Interview with Jennifer Sturman

www.jennifersturman.com

When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer? Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?

For me, that’s sort of like asking when I first knew I wanted to breathe! I’ve always loved reading books, and I don’t think it ever occurred to me that I wouldn’t one day be writing my own. And once I did start writing, I was incredibly lucky – I found a fabulous agent early on, and with her help I was able to get my first book 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?

My latest is AND THEN EVERYTHING UNRAVELED. It’s a mix of mystery and romance, but most importantly, it has a really pretty cover, guaranteed to complement any outfit and/or household décor.

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

Not to encourage plagiarism or anything, but I frequently take my inspiration from other authors. The basic idea for UNRAVELED came from one of my favorite books ever, AUNTIE MAME, by Patrick Dennis. It’s about a boy who’s orphaned and sent to live with his madcap aunt in New York in the 1920s, and it’s a wonderful read – comic but also moving without being cloying. So thinking about how a situation like that would play out today was my starting point, but from there I began throwing in other bits and pieces drawn from what’s going on in the world today (i.e., global warming, energy crises) and from people I know (i.e., my mother, who loves her label maker even more than Delia’s mother loves hers). And I kept adding and mixing and eventually I ended up with a story...

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

They are thrilled, though sometimes I worry that if you stripped out purchases made by relatives my sales numbers would be a lot lower...

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

All food is a comfort, but if I had to choose, I’d go with cheeseburgers.

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 set the bedroom clock ahead by a random and frequently changing number.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Pepé Le Pew, with Rocky and Bullwinkle tying for second.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Lisa Simpson.

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 music with a complete and probably embarrassing lack of discrimination. In the last hour I’ve listened to The Killers, The Cure, Talking Heads, Rilo Kiley, Elliot Smith, Madonna, Shakira, Van Morrison, The Shins, and The Strokes – I pretty much can’t write without something on in the background.

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?

On TV, Gossip Girl (of course!) and Mad Men. I’m still mourning the end of Arrested Development. As for movies, I’ll watch any romantic comedy, but I’m happiest if there’s a prom scene at the end. I also might know all of the dialogue in Valley Girl by heart, but that’s probably not something I should admit to in public.

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

I know it’s a cliché, but there’s a lot to be said for enjoying the moment, not that I’m very good at it myself. And I know it’s also a cliché, but seriously, wear sunscreen. Oh, and buy my books!

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

I’m currently at work on the sequel to AND THEN EVERYTHING UNRAVELED. It’s called AND THEN I FOUND OUT THE TRUTH, and it should be out next summer!

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