We’re starting off the New Year with a countdown for a series about the end of the world. (Don’t worry – we’re assured it has a happy ending.)
In an exclusive video interview with Jessica Andersen, author of Night Keepers and the new release Dawn Keepers, we asked Jessica what inspired her. Her answers reveal a lot about why she writes. It also got us to thinking about inspiration. You know, that ‘thing’ that compels you, that speaks to you, that gives you a thrust towards your own creativity… inspiration. It comes to us from many places. So I’m curious, what inspires you?
We’ll select a random poster to win a book.
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Stargazer
on Jan 1st, 2009
@ 3:00 pm:
Music! I alway listen to music when I write or work on artwork. Movies are also good.
Happy New Year!
Gannon
on Jan 1st, 2009
@ 3:21 pm:
I’m inspired by the beauty of nature, and I’m lucky enough to live in a place where I can see incredible views every day. You know the view in The Last of the Mohicans where you see the vista of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the music swells? That’s in “my neck of the woods”, as they say here in NC, and it is truly inspirational. I agree with Stargazer about music. Great music can always inspire.
And I love interesting quotes as well.
Jessica Andersen
on Jan 1st, 2009
@ 3:21 pm:
Ooh, ooh! I forgot one…. CHOCOLATE! Specifically Lindt. Or anything involving peanut butter. Or, well, anything involving chocolate, really. Except for chocolate-covered habanero peppers. I got one of those in an assortment of regular candies once, and really, there should’ve been a warning label or something.
Happy New Year, everyone! Marissa and Maria, thanks so much for having me back
Jessica Andersen
on Jan 1st, 2009
@ 3:23 pm:
Stargazer- a definite yes on the music! And Gannon- loves me some Last of the Mohicans, I’ll pick it up from anywhere, really, and watch along. I envy you the view.
Gannon
on Jan 1st, 2009
@ 3:25 pm:
Oh, yes, Jessica. Chocolate can definitely be a source of inspiration!
Marisa
on Jan 1st, 2009
@ 3:27 pm:
Hi Jessia – we’re so glad you’re back and we’re looking forward to this countdown – Jan 6th is the release of Dawnkeepers. Yeah!
Inspiration – Gannon – I certainly agree with you. In my ‘memory banks’ I have stored so many beautiful views I’ve seen through out my life. One is a sunset in Nantucket, the other is the tiled rooftops during sunrise in Rome, yet another is the mist off the lake behind by mother’s house. I still see them in my mind so clearly and they do in fact inspire me.
Chocolate? Did some one say chocolate? in fact, today as I was working, I needed a bit of inspiration and lo and behold, I happened to have a piece of chocolate chocolate chip cake with my name on it. After ‘the feast’ I was ready to get back to work.
Stargazer – music really motivates and inspires me – when I need a quick pick me up – I usually turn to Carmen Macrae or Mel Torme. I know, not your usual flair – but it gets me going.
Natalie
on Jan 1st, 2009
@ 4:00 pm:
I loved Night Keepers and I’m looking forward to reading Dawn Keepers. I think what inspires me most are my friends and family. They can bring out the best in me and forgive the worst in me. Of course a good piece of chocolate doesn’t hurt.
Leslie
on Jan 1st, 2009
@ 4:35 pm:
What a fun interview. I’ve just started watching House and can’t seem to help liking him although sometimes I’m not sure why. lol And Bones and Battlestar – yes! Love the fact that Starbuck is a woman.
What inspires me along with music and the outdoors is probably people watching and playing what if or I wonder if. Trying to make up a story to go along with the people that I see everyday. Like I might see a well dressed woman who’s in a hurry. Why is she in a hurry? Where is she going? Is she meeting someone? Who? My imagine just comes up with all sorts of scenarios.
Maria Lokken
on Jan 1st, 2009
@ 4:43 pm:
Hi everyone – Happy New Year!
Jessica – I’m so excited about your new release – I love the series!
I’m inspired by so many things – a book, a film, music.
heidenkind
on Jan 1st, 2009
@ 4:45 pm:
My video’s not playing.
