Author Chat with Anna Patrick

About the Book:

FOLLOW ELIZABETH DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE-AND MEET A WHOLE NEW ALICE. Elizabeth, a twenty-four-year-old interior designer living in Brooklyn, New York, encounters a little more than mental static when she sits down for her morning meditation, feeling disconnected from herself and her reality. As she meditates, she forces herself to confront her inner demons head on-including the darker parts that she would rather keep hidden from others, like her boyfriend, Adam. Her inner conflict leads her down a rabbit hole that is far different from the one she remembers from her favorite childhood story. When Elizabeth reaches the bottom of the rabbit hole, she follows a shadowy figure in a familiar blue dress who taunts her and coaxes her deeper into Wonderland. Unable to release herself from her meditation, Elizabeth chases Alice through Wonderland, guided by clues left by Alice, as well as the dark and strangely familiar characters she meets, like the Cheshire Cat, the Tweedle twins, and the Mad Hatter. In Wonderland, Elizabeth comes face to face with her inner light and darkness, and, finally, Alice-and discovers that Alice's secret might be what she has been searching for all along.

Hello world!  I would like to introduce you to the lovely Anna Patrick, author of Meditations in Wonderland.  We are fortunate enough today to invite Anna over for an author Q & A sesh!  Without further ado, let's get started!

The Book Landers:  Okay, probably a cliche question . . . but I'm still curious: what prompted you to become an author?

Anna: I grew up a voracious reader, and my love of reading transformed into a love of writing – I think a lot of authors can relate to me there! When I was in elementary school I carried around a black and white composition notebook that contained my “first novel,” I’m pretty sure it was awful, but nonetheless writing was ingrained in me early on. It was a dream of mine to become an author one day, and I’m still pinching myself! It took years of study, practice, and universal alignments to make it happen. I carried around the story of Meditations In Wonderland in my head for years, and, finally, my last semester as an undergrad at Boston College I decided to write it! I felt that the message – the flawed heroine’s inner journey – is an important one to share, and I pursued getting published in the effort to present a modern Alice In Wonderland story for the 20-somethings out there who are navigating their own internal Wonderlands. I’m one of them.

TBL: What was one unexpected thing you discovered about writing?

A: The undeniable self-discovery element, and just how deep character development can sink into your consciousness. My main character, Elizabeth, is extremely different than me in almost every way, as is Alice, yet I still found myself learning a lot about myself on every page. As a writer, when you let a scene unfold you have to put yourself in your characters’ shoes to interpret how they would react to certain events, and all the while your own interpretation still lies in the background. It’s an interesting juxtaposition. Sometimes I would even dream at night as Elizabeth, or Alice – those were truly scary! I could feel in the dream that I was experiencing my “reality” as someone else, yet it was still me all along.

TBL: What are your top 3 favorite things about writing?

A: I love how it gives you a deeper understanding of yourself – the good, the bad and the ugly will all come out during the novel-writing journey! I love the limitlessness, how you can create people, worlds, and complex relationships. Last, I love the discipline of it, it’s almost a spiritual practice in the way that you have to dedicate yourself to your writing practice. To complete Meditations In Wonderland I had to set my alarm and write through the hours I set aside each day. I learned a lot about myself, discipline, and the power of the craft. I’m still learning, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop.

TBL: Top 3 least favorite things about writing?

A: I think it can be hard to confront your weaknesses – and writing a novel will bring them out! If you’re unsure of yourself or your creative instinct, if you’re struggling with discipline, if you put too much stake into what other people think, if you’re afraid to really “go there” with your writing, all of that will come to light fairly early on in the process. It’s a wonderful opportunity to grow, to shine a light in your darkness corners and clear the cobwebs. You can’t hide behind your words – readers are intuitive and they can tell if you’re holding back. You owe it to your readers, and to yourself, to honor your practice.

TBL: If you could meet any fictional character, who would it be?

