Five Things about Eileen Dreyer

Nov 10, 2011 | This & That

Eileen Dreyer, who has also written as Kathleen Korbel, and I have bumped into each other for years. At teas and conferences and always take the chance to catch up on our shared love of travel, Ireland and Broadways shows. So I knew if you didn’t know Eileen yet, you needed to meet her. She’s in one word a “hoot!” Here are Five Things about Eileen Dreyer:

1. Where is the most beautiful/romantic place you’ve ever been

Wow. So many in the world, but I’d have to say Venice. I’ve dreamed of going there my whole life, and we were lucky enough to stay at a Palazzo built in the mid 1400s with a balcony over the Canereggio Canal. I could have sat there all day watching the gondolas, the sunlight washing the wedding cake houses, the ever-changing water and sky, listening to the church bells and music, the water lapping against the pilings and the chatter in the narrow streets and bridges. I ate pasta out in small piazzas and bought a shameful amount of beautiful scarves, Murano glass, and ceramics. I wandered everywhere, and lit candles at every church I could find(and that was a lot). And then at the end of the evening, we retired to our balcony to watch the moon gleam off the water, and listen to the church bells. When I think of Italy, I think of church bells. They were like a symphony of joy.

2. Do you celebrate when you finish a book and what you do?

I celebrate the end of a deadline by reading every book and watching every movie I’ve saved up during deadline. Then I do my ritual office-cleaning of all of the research, notes, candy wrappers, empty cups and various trash that’s gathered in my office during deadline. Then my critique partner Karyn Witmer and I go out to lunch. Very satisfying.

3. If you were not writing, what job would you have?

I would actually go back to either being a trauma nurse, or become a death investigator. I’m fascinated by forensics. What would I wish I could do? Specialized travel agent for individual trips off the beaten track (after my answer to 1, I’m sure it’s no surprise). For instance, instead of staying in Florence, Italy, we stayed in Sienna and took the train over. Sienna is smaller, cheaper, and to me, far more intimate, a walled medieval city that just reeks of charm. We never stay at chain hotels, or go on big tours. In India I found a place to stay at the Ranthambhore Tiger Sanctuary that had luxury tents for rooms. Incredibly cool. I love it when I find a great deal in an interesting place. (You can follow my travels on my website, where I have a Travel for Fun page).

4. If you were going to an island for a long time, name 5 things you would bring.

  • Ipod
  • Ipad
  • Generator….do I need anything else?
  • Probably sunscreen or a hat, but that’s boring.
  • My husband and a Swiss army knife(he says you can do anything with a Swiss army knife).
5. Print or ebook?

Print. I’m probably getting something like a Nook for long airplane rides, but when I can, I love the feel, smell and romance of a book. Some of my earliest memories are walking into a library, and there is just a smell that makes me excited and anxious, as if magic is hiding around the corner. I’m page bender, for the places I want to go back to, and an underliner for great lines or research information (I just finished Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier about women who were early amateur paleontologists, and I’ve marked it up to point to more research on the subject, since I have a character in an upcoming book who is a fossil hunter). There’s also just something about a book, a glass of wine and a hot bath that makes my life better.

EB: That combination will make anyone’s life better!

Looking for a great read to curl up in the tub with? Try Eileen’s new book, Always a Temptress, available now. To discover more about Eileen Dryer, her travels/adventures and her wonderful books, visit her site, www.EileenDreyer.com

6 Comments

  1. Monikarw

    Love this! Thanks Elizabeth!:)
    Eileen: just bought always a temptress yesterday! It’ll be the first of your books I read! So, I’ll let u know!;) LOL
    Liked your answers! I’ve always wanted to go to Venice!:’) so romantic! *sigh*

  2. eli yanti

    great question and answer 😉

  3. eileen dreyer

    Elizavbeth–thank you so much for inviting me to play.This was fun. And I could talk about writing, reading and traveling non-stop for months. Except for my family and Irish music, my greatest passions.

  4. Trudy

    I love to read about the process of writers writing. Eileen, you are such an interesting woman! Thanks, EB, for the great interview.

  5. Sylvia

    I’ve always enjoyed Eileen’s books, and now it’s neat to know I like her as a person, too. I will definitely pick up a copy of Temptress!

  6. infinitieh

    A luxurious tent in Indian? Wow!

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