Interview with Sam Young

http://www.samyoung1.webspace.virginmedia.com/

First off, thanks so much for joining us for an up-close and personal interview for TeensReadToo.com! My name is Jen, and I’ll be your server toda…oh, wait, wrong job! Anyway, thanks so much for taking time out of your writing schedule—which I’m sure is busy!—and answering a few questions for your readers and fans.

Let’s get some of the typical interview questions out of the way first. When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve always loved books, ever since my mum bought me a Santa sack full of pre-school books when I was three or four but I knew I wanted to be a writer after I read THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE when I was seven or eight. It was just so magical and was really the first book to take me away into another world entirely. I was so excited by the idea of creating my own little magical worlds that I began writing when I was ten or eleven and just knew that being a writer was the job for me.

Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?

Having always been a little shy about my writing it took me a while to get up the courage to send my work off to a publisher. I guess I must have believed that little bit more in LUNARMORTE and decided rather than getting an agent I would send samples of the novel off to publishers in the UK that accepted unsolicited manuscripts. Like most writers I got my fair share of rejections but last Autumn I received a letter from Pegasus' Elliot Mackenzie asking to see the rest of the manuscript. The wait was nerve-wracking but finally in January 2010 I got an offer of contract. Yay!

Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release. If you could only tell your readers one thing about the story that had to convince us to buy the book, what would it be?

My latest, and debut, release is the first novel in a trilogy titled LUNARMORTE. LUNARMORTE is about a war between two factions who are the children of the ancient Greek gods and seventeen-year old lykan, Caia Ribeiro, who is destined to bring their 2000 year old war to an end. One thing about the story to convince you all to buy the book? There are some really HOT guys! Lol. In all seriousness, I think LUNARMORTE truly has something new to say about supernatural folklore and hopefully is a refreshing addition to YA fantasy.

What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?

My greatest inspiration has been the ancient Greeks and their rich and wonderful mythology that is so full of possibility it makes me giddy!

Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!

OMG proud indeed! It’s a little embarrassing for me as I’m not great at receiving compliments. There’s my mum, Elaine, and my dad, Alexander, and there’s my big brother, David, who is the worst of the lot for bragging to people! OK, maybe not the worst. My aunt Carol just might have the honor of being THAT person. We also have an immortal goldfish in the family. He’s been around forever, doesn’t have a name (I don’t know why!) and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t care whether I’m published or not – probably because we didn’t have the decency to give him a name.

Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?

That’s easy…Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food.

What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?

Switch off my alarm (ugh), fall over a pile of books (need more bookshelves!) and stumble into the shower.

If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise me the most?

Probably the lack of anything surprising! As a fantasy writer I really should have more cool stuff tucked away just so I have a good answer to questions like these. One day, however, I aim to have a big antique wardrobe full of fur (faux) coats in my attic.

Everyone asks the question about “if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?” so I want to know: If you could be a color, which color would it be, and why?

Green. I love green, especially Victorian and jade greens, it’s such a relaxing colour and helpful for the writing process.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Are we including Disney Pixar? If sooo…Dug the dog in Pixar’s UP! He makes me laugh so much.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Mushu from Mulan – we have the exact same sense of humour. Is it possible to have the same sense of humour as a cartoon? Maybe I should be worried.

If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world (“Beam me up, Scotty!”), during any time in history, where and when would it be—and why?

I’d love to go back (briefly…and mostly for hygiene reasons) to the end of the 13th century and meet Sir William Wallace and Sir Robert the Bruce – I love the history of the Scottish Wars of Independence. Ooh now I’m stuck…I also love the history of King Leonidas and his 300 (or so) of his Spartans who fought of the Persian army. I’ll have to think on that one a bit longer.

So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while you’re writing?

I love all kinds of music – from rock to pop to indie to musicals. My favourite artists include Muse, Biffy Clyro, the Killers, the Kooks, Paramore and many, many more. Music is a huge part of my writing process…it’s often been the source of inspiration for a scene or piece of dialogue.

Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again? What was the last movie you saw at the theater?

My favourite tv shows are Grey’s Anatomy (slightly obsessed with that one), Entourage, Glee and Rules of Engagement. I’m a massive movie buff, got too many dvds to count, but movies I watch over and over again? Ah the Harry Potter movies – they’re like comfort food to me. Also Good Will Hunting, the Bourne Trilogy and Kill Bill. I’ve seen those movies too many times to count. As for the last movie I saw at the theater…wow I haven’t been to the theatre in ages, it was Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (which I loved).