A: I would love to meet Alice, of course! But probably Lewis Carroll’s Alice, instead of my own – mine can be a real nightmare. But, to be fair, I think everyone has their own inner Alice. We’re all just trying to find ourselves in the dark woods.

TBL: Three words that sum up Meditations in Wonderland . . . ready, set, go!

A: Dark, eerie and compelling. Those are three words that have come up the most in my reviews so far!

TBL: Chocolate or vanilla?

A: Vanilla! With rainbow sprinkles.

TBL: Did something in particular serve as inspiration for your novel?

A: Of course I owe a large debt of inspiration to Lewis Carroll. It’s a testament to the characters and the world he was able to create that we still build on both of them 150 years later. Like many children of the 90s, I first fell in love with Alice from the Disney movie version. After seeing that I sought out every Alice TV and film remake I could get my hands on. Other works left their fingerprints on my novel as well, such as King’s Pretty Little Liars and Gaiman’s Coraline, the latter I read in elementary school and really stuck with me. I often describe my story as Pretty Little Liars in Wonderland, where Alice is “A.” It’s a fair comparison, because Alice’s true identity will shock you!

TBL: What's your favorite book?

A: Outside of the original Alice in Wonderland, I’ve loved the Russian classics since I was in high school. The Brothers Karamazov and Crime and Punishment left a huge impression on me, and humbled me as a writer. On the other hand, Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is one of the only books I’ve ever re-read – I think I’ve read it at least three times. Much of the way my version of Wonderland is structured was influenced by Conrad’s framework of the river journey.

TBL: Any last info about yourself you would like readers to know?

A: In many ways, this is the book that Tumblr helped to build. My blog, also titled Meditations In Wonderland, was around years before the book came about. People who connected and followed me on Tumblr were a great influence on the book since day one – whether it’s venting about the writing process, providing suggestions, and just in general being an amazing support system. The blog has grown to about 25k followers to date. I think it’s a true testament to the way a village raises a book today – it’s easy to see the author’s name and write novels off as a solo venture, but truthfully this book wouldn’t have been written withour Tumblr, or my great publishing team at Greenleaf. Any information about future titles in the works will be over on my blog, I’m always happy to connect! I can also be reached at @loveannapatrick everywhere else in the social media universe!
Also, November marks the 150th anniversary of the original publication of Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. I’m humbled and honored to add this modern re-telling to a long legacy! It’s not the first, and the universality of Carroll’s story ensures that it won’t be the last.

TBL: Many, many thanks!

About the Author:

Anna Patrick graduated from Boston College with both a degree in communications and the first draft of the manuscript that would become her first novel, Meditations In Wonderland. She is also the creator of a popular Tumblr under the same title. Now a full-time book publicist, Patrick lives in Northern Virginia with her boyfriend and their French bulldog.

"I believe in Russian and dystopian lit, witches, meditation and Nirvana. Horses are my spirit animal. I insist that cozy blankets and mimosas were created for Sundays, and that’s not up for debate.

I currently live in the city that never sleeps, where when I’m not at the office doing book publicity I embark on long weekend brunches, reading on the subway (whether it’s rush hour or not), and trying to find the best writing spots you won’t find on a map.

A true Libran, I strive for a constant state of balance. I can be pensive bordering brooding, brutally honest, and passionate about surrounding myself with loved ones, because I’ve seen how abruptly they can be taken away.

What began as a piece for a fiction workshop my senior year at Boston College manifested into my first novel, Meditations In Wonderland, which combines elements reflected in much of my writing: dystopian undertones, a hero’s journey featuring a protagonist with a dark side, and overly descriptive landscapes  –  all with notes of magical surrealism sewn in throughout.

I was born and raised in Northern Virginia, and after living in three other cities during my college and post-grad years (New York City, Boston and London) I am happily nesting in the suburbs of Washington D.C. again. I live with my boyfriend, Cezar, who is an actor and artsy film fanatic. We will welcome a French Bulldog puppy this Thanksgiving, name to be determined."

For more on Anna and the book, please visit her: www.meditationsinwonderland.com. You can also find the book on Amazon.