Kelley Armstrong - Guest Blogger - Day 1

Please welcome guest blogger and author Kelley Armstrong to the Island. I'm pretty sure Kelley doesn't need an introduction. But for anyone not familiar with her work, Kelley writes The Otherworld urban fantasy novels which started with Bitten, and the Nadia Stafford thrillers the second of which, Made to be Broken was published at the end of February. Her website can be found at http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/. Over to Kelley. (LesleyW)



Desert Island Keepers. The first time I heard that phrase, I had no idea what it meant, but I quickly learned, as “what book would you want on a desert island” became a popular interview question. And each time I got it, I lied. Totally lied.

No, I didn’t pick obscure classics to make myself look smarter. Or obscure hip-lit to make myself look cooler. I’d choose a favourite book like “Pride and Prejudice.” But if I was really stuck on a desert island, would I want “Pride and Prejudice”? Hell, no. I’d read it a few times, then kick myself silly for choosing a skinny little 200 page book that would barely light a month’s worth of fires.

If I really had to choose a book for a desert island, I’d take War and Peace because, stuck there with nothing else for entertainment, I might actually read the damn thing. More importantly, though? The book is a whopping 1300 pages. Do you know how many fires that would start? Better yet, if I took Les Miserables I could get an extra 200 pages. I’ve already read that one, though, and really have no raging desire to do so again, so it’s a trade-off.

Yes, I know, I’m being shortsighted here. It’s not all about fire fodder. It’s about the book, too. So, on second thought, I’m changing my vote. I’m taking the US Army Survival Manual. I do have a copy, but I want a new one, because mine’s a little outdated, from back when I was writing a post-apocalyptic fantasy. Never finished the novel. I got ¾ of the way through when another otherwise wonderfully supportive fantasy author said the only problem with it was that it was written in first-person. I tried to change to third, got frustrated and abandoned it.

But the Survival Manual still came in handy—writing about werewolves, knowing how to field-dress severed limbs is very useful. And on the back, the first thing it promises is how to “overcome the desire for comfort,” which I will really need to do, stuck on a desert island without my cappuccino maker. So that will be my desert island keeper. And, if I get a second book, I’ll print out that fantasy—the original version—so I can edit it and, with all that free time, maybe even use the blank backs of the pages to finish it.

With each of my entries, I’ll give a signed copy of one of my backlist. To enter, just comment. Can’t think of a relevant comment? Tell me a useful book you’d take on your desert island exile.