Carolyn Howard-Johnson, novelist, poet and authors' advocate [carolynhowardjohnson] 

	What is your favorite genre? Can you provide a link to a site where we can read some of your work or learn something about it? I was brought up on the classics. Mmmm. If you call Nancy Drew a classic. I guess that series is--if longevity counts. In fact, I took my degree in English Literature. So my more serious work centers on the theme of tolerance (http://www.carolynhoward-johnson.com) and my nonfiction on helping others edit and promote their work (http://www.howtodoitfrugally.com).
	What is your creative process like? What happens before sitting down to write? "Writer's Block" are foreign words to me. I have more ideas than I'll ever need. Poetry. Novels. How-to books. Ideas come to me in the night and when I'm reading. I think maybe if writers suffer from block, they should read more. Of course, their processes may be different from mine. (-:
	What do you think are the basic ingredients of a story? The basic ingredient in a story most often lacking is a premise or theme.
	What voice do you find most to your liking: first person or third person? Voice is important but no one is better than another. That's another mistake authors make is writing in only the voice that is easy for them. We should ask ourselves what voice is best for this particular story. Of course, one can always write in first person, if that's easiest, and then switch over to another voice once we've decided what is right. And by the way, first and third person aren't the only choices. LOL.
	What well known writers do you admire most? I adore Harper Lee, love most of the Russian writers and learn from Steinbeck every time I read something he writes. Even "Travels with Charlie."
	Are you equally good at telling stories orally? I love to tell stories but I don't think I'm as literate when I do. Still, anecdote is an esstential part of good speaking and I speak at conferences and other places lots! (-:
	Is writing a form of personal therapy? Are internal conflicts a creative force? Oh, absolutely, myself. Even the writing I do for others comes from a personal need to help out when I can.
	Do you participate in competitions? Have you received any awards? Aha! Read The Frugal Book Promoter: How To Do What Your Publisher Won't! Awards provide one of the best ways to promote and they don't have to be biggies like the Pulitzer. Most of my books have won one or more awards.