In case you were wondering what I look like on the weekends, when I haven’t had my hair and makeup done for an author photo, the picture on the left was taken last weekend while I was away with a couple of girlfriends from some R&R.
And in case you were wondering how I might answer the Proust Questionnaire that is habitually found at the back of Vanity Fair magazine – you’re in luck! (I doubt anyone was wondering at all, but I’ve always wanted to take the questionnaire, and now Vanity Fair will have a head start on their profile of me when I become the J.K. Rowling of paranormal romance). When I took the interactive version of the questionnaire on Vanity Fair’s website ( here), I was intrigued to learn that my answers were similar to those given by Ray Charles (90.56% – cool!) and Bill O’Reilly (82.56% – erm, ok then).
1. What is your idea of perfect happiness? Great books, great food, great company.
2. What is your greatest fear? Giving up on my dreams.
3. Which historical figure do you most identify with? Dorothy Parker.
4. Which living person do you most admire? Dolly Parton.
5. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Taking out my frustrations on others.
6. What is the trait you most deplore in others? A lack of compassion.
7. What is your greatest extravagance? Eating in restaurants too often.
8. On what occasion do you lie? To spare someone’s feelings. To avoid impertinent or overly personal questions.
9. What do you dislike most about your appearance? Wearing glasses.
10. When and where were you happiest? Childhood summers spent outdoors, when I was free to pursue whatever interested me.
11. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I would care less what other people think of me.
12. If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? We would get together more often before it’s too late.
13. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Doing the right thing, even when I don’t want to.
14. If you came back as a person or thing, what would it be? I hope to be a dolphin.
15. What is your most treasured possession? A stuffed animal from childhood – “Willie Bear”.
16. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Guilt.
17. Who are your heroes in real life? Everyone who sacrifices comfort or security to pursue a dream. Everyone who sacrifices a dream to provide comfort or security to their family.
18. What is it that you most dislike? Being stared at.
19. How would you like to die? Peacefully and at an old age, before my husband.
20. What is your motto? Listen to your heart.
Now that I’ve taken the questionnaire, I plan to revisit it in a year or two and see if my answers have changed. Over time, I’ve gone back and forth between feeling like I’ve changed so much, and then at other times feeling like it’s just circumstances that have changed, while I remain fundamentally the same person I always was.
What do you think – do people change fundamentally over time?
nicolarwhite.com 
I love the Proust Questionnaire and often use it as an interview tool for authors/writers on my site. #9 – me too…and I’m developing an allergy to my contacts so alas, I am stuck.