Straight Chatting from the Library: Chelsea Walker Flagg

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READ THE INTERVIEW

If you could have one paranormal ability, what would it be?
I always thought it’d be cool to be invisible. You know, just lurk around and listen to people without them knowing you’re there. But, when I say it aloud like that, it sounds kind of creepy. So, how about flying?

What is one thing your readers would be most surprised to learn about you?
As my husband likes to tell people, “she’s funnier in writing than she is in person.” I love you too, sweetie.

When writing descriptions of your hero/ine, what feature do you start with?
I think I flesh out my characters’ personalities long before I visualize what they look like physically. I love spending time thinking about their quirks and their voices. How do they view the world? How would they phrase an idea that might be different than the way other people would? I never want my characters to be normal. That’s just boring. But, there are only so many ways a person’s physical description can be presented, so all the fun is in the personality.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I’m a little bit of both. I like to have a general idea of where a chapter is heading, but I’m not attached to it when the train jumps the tracks and heads somewhere completely different. In fact, I love it when the train jumps the tracks! It shows that I’m really in my writing and feeling the flow of the plot. At least it usually shows that. Sometimes, I go back and read something and think, “what in the world am I talking about?”

Did you learn anything from writing this book? If so, what?
I learned that anybody can live their dream. I’ve wanted to be a published author for my entire life. I remember as a kid, staring starry-eyed up at the books in a bookstore and wondering what it must feel like to own those stories. It’s silly now to think that I hadn’t written a book sooner. What was I waiting for? If you’re passionate about something, just go for it! What do you have to lose? At very least, you have fun doing something you love. What’s so bad about that?

READ THE BLURB

Everybody has the awesome opportunity to find their own strength and path through life. Some come about their self-discoveries through studying and working hard. Others (Chelsea) spend their time nearly burning down kitchens and driving around the country with a car full of hangers.

Chelsea grew up wanting to be “strong.” She thought arguing her way through childhood and becoming a world-class attorney would get her there. But, through a series of humorous, and only slightly embarrassing events, Chelsea comes to realize that maybe her strength is meant to shine in different ways.

READ AN EXCERPT

FTL’s biggest client was a fabric design company that made nothing but Hawaiian prints. I’m actually pretty sure they no longer make anything, but rather spend good chunks of their time suing other companies who copy their designs. For me, it meant perusing catalogues and clothing websites in search of items with designs similar to this company’s retired fabrics. How great a job is that, by the way? I was getting paid to look for shirts with palm trees and hibiscus flowers on them. This whole law thing was too good to be true.

My best assignment came when FTL caught wind that a men’s underwear line was infringing on our client’s design name. She came by and dropped a stack of male lingerie catalogues (yes, they exist) on my desk to go through in search of this name. I spent the better part of a week looking at pictures at mostly-naked men with socks stuffed in their skivvies.

Nobody knew what to do with me. On one hand, studying oiled-up men in scandalous poses just had to be against any number of company policies. On the other hand, I was legitimately doing work in an effort to make the law firm money, so they couldn’t discourage it. In the end, they just left me alone. And that’s how I learned that you can buy men’s briefs with pre-padded butt cheeks.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Chelsea was once obsessed with cats, longed to live in a big city, didn't think she would ever have children, and aspired to be an attorney. She now lives in Boulder, Colorado as a stay-at-home mom and comedic writer with her husband and three daughters. She has no current plans to own a cat.

WEBSITE: http://www.chelseaflagg.com/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/chelseaflagg
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/chelseawalkerflagg
PINTERST: https://www.pinterest.com/chelseaflagg
BOOK WEBSITE: http://www.idratherwearpajamas.com/
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27082021-i-d-rather-wear-pajamas

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