Robin Alexander - Just Jorie
For our November meeting of the Lesfic Book Club, we discussed Robin Alexander's novel, Just Jorie. If you weren't able to make it, check out the transcript below.
A couple of notes on the transcript:
If you want to join us live, we discuss lesfic novels every month at http://lesficlove.com (sign up or follow me on Twitter to find out what we're reading next). Some chat participants requested that their names be obscured, so below you'll see that everyone has been anonymized as Reader 1, Reader 2, etc.
Robin Alexander
I'm here...I think. LOL!
Reader 1
Hi
Reader 2
Woo hoo, welcome!
Reader 3
Welcome!
Reader 4
Hey
Robin Alexander
Hi Reader 1!
Reader 2
Thanks for joining us, Robin!
Robin Alexander
Thank you all for the warm welcome!
Reader 2
When people start asking questions, you can either reply in the chat like you’re doing now, or if you prefer, you can thread your answers by hovering over the person’s question and clicking the ‘Start a Thread’ button - either way is good!
Reader 5
Hey hey Robin!!! You’re like my 2nd favorite author behind our lovely Reader 2!
Robin Alexander
Thank you Reader 2. I'll stay in the main chat. I'm afraid I may wander off by accident if I hit too many buttons.
Reader 1
Ok then... Robin are you as funny in real life as you are in your books?
Robin Alexander
Aw! Thank you Reader 5. Huge compliment.
Reader 5
You are welcome!
Robin Alexander
Reader 1chillia, I'm told I'm funny in real life. I think that's mainly because I'm goofy and will invariably say or do something stupid. Much like my characters. LOL
May I call you Reader 1? I'm murdering the spelling of your name.
Reader 6
lol if you use @ and then star typing the name you'll get options
Reader 1
You can call me Reader 1 x Who are your characters based on, particularly Colleen?
Robin Alexander
Ah Ha! Thank you Reader 6!
Reader 1
Think I just murdered the character’s name
Reader 5
Which book was your favorite to write??
Robin Alexander
@Reader 1 She was based on my grandmother's best friend. She'd say just about anything and was hilarious.
Reader 4
I loved Grams and Coleen SO much!
Reader 2
They definitely stole the show at times!
Reader 1
Past tense? Does that mean we’ll never meet the real person behind the inspiration?
Robin Alexander
Reader 5, I think The Summer of our Discontent was probably my favorite.
Thank you READER 4!
Reader 5
I haven't read that one yet it's not on my list though
Reader 2
What made it your favorite to write?
READER 7
Oh shit I forgot about book club
Sorry I was watching Dwayne Johnson
Robin Alexander
Sadly, Reader 1, I had lost Gram and Coleen aka Augie before I wrote Just Jorie. I was missing them, so I brought them back as characters.
Reader 2
Beautiful way to memorialize them
Reader 1
I got to the last third of the book and you’d set it up for some right good angst and drama..... but the issues resolved without any. I thought it was refreshing. Do you like / hate writing angst
Robin Alexander
Summer/Discontent came to me so easily. Mentally, I was at the camp with those characters.
Reader 6
I'm sure they enjoyed seeing themselves that way and are very proud of you from up above
Robin Alexander
Thank you Reader 6 and Reader 2!
READER 7
Was there any specific inspiration for Just Jorie or did it just come to you?
Reader 3
So… given how Just Jorie started, do you have personal experience with travel not going to plan? Any personal experience that sparked their road trip to get home?
Robin Alexander
Reader 1, I can't write angst to save my life. LOL I have no talent for it. Plus, I like to laugh and make others do the same.
Reader 2
It is sooooo hard to kill or otherwise torture your darlings!
Robin Alexander
Reader 3, YES! LOL! I have been stranded in so many airports and have considered renting a car and driving home. The worst was leaving Orlando in shorts and getting stuck in Nashville where it was freezing.
Reader 2, exactly!
Reader 1
I admit I prefer humor but have found I quite like writing arguments don’t I @Reader 6
Robin Alexander
In my earlier books, I tried angst, but it didn't work for me.
Reader 6
Yes you are. I'm also crap at writing angst. It takes a ton of work
Reader 3
As somebody who grew up in Canada and now lives further south, I definitely can empathize with weather that’s too cold!