You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?

Step out of your comfort zone. If you’re stuck reading a certain genre of books take a chance on something new (like I did with classical literature). The same goes with music or movies or art…or anything really. That way there’s more opportunity for inspiration to strike.

One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?

The second and third novels in the LUNARMORTE trilogy are first in line for the future and an urban fantasy series spin-off. I also have a fantasy novel in the works that is set in a world all of my own making that I’m really excited about since my imagination can just run wild!

Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!

Thanks TeensReadToo!

Interview with P.V. Lundqvist

http://pvlundqvist.blogspot.com/

Let’s get some of the typical interview questions out of the way first. When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?

I was an only child for the first ten years of my life. I told stories to keep myself company. Yet it wasn't until high school, when an English teacher read a story of mine out loud in class, that I got the writer bug.

Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?

I got to study with some awesome children's book writers while at Emerson College. But after graduating, work and family obligations drew me away from writing. Still, the stories kept wanting to be told. That's when I decided to have my novel NOT JUST FOR BREAKFAST ANYMORE published.

Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release. If you could only tell your readers one thing about the story that had to convince us to buy the book, what would it be?

Imagine being an attention-shy kid who now has to face being kicked out of town just because of his pet. Talk about embarrassing. And just when he was about to make the baseball team and everything.

What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?

My own pet pig—I loved that little guy! When I first got him, I didn't have a litter box. I improvised by using a broiling pan filled with wood shavings. The irony was not lost on me. For Halloween, one year, I got him a mini-cape and he went as Count Porkula. The neighbor kids loved it.

Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!

Especially my son, Max. Attending his Little League games really helped me put more realism in the book. I dedicated the book to him.

Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?

I'm Swedish by birth, so whenever I get to go to Ikea, I buy Jelly Rats. I know, what a name!

What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?

Make coffee, check the news on my iPhone, and rub the head of my little redheaded toddler.

If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise me the most?

How empty it is! I don't know what the reverse of a hoarder is, but that's me.

Everyone asks the question about “if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?” so I want to know: If you could be a color, which color would it be, and why?

I'd like to be two colors: black when I wanted to be mysterious, and green when I feel the most alive.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Brain, of Pinky and the Brain. He's always trying. Always funny.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Shaggy of Scooby Doo. Zoinks! I look exactly like him.

If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world (“Beam me up, Scotty!”), during any time in history, where and when would it be—and why?

I have a fascination with the Titanic. More than anything, I'd just like to look around the decks before it sailed. Perhaps the attraction derives from me not being much of a swimmer. I only recently learned as an adult. The ocean attracts and repels me, both at the same time.

So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while you’re writing?

I'm listening to a lot of alternative right now: the XX, the National, and Kate Miller-Heidke. That's for fun. When I'm writing I like to make a play list of songs that remind me of the feelings I want to evoke. I can sometimes play one song, over and over, if it's the perfect fit for a scene.

Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again? What was the last movie you saw at the theater?

Don't watch a lot of TV, but when I do it's House or CSI, something like that. I like reality-based dramas the best. Yet, I also really enjoy well-told sci-fi. The last movie I saw in the theater was Avatar in 3D. I'm very excited about the potential of new technologies to tell stories.

You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?

Larger-than-life books, with giant robots or werewolves kissing or middle-school kids as astronauts, are fun reads. Don't get me wrong: I enjoy them. But it is the little story, the one about the small things that are so big in our everyday life, that you'll remember long after you're done reading.

One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?

My next book is about a near-future high school selected for a social experiment by the powers that be. It will pit friend against friend, boyfriend and girlfriend, teacher and student. The story explores the question: What would you do if you had to choose between what was right, and whom you loved?

Title has yet to be decided. I'll be sharing more details in the next few months.

Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!

Interview with Wendy Delsol

http://www.wendydelsol.com/

When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?

In 5th and 6th grade, I won creative writing awards for two of the silliest (and shockingly boy-crazy) stories possibly ever put to paper. Though inane, they were funny. I still remember the laughs they got when read aloud to the class.

Post-college, I pursued a career in the travel industry (travel: another passion of mine). My favorite part of the desk-side of this job was writing. I became known for the creative embellishments I’d give to itinerary descriptions.

I stayed at home with my boys when they were young, but was hatching plans for act two of my working life. Finally, a medical scare prompted me to dream big and just write a novel already.

Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?

