Have you ever played the game “Twenty Questions?” Well, I recently had the fun experience of playing a version of this game with Pandora (Dora) Poikilos, at Orangeberry Book Tours. We had a great time discussing all kinds of random topics. Originally posted at http://www.orangeberrybooktours.com/2012/07/author-interview-kimberly-dalferes.html#.T_WkcBt99Jg.facebook, Dora gave me permission to re-post here today.
By the way, the Orangeberry Summer Splash Book Tour begins next week (August 1). Be on the lookout for tour posts.
Challenge:
Pick one of the questions below and leave me your answer in the comments section at the end of this blog post – I know your answers will be wonderful!
1. If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?
Janet Reno, Erma Bombeck, Katherine Hepburn, Chelsey Handler, and Mae West (did you know that Mae West was a playwright? Title of her first play: “Sex” – seriously!). I would serve fabulous, decadent desserts and lots of wine.
2. If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?
1) Sun block
2) Moisturizer
3) My husband
Well, my husband’s not exactly a thing, so I guess the third thing would have to be a solar powered radio. Wait, would the radio work? Scratch the radio; instead I would bring “Surviving On A Desert Island for Dummies.”
3. What is one book everyone should read?
“Surviving On A Desert Island for Dummies”
4. If you were a superhero what would your name be?
Lime Kimba; my superpower would be killer margaritas.
5. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
“Cake Batter” from Cold Stone Creamery. It’s like frozen crack.
6. One food you would never eat?
Eggs; can’t stand them. Not allergic, just don’t like the taste.
7. Pet Peeves?
I’m really not good with passive/aggressiveness. Also, no cleaning your ears in public; that’s just gross.
8. Skittles or M&Ms?
PULEEZE; I’m a girl, chocolate, hello?! M&Ms. Question should be plain or peanut. Discuss.
9. Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
Read it because there is always room for Jello; and tequila; and a funny book. 
10. Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?
I’m working on the sequel to “I Was In Love With a Short Man Once.” Tentative title: “Reflections From the Middle Aged Cheap Seats.”
11. What inspired you to want to become a writer?
I came to be a writer, in part, because of my nana’s apple pie recipe. Nana made the best apple pies, but she never wrote down the recipe. Now she’s gone and no one in the family has been able to recreate her masterpiece. I came to realize that if I want my side of any story to be remembered, I better put it in writing.
12. Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
I received a letter from my high school guidance counselor. She had read my book and loved it. Reconnecting with her after thirty years was remarkable.
13. What is your dream cast for your book?
What a fun question! Since “I Was In Love With a Short Man Once” is an essay collection that is written in a memoir style, I think Allison Janney would be a perfect fit to play me. As for the other people in my life who are featured in my book, no way am I going to guess who should be cast to play them – NO ONE would be happy with me. Sorry, can’t risk the fall out.
14. What’s one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?
If possible, write for yourself. I know it is a bit of a cliché, but if it’s an important subject for you, the story will write itself. Oh, and secure yourself a good copyeditor – they are worth their weight in gold.
15. What is your favorite Quote?
Erma Bombeck is my personal hero. Here are her words to live and write by: “Hook ’em with the lead. Hold ’em with laughter. Exit with a quip they won’t forget.”
16. If you were a super hero what would your kryptonite be?
Eggs. Yuck!!! Oh, and any super hero rescue that would require reading a map.
17. What do you do in your free time?
I am a crazed estate sale addict. Drives my husband nuts – he equates it to scavenging through dead people’s trash. I love the hunt for a bargain and a treasure.
18. What TV show/movie/book do you watch/read that you’d be embarrassed to admit?
I LOVE “White Trash Television.” Well, except the show “Hoarders”; that show is just exploiting mental illness and it’s disturbing. However, I’ll watch any show that involves men sticking their arms down in watery holes to catch monster catfish or people dumpster diving for treasures.
