#WriterWednesday Author Interview with Michael Hingson
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Author Michael Hingson is my guest today for #WriterWednesday!
Hardest thing about being a writer: Coming up with new book possibilities
Easiest thing about being a writer: Talking about my books and what I put in them, especially teaching moments.
Things you need for your writing sessions: Collaboration as I prefer to work with someone. We feed off each other which spirs my creativity.
Things that hamper your writing: Putting some of my hardest thoughts into words. Again, collaboration helps.
Words that describe you: “Blind World Trade Center Survivor,” Bestselling author, International acclaimed author, Kind.
Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: Disabled, Visually impaired, Less than others especially those who can see.
Something you’re really good at: Collecting old time radio shows, doing my podcast, public speaking
Something you’re really bad at: driving a car but that skill will improve later, speaking languages other than English.
Last best thing you ate: Garrett popcorn
Last thing you regret eating: raw tomatoes
Favorite music or song: Big band music especially Benny Goodman
Music that drives you crazy: rap and hip-hop
The last thing you ordered online: treats for my guide dog, Alamo and treats I purchased for my cat Stitch
The last thing you regret buying: A ladder that didn’t meet my needs.
Things you’d walk a mile for: My guide dog and cat. Speaking at venues where people have an interest in what I have to say, Mint chip ice cream, Virgil’s barbecue.
Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: People who do not want to communicate and who think they are the only ones who are right. TV shows without much or any dialog. Pizza made with way too much dough and not enough toppings to balance them out.
Things you always put in your books: Life lessons I think people might want to read about. Stories about how I and other blind people live work and have fun. Things that are fun and enjoyable to read about.
Things you never put in your books: Condescending words. Political things unless I can present all sides in a way that won’t offend.
Things to say to an author: Hello. I want to learn more about you and your books. I would like to invite you to be a guest on my podcast, Unstoppable Mindset.
Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: I am a better writer than you. I would like your autograph, (especially when I know they hate giving autographs). I want to be in your next book.
Favorite places you’ve been: New Zealand. All over the U.S. Canada
Places you never want to go to again: I have yet to visit a place where I wouldn’t want to revisit.
Favorite books (or genre): The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein. Science fiction and cosey mysteries.
Books you wouldn’t buy: Most books on politics. Books that put some people down.
Favorite things to do: Talk with people. Cruising. Playing with Alamo and Stitch. Public speaking. Crafting a new book.
Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: Eating raw tomatoes. Listening to people who won’t listen back. People who clearly don’t want to share ideas or consider learning from someone who has a different opinion than they.
Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Traveling from my home in California alone to Boston for the first time.
Something you chickened out from doing: So far, sky diving.
The coolest person you’ve ever met: Peter Falk. Also Larry King.
The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video: Wouldn’t know about that, but I did see Adam West, (TV’s Batman), who acted like a jerk.
The nicest thing a reader said to you: You taught me a lot about blindness and blind people. I take your lessons to heart.
The craziest thing a reader said to you: While attending and speaking at a book club where everyone had supposedly read my book, Thunder Dog, the first question I was asked was “what were you doing in the World Trade Center anyway?”.
Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done:
Crafting and giving speeches. Hosting a podcast. Working with Ray Kurzweil to help develop the first reading machine for blind and low vision people.
A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: Life in general. I always wanted to go into professional teaching at the high school or college level. However, while my life took a different direction, I have learned how I still am in reality a teacher.
Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: Escaping from the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: My guide dog, Roselle, did all the work and “lead” me out of the World Trade Center. However, that is not what a guide dog does.
The first 8-track, record, cassette, or CD you ever bought: A record by the Kingston Trio back in 1957.
A type of music that’s not your cup of tea: RAP and/or heavy metal.
About Michael:
On September 11, 2001, a blind man escaped the World Trade Center by walking down 78 flights of stairs with his guide dog. Days later, America fell in love with Mike and Roselle and the special bond that helped them both survive one of the country’s darkest days.
Immediately after the 9-11 tragedy, Michael was featured on the Larry King show five times. To quote Larry King…
“Michael Hingson is an international hero honored and awarded by top organizations worldwide.” This media exposure changed the course of Michael’s life and launched him into a speaking career that has spanned over nineteen years. He now travels the world as a keynote and inspirational speaker that can motivate audiences to action.
Let’s Be Social:
Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/mhingson
https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/
https://www.facebook.com/Roselle911GuideDog/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1568642850718948
Twitter, https://twitter.com/mhingson
LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson
Youtube channel, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfCx2L9OVN38Dv4mX6udP8g.