Robin Alexander
Reader 1, arguments can be great fodder for funny.
READER 7
I'm uncomfortably good at torturing my characters. I wish I was as good as Robin at writing happy and loving books
Robin Alexander
I hear you Reader 6.
Reader 2
When Jorie and Lena met in the airport and wound up going to the hotel together I was like OMG IT’S A LESFIC PLANES TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES. And now I must know, was that intentional? Because I was totally there for it
READER 7
It was so refreshing to have the minor conflicts dealt with quickly and easily
Robin Alexander
Reader 3, I can’t do cold either. If the temps drop below 70 I'm freezing.
Reader 3
Arguments can be great fodder for funny - like Grams and Coleen
Robin Alexander
LOL READER 7.
LOL No, Reader 2, it wasn't intentional, but you're right. I'd forgotten about that movie.
Reader 1
It was actually really good because it was a twist to the norm. You expected it, you readied for it and it didn’t come.
Robin Alexander
Reader 1, I built suspense and didn't know it. LOL!
READER 7
Was there a specific moment that sparked this story or did it just come to you?
Reader 1
You’re a genius in disguise! So good a disguise you don’t recognize it yourself
Reader 5
What made you write Scaredy Cat?? I absolutely loved that one!
Robin Alexander
It just came to me. At that time, I was taking a lot of road trips and they gave me all sorts of ideas.
LOL Reader 1! I like that.
Reader 1
Which out of any of your characters would you like to be married to and who would you kill?
READER 7
Why is it I wanted to ask that same question @Reader 1? It's because we write angst and arguments.
Reader 6
Does that question also imply, is your wife a character?
Robin Alexander
Oh Scaredy Cat. I love scary movies, and the chance to kind of merge spooky and humor was too tempting.
Reader 5
Nice! It was definitely one of my favorite
Reader 6
lol
(or am i confused)
Reader 1
Well it could imply it
But it wasn’t intended
READER 7
Would you ever pull a jorie and agree to share a rental and hotel with someone?
Robin Alexander
Reader 1, that's a tough one. I don't think I could kill any of them. I'd probably want to marry Adrienne from the Gloria series. She dealt with Hayden so well, and alas, I am Hayden Tate.
Reader 1
Does that make your partner Adrienne then?
Reader 6
Do you have more books planned for audio?
Robin Alexander
READER 7. Oh no. I couldn't do that. LOL I've watched too many horror movies. I'd probably spend the entire night with my hand on a lamp in case the stranger came at me with a spork or something.
Reader 6
I loved the Fall as well
Reader 5
Hahaha nice
Robin Alexander
Reader 1 and Reader 6, I think this will answer both of your questions about my wife status. I'm not married and currently single. My future wife will undoubtedly end up in my writing. LOL
Reader 4
She might be carrying your can of peas!
Reader 1
Do you write full time? Or do you have a day job too?
READER 7
It’ll be a fan you meet at a con and you'll write an entire book about it
Robin Alexander
Reader 6, I hope to get all of my books into audio. Temporary Girl is in the works now.
Reader 6
Maybe you're like Jorie and you just need to write her first
Robin Alexander
LOL READER 4, I hope so. She'd be easy to spot,
Reader 1
Put a pic in your profile, this is a good place to flirt
Reader 2
Gotta spend more time in the canned goods aisle then
Robin Alexander
I write full time.
LOL Reader 1!
Reader 1
Ha ha
Robin Alexander
Right?! Reader 2. That would be better than the bakery for sure.
I love sweets.
Reader 1
Dogs or cats
Coffee or tea
Chocolate or savoury
Blondes or brunettes
(or red heads and I suppose I should throw in bald nowadays)
Robin Alexander
If I miss any questions, please bring them back around.
Reader 2
I don’t know, I’m pretty sure the bakery is an excellent place to pick people up
Reader 5
I'm single just saying since my precious Reader 2 is married
READER 7
Yes I agree with Reader 1 this is a place full of flirts lol
Robin Alexander
Cats, Coffee, Chocolate, Brunettes...Blonde...Red...okay all.
Reader 5
I fit this criteria I also have a precious daughter shes 3
Reader 3
Ssh, READER 7! I don’t want my wife to cut me off!
Reader 1
You forgot bald?
