Lydia Redwine
Author Interview - Lydia Redwine
Author I draw inspiration from: Lucy Maud Montgomery is the first one who comes to mind. She wrote characters, especially women, in a way more real, multidimensional, and beautiful in the sense of their basic human qualities than any other characters I have ever read. Montgomery made me define romance, innocence, imagination, and creativity for myself at a young age. I’m inspired by how she revealed truths through real people and real experiences.
Favorite place to read a book: My room is probably my favorite place. It is where I am surrounded by all of my favorite comforts. But really, if the book is intriguing enough, I can read it almost anywhere.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with: Kvothe from Patrick Rothfuss’ The Kingkiller Chronicles. He would be an entertaining companion, storytelling and musical talent included. But he would also be someone I could learn from. Someone who is quite different from me in experience but similar in creativity.
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author: The definitive moment was when I was nine, sitting in my 4th grade english class and considering that writing was the only thing in school that I enjoyed in every aspect. I said to myself, “I want to be an author when I grow up.” But growing up was too far away, so I started soon after that. As I look back on it now, deciding to be an author even though everyone else in my life considered this declaration of a nine year old to be unserious, was the second most certain decision I’ve ever made. The first being about my faith. Writing seemed like the only answer. Confirming it to myself was the only thing I could do. It has been one of the most natural understandings I have come to have.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook: I prefer to read from a paperback, display a hardback, and listen to an audiobook when I’m not reading as much as I should be. Audiobooks help me to be more productive. I’ll listen to them in the car, while journaling, while cleaning, etc. Ebooks are for long roadtrips when I can’t sleep. But so is music, so Ebooks pretty much fall off my radar.
The last book I read: A nonfiction piece (which I seldom read) called Amusing Ourselves To Death by Neil Postman. Although it is a rather dry read, Postman’s words on public discourse in an age dominated by the media were very interesting to me. More interesting to me as a creative myself, who aims to entertain my readers while also making points of possible discourse.
Pen & paper or computer: For poetry, its pen and paper because it tends to be more personal. Putting it on a screen the first time it comes out of me feels unnatural to the form. But for my novels, I have to use a computer because during first drafts I can be long-winded and detail oriented. Having it on the screen helps me to stay organized. And if I were to write a novel by hand, I would loose the best parts, for my hands when writing by hand cannot keep up with my mind.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with: Emily Byrd Starr from Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Emily trilogy. She is as close to a character as I will ever be. A dreamer and a writer with an infinity for all things beautiful, Emily is wishful and determined to succeed to both writing and learning of being a human. She would understand me better than any other character I can think of.
If I wasn’t an author, I’d be a: I would not exist. Haha. But truly, it is difficult to imagine myself without writing. I would be creative in another sense, I suppose. I would make films and music, art and bad j0kes. I would probably be a broke artist and fine with it. A female Henry David Thoreau, dwelling in the woods.
Favorite decade in fashion history: I like now because now draws on many decades. Fashion sense today is drawn from the conglomeration of the best of every decade. But aesthetically, the 70’s-90’s would be my favorite. That suburban adolescent esque look so to speak.
Place I’d most like to travel: South Korea. A couple of my best friends want to go too. We were lured in by Kpop a couple years ago.
My signature drink: Water with lemon, because it’s healthy. Otherwise, it would be strawberry milk which tends to be mentioned in my poetry quite a bit.
Favorite artist: Thomas Kinkade’s visual artwork feels like home. Sabrina Benaim is my current favorite poet and her book Depression and Other Magic Tricks is one of my favorite poetry collections. Noor Unnahar and Areeba Siddique are the queens of art journaling. There are so many more I could list.
Number one on my bucket list: To go hiking in Kauai. Waterfalls, jungle, fresh mangos? What else could I ask for?
Find more from Lydia, here:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/11202463.Lydia_Redwine
Website: https://lydiaredwine.wordpress.com/