19. Finish the sentence- one book I wish I had written is….
“Pride and Prejudice.” What woman doesn’t wish she was Elizabeth Bennett? And don’t even get me started on Mr. Darcy…
20. Favorite places to travel?
Every year our family goes fishing in Alaska. Alaska in the summer is amazingly beautiful. I also love the people of Alaska; they are for the most part very genuine. With both the land the people, what you see is what you get.
21. (BONUS QUESTION) Favorite music?
70’s/80’s big hair bands: Styx, Foreigner, Bon Jovi, and Van Halen.
Cheers,
Kimba
I have been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this website. Thanks , I will try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your site?
Magnificent web site. A lot of useful info here. I am sending it to several friends ans also sharing in delicious. And of course, thanks in your sweat!
Great idea. As a fellow participant in the Orangeberry Summer Splash, and having noted the musical themes above, I'll pick one of my Q&As that combines thw two: –
In your wildest dreams, which author would you love to co-author a book with?
Neil Peart of Rush – apart from being a drummer and lyricist second to none, he is an imaginative travel writer whose road trip journals are invariably inspiring.
http://davidcooperbooks.blogspot.co.uk/
Rush!! Huge fan here.
Kim, will you be seeing them on the Clockwork Angels tour? I'm all set for the Birmingham UK date next May, and as soon as time permits I'll be reviewing the album on my blog. 32 years a follower now… Regards, David
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I'll take question 21–the bonus!
I love any kind of rock/pop music from the 1960's and on. Some favorite bands include U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Who, Stone Temple Pilots, Linkin' Park, Foo Fighters, and many others including, of course The Beatles!
Thanks for the comment. Sounds like you appreciate any good rock music. I'm with you regarding U2; I'm a huge fan.
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20 questions, fun!
18. What TV show/movie/book do you watch/read that you'd be embarrassed to admit?
I watch the show Pretty Little Liars with my daughter. It's so corny and so bad but I've gotten sucked in anyway 😉
Isn't it funny how shows can just suck you in like that? I'm embarrassed to admit that I know most of the names of the folks featured on Swamp People…
Hiya! I know this is kinda off topic however I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest authoring a blog post or vice-versa? My site discusses a lot of the same subjects as yours and I think we could greatly benefit from each other. If you’re interested feel free to send me an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you! Terrific blog by the way!
How cute! I'm going to play this game with my gal pals. <3
Christy, I recommend that you accompany playing this game with your girlfriends with lots of chocolate, …and maybe a little tequila. 🙂
12. Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
Just before my book, A Year on Your Path to Growth: Daily Inspirations to Reconnect with Your Soul, was ready to go on sale, I went to a conference to attend a workshop with one of my author idols. While there, I had the opportunity to give her the first autographed copy of my book and she offered to write about it in an upcoming blog post to share with her fans. It was surreal!
Love how fate put your first reviewer in your path at the EXACT moment that you made your first sale. Great answer to question #12!
17. What do you do in your free time?
I love to write and dance! Spending relaxing time with people I love. Sometimes a good nap on a rainy day 🙂 Fun Questions!
Oh, a good nap on a rainy day – that IS a wonderful favorite thing to do. Just a little thunder going on in the background…. I'm getting sleepy just thinking about it.
qeestion #16.I hate beets.I don't care how they are prepared,I just hate them.Must be a childhood thing.My mom always made me clean my plate before I could get up.She always snuck a beet or two in just to torture me.Here's a tip-if i'm ever at a dinner party of your's and you would like me to leave,bring out the beets.
Jim, I'm with you on the whole beets thing. They always seem to show up on salad bars, don't they – why is that? And they also seem to be always right next to the eggs…. hmmm….
Beets are evil!
15. favorite quoate?
When your back is up against the wall, and it seems there is no way out…
you've got to get mad, really, really mad, and fight back…
Bob, I loved your quote. Quoting yourself or someone else?
