Who is Coming to 702WI?
Meet Lorna Landvik
702WI: What book changed your life?
Lorna Landvik: It would have to be Dick and Jane, the book that taught me how to read.
702WI: What book(s) are coming out this year that you're looking forward to reading?
LL: I look forward to reading Tom Perrotta's new book, Mrs. Fletcher, and Happiness by Heather Harpham.
702WI: What books are currently stacked next to your bed/on your desk/in your pile-to-read?
LL: Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters, The War of Art by Steven Pressfield (I’ve read and re-read it), Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen, Our Short History by Laura Grodstein.
702WI: What book did you most recently recommend to someone else?
LL: Gloria Steinem’s My Life on the Road.
702WI: What was your favorite book when you were a child?
LL: Betsy Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace.
702WI: Who are your favorite writers?
LL: Anne Tyler, John Irving, Flannery O’Connor, Anne-Marie McDonald, Michael Malone, Mark Twain…oh the list goes on and on.
702WI: Do you commonly use a word or phrase that is specific to a place you lived/from childhood/from family that you don’t hear often in day-to-day conversation?
LL: Uffda mayda, which is an all-purpose mild Norwegian expletive.
702WI: What book/s could you never part with? Think “stranded-on-a-desert-island” books.
LL: If I were stranded on a desert island, I’d hope to have a survival guide, one that would instruct me as to how to get off that desert island.
702WI: Were you ever embarrassed about a book you loved?
LL: Probably, but I can’t remember which one.
702WI: What fictional character do you most identify with? Why?
LL: Maybe Caddie Woodlawn, pioneer girl. Because she was always up for things and wasn’t about to be limited by what society thought she should be.
702WI: Do you have a favorite musician or genre of music?
LL: I have pretty broad musical tastes but these particular CDS get a lot of play: the soundtracks from The Royal Tennebaums, O Brother Where Art Thou, Cabaret; Brian Eno’s ‘Another Green World’ and ‘A Wonderful World,’ a K.D. Laing and Tony Bennet duet album.
702WI: Is there a creator who is doing something you find amazing?
LL: I just read about scientists here at the U in Minneapolis who discovered how to make a sponge that can absorb mercury, which would be used in cleaning up polluted waters. I’m amazed by any scientist whose discovery helps our beautiful planet stay beautiful.
702WI: What do you wish you knew more about?
LL: How we all got here and where we’re all going.
702WI: Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?
LL: So many I could learn from, be enlightened, amazed and entertained by . . . but maybe I’d pick my dad, who died when I was twenty-seven.
702WI: Vinyl, cassette, CD or digital? Typewriter, notebook, tablet or computer? Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or none of the above? Sweet or savory?
LL: Vinyl, because it forced you to take your time to listen to music; notebook for the doodle-as-you-write capability and laptop computer for its write-while-reclining aspect; none of the above; and sweet AND savory.
702WI: What is your most meaningful place?
LL: Any place I can see the sunset with my husband.
702WI: What’s your favorite bookstore?
LL: Although it’s no longer open, I’ll always love ‘A Woman’s Place’ in Salt Lake City which was one of the first out-of-state bookstores to host me on my debut book tour. The enthusiasm, heart and sense of fun of its booksellers set a wonderful standard, one I’m happy to say many independent bookstores embrace.
702WI: Can you share a favorite line from a creative work (book/play/film/song)?
LL: Can’t beat the invitation of the words, ‘Once upon a time…’
702WI: What do you enjoy most about doing a reading or talking about your book?
LL: I love meeting readers and hearing their very subjective opinions about my books. It’s moving and humbling to hear readers’ stories about what your books have meant to them.
702WI: What is something you know about or have heard about Madison or Wisconsin?
LL: As a citizen of Minnesota, I often get to Wisconsin and love driving its rolling hills and stopping at ‘supper clubs’ on the way to friends’ cabins. I’m a hockey fan, so I’m aware of UW-Madison’s prowess on the rink and I also am a big fan of the progressive community alive and well in Madison.
Visit Lorna's Website
Read about Lorna's new book, Once in a Blue Moon Lodge