Robin Alexander
OK you're not helping Reader 2. You've given me permission to hang out in the bakery.
oh and bald. LOL!
Reader 2
I can’t apologize for this!
Reader 6
Ok, other basics. Plotter or pantser?
Robin Alexander
Reader 6, first, tell me what those things are. LMAO!
Reader 4
I'm glad I wasn't the only one that didn't know what they were until recently, lol.
Reader 6
lol
How do you write? A strict outline or just let it fly
Robin Alexander
Cool Reader 5! I have a daughter too, she's 22.
Reader 5
Nice!
Reader 1
Ok, the one I want to dodge question. Who’s books have you read by authors on here
Reader 5
What gave you the idea for Rusty Logic?
Robin Alexander
LOL thank you READER 4. Reader 6, I let it fly. My brain is too unruly for that kind of organization.
Reader 6
So you're a pantser!
Write by the seat of your pants
the nicer term is discovery writer, but not many people use that
Reader 1
We’re pantsers then Reader 6 yes?
Robin Alexander
Reader 1, I'm ashamed and saddened to say I haven't read a book in years. Between writing and my family who have elected me as the go to girl for all issues, I never get that kinda of time.
Reader 1
Or panthers if my autocorrect has its way
Reader 2
GASP! So what do you like to do to unwind? I hope you get time to unwind!
Reader 6
Pantsers who create a few plot points to aim for
Robin Alexander
Yay! I'm a pantser. I like that term. I'm also a member of House Stark, and Ravenclaw
Reader 6
Nice
Reader 3
I thought I liked you!
Reader 1
If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? And who would you choose to live there with you apart from family friends etc
Robin Alexander
Reader 2, my unwinding time is usually yard work. When I'm mowing grass, no one can call or text me and my mind just wanders. This is why sometimes I cut my neighbor's grass. LOL Plus, I have the coolest mower ever!
Reader 2
Nice! I do find weed pulling to be oddly satisfying so I’m with you on that
Robin Alexander
Reader 1. Cat Island. I'd pick Johnny Depp because I'm sure he kept a lot of his pirate wardrobe and I want it.
Reader 4
I love Cap'n Jack!
Robin Alexander
It really is, Reader 2. Do you listen to music when you're outside working too?
Reader 2
Yeah, either music or podcasts
What kind of music do you like?
Reader 1
Cat Island? Is that an island where there’s lots of cats? I’ve not heard of it. Johnny would be excellent company
Robin Alexander
My music library is crazy. One minute I'm listening to show tunes, Wicked is my fave, then the next, Head Like a Hole by Nine Inch Nails.
Reader 2
NIN is always welcome on my playlists too
Reader 1
How many characters are based on or loosely based on people you know?
Robin Alexander
Reader 1, There are some feline friends on Cat Island in the Bahamas. I LOVE the water and the beach, so that island is my happy place.
Reader 1
Sounds lovely
Reader 5
Would you ever co-write a book with another author? If so which author would you want to co-write with?
READER 7
Do you listen to music when you're writing?
Robin Alexander
All of my characters are based on people I know. My sister, Elaina is in a lot of my books. That child and her family are fodder for funny.
Reader 6
We thank them all for entertaining us indirectly.
Robin Alexander
Reader 5, I don't know if I could co-author a book. When I write, the story unfolds as I write it, so I don't know if the other author could resist killing me. LOL
READER 7
Or the other author killing your main character lol
Reader 1
Do you write for set hours each day or do you skive off to watch tv here and there?
Robin Alexander
READER 7, sometimes, I do listen to music and sometimes the TV is on. I'm really weird because distraction seems to help my flow.
LOL True READER 7!
Reader 1
@Reader 6 do you ever feel like murdering me?
Reader 6
hahahaha no.
Reader 2
^ as if she’d admit it here in public
Robin Alexander
Reader 1, I think I may be part bat because my brain comes alive late at night.
Reader 6
But we aren't in edits yet... you might kill me then.
Reader 1
That’s a certainty
Reader 6
Do you have the next books planned out already @Robin Alexander?
Robin Alexander
LOL! y'all are hilarious.
Reader 6
so... no?
Reader 1
@Reader 6 Then your name may or may not mysteriously vanish from the authors list
Reader 6
hahahahaha (saves a backup of the story every day...)