Hmm, I’m inspired by everything around me, other books, movies, music, my family, research (always fun).
fMarisa
on Jan 1st, 2009
@ 4:51 pm:
heidenkind – if you can’t get the video to play try this link:
http://romancenoveltv.blip.tv/#1634507
cyclops8
on Jan 1st, 2009
@ 4:54 pm:
I agree that music, movie and books are very inspiring. I’m also inspired by ordinary people who help out others without expecting anything in return. I see many of their stories on ABC News’ Person of the Week feature. Happy New Year.
Shiver
on Jan 1st, 2009
@ 6:31 pm:
Books inspire me,,,lol the Heroes, the villians, the events , and everyday people who deal with life’s obstacles. I can read a book and believe that hope in any situation is not lost…I see one of my grandchildren accomplish a task with utter determination and know this is what keeps the world from caving in…
Keira
on Jan 1st, 2009
@ 7:31 pm:
Music, literature, and art. I also find that a bubblebath cures all roadblocks… haha
Lami
on Jan 1st, 2009
@ 7:55 pm:
My mum inspires me – she came from a very poor background but never let it hold her back. She grabbed hold of her dreams and made them come true, and inspires the same outlook in my brother , sister and myself. Plus, her cooking is to die for.
Lami
PS Doc Jess – if you ever make it down here, there’s a Lindt cafe you should check out. Nothing but Lindt – chocolate desserts, ice cream, milkshakes and coffees. Now there’s inspiration for you.
pambook
on Jan 1st, 2009
@ 8:00 pm:
Welcome back Jessica, and a Happy New Year! Starting off right for you with your new release.
Definitely music for me, it can inspire me, get me out of a funk, even just soothe along during the funk until I’m ready to play something else to change my mood.
Marisa Ive seen some neat sunsets in Nantucket and also some spectacular ones in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, even rainbows. One year vacationing in RI, just before dusk set in there was one of the prettiest rainbows I’ve ever seen, a double one too. My BIL hurried back to our house rental in Misquamicut to grab his camera and told us all to hurry and meet him back there before we missed it.
stephanie (bklyn)
on Jan 1st, 2009
@ 10:38 pm:
Hi Doc Jess,
Happy New Year! I am so excited for Dawnkeepers. Now I actually get the book and not just the chance to see the pretty cover.
Wow inspiration? Well my mother is a remarkable person and an inspiration. She is the oldest of 16 — and has made an incredible life for herself and her family — and teaches me something everyday. I am inspired anytime I have a conversation with my 11 year old niece — she is phenomenal. Of course, I adore books and especially romance and the heroes and heroines that pull me in, give me a good story with characters that I care about — oh yeah, that can make your whole day. I love the beauty of nature (sunsets, snow — I even love shoveling snow, yes, it’s one of my physical and mental happy places), dancing all the time is a necessity and an inspiration, the chaos and the dynamism of the New York City inspires me everyday to go! go! go!, and the idea of tomorrow is wonderful.
Dark chocolate, coffee ice cream, a cold beer, there are lots of things that make life superb.
Thanks for visiting with us at RNTV.
Cheers,
Stephanie
Caffey
on Jan 2nd, 2009
@ 1:12 am:
Congrats on the release Jessica!! So thrilled on the second book!
I’m not a writer, but there are things that inspire me, especially nature and still life. I haven’t painted in a while but I love to do watercolors and acrylics but the visual around me, along with the silence, since I can’t hear, is really a comfort for me and I tend to see more and feel more around me. It inspires me to just sketch until I can set up to paint! As I explain this, I can remember pictures I did that I still can see them as clear as they really were!
