly well.   

We have several copies of Andrea's book here at the library if you would like to prep yourself with questions but get one soon!  They are always flying off the shelves!  Signed copies of the novel will be available for purchase at the reading.