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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?
Actually, I always knew. When I was ten, I used to tell people I wanted to be an “authoress,” probably as a result of reading too much Louisa May Alcott.
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
I found that road after exploring some others: teaching high school English, practicing (and I do mean practicing) law, being a stay-at-home mom. When my youngest kid started first grade, I thought, “Okay, here’s my chance. If it doesn’t work out, at least I gave it a shot.” I wrote three manuscripts: tossed the first, sent the second around, sold the third. Getting published isn’t easy: you have to embrace rejection. And if some editor takes the time to tell you what you’re doing wrong, you have to view that feedback as a gift.
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?
Solving Zoe is about the scary, exciting process of figuring out who you are and where you belong. It’s also about secret codes, chocolate ice cream, best friend problems, an impossible family, a weird school, a weirder non-boyfriend, and a cute iguana.
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
Hard to say. I never base characters on actual people. I do steal vocal mannerisms, though, which means I do a lot of eavesdropping.
Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!
Seriously, they are. I have three kids, Alex (19), Josh (15), and Lizzy (12). They’re all great readers and highly critical editors of my manuscripts. Which is a good thing. No, really.
My husband, Chris, has been incredibly supportive. Whenever I feel discouraged, he gives me a pep talk. Several times I’ve felt like quitting, and he wouldn’t allow it. He’s a fantastic writer and editor and reader, and I honestly couldn’t be doing this without him.
And I have to mention my parents. They go to every Barnes & Noble and Borders they can, rearranging my books on the shelves so that they’re displayed for maximum visibility. Nobody loves you like your parents.
Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?
Oh, that’s easy. Definitely chocolate. Chocolate anything.
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
Nudge cat out of the way. Shower. Brush teeth.
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 messy they all are. I’m an incredibly disciplined person—I think you have to be to write on a daily basis. But the way I deal with old clothes and scraps of paper and broken shoes is to toss them all in closets and hope they’ll go away.
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?
A sycamore, because it has the most—oh, sorry. I thought you said “tree.”
Who is your favorite cartoon character? Which cartoon character is most like you?
Calvin from “Calvin and Hobbes” is my absolute favorite. In real life I’m probably more like his frazzled mom, but let’s not go there.
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’ve always thought Ancient Greece was fascinating, but I’m not sure how much fun it would have been to be a woman there, or a commoner. Same for Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome, Elizabethan England, Renaissance Italy. Actually, come to think of it, maybe I’ll just stay put, Scotty.
So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while you’re writing?
Right now I’m obsessed with Bob Dylan. I really didn’t get him when I was a kid, but now I think he’s a visionary genius, a completely fearless, iconoclastic original. But I can’t listen to any music when I’m writing. Must—have—total—silence.
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?
Lately I’ve been watching The Daily Show and The Colbert Report when I’m on the treadmill. Sometimes I laugh so hard I lose my footing, so I don’t recommend this method of TV viewing. As for movies, there are certain ones I HAVE to watch whenever they’re on, like The Godfather (I and II), Annie Hall, Casablanca, ET, Tootsie, and That Thing You Do. Any Christopher Guest movie (e.g., Best in Show, This Is Spinal Tap, For Your Consideration) is also must-viewing for me. And there are certain actors I’ll watch no matter what they’re in, like Philip Seymour Hoffman and Kate Winslet.
The last movie I saw in a theater? Probably Wall-E. Which I loved, even though it made me sad.
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
You don’t have to figure out everything all at once. If you want to do something creative, or just hard, give yourself time. Allow yourself to fail a little; it’s really okay! And try to tune out negative people. Figure out who can give you truly constructive criticism, and try to hear it without freaking out.
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
My third book, for now titled The Francesca Earthquake, will be out next spring as an Aladdin MIX paperback. It’s about a seventh grade girl named Evie whose life is predictable and boring—until she’s forced to do a U.S. History project with wild, gorgeous, untrustworthy Francesca. While they’re tracking down a diary about the San Francisco Earthquake, they get sidetracked by various romantic escapades and ice cream. (Hmm. Another book about ice cream. Do you think I have an ice cream problem?) This book was a lot of fun to write, and I have to admit I think it’s funny.
I’m currently writing a fourth book, about a girl named Marigold trying to cope with a mom who’s a performance artist. I’m trying to capture that feeling almost every middle schooler has, at least once: that their mom is the most embarrassing person on the planet. Except in Marigold’s case, it’s true.
Again, thanks so much for joining us at http://www.teensreadtoo.com/!
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