Narrative has a few burning questions for cartoonist and author Liza Donnelly.
1. Who is your favorite character in books; your favorite character in life?
Snoopy. Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird.
In life, my favorite character is my husband.
In life, my favorite character is my husband.
2. Your favorite line (that you or someone else wrote)?
“All right, have it your way. You heard a seal bark.”
—James Thurber
3. The story, novel, or poem you wish you could read again for the first time.
Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own.
4. Best part of the day?
The part when I come up with an idea for a cartoon.
5. Your cure for when the spirit flags?
Swim.
6. Ten words you use most on the page? In life?
On the page: the, and, it, as, if, when, me, you, them, risotto
In life: the, and, it, if, when, yes, maybe, now, how, wine
In life: the, and, it, if, when, yes, maybe, now, how, wine
Those are scientific, by the way.
7. What’s your current obsession?
Improv.
8. What’s the most useful criticism you’ve ever received?
That I was too quiet.
9. What did you know at age twelve that you wish you hadn’t forgotten, and/or what do you know now you wish you knew then?
At twelve I knew how to play Scott Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag” without the sheet music and with great enthusiasm. I have successfully forgotten, and wish it weren’t so.
10. To quote Auden, “O tell me the truth about love.” We’re all ears.
Love is when you give of yourself, without thinking too much about it.