Authors Unleashed

Interview with Sam Young

2010-11-09T06:13:00.001-08:00

http://www.samyoung1.webspace.virginmedia.com/

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

I’ve always loved books, ever since my mum bought me a Santa sack full of pre-school books when I was three or four but I knew I wanted to be a writer after I read THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE when I was seven or eight. It was just so magical and was really the first book to take me away into another world entirely. I was so excited by the idea of creating my own little magical worlds that I began writing when I was ten or eleven and just knew that being a writer was the job for me.

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

Having always been a little shy about my writing it took me a while to get up the courage to send my work off to a publisher. I guess I must have believed that little bit more in LUNARMORTE and decided rather than getting an agent I would send samples of the novel off to publishers in the UK that accepted unsolicited manuscripts. Like most writers I got my fair share of rejections but last Autumn I received a letter from Pegasus' Elliot Mackenzie asking to see the rest of the manuscript. The wait was nerve-wracking but finally in January 2010 I got an offer of contract. Yay!

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, and debut, release is the first novel in a trilogy titled LUNARMORTE. LUNARMORTE is about a war between two factions who are the children of the ancient Greek gods and seventeen-year old lykan, Caia Ribeiro, who is destined to bring their 2000 year old war to an end. One thing about the story to convince you all to buy the book? There are some really HOT guys! Lol. In all seriousness, I think LUNARMORTE truly has something new to say about supernatural folklore and hopefully is a refreshing addition to YA fantasy.

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

My greatest inspiration has been the ancient Greeks and their rich and wonderful mythology that is so full of possibility it makes me giddy!

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

OMG proud indeed! It’s a little embarrassing for me as I’m not great at receiving compliments. There’s my mum, Elaine, and my dad, Alexander, and there’s my big brother, David, who is the worst of the lot for bragging to people! OK, maybe not the worst. My aunt Carol just might have the honor of being THAT person. We also have an immortal goldfish in the family. He’s been around forever, doesn’t have a name (I don’t know why!) and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t care whether I’m published or not – probably because we didn’t have the decency to give him a name.

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

That’s easy…Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food.

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

Switch off my alarm (ugh), fall over a pile of books (need more bookshelves!) and stumble into the shower.

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

Probably the lack of anything surprising! As a fantasy writer I really should have more cool stuff tucked away just so I have a good answer to questions like these. One day, however, I aim to have a big antique wardrobe full of fur (faux) coats in my attic.

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?

Green. I love green, especially Victorian and jade greens, it’s such a relaxing colour and helpful for the writing process.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Are we including Disney Pixar? If sooo…Dug the dog in Pixar’s UP! He makes me laugh so much.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Mushu from Mulan – we have the exact same sense of humour. Is it possible to have the same sense of humour as a cartoon? Maybe I should be worried.

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 love to go back (briefly…and mostly for hygiene reasons) to the end of the 13th century and meet Sir William Wallace and Sir Robert the Bruce – I love the history of the Scottish Wars of Independence. Ooh now I’m stuck…I also love the history of King Leonidas and his 300 (or so) of his Spartans who fought of the Persian army. I’ll have to think on that one a bit longer.

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 all kinds of music – from rock to pop to indie to musicals. My favourite artists include Muse, Biffy Clyro, the Killers, the Kooks, Paramore and many, many more. Music is a huge part of my writing process…it’s often been the source of inspiration for a scene or piece of dialogue.

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?

My favourite tv shows are Grey’s Anatomy (slightly obsessed with that one), Entourage, Glee and Rules of Engagement. I’m a massive movie buff, got too many dvds to count, but movies I watch over and over again? Ah the Harry Potter movies – they’re like comfort food to me. Also Good Will Hunting, the Bourne Trilogy and Kill Bill. I’ve seen those movies too many times to count. As for the last movie I saw at the theater…wow I haven’t been to the theatre in ages, it was Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (which I loved).

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

Step out of your comfort zone. If you’re stuck reading a certain genre of books take a chance on something new (like I did with classical literature). The same goes with music or movies or art…or anything really. That way there’s more opportunity for inspiration to strike.

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

The second and third novels in the LUNARMORTE trilogy are first in line for the future and an urban fantasy series spin-off. I also have a fantasy novel in the works that is set in a world all of my own making that I’m really excited about since my imagination can just run wild!

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

Thanks TeensReadToo!

Interview with P.V. Lundqvist

2010-11-09T06:06:00.001-08:00

http://pvlundqvist.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?

I was an only child for the first ten years of my life. I told stories to keep myself company. Yet it wasn't until high school, when an English teacher read a story of mine out loud in class, that I got the writer bug.

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

I got to study with some awesome children's book writers while at Emerson College. But after graduating, work and family obligations drew me away from writing. Still, the stories kept wanting to be told. That's when I decided to have my novel NOT JUST FOR BREAKFAST ANYMORE 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?

Imagine being an attention-shy kid who now has to face being kicked out of town just because of his pet. Talk about embarrassing. And just when he was about to make the baseball team and everything.

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

My own pet pig—I loved that little guy! When I first got him, I didn't have a litter box. I improvised by using a broiling pan filled with wood shavings. The irony was not lost on me. For Halloween, one year, I got him a mini-cape and he went as Count Porkula. The neighbor kids loved it.

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

Especially my son, Max. Attending his Little League games really helped me put more realism in the book. I dedicated the book to him.

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

I'm Swedish by birth, so whenever I get to go to Ikea, I buy Jelly Rats. I know, what a name!

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

Make coffee, check the news on my iPhone, and rub the head of my little redheaded toddler.

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

How empty it is! I don't know what the reverse of a hoarder is, but that's me.

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?

I'd like to be two colors: black when I wanted to be mysterious, and green when I feel the most alive.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Brain, of Pinky and the Brain. He's always trying. Always funny.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Shaggy of Scooby Doo. Zoinks! I look exactly like him.

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 have a fascination with the Titanic. More than anything, I'd just like to look around the decks before it sailed. Perhaps the attraction derives from me not being much of a swimmer. I only recently learned as an adult. The ocean attracts and repels me, both at the same time.

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

I'm listening to a lot of alternative right now: the XX, the National, and Kate Miller-Heidke. That's for fun. When I'm writing I like to make a play list of songs that remind me of the feelings I want to evoke. I can sometimes play one song, over and over, if it's the perfect fit for a scene.

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?

Don't watch a lot of TV, but when I do it's House or CSI, something like that. I like reality-based dramas the best. Yet, I also really enjoy well-told sci-fi. The last movie I saw in the theater was Avatar in 3D. I'm very excited about the potential of new technologies to tell stories.

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

Larger-than-life books, with giant robots or werewolves kissing or middle-school kids as astronauts, are fun reads. Don't get me wrong: I enjoy them. But it is the little story, the one about the small things that are so big in our everyday life, that you'll remember long after you're done reading.

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

My next book is about a near-future high school selected for a social experiment by the powers that be. It will pit friend against friend, boyfriend and girlfriend, teacher and student. The story explores the question: What would you do if you had to choose between what was right, and whom you loved?

Title has yet to be decided. I'll be sharing more details in the next few months.

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

Interview with Wendy Delsol

2010-11-09T05:17:00.001-08:00

http://www.wendydelsol.com/

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

In 5th and 6th grade, I won creative writing awards for two of the silliest (and shockingly boy-crazy) stories possibly ever put to paper. Though inane, they were funny. I still remember the laughs they got when read aloud to the class.

Post-college, I pursued a career in the travel industry (travel: another passion of mine). My favorite part of the desk-side of this job was writing. I became known for the creative embellishments I’d give to itinerary descriptions.

I stayed at home with my boys when they were young, but was hatching plans for act two of my working life. Finally, a medical scare prompted me to dream big and just write a novel already.

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

My road to publishing was typical—uphill all the way. Once I’d made that decision to write novels, I put my butt in the chair and wrote one. It was awful. Truly horrible. But the important thing was I loved the process. We were living in L.A. at the time, so I was lucky to have access to the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program. I learned craft, met other aspiring writers, and gained confidence. During this year, I wrote my second novel. Still not good enough, but better. My husband’s job then moved us to Des Moines, where I attended the University of Iowa’s Summer Writing Festival, joined a critique group, and wrote my third novel in the women’s fiction genre.

All along, I’d been querying agents, even after that first monstrosity. Ugh. While my third book was making the months-long (query to partial to full) dance with agents, I tried my hand at young adult, because, inevitably, my adult fiction had a teen character who was—well—a page hog.

I wrote a first draft for STORK in five months. I queried my agent, Jamie Brenner, on a Tuesday. She asked for a full the same day and signed me on Friday. Jamie was so enthusiastic that I knew she was the right partner for me and my book. She sold the manuscript to Candlewick three months later.

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

STORK is the story of Katla Leblanc—the youngest ever to be summoned as a Stork, a kind of white witch who bears the responsibility of pairing undecided souls with the right mother.

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?

A paranormal story borrowing from Norse mythology that is funny. OK, so technically that’s three things.

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

I am a sucker for a good ghost story or angel sighting. I have always been intrigued by accounts of the supernatural. And I believe them all: UFOs, reincarnation, psychic abilities, the abominable snowman, and even his American cousin, Big Foot.

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

I’m married with two teen sons. My husband is a creative director for an ad agency, so a creative type himself. And, yes, he’s proud of me, as are my sons (though they’re at that don’t-get-too-excited-about-anything age).

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

Cheese is the perfect food, isn’t it? Like your mood, it can be sharp or mellow. And like black, it goes with everything.

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

One: On my way downstairs, give my deep-sleeping teen sons a first call. Two: Get coffee. Three: Give boys slightly more emphatic wake-up call. Four: Read front page of newspaper. Five: Yell final “GET UP,” waking my boys and possibly even the dead. Six: Jot notes for story in which mother of teens does indeed inadvertently wake something evil. (And, yes, that was more than three.)

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

How about drawers? To which the answer would be a surprising lack of cosmetics, hair product, etc. I’m fairly low maintenance (which is code for cheap).

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?

Funny you should ask, because I’m fairly sure that I’m the physical embodiment of green. Nothing too flashy like the hot shades: red, orange, or yellow. But not too numbing, either, like the icy blue and cool purple tones. And green is, ironically, the color of most trees.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

When young, I had a little bit of a crush on Winnie the Pooh. My maiden name was Wendy Peck, so maybe it was just a sounds-like thing. But the guy was pretty lovable and cuddly. Luckily, it was a phase I grew out of. Wendy Pooh, or even Wendy Peck-Pooh—I’d have needed a pen name.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Rex from Toy Story. Neither one of us can take rejection.

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 am a serious, card-carrying Jane Austen fan. Drop me at her feet. I’d love to spend a rainy English afternoon sipping tea and gossiping with Miss Austen. And wouldn’t it be wonderful if Mr. Darcy were based on a real-life person?

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

I am not hugely into music. I write best at home in a silent environment. I can’t concentrate with the distractions of coffee shops, TV, or even music. If and when I do listen to music, it’s probably oldies. Van Morrison’s Moon Dance is my favorite song. I also love Neil Young’s Helpless. And Train’s Drops of Jupiter is beautiful and poetic.

Do you have any favorite T.V. shows?

It probably says a lot about me that my two favorite TV shows are Survivor and Masterpiece Theatre (any and all).

Movies you watch over and over again?

I’ve watched the BBC version and the Keira Knightley version of Pride and Prejudice way too many times. I also think Shakespeare in Love is one of the best written scripts, ever.

What was the last movie you saw at the theater?

Inception, which was my kids’ choice, but fascinating nonetheless.

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

Be curious. Dare to ask questions. Ask for directions—and direction.

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

STORK is designed as a trilogy. FROST, its sequel, is written and due out in September 2011. I will write book three this winter, and, if all goes well, it will come out in the fall of 2012.

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

Interview with Jake Webber

2010-11-08T05:18:00.000-08:00

http://lafittesblackbox.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?

I never really thought about writing when I was younger or even in college. Writing was not something that I envisioned myself doing. I was so focused on getting ready for a career. I’ve always been a reader. Writing is something that I recently discovered that I enjoy doing.

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

Several years ago I attempted to write a story that had been in my head for quite awhile. It was my first attempt at writing a novel. I sat down and began the first chapter which meandered aimlessly. After a few days, I gave up in frustration. About two and a half years ago, the premise and story for LAFITTE'S BLACK BOX came to me during a night of insomnia. It was completely different than what I had attempted to write before. The next morning I began exploring the methods of writing and formed a plan and began my research. This time the story flowed out of me. It took me about 11 months to finish it and another few months for the first and second revisions. I shopped the manuscript around several places including Llumina Press. They were really excited about what I had written and we put together a book that I think people will really like.

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 book, LAFITTE'S BLACK BOX is an action/adventure aimed at teens and young adults that is set in New Orleans. I think many readers will be able to relate to my main character, Devereaux Parker, and his struggles of moving to a new place and moving from a town he really loved. He quickly finds himself immersed in an adventure that will take the reader on a journey into the past to mysterious places and with unsavory characters. New Orleans is a place of mystery and intrigue. I think readers will come away knowing a lot more about New Orleans and Louisiana.

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

My own childhood adventures inspired this book. I spent a lot of time making forts and exploring when I was younger. My friends and I spent many hours exploring many of the places that are mentioned in my book.

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

I am married to a wonderful woman, my college sweetheart. I have a son who just started college at LSU here in Baton Rouge and a fifteen year old daughter who is in 10th grade. They’ve been very supportive and little bits and pieces of their personalities and experiences are in my characters. My mom and dad are retired and live up in north Louisiana. They have a house with a great view overlooking a lake. I enjoy relaxing up there with them when I get a chance. They’ve both been very supportive. I have a sister in Monroe and another sister who lives in New Orleans.

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

Cereal, specifically Peanut Butter Captain Crunch.

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

Wake up my daughter, make coffee, and shower.

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

There’s an Elvis outfit hanging in my closet.

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?

I like the color green. Green is a calming color and there are so many shades of it in nature. Green looks great with other colors.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Foghorn Leghorn. Older people know who that is. Just Google the name.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

George Jetson

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 would like to go back and look at Rome at its height. I would like to see the city before the ruins. I would like to travel across the empire and see the old Seven Wonders of the World.

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

I mostly like 70’s and 80’s music. I guess that would now be called classic rock. My favorite musical artists are the Beatles, Peter Frampton, the Scorpions, Weezer, and Duran Duran. I don’t listen to music when I write but I think I would like some classical music or smooth jazz on in the background. Thanks for the idea!

Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again?

My favorite shows are The Office, Seinfeld, Andy Griffith, and Mad Men. Movies that I like to watch over and over again include The Last of the Mohicans, The Wizard of Oz, Shaun of the Dead, Ace Ventura 1 and 2, and The Naked Gun.

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

Enjoy school and being a kid. Don’t try to grow up too fast, adulthood and the responsibility that comes with it arrives soon enough.

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

I’m working on some short stories that I’d like to make available some time in the future. There will be at least two more books featuring Devereaux Parker and his adventures. I will introduce some new characters in the next two as well as keep most of the current ones.

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

Interview with Melissa Walker

2010-11-08T05:09:00.000-08:00

http://www.melissacwalker.com/blog/

Interview with Amy Wachspress

2010-09-01T02:29:00.001-07:00

www.wozabooks.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?

I have loved writing all my life. I’m not sure I can remember a time when I was not writing. That’s a long way back for me to remember. Once, when I was in fourth grade, I wrote a science fiction short story and read it aloud to the class. One poor girl in my class liked the story so much that she stole it from my desk. I was not that bothered, because I knew I could just write another story. But the teacher tore up the classroom looking for my story and finally found it. The principal was furious and wanted to punish the girl who stole my story; but I thanked the girl for the compliment. I could see she was a devoted fan!

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

I have been working on several books at once over the past 25 years while I was raising my children. During that time I often sent letters to publishing companies and agents to see if someone would publish my book or find me a publisher. I have a whole file cabinet drawer full of rejection letters. Finally I decided to publish the book myself. My husband and I borrowed some money and started Woza Books. We started the company in June 2006 and by November I had 3,000 copies in print. So far everyone who reads it loves it. I was surprised at how hard it is to get the word out to people so they know about it. I have had a lot of support from my friends and family or I would not have been able to get this far. My advice to someone else would be “be persistent and work hard.”

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?

I have only one book out right now. It is The Call to Shakabaz. This is a story about four children and their pesky parrot who travel to the fantasy land of Faracadar on a quest to retrieve the powerful Staff of Shakabaz from the malevolent enchanter Sissrath.

The one thing I would tell you to convince you to buy the book is that it is a rollicking fun ride—I dare you to put the book down! I am working on a sequel right now, but do not have much time to invest in it because one of my adult novels was recently accepted for publication and I am working with my editors to get that one ready to go into production. Plus I have a few other books that I finished that need homes, so I’m sending out letters to publishers about those ones.

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

There is no one person or thing that has inspired me. I sometimes say that I have learned everything important that I know about life from my children. I have read aloud to them and my stepsons for almost 30 years. A few of my favorite books are A Wrinkle in Time, The House of Dies Drear, Ender’s Game, Holes, Homecoming, The BFG, The Ear The Eye and The Arm, Half Magic, the Narnia books, and of course Harry Potter. J. K. Rowling is about as good as it gets. In the dedication to The Call to Shakabaz, I honor the young people who marched to prevent and protest the War on Iraq in 2003. They were definitely an inspiration to me when I wrote The Call to Shakabaz.

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

I am married and I have three grown up children. Two of them have graduated from college already and the third is in college now. I also have two stepsons, who are in their 30s. I am Jewish and my husband is Black, so my children are multicultural. Our family has a bizarre sense of humor so we laugh a lot. My daughter is a writer, so we have a lot to talk about when it comes to publishing.

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

My favorite food is pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and parmesan cheese. I have been vegetarian for 35 years. I don’t eat anything that walks, flies, or swims. But I adore cheese. I think it’s very important for people to cut way back on eating meat to save the planet from climate change. If you don’t already know that the biggest reason for climate change is the food system, particularly beef and pork production, then you should learn about it. Our lives depend on knowing and changing our habits.

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

I shower, make a cup of decaf coffee, and pet my cats. Very 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?

We don’t have an attic or a basement so you would be surprised at how much I can cram into my closets.

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?

I would rather answer the tree question. I love trees, as you will see if you read The Call to Shakabaz, in which the trees are an important character. I lived in a forest for 17 years and when we moved closer to the nearest town a few years ago, I planted trees all over my yard. I could never choose my favorite. I love so many of them. Right now I’m especially in love with my Hawaiian Paulownia Trees. They grow really fast. It reminds me of the plant in The Little Shop of Horrors.

As for colors, when you read The Call to Shakabaz you will see how colorful everything is. Some of my favorite colors are bright green (symbolizes life), royal blue (it reminds me of the ocean and the sky), turquoise (because I look really good in turquoise), and burgundy (what a deep rich color).

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

I’m going to cheat and choose an anime character (which is not exactly a cartoon)—Princess Mononoke. I am fierce when it comes to protecting the environment and honoring the spirits of the forest.

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?

That’s a terrific question. There are so many historical events I would have liked to participate in. I would have liked to march with Dr. King during the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which ended on December 20, 1956. This month is the 50th anniversary of the successful conclusion of the Boycott. I would also have loved to help organize the Poor People’s March on Washington and to stand on the mall and hear Dr. King give his “I Have a Dream” speech.

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

I can’t listen to music while I’m writing. I need silence to concentrate. But my husband is a disc jockey on the radio and he plays R&B, Soul, Jazz, Blues, and Gospel. I love all that music. I also have a passion for old folk music, like The Weavers and Woody Guthrie. That shows you how old I am. I especially like political music with a message. Of contemporary artists, I like Sigur Ros and Explosions in the Sky. The first album I bought was The Beatles’ Abbey Road! I’m pretty old, huh?

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 don’t watch much TV. I have better things to do. Except for football. I do watch a lot of football. After LOST finished on TV, I started watching it from the beginning and got hooked, so I’ve seen every episode on Netflix. I learned a lot from the writers for that show. One of my favorite movies is Galaxy Quest. I could watch that movie a million times and it would still crack me up. Tony Salhoub is a riot—his expression when he starts kissing the alien is priceless. I don’t go to the movie theater anymore because it’s so expensive. I wait for everything to come out on DVD.

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

Figure out what you love to do that you are good at and pursue it with a passion.

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

I’m working on a sequel to The Call to Shakabaz, in which the whales are in danger of being killed off and aliens have invaded Faracadar. It will be a lot of fun and more complicated than the first book. So stay tuned.

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

Interview with Jordan Sonnenblick

2010-09-01T02:14:00.000-07:00

www.jordansonnenblick.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?

