Interview with Leah Cypess

http://leahcypess.com

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

Since long before I can remember. But I do have it on others’ authority that I (a) wrote my first short story in first grade, and (b) told my grandmother, when I was eight years old, that I wanted to be a writer.

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

It was long! I started submitting manuscripts when I was 15 years old, and had four books rejected by every publisher in the universe before I finally got an offer with MISTWOOD. Not that everything before MISTWOOD was a waste; I submitted directly to editors, and those manuscripts got me out of the slush pile at many imprints, when editors liked my writing enough to request future works.

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?

That a lot of people have told me they can usually figure out what’s going to happen in fantasy novels, but the twists in MISTWOOD took them completely by surprise. :)

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

I didn’t realize this until lately, but the greatest inspiration for MISTWOOD was undoubtedly THE LAST UNICORN. I watched the movie version about twice a year every year when I was a teenager, so I guess it’s no surprise that it seeped into my subconscious a little bit.

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

They are definitely my biggest fans! My father is a long-time speculative fiction fan – I got my start in this genre by reading his science-fiction and fantasy books from the ‘60s, which were stacked in dozens of boxes in the garage. My mother is most definitely not a speculative fiction fan, but she’s still very excited for me. (And when she saw my cover, she said, “Wow, that looks good. Even I might read the book now.”)

I have 3 sisters and a brother. My two youngest sisters are (a) my first editor, (b) my web tech, and (c) my biggest fans. The older two… have made efforts to read the book. Or at least, so they claim.

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

Maccaroni & cheese.

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

Right now? Pick up baby. Take baby to computer. Nurse baby while checking emails.

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 have a collection of pristine, classy business suits. They are from my previous life as a lawyer. I kind of wish I had reason to wear them occasionally… they’re really nice!

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 it’s the color of the sky and the sea.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

I have to say Homer Simpson, because my husband might read this.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

None springs to mind. My husband (the cartoon authority in this household) says Daria.

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?

If I could change the past, I’d like to go somewhere where I could warn people before a terrible tragedy took place. If I was just going to be an observer, I’d love to go to 16th-century Istanbul – it would help a lot with my current research!

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

I like modern country – Keith Urban, Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood, etc. I also like Irish-inspired music like the Corrs and Bellefire.

I don’t listen to music when I’m writing my first drafts, but I often do while I’m revising.

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?

Current favorite TV shows are Lost (for one more episode, anyhow!) and Fastforward; old favorites include Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars, both of which I have watched over and over again. I honestly can’t remember the last movie I saw at the theater; I always rent movies, because I rarely have the time or childcare available to go out to see a movie, or even to watch an entire movie in one sitting.

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

Don’t text while you drive. Seriously.

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

I’m currently revising a companion book to MISTWOOD, tentatively scheduled for release in the spring of 2011.

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