You Had to Be There

You love them. You follow them on Twitter. But how well do you know them and their wicked sense of humor?

I know I said something fun was launching on my blog today and I wasn’t lying. In fact, I was so excited, I’ve gotten up early. I know, right? I don’t do mornings unless I can absolutely help it. That alone should tell you this is kind of a big deal.

In my quest to keep you all entertained, I thought up a quiz. But not just any quiz. That would be boring. This is a quiz where Twitter Stars answer 30 questions. As you’ll see, these aren’t your run-of-the-mill questions. That, too, would be boring. As far as I’m concerned, this is the first time something of this scope has been done on Twitter. If it isn’t, I’m sure someone will let me know (but I won’t believe them).

Originally it was just to be the published authors I interact with but this plan grew and grew. Everyone I asked said yes! So what you have here is a lovely mix of writers – from New York Times Bestselling authors to newly published ones. From sportswriters to freelance journalists. I didn’t stop there though. I asked literary agents and editors, and then it extended to all aspects of publishing – from business development to public relations. I’ve even been lucky enough to snag one British celebrity.

Below is the list of the participants with their Twitter bio and handles. While you go through, you may consider following them, and buying their books or newspapers. These people are awesome, truly. As busy as they are, they took time out to play “The Twizzy” and they answered the questions with such flair that I was laughing each time a new email came in.

Once you’ve gone through the list, take a look at the first question and answer session below. You will laugh. The questions will be the same every Monday. Your job is to figure out who from the list answered the questions that week. Include your guess in the comments section here on my blog. I will not post your comments because I want you to guess on your own, not go with a runaway favorite. The first correct answer wins a prize. Yes, a prize. Some have been donated by the fabulous participants! You will have until Friday. Then I will reveal the Twizzy Star of the Week. If you’re not on Twitter, you can still play because you’ve likely read their books or articles, and, as the weeks go on, the list will narrow.

If you have any questions, Tweet me at www.Twitter.com/SunnySoCal.

Have fun and good luck!

~ Denise

Erin Bried @NiftyButton: Mod girl looking back. Pie baker, storyteller, collector of old timey wisdom. Author of How to Build a Fire & Sew a Button (Ballantine). Self mag staff writer.

http://erinbried.com/

 

Veronica Brooks-Sigler @getlit_erate: Bookseller/Social Medium for Maple Street Book Shops. Author. I’m only back because I can’t keep my mouth shut for too long.

http://www.brookssigler.com

Gesine Bullock-Prado @closetmastrbakr: Pastry chef, owner Gesine Confectionary & author of Confections of a Closet Master Baker/My Life from Scratch and Sugar Baby.

http://www.gesine.com

 

Pete Caldera @pcaldera: Bergen Record Yankees beat writer/occasional band vocalist with the Stan Rubin Orchestra.

www.northjersey.com And http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/pinstripeposts

Marc Carig @ledger_yankees: Real-time coverage of the New York Yankees by The Star-Ledger and NJ.com

www.nj.com And http://carig.wordpress.com

 

Brenda Copeland @BrendaCopeland: executive editor, teacher, reader, friend, cheese lover

 

 

Mark Feinsand @BloggingBombers: The Yankees beat writer for the New York Daily News.

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/yankees

Jenny Gardiner @jennygardiner: Author of Sleeping with Ward Cleaver, Winging It: A Memoir of Caring for a Vengeful Parrot Who’s Determined to Kill Me, & Slim to None. Also a laugh ho.

 

http://www.jennygardiner.net/blog/

Jennifer Gilmore @jenwgilmore: Author of the new novel Something Red, and the NYTimes Notable novel, Golden Country.

http://jennifergilmore.net/

 

Jane Heller @janeheller1: Novelist, Screenwriter, Blogger, Author of Confessions of a She-Fan, Yankees diehard, movies/books fan, pop culture maven

http://www.janeheller.com

Sean Kennedy @slicksean: Writer/journalist/media consultant. Tweets are 20% each: current affairs/culture; writing/media; LGBT topics; food/food systems; personal.

http://www.sean-kennedy.com/

Julie Klam @julieklam: Author of The New York Times Bestseller You Had Me At Woof: How Dogs Taught Me The Secrets of Happiness and Please Excuse My Daughter (Riverhead)

 

http://www.julieklam.com/

Ann Leary @annleary: Author of OUTTAKES FROM A MARRIAGE and An INNOCENT, A BROAD

http://www.annleary.com/

Caroline Leavitt @leavittnovelist: author of 9 novels. New: PICTURES OF YOU, already in 3rd printing! Screenwriter, editor, critic for Boston Globe and People, UCLA writing teacher.

 

http://www.carolineleavitt.com/home.htm

Colleen Lindsay @colleenlindsay: Publishing browncoat. Cat herder. Queer human. Professional nerd. TARDIS fan. Athlete’s foot survivor. Part of Penguin Group (USA) Business Development team.

http://theswivet.com

 

Wallace Matthews @ESPNNYYankees: Yankee beat writer for ESPN New York

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/yankees

 

Georgia McBride @Georgia_McBride: YA author of the PRAEFATIO series. Represented by Mark McVeigh of The McVeigh Agency. Founder of #YAlitchat. Mom to 2 humans + 3 Chihuahuas. Hopeless Romantic.

 

www.georgiamcbride.com

Susan Orlean @susanorlean: Writer, writer, writer. Oh, I also write.

www.susanorlean.com

 

Karen Palmer @karen_palmer: Writer, editor, teacher. If I had to choose between reading and eating I’d be dead in a week.