I always, always knew. Even before I could read or write, I wanted to be just like my maternal grandfather, who had written several books. Actually, he wrote high-school science textbooks, so I didn’t follow in his exact footsteps, but nonetheless, he was my inspiration. Later on, he also became the basis for the character of Solomon Lewis in my novel Notes from the Midnight Driver.

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

It was bumpy! My first book, Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie, was originally published by a teeny-tiny literary press, which proceeded to go out of business three days after the book came out. I spent a summer in total despair, but then through a bizarre series of coincidences, the mom of an editor at Scholastic bought a copy at my local bookstore, which was the only bookstore in the world that still carried it. She sent it to her daughter, and voila! Incidentally, I try really hard to support local indie bookstores, because if The Moravian Bookshop in Bethlehem, PA hadn’t supported me, I wouldn’t be giving this interview right now.

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 newest teen book, After Ever After, is a companion novel to Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie. You should buy it because my mom liked it. Or at least, she told me she did.

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

Real teenagers. I have never been able to write a book unless it was inspired by something goofy, bizarre, and/or tragic that happened to a real teen in my life.

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

You’d be surprised, actually. My 9-year-old daughter just told me the other day, “Everyone at school always says how lucky I am that my dad’s an author, but I tell them it’s actually pretty boring. You just sit around and type!”

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

Beef stew. Any kind of stew, really.

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

Bathroom. Coffee. Go online to check the Yankees score.

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 dunno ... maybe the assortment of gory, dismembered corpses?

If not, then I’d think it would be the unique combination of my guitar collection and my piles of unfiled school-visit paperwork, press clippings, promotional materials, and assorted other author-junk.

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 blue always comforts me.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

The lady who makes the superhero costumes in The Incredibles.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

I’d like to say it’s some mighty superhero, but probably, I’m a cross between Charlie Brown and Bart Simpson.

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?

Wherever my kids are. Because they’re my kids!

Hopefully, they would be in London at the time -- London is my favorite city in the world.

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

I listen to tons of different stuff, but my fave group is the Beatles. When I write, I choose some specific genre of instrumental music for each book, and don’t listen to anything else until the first draft is done. That way, all I have to do is crank up that music on iTunes, and I am instantly in writing mode. It’s kind of like hypnotizing myself.

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 don’t watch much TV, other than sports -- because my 12-year-old son is the absolute ruler of the remote control. As for movies, I am a huge fan of anything Pixar. The last movie I saw in the theater was The Karate Kid, which I loved.

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

Whatever else you do or don’t do, BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL not to make any babies until you and your partner are fully ready to raise and support a child together. Seriously, that’s the absolute biggest biggie.

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

My next teen novel, Shooting Eagles, will be published in 2012. It’s about a star high-school athlete who gets injured, can’t play anymore, and has to figure out a way to jump-start his life again.

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

Interview with Rachel Ward

2010-09-01T02:04:00.001-07:00

www.rachelwardbooks.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?

I don’t think I ever really knew that I wanted to be a writer, and quite a lot of the time I don’t believe I am one. But about seven or eight years ago I thought that I’d like to have a go at writing, just to see if I could do it, and I got hooked.

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

The first thing I wrote was a radio play which was rejected by the BBC. Then I experimented with short stories and wrote two novels for younger children, also rejected. I wanted to make my third novel edgier and for teenagers, actually something that my daughter, then 14, could read. I sent the first chapter into a local short story competition in 2006 (the Frome Festival Short Story Comp) and it won a prize! It didn’t really work as a short story but the judges liked the voice and the idea. I drew encouragement from this and completed the first draft of ‘Numbers’ in about six months. Then at the following year’s Frome Festival you could book a consultation with the Fiction Editor of The Chicken House, a local children’s publisher. So I booked my session, and it was there that I met Imogen Cooper who is my editor. She liked what she read and asked to see the whole thing. We agreed to a contract about two months later and ‘Numbers’ appeared in the UK in January 2009.

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?

In ‘Numbers’ (or ‘Num8ers’ in the USA), Jem, a 15-year-old sees numbers when she looks into people’s eyes – the date of their death. You could go lots of ways with this idea. For some reason known only to my subconscious I turned this into a love story/road movie/gritty examination of life at the bottom of the heap in the UK. It won’t be everybody’s cup of tea, but it might be yours…

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

I just read this question out loud and my daughter pointed to herself and said ‘Hem, hem, sitting right in front of ya…’ but actually I think the real inspiration for my stories comes from my own teenage years. I draw on the intense feelings I experienced then, so although the characters I write about are nothing like me now or me as a teenager, the feelings I’m writing about are real.

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

I’ve got a husband and two teenage children. They’re super-supportive and I’m so lucky to have them.

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

Potatoes every time, in all their lovely forms. For sheer comfort it would be mashed or baked. I’m partial to a proper dessert with custard, maybe a fruit crumble or some sort of sponge – forget cream or ice-cream, custard is king.

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

I’m writing hard at the moment, so I’ve got a very rigid routine in the morning and I get up really early. Apart from the obvious bathroom stuff, getting dressed, etc. I have a glass of fruit juice, walk the dog through the fields, and then I write. (After which, I wake up my family and go to my day job.)

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

Monumental untidiness. We’re a family of hoarders – it’s not a good thing.

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?

So difficult. I’m going to say black, although I suppose technically that’s a lack of colour. My writing is pretty dark, and I think it taps into the dark, serious, twisted side that I didn’t really know that I had before I started writing.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Probably the little boy scout from ‘Up.’ Oooh, I love that little guy. And the dog. And the bird.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

I’d like to be like Top Cat – pretty cool, a bit goofy, one of the gang - but the truth would be nearer to Marge Simpson. Or Ralph Wiggum.

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?

This may show a lack of imagination but I’d go back to the first time my now-husband called me ‘darling.’ Sorry, I’m a sentimental old thing, can’t help it.

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 fairly diverse stuff and I’m fairly fickle – I’ll listen to someone over and over for a while and then move on. I still love George Harrison, my teenage crush, but you’ll also find me listening to Amy Winehouse, Stevie Wonder (who I saw at Glastonbury), Susan Boyle, Biffy Clyro and Rage Against the Machine. I don’t listen to music when I’m writing, but I quite often have a song in mind when I’m writing a book, almost a theme tune. With ‘Numbers’ it was ‘Love is a Losing Game’ by Amy Winehouse.

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 loved ‘Six Feet Under’ and ‘Thirtysomething.’ At present I enjoy the lightweight end of the entertainment spectrum with my absolute fave being ‘Project Runway’ – I’m a Tim Gunn fan. The film I watch over and over again at home is ‘Sense and Sensibility’ with Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet. The last film I saw was ‘Inception’ which went straight into my Top Five all-time favourite films.

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

It’s the advice I’d give to my teenage self if I could talk to her/me now. Life can seem pretty grim when you’re a teenager, but stick with it, have patience and things will get better. There are people and adventures waiting out there for you and everything can turn out so much better than you ever expect. Hang on in there.

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

The sequel to ‘Numbers’ is out in the UK and will be published in the USA next year. I’m currently writing the third and final book in the series, and then I’ll have to think of something else. I’ve no idea what that might be…

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

Interview with Steven Nedelton

2010-09-01T01:48:00.001-07:00

www.snedelton.com

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

Thank you, Jen. It is appreciated.

I started reading at twelve, I believe. I was in a hospital, sick in bed, and my grandfather gave me this thick red book as a present. I think that book made me wonder about writing. So, my writing goes way back to my early teens when, together with a few of my school buddies, I began to pen short stories and critique. My first successful creation was a short story based on a true paranormal life experience. It was published, but much, much later.

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

It was a complicated one. Initially, I tried to get an agent and spent six months before getting a fairly questionable one. And, of course, she did not work out. Then I tried a POD publisher, though at the time I thought they were a legitimate publishing company. I left them three months later. After a very positive review from an online reviewer, and as per her recommendation, I decided to have my book edited. Several months later, I got my first publishing contract.

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 published book is a five stars suspense novel The Raven Affair. The paperback was published in April. It is in Kindle format too. Here is a blurb:

A man on the run. Anton was on the run for the past twenty years. Italy, Spain, Ireland, America. What is he running from?

Two priests living in San Francisco, Father Dominic and Father Joe, had never heard of him, but the action starts with them. Interpol agents are hunting for Anton when their employer suddenly and unexplainably stops them. They are unaware that one of them is leading a double life and operating clandestinely as a high priced hit-man ‘Raven.’ And then, there are Mick and Lynnie in San Fran. Mick, ostensibly the very popular maitre d’ at the Westin St. Francis’ Michael Mina Restaurant and—unknown to Lynnie and his employers—a dreaded underworld figure codenamed ‘Clerk.’

I am quoting my latest reviewer, J. Knox, a professor of Creative Writing, a fiction editor at Our Stories Literary Journal:

“….The Raven Affair is destined to be adapted for the big screen. I found myself envisioning the scenes as I went along--quickly--unable to put the damn thing down.”

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

I get my ideas from the everyday news, from the everyday events. My novel Crossroads was based on a sentence I read in a local newspaper, in 92. The Raven Affair was based on the TV news about a court case/court proceedings in California, in the 90s, I believe. I do like suspense.

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

I doubt that children read their parents’ books. Actually, my children are pretty quiet about the affair. If I remember correctly, my daughter did mention my books once, I’m so sure of it. Once! It was one of those enthusiastic, semi-casual observations. I know she does not read much, she is too busy for that, but she writes very well. She has to, she’s with lawyers all day long. She’s a natural. My son, who loves all good movies and books, doesn’t say much. Occasionally he’ll mention a book he considers worth my time. Like, “Hey, Dad, I’m reading this novel….it’s great.” Glad to hear it, son. Let them discover another writer’s world, they already know mine. I doubt that children read their parents’ books. It’d be sooo un-cool.

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

Now we’re getting somewhere. I’m not a fussy eater. I like all good food and almost anything tasty will do. Starting with Pizza. By the way, I’d love to participate in a pizza eating contest and some day I might end up in one. I’m a Pizza addict. But, in these sweltering summer days, cold watermelon’s the king, naturally. Still I’d go for a thick burger from Burger King, with a frosty bottle of beer anytime.

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

Shower, do some exercise and have my breakfast while watching one of my favorite movies. Not always in that order.

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

So, you think I’d let you snoop around in my closets? Ha,ha. Try again, Jen. There are secrets in those deep dungeons of manhood, Jen. Big secrets. Guns, guns, guns and ammo. All caliber, all sizes. I’m a suspense writer after all, ain’t I?! And I do carry a faithful little Bersa 38 all the time. Thun--derrr! 380. Jus’ kidding. Or, maybe, I ain’t. Well, for one, unlike Steph King, I don’t keep mummies, vampires and dragons in my closets (filthy habit). At least not yet, anyway.

It’s funny but you’d be overwhelmed with smells of my freshly cleaned underwear, shirts, clothes. Ha-ha. Yup, I’m funny that way.

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?

My favorite color is red, red’s so popular. If I could, I’d make all my book covers big red, and I’d be the best seller in a jiffy.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Don’t read ‘toons anymore, I’d say it’s Politicians. But I’d vote for Goofy. So endearingly reminiscent of our Presidents.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

None, I’m too mean for those cute creatures.

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?

Old Rome. Times of Cicero, Caesar, Cleo. I’d love to see her rolled out of that filthy rug. Sit right next to my ancient cousin Julius and watch him drool. Those were the times…

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 all good music. Especially the sixties and seventies. Best music. Best singers. All of them.

Rarely, but I do listen to it while writing.

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?

None. Hate TV except for good movies. Too many politician-liars on it, plus all the cookie-cutter shows. Yes, too many. Movies? Good ones? Can’t recall, have them all at home.

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

Don’t read the junk the poor writers manufacture to get rich on writing. It’s a brainwash. It’s for dummies. It’s for babies. It’s like bad food, it corrupts your finer instincts. Turns you into a mushroom. Ha-ha. And you end up thinking like one too.

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

My next novel is called Dawn for the fearless/Fear Factor. It was submitted in April. I started Tunnel, another suspense, but I am too busy to work on it right now.

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

And thank you, too, Jen.

Interview with Clint Adams

2010-09-01T01:35:00.001-07:00

www.clintadams.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?

Hey, Jen. How’s it going? Well, you started off with the absolute perfect and most relevant question, thanks. I’ve been asked this every time (I’ve been interviewed), and having been asked it actually led to my reason for quitting writing. Yes, you heard me correctly.

I never ever wanted to be a writer. In 1992, inside me, there was an overwhelming need to tell a very particular story (that was actually a well-kept secret). Finding someone else (a writer) to tell it, never happened. So, I learned all I could about writing, and I’ve been doing it ever since. It seems like this latest novel I’ve been working on for the past 15+ years was the hardest to complete, and now that I finished it and it’s been published, my (own personal) story’s finally been told. My story no longer lives inside me now; it lives on someone else’s bookshelf. Whew! I became a writer for this sole reason, to get my story out.

Again, because of being asked this question and the four teen novels I wrote, I’m now launching a student-led, after-school storytelling program for secondary school students here in the U.K. It doesn’t promote literacy or creative writing; it’s created to give time and attention to teens that have something to say, something they need to say. Rather than internalizing their emotions, they are now offered an opportunity to “tell all” and “get it all out.” I feel the need for this here, and elsewhere, is tremendous. To learn more about this program, please visit: http://StoriesAboutFacingFear.com.

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

It’s been a rather long and winding one (road, that is). The quest to publish and market my teen novels has taken me to many interesting locations. But, overwhelmingly, the greatest reward was meeting such a variety of interesting teens and learning about their lives…they’re incredible. Now, I have moved on, and I no longer write teen novels…instead I’m left with fantastic memories. More than all else though, I now owe these teens my eternal gratitude for having led me to my true purpose in life; helping them to tell their own stories, now that I’ve (already) told my own.

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 novel is a thriller for adults: The Seventh Ritual: a race for survival. It’s a book about a horrifying discovery…the truth. Yes, in my opinion, the truth sets you free but it’s nowhere near as powerful as what you decide to do after you’ve learned it. I’m hoping readers will find this book helpful so they will want to discover the depth of their own power that lives inside them.

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

The realization that life is all about learning the lessons that come with it. It’s your choice to learn them or not. This inspires me daily. I love seeing obstacles as opportunities…to learn. Lessons provide great meaning for me and that’s why I appreciated being able to share them with others via my writing.

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

I love, appreciate and understand my family a whole lot more after having written this last book (The Seventh Ritual). I love having been able to transform family secrets into fiction (a story that ends up being told by a fictitious “me”). I’m sure my family is proud of me and the extent of the journey I’ve been on.

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

Tzaziki! I put in on everything (vegetables when I’m dieting) and I’d eat it with every meal if I could.

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

1. I’m too impatient to meditate, but I do take a deep breath or two. Even this relaxes me a bit before I begin the day.

2. I realize that soon I get to eat my cereal with bananas and kiwi on top OR my runny scrambled eggs. I LOVE this. Yes, I AM a geek.

3. I look in the mirror to see if I’m still me, that I haven’t actually turned into who/what I was in my dreams/nightmares. Yikes!

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 own almost nothing. I think you’d be surprised that I have so few belongings. I tend to move around a lot and this keeps my life very simple. Of course, as a former writer, the things I value most are my laptop and my printer.

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?

Black. It’s not only slimming but mysterious. I like this combination.

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

My favorite: Fred Flintstone. Most like me: I wish I could be as gregarious, cocky and confident as Bugs Bunny, but Charlie Brown is closer to my reality.

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?

Duh. The easiest question of all. I’d spent years writing about heaven…so that’s got to be where I’d like to go most. I’d want to see if it’s all it’s cracked up to be. I’d be humiliated if what I’ve written ends up being horrifically wrong.

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

Without question, anything from the 80’s. Favorites: Pat Benatar, Blondie, B-52’s. Yes, I’m lost in time. In the U.S., country: Martina McBride, Patty Loveless, Terri Clark. I used to listen to classical when I write, not anymore. Now, I just listen to the noise coming from inside my head. Maybe I should meditate after all.

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?

Mama’s Family, Friends, The Golden Girls, Roseanne. Movies: The Color Purple, Shine, any movie where the protagonist has huge obstacles and overcomes. Yippee! I could watch To Kill a Mockingbird a million times over (a lesson each and every time). Eek, it’s been a while since I’ve been to the movies. I think the last one I saw was Precious; it was OK. I normally like movies like this, but the writing could have been a bit better.

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

Always believe…no matter what!!! Especially when no one else does! Do it yourself!!! You’ll only be let down when you expect someone else to help you, when you’re fully capable of doing/accomplishing “it” yourself.

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

After The Seventh Ritual anything else would be a piece of cake. It’s the ‘biggie’ of my lifetime. Something much lighter next time, for sure. Without a doubt, I’d want to return to writing if I could put together stories told by teens, a non-fiction book, Stories About Facing Fear: The (Teen) Interviews. I feel that everyone chooses to overcome fear and obstacles in different and unique ways. By sharing stories about others that have done so, may help and inspire those that haven’t quite yet.

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

Thank you, Jen! You and your site are great resources for teens/teen readers and I’m thrilled that you’ve expanded to include adults as well. Good luck always.

Interview with Kathe Koja

2010-09-01T00:37:00.001-07:00

www.kathekoja.com

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.

Thanks for asking me, Jen. I'm happy to do it!

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?

I've been writing stories since I was small, about four or five years old. Writing has always been a large part -- a huge part -- of who I am.

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

I've been a freelance writer for more than 25 years, and have published everything from essays to short fiction to horror novels to books for young people to historical fiction. As I mentioned above, I started young, but never really planned to do much with my work; it was mostly just writing for the trunk, as the saying goes. (Nowadays I guess it would be the trunk folder!) What really gave me my start as a professional writer was a scholarship to the Clarion Workshop. Not only did Clarion provide me with the opportunity to meet writers whose work I'd read and admired, as well as peers from all over the US and Canada, it made ME believe that I could be, yes, a "real" writer, get my stuff out there and get it published.

I started submitting my fiction to magazines, and from those magazine publications, I was contacted by an agent, who sold my first novel in 1989. My YA novel, STRAYDOG, was published in 2002, the first of seven (so far).

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?

HEADLONG, my latest YA, explores the depths of friendship between two very different girls, Hazel and Lily, at an exclusive private high school: Lily’s the lifer, Hazel’s the newcomer, and the year they meet changes them both. Those very deep friendships can be more nourishing, and when they falter, just as heartbreaking, as first love, and linger even longer in our hearts.

If I could say only one thing to convince you to buy the book? I guess I would say that I wrote HEADLONG to speak to you, the reader. A novel is a kind of conversation, and a one-sided conversation is unsatisfying. When you read it, the conversation is complete.

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

That's a very difficult question. Whatever engine it is that drives inspiration itself, that desire to tell a story, to remake the world in words -- that's what moves and inspires me to write, every day.

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

My husband, Rick Lieder, is an artist and illustrator. We've been fortunate enough to be able to work together--Rick has done the covers for all my hardcover YA books. And we share our home with three wonderful, fierce, adorable companion cats (all shelter-rescued). Our son Aaron Mustamaa is an artist and animator in Brooklyn, NY.

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

Does coffee count as a food?

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

Feed those cats, make that coffee, and check my email.

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

That one house could hold so many half-filled boxes.

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?

I would be black, my favorite color: the color of serenity, certainty, and poise.

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

I love Lisa Simpson! and, in print, all of Lynda Barry's mad and marvelous girls. Which is most like me? -- hmm, I draw a blank. My family and friends could probably answer that one much more accurately. (I just asked a friend, and she said "That chick from 'Ghost World'!")

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?

Elizabethan England, to see one of Christopher Marlowe’s plays. I’d be a groundling!

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

I always listen to music when I write. Even years later, when I hear a certain song, I'll remember, vividly, the book I was working on with that song as a soundtrack. And I love all kinds of music, from Bach to the Pixies to Rufus Wainwright to Shearwater to Shostakovich to PJ Harvey to LCD Soundsystem to you name it. Shuffle!

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?

My favorite TV show is a tie between The Simpsons and the great lamented Deadwood. But I spend far more time online than I do watching anything else.

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

Be completely who you are. We need you.

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

My newest novel is for adults this time around, a historical novel set in Victorian times, called UNDER THE POPPY.

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

Thank you for inviting me. And please check out my blog, http://www.kathekoja.com/blog/ to continue the conversation.

Interview with Priscilla Cummings

2010-09-01T00:28:00.000-07:00

www.priscillacummings.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?

I have loved reading and writing stories since I was four and five years old. I grew up on a dairy farm and my first stories were about the cats who lived in the barn.

