Weekend Wonder: Richard Timothy

Happy Easter everyone! I hope you are able to spend this holiday with the people you love. Enjoy all the chocolate and jelly beans you can muster!

Now, it is time to return to the Weekend Wonders! I recieved two fabulous questionaires a little while ago so please meet Richard Timothy today and Ley next Saturday!

General Questions…

Name: Richard Timothy

Blog Penname: Richard Timothy

A sentence or two about yourself: This is definitely going to be more than two sentences; actually I think that says it all… ok maybe not. I was born January 1 in a small Wyoming town. Yes I was the first baby of the New Year, and no I did not get any gifts… and yes there is a story about this. I use to believe I was a Capricorn until “they” decided “they” got the zodiac wrong. “They” always cause problems. Now I don’t know what my sign is… nor do I care (take that “they”). I hope I leave the lives of people I meet and the world I live in a little bit better than it was before I was there.

Link to blog: www.richardtimothy.com

A sentence or two on what your blog is about: In a word, amusing observations, well in two words then. The

whole point when I started my blog was to write something that was going to get the reader to smile, even smirk, and on some occasions laugh out loud to themselves. In short, it’s a virtual place of joy and laughter, and the groovy part is that people occasionally return the experience when they share one of their experiences with me about the topic I’m writing about, giving me a good laugh in return.

Book Lover Questions…

What is your favorite book and why? Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. It’s my favorite book because it was the first book I’d read that made me laugh out loud while I was reading, while at the same time creating a plot and story line that was sincere and though provoking. It also carried with it the realization that reading and writing could be just that, a laugh, an experience of joy and amusement that can affect the mood of another person, creating something positive and cheerful in them.

Other favorites? Small Gods by Terry Pratchett, Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams, the poetry of Pablo Neruda, and Lamb, The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore.

What’s your favorite genre to read? Satire… and I guess Fantasy/Fiction since I’m a huge Pratchett fan and apparently his writings are classified as that.

Where do you like to read? In bed, it’s amazing what a good book can do you’re your dreams when you finish a chapter and then dose off into your own subconscious interpretation of what you just read… note to self: Avoid doing this with books like the Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Moby Dick, The Adventures of Captain Underpants, etc, not very conducive to delightful dreams.

Do you prefer paper books or ebooks? Paper books, I’m a bit of a traditionalist that way. I love my books. When I finish a book I have something left as a reminder of the accomplishment/experience. If it is it truly worthy I put it on my bookshelf, a trophy along with the other brilliant works I have read and placed on my shelf of accomplishments. I get the ease and functional aspect of an ebook reader, but I still love my books. If the ebook is exceptional, there is a good chance that I’ll get a paper copy to add to my library.

Do you prefer to buy or borrow books? Depends on the book, if it comes highly recommended from someone I trust, it’s a keeper, I’ll try to get the hardback if I can. If I’m not sure, or if it’s a trial book, say a new author, I’ll either borrow it or get it from the library. If I love it, then I’ll get my own copy.

Do you stop reading when you are tired or when you hit chapter breaks? I’d like to say it depends on the book, but truth is if I am reading in bed I’ll keep reading until I can’t keep my eyes open any longer. If it’s a good book I can easily keep my eyes open longer. The other factor is if my wife is in bed while I’m reading and is ready to get some sleep, in those cases I’ll stop at the end of the current paragraph I’m reading.

When you finish a book do you usually keep it, throw it away, sell it, or give it away? If I love a book, I’ll keep it. If it was a worthwhile read I’ll give it to a friend that I know will enjoy it. If it’s a book I love, and I have a friend who I know will love it, I’ll buy them a copy.

What helps you decide on a book? (Book reviews, suggested by friend, by browsing the shelves, etc.) I go with authors I like, and friend’s suggestions, and occasionally the suggestions of author’s I like.

Do you prefer to read a book that stands on its own or is a part of a series? If there is a character that I really enjoy I prefer a series. There is something brilliantly enjoyable about accompanying a likeable character through a number of adventures.

So You Want to be a Writer questions…

A few sentences about your writing: What do you write (blog entries, novels, poetry, etc)? Why do you write? I am in the process of finishing the rewrite of my first book and let me just say hooray for editing, it’s amazing and the improvements I’ve made over the last set of edits and feedback I’ve received. I also write Smirks, I call my blog entries smirks, because, well, that’s the whole point of them. I love writing something that is going to get the reader to smile and quite possibly to laugh out loud. I love the feeling or reading something that makes me laugh out and I strive to create that experience for others.

Did you always know that you wanted to write? No, but I did know I wanted to do something creative. I started out as an artist; my first college degree was in art. It was while I was getting that degree that I realized I enjoyed the creativity or words much more than the creativity of paint or ceramics. I can paint much better scenes using words than I can using paint.

Favorite Questions…

What’s your favorite food? Sushi or Pizza… but never sushi pizza, some things are never meant to be combined, this is one of those things.

Favorite color? Green

Favorite song? Glósóli by Sigur Ros

Favorite movie? The first one that comes to mind is Harvey, there is just something about the Stewart’s performance as Elwood P. Dowd that causes me to perpetually smile through this entire film.

Favorite TV show? All time show MST3K. Now if I had to pick a show that is currently on the air… hmm… probably The IT Crowd I guess.

Random Questions…

If you developed a superpower what would it be and why? Developed? Like if I were to scientifically create one in a lab… or do you mean if I were to suddenly have a superpower bestowed on me? For the one I develop in a lab, let’s go with a classic and say it would be the one that turns people big and green whenever they got mad, except I’d add some type of valium timed release along with it so once they turn big and green, they mellow right out. Then I’d start a stretchy pants company and unleash my superpower on the world. I’d make a killing in stretchy pants sales.

Now as for a superpower I possess, I think it would be the power of turning water into wine… really good Italian red wine.

What did you want to be when you were little? A cowboy, then a fireman, then a standup comedian, then an artist and finally a grown up, this covers about a three week period when I was around seven by the way. First time I watched Pinocchio I spent a week wanting to be a “real boy”, although I’m not sure that counts.

What is the answer to life? Live it, this is the only life we know we have for certain. Oh and while living your life and finding joy, don’t hurt others in the process… and 42, which I’m sure has been given as an answer to this question before, and I know it will continue to be given again and again, because let’s face it… it’s a loaded question.