Interview with Erin Elisabeth Conley

First off, thanks so much for joining us for an up-close and personal interview for TeensReadToo.com! My name is Jen, and I’ll be your server toda…oh, wait, wrong job! Anyway, thanks so much for taking time out of your writing schedule—which I’m sure is busy!—and answering a few questions for your readers and fans. Let’s get some of the typical interview questions out of the way first.

Hello and thank YOU!

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

I wouldn’t say it was something I knew – it was more like something that just kind of happened. Fairly organically, actually. (Though not without lots of hard work!)

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

I started out as a writer/editor for an Internet start-up and then became a book editor. Though industry contacts, I met people who eventually starting asking me to write for them. Mostly fun little gift and non-fiction books for kids, tweens and teens.

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

The amazing Zest Books just published my latest book earlier this year. It’s called Kiss: A Girl’s Guide to Puckering Up. It takes a playful look at our serious passion for smooching – from imagined first kisses to major lip-locking sessions.

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?

Hugging, kissing and squeezing = sweet stuff! At heart, we’re all about the love and affection, right?

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

Tweens and teens, especially girls. I think they’re amazing. So inspiring!

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

I have an amazing family and am extremely close with my mom. I also have a furry baby: my grumpy but lovable 15-year-old cat Mouche. She moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina with me in late 2005. We lived there for almost three years! I’m getting ready to adopt a (human) child soon. :)

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

Oh that’s easy: cheese and chocolate.

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

1. Brush my teeth
2. Stretch and/or do yoga (sun salutation)
3. Feed my cat Mouche (Otherwise she screams at me!)

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

Hmmm. In my closet? I guess you’d notice that I wear tons of black.

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?

Nice question! Pink is one of my favorite colors. It’s so pretty and always makes me feel happy. But if I had to say I was a color, I’d pick rainbow. I think we are all more than just one shade in the crayon box. (Is that cheating?)

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

I love SpongeBob. (Who doesn’t?) But I think maybe I’m part Lisa Simpson, part Mumble (from Happy Feet).

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?

Today: Buenos Aires! Cause I love and miss it there. The city and its people are amazing. I left lots of very good friends behind in South America.

Paris in the 1920s would also be cool.

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

My music tastes change from year to year – and are quite broad. But I tend to lean indie, I suppose.

Some favorites (old and new):
* Flaming Lips
* Band of Horses
* Arcade Fire
* Bebe
* Caetano Veloso
* M Ward
* Julieta Venegas
* M.I.A.
* Mexican Institute of Sound
* Patsy Cline
* Brian Ferry
* Nick Drake
* Nina Simone
* The Clash
* Vampire Weekend
* The Temper Trap

Music soothes and inspires me. I don’t always listen to it when I write but I often do – depends on what I’m writing and where I am in the process.

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?

Yes!

TVs shows:
30 Rock, Glee, Mad Men, Modern Family, Project Runway, Work of Art, Freaks and Geeks, Bug Juice and iCarly are some definite faves.

Movies:
Rushmore (or any other movie by Wes Anderson!), Office Space, Where the Wild Things Are, Ma Vie en Rose, Election, Annie Hall, I Heart Huckabees, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Up and The Breakfast Club – just to name a few. ;)

Last movie I saw in the theater? The Kids Are All Right. Loved it.

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

Wow, that’s tricky! But here goes: Be yourself. Muddle through when all else fails – and know that things will get better. Find your creative passion. Invest in friendships. Express yourself. Think of one thing you’re grateful for everyday.

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

I’m working on a YA novel right now that I’m super excited about. I hope readers (especially teens!) will find it hilariously sweet – and in many ways a little too true to life.

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

My pleasure! Thanks for having me!