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

After graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in English literature, I took a job as a newspaper reporter for the Holyoke Transcript in Holyoke, Massachusetts. I then worked for four different newspapers in four different states over the next ten years. I continued a journalism career as a magazine editor and writer for three years before my first picture book was published in 1986, the same year my son was born. At that point, I quit my job to stay home and be a Mom to my son and later, my daughter, and have been at home writing fiction ever since.

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?

What if you were a typical teenager, fourteen years old, enjoying life with your friends, excelling at school and looking forward to the future, when all of a sudden one day you found out you would lose your sight within a few short months? How would you feel? How would you handle that? This is what confronts Natalie in BLINDSIDED.

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

I live near the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and the bay has inspired many of my picture books as well as portions of my novel, RED KAYAK. But I have written many books that aren’t about the bay as well. I would say that everyday life is full of inspirational story ideas. If you pay attention to what’s going on and what moves you emotionally, you won’t find it difficult to come up with a good story idea.

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

I am from New England and most of my extended family lives back there in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine. I’m the one who left to take a job in Virginia and basically never went home. I live today in Annapolis, Maryland with my husband, who is Director of the EPA’s Office of Sustainable Communities. My son, who is my tech guru, just graduated from Lehigh University and is working for a bank in New York City. My daughter, an English major, an artist and a beautiful harpist, is a student at The College of William and Mary.

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

No question: ice cream.

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

Pour a cup of coffee, let my daughter’s cat, Romeo, out the door so he’ll stop meowing at me, and sit down with the morning newspapers for half an hour. I was a journalist for 13 years, remember, and old habits die hard.

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

The incredible mess. It’s because I spend most of my time trying to write great novels!

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?

Silly question, but blue, I guess. It’s the color of a beautiful day, and clear water.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Bart Simpson.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Hmmmm . . .. I was stumped on this one so I asked my daughter who is away at school and here is what she emailed back: “I would say you are kind of like Velma from Scooby Doo....You are very bookish and cute and you're always ready to solve a mystery!”

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 listening to a wide range of music: classical, rock, opera, and harp, to name some. I do not listen to music when I’m writing. My house has to be absolutely silent.

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 don’t watch much TV except for the news and shows on PBS. I love movies though. Some of my favorites are An American President, Dr. Zhivago, A Beautiful Mind, The Painted Veil, Lawrence of Arabia, and Juno . . . The last movie I saw at the theater was Inception. I love Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellen Paige, but I didn’t much care for the movie. Too complicated, too much gratuitous violence and I didn’t believe in the characters.

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

Keep reading! It will expand your vocabulary, help you understand the world, foster empathy and tolerance – and it’s fun!

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

I am working on a “companion book” to a novel I wrote a few years ago called RED KAYAK. The new story follows up on one of the three main characters, which is why I call it a “companion book” and not a sequel.

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

Interview with Shannon Greenland

2010-08-27T18:21:00.001-07:00

www.shannongreenland.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?

I didn't know until I was 28 (I've always been a late bloomer at everything).

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

Can anyone say rejections? I have enough rejection letters to wallpaper my house. No, seriously, I went the e-publishing route first, got some awards and recognitions and then got picked up by a small print press. Got some more awards and recognitions for my romantic suspense novels, decided to write young adult, and then Penguin contracted me.

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?

I’m most known by my fans for The Specialists series. It's about teen spies, because every nation needs a good 16-year-old spy.

But my upcoming release, Island Summer, steps away from spies and dives into a beach, teen romance. Cade is the hero in the book and absolutely to die for!

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

I'm a teacher, so you'll find bits and pieces of all my students in my characters.

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

I’ve got a great supportive family. They love to brag about me.

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

I have two. Carrot cake and salt and vinegar chips. And I eat way too much of both.

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

Wash my face. Make coffee. Check email.

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

OCD. Obsessive compulsive. Not that I've ever been diagnosed, but I'm extremely organized, color coordinated, neat and tidy. I think it's in my genetics. My dad's the exact same way.

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?

Does invisible count? I think it would be totally cool to be invisible and sneak around.

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

Bugs Bunny is my favorite. But I'd say I'm most like the Tasmanian Devil, always going, going, going.

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?

You know that movie Ever After with Drew Barrymore? I'd love to go back to that time. Granted, the hygiene wasn't that great, but it just seems so romantic of an era with princes and knights in shining armor.

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

I'm perpetually stuck in the 70's. I love, love, love the Eagles, Tina Turner, the Carpenter's, Fleetwood Mac. I don't listen to music while I write, it's too distracting.

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 have seen Dirty Dancing and Ever After like a bazillion times. My favorite t.v. shows are reruns of The Gilmore Girls. I’m loving Dexter, too.

The last movie I saw on the big screen was Inception with Leonardo.

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

Be yourself. Definitely. Walk to your own tune, which I know is hard to do when there's so much else going on. But you'll be happier with yourself if you are yourself.

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

The Specialists series has 4 books to it. They are all available through Amazon now. And for those of you with a Kindle, you can download the e version.

Island Summer comes out August of 2011. Definitely mark your calendars!

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

You're very welcome! Thanks for the great questions!

Interview with Eric Luper

2010-08-27T18:08:00.000-07:00

www.ericluper.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?

I’ve always known that I wanted to do something creative with my life, but I was brought up to believe that my career choices consisted of doctor, lawyer or accountant. Only after college and grad school and a few years in the work force did I realize that my passions couldn’t be quelled. That’s when I began writing in earnest. Fortunately, I already had that English degree under my belt!

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

We could have a whole interview just on that, but the “short story” version is that I met my editor at a writing conference. I had a ton of unpublishable material I had been struggling with on my hard drive, but I ran into Wes Adams from FSG when things were clicking for me as a writer. Something was different about Big Slick and I knew that as the story was making its way into my head—and onto paper. Wes and I went through some pre-contract edits and then the book went to acquisitions. I’d like to say that after that everything was easy, but really it gets harder!

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 next novel is called Jeremy Bender Vs. the Cupcake Cadets. It’s my first stab at a middle-grade book and one that was a ton of fun to write. Writing a middle-grade story is so different from YA. It took some time to refine my sense of humor, for sure! Cupcake Cadets is a funny story about two boys who masquerade as girls in order to win a contest being held by the Cupcake Cadets! Think the old sitcom Bosom Buddies meets Gordon Korman.

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

My greatest inspiration for my stories has been my own experience. A friend of mine once called me “The Noticer” because she said I noticed subtle things most people wouldn’t. I would take those little details and try to think of interesting ways to describe them. It was always a little game I’d play in my head. Whether it was a color or a landscape or the sweep of someone’s hair, I would challenge myself to describe it in an interesting way. When I began writing in earnest, this skill became extremely useful.

My greatest inspiration as a writer has been the other writers in my life—published and unpublished. I have the privilege to know some fantastic writers, some who I have been acquainted with for many years and others who I have met along the way. Seeing them struggle and learn and improve has challenged me to raise the bar over and over again.

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

When my son (then 4) found out I was going to have a book published, he asked if it had pirates in it. When I told him no, he said, “it doesn’t count then.” Now that he can find my book on the shelves at our local bookstore, my son tells everyone how famous I am. This usually leads to him running around with one of my books in his hands telling everyone they should buy it.

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

It’s a tie between wings and BBQ ribs. Both very sloppy foods and neither conducive to typing on a keyboard… although I’ve been known to try! My greatest comfort food while writing is something salty and sweet at the same time (i.e. chocolate covered peanuts, chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate covered salt, whatever).

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

I grind coffee, I brew coffee, then I drink coffee.

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

That I was calling the police because some strange woman was rummaging through my basement.

Actually the back of my closet is filled with books because I don’t have nearly enough shelf space, but I suppose that’s not particularly surprising. I guess it would have to be the Jack the Ripper tavern sign I got in London and the 12-point deer antlers hanging in my basement. Morbid, yes, but at least I don’t have rusty dental tools and duct tape down there too. Oh wait, I do have duct tape down there…

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?

First of all, I’ve never been asked what tree I would like to be. But if I had to choose a color it would have to be some very obscure color like periwinkle. Periwinkle is one of those colors that is not as popular as the traditional favorites, but when someone wants periwinkle, they know they want periwinkle. They search for it. Plus, it’s rarely worn down to a nub in the Crayola box.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

My favorite cartoon character is Peter Griffin from Family Guy. He’s so stupid but he’s so darn funny. So many people I know despise Family Guy, but Seth MacFarlane’s sense of humor just resonates with me.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Hmmm that’s a hard one. Not Popeye, that’s for sure. Also, not Optimus Prime. I’m nothing like Optimus Prime. I’m also not particularly like Catwoman. If I had to pick a cartoon character that is most like me, I guess I’d pick Spongebob Squarepants. He’s good-natured, tolerant to a fault, manages to screw things up royally, but then everything seems to work out in the end. Also, we both sort of look like a hunk of Swiss cheese in clothing.

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 would really love to see the future—maybe a hundred, a thousand and ten thousand years from now. That would be cool. But that would also be dodging your question.

If I had to pick a time and place in history (assuming language was not a barrier), I would pick the height of the Renaissance. I’d take a copy of my book, put it in an air-tight box and seal it with candle wax. Then, I’d stick it behind a wall in a castle someplace just to screw with historians. Then, I would take to writing down my predictions for the future (a la Nostradamus) on parchment scrolls. But my prophesies would be far less cryptic. My final prediction would say something to the effect of: Eric Luper will win the Nobel Prize for Literature and should immediately be given a fully-restored 1959 Cadillac El Dorado with cool flames painted down the sides.

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

What I listen to depends on my mood. My state of mind governs what music I listen to and different music can really alter my mood. One thing I like to do is make these bizarre mix CDs that alternate between totally manic music (like Mudvayne, Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie) and more sedate stuff (like Billy Joel, Springsteen, and Simon and Garfunkel). Then I throw in some Hip Hop/Rap (Eminem, Kanye West, and 50-Cent) to really mess with my mind.

I can’t listen to music while I write. It amazes me when I see people typing away with earbuds in. I can’t even sign books while someone is talking to me or else I start writing what they are saying to me in the book. Recently I wrote “All the hills!” in one of my books instead of “All the best!” because the guy was talking about the wildfires in the hills of California. I need silence or some kind of white noise.

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’ve gotten away from TV, but I do watch Family Guy over and over as a treat. I’ve also been known to get sucked into a season or two of American Idol. I’m trying to kick that habit.

There are plenty of movies I like to watch again and again: The Matrix (x3), LOTR (x3), Star Wars (x6), Goodfellas, Princess Bride, Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller, and any superhero movie (no matter how bad). I also have a soft spot for the Evil Dead trilogy.

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

My advice would be not to listen to advice. What works for one person won’t necessarily work for you. Explore and learn through your own process and go where your heart takes you. That’s the most fulfilling road anyway.

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

I’m working on what will hopefully be my fifth novel, but that one is too young to talk about just yet. I can assure you it’s going to be a wild ride!

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

Thank you!

Interview with Bonnie Shimko

2010-08-27T17:58:00.001-07:00

www.bonnieshimko.net

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

I first knew I wanted to be a writer when I turned 57 (years, not months). I never even thought about writing anything until then. I’d retired after teaching second grade for 33 years and I needed something to do with all that free time, so I started writing novels and found out how much fun it is.

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

My first attempt at novel writing was a never-going-to-be-published, really-awful book called Going to War with the Avon Lady. I found a list of publishers in an ancient copy of a how-to-get-published manual. Academy Chicago was the first house listed, so they got the complete, almost-four-hundred-page manuscript with a “Dear Editor” cover letter. (I had no idea that it might be a good idea to address the letter to an actual person). The publisher, Anita Miller (she owns the house with her husband, Jordan), sent back a full-page, handwritten rejection letter. She noted the good parts and gave me advice about how I could improve the rest. And, best of all, she said I was talented and she called me a WRITER. I was hooked!

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 novel is called The Private Thoughts of Amelia E. Rye (Farrar, Straus & Giroux). Here’s how Girls’ Life magazine describes it: “Amelia pulls you into her ‘personal memoir’ from the start. Befriending Fancy, the first black kid she’s ever seen, the two fight bullies, uncover family secrets and share one unforgettable year you don’t want to miss.”

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

The greatest inspiration for my stories is my own life. For example, the chapter in Letters in the Attic where Lizzy goes on her first date was modeled after my own “terrible, horrible, no good, very bad” date. (Thank you, Judith Viorst!)

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

My husband, Bob, is my first reader and my biggest supporter. My son, Rob, is a Theatre History professor. And my daughter, Sarah, is a police officer with a real gun and everything. Matilda, our black cocker sits on my lap while I read the day’s work out loud to her. She doesn’t give much feedback.

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

Well, that’s an easy one. Macaroni and cheese. Oh, wait, I meant to say spaghetti. Or tacos. No, bacon. Mashed potatoes and gravy. Squash. Corn chowder. Actually, the only food I don’t find comforting is lima beans. I think God might have been having a bad day when he invented those.

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

Scratch Matilda’s head. Tell her to wait just a sec, that I’m going as fast as I can. Watch her devour her breakfast in exactly thirty seconds.

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

If you looked in my closet, you would see that I still have clothes from when I was young and thin and a little bit cute.

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?

Navy blue. Blueberries are navy blue. I love blueberries.

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

Cathy is my favorite (I was so upset to hear that she’s retiring soon). I’m most like Dagwood. We both enjoy a good nap.

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?

The roaring twenties. I love the music and the clothes.

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

Definitely folk. Joan Baez singing Bob Dylan’s songs would be my favorite. I have a CD of classical music for babies that I sometimes listen to while I write. Very sweet.

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?

My absolute favorite TV show was (and still is) is Monk, so now I watch the re-runs. Movies I watch over and over again: Crossing Delancey, The Accidental Tourist, Fargo, Moonstruck, As Good as it Gets. Last movie I saw at the theater: Slumdog Millionaire—I don’t get out much.

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

If you’re having a hard time, just keep on keeping on. Things get better. They really do.

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

I’ve finished a young adult novel called The Wrong Daughter and a picture book called Learning to Love Matilda. They’re both on submission, so we’ll see. Now I’m working on another young adult novel called The Voice in Maggie Feigenbaum’s Head. It’s a little bit tender, a little bit funny, and a big bit psychological thriller. I’m not even sure if that combination is allowed. Again, we’ll see.

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

Interview with Ed Decter

2010-08-27T16:48:00.000-07:00

www.eddecter.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?

I never wanted to do anything else but be in the movie and television business. When I was in high school I was pretty good at biology and my dad had some hope I would become a doctor – but it didn’t happen. I started writing seriously in junior high for the newspaper and literary magazine. I never thought I could actually make a living doing it; I just wrote because I loved to tell stories.

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

I live in the middle of Los Angeles so my daughter can’t just hop on her bike and go wherever she wants. In fact, she can’t even go around the block by herself! She once asked me if my parents had been just as strict and I laughed and told her stories about my adventures growing up. My parents had no idea where I was or what I was doing. My daughter suggested I write some stories based on my “adventures.” Then my imagination took over and I created “The Outriders.” Since I had written a bunch of movies and TV shows, a publisher (Simon and Schuster) decided to take a chance on my book series.

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 latest book in the young adult Chloe Gamble series just came out this August and it is titled Hot Mess. I wrote it with my good friend Laura Burns, who is a fantastic author on her own and you should read her books. If you are the type of person who checks out the tabloids or MTV about the latest fall from grace of the newest teen superstars, then you’ll love this series.

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

Growing up I used to read the short stories of Jean Shepherd. Jean Shepherd was a radio personality who was popular in the fifties and sixties. Not many people have read his brilliant short stories. They were used as the basis for the holiday movie classic “A Christmas Story.” Jean Shepherd was the narrator of that movie. If I were teaching a short story class I would start with his collection of stories, “Wanda Hickey’s Night of Golden Memories.” The stories are funny, touching and the emotions are real even though the details are hilariously exaggerated. My dream is that Oprah will “rediscover” Mr. Shepherd”s books for her book club. Everyone should read them.

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

My daughter is now thirteen and she’s an awesome writer, ballet dancer and violinist. Recently she joined the volleyball team at her school. My wife is a fantastic writer who has gone back to graduate school to get her MFA in writing. Somehow, I became the third best writer in my family of three! We now have two dogs, a giant Leonberger which is a German dog that looks like a St. Bernard and a not-giant mutt that looks like a beagle crossed with a Jack Russell Terrier smashed together.

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

This is the easiest question in the world. Pizza. I am from New Jersey where pizza is not a food but a religion.

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

Say hello to my daughter because she is the one waking me up.

Take my dogs out for a walk.

Read every section of the newspaper.

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

You would wonder why someone with so many extra golf clubs is not very good at the sport.

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?

I would be purple because that is the color the sky turns just as the sun is setting over the ocean. That few moments is my favorite time of day.

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

My wife says that I drive like Mr. Magoo, so he’s my favorite.

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’m a huge baseball fan so I would have liked to beam myself back to the Polo Grounds in Brooklyn to see my favorite baseball player, Willie Mays, in his prime.

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 (my iPod is always with me) but I can’t listen to it while I write! I listen to a whole variety of music. I’m from New Jersey so I’m partial to the New Jersey song catalogue: Whitney Huston, Frank Sinatra, Jon Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen and Dionne Warwick (just to name a few). All of those artists grew up a few minutes from where I grew up!

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?

Movies and T.V. are my business, so I have the excuse to watch a lot of both. My current favorite T.V. show is The Wire, which is a really dark show about the streets of Baltimore. I also love Entourage on HBO. There are two movies I watch over and over again. One is the Frank Capra classic “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and the other is a very silly Chevy Chase movie called “Christmas Vacation.” I guess I like Christmas. The last movie I saw in the theaters was Shrek the Third. It was hilarious.

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

Find authors you love and keep reading. Don’t let anyone make it a chore. It should be a joy.

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

Since I wrote the Outriders book series, I have a new Simon and Schuster book series in the stores – the Chloe Gamble novels (The One, V.I.P. Lounge and Hot Mess). I wrote these books with my good friend Laura Burns. They tell the story of a young beauty pageant winner from Spurlock, Texas who drags her twin brother and boozing mother to Los Angeles. She eventually becomes a star – but at great personal cost. It is about the rise and fall of someone with great talent who was not blessed with the best foundation in terms of family. These are young adult novels, so I would say you’d have to be thirteen or older to read them.

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

Interview with Elizabeth Scott

2010-08-27T08:51:00.001-07:00

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!

Interview with Jenny Sullivan

2010-08-27T08:41:00.001-07:00

http://www.robsullivan.clara.net/

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?

When I was eight years old and my lovely teacher Miss Thomas told me that if I was prepared to work hard, one day I’d be a famous writer. I rushed home from school to tell my Mum but she was totally unimpressed and wanted to go and have words with Miss Thomas about putting silly ideas into my head!

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

Usually either the A470 or through Wales! Seriously, I sent my first children’s book to Pont and they’ve published virtually everything I’ve written since.

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?

It’s called “A Little Bit of Mischief” and it’s got great illustrations by Graham Howells and it’s set at Techniquest in Cardiff ~ it’s about a little girl in a wheelchair who still manages to misbehave. However at the same time my first adult novel is due out ~ it’s called “Silver Fox” and is about my hero, Owain Gyndŵr. It’s being published by Wuggles Press.

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

Probably (a) my Dad, who encouraged me both to read and write and (b) the book “The Once and Future King” which gave me a love of all things Arthurian.

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

Lovely, tolerant husband ~ three daughters, Kirsty, Tanith and Stephanie, all now married or in relationships; three gorgeous grand-daughters, Daisy, Tove and Catrin, and another due in February.

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

Chocolate. Unfortunately. Look at my waistline. Living in France, with Master Chocolatiers on every corner, it’s very hard to be good.

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

Stretch, drink a cup of tea ~ then open my eyes.

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

Possibly my addiction to dragons. Or maybe how many books I have!

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?

Yellow: it’s the colour of sunshine and daffodils and happiness.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Asterix the Gaul

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Possibly Marge Simpson...

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?

To the time of Mary Queen of Scots to see if what they said about her and Lord Bothwell was true.

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 all sorts of music: especially Welsh singers like Bryn Terfel, the Fron Male Voice Choir, Bonnie Tyler, Cerys Matthews and Welsh and Irish folk music, but I also love the music of the sixties... Sad, yeah? I never listen to anything while I’m writing because I always sing along and can’t concentrate.

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?

Favourite TV show is “Gavin and Stacey” which is so Welsh and totally hilarious. Favourite movie is “The Princess Bride“ ~ love the book, too. Can’t remember the last time I went to the cinema!

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

Never give up. Follow your dreams and if there’s something you want, go for it. I left school at 15 with no qualifications whatsoever, and was always miserable when I had to put a line through “qualifications” on job application forms. So when my kids had all grown up I went to college and got a Masters degree! Not satisfied with that I got a PhD too ~ when I was quite old. So, don’t say “it’s too late” because unless you’re dead, it ain’t!