 

www.karenpalmer.com

 

Bethanne Patrick @thebookmaven: Blogger, book reviewer, author interviewer, author –but above all, a reader.

http://bookmavenmedia.com/

Elana Roth @elanaroth: Brooklynite, children’s book agent, Squarespace support-team member, semi-pro Jew, bourbon drinker. I work for lots of people. None of these tweets are theirs.

www.elanaroth.com

Brett Sandusky @bsandusky: digital publishing professional | innovator | strategist | marketer | writer | going to change the world

 

http://brettlikesstuff.tumblr.com/

Kathleen Schmidt @bookgirl96: A bookish broad, PR superhero, mother of two, lover of sports, and wife of @Rockpappa.

http://kathleenschmidt.tumblr.com

 

Jayne Sharp-Vitty @jaynesharp: Mummy, wife, voice over & telly gal x

 

http://andsowtobed.blogspot.com

Alyssa Smith @booksandcorsets: Editor, reviewer, convention organizer, avid costumer, and owner of several demanding parrots. Non-official feed. Tweets about her interests: cooking, sewing

 

 

 

Laura Strachan @StrachanLit: literary agent representing literary fiction and narrative nonfiction. Loves books, art, theatre — compelling stories, well told.

 

www.strachanlit.com

Joe Wallace @joe_wallace: I’m a writer of nonfiction books, noir stories, and a novel, DIAMOND RUBY.

www.josephwallace.com

 

 

Allison Winn-Scotch @aswinn: Novelist, NY Times best seller (yeah, I had to get that in), celeb profiler, diaper changer, dog walker, ass-kicker, pop culture junkie, superwoman.

 

www.allisonwinn.com

Laura Zigman @laurazigman: Writer, branter, complainer, mom, recovering publicist.

http://laurazigman.wordpress.com/

Kellyann Zuzulo @kfzuzulo: Former journalist, author of tales, word laborer, stirrer of soup.

www.kfzuzulo.com

The Twizzy

1.      How hard was it to break into your line of work? Do you enjoy it?

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Basically, it was me inventing my own line of work. Do I enjoy it? I have no other choice…

2.      Have you any advice for people who would also like to do your line of work?

Think hard about not quitting your day job.

3.      Are you known by any nicknames?

Yes.

4.      What song’s your tearjerker?

“Leave A Tender Moment Alone” by Billy Joel.  Does that date me?

5.      Do you like capers?

Yes. Especially the giant kind.

6.      Any food you must have?

Just one? A single ingredient? Or is it OK to say pizza?

7.      Pet?

Yes. Two.

8.      How do you feel about the word “carbuncle”?

Shivery. In a bad way.

9.     Favorite stroll?

An excellent question. Down a wintry beach.

10.  Most embarrassing memory?

Far too many to choose from.

11.  Biggest pet peeve?

Far too many to choose from! OK: The noise of fans on any televised sporting event.

12.  Who would you like to meet (in any time period)?

Eleanor Roosevelt.

13.  Who bugs the crap out of you?

People who use leaf blowers.

14.  Favorite book?

Far too many to choose from! OK: “Middlemarch” by George Eliot. Or “The Phantom Tollbooth” by Norton Juster.

15.  Do songs by Nickelback make you want to stuff hot pokers in your ears?

Sorry, no, I love them! Chad Kroger’s voice is so distinctive.

16.  Favorite movie?

“Moonstruck,” although I feel that is not serious enough and I should say something like “Citizen Kane,” but I really didn’t like “Citizen Kane” very much.

17.  Is marmite the singular form of marmosets? More importantly, does marmite make you want to vomit?

Silly Denise! I actually adore a good Vegemite sandwich.

18.  Favorite quote?

Right now it’s “I told you nicely with my mouth!”

19.  Favorite swear word?

“Frigadoon!”

20.  How do you feel about capybaras?

They’re a bit lemming-like for my taste.

21.  Guilty pleasure?

“The Amazing Race.”

22.  Favorite character?

Favorite character in literature? In film? On Twitter? OK: In literature, The Gollum. In film, Alan Bates in “King of Hearts.” On Twitter, *edited by Denise otherwise this was a dead giveaway!*

23.  Do people who say “sammich” make you want to kick them in the crotch?

Yes. Although I’ll accept “sarney.”

24.  Which character would win this smackdown: Peter Venkman, Jack Donaghy, Stay Puft, Dwight Shrute, George Costanza, Basil Fawlty, Mortimer Brewster, Hyacinth Bucket, Mr. Whipple, or the Maytag Repairman?

Hyacinth would outlast all the men. Her complete lack of self awareness coupled with her pretentiousness make her a true contender.

25.  Phobias?

Jellyfish.

26.  How do feel about cheese? Be specific.

Cheese is one of mankind’s great achievements. If anyone wanted to bribe me, a lifetime supply of good Parmigiano-Reggiano would do the trick.

27.  Which 1980’s comedy film is this from: “Where’s the rest of this moose?”

I have NO idea. My all-occasion guess: “Caddyshack?”

28.  Foods you refuse to eat?

Chitlins (not that anyone’s ever offered me any). Giblets. Any chicken that my mother has cooked, no matter what the preparation (she makes a mean leg of lamb, though).

29.  Where do you stand on Justin Bieber?

If I stood on Justin Bieber, I’d kill the poor little guy.

*Bonus*

Finish this quote from a 1980’s comedy: “Generally you don’t see that kind of behavior in ____________________________.”

Again, I have NO idea from whence this quote comes…but my answer is inspired by Caddyshack: “gophers.” (Or was it a prairie dog?)