Interview with Suzanne Young

http://suzanne-young.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?

In 7th grade I started writing murder mysteries starring my friends. We’d pass them around and everyone would laugh. I’ve grown a bit since then, although I think that was when I perfected the plot twist. The killer? The Pillsbury Dough Boy. Nobody saw that one coming.

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

It was a mess—like totally under construction with detours and pot holes and folks in orange jackets yelling “STOP!” But basically I started writing about four years ago. I got an agent pretty quickly but didn’t understand the business very well. After getting dropped (a complete heartbreak) I subbed my book myself. And after getting an offer from an editor, I got an email from a new agent who read my blog and wanted to rep me. Since then I’ve switched agents again and sold 6 books. But it wasn’t easy and it was filled with a lot of tears… and maybe a little dancing.

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?

The Naughty List is about a group of cheerleaders who create a secret society to catch cheating boyfriends. But really, it’s a book about relationships and trust. The MC Tessa is sweet and determined to fix the dating problems of Washington High, but when her own boyfriend shows up on The Naughty List—her world starts caving in.

Well, if catching cheating boyfriends doesn’t pull in the readers, how about romance? It’s overall a very sweet, romantic book.

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

Every good thing I’ve every done in my life is because of my grandmother. She supported me and gave me the courage to try for seemingly impossible things. She passed away before the book came out, but I know she’s proud and that she knows this was all for her.

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

My husband is pretty proud, but my kids are ecstatic. They think I’m famous—like the sort of famous when we go out to dinner and the server takes our order they blurt out, “Did you read The Naughty List?” In their minds the fact that I made it onto a local news interview is equal to winning the Oscar.

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

Reese’s Pieces. I inhale those delicious little evil things. I wish they were filled with vitamins and not calories.

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

Drink a cup of coffee
Feed my animals (including the kids)
Check my email—which I continue to do obsessively throughout the day

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

HAH!! Not sure how honestly I should answer this… Kidding. A well-worn Phoenix Suns jersey. We’re what some call Super Fans. And even though the player on the jersey is no longer with the team, I support them! Now if they could just win…

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?

Oh, I’m so pink. I’m like every shade of pink striped and mixed together. Maybe even a few polka dots. I’m not really all that girly, but I LOVE girly things. Pink=happiness for me.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

I’m all about Scooby Doo.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Wow, I’m struggling with this question. Okay, this is going to sound weird, but I’m a cross between Blossom (Power Puff Girls) and Betty Boop. Not sure where that leaves me!

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?

Until Mad Men, I used to be in love with the 50’s. But now I think I’d like to try out late 18th century England. Mr. Darcy, anyone?

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

I have a pretty wide scope of music on my iPod. I love everything from Pearl Jam to The Killers to Snoop. Lately I’ve been listening to Adele and Kings of Leon. I used to play music while I write, but not now. My deadlines are really tight and I tend to daydream when I listen to music.

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 go to the movies a lot. Just saw The Lightning Thief, Avatar and Valentine’s Day. And we DVR quite a few shows. And I’m not sure if this makes me lame, but we watch Supernatural and Vampire Diaries like it’s our job. I also sneak in a few Project Runway and America’s Next Top Model when I can.

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

Be happy. Other people can’t make you happy—you have to find it in yourself. And I don’t say that in an older-person-I-know-it-all way. I say it because it’s something I still struggle with and have my entire life.

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

Well, there are three books in The Naughty List series—all coming out this year. And then in Summer of 2011, I have a new book coming out that I’m really excited about. Here’s the announcement for it:

Suzanne Young's A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL, in which a 17-year-old discovers that by performing the good deeds that her body compels her to, she will disappear into the Light and be forgotten, but by fighting "the Need," her fate could be even more dire, to Donna Bray at Balzer + Bray, in a two-book deal, in a pre-empt, by Jim McCarthy at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management (World English).

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

I had a great time! Thank YOU!