Che-Che
on Jan 2nd, 2009
@ 8:32 am:
My Mother inspires me she will be 88 this month and is still going strong. She reads lots of the same books as me and enjoys them as much as I do. We both love dark chocolate and brave, strong heros and can’t wait to read Dawnkeepers. My children, husband and most of all my grandchildren also inspire me. Keep up the great story telling and have a HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Brenda
on Jan 2nd, 2009
@ 9:00 am:
While I love books, music, movies and ofcourse chocolate, it is actual real life people that inspire me. In 2006 we lost my 9 yr old nephew. While he put up a good fight with his illness even going through a bone marrow transplant and all the pain and suffering he still always had a smile on his face and was quick to laugh. His mind and soul were strong but his body was not. he inspired me to always look on the bright sise of things don’t just focus on the negative. His mother, my sister, inspires me because not only did she lose her son, she lost him on mother’s day, yet she still finds the strength to go on, live her life. And last but definately not least my mother and the rest of my family inspires me, not only did we lose him that year but we also lost both of my grandmothers, two of my uncles, my aunt and a close family friend. We made it through all that. And now at the age of 26, and a single mom I am going back to college finally to be a nurse because I want my daughter to look up to me an and be proud of me and maybe even in the future someday be inspired by that…
Thanks Jessica I absolutely love your books, When I can find the time to actually read them. I looking forward to reading dawnkeepers before I start back to college this semester. Keep up the good work.
Jessica Andersen
on Jan 2nd, 2009
@ 9:44 am:
Hi all!
Natalie- friends and family are a great inspiration! Both my mom and grampie (an AIDS researcher and inventor, respectively) both remind me by example to give back in whatever ways I can. I don’t always do as much as I should, but I try, and I look to them for the reminder.
Leslie- gotta love people-watching! And yeah, snaps to the new BSG for the sex change-up on that one!
Maria- hi, and happy new year back atcha! Thanks for looking forward to the book
heidenkind- love me some research (as you’ll probably get from the videos, where I sometimes veer toward lecture mode… it’s just that I think all the Maya and end-time stuff is so cool, I just want everyone else to know all about it!)
cyclops8- I love inspirational stories. there’s so much negativity out there, especially now, that I think it’s important to credit the good things, both large and small. good one.
shiver- ahh… losing yourself in a story. there’s nothing like it, is there?
Keira- points on the bubble bath! I love the idea… but right now, that would involve cleaning a bathroom first. Though I suppose there’s inspiration in that, too… somewhere .
Lami- ooohhh… mean girl, teasing me with Lindt…
Pambook- love a great New England sunset (or sunrise).
Stephanie- hey! if you’re looking for some snow to shovel, I’ve got some to spare out here in eastern CT… Looking forward to hearing how you like the book beyond its hottie cover!
Caffey- um, hate to point this out to you, but you *are* a writer. that was lovely.
che-che- a shout out to you and your cool-sounding mom, and happy new year to you both!
Brenda- thank you for sharing that, and congratulations on going back to school! I hope you enjoy the book, and have a great ‘09.
This morning’s inspiration for me. . . the abject terror of a looming deadline. See you all a little later!
orannia
on Jan 2nd, 2009
@ 7:27 pm:
I’m sorry I’m late
I’m really looking forward to reading DawnKeepers Jessica – all the best with its release!
To be honest, I don’t know what inspires me, which is quite a scary thought. Of late, I’ve spent most of my time trying to keep my head above water. Hopefully, this year I’ll be able to….stop treading water and start swimming
Donna
on Jan 3rd, 2009
@ 1:46 pm:
Music, water and coffee are my big inspirations. When I hit a wall I turn on my fountain or take a shower. Water always clears up the confusion and opens new ideas.
Music is a must when I write. As long as I have my MP3 and headset I can write anywhere, but beware the characters are picky. They choose the music. I have one that wants jazz and I’m not into jazz. The things we do for creativity. The coffee pot or Starbucks is never far away and Lindt is always a Grils best friend.
I got a gift cert to Borders for Christmas and it’s on hold for Dawn Keepers. Michelle and I are hitting the store as soon as it opens Jess. Can’t wait.
D
Michelle P.
on Jan 3rd, 2009
@ 4:29 pm:
Jess,
I’m very excited for Dawn Keepers’ release and to get to know more of your world. As for inspiration, I love music, but its the combination of the story told by the lyrics and the story told by the notes and tempo and melody etc… As for other books, when I finally finish something I’ve adored that created a special mood all its own, I am inspired to work on my own stories. The best books remind me of all of the texture possibilities. Happy New Year and enjoy release day.
Maria Lokken
on Jan 5th, 2009
@ 10:48 am:
Shiver – you’re the lucky winner – please send us your snail mail address at alphamail@romancenovel.tv
orannia
on Jan 5th, 2009
@ 5:41 pm:
Congrats Shiver!