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

The next one out is likely to be “Mad as a Box of Frogs” which is about a family with a secret... I think it’s quite funny and I hope it will make people think. Next I have to get part two of “Silver Fox” ready for publication, then I’m going to write something historical. Haven’t decided what yet, but I enjoyed writing my Llancaiach Fawr books so much I want to do some more research.

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

Interview with Sylvia Engdahl

2010-08-27T08:23:00.001-07:00

www.sylviaengdahl.com

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

Not until I was in my early 20s, and then for many years, I was too busy with my computer programming job to write anything.

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

I left programming in 1967 to serve as companion to my elderly mother, which gave me a lot of time free for writing. I wrote Journey Between Worlds first and then Enchantress from the Stars, which I thought was too long and too unusual to be published as a Young Adult book in the market as it was at that time. However, I submitted it to Atheneum because after I finished it because I couldn’t bear not to have it read by anyone, and to my surprise it was accepted. Then Atheneum accepted Journey Between Worlds also. And to my much greater surprise, Enchantress was chosen as a Newbery Honor book. All my YA novels were first published between 1970 and 1981, and now they have all been republished in the 21st century.

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?

A new paperback edition of This Star Shall Abide was published in January 2010. This is part of the Children of the Star trilogy, which is now out of print, and I decided to make it available because it’s much more enjoyed by younger readers than the other two books, which are of interest mainly to older high school students and adults. Many people over the years have told me that they were influenced by This Star Shall Abide as young teens. It’s science fiction about a boy who rebels against the repressive society in which he lives.

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

My belief that humankind’s future depends on expanding our civilization beyond a single planet, and that therefore what new generations think about space, and how they feel about it, is very important.

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

My mother published some books for teens shortly before I did. She was happy when my books were first published, and I wish she could see their new editions. But she died in 1987 at the age of 90, and I have no family now.

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

Dark chocolate and enchiladas (not together!)

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

It’s afternoon by the time I wake up because I can’t sleep at night and so usually don’t go to bed until about 6 a.m. -- I work at my computer until at least 4 a.m. When my day does start I put on my glasses, put on a bathrobe, and feed my two cats.

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

That one person living alone could have accumulated so much stuff over the years.

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 makes me think of the sky and what may lie beyond our sky.

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

My favorite strip was “For Better or for Worse” until it was discontinued -- none of the characters were like me, but they were like real people I’d enjoy knowing. I don’t care for most cartoons and I no longer see any, as I don’t read newspapers now that I can get all the news from the Web.

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?

To a space colony a hundred years from now, to see how the future turns out.

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

Film scores, some New Age, some classical -- and pop from the pre-rock era (which reminds me of my youth). But while writing, I need silence.

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 haven’t been to a theater for many years, but I rent DVDs from Netflix several times a week. I watch mostly drama, both movies and old TV series, especially some of the BBC productions. My favorite recent TV show was “Lost,” which I was sorry to see end.

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

Don’t be taken in by pessimistic predictions about Earth’s future. I have lived long enough to know that fears about imminent doom are always exaggerated, and that human progress, although slow, does occur over time. The world is not in worse shape than ever before -- it seemed that way in every era to the people who lived then. But enough of them worked toward positive goals to make a difference.

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

I don’t currently have any more ideas for stories, and I’m fully occupied with freelance editing work. My two most recent novels are for adults (they deal with controversial issues and would not interest teens because the protagonists are in their 40s or older). If I ever do write another novel, it will probably continue that series.

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

Thank you for the opportunity! Being in touch with my readers via the Internet means a lot to me.

Interview with Ned Vizzini

2010-08-27T08:08:00.001-07:00

www.nedvizzini.com

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

I first became interested in writing in 2nd grade. We had a special class in my school in Brooklyn called “Writer's Workshop.” On the first day of class, the teacher gave us a blank book. It was just this hardcover with maybe 16 pages, the kind of thing you can buy at a stationery store for scrap-booking projects.

I couldn't believe it. I turned it around and around in my hands. I always assumed that blank books were very valuable and were hoarded by book companies.

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

I started writing professionally in 10th grade. I wrote funny stories about my high school and sent them to a local alternative weekly paper called New York Press. Thankfully, Sam Sifton and John Strausbaugh, editors at New York Press, printed my stories and paid me $100-$150 for each one – this was in 1996 dollars!

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 book is about a kid who freaks out in high school and goes to the psych hospital and spends five days there and learns about his life and how to look at it in different ways. I wrote it following my own experience in a psych hospital and it has a lot of stuff in it that I can't believe I got away with writing. It's called It's Kind of a Funny Story (2006) and it's being turned into a movie from Focus Features with Zach Galifianakis, Keir Gilchrist, and Emma Roberts, to be released throughout the USA on October 8, 2010. [http://www.facebook.com/itskindofafunnystory]

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

My greatest inspiration when I was starting out was Michael Crichton. I got so into Jurassic Park (1990) that my legs fell asleep while I was reading it on the toilet and I collapsed in the bathroom and had to yell for help; I was 13.

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

My family is accurately portrayed in my first book, Teen Angst? Naaah... (2000). My father is a born storyteller who doesn't write his stories down; he refers to this compulsion of mine as a “disease.” My mother once told me, “I don't read the filth you write.” My brother does math that I don't understand. My sister find deals on clothes that I don't understand. We're Americans.

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

My favorite comfort food remains orange Hostess cupcakes.

[http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63738175902]

I save them for special moments of dread; I haven't eaten one in a few months. They can be tough to resist when they're out there like ripe fruit in the bodegas of New York.

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

The first three things I do when I wake up in the morning are:

1. use the restroom
2. make a pot of coffee or microwave the coffee left over from yesterday
3. make the bed

Don't get too excited now!

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 ticket stub from the first ever Colorado Rockies baseball game, played in Shea Stadium in Queens against the New York Mets in April, 1993. I'm waiting for the Colorado Rockies to win a world series so it will be worth something!

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?

My favorite color is yellow, but my power color is orange, so if I had to be a color, it would be orange.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

As a kid, I was a huge fan of The Real Ghostbusters (1986-1991). I used to explain the plots to my parents word-for-word when they got home from work. Recently I saw an episode of the show and wondered: “What, exactly, was wrong with me?”

Which cartoon character is most like you?

I have never found a cartoon character that quite captures my unique mix of narcissism and self-hatred.

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 beam myself to anywhere in the world at any time in the past, I would head to a 12th-century English village to see if it smelled as bad as my father always told me it would. If I could go to the future, I'd go there instead–either tomorrow or 100 years ahead.

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 usually listen to music when I'm writing. I consider this an advanced skill. I've only recently learned to tune out ambient noise enough to write in coffee shops. In general I listen to big dumb rock music, antifolk, and jazz:

1. Nirvana
2. Queens of the Stone Age
3. Atomic Bitchwax
4. White Stripes
5. Drunk Horse
6. Reid Paley
7. Miles Davis

Don't get too excited now!

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?

The last movie I saw in theaters was Pirhana 3D (2010). Movies I can watch over and over again include Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) and The Departed (2006). Favorite TV includes the second seasons of Breaking Bad (2009) and The Wire (2003).

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

The advice I would most like to emphasize to teen readers is that, if you want to be a writer, don't write a book. I get a lot of email from readers who tell me that they're 14 and they're writing a book and I always shake my head and think, “Good luck.” Writing books is such a crazy process that it's easy to get disillusioned; it's best to start with short pieces. Complete advice is here: http://nedvizzini.com/faq/#professional.

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

As of this writing (August 26, 2010) I have completed a new book that is out to a publisher. I hope to have more news to share about it soon.

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

Interview with Jonathan Pearce

2010-08-27T07:47:00.001-07:00

Jonathan at BalonaBooks

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?

I won a county-wide essay contest in the fourth grade, writing about how good milk and cheese are for your bones. I believed it at the time and knew that milk could be whipped up into ice cream, which in excess makes you fat and gives pimples, but I was overly fond of it and still am. The contest prize was a pencil box (a box containing pencils, erasers, a little sharpener, and a ruler). Pretty good deal to get rewarded for writing about something easy to write about, I thought, and decided to keep writing in mind as a possible job for grown-up times, as it seemed a lot easier than lawn mowing.

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

I’ve been a teacher most of my grown-up life, and teachers get to write a lot. I did a whole lot of non-fiction writing. Then, a while back, I wrote a story I thought might cheer up some kids who had lost their mother to cancer. That story was John-Browne’s Body & Sole, and it was accepted by a traditional publisher. I expected the book to come out quickly, but the publisher said it would be “about two or three years.” Fooey on that, I said, and took the story to a subsidy publisher. You can find that original on Amazon.com today. There is also our own more recent version, a BalonaBook, available through our wholesalers and our Web site. I found writing to be fun, so I wrote more stories and had them published by subsidy publishers, folks who will print up your book quickly for a price. After a while, I found it more satisfying (and a whole lot more profitable) to found my own company, hire my own editors, cover artists, book designers, and arrange for the printing and marketing myself.

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?

BalonaBooks has become a cooperative in which two of our fine editors have joined us now as authors.

Our Joaquin Peralta has produced three fine works of fiction: The first, http://www.balona.com/almost.html is lauded by School Library Journal as “hilarious.” The second, http://www.balona.com/bandits.html is excellent historical fiction about a kidnapping. The third, http://www.balona.com/emma.html is more fine historical fiction about which the Christian Science Monitor had good things to say.

Our Jon Riis has contributed two excellent books: The first, http://www.balona.com/something.html is fantasy in which a multilingual mouse assists a college freshman in saving Balona from disaster. Jon’s second, http://www.balona.com/woman.html is an unusual story for older teens and adults. It has drawn both loud applause from readers and trash-talk from one reviewer.

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

I have taught every grade from primary through university graduate school. Most of the inspiration for my characters comes from the behaviors and attitudes of some of my middle school and high school students. I use their slang and clothing and shoe and car and music preferences shamelessly, although such cadging does make some BalonaBook stories sort of “retro” in tone.

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

Great supportive wife who never nags, two fine kids (one of each) who provide feedback on the authenticity of my dialog, etc., a finicky Siamese cat who demands a jar of baby food and a massage every day.

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

Ice cream, of course (strawberry), although pizza is a close second.

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

Yawn, scratch, stretch. Then, of course, I get up and do my ablutions, etc., and work out every day on a Nordic Track. (Trak?)

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

Probably you’d find my cello, which I should, but don’t always, practice every day. My undergraduate major (University of the Pacific) was music. You’d also find martial arts dress and equipment, as I’ve studied judo, karate, tai chi, and aikido for a very long time.

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?

Medium blue, not aqua, not navy. It’s a modifiable, comfortable, cool color that can accompany all sorts of moods.

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

My all-time favorite is Grimm, the little dog in “Mother Goose and Grimm.” He’s mischievous, determined, greedy, sneaky. When nobody’s looking, I’m a lot like Grimm, I think. Also "Zits."

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?

Eighteenth century Vienna, a terrible time for lots of reasons, but it was the time of Mozart. I would like to have been part of his audience.

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

Classical (but I very much like bossa nova), and especially the cello of YoYo Mah and the voices of Renee Fleming, Samuel Ramey, and Placido Domingo. I listen to music while writing, but never vocal music, because the words stimulate the other side of the brain and interfere with the writing process. This attitude makes me sound like a real fogey, but think about it: Could you solve a problem in logic or organize rhymes for an original poem while listening to hip-hop?

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?

When I taught full-time, I never had time for TV, never got into the habit, still don’t. Occasionally enjoy PBS programs and will get trapped into watching if I happen to come across The Simpsons or The Daily Show. Most TV commercials irritate me because they assume you are a complete idiot and are going to believe everything they tell you. I liked “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World,” “Lawrence of Arabia,” and “The Lion in Winter.” Most movie theaters today seem to turn up the volume so it hurts the ears, and the audience all talk and use their cell phones during the performance. Don’t like movie theaters at all. Besides, the popcorn is too expensive.

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

Every day, read something besides schoolwork. Some eye doctors agree that you can improve your reading ability (and therefore improve your reading enjoyment) the more you read. Why? It’s a physical thing, for in order to read, you need your eyeball-control muscles to hold focus. Weak eye muscles can’t hold the focus for long and cause the weariness and “boredom” so often experienced among people who seldom exercise those muscles. More advice? Read a BalonaBook to improve your eyesight!

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

We are planning to add the e-book format to all our books.

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

Thank YOU, Jen.

Interview with Susane Colasanti

2010-08-26T16:03:00.001-07:00

www.susanecolasanti.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?

When I was 16. But when I was 12 I knew I wanted to be a science teacher, so that came first. I thought since I was already going to be a teacher, I couldn’t be an author because you only get to pick one career. Then when I was in grad school I was like, “Wait. Why can’t I do both?” So I did both for a while. Which was fun times, but occasionally I had to go to bed at 8:30 because it was also exhausting times. Resigning from teaching wasn’t an easy decision, but I don’t regret it. I can reach way more teens as an author than as a teacher. I’ve been a full-time author since 2007 and I absolutely love it.

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

It was a long and winding road, but thankfully it led to a door that not only opened but had a lot of super friendly neighbors on the other side. At first, there were rejection letters. And then more rejection letters. Fortunately, Viking Children’s Books saw something in that early draft of When It Happens that they wanted to work with.

I strongly believe that if you are determined to achieve your goals, you can create your ideal life. It’s this belief that motivated me to never give up, to never stop believing that I could make this happen. Now I’m working with the most amazing publisher and editor, in addition to all of the teams at Penguin that make my books possible. They believe in me, and for that I am thankful every day.

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 fourth book, Something Like Fate, was released in May 2010. One thing about it is this: forbidden love. Oh, and soul mates, of course.

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

My strongest inspiration comes from ideas about what I wish my life were like in high school. Endless summer nights where you never want to go home. Listening to a transcendental song, over and over. Finding surprise love notes in your bag. Actually, I experienced all of those things, but I was usually disappointed. Nothing was ever quite the way I wanted it to be. So now I take this nostalgia for the high school life I never had and make it a reality for my characters.

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

I’m very interested in cupcakes. Particularly ones with fluffy pink old-school icing and some sort of buttercream filling. A plastic smiley face or fancy sprinkles on top is usually necessary.

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

1. Turn on NPR.
2. Thank the Universe for being awesome.
3. Complete my morning commute, which takes about five seconds. That’s how long it takes to get from my bed to my desk.

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

Not to be conceited? But you would be impressed. I am an organization freak. We’re talking Container Store style closet schematics here. This is not an easy achievement to accomplish in my nabe. Since I live in downtown Manhattan, I have absolutely no space. Attics and basements are distant memories, things my friends had a lifetime ago that we used to play in. There is, however, one closet. And it’s totally tricked out to fit everything. I configured another closet in my bedroom, which was totally Bob Villa of me. So I think you would be surprised that such an extreme level of organization could be achieved.

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?

There’s this periwinkle type lavender which looks like it radiates this amazing electric hue. I aspire to radiate positive energy like that color.

And a palm tree, by the way, because they are magnificent.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Actually, I’m more into clay characters, like Gumby and Pokey, Wallace and Gromit, and Mr. Bill. I guess this wouldn’t count, either, but I love the fox from The Little Prince. His big, puffy tail is really cute.

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 often feel like I’m living in the wrong decade. I miss the 70s. All that Free To Be You and Me and vintage Sesame Street and mood rings and peaceful lifestyles. I don’t know…there’s just something comforting about it all. I would love to live right here in New York City during the 70s to see if it really does feel like a Paul Simon song. That would rock.

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

I used to listen to music while writing, but now I find it can be distracting. Sometimes I’ll play music if I need inspiration for writing a certain scene. Music takes me where I need to go. I’m into a lot of 70s and 80s stuff, like Paul Simon, James Taylor, Fleetwood Mac, Sting, and Led Zeppelin. Bands like R.E.M. and The Cure inspired When It Happens because they were so essential during my own high school trauma. Music always made me feel better during those bad times.

My favorite contemporary artists are John Mayer, Coldplay and Death Cab for Cutie. I believe that the answers to all of life’s problems can be found in a John Mayer song.

Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again?

Since I’ve never owned a TV, I watch DVDs on my iBook. This means that I have to wait until the current season of my fave shows are over before I even get to see what happened. Good thing I’m all about the anticipation.

I am obsessed with The Office. I’ve watched those eps so many times I can probably recite any scene. The first season of Prison Break is brilliant. I also love 24 and like to act out scenes around the city with my friend Jim, pretending that I’m Jack and he’s Tony and we’re saving the world. I love Seth Cohen from The O.C. and am seriously missing Lucas and Peyton on One Tree Hill. Sadly, the best teen shows are no longer on. The ones I will always carry in my heart are My So-Called Life, Freaks and Geeks, and Dawson’s Creek.

If I love a movie, I’ll watch it over and over until I pretty much have the whole thing memorized. Movies I’ve seen at least five times: Garden State, The Station Agent, Office Space, The Good Girl, The Safety of Objects, Moonlight Mile, Say Anything…, Crazy/Beautiful, Election, and Welcome to the Dollhouse.

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

Visualize your ideal life. Now create it.

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

I’m fascinated by soul mates and will continue to write about them. My fifth novel, So Much Closer, will be released in May 2011. I’m working on book six now.

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

Thank you! This was a lot of fun.

Read on. :)

Interview with Nikol Hasler

2010-08-26T15:47:00.001-07:00

http://midwestteensexshow.com/

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

In first grade we read a book about an owl. I don’t recall what happened to the owl or if I even enjoyed the book. I do remember that the author of the book came to our school to give an assembly and she talked about how much she had loved reading when she was little, to the point that she’d hide books under her pillow. That’s when it really hit me that people write the books I love, and the idea was mind-blowing.

However, I never intended to be a writer. I never thought I was. Still today, when people ask what I do it takes me a moment to answer, finally saying, ”I’m a writer, I think.”

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

I met the publishers when I was speaking at a youth centered event. They were aware of the web series I host and we began to talk about ways to turn that content into something that would work in book form.

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?

Sex: A Guide for Teens is a completely non-judgmental or opinionated book that frankly discusses all things sexual. Even the adults who have read it have told me that they learned things from reading the book. Plus, the cover is pretty sweet. Who doesn’t love cows? They obviously love each other.

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

When we began airing MTSS, a video podcast about teens and sex, I was not expecting the overwhelming number of emails from teenagers who had real questions about sex. In those emails I was reminded that I was once a teen and that it was confusing as hell. That confusion is my inspiration.

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

I don’t think any of my three sons even understand how cool this is. “Yeah, that’s our mom. She’s been on CNN and Nightline. She wrote and produced a pilot for Comedy Central. She wrote a book.” They’re much more interested in what I am cooking for dinner. They are decidedly anti-tilapia.

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

I always say tomatoes. It’s true that I love chomping into them, but I have to come clean. I love Sun Chips. Any flavor, any time.

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

If hitting snooze three times doesn’t count, I’d have to say that I play a round of Words With Friends on my iPhone before I get out of bed. Then I check my email. Then I rush downstairs to see if Santa came. (Once a year. The other 364 days I take a shower.)

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

Me hiding in there with a baseball bat or more likely a high heel, poised to attack this person who just showed up at my house and started looking through my stuff. Beyond that, maybe all of the pickles in the cellar. I honestly have a huge stash of pickled everything. I find cooking soothing, and the art of preserving food is one I’m very proud of.

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?

I’ve never been asked what sort of tree I’d be. I’m a little disappointed. So, I guess I’d be brown, like a tree.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

I used to have the biggest crush on Shaggy from Scooby Doo.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

When I was a teenager, I was totally Daria. Now I’m more like Betty Boop. (Because I’m adorable.)

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 am so boring when it comes to questions like this. I live in Los Angeles. I work as a Producer. I get to write columns and op-eds and books. I’m working on screen plays and spending time with amazing comedy writers. My kids are healthy and happy. I cannot think of any time or place I would rather be. I don’t want to even pop away for an hour to another place and time.

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

I get into certain moods. When I work out I love to listen to hip hop and old hair metal. When I do yoga I prefer listening to Pink Floyd. I love this band, Infantree and have been listening to them when I write, as well as Cloud Cult.

Oh, and The New Pornographers are so so good.

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 love cooking shows. I love Project Runway. All of the NBC Thursday night comedies get recorded on the DVR. Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Party Down make me laugh harder than anything on television, and now Children’s Hospital is on Adult Swim.

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

Since my book is filled with advice about sex, my advice to teens is that they work on talking. One chapter of the book focuses on how to talk to people - parents, partners, friends - about a topic which can cause major issues if not talked about.

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

Well, I already write two columns about sex and relationships, but I would really love to write some David Sedaris style short stories about growing up in foster care.