My road to publishing was typical—uphill all the way. Once I’d made that decision to write novels, I put my butt in the chair and wrote one. It was awful. Truly horrible. But the important thing was I loved the process. We were living in L.A. at the time, so I was lucky to have access to the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program. I learned craft, met other aspiring writers, and gained confidence. During this year, I wrote my second novel. Still not good enough, but better. My husband’s job then moved us to Des Moines, where I attended the University of Iowa’s Summer Writing Festival, joined a critique group, and wrote my third novel in the women’s fiction genre.

All along, I’d been querying agents, even after that first monstrosity. Ugh. While my third book was making the months-long (query to partial to full) dance with agents, I tried my hand at young adult, because, inevitably, my adult fiction had a teen character who was—well—a page hog.

I wrote a first draft for STORK in five months. I queried my agent, Jamie Brenner, on a Tuesday. She asked for a full the same day and signed me on Friday. Jamie was so enthusiastic that I knew she was the right partner for me and my book. She sold the manuscript to Candlewick three months later.

Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release.

STORK is the story of Katla Leblanc—the youngest ever to be summoned as a Stork, a kind of white witch who bears the responsibility of pairing undecided souls with the right mother.

If you could only tell your readers one thing about the story that had to convince us to buy the book, what would it be?

A paranormal story borrowing from Norse mythology that is funny. OK, so technically that’s three things.

What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?

I am a sucker for a good ghost story or angel sighting. I have always been intrigued by accounts of the supernatural. And I believe them all: UFOs, reincarnation, psychic abilities, the abominable snowman, and even his American cousin, Big Foot.

Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!

I’m married with two teen sons. My husband is a creative director for an ad agency, so a creative type himself. And, yes, he’s proud of me, as are my sons (though they’re at that don’t-get-too-excited-about-anything age).

Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?

Cheese is the perfect food, isn’t it? Like your mood, it can be sharp or mellow. And like black, it goes with everything.

What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?

One: On my way downstairs, give my deep-sleeping teen sons a first call. Two: Get coffee. Three: Give boys slightly more emphatic wake-up call. Four: Read front page of newspaper. Five: Yell final “GET UP,” waking my boys and possibly even the dead. Six: Jot notes for story in which mother of teens does indeed inadvertently wake something evil. (And, yes, that was more than three.)

If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise me the most?

How about drawers? To which the answer would be a surprising lack of cosmetics, hair product, etc. I’m fairly low maintenance (which is code for cheap).

Everyone asks the question about “if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?” so I want to know: If you could be a color, which color would it be, and why?

Funny you should ask, because I’m fairly sure that I’m the physical embodiment of green. Nothing too flashy like the hot shades: red, orange, or yellow. But not too numbing, either, like the icy blue and cool purple tones. And green is, ironically, the color of most trees.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

When young, I had a little bit of a crush on Winnie the Pooh. My maiden name was Wendy Peck, so maybe it was just a sounds-like thing. But the guy was pretty lovable and cuddly. Luckily, it was a phase I grew out of. Wendy Pooh, or even Wendy Peck-Pooh—I’d have needed a pen name.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Rex from Toy Story. Neither one of us can take rejection.

If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world (“Beam me up, Scotty!”), during any time in history, where and when would it be—and why?

I am a serious, card-carrying Jane Austen fan. Drop me at her feet. I’d love to spend a rainy English afternoon sipping tea and gossiping with Miss Austen. And wouldn’t it be wonderful if Mr. Darcy were based on a real-life person?

So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while you’re writing?

I am not hugely into music. I write best at home in a silent environment. I can’t concentrate with the distractions of coffee shops, TV, or even music. If and when I do listen to music, it’s probably oldies. Van Morrison’s Moon Dance is my favorite song. I also love Neil Young’s Helpless. And Train’s Drops of Jupiter is beautiful and poetic.

Do you have any favorite T.V. shows?

It probably says a lot about me that my two favorite TV shows are Survivor and Masterpiece Theatre (any and all).

Movies you watch over and over again?

I’ve watched the BBC version and the Keira Knightley version of Pride and Prejudice way too many times. I also think Shakespeare in Love is one of the best written scripts, ever.

What was the last movie you saw at the theater?

Inception, which was my kids’ choice, but fascinating nonetheless.

You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?

Be curious. Dare to ask questions. Ask for directions—and direction.

One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?

STORK is designed as a trilogy. FROST, its sequel, is written and due out in September 2011. I will write book three this winter, and, if all goes well, it will come out in the fall of 2012.

Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!

Interview with Jake Webber

http://lafittesblackbox.blogspot.com/

Let’s get some of the typical interview questions out of the way first. When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?

I never really thought about writing when I was younger or even in college. Writing was not something that I envisioned myself doing. I was so focused on getting ready for a career. I’ve always been a reader. Writing is something that I recently discovered that I enjoy doing.

Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?

Several years ago I attempted to write a story that had been in my head for quite awhile. It was my first attempt at writing a novel. I sat down and began the first chapter which meandered aimlessly. After a few days, I gave up in frustration. About two and a half years ago, the premise and story for LAFITTE'S BLACK BOX came to me during a night of insomnia. It was completely different than what I had attempted to write before. The next morning I began exploring the methods of writing and formed a plan and began my research. This time the story flowed out of me. It took me about 11 months to finish it and another few months for the first and second revisions. I shopped the manuscript around several places including Llumina Press. They were really excited about what I had written and we put together a book that I think people will really like.

Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release. If you could only tell your readers one thing about the story that had to convince us to buy the book, what would it be?

My book, LAFITTE'S BLACK BOX is an action/adventure aimed at teens and young adults that is set in New Orleans. I think many readers will be able to relate to my main character, Devereaux Parker, and his struggles of moving to a new place and moving from a town he really loved. He quickly finds himself immersed in an adventure that will take the reader on a journey into the past to mysterious places and with unsavory characters. New Orleans is a place of mystery and intrigue. I think readers will come away knowing a lot more about New Orleans and Louisiana.

What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?

My own childhood adventures inspired this book. I spent a lot of time making forts and exploring when I was younger. My friends and I spent many hours exploring many of the places that are mentioned in my book.

Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!

I am married to a wonderful woman, my college sweetheart. I have a son who just started college at LSU here in Baton Rouge and a fifteen year old daughter who is in 10th grade. They’ve been very supportive and little bits and pieces of their personalities and experiences are in my characters. My mom and dad are retired and live up in north Louisiana. They have a house with a great view overlooking a lake. I enjoy relaxing up there with them when I get a chance. They’ve both been very supportive. I have a sister in Monroe and another sister who lives in New Orleans.

Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?

Cereal, specifically Peanut Butter Captain Crunch.

What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?

Wake up my daughter, make coffee, and shower.

If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise me the most?

There’s an Elvis outfit hanging in my closet.

Everyone asks the question about “if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?” so I want to know: If you could be a color, which color would it be, and why?

I like the color green. Green is a calming color and there are so many shades of it in nature. Green looks great with other colors.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Foghorn Leghorn. Older people know who that is. Just Google the name.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

George Jetson

If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world (“Beam me up, Scotty!”), during any time in history, where and when would it be—and why?

I would like to go back and look at Rome at its height. I would like to see the city before the ruins. I would like to travel across the empire and see the old Seven Wonders of the World.

So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while you’re writing?

I mostly like 70’s and 80’s music. I guess that would now be called classic rock. My favorite musical artists are the Beatles, Peter Frampton, the Scorpions, Weezer, and Duran Duran. I don’t listen to music when I write but I think I would like some classical music or smooth jazz on in the background. Thanks for the idea!

Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again?

My favorite shows are The Office, Seinfeld, Andy Griffith, and Mad Men. Movies that I like to watch over and over again include The Last of the Mohicans, The Wizard of Oz, Shaun of the Dead, Ace Ventura 1 and 2, and The Naked Gun.

You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?

Enjoy school and being a kid. Don’t try to grow up too fast, adulthood and the responsibility that comes with it arrives soon enough.

One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?

I’m working on some short stories that I’d like to make available some time in the future. There will be at least two more books featuring Devereaux Parker and his adventures. I will introduce some new characters in the next two as well as keep most of the current ones.

Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!

Interview with Melissa Walker

http://www.melissacwalker.com/blog/

Interview with Amy Wachspress

www.wozabooks.com

Let’s get some of the typical interview questions out of the way first. When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?

I have loved writing all my life. I’m not sure I can remember a time when I was not writing. That’s a long way back for me to remember. Once, when I was in fourth grade, I wrote a science fiction short story and read it aloud to the class. One poor girl in my class liked the story so much that she stole it from my desk. I was not that bothered, because I knew I could just write another story. But the teacher tore up the classroom looking for my story and finally found it. The principal was furious and wanted to punish the girl who stole my story; but I thanked the girl for the compliment. I could see she was a devoted fan!

Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?

I have been working on several books at once over the past 25 years while I was raising my children. During that time I often sent letters to publishing companies and agents to see if someone would publish my book or find me a publisher. I have a whole file cabinet drawer full of rejection letters. Finally I decided to publish the book myself. My husband and I borrowed some money and started Woza Books. We started the company in June 2006 and by November I had 3,000 copies in print. So far everyone who reads it loves it. I was surprised at how hard it is to get the word out to people so they know about it. I have had a lot of support from my friends and family or I would not have been able to get this far. My advice to someone else would be “be persistent and work hard.”

Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release. If you could only tell your readers one thing about the story that had to convince us to buy the book, what would it be?

I have only one book out right now. It is The Call to Shakabaz. This is a story about four children and their pesky parrot who travel to the fantasy land of Faracadar on a quest to retrieve the powerful Staff of Shakabaz from the malevolent enchanter Sissrath.

The one thing I would tell you to convince you to buy the book is that it is a rollicking fun ride—I dare you to put the book down! I am working on a sequel right now, but do not have much time to invest in it because one of my adult novels was recently accepted for publication and I am working with my editors to get that one ready to go into production. Plus I have a few other books that I finished that need homes, so I’m sending out letters to publishers about those ones.

What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?

There is no one person or thing that has inspired me. I sometimes say that I have learned everything important that I know about life from my children. I have read aloud to them and my stepsons for almost 30 years. A few of my favorite books are A Wrinkle in Time, The House of Dies Drear, Ender’s Game, Holes, Homecoming, The BFG, The Ear The Eye and The Arm, Half Magic, the Narnia books, and of course Harry Potter. J. K. Rowling is about as good as it gets. In the dedication to The Call to Shakabaz, I honor the young people who marched to prevent and protest the War on Iraq in 2003. They were definitely an inspiration to me when I wrote The Call to Shakabaz.

Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!

I am married and I have three grown up children. Two of them have graduated from college already and the third is in college now. I also have two stepsons, who are in their 30s. I am Jewish and my husband is Black, so my children are multicultural. Our family has a bizarre sense of humor so we laugh a lot. My daughter is a writer, so we have a lot to talk about when it comes to publishing.

Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?

My favorite food is pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and parmesan cheese. I have been vegetarian for 35 years. I don’t eat anything that walks, flies, or swims. But I adore cheese. I think it’s very important for people to cut way back on eating meat to save the planet from climate change. If you don’t already know that the biggest reason for climate change is the food system, particularly beef and pork production, then you should learn about it. Our lives depend on knowing and changing our habits.

What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?

I shower, make a cup of decaf coffee, and pet my cats. Very boring.

If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise me the most?

We don’t have an attic or a basement so you would be surprised at how much I can cram into my closets.

Everyone asks the question about “if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?” so I want to know: If you could be a color, which color would it be, and why?

I would rather answer the tree question. I love trees, as you will see if you read The Call to Shakabaz, in which the trees are an important character. I lived in a forest for 17 years and when we moved closer to the nearest town a few years ago, I planted trees all over my yard. I could never choose my favorite. I love so many of them. Right now I’m especially in love with my Hawaiian Paulownia Trees. They grow really fast. It reminds me of the plant in The Little Shop of Horrors.

As for colors, when you read The Call to Shakabaz you will see how colorful everything is. Some of my favorite colors are bright green (symbolizes life), royal blue (it reminds me of the ocean and the sky), turquoise (because I look really good in turquoise), and burgundy (what a deep rich color).

Who is your favorite cartoon character? Which cartoon character is most like you?

I’m going to cheat and choose an anime character (which is not exactly a cartoon)—Princess Mononoke. I am fierce when it comes to protecting the environment and honoring the spirits of the forest.

If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world (“Beam me up, Scotty!”), during any time in history, where and when would it be—and why?

That’s a terrific question. There are so many historical events I would have liked to participate in. I would have liked to march with Dr. King during the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which ended on December 20, 1956. This month is the 50th anniversary of the successful conclusion of the Boycott. I would also have loved to help organize the Poor People’s March on Washington and to stand on the mall and hear Dr. King give his “I Have a Dream” speech.

So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while you’re writing?

