You Had to Be There

~ You love them. You’ve read their books or articles. You follow them on Twitter. But how well do you know them and their wicked sense of humor? Play The Twizzy and find out. ~

Happy Monday and welcome back to another game of The Twizzy! Thank you for all your responses.

This week I’ve some exciting news. Two new writers have agreed to participate in The Twizzy! You know, just to keep you guys on your toes. You wouldn’t want this to get stale and boring, would you? Now included in the list are baseball columnist Bob Klapisch (@BobKlap) of the Bergen Record and foxsports.com, and also New York Times Bestselling author, Jerome Priesler (@YankeesInk). Not only am I tickled that they’ve agreed, but I’m hoping this will help Donna (@dp57) in her quest to win a Twizzy. Come on, Donna!

Now, are you ready for Game 10?

Remember, each of you is allowed 1 guess per day.

I’ll give a recap for those of you who haven’t played yet:

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 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 until the winner has been announced. This is because I want you to guess on your own. If by Thursday there is still no correct answer, I’ll give 1 hint. The first correct answer wins a prize. Yes, a prize. They consist of: An Uncommon History of Common Things co-written and donated by Bethanne Patrick (while supplies last), Seven Souls A Leaping co-written and donated by Kellyann Zuzulo (while supplies last), 1 copy of How to Sew a Button written and donated by Erin Bried, 1 copy of How to Build a Fire written and donated by Erin Bried, $15 Barnes & Noble gift cards (with 1 donated by the wonderful Kellyann Zuzulo), and Starry, Starry Nights or Macaroons that I’ll buy from Gesine Confectionary (www.gesine.com). You will have until Friday to guess. 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 and please use “#TheTwizzy” in your question.

Have fun and good luck!

~ Denise

The Twizzy Stars List for Game 10  (Then please scroll to the bottom of this page if you’d like to see the list of my past Twizzy Stars)

Nichole Bernier @NicholeBernier: Writer (Conde Nast Traveler) & mother of 5 trafficking in humor, Twizzlers, occasionally wisdom. Novel THE UNFINISHED WORK OF ELIZABETH D, Crown/RH 2012.

http://www.nicholebernier.com

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/

 

 

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

Catherine Delors @CatherineDelors: Writer, historical fiction (For the King, Mistress of the Revolution.) Loves Paris, history and the 18th century.

 

 

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/

Bob Klapisch @BobKlap: Baseball columnist for The Bergen Record and foxsports.com

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/pro_sports/baseball/klapisch/ and http://msn.foxsports.com/writer/Bob_Klapisch

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

http://www.annleary.com/

Holly LeCraw @HollyLeCraw : Writer, reader, southerner far from home. My first novel, The Swimming Pool, is out in paperback from Doubleday this April.

 http://hollylecraw.com/

 

 

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

David Pomerico @DelReySpectra: Del Rey and Spectra are two of the biggest SF, fantasy, urban fantasy, and paranormal romance imprints in–and out of–the world.

http://www.bantamspectra.net

Jerome Priesler @YankeesInk: New York Times bestselling novelist and regular contributor to YESNetwork.com.

http://www.yankeesink.com

 

Drew Sarver @mypinstripes : Database Developer, Blogger, BaseballDigest.com writer, Beagle lover, Husband

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 – Game 10

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

I still feel like I’m breaking into my line of work, but yes, generally I love it.

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

Start inside the publishing industry rather than outside of it. And do it for love.

3. Are you known by any nicknames?

My family calls me the typical diminutive for my name (can’t say it or would give my identity away!). Once a girl in my sorority nicknamed me “Fern” (from Charlotte’s Web). Not altogether sure why.

4. What song’s your tearjerker?

Greensleeves.

5. Do you like capers?

Yes.

6. Any food you must have?

Chocolate.

7. Pet?

Portuguese Water Dog named Sea Girt’s Fair Wind Calypso (“Callie”). My son named her. Blame him.

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

An excellent example of a word that is evocative of its meaning. I’m sure there is a word for that sort of word (onomatopoeia isn’t quite right), but I don’t know what it is.

9. Favorite stroll?

 Hmm. So many choices. I’ll go with: along the Avon in Stratford.

10. Most embarrassing memory?

They are all so mortifying that I’ve blocked them out.

11. Biggest pet peeve?

People who don’t know how to parallel park.

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

Leonardo Da Vinci.

