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Libby Heily, author of Tough Girl, and the short story collections, Fourth Degree Freedom and Twist Turn and Burn. Libby’s originality really caught my attention early on with her short stories, so I’d been waiting with great anticipation for Tough Girl to come out. I wasn’t disappointed. I complained to Libby that she kept me up too late several nights as I had to know what would happen next. There is beauty in the sorrow she writes and the pain she explores. I’m thrilled to read on her blog she’s about to start her next WIP.
MP: So Libby? Libby? Wow she seems out in the ether somewhere. Libby, we’re already in space.
MP: Out here they’re dust clouds lit up by gas. Want a drink to go with your head?
LH: Do I ever. May I have a snarflinger buzzleblast? I’m 90% sure that’s a real drink, but there is a 10% chance I just made it up. Sometimes, I get confused about what’s real and what’s just in my head.
MP: Craze is up to the challenge, aren’t ya? He’s still glowering at me. Oh well. I was telling my Husband Unit the other day how mad Craze is at me over things that happen in Boomtown Craze, and the Husband Unit said I needed to get out more. Is it like that, Libby?
LH: it’s like that sometimes, but also like I get lost in my dream worlds. You know, I’ll be in the office typing but in my head I’m out slaying dragons, or at least teaching them how to fetch.
MP: Fetching dragons would be a nice thing to have in one’s office I think. Do any of these pretendings make it into your stories?
LH: Occasionally a few make it onto the page. Some I hoard selfishly. Tell Craze he did a smashing job with my drink. Where did he find snozberries this time of year?
MP: He’s a resourceful guy. He’s always daydreaming, too, of success. Did any of your imaginings make it into Tough Girl?
LH: Definitely. The Octhmuslan, the octopus-like alien that stalks Reggie, was definitely born of my daydreams.
MP: That was one interesting creature. I liked the one that created life, too. Don’t remember the name of her.
How do you think daydreaming helps you create your stories?
LH: I think daydreaming in general is extremely important to anyone who writes or pursues any creative outlet. It keeps your brain flexible, much like stretching keeps your muscles flexible. When you daydream, you allow your mind to wander. You give up a bit of control. Daydreaming is the perfect state to make connections you otherwise wouldn’t have.
Daydreaming specifically about stories also provides you with a safe haven where you can pursue plotlines or characters with no pressure. Letting scenes play out in your head allows you to try many variations quickly without the burden of generating pages and pages of unusable prose.
MP: You’re right, it does. I often go over pivotal scenes in daydreams and edit and tweak them to see what happens. It’s a great tool. Well, thanks for stopping in and visiting today, Libby. Come back any time.
LH: With Craze as a bartender, expect to see me often! Thanks for having me over to play!
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Tough Girl by Libby Heily
When Reggie’s mother disappears, her fantasy life spirals out of control and starts to invade reality. She is hunted by a creature of her own design, and even Tough Girl is not strong enough to stop him.
Will Reggie survive long enough for her mother to return, or will her dream world take over?
This book contains adult themes and adult language.
Amazon / B&N / Goodreads
More About Libby:
I’m a bookworm and a writer, a nerd that’s seen every episode of Farscape and can’t wait for the next Dr. Who Season to begin. I enjoy running and playing sports and am always hopeful the Baltimore Ravens will win a superbowl. I love movies but don’t care about the Oscars. I eat apples regularly but find apple juice bitter and don’t like it.
I’m a foodie and a beer snob. I eat babies. Okay, just baby carrots. I studied acting, video production and creative writing. I’ve had very few jobs that reflect any of those years of study. I am Libby Heily, and it’s nice to meet you.Visit Libby at her BLOG
Twitter@LibbyHeily
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How to Train Your Dragon… oh wait, that’s already a book and a movie!
Keep daydreaming, Libby.
Really nice chat Mary and Libby. Libby, nice to meet you; your book sounds intriguing, I’m adding it to my TBR list. :D
I’m a chronic daydreamer too. When I’m stuck on my novel I go take a hot bath and daydream until I find a solution. Get a little pruny sometimes, but it’s worth it. :P
Yay for daydreamers!
Nice to meet you, Libby! I love that tagline on Tough Girl and will check it out.
I eat babies, too! Baby spinach…
You’re right, letting the scenes play out in your head is so much better than writing pages of garbage.
I’m so intrigued by the octopus-like alien! Sounds so creepy. It’s been great seeing Libby all around the blogosphere, can’t wait to read Tough Girl.
And I can’t believe Craze is still mad. Makes me a little nervous to find out what happens in Boomtown!
She has good daydreams, Alex.
I really loved Tough Girl, Clare.
I find showers ideal for that, LG.
Isn’t it better, Laura? Although the delete key has become my friend.
Eventually he’ll get over it, Julie. We do have the fourth book to write.
Thanks guys!
@Alex – try and stop me! I’m a daydreaming machine!
@Clare – nice to meet you too, and thank you!
@LG, I’m stealing the bath idea. Best idea ever!
@Laura – baby veggies are best!
@Julie – 8 arms, way more evil than 2!
@MPax – thanks for having me over!!!
If snarflinger buzzleblast isn’t a real drink it should be. Another informative interview MPax.
Great interview. Good luck to you both.
Fun interview! I’m always daydreaming too. That octo-creature sounds wonderfully terrifying and original.
Nice to meet you Libby! Tough Girl sounds like an intriguing read.
Fantastic interview, ladies! And it’s definitely good to daydream. Gotta work the brain!
@Maurice, I’d drink it!
@Beth, thanks!
@Christine, thanks! The octopus man is one of my favs
@deniz, thanks!
@Cherie, thank you! Daydreaming is awesome!!!
I wonder if it tastes anything like EmergenC in the acai berry flavor, Maurice.
Nice to see you, Beth.
Daydreaming is fun. Maybe I’ll go do some of that today, Christine.
Hi Deniz!
It’s one of my favorite activities, Cherie.
Great to have you visiting today, Libby.
What a fun interview. Her story Tough Girl sounds fascinating!
PS: the link to her blog is a dud… I know cuz I tried to click on it to visit her. :-)
Nice interview! I’ve seen this book floating around the interwebz. Will have to check it out.
Daydreaming is one of my favorite hobbies…good thing I picked up writing so I can make something of it, LOL!
A fetching dragon would DEFINITELY come in handy…cuz my dog don’t fetch nuthin’. HA!
It’s a wonderful read, Loretta. Thanks for telling me. :)
It’s one of my favorite activities, too, Laura.
crazy, out of this world interview for a crazy, out of this world author! i’ll be hiding under my covers reading this one!
At first I wondered why Libby’s reflection didn’t match the angle of her face. Then I realized it’s not a mirror. Or is it? Maybe that’s Tough Libby.
That was cute that she complimented Craze’s wicked bartending skills.
Tough Girl reminds me of my daughter, though she has it better than her, so doesn’t have to fight in her dream world. Pretty sure her world is full of unicorns and rainbows at this point.
Great interview! I’d like some snozberries in my drink! Well, they’d make my water taste better, anyway.
Shannon at The Warrior Muse
It’s not scary, Tara.
lol I like that, Mark.
Yes, it was quite cute, Suze.
I’m glad your daughter hangs out with unicorns instead, Shannon.
Again I say this is one of the best books I’ve ever read. Oh how I agree with the daydreaming thing! I am the same way. I think that’s why I still, even as a grown woman, get accused of being flighty–cause my head is always off in some daydream. Great story fodder though!