I can’t listen to music while I’m writing. I need silence to concentrate. But my husband is a disc jockey on the radio and he plays R&B, Soul, Jazz, Blues, and Gospel. I love all that music. I also have a passion for old folk music, like The Weavers and Woody Guthrie. That shows you how old I am. I especially like political music with a message. Of contemporary artists, I like Sigur Ros and Explosions in the Sky. The first album I bought was The Beatles’ Abbey Road! I’m pretty old, huh?

Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again? What was the last movie you saw at the theater?

I don’t watch much TV. I have better things to do. Except for football. I do watch a lot of football. After LOST finished on TV, I started watching it from the beginning and got hooked, so I’ve seen every episode on Netflix. I learned a lot from the writers for that show. One of my favorite movies is Galaxy Quest. I could watch that movie a million times and it would still crack me up. Tony Salhoub is a riot—his expression when he starts kissing the alien is priceless. I don’t go to the movie theater anymore because it’s so expensive. I wait for everything to come out on DVD.

You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?

Figure out what you love to do that you are good at and pursue it with a passion.

One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?

I’m working on a sequel to The Call to Shakabaz, in which the whales are in danger of being killed off and aliens have invaded Faracadar. It will be a lot of fun and more complicated than the first book. So stay tuned.

Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!

Interview with Jordan Sonnenblick

www.jordansonnenblick.com

Let’s get some of the typical interview questions out of the way first. When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?

I always, always knew. Even before I could read or write, I wanted to be just like my maternal grandfather, who had written several books. Actually, he wrote high-school science textbooks, so I didn’t follow in his exact footsteps, but nonetheless, he was my inspiration. Later on, he also became the basis for the character of Solomon Lewis in my novel Notes from the Midnight Driver.

Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?

It was bumpy! My first book, Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie, was originally published by a teeny-tiny literary press, which proceeded to go out of business three days after the book came out. I spent a summer in total despair, but then through a bizarre series of coincidences, the mom of an editor at Scholastic bought a copy at my local bookstore, which was the only bookstore in the world that still carried it. She sent it to her daughter, and voila! Incidentally, I try really hard to support local indie bookstores, because if The Moravian Bookshop in Bethlehem, PA hadn’t supported me, I wouldn’t be giving this interview right now.

Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release. If you could only tell your readers one thing about the story that had to convince us to buy the book, what would it be?

My newest teen book, After Ever After, is a companion novel to Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie. You should buy it because my mom liked it. Or at least, she told me she did.

What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?

Real teenagers. I have never been able to write a book unless it was inspired by something goofy, bizarre, and/or tragic that happened to a real teen in my life.

Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!

You’d be surprised, actually. My 9-year-old daughter just told me the other day, “Everyone at school always says how lucky I am that my dad’s an author, but I tell them it’s actually pretty boring. You just sit around and type!”

Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?

Beef stew. Any kind of stew, really.

What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?

Bathroom. Coffee. Go online to check the Yankees score.

If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise me the most?

I dunno ... maybe the assortment of gory, dismembered corpses?

If not, then I’d think it would be the unique combination of my guitar collection and my piles of unfiled school-visit paperwork, press clippings, promotional materials, and assorted other author-junk.

Everyone asks the question about “if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?” so I want to know: If you could be a color, which color would it be, and why?

Blue. Because blue always comforts me.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

The lady who makes the superhero costumes in The Incredibles.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

I’d like to say it’s some mighty superhero, but probably, I’m a cross between Charlie Brown and Bart Simpson.

If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world (“Beam me up, Scotty!”), during any time in history, where and when would it be—and why?

Wherever my kids are. Because they’re my kids!

Hopefully, they would be in London at the time -- London is my favorite city in the world.

So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while you’re writing?

I listen to tons of different stuff, but my fave group is the Beatles. When I write, I choose some specific genre of instrumental music for each book, and don’t listen to anything else until the first draft is done. That way, all I have to do is crank up that music on iTunes, and I am instantly in writing mode. It’s kind of like hypnotizing myself.

Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again? What was the last movie you saw at the theater?

I don’t watch much TV, other than sports -- because my 12-year-old son is the absolute ruler of the remote control. As for movies, I am a huge fan of anything Pixar. The last movie I saw in the theater was The Karate Kid, which I loved.

You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?

Whatever else you do or don’t do, BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL not to make any babies until you and your partner are fully ready to raise and support a child together. Seriously, that’s the absolute biggest biggie.

One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?

My next teen novel, Shooting Eagles, will be published in 2012. It’s about a star high-school athlete who gets injured, can’t play anymore, and has to figure out a way to jump-start his life again.

Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!