Lara Nieberding

I thought these questions borrowed from the forums on NaNoWriMo.org were interesting.  Just to pique your curiosity, I thought I would share my answers with you.

How do you write?

I get in my bed at 7:00 PM every night.  I wear my most comfortable and cuddly clothes.  I have a laptop on a lap desk that I bang away on until midnight.  Sometimes I turn the TV on.  Sometimes I play music.  It does not matter if it is quiet or noisy in my writing environment.  I can pretty much write anywhere, any time, distractions or no distractions.

What is your story genre? What world does it take place in?

My story is mainstream fiction.  Ok. We are not talking prize winning or Oprah Book Club worthy.  It’s a good read for the beach.  It takes place today and on Earth. (Compared to Fantasy writers who create worlds and stories take place in the past or future.)

Brief synopsis of your story:

Married, stay at home mom for four children, Ernestine is lonely, bored and finding life unfulfilled at the age of 40.  Then she discovers a whole new world online.

What is your title?

The Misadventures of My Cyberlife.

Who is your main character(s)? Tell a little bit about them.

Ernestine is the main character.  She is humming along in a middle class lifestyle doing what is expected of her.  At the beginning of the story she has not embraced the concept that she is in control of her life.  She lets others decide for her.  I hope by the end of the novel she takes charge of her life and becomes the empowered woman Oprah tells us we can be.

What is the first sentence of your story?

“She is a single mother. She has two jobs. She is raising two children. When does she have time to date? Today on Penelope we will show you the world of online dating!”

Oh wait! Those are the opening sentences of my novel!

How did you come up with the idea for your novel?

I am fascinated with the dynamics of relationships.  Observing fantasy/role playing games and the relationships within those games inspired my novel.

How much time will have passed in your story when you have finished?

I have not thought that far ahead yet. The story wants to be a year long.  However, it might end up being a month long.