Interview with Elizabeth Scott

www.elizabethwrites.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?

It actually took me a long time to figure that out--I didn't start writing until I was twenty-seven, and it took me another five years to get to the point where I started thinking about sending things out to see if anyone wanted them.

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

Well, once I finally worked up the nerve to start sending things out, I wrote a few short stories that I thought might sell. And eventually they did, which was a very pleasant surprise! After that, I made myself write a query letter for Bloom. Then I made myself send it out, and ended up signing with my first agent.

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

My latest release, Grace (Dutton, September 2010) is about a girl who has been raised to be a suicide bomber--and what happens when she decides she doesn't want to die.

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

I've gotten ideas from just about everywhere--sitting in traffic, cleaning bathrooms, dreams, hearing something someone says--you name it, it's probably given me an idea at one time or another!

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

My husband is very proud of me--in fact, if I let him, he'd tell everyone we meet that I write books! As for the rest of my family, I actually didn't tell anyone (including them) that I wrote until after I sold my first short story, and although they were surprised (I wasn't at all interested in writing when I was younger--I just wanted to read.) they were very supportive.

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

Fritos!

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

Kiss my husband, pet the dog, and then eat breakfast. (I know, I'm 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?

I don't know how much of a surprise it would be, but I own a lot of books. (A lot!)

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. Just saying it relaxes me!

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

Pinky, from Pinky and The Brain. And as for which cartoon character is most like me--well, pick any one that's spastic and nervous--and that's 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?

I'd go and see one of Marlowe's plays performed live--when he was still alive. I've always thought that would be fascinating.

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

I don't listen to music when I write, mostly because I tend to completely zone out when I'm doing it and don't notice anything, and I don't have one favorite type of music--I'll listen to just about anything, although my husband's fondness for 1980s style metal...well, that's something we don't really see eye to eye on.

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?

Okay, confession: this answer was originally so long it ended up being longer than all my other answers put together. So, um, yes, I have favorite T.V. shows. Lots of them! Here's a quick list of stuff I'm loving right now: The Office, 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, Covert Affairs, Mad Men, Friday Night Lights, and Pretty Little Liars.

And the last movie I saw in a theater was Agora.

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

When it comes to your dreams of what you want to do, follow your heart.

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

Right now, I've got Between Here and Forever coming out next June from Simon Pulse, and I'm very excited about it because there's a link between it and my very first novel, Bloom!

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