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

Interview with Jessica Park

2010-08-26T15:28:00.000-07:00

http://yaauthorjessicapark.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?

I first knew that I wanted to be a writer when my mother made me. Oh, wait. That doesn’t sound nice. But it’s true. She pushed me and pushed me to write, and when she offered to coauthor the Gourmet Girl series with me, I couldn’t say no. So this writing career thing is all her fault.

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

I did have the advantage of sneaking into the competitive world of publishing through my mother, an already well-published writer. Her agent, Deborah, became mine, and I’m extremely lucky to have such a wonderful agent guiding me through this complicated world. Deborah has been really wonderful, especially as I’ve been making the transition to writing on my own and to moving out of the cozy mystery genre and into YA and more.

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 first YA novel, RELATIVELY FAMOUS, is out now, and I just love this story. Here’s a good summary:

Freshman in high school Dani McKinley lives with her mother, Leila, in a modest house in Michigan. Dani adores her mother’s long-term boyfriend, Alan, and her best friend, Samantha. Life is pretty uncomplicated, right? Not for long . . .

As Dani is walking to school one day, paparazzi pounce on her and claim that she is the daughter of Hollywood icon Mark Ocean. The news immediately changes Dani’s life. Leila confesses the truth to her daughter and agrees to let her spend the summer in California so that she can get to know Mark. But who leaked the story to the tabloids? After a nasty fight with Alan in which Dani announces that she finally has a “real dad,” Dani heads to the West Coast.

Armed with credit cards, club memberships, and a new wardrobe, Dani learns that what Mark Ocean has in wealth, he sorely lacks in parenting skills. The fatherly interest Mark shows has more to do with changing his public image than with connecting with his daughter. Dani tries to teach her father that parenting is not just about supplying her with Prada bags and trips to movie premieres, and against his own instincts Mark slowly starts to see Dani as more than a career booster.

Her new California friends take Dani under their wings and school her in everything from attaching hair extensions to managing the paparazzi. She meets Jason, a gorgeous young personal trainer who is easy on the eyes and wildly flirtatious . . . But is this smug hottie the one for Dani? Or will she ignore her friends’ eye rolling and go for the goofy but sweet surfer?

So while juggling her own newly complicated love life, Dani also tries to set her father up with someone less likely to appear on an MTV reality show, and someone more... well, normal. And age-appropriate. And dressed in anything other than a thong bikini. But whether Mark is able to heal old wounds and move forward with anything more than a meaningless fling remains to be seen.

Can Dani fit in with this new fast-moving California crowd without losing herself? With the world at her fingertips and hot boys now after her, staying grounded gets tough. And can Mark drop his egocentric approach to life and learn how to appreciate how wonderful his daughter truly is? As driven as he is to get that A-list acting role, he's willing to do whatever it takes to get there, even it means using his daughter. Mark and Dani's relationship hits a few highs, but the question becomes whether the lows are too much...?

While the book has lots of Hollywood glitz and fun, the reason I love this book so much is because of the very complicated relationship between Dani and her father. Mark, in particular, has so much baggage and really goes through quite a process to rediscover himself and remember that he’s not actually the celebrity jerk that he’s been acting like.

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

I suppose that this changes a lot over time. Right now I’m driven by angsty romance (I know “angsty” isn’t a word, but I’m using it anyway!) and complex family dynamics. Sometimes a real-life event (mine or one from friends or the news) will spark an idea that I can run with.

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

My husband and son have been very tolerant of my writing life. I sort of get that “tortured artist” thing now! There are days when I feel so totally detached from the real world, because I’ve buried myself so deeply in my book. When I’m really on a roll, I can spend most of the day (until midnight or later) writing, drowning in my story. Then I’ll come up for air at some point and apologize for having forgotten to feed anyone. They’re nice that way.

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

Guacamole. I know, that’s weird, huh? But nothing beats homemade guacamole and chips. Mmmmm….

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

97 cups of coffee, check email, check Facebook.

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

75% of my clothes are from Ann Taylor. I’m an addict. I want everything they’ve ever made. But, hey, you find what works and stick with it!

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?

Olive. Olive is a neglected color, and I’d like to show my support for the downtrodden.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Eliza Thornberry. I miss that girl. She’s feisty, determined, a little klutzy, and totally charming.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

See above. And we have similar hair!

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?

Toss me into a pre-French Revolution Dangerous Liasions setting, and I’d gladly prance around in a tight-bodiced dress and fan myself. For a few hours, at least, until I passed out due to the obvious inability to breathe normally. I would have loved the sock hop era of the 1950’s. The music alone would be enough reason to time travel. Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly…Oh, I would’ve adored it! Plus, poodle skirts, drive-ins, and, really, the whole social/pop-culture scene would have been a blast for me!

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

I’m all over the map. I’ll listen to anyone from Lady Gaga to Matt Nathanson to 80s bubble gum metal. No jazz, though. Blech. And lots of people know that I have this abnormal Rick Springfield fetish. I can’t do anything about it.

I used to NEVER listen to music when I wrote. I needed total silence. But now I always do, especially when I’m writing big, emotional scenes. I just handed in a MS to my agent, and there is one chapter in there that was written entirely to “Lack of Water” by The Why Store. I had the song on repeat and wrote to it all day. And, yes, I still love the song.

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 like television way too much. I’m still mourning the loss of “24” and “Lost,” but at least I still have “The Closer,” “Psych,” and “Burn Notice.” And I’m really into this new “Covert Affairs” show. So good. But “Glee” outranks everything else at this point.

I’m nuts about Netflix, and watch series on disc all the time, but I’ve been a bit slow on the movies recently. I hate going to theaters: they smell and they’re too expensive. Plus, I make better snacks at home. Nothing beats a Bourne movie and a cheese tray.

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

I sent my agent a new book this month, and she is really enthusiastic about it. It falls somewhere between a YA and an adult novel… My agent said that it’s tricky to decide how to pitch it to publishers, because while the main character is eighteen, the book is really accessible to a large audience. I’m staying top-secret on the plot, but there is a really interesting mix of gut-wrenching romance, humor, coming-of-age issues, and a deep character study of a very complex family.

I’m also thinking about doing some short stories to put up on Amazon, etc., so keep your eyes peeled!

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

Thank you for having me, Teens Read Too! Please stop by and visit my RELATIVELY FAMOUS site http://yaauthorjessicapark.blogspot.com, the blog about crazy conversations with my kid http://whatthekidsays.blogspot.com, or find me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/Jumby24.

Interview with Kevin Scott Collier

2010-08-26T15:06:00.000-07:00

http://kevinscottcollierhomepage.blogspot.com/

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

Since I was a young boy. I liked to create characters, and characters need stories.

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

I literally bumped into one at a Grand Haven, Michigan post office, near my home. The two men were from out of town (Indiana) on business, and I overheard them talking about publishing books for tweeners, and I had a story. I approached them, told them the story outline. Two days later, they signed me to a contract, and I wrote my first book in 22 evenings.

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?

It's a children's picture book I wrote and illustrated titled "Whispering Wally." One thing about the book that is a mystery is why this whale, the biggest creature in the ocean, would speak only in a whisper.

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

My life, actually, and the people who are facing challenges in real life.

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

My wife has written a few books, and we have written a few together even, the latest being "Natalie's Ark." We have a son, who likes it that mom and dad write, and that I illustrate books, too, but it's a normal family life. We're still just mom and dad to him, which is good.

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

Chocolate ice cream, stirred up until it's smooth, and with malt in it.

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

Get my coffee is #1. Then, I say good morning to our cat Midnight, who is waiting for me to wake up, then, I say good morning to my wife Kristen. Mornings are a daze for me, for the most part.

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

Concerning the closets in particular, you'd find our cat sleeping in one, or crying to get out.

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?

Green. It's the color of the life of nature.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?  

Charlie Brown. The target of everyone's troubles, but loved by all.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Dennis the Menace.

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?

When Jesus walked the earth. I'd like to have been there with Him.

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

Never listen to music when I'm writing. Like Christian rock, classic rock. Big Steppenwolf fan, have met their lead singer a couple of times.

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?   

Don't see many movies, and if I do, it's action films with my son. My favorite TV shows are the odd ones, like "Pawn Stars," "Ghost Adventures" and "America Pickers."

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

Think big, and your dreams will match what's in store for you.

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

Actually, a short indie film I am writing based on my first book, "barthpenn@heaven.org." The movie is titled "I.M.: Instant Messenger the Motion Picture." We are shooting it, lots of big names helping out, it'll be fun, and released next year.

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

Interview with Liz Rettig

2010-08-26T14:34:00.001-07:00

www.lizrettig.com

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

Always. Is that a typical answer? I suspect so.

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

Like I’ve said, I’ve always wanted to be an author but I never sent stuff off to publishers because I didn’t have the confidence and I’d heard it was just too difficult to get published. Yeah I know, I know, totally dumb, right? Like hoping to win the lottery when you haven’t even bought a ticket.

Mind you, in some ways it was a mercy I didn’t try to get published earlier. My first attempt at a novel was a 40,000 word manuscript written in longhand about a woman abandoned by her lover who goes on to exact terrible revenge. So, no prizes for guessing who had just been dumped by her boyfriend then, but hey it beats stalking. Needless to say this effort was rubbish and ended up in the garbage.

Eventually though I wrote a story about a year in the life of teenager Kelly Ann who lurches from disaster to catastrophe as she attempts to find love or at least a boyfriend. My daughter and niece loved it so they encouraged me to send it off to agents. No one was more gobsmacked than me when the manuscript was snapped up by a top agent and published by Random House UK as My Desperate Love Diary. I'm pleased to say Kelly Ann's embarrassing antics have proved hugely popular so since then I've written another three Kelly Ann diary books: My Now or Never Diary, My Dating Disasters Diary, and the latest, My Rocky Romance Diary. Oh and a stand alone book called Jumping to Confusions which is my daughter’s favorite so far.

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 release is called My Rocky Romance Diary, the fourth in the series, when Kelly Ann and her friends are around seventeen /eighteen, so it’s a more grown up story but she’s still as daft as ever. At the beginning Kelly Ann is all loved up with her gorgeous boyfriend Chris when temptation arrives in the shape of the new boy Matt who’s dark, edgy and dangerously attractive. Mayhem ensues! My Rocky Romance Diary is funny, sexy, romantic – what more can you ask for?

Oh you’d like vampires too would you? Sorry, not this time. Now I like a good vampire story myself and I enjoyed the Twilight film - Messrs Pattison and Lautner are certainly very handsome young men - but hey, enough already! Time for some of these creatures of the night to crawl back into their crypts and make way for some more realistic teenage tales. Like, erm, My Rocky Romance Diary for instance. You’ll laugh. Honestly. And fall in love with one of the heroes. Definitely. Even if he drinks beer instead of blood and never sprouts a hairy coat. Oh but I was supposed to just mention one thing. Oops. Sorry.

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

My life. I thought of writing an autobiography but then I’d have had to stay in hiding for the rest of my life too embarrassed to show my face. Instead I’ve cunningly disguised most of my humiliating gaffes wrapped up in fiction.

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

I have a large family; loads of sisters and brothers plus a husband and two kids and yes they were all thrilled when I became a published author. For a week. After that my kids started to complain about me swanning around signing books instead of making their dinner and washing their PE kits. Later my husband and siblings begged me to refrain from accosting remote acquaintances and perfect strangers at every social occasion with entreaties to, “Ask me what I do. Go on ask me.” Adding before they could react. “I’m an author, actually.”

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

Chips, chocolate and Maynards wine gums – and that’s just for breakfast. I’m a dietician’s nightmare.

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

1. Daydream for a while (several rather handsome famous actors may feature in this.)
2. Try to visualize myself getting up and padding into the cold bathroom to shower. Fail.
3. Fall back to sleep.

The good thing about being an author and working from home is that you can do stuff like this. The bad thing about being an author and working from home is that you can do stuff like this. Self discipline has never been my thing.

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

Me on my hands and knees begging you not to tell the world what a slummy housekeeper I am. My closets are stuffed with rubbish I couldn’t be bothered to tidy away properly: discarded clothes, empty wine bottles, muddy sneakers, half eaten chocolate bars etc - you name it. You might also see me trying to bribe you with large wads of cash not to put the shameful pictures on Facebook, or worse, YouTube.

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?

Black. It’s slimming, sophisticated and mysterious. Mostly it’s slimming.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Buzz Lightyear closely followed by the squirrel in Ice Age.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Miss Piggy (from The Muppets) according to my family and several ex boyfriends.

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?

That’s easy – it has to be ancient Rome during the empire. Why? Oh come on now! Lounging about on a couch all day eating grapes, drinking wine and feasting my eyes on all those fit gladiators in little leather skirts – do you really need to ask? Okay, I know it probably wasn’t really like that back then but, hey, a fiction author can dream can’t she? It’s her job after all.

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

Anything other than jazz. Unfortunately my husband loves jazz. Yes, I know jazz is clever, cool and sophisticated but after ten minutes of listening to it I’m ready to top myself.

I don’t usually listen to music when I’m actually typing but I do listen to (mostly cheesy romantic) music when I’m dreaming up the story in my head.

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 watch way too much TV. Mostly comedy. Favorites are: Modern Family, Big Bang Theory, the Inbetweeners, QI... I could go on. Like I said, I watch way too much TV.

Favourite films: Most recently, Toy Story 3 – a Spanish Buzz Lightyear dancing flamenco – Brilliant! Other favourites are Dirty Dancing, Twilight, Taken, Bourne Identity, Omen, Seven. . . I could go on. I watch way too many films too. I hope my agent and publisher don’t see this post or they’ll start to wonder when I’m going to get any writing done.

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

Enjoy being young - get out there and have fun! Now don’t get me wrong, of course you have to take care of yourself and make sure you’re safe. And yes it’s a good idea to complete your school assignments without copying most of them from your friends or dodgy Internet sites (especially as teachers are too clued up about this now and you’d probably get found out. Curses!) But honestly I think there’s way too much pressure on teens these days to be far more sensible and studious than their parents ever were. But ssh, don’t tell your parents I said that will you? Oh God you’re going to aren’t you? That’s me in trouble again!

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

I’m not sure yet but hmm, yeah . . . maybe something involving gladiators.

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

But yeah my family is proud of me. Just so long as I don’t get too “up myself”. Not much chance of that with my family.

Interview with Siobhan Dowd

2010-08-26T05:15:00.000-07:00

**This interview was originally posted to the TRT site in early 2007. Sadly, Ms. Dowd passed away from breast cancer on 8/21/07.

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?

When I was seven and wrote a very hokey poem to the robin perched on our apple tree…The resolution hardened when I was ten and wrote a “holey” story about a certain innkeeper’s daughter in Bethlehem…Well. From unpromising beginnings…

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

I started out in the editorial departments of two publishing houses, but that side of the business just wasn’t for me. I was too jealous of the wonderful writers that used to sail into those offices – people like Salman Rushdie, Kurt Vonnegut… So I found work with PEN, the writers’ organization, and had a long career there, spanning two decades and two continents, writing and researching reports, campaign materials and articles about human rights. Aged 37, I returned from living in New York to my hometown, London, with an adult MS I’d been penning for years. I did a master’s degree and set up a program in England bringing writers and their books to underprivileged and struggling readers in schools, prisons and community centres.
Something about this work inspired me to return to my original aim, which was to write for children. I did – and my first short story was published in Skindeep (Penguin, 2004). The editor of this anthology, Tony Bradman, very kindly showed my story to his agent, with the result that suddenly I had an agent – but no novel. So I got writing. My first finished novel The London Eye Mystery is actually being published second (ie in June this year over here in England). After that I wrote A Swift Pure Cry. After a slow start, with a hundred pages of a story that just wouldn’t take hold, I took out one page of the writing and abandoned the rest. The page that I took out became page 94 of the new book. And the other 305 surrounding pages were written in just over three months.

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 book contains explicit, lurid sex scenes… only joking! I guess I could honestly say I wrote that book (A Swift Pure Cry) as if it were the last thing I had to say before dying. If you love family, drama, mystery, bravery, smiling through tears, having your heart broken and put back together again, this is for you. Not that I’m boastful or anything.

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

My amazing husband, Geoff, who is an accordion-playing librarian from Wales. There is a bit of him in every story I write and he is always my first but kindest critic. I always read my work aloud to him as a final check before sending it off to my agent.

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

My family is gargantuan. My father was one of 14, my mother was one of six and I have 72 first cousins and innumerable second cousins. Frankly, it is worth any publisher’s time publishing me because of the sheer number of copies sold to my family alone. My mother and father were both Irish. We had a tumbledown cottage in County Waterford to which we would repair for long, glorious summers (it must have rained a lot, being Ireland, but somehow memory always paints a sunny picture). I loved my Irish cousins dearly and we played long and complex games in the fields, the trees, the yards, with the animals. We were given a lot of independence and freedom. This meant twisted ankles, bee stings, and some very naughty pranks but that
freedom is something I fear many children do not enjoy today’s more suspicious world.

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

Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate. Oh, and I make a GREAT omelet when the cupboard is bare of – chocolate.

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

Turn off the alarm, roll over and go back to sleep.

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

The mousetrap (basement). The Donna Karan see-through black linen 1994 knee-length jacket (closet). The dirth of books (attic/study where I work).

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?

Colour: Don't know -- does Chameleon count? Tree, I do know: a yew.

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

The horse in 101 Dalmatians. I even sound like him when I sneeze.

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 would beam myself to the baptismal font in London in 1951 where my parents first met as the Godparents to their mutual friends' baby. I've always hankered to understand the world from their perspective, before they met, before they became parents or even spouses. What drew them together? I would find this more fascinating than observing strangers, however famous. (That said, I would mind being at the first
performance of Beethoven's Fifth symphony as well.) I'm not drawn to the future: I'm too cowardly for that.

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

I find Bach's Goldberg Variations very centering when I'm preparing to write (I spend more time preparing to write than writing most days.) Irish traditional music ( the band "Planxty" in particular) helps we when I'm writing about Ireland. Recently, I've been hooked on the original Imagine album by John Lennon, as one of my characters in my current novel (set in 1981, the year after John Lennon's killing) is obsessed by some of the tracks.

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 saw The Science of Sleep, a quirky, visual, adorable movie. No one favourite movie, although I love To Have or Have Not, a classic Boghart/Bacall movie. My, a fabulous pair they were. My favourite TV show is BBC's covering of election night. Alas that this only happens once every 4 years!

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

I'm useless at advice. But try this: You should only ever marry someone if you absolutely can't bear not to marry them.

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

The London Eye Mystery (June 07 in UK, forthcoming in the US), a story about a boy who goes up the London Eye but doesn't come down… it is up to his cousins Ted and Kat to solve the mystery of his disappearance… and then a follow-up, which will take place in New York City. It is a new series for 9- to 12-readers but I hope teens and others will give it a gleeful go! My next teen read is Solace of the Road (January 08 in UK, not sure when in US), a kind of Jack Kerouac meets Jacqueline Wilson tale, about a girl in foster care who takes to the road, with calamitous results. And I am currently writing an eerie thriller based on the north/south border of Ireland called Bog Child. It's scaring the hell out of me anyway…

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

Interview with Christine Hart

2010-08-26T02:52:00.000-07:00

www.christine-hart.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?

I discovered my love for writing as a teen when I began keeping journals, but I didn’t consider writing as a career until my first year of university. I began training for journalism and communications, always planning to work in a marketing role. I started writing fiction in my mid-twenties and haven’t looked back!

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

Having published articles since my student days, I always knew I wanted my fiction to be published as well. When I finally had a manuscript I was ready to share, I approached the book publishing industry in much the same way I had worked with magazines and web sites.

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 novel, Stalked, will be released very soon – just after Labour Day this fall. The story follows Victoria teens, Amy and Elise as they land their first real jobs and travel to Hornby Island for an exciting summer away from home. Amy’s ambition to win a scholarship has her chasing an important reference letter, but she soon becomes caught up in a complicated relationship with her new boss.

The one thing I’ll say about Stalked, is that you’ll find the story inspiring if you would have a hard time standing up for yourself in the face of an intimidating person who holds your greatest dream in his hands.

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

I don’t think I could pick any specific source of inspiration; I use the basic strategy of write what you know. My characters and plots are fictional, but inspired by issues I’ve watched people struggle with at one time or another. My British Columbia settings and social context are as real as I can make them. When I talk about the Okanagan or Vancouver Island, I’m describing the regions with as much real detail as I can.

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

My family is my greatest source of support. My husband constantly nudges me forward and my parents are always proud, which keeps me going when discouragement strikes. My younger sister is just starting her career as an elementary school teacher and looks forward to working with me whenever possible.

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

Oh, that’s a tough one. But I think I’ll pick ice cream, specifically the Island Farms soft serve you can get in and around Victoria. It’s the best stuff on earth!