13. Who bugs the crap out of you?

Anyone who thinks they know everything. (Leonardo Da Vinci excluded)

14. Favorite book?

That’s a hard one. All of my authors’ books, of course. I’m particularly fond of Fowles (especially The Ebony Tower, The Magus) and Murdoch (Under the Net; The Nice and the Good; The Sea, The Sea).

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

Not necessarily.

16. Favorite movie?

It’s a Wonderful Life.

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

Ha. Uh, yes.

18. Favorite quote?

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” ~ Emerson

19. Favorite swear word?

Oh, probably the F word. Very unoriginal. Although I am known to frequently blurt out “Geez Louise” which causes my friends to burst into paroxysms of laughter.

20. How do you feel about capybaras?

I think they are kind of cute.

21. Guilty pleasure?

Reading something that isn’t work.

22. Favorite character?

I don’t know. Nancy Drew? No, let’s go with Le Petit Prince.

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

Ha. I’m not particularly violent.

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?

Oh, Stay Puft, hands down. How could anyone compete with a giant marshmallow?

25. Phobias?

Being buried alive, suffocation in general. (I’d give Stay Puft a wide berth.)

26. How do you feel about cheese? Be specific.

I love cheese. Hard cheese, soft cheese, smelly cheese. Give me a piece of cheese and a hunk of bread and I’m set. More places should do ploughman’s lunches! (Thinking of suggesting this to my local pub!)

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

Arthur, but I admit I had to Google it. (I’m an excellent Googler) (Also love Arthur. Need to rewatch.)

28. Foods you refuse to eat?

Marmite. I pretty much eat anything but I’m not so fond of caviar and anchovies.

29. Where do you stand on Justin Bieber?

Who? (Actually, I have no opinion, one way or the other. I had a crush on Donny Osmond when I was young. Who am I to judge?)

*Bonus*

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

A major appliance. Ha. Had to Google that, too.

 

________________ Past Twizzy Stars ____________________

***The lovely Bethanne Patrick was The Twizzy Star of the Week for Game 1. You can find and follow her at @thebookmaven.   http://bookmavenmedia.com/

Bethanne is responsible for #fridayreads on Twitter and the Friday Reads Facebook page. By all means, stop by every Friday and share what you’re reading.

***The charming Caroline Leavitt was The Twizzy Star of the Week for Game 2. You can find and follow her at @leavittnovelist.   http://www.carolineleavitt.com/home.htm

Caroline has been on the New York Times Bestseller List for 2 weeks in a row now with her book PICTURES OF YOU. Why not buy it today?

***The hilarious Wallace Matthews was The Twizzy Star of the Week for Game 3. You can find and follow him at @ESPNNYYankees . http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/yankees

Wallace is the Yankees Beat Writer for ESPN New York.

***The adorable Julie Klam was The Twizzy Star of the Week for Game 4. You can find and follow her at @julieklam . http://www.julieklam.com/

Julie is the New York Times Bestselling Author of You Had Me At Woof: How Dogs Taught Me The Secrets of Happiness and Please Excuse My Daughter (Riverhead)

***The fabulous Colleen Lindsay was The Twizzy Star of the Week for Game 5. You can find and follow her at @colleenlindsay http://theswivet.com

Colleen is a former literary agent who is currently part of the Business Development team at Penguin Group (USA).

***The wonderful Veronica Brooks-Sigler was The Twizzy Star of the Week for Game 6. You can find and follow her at @getlit_erate http://www.brookssigler.com

Veronica is the author of Five Finger Fiction. She is working on a sequel. Yay!

***The witty Brett Sandusky was The Twizzy Star of the Week for Game 7. You can find and follow him at @bsandusky and http://brettlikesstuff.tumblr.com/

Brett is a digital publishing professional, innovator, strategist, marketer and writer.

***The funny Elana Roth was The Twizzy Star of the Week for Game 8. You can find and follow her at @ElanaRoth and http://www.elanaroth.com

Elana is a literary agent at the Caren Johnson Literary Agency. She’s also second-to-none in quoting Ghostbusters.

***The delightful Gesine Bullock-Prado was The Twizzy Star of the Week for Game 9. You can find and follow her at @closetmastrbakr and http://www.gesine.com

Gesine is a pastry chef, the owner of Gesine Confectionary, and author of Confections of a Closet Master Baker/My Life from Scratch and the recent Sugar Baby. 

 

They are no longer choices for the remaining games.

________________