Robin Alexander
I'm working on one now, and it's all over the place. I've decided just to roll with all of the parts I'm working with and 'murder' the ones that don't work.
Reader 1
Ooh I’m starting to live that word murder
Reader 2
What’s your favorite part of the writing process?
Or your favorite part of the story to write?
Robin Alexander
Reader 1, of course, we mean it in the most loving way. LOL!
Reader 2, When I open up a blank page and my imagination takes off.
Reader 2
Ooh, good answer! That’s a great feeling.
Robin Alexander
It really is
Reader 1
My favourite part is ..... The End
Robin Alexander
I love all parts of writing...except for editing. LOL!
LMAO! Reader 1
Reader 5
I'm hoping once I get my laptop I will be able to get back to my story i have like 3 on my head as well
Reader 1
Editors are rumoured to be one step removed from the devil
Reader 5
What is the hardest part of writing for you?
Robin Alexander
I make a million mistakes when I'm writing because I'm watching the story play in my head like a movie.
READER 7
Murder is apparently my favorite
Oh my stories do that too! Movie playing in my head I mean
Robin Alexander
Reader 5. The endings. I'm never happy with any of the endings I've written.
Reader 5
Yeah I can see that...I always want more! Like Just Jorie I wanted more along with Rusty Logic and The Last of the Reader 1dens
Reader 1
Do you carry a note book and write down funny things you hear or have you the book 1001 jokes sat by your computer?
Robin Alexander
Reader 1. I love my editors. Those precious women put up with a lot out of me. I have a comma problem. I want to put them everywhere they don't belong.
Reader 1
I do love me some commas
Reader 6
I was literally having a comma conversation on fb at the start of this chat
Lol
Reader 1
Or should that be.. I do, love me, some, commas?
Reader 6
and I do love deleting your extra commas lol
(I do it to myself constantly too)
Reader 1
You remove (chin wobble) my commas?
Robin Alexander
Reader 1, I will write things on scrap paper, my hand and in the notes on my phone. That usually happens when I'm talking to my sister, or my daughter walks through the room. She often looks at me and says, "You're so weird. I love you." Then I tell her the apple didn't fall far from the wacky tree.
Reader 6
lol
wacky parents are the best
Robin Alexander
LOL @ Reader 1 and Reader 6.
Reader 2
We’re a little bit past the hour, don’t want to take up too much of Robin’s evening - anybody have any last minute questions you’re dying to ask?
Reader 1
Does your editor let you keep your commas?
I could chat to you all night @Robin Alexander you’re fab. Thank you
Reader 6
I'm looking forward to the next audiobook
Robin Alexander
Reader 1. Oh Hell no. LMAO! Half of my commas are deleted or put somewhere else.
Thank you Reader 5!
Reader 5
Where'd you get the idea for Last of the Reader 1dens?
Reader 1
The home for elderly and retired commas
Robin Alexander
Reader 5. I passed an old house that looked creepy and I wanted to write a story about it. My second attempt to combine the spooky and the funny.
Reader 6
Cool
Reader 5
Very nice!
Robin Alexander
I want to thank all of you for making me feel at home here...
Reader 6
Thanks for stopping by
Reader 2
And we thank you for chatting with us!
Reader 1
Thank you Robin
Reader 4
Can't believe time is up already, lol. This is my first book club and I really enjoyed it!
Reader 5
Your welcome to drop in anytime
Robin Alexander
Big thanks to Reader 2 for inviting me. It was an honor! Y'all are a great group, and I hope I get the luxury of time, so I can read your books.
Reader 2
I hope so too - books are soul food and I very much enjoyed Just Jorie
Robin Alexander
Now, I must go because I was just informed my house will be used for some sort of family meeting.
Thank you so much Reader 2!
Reader 6
good luck with the family
Reader 1
bye
Reader 2
Thank you, have a good night!
Robin Alexander
Thank you Reader 6. I'm gonna need it because I made chilli today...I'll bow out before I make jokes about them eating it and killing me and my cats.
Reader 8
Have a wonderful night!!! Thank you!
Robin Alexander
Big love to you all!
Reader 5
Bye Robin! Have a good Night!
Reader 2
That was a perfect Grams/Coleen thought to end on
Robin Alexander
LMAO! Reader 2!