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

When I wake up in the morning, I use the radio instead of a buzzer, so I don’t get jolted out of bed. I jump in the shower and then eat breakfast, usually cereal. I’m a pretty average morning person, but now that I live in Vancouver, I have to get up at 6 am to make it to my day job on time.

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 think the most bizarre thing would be the boxes of old computer parts and watch parts you’d find in the closet of my spare room. I have a hobby of turning junk into jewelry which keeps me busy when I’m not writing.

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?

I would be blue. Not a cold icy blue, but the warm aqua of tropical waters. Some of the most relaxing places I’ve ever been on earth have that color of water.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

My favorite cartoon character is Garfield. He’s not afraid to spend the day napping and he knows his lasagna!

Which cartoon character is most like you?

It’s a bit obscure, but I think Daria, from Beavis and Butthead. When I was in high school, I didn’t worry too much about what people thought of me and I enjoyed doing well in class.

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’m a city girl and I don’t think I could give up my modern conveniences permanently, but I’d love to see Victorian England. I wouldn’t be able to stay long because my feminist beliefs would get me into trouble quickly, but I’d love to see the dresses, parties, and palatial homes. Whenever I get the chance to visit my extended family in the UK, I like to see an estate (one that’s open to the public) and just picture what it was like to live there.

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

I wish I could listen to music while writing. I’m one of those people that can’t talk on the phone and to the person next to me at the same time. But when I do listen to music – usually on the train to work – I like hard rock, punk and some metal.

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?

My favorite television shows usually indulge my love of all things supernatural. So naturally, Supernatural is on the list, along with True Blood and Medium. And I still watch old episodes of X-Files and Twin Peaks. I just watched Van Helsing on television, but my last trip to the theatre was for Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland.

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

Following your dreams and sticking your neck out can be hard and scary, but it’s worth it. Once you figure out what you want to do with your life, put in the time and effort to achieve your goals. The emotional rewards are amazing.

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

I’m working on a collection of short stories and a trilogy, both of which return to the speculative path I started down when writing my first novel, Watching July. I see the audience for both these projects being more in the New Adult category of slightly older readers, but I’m excited to see how it turns out.

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

Interview with Erin Elisabeth Conley

2010-08-26T02:33:00.000-07:00

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!

Interview with Nikki Roddy

2010-08-26T02:23:00.001-07:00

www.nikkiroddy.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?

I always liked writing in school, but the burning desire to make it my day job hit me about three years ago. I was working as a file clerk, getting ready to apply to law schools, and realized that I couldn’t bring myself to turn in my applications. My dad asked what I really wanted to do with my life, and in an unexpected burst of courage, I said, “I think I want to write.”

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

I moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to travel and figure out how to make myself a writer. One night, I was out and met the editor of a magazine. I told him I was a writer (a bit of a lie), and he asked me if I wanted a job in the magazine’s office. The next week I had a full-time job as a staff copywriter. I was promoted to Assistant Editor a short time later. To this day, it’s the most serendipitous thing that’s ever happened to me.

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 book, Take Me With You: Off-to-College Advice from One Chick to Another, is a fill-in gift you give to your friend when you’re graduating high school and leaving each other. Nowadays, there’s tons of online ways to keep in contact, but if you want the perfect little present to personalize, something your friend can have forever, Take Me With You is it.

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

Because my book is nonfiction, I drew on my own personal experiences, and friends’ experiences, to come up with the different chapters on college advice. Plus, having traveled a bunch, I’m an expert at goodbye gifts. I know how fun it is to give a friend a going away gift that is unique and special.

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

My parents are the best…. No offense to anyone else’s parents, which I’m sure are pretty cool, too. My dad works in the international corporate world, but writes fiction novels in his spare time. I guess I get the writing love from his genes. My mom is a loving, patient caretaker, who spoils our family rotten. My older sister works in sales and just got married, and my younger brother plays bass in a band and is obsessed with nutrition.

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

Really delicious, freshly made gnocchi.

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

Turn off my alarm, check my email, and mentally calculate when the last time I took a shower was. I have shower anxiety! It takes a lot for me to psych myself into taking one.

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

You might be surprised that I don’t have a closet, attic, or basement! My room is a converted dining room, which means all of my clothes hang on a rack in the corner.

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?

A warm, buttery yellow, because I would make people calm and happy.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Charlie Brown is one of the best characters (cartoon or real) ever. He’s the ultimate lovable loser.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Lisa Simpson has always felt like a kindred spirit.

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 think being a young activist in the 60’s would have been an incredible time to be alive and witness how the US was changing. Plus, the music was amazing and being at Woodstock would have been cool.

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

I’m a fan of indie pop, punk folk, country, rock, classic rock, and cheesy pop music. A few of my favorites are Band of Horses, The National, Lou Reed, Born Ruffians, Elton John, The Whitest Boy Alive, Neko Case, Cat Stevens, Man Man, James Taylor, M.I.A., Grizzly Bear, and Phoenix.

I tend to not listen to music when I’m actually writing, but music inspires me to write.

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?

Favorite shows: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Office, Extras, Community, Arrested Development, and Party Down.

Movies I can watch over and over: The Royal Tenenbaums, Stand By Me, Rushmore, Rome + Juliet (1996 version), Reality Bites, City of God.

The last movie I saw in the theater: The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.

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

It sounds cheesy, but don’t ever trick yourself into thinking a goal is unattainable. Take risks, have fun, embrace who you really are, and remember that you can continue to have fun for the rest of your life. Growing up does not equal settling for a boring life. You should always be passionate about what you do.

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

Hopefully more fun, nonfiction books!

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

Interview with Daniele Lanzarotta

2010-08-26T02:12:00.000-07:00

www.danielelanzarotta.com

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

I always loved writing, but never thought of it as a career, I mean, who is actually that lucky, right? One day about two years ago, I started writing fan-fictions, just for fun, then I moved on to my own stories and characters and that was it! It just became my addiction! The best part is that I’d always been one of those college students who couldn’t decide on a major because I like just about every subject, but through my characters I get to be a little of everything!

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

My road to publishing was a short and lucky one. One day I put something on my Facebook status about finishing up a novel that I had been working on. At that point I had just started to write my query letter. Who would have thought that among my Facebook friends, there was an agent! I ended up sending her a couple of chapters and from then on, things just started to happen, and happen fast! I ended up deciding on publishing through Rocket Science Productions and that was the best decision I could have made. I was able to participate in many decisions that I wasn’t expecting to, such as book cover ideas and just about the whole process really. The entire process was fun.

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 novel is Imprinted Souls. Imprinted Souls is the first installment of the Imprinted Souls Series, which will be followed by Bloodlust, being released this November.

In Imprinted Souls, Alexis is a high school student who struggles in dealing with her soul mate’s death, and the constant dreams about him makes it even more difficult for her to let go. She meets the one who has a chance of pulling her out of that state of grief, but with that, comes the danger of being involved with a vampire and knowing way more about his world than any human should ever know.

I always get carried away when talking about it, but what I will say is that Imprinted Souls has a little bit of everything, drama, romance, comedy… and you will truly become attached to the characters.

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

Other YA authors and their stories.

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

I couldn’t have asked for a better family. My husband is not a very big fan of contemporary vampires. So when he read Imprinted Souls, liked it and asked to read the manuscript for the next one, I was thrilled! I’m not sure my daughter understands what is going on, she is only six years old, but she does tell me that she wants to read Imprinted Souls when she turns twelve (apparently that is the age when she thinks she will be able to do a lot of things…)

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

Chocolate!

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

Drink Mountain Dew (that is where my caffeine intake comes from), e-mail, and Facebook.

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

You would be surprised to know that I won’t go into my attic. Never went in there, and don’t plan to. Attics and basements really freak me out!

From my closet you would be surprised to see how organized I am when it comes to clothes. Shoes in same size clear boxes, hangers about a half-inch apart from each other… Nuts, right?

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?

It would definitely be black. It’s mysterious, elegant…

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Stewie, from Family Guy. He is hilarious!

Which cartoon character is most like you?

I honestly can’t think of any, but if you can come up with a sarcastic character, that speaks its mind… Oh, wait! Maybe a female version of Stewie!

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 kind of like the here and now. Choosing a time in history would probably take me somewhere with no cell phones and no Internet access…. I just don’t think I could make it!

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

Music always takes my mind right where it needs to be when I’m writing. I select the type of music based on the character’s personalities. Some of my favorites while working on the Imprinted Souls Series include Flyleaf, Evenacence, and Linkin Park.

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 do have a few favorite T.V. shows, although I can never just sit and watch T.V. Usually I have my laptop, and I get completely sidetracked from whatever I’m watching, but a few of my favorite T.V. shows are Vampire Diaries and True Blood (see the trend?). There are a few movies that I can watch over, and over and over! Taken, Law Abiding Citizen, Eclipse, and Hangover. Last movie seen at the theater was Despicable Me.

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

As cliché as it may sound; you can really be anything that you set your mind to.

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

I’ve been working on the remaining installments of the Imprinted Souls Series: Bloodlust, which is the second installment of the series, is coming out this November. I just can’t wait to share it with everyone. Bloodlust is very intense, full of twists, and you may just come across a very unique kind of paranormal introduced to the series.

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

Interview with Vivian Oldaker

2010-08-26T02:01:00.001-07:00

Vivian at Random House Australia

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?

When I was about eight or nine years old I wrote stories starring my best friend and me. We were both tomboys and loved the Famous Five books by Enid Blyton, so the stories usually involved smugglers and sinister men with dodgy accents. Of course, our real lives were never that exciting! I was, I have to admit, very bad at finishing these fictional adventures, but I loved doing them.

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

I have a fine collection of rejection slips, some dusty with age. Eventually, Elizabeth Maude, a then editor at Andersen Press (Random House) liked my book: “The Killer’s Daughter.” It’s often said that you can’t get a publishing deal without an agent, but I still don’t have one now. I sent the manuscript directly to one of the few publishers who were prepared to look at work not submitted through an agent. In the end, I got lucky!

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?

I’m finishing off the sequel to “The Killer’s Daughter.” It’s called “All Shook Up” and continues the story of Emma Xenos. I hope that readers who liked “The Killer’s Daughter” will want to know what happens to her. Many of the characters in the first book, feature in the second. OK, you said “one thing!” How about: “Emma’s life is “All Shook Up” by an earthquake in Kalos, and soon she discovers a shocking secret about George.”

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

My children, the landscape of Greece, my brother, overheard snatches of conversation, something seen while walking down the street. It’s hard to say, but often I’ve just woken up with a “what if?” thought in my head and taken it from there,

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

I’m married to Rick; he’s just retired as an Environmental Health Officer. He’s super-practical; a talented bass player; keen on off-road motorcycling and wildlife. My eldest child is Chloe; she lives in Wales. Chloe’s due to take part in a TV quiz show “Mastermind.” We’re really excited, as we’ll be traveling as a family to the studios in Manchester to watch her.

Alexander is very into poetry, film and music. He lives in beautiful Bath where there’s a thriving arts scene. Georgia, my youngest, lives at home. She loves wildlife and watching motorbike sport, just like her dad, and has taught herself Finnish, with a view to living by a lake in a forest one day! I’m lucky that all my children are close in age and close to each other. We have a lot of fun together.

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

Salted cashews, fresh strawberries; but not at the same time.

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

Yawn, make tea, greet cats, yawn again. OK, that’s four, but I need a lot of yawning and an industrial quantity of tea to get me going in the mornings!

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

The absence of skeletons. And the ancient shoe collection that I can’t bear to part with.

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?

Aegean Blue; like the sea. (In Greece of course. In England Grey/Brown would usually be more reminiscent!)

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Stewie Griffin. Such erudition and articulacy in one so young! Though his attitude to his mother needs improvement.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

That’s more difficult. Probably Brian Griffin. We share a passion for writing and we both use doggy-paddle to swim. Though sadly, I don’t have a fine singing voice.

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?

Ancient Rome might be fun for a day; great weather and all the grapes you can eat. Togas are flattering to figures like mine, though I’m not so sure about the sandals. I might be able to free a few slaves and fit in a visit to the Circus Maximus before traveling back to the 21st Century.

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 Prince. I saw him in London in 2007 – the best gig ever. I also like Leonard Cohen, Ian Dury, Metallica, Michael Jackson, and show tunes. I grew up listening to The Beatles and rather hoped that Paul McCartney would marry me when I was old enough. Sadly, history records that this was not the case.

I don’t listen to music while I’m writing; I find it far too distracting. I love to sing along to almost anything in the car; the car’s other occupants generally don’t share my enthusiasm

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?

TV shows I enjoy include Family Guy, Doctor Who, House, Mastermind, Outnumbered, and anything by Alan Bennett. I was formerly glued to the Sopranos, Northern Exposure and Twin Peaks.

Movies: Juno; Things to do in Denver When You’re Dead; Rain Man; Little Miss Sunshine; Road to Perdition, Children of Men, anything by the Coen Brothers; nearly all of John Travolta’s work.

When I’m feeling in need of a “comfort movie,” I’ll likely choose: Grease, Singin’ In The Rain, or Mamma Mia!

Our nearest cinema is quite a distance, so I rarely get to go. I think the last movie I saw there was “This Is It”,” the film about Michael Jackson’s rehearsals for what would have been some truly amazing shows in London.

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

Be true to yourself.

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

Apart from the sequel to “The Killer’s Daughter,” I’m working on a thriller about some kids trapped in an unusual school and another set in a post-war future where to be different really is a deadly sin.

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

Thank you very much. I’ve loved doing it!

Interview with Cinda Williams Chima

2010-08-26T01:49:00.001-07:00

www.cindachima.com

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

I struggled in early elementary school. They wanted to hold me back in first grade. I think I was entirely too focused on the stories going on in my own head. In third grade I wrote a poem about science and my teacher matted it and posted it at the science fair. It was one of my first positive experiences in school. So I thought, maybe I’ll be a writer. I’ve been writing ever since.

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

I have a degree in philosophy and a post-bacc and master’s in nutrition. I worked as a dietitian in health care for years, and more recently as a college professor. I made several paroxysmal attempts at seeking publication in college and early adulthood, but I was thinner-skinned then. One or two rejections and I left the field to lick my wounds.

When my sons were born, I began writing personal essays about parenting and published a number of them in newspapers and magazines. I followed with feature articles and a freelance nutrition column for a time. Though it was a different kind of writing, it taught me a lot about mastering rejection, responding to editors, meeting a word count, and the like.

I began writing fiction in junior high school, and returned to it sporadically as an adult. When my sons were 13 and 16 I decided to write a book that they would enjoy reading—a young adult fantasy. I wrote The Warrior Heir. After four years of rejections and revisions, I found an agent and subsequently a publisher. In that time I also wrote three more novels.

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?

Currently, I’m working on the Seven Realms fantasy series. The Demon King was released in fall, 2009 and The Exiled Queen in September, 2010. A thief with a mysterious magical heritage crosses paths with a rebellious crown princess in a queendom torn by war, magic, and vicious politics. All of my stories are about transformations—magical and otherwise.

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

My greatest influence as a writer was my mother, who was a storyteller and avid reader. My Heir Chronicles series was contemporary fantasy, set in a small town in the Midwest, a landscape I know well. My goal with the Seven Realms series is to make high fantasy just as accessible.

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

I have two sons, Eric and Keith, who are now in their early 20s. They continue to be among my first readers. My husband is an aerospace engineer, so we are the classic right brain-left brain match-up.

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

Popcorn. I love, love, love it. It was always a family tradition to eat popcorn on Sunday nights. It always stretched out the weekend a little bit. We still follow that tradition at my house.

In some books, have you noticed, the characters never eat. In my books, they are always eating. In fact, my first agent advised me to cut back on the descriptions of food. It’s my nutrition background coming through.

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

I ride a stationary bike every morning for an hour. I go about 13 miles or so in an hour. I read while I bike, which means I get in an hour of reading (usually fiction) every day. It also helps me forget I am working out. Then I work out with free weights and crunches. Then breakfast and coffee!!

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

The huge weaving loom, wrapped up with a project half-finished. It’s been that way for four years, since writing nudged weaving out of the way. I’m still trying to get back to it.

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?

Vermilion, because it is brilliant. Also there’s a river near here by that name. I always imagined the river running red with blood after some long-ago battle, but it was actually named for the red clay along its banks that was used by the Ottawa Indians for warpaint.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Dilbert.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Betty Boop. No, not really.

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?

Tudor England—but I want would to have a means to make a quick getaway when I got into trouble.

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

I trend to folk, blues, bluegrass, and country. Right now I’m liking Alison Krauss, Jakob Dylan, Lucinda Williams, Greg Brown, and Patti Griffin.

I do listen to music when I write. I didn’t used to—either I listened to music or I wrote—one or the other. But I often go to cafes to write, and the music blots out the noise around me. Otherwise I eavesdrop on other people’s conversations and make up stories about them.

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 don’t watch much TV. I don’t have anything against it—it’s something else that got cut out when I was working full-time and writing during every spare minute. Now that I’m a full-time writer, I haven’t gotten back into the habit.

The most recent movies I saw at the theatre were Avatar, Eclipse and Toy Story III. I watch the Lord of the Rings movies over and over, and used to watch Star Wars over and over.

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

When I was a teen, and my heart was broken, I used to tell myself, “How important is this--in the history of the world?” Somehow that was helpful. I still use it today.

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

I’m finishing up the last two books in the Seven Realms series, tentative titles, The Sword of Hanalea and The Gray Wolf Throne. Then I am contracted to write two more Heir books. I am a contributor to an anthology called The Way of the Wizard edited by John Joseph Adams out from Prime Books in November.

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

Interview with Lisa Mangum

2010-08-26T01:37:00.001-07:00

http://leosdungeon.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?

I think on some level, I always knew I wanted to be a writer. I have always loved books, always read anything I could get my hands on. And since my mom is a writer too, I grew up not only seeing how it was done, but that it could be done. All through my school years, I wrote short stories and poetry—mostly bad poetry—and I held up that idea of writing a book as a long-term goal, a lifelong dream. After high school, I took a little detour from being an author to pursue my goal of being an editor, but about six or so years ago, my friends and I started a writing group and I jumped back into being a writer with both feet.

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

Since I have worked for so long in publishing, I can tell you that no two books take the same path to publication. For me, my road was an exciting, and pretty fast, journey. I was working on something else entirely when I got the idea for The Hourglass Door. I was on my way to a writer’s conference and started thinking about a YA story. And suddenly the whole story just downloaded, almost as a complete piece. I hurried and scribbled down an outline, plot ideas, character names. Later that night, I pitched the idea to Chris from Shadow Mountain and he liked the idea enough that he encouraged me to write the whole thing. Roughly eight months later, I turned in the finished manuscript. Roughly three months later, I was on the schedule for publication. And I’ve never looked back since. Now I have two books out—The Hourglass Door and The Golden Spiral—and one more in the works, The Forgotten Locket.

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 release is The Golden Spiral. It’s the second book in a trilogy; The Forgotten Locket will be the third book (available May 2011). The Hourglass Door trilogy follows the story of Abby and Dante. Abby is a senior in high school when she meets Dante, who is guarding a secret that dates back to Leonardo da Vinci’s day. Dante has traveled through time—and he is not the only one. As Abby and Dante fall in love, they will need to rely on each other to help protect the river of time and make sure that Zo doesn’t change the past and destroy the future.

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

Well, the primary inspiration for the story of Abby and Dante was Dante’s epic poem The Divine Comedy. There is a beautiful passage at the end of the poem where Dante says farewell to his angel guide Beatrice. When I knew I wanted to write a YA love story, I knew I wanted to write a story that would allow me to reference that last passage from Dante. I also drew inspiration from other classic works, including Shakespeare and Virgil.

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

I’ve been married to my wonderful husband, Tracy, for eleven years. He is my best friend and has limitless encouragement for me. I’m the youngest of three; Tracy is the middle of five. I have four nieces and a nephew, who all help keep me young at heart.

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

I love dessert—anything chocolate, cheesecake, ice cream. I also love a good cut of steak.

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

1) Shower. 2) Dress. 3) Breakfast. I know, I’m super-predictable.

What I would like to do in the morning is 1) Recharge my superpower batteries. 2) Download my dreams into a virtual-reality machine. 3) Have my husband serve me breakfast in bed. (A girl can dream, right?)

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

In my closet I have a concert T-shirt from the 1996 Test for Echo tour for the band Rush. They are my favorite band ever and I’ve seen them in concert at least 7 times and have tickets to see them twice more this year. And in my basement I have a sombrero-wearing piñata, a cassette of Starship’s “It’s Not Over Til It’s Over” single, a bird woven from palm fronds, and a VHS copy of Son-in-Law staring Pauly Shore (and I don’t even own a VHS machine anymore; I think I need to clean out my basement!)