20. Favorite places to travel?
I've traveled a lot and living in Mali partly inspired my novels, but the best trip ever was the safari I went on in Kenya and Tanzania. So quiet watching the animals, that to speak would have seemed a sacrilege.
Darlene it sounds like you have some great adventures. I have a prior boss who is now the Ambassador to Tanzania – I 'm thinking I need to go look him up!
Hi Kim,
I want to take up the 20th question – Favorite Places to travel. I would really love to travel to China and to see the Great Wall. As a cross cultural communication trainer, the chinese culture also fascinates me so experiencing live would be somthing that i would really love
My parents travel quite a bit and China was by far one of their favorite trips. They were amazed not only by the culture and the breath-taking scenery, but also the people; so warm and friendly. Hope you get to go there – it's on my bucket list too.
I also like Question #1…My 3 guess would be Michele Cassou ( Authot of Point Zero), Oriah House ( Auther of 7 books including "The Invitation") and Oprah…I think we would have an awesome time together! Loved your post and fun game!
Oops that's should be "guests" and I am missing 2…LOL…so I'll invite Nancy Shields and Lorri Ratzlaff because they are both awesome ladies and I am dying to meet them after being friends online for 2 years!!!
That sounds like a fun dinner party – do you think Oprah would bring her favorite things? 🙂
If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?
Stephen King – I would ask him to read from one of his novels
Garth Brooks – I would want him to sing to me
Sean Connery – He could replay his 007 character
Plato – He could just sit and talk about nothing & everything
Noah – He could talk about living on the ark with all those animals.
I'm wondering if Noah would want to talk to Stephen King about his book "Cujo."
Thanks for the comment. 🙂
I like question #! 🙂 I would choose John Lithgow, Miss Piggy, Stevie Knicks, Wayne Dyer, and Edith Wharton. That would make for some fun, enlightening, and very interesting dinner conversation. 🙂
That is such an eclectic bunch for your dinner party – what do you think Miss Piggy and Edith Wharton would talk about?
This is fun! Great idea for a blog post 🙂
#1 If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?
Will Smith, NPH, Peyton Manning, Rob Thomas, and Marty Scorcese.
(Also considered Christopher Nolan for the 5th slot, but I have too many elaborate questions to ask him for a dinner party setting)
Oh please invite Christopher Nolan – but only if I get to attend too!
Better yet let's schedule a coffee day with Nolan and we can pick his brain together!
If only…
Okay, I'll play. I love 20 questions anyway, and Game of Things and Apples to Apples… here's the question I chose:
12. Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
My most rewarding experience since being published took place at the Texas Reds Festival. A young couple of mixed ethnicity with a sixteen-month-old boy stopped to look at my Children's Books. While the mother wandered to a jewelry booth, the father and son stayed at my booth to peruse the books. After picking up a copy of Master Stinky Dances and reading a few pages, the father asked to borrow it, took it to his wife and proceeded to tell her why they needed to buy this book for their son. Words like diversity, multiculturalism, special talents flowed from his lips to my booth. Once they purchased it, and I autographed it, the little boy held his hands up for the book and his father passed it to him. The youngster plopped his diapered bottom on the concrete floor and proceeded to flip through the pages. His college student parents could not get him to leave without picking him up and there was no taking the book from him! That will always be my most rewarding experience.
Loved hearing about your experience at the Texas Reds Festival. Your book clearly resonates with children and adults/parents. What a great moment to share – thanks.
#12. Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
A: The obvious choice might be winning a judged award for Bending The Boyne, the thrill of a champagne reception at the Plaza Hotel in NYC with other authors. But over the long haul, it is hearing from readers with different interests and ages and locations who contact me after he/she has read this unusual book about prehistoric Ireland and really got into it and enjoyed the experience. It's not a fluffy read but people dig in and absorb and love it. That is what will stay with me.
Congrats on the award – always nice to be recognized for your hard work. I also LOVE to hear from readers; it's always interesting to hear what aspect of the book speaks to them the most.