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?

I would be green because it is—and always has been—my favorite color. It’s the color of spring and vitality. Of new life.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

I love Wall-E from the Pixar movie. He has such an honest heart and I love his determination. (And I also enjoy Hello, Dolly as much as he does. :) )

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Belle from Beauty and the Beast. We both like to read, we both have big dreams, and we both are living happily ever after.

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?

Oh, tricky question! I would love to go to Italy during the Renaissance period because there were so many interesting things happening in art, music, and technology (but I would want to bring along my own toothbrush). It might also be a lot of fun to be a flapper in the Roaring 20s, or go on safari with Teddy Roosevelt. I’d love to see the signing of the Declaration of Independence. And I’d seriously consider jumping into the future to enjoy my next vacation—I could really use a break from work right now!

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 mostly pop and rock, though I grew up on classical and jazz. Some of my favorite artists (at the moment) include Barenaked Ladies, Tonic, Lifehouse, Glen Phillips, Rush, Queensryche, and Live. It’s always hard to pick just one. I do listen to music while I write. I often just set my iPod to shuffle and dive into my writing. Sometimes having the right song on while I’m working on a specific scene can really help set the stage or enhance the mood.

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?

Favorite TV shows? Lost (even though the story is over), The Big Bang Theory, Chuck, Breaking Bad, Mad Men, and oh, yes, a guilty pleasure: Project Runway. Movies? I love Pixar movies like Up, Wall-E, and Ratatouille; I also love good ol’-fashioned action movies like Aliens and Jaws. And I can’t forget the classics: Buster Keaton’s The General makes me laugh every time I watch it. The last movie I saw in the theater was Toy Story 3, which was fabulous!

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

I found this bit of advice during a trip to Disneyland with my husband. Some inspirational quotes were written on the wall and the one I remember best is, “Don’t hurry. Don’t worry. Don’t stop.” I really like that idea because at the end of the day, the most important thing about writing, the best way to improve at your craft, the most sure-fire way to get published is Don’t stop. So don’t stop doing what you love, what you are good at. You have a unique viewpoint, you have something important to say, so get out there and say it!

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

After I finish The Forgotten Locket, I have another YA story in the works—a contemporary novel about the transformative power of love—and a fairy tale as well. Plus, I have a huge chunk of an epic fantasy novel that just needs a strong ending to wrap it up.

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

Interview with Heidi Ayarbe

2010-08-26T01:22:00.001-07:00

www.heidiayarbe.com

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

I am not the typical I–wrote-poetry-and-had-teen-angst writer. In fact, I never considered writing as a possibility because I always read so much and held writers up on a pedestal of mystery and genius. I’ve never had a pet cemetery; grew up in a small town with no political revolution; didn’t want to put stones in my pockets and walk in a river … You get the idea. Plus, I’m not one of those kids who had teachers saying, “Oh! You’re so gifted. You should write.”

I studied English Education and French, but after teaching for a few years, decided that wasn’t my road.

When I was twenty-seven, working at a sporting goods shop after working at cafes in Europe, I went to a talk being given by a children’s writer. It was Ellen Hopkins (pre-Crank, Burned and her New York Times best-sellers). She talked about writing non-fiction books for educational publishers. That seemed do-able to me. I joined Ellen’s writing group in Northern Nevada, SCBWI, and I began.

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

I took Ellen’s advice: Never turn a job down. So I began writing articles for local magazines, non-fiction books, and got articles accepted to Highlights for Children Magazine. Then I was contracted to write manuals for an Argentinian publisher in Spain on getting kids to sleep, menopause, nutrition, quitting smoking … I never turned a job down, though I did lose some nights of sleep investigating.

During that time I played around with the idea of writing novels. I wrote two terrible novels then began FREEZE FRAME. After finishing my first draft, I decided that the best thing would be agented. (I live in Colombia, and I couldn’t imagine trying to do everything snail-mail from here.) I researched agents and began querying. The intrepid Stephen Barbara read FREEZE FRAME and within a couple of days offered me representation. He sold it six months later to the amazing Jill Santopolo at HarperCollins, and I’ve been writing ever since.

I AM VERY LUCKY. VERY GRATEFUL. VERY LUCKY AND AMAZED AND GRATEFUL that I have this job.

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?

COMPROMISED is a story about a courageous trio of teens facing the bleak realities of homelessness.

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

My sister because she is my memory. My life doesn’t exist without her in it. And my husband and daughter because my story began with them.

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

My sister, Carrie, is my greatest cheerleader and is a bookstore stalker – following people into the teen section, convincing them to buy my books whenever she can. So far no arrests.

My husband, Cesar, is my biggest listener, helping me untangle my plots and giving me quirky ideas that bring characters to life. Maya, my MC, loves science because of him. In FREEZE FRAME, my husband gave me the ideas for Kyle’s orange shoes and the kite-flying.

My parents are courageous, wonderful people who never doubted that I could do whatever I wanted. They are my strength and backbone.

My daughter, Amelia, is two. She makes me want to be a better person. Plus, because of her, I’m discovering the world all over again.

My nieces and brother-in-law are a comfort-zone of acceptance and warmth. They are so amazingly supportive.

I’m lucky. I have one of those families that would support me in just about any pursuit!

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

Cheerios.

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

Get a glass of milk for Amelia.

Snuggle with Amelia and Cesar for a while, hanging out, visiting, biding for a few more moments of rest.

Rush Amelia to the bathroom so we can pee. (Well, you asked!)

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

Being able to open the closet door without everything crashing on top of you. Yes, I have one of “those” closets. Be careful.

Everyone asks the question about “if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?”

Really? I’ve never heard that one.

So I want to know: If you could be a color, which color would it be, and why?

Dark Diesel/Turquoise blue – that really dark blue-green color. I just love the way it feels – like water and sky mixed. Storm clouds and waves.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Linus (from Peanuts)

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Calvin (I was a REAL pain growing up!)

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?

Right here. Right now. There’s no place I’d rather be.

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

I’m not really good at categorizing music because I don’t really know much about it. But I love jazz and blues. I love artists like Norah Jones, Gavin McGraw, John Mayer, The Dixie Chicks (which is more folk/country, I know). I also love dancing to salsa (my favorite dancing music). I don’t listen to music while writing. I have one of those strangely silent homes. I think, though, because Colombia is so, so noisy, music blaring, people talking, singing … my apartment is the only quiet place in the country. But when I’m not working, I listen to JANGO radio stations (the international version of PANDORA). (Right now, for example, MAROON 5 is singing Sunday Morning).

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?

LOVE American Idol. I can’t wait to buy CDs from Crystal Bowersox and Casey James! (Also big fan of Bo Bice, Elliott Yamin, Daughtry). I also like MEDIUM and THE MENTALIST but they’re scary and I can’t watch them alone.

I think I’ve seen the Bourne Identity movies a billion times. I also love Life is Beautiful, most things Cohen Brothers, Brokeback Mountain, and The Lives of Others. The last movie I saw in the theater was … Alice In Wonderland in 3D which gave me a killer headache. (We don’t get to movies as often as we used to.)

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

Read. Read, read, read, read, read … READ! Then listen. The biggest part of this job is listening: listening to criticism so you can grow as a writer. Then read some more. And … DON’T GIVE UP. Really. I am proof that with dedication and determination, this is a job you can do.

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

COMPULSION, a novel about a teen who suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder, will be out next year. I’m JUST starting on my 2012 novel which means I basically have no idea what it’s about! :) Anyway, keep an eye out for COMPULSION in 2011 and SOMETHING?? in 2012.

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

Thank you!

Interview with Jon Slone

2010-08-26T01:12:00.000-07:00

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?

I was always in love with words! ALWAYS! From age six on up, whenever I’d stumble into a word I didn’t know . . . well, let’s just say it was like finding chocolate for the very first time, or staying up late on a school night, or sniffing toilet paper or flying through the frosty clouds. Intrinsically I’ve always known, outwardly, since 1997.

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

It was harder than Chinese arithmetic! See Dr. Seuss’ arduous road to publishing and times it by ten! Then you’ll have mine.

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?

I’m currently writing 2 books. One is a picture book called “The Hungry Couch” and the other is my first foray into novel-dom! A massive, epic, awesome, splendiferous yarn of unadulterated action and heart-pounding suspense! With scads of yummy wit and promethean wordplay. If you like Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and the Twilight series, you’ll love this!

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

Dr. Seuss, Roald Dahl, Shel Silverstein and a modest wood-worker from Nazareth.

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

My Mom is on cloud nine! My wife, Stacy, thinks I’m the Cat’s Pajamas and my 14-month-old daughter (who is just the cutest thing with a heartbeat) likes it when I feed her chicken nuggets and crinkled French-fries!

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

Sour cream and onion potato chips and a glacial Coca Cola!!

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

Change poopy diapers, kiss wife, feed MacKenzie. Watch the movie, “Mr. Mom.” It’ll explain everything!

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

We’ve got squirrels in the attic! And drums in the basement! In the closet, the hangers are barren and the clothes are on the floor . . . but is that really out-of-the-ordinary when you’re dealing with two women? I mean, come on!

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?

GREEN! My favorite color is green. Too many reasons to choose from. Maybe I’ve always wanted to be a lush meadow?! That or a Mountain Dew Bottle? Peradventure, I might just want to be a stack of sweaty cash! Sweaty cash in a lush meadow! That’s it!!!

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

TOO EASY . . . Sylvester the puddy tat!! I love the way he talks! He’s mine and nobody else can have him. I also can do his voice, so watch out!

Which cartoon character is most like you?

I’d like to think, Bugs. But some might argue, Daffy!

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 visit my parents when they were in high school. I’d bring the good photos of them and that’s all I’d display for them. That is, unless they ended up being butts. If that were the case, I’d have to whip-out the wrinkled-up fatty pics!

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! My favorite is Chicago, circa 1969 through 1978. (Before Terry Kath died and Peter Cetera left) Steely Dan, James Taylor, Paul McCartney. Pretty much, everything in the 70’s!!! I also like Keane, John Mayer, Level 42, the Human League, Men at Work, Maroon 5, . . . seriously, if it’s got good harmony, great lyrics and good musicianship, I love it! From Country to Hip-hop, from Jim Croce to Coldplay and then back to Color Me Badd . . . It’s all yummy for my tummy. And no, I’ve tried. But I can’t write to music, too distracting. But I illustrate to it just fine!

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 LOVE MOVIES! Last movie at the theatre was Iron Man 2! Shooter, Kiss the girls, Seven, Count of Monte Cristo, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Superman (1978), Star Wars (1977), too many to list! T.V. Shows . . . 24!!!!! True Blood, Heroes, Smallville!

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

“Hold on to your seat cushions and watch out for Pecan trees!”

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

I’m a non-stop, never-sleep, super-funny, lush-Meadowy, Coke-swillin’, word-slingin’ writing machine! Thus you can look forward to reading stories that I write for forever

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

Interview with Leah Cypess

2010-07-14T00:37:00.000-07:00

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!

Interview with Michele Ashman Bell

2010-07-14T00:12:00.001-07:00

www.micheleashmanbell.com

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.

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

:) (Jen, you are such a kook! Love the waitress joke.)

I was a writer before I knew I wanted to be an author. I’ve always loved books and reading. In 3rd grade my teacher read the book, MY FATHER'S DRAGON to our class and it was magical! I felt as though I could see the book in my head, like a movie, and I was transported into the story. After that I always had my nose in a book. In high school I used to hide my novels inside my textbooks during class and get in so much trouble when I got caught. (I am not recommending you kids do this!) Anyway, in 8th grade I started keeping a journal and immediately discovered how therapeutic and fulfilling it was to write my feelings down. It was then that I discovered how powerful words are. (I highly recommend that you do THIS!)

Making this connection of putting my thoughts and emotions on paper was the beginning of becoming a writer. That and the fact that I was a daydreamer and have always had a vivid imagination. (This also got me in trouble in school. Pay attention in school or you’ll get labeled, like me! I’m talking about you Mrs. Boyack. Yes. Me, the “Daydreamer.”)

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

That road was long, bumpy, twisty, filled with potholes, dead ends and a lot of detours. It took me TEN YEARS to get my first book published. And I kept every stinking rejection letter I ever received and put them in a scrapbook. (I’ve counted them and there are 67) I knew that one day I would look back and see them as proof of all the hard work and all the barriers I had to break through to reach my goal. Ten years is a long time to try and fail at something, but I believed in myself, sometimes when nobody else did. And that’s what kept me going. In my heart, I knew I could do it, as long as I didn’t give up. Hard work and persistence are more powerful than natural talent and ability. I believe that with all my heart. And that doesn’t just apply to writing.

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 book, SUMMER IN PARIS, is a riches to rags story about a girl who has everything and loses it all when her father declares bankruptcy and her parents tell her they are getting separated. She is sent to live with relatives in the small town of Paris, Idaho, and during her summer she learns that in the end what really matters is family and being true to yourself. When you have these things, nothing else really matters.

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

I get inspiration from the weirdest places. For SUMMER IN PARIS the inspiration came when our family went on a vacation to Bear Lake which is right by Paris, Idaho. I was floored when I learned of a town on the Utah/Idaho border called Paris. Of course, the sequel to SUMMER IN PARIS is going to take place in Paris, France. This may require a vacat . . . I mean, a research trip to Paris, don’t you think?

As far as the main character in the story, I drew upon my experience not only with my own teenage daughter but her friends and the young adults I associate with. Fitting in, being part of the “in crowd,” is important, and sometimes it comes with the cost of compromising what is important to you personally. Staying true to oneself, holding on to your own core values, isn’t easy, but it is important to getting through those difficult teen years. I wanted to write a story about this theme. It may sound all fluffy and sweet but it is a powerful message that can empower a person.

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

I have four wonderful children and an amazing daughter-in-law and a granddaughter who is my greatest joy in life. My oldest, a son, is married and lives with his wife and daughter twenty minutes away. My oldest daughter just graduated from college and moved to New York City where my third child, also a daughter, already lives. She (my third child) is a junior in high school and studies ballet at the School of American Ballet, which just happens to be where the main character in SUMMER IN PARIS happens to want to go to pursue her ballet training. My daughter definitely helped me with my research for the book. Finally, I have an 11-year-old daughter at home. There is a sixteen year difference between my oldest and my youngest and it’s awesome.

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

This may sound trite, but mostly it’s chocolate. I keep a hidden stash in our house so I always have it available. White chocolate is my favorite. White chocolate Reeses are my weakness. I also love, love, love French fries, with lots of ketchup.

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

What a great question! Since I teach aerobics (1) (Zumba and step classes) five mornings a week, the first thing I do is work out. Then, once I get everyone off to work and school, I catch up on email (2) and then I write (3) for a little while. Not very exciting but it works for 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?

That I am a freaking pack rat! But there is a good reason for it, I promise. I was scarred in my childhood and my mother is to blame. You see, when I was 21 years old, I went to Germany to live for a year and a half. When I came home my mother had THROWN AWAY all my stuff! I’m talking cheerleader outfits, all my keepsakes from dances and school functions, prom dresses, memorabilia from trips and special occasions . . . ALL GONE! I looked at my mom and said, “Did you not think I was going to come home?” Seriously, I was traumatized by this and consequently, I don’t like to throw anything out, especially when it comes to my kids stuff because I never want them to come up to me one day and say, “How could you throw away all my Ninja Turtles? Those were my favorite toys in the world!” I probably need therapy. But, in my defense, it’s all neatly stored in little bins stacked to the ceiling.

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?

I have never heard the question about the tree. What has that got to do with anything???? Anyway, if I had to be a color I would be red! Red’s the best. It’s vibrant and powerful and exciting!

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS. I love his optimistic outlook on life and how stinking funny he is. The show cracks me up.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Oh my gosh, where did you come up with these questions? Growing up, the cartoons I watched were Bugs Bunny, Roadrunner, and Mickey Mouse and of course, all the Disney princess cartoons. I want to say I’m like Belle from Beauty and the Beast, because she loves books and she’s kind, but I’m probably more like Mrs. Potts because I’m bossy and in charge.

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?

This is so hard. I want to go so many places and visit so many different eras. Right now, today, I would like to be beamed to Paris since seriously I’m dying to go there and I could pack my bags in a split-second. But as far as different time in history I would not want to go backwards, I would want to go ahead into the future – but that’s not history is it? Well, then I choose to go back to 1969 and go to the moon with Neil Armstrong and Apollo 11.

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

My favorite group of all time is Earth, Wind and Fire. They are the best ever! Music from my era, the 70’s and 80’s is such great stuff. Michael Jackson definitely. Right now I really love some of the current stuff too though. I’ve got Train, Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Mika, and Coldplay on my iPod. I also listen to a lot of Latin music because of Zumba. There are some incredible Latino artists. I cannot listen to music when I write. I get too distracted by the music (refer to the daydream comment earlier).

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?

Favorite show right now is iCarly. The character Spencer on that show kills me. I love that show. I’m also an Office fan and Modern Family. I don’t watch much TV but I make time for these shows. I LOVE movies! I own every Doris Day movie ever made, so I love classics. I could watch Pillow Talk a million times and never get sick of it. Last movie I saw at the theater was The Blind Side. I am anxious to see Iron Man 2. I love action movies!

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

It’s the advice that I’ve proven over and over again to myself. If you want something badly enough and you are willing to work hard enough, you can make your dreams come true. It is so, so, so true! Don’t let anything stand in your way. I’ve taught my kids this and they are living their dreams.

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

The sequel to SUMMER IN PARIS is definitely going to be next on my list. Like I said, it will take place in Paris, France and the romance will get amped up a bit in the sequel. There’s also some mystery surrounding the hero of the story, Adam White. I’ve got some ideas for some fun fantasy stories, so stay tuned!

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

It has been a blast! I love connecting with fans and especially writing for teens. Thanks for having me. I hope I didn’t embarrass my children.

Interview with Y.S. Lee

2010-07-14T00:03:00.001-07:00

http://yslee.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?

I always secretly wanted to be a writer but was afraid to admit it until recently. I guess I thought it was arrogant or pretentious.

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

I’ve been incredibly lucky. The first novel I sat down to write was the book that eventually became A SPY IN THE HOUSE. I wrote it first as an adult novel, though. It was my agent who pointed out that it was a coming-of-age story, and suggested I revise it for YA readers. She was absolutely right, so I cut about 30,000 words. It was important to me, though, not to sacrifice the book’s darker aspects and I think I’ve managed to keep them. It’s a much tighter novel for having been pruned.

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 recent release is the first novel in THE AGENCY series, A SPY IN THE HOUSE. It’s got secrets, spies, and stench. What’s not to like? ;)

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

The inspiration came from the summer I spent living in London while I researched my PhD thesis. I loved walking the city, partly because the Victorian era feels so real when you’re there. It’s all around you! I wanted to try to recreate that feeling.

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

I have the ideal husband. He helps me talk through plot problems, reads my drafts, supports my writing in really thoughtful, practical ways, and makes me coffee every morning. And he’s very, very funny.

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

Pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) and its close cousins.

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

Curse the time (if it’s early, which it always is), drink some water, put on my glasses. Glamorous, hey?

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

Maybe the 40-lb sacks of wood pellets in the coat closet? They heat our house via the pellet stove.

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?

I’d be red, because it rocks and I aspire to rock, too.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Mina Murray in Alan Moore’s The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

I like Snoopy’s vivid fantasy life. And I love suppertime, too.

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?

Right now, I’d go to SE Asia in the 1940s to research this idea I have for a book.

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 lush, extravagant singer-songwriters like Rufus Wainwright and Florence and the Machine, and slightly more austere classical music (Brahms). I can’t listen to music while I write – I’d never get any work done!

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 adore Dr. Who. My favourite movies are action flicks – the dumber the better – but I don’t really watch them again. The last movie I saw at the theatre was probably Quantum of Solace (yes, all those many eons ago).

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

You have to be a reader before you can be a writer.

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

More AGENCY novels, for sure – book 2, THE BODY AT THE TOWER, comes out in August and book 3, THE TRAITOR AND THE TUNNEL is out in 2011. And I hope to be around for a good long time after that!

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

Thank you so much for inviting me here. It’s been fun.

Interview with Adam Selzer

2010-07-13T23:50:00.001-07:00

www.adamselzer.com

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.

I see you suffer from waitress dreams? I used to get those - I'd be 2/3rds asleep and wake up hearing someone say "excuse me" or the back-of-house guy shouting "hands in the kitchen!" I gradually learned to tell myself it was a dream and I could tell the person to shut up and let me sleep. Took a lot of practice, though!

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 was one of the careers I always imagined for myself, along with “baseball player,” “cartoonist,” “movie star,” and all of that. Then, in fourth grade, my teacher wrote that she was impressed by my stories on my report card. I’m not the kind of guy who got a lot of great marks on my report cards (even my preschool one says “Adam often seems to be in his own little world,”), I wasn’t much good in the coupe of dozen retail or restaurant gigs I worked, and I sure don’t want to be an executive... I never made it as a rock star. But few things in rock music match the subversive thrill of suggesting that people go read HOWL by Allen Ginsberg in a book marketed as “Ages 10+.”

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

When I was in about 8th grade, I started sending fantasy and horror stories to magazines, where they were roundly rejected. In 10th grade I wrote a Dean Koontz-type novel called Instant Karma and sent it to a couple of agents, who wisely rejected it. Thank goodness they rejected it. I know a lot of great teen writers, but I don’t know anyone who looks back on the stuff they wrote in high school and wishes it was out. In college I got an agent to represent a religious satire I wrote with a friend, but it never did sell. Then I got another book, another agent, and got a deal. So I failed about every way you can fail on the way to being published, and I still fail from time to time. This is life as I know it.

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?

I KISSED A ZOMBIE AND I LIKED IT is a satire on the paranormal romance genre. If you can’t stand TWILIGHT, you’ll love it. But even if you LOVE TWILIGHT, you might still dig this one. My job as a satirist is pretty much to job onto a bandwagon and stick a Garfield doll in the window, but I also have to be able to drive the thing. I wanted that book to be simultaneously hilarious and genuinely, heart-breakingly romantic (this, too, is life as I know it).

THE SMART ALECK’S GUIDE TO AMERICAN HISTORY can help you become the biggest pain in the history of your history teacher’s butt, and tell you all the stuff the Texas school boards don’t want you to know! It’s about time some history book had the courage to say General Ambrose Burnside’s facial hair made him look like a goofball, if I do say so myself. Usually when the book makes fun of a historical figure, it’s in that Rodney Dangerfield way, where you take a shot at their foibles or their hat and then say “but, hey, let’s hear it for him, folks. He’s all right!” Not Burnside, though. He wasn’t much of a general. History’s full of the type of people where making fun of their haircut is probably more polite than talking about their wretched careers.

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

Looking at the world from a sort of sideways angle. I try not to write anything too autobiographical into my books, but just thinking about the statue of the naked angel on a tricycle that they used to have at the mall where I grew up and wondering what some kid who thought his dad was a spy would make of that thing. Getting ideas is all about making connections.

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

Did you ever watch Modern Family? That’s pretty much my family. My family is interracial, interfaith, and inter-all kinds of stuff. Our family portraits look like posters for Diversity Day or something. It’s pretty awesome.

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

Good mashed potatoes. And, for writing, cotton candy flavored gum. I used to chew that stuff while I worked in fantasy stories in middle school, and chewing it now still puts me in the mood to write.

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

Check my email, eat some breakfast, and head for the coffee shop.

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

Hmm…I don’t really have any of those! We live in a small apartment in Chicago. My wife sort of took over the closets, so my stuff is all in one of those “rolling wardrobes.” But if you dug under the bed or on top of the shelves or in any of the other clever places we’ve made into storage, you’d fine a LOT of old Star Wars stuff. Just a LOT of Star Wars stuff. There’s some pretty weird stuff, but it’s not labeled, so you probably wouldn’t be surprised. Like, (uh, strictly hypothetically) you wouldn’t know that the bent up clothes hanger came from Bob Dylan’s garbage.

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?

Smoky gray, because smoky gray is cool, daddy-o. I’d drift through the streets beneath the El tracks and haunt jazz clubs. Gray was my favorite color for years, but I gradually came to realize that I like enamel orange (think Old Volkswagon Orange) better.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Man, what a great question! I’m going to go with Troy McClure, whom I remember from such films as “Lead Paint: Delicious but Deadly” and “The Decapitation of Larry Leadfoot.”

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Probably TJ from Recess.

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 should probably be responsible and go to some major historical event where an eyewitness could clear up a lot of mysteries (like “which side fired the first shot at Concord?” or “Did Christopher Marlowe really accidentally stab himself to death in a bar fight?”) But it’s safer just to go observe – I mean, what if I went to see some big religious event and found out it never happened? That could really screw things up back here. So I guess I’d go to one of Charles Dickens’s public readings – one of the nights where he did the scene from OLIVER TWIST where Sikes kills Nancy. Apparently that scared the crap out of people back then, but there’s no way to see it or hear it now. Ask me again next week and I might just want to go to see a Doors concert or something, though.

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

The big three for me are Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Tom Waits. But every project develops its own soundtrack – sometimes the playlist is songs with the right “vibe” for a project, or songs the main character would probably like, or songs that I’m just into at the moment. My playlist for my current project has a lot of Jonathan Richman, some Mika and Lady Gaga, Gaslight Anthem, Dead Milkmen, Counting Crows, and 80s metal. The playlist for my book TANGLED UP IN BLUE, which’ll be out next year, had a lot of Beach Boys, Hold Steady and Moldy Peaches.

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?

We went to Alice in Wonderland with Claudia Gray a few weeks ago – that was pretty cool. I couldn’t help wondering if we’d think the movie was endlessly fresh and brilliant or a complete mess if we didn’t already know the Alice story. Around the house we watch an awful lot of Dr. Who these days. I watch “Almost Famous” again and again, and I’m probably due for another Rocky Horror outing. I have to go to Rocky Horror now and then just to keep my head in order. Sort of like how some people have to go camping occasionally.

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

Pay no attention to the miserable people who tell you high school should be the best years of your life. I hate to be one of those guys who says “in 10 years, none of this will matter,” because that won’t do you much good until 10 years from now, but no one ever looks back on middle school and thinks it was the best years of their life, and high school is just something to survive. Keep reading. Especially the classics and my books.

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

Next year I’ll have a book out called TANGLED UP IN BLUE, a John Hughes-esque romantic comedy about a girl who gets over an unrequited crush by embarking on a “holy quest” with a couple of misfits who have invented their own religion. I’m also working on this project called “the Satanic YA” book that’s building up some notoriety already, and a handful of other projects. I’m getting superstitious about mentioning works in progress before they sell, though, so I should shut up.

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

Interview with Elizabeth Aston

2010-07-13T23:41:00.001-07:00

www.elizabeth-aston.com

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

When I was at school.

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

I was lucky, because I’d worked in publishing, and my ex-boss put me in touch with an ex-editor who was just setting up as an agent. He gave me some brilliant advice: he looked at the chapters I sent him, ringed a page, and said, ‘There, that’s your voice. Write like that, and you’ll be a published author.’

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?

WRITING JANE AUSTEN is a book about writing a book, and it’s a book about a young woman discovering Jane Austen. It’s a contemporary romantic comedy, intended to make you laugh.

After reading this book, if you’ve never read Jane Austen, you’ll want to; if you have, you’ll dive straight back into PRIDE & PREJUDICE – and you’ll never feel bad about procrastinating again

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

All the writers I’ve read since I could read. Jane Austen, of course, but others too numerous to mention, from ancient Greeks to modern authors.

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

There’s my husband, who doesn’t get to read my books until it’s too late for me to take any notice of his comments, a son (who’s also a writer – he writes fantasy) and a daughter who’s my chief beta reader. And two great cats, Basil and Mefisto.

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

Chocolate! Need you ask?

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

Apart from yawn, stretch and put my feet on the floor? Look at the sea, to check out what mood it’s in, make coffee, and flip through overnight RSS feeds and the news.

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

Dead computers. I’m a long-time techno-freak, which is something most people don’t expect writers to be.

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?

Purple, because I love amethysts, and it’s a color that glows with life.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Bart Simpson.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

I’d like to think it was Emily Strange. Lots of pizzazz!

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?

Rome, March 15 44BC. The day of Julius Caesar’s assassination. Mind you, that’s a dangerous place to be!

Why there and then? Because it’s a key moment in history, and because I adore Rome, and would love to see it as it was then.

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

I listen to Baroque music when I’m writing, it’s supposed to help the brain waves, and I find it really works.

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?

Oldies like Friends and The West Wing. And now, Glee.

A film I often watch is Legally Blonde - perfect after a hard day’s work. With a square of chocolate at hand, of course.

The last movie I saw was Alice in Wonderland. I’m a huge Tim Burton fan, and it’s a great film.

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

If you want to be a writer, read and read and read. And if you don’t, read just the same – it’s one of the great pleasures of life.

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

I’m working on a new rom com, this time set in Italy with a few excursions into the past.

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

Interview with Matthew Quick

2010-07-12T17:56:00.001-07:00

http://matthewquickwriter.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?

Q (most people call me Q): My 11th grade English teacher submitted my poetry to a contest of sorts. We were put on a bus and driven to a local university where a professor critiqued our poems. The professor didn’t love my work, but he took it very seriously, just like my English teacher had. I really liked it when others took my words seriously. I knew I wanted to be a writer, but I was talked into becoming an English teacher and it took about 13 more years for me to fully commit to writing.

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

Q: Around thirty, I had an early mid-life crisis. I was teaching high school English, and while I loved the profession, it was demanding and left little time for writing. Many years had slipped by and I still wasn’t any closer to publishing a novel. So my wife and I quit our jobs, sold our house, traveled to Peru, backpacked around southern Africa, and then moved in with Alicia’s parents. I began writing full-time in their basement. I did that for three years—working on my craft, learning about publishing, and reaching out to other authors. I also earned my Creative Writing MFA via Goddard College. I emerged from the basement with my first novel, THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, and a movie deal.

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?

Q: SORTA LIKE A ROCK STAR is about a teenager named Amber Appleton. She’s been kicked in the teeth by life again and again, but she tries to stay hopeful. Amber spends most of her time doing very interesting (and often hilarious) community service projects, even though she is homeless and therefore needs help herself. When a fatal tragedy strikes, Amber falls into a depression and must learn to accept help as her community rallies in a beautiful and life-altering way.

Here is the reason you should buy this book: The ending will have you throwing sky punches in celebration.

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

Q: Everyone and everything inspires my stories. But my wife has been my greatest supporter and best friend. She is also a novelist, so she understands what I do and her work inspires me. Alicia keeps me moving forward.

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

Q: My family is very supportive now that I am publishing, but they were not happy when I quit my job, sold my house, and started writing full-time. My father actually called me an idiot when I did that. (He’s a fan now.) Most families want to protect their members and as the writing life can often be precarious, my family initially worried about me, and probably still does. There are much easier ways to make a living, but if you are a writer, you must write, and that’s all there is to it.

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

Q: How can anyone live without pizza? I am totally down with the local pizza makers. Antonio’s pizza rules!

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

Q: Make coffee, check e-mail, and hug my wife.

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

Q: I have a shoebox full of letters from my high school pen pal—actual written letters that were delivered once upon a time (before e-mail) by postal workers who carried the letters to your house! Don’t know why I keep these letters, but I do. Writing to Jessica was probably the start of my writing addiction. We wrote so many letters!

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?

Q: My favorite color is black, which sounds depressing, but I look best in black. And also, black absorbs all colors of light, which is sort of inclusive. I’m all about inclusion. I’d be black.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Q: Hmmm. I should probably say something manly, like Wolverine, but maybe Sebastian the crab from The Little Mermaid?

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Q: Again, I should probably say something manly, like Wolverine, but maybe Sebastian the crab from The Little Mermaid?

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?

Q: It would be awesome to walk amongst dinosaurs, although I’d be pretty terrified. I would like to meet my parents when they were first dating, when they were young.

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

Q: I love all types of music. I’m always saying, the more you love the happier you are. I listen to everything from Paganini to The Pogues. Metallica to The Killers. Ani DiFranco to Public Enemy. Flobots to Johnny Cash. Fugazi to Neutral Milk Hotel to Regina Spektor. Everything! I will always have a special place in my heart for The Smiths. However, I can write only to instrumental music. I love writing to Rachel’s. The SORTA LIKE A ROCK STAR book trailer features a song by Rachel’s.

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?

Q: TV shows: Buffy, Angel, Lost. Movies: Harold and Maude, It’s A Wonderful Life, Lars And The Real Girl, The Shawshank Redemption, everything Wes Anderson and David O. Russell. Last movie I saw in the theater: Greenberg.

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

Q: Talk about what you love, not what you hate. And if you are a writer, write about the things you love. Care about things. Be passionate. Be compassionate too.

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

Q: My next YA book—after SORTA LIKE A ROCK STAR—will also be published by Little, Brown & Company. It’s called BOY21. Look for it in 18 or so months. I’m really excited about that one too. It’s about love, poverty, basketball, mental health, forgiveness, and outer space—but mostly it’s about growing up. More details to come…

Thanks so much for interviewing me and thanks to all the readers too.

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

Interview with Jaclyn Dolamore

2010-07-12T17:45:00.000-07:00

http://jaclyndolamore.com

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

I really have been writing all my life. In fact, I almost hate this question just because I'm afraid I'm going to discourage someone who is just getting started. But, I've pretty much kept all my childhood writing so I know I was writing at least since I was five. I have little stories and a few diary entries from back then.

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

I've wanted to be a published writer since I was a teenager. I think I was 12 the first time I checked the Writers Market out of the library. But, I didn't seriously pursue it until I was 23, and I quickly found out that I had a lot to learn, but I also sort of realized it was actually possible. For three years, I treated writing like a full-time unpaid job. I worked in retail part-time, had crazy budgeting skills, and wrote and submitted and rewrote and submitted again. MAGIC UNDER GLASS was completely written from the ground up three different times. But when it finally happened, it happened fast. It was about three weeks from accepting my agent's offer to represent me to accepting a publishing deal from Bloomsbury.

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?

Well, my next book, BETWEEN THE SEA AND SKY, is a love story between a mermaid and a winged guy. And do I really need to say more? Such a setup for romantic agony. If you enjoy a little romantic agony, you may enjoy this. (Although it is not just agony. It can also be quite funny in places. At least, that is the intention!)

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

It's hard to name one thing. But I was a huge anime fan as a teenager. And even before that, a huge fan of Final Fantasy games. Japanese storytelling had a big influence on me. They have a whole category of stories for girls with fantasy and romance and relationship stories all tangled up, and we don't have anything quite like that here.

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

My family is awesome. I have a sister 2 1/2 years younger than me who was a collaborator in all my pretend games and story worlds when I was a kid and teenager. I could not have asked for a better sister. And my mom is kind of a hippie and she homeschooled us. We were really free and had tons of time to be creative. My dad was at work a lot but some of my earliest memories are of him reading THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA and LITTLE HOUSE to us. So I really couldn't have asked for a more supportive environment. And yeah, they are all really proud of me and it's really cute. =)

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

German and Polish food. Goulash and red cabbage with apples and things like that. Although if I have a physical illness, I crave big kale salads.

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

Well, I have a disintegrating wedding veil from the 1920s in a box. You might wonder why I have that. It came from a sort-of relative and it's too awesome to get rid of, but also fairly useless.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

That's hard. I don't think I should include anime because that is so vast. Well, I've always had a thing for Scrooge McDuck since I was five or six and Duck Tales was on. Yes. I know. I was a little girl idolizing a stingy duck. Don't ask what that was about. I have a Scrooge McDuck toy in front of my computer monitor now.

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?

It would be pretty sweet to be in the audience of David Bowie's performance on the Midnight Special from 1973. I'd like to take the place of the girl who grabs his bracelet off his arm...

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

David Bowie and Roxy Music. For sure. But I like a lot of weird music. World music and old music. Kind of like my writing. If I'm browsing CDs somewhere and I see like, "folk songs of Norway" or "1920s railroad music" I'm like OOH WHAT IS THAT?

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?

Favorite TV: Lost (if it ends badly, I retract this). Tim and Eric Awesome Show. The Venture Brothers. Avatar: The Last Airbender. Family Guy. King of the Hill. Look Around You. I think my TV tastes might belong to a boy, actually; a nerdy boy who likes Adult Swim programming. (It doesn't hurt that I never turn on the TV. My boyfriend does and I get sucked in.) Movies I am very picky about. I hardly see anything in the theater. I probably watch 20 movies a year. But when I do love one, I love it passionately. My Fair Lady, Auntie Mame, Lost in Translation, Ghost World, Marie Antoinette, the Lord of the Rings movies, Metropolis, pretty much anything Studio Ghibli.

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

Don't let anyone make you feel guilty for doing what you're passionate about. Don't let anyone tell you art is a waste of time. Sometimes I think people believe they are on the planet to make money, not to be joyful or to bring others joy or to do what makes them uniquely themselves. Sometimes if you follow your heart, people will scoff at you. Try, try not to listen.

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

Well, there is the mermaid and winged guy book, BETWEEN THE SEA AND SKY. Then, the further adventures of Nimira and Erris in MAGIC UNDER STONE. And I certainly have other projects in various stages of completion, but I won't tease you with them until I have a better idea whether they will be published or not!

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

Interview with Becca Wilhite

2010-07-12T17:29:00.000-07:00

www.beccawilhite.com/blog

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.

Thanks for having me, Jen. I’m hungry – what are you serving?

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?

I loved writing in college (where I didn’t take a single creative writing class). I knew I loved words - and books - always. And then, almost by accident, I realized that I could do words and books, too. So a writer was born. (Okay, and really? It was when I made people laugh out loud because of something I wrote that I really, really knew I was hooked.)

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

WARNING: Please don’t read this if you’re susceptible to hating Lucky People.
I am a slush pile success story. I sent in an unsolicited full manuscript, and it was plucked out, dusted off, maybe even ironed, and turned into a book. I know. Way lucky. And I’m way, way grateful.

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 RIDICULOUS ROMANTIC OBSESSIONS s a romantic comedy (could you have guessed?) and there is all manner of hotness, and some variety of comedy, and smoothie, and ice cream, and shopping, and roommate drama, and mixed messages and plenty of voices in the head. Also, it’s clean, which I’m all for.

The one thing? It will make you laugh. (DISCLAIMER: unless you have no sense of humor)

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

I have four amazing kids. And they EAT books. Okay, not literally, except for the last one, and we’re pretty sure we’ve cured him of that nasty habit. But knowing that my kids will read everything out there? That makes me eager to help get fun, happy stuff out there.

Also, life is funny. And I like funny things. So I write about them (but it’s hard to dedicate a book “to Life, because you’re funny”).

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

You know how some people have a family tree? I’m sort of a forest girl, myself. My kids have 25 aunts and uncles. I’m totally not making that up. They’re almost all respectable adults by now. And they think I’m fabulous, natch. Just ask them. :)

I have the greatest husband in the world, and all four of my favorite kids are actually my children, so I get to see them every day. Being the Mom is my first (and favorite) job, even though it doesn’t pay that much. But, on the upside, nobody fires me when I decide not to clean the house, or when there’s cold cereal for dinner. So it’s good work, and I recommend it if you can get it.

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

Popcorn. With a great deal of butter. Mmm. Crunchy things. Salty things.

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

Really? That’s sort of personal. :) (Brush teeth, get a drink, say a prayer). Then, after I leave the bedroom/bathroom, I sit down to write (most days). That lasts about an hour, till kids get up and I get busy doing Momness. Then I send the lovelies all off to school (!!) and I either write some more, exercise, or have a shower. Some days all three! (I know. I’m a marvel.)

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

There are such beautiful photos in our house. My husband takes amazing shots. So the thing that would surprise you is that we don’t actually look quite as glowy in person as we look in the pictures on the walls.

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?

Chartreuse. Because I can spell it. Also, I really do love green things (and chartreuse is green did you know?) like all the green things that are currently hiding under 18 inches of front-yard snow. Yes. It is March. Yes, that is, um, difficult. Yes, spring will come to the frozen mountaintops. Someday.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

For years, it was Pinky (of Pinky and the Brain, from the Animaniacs) but I’ve just become introduced to Phineas and Ferb, and so I’m going to go with Perry the Platypus.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Once again, I’ll have to go with Perry, since I spend a great deal of time in disguise, foiling the plans of Evil.

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 have the right figure for Regency England. And I can fake the accent. Jane Austen would have loved me.

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

I’m a huge Musical Theater nerd. My girls love that. My husband? Not so much. I have a pretty wide range of music that I like, but I can’t listen to any of it while I write. I don’t have enough character to stay focused. I’d end up writing lyrics into every scene (which isn’t as great an idea as it sounds like).

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 went years without watching TV for anything other than PBS kid stuff (I love me some Sesame Street – I think it’s got some of the best writing anywhere). Then my MIL introduced me to Pushing Daisies (which, apparently nobody but my MIL and me watched, because it was only on 2 seasons), which gave me dialog envy and made me laugh every episode. And now, I’m starting to watch MONK. I know. I’m only 8 years late, but what can you do?

Movies are a different story. I love movies. I watch lots of movies over and over. When I was in High School, it was Ghostbusters (I really am that old), and I watched it so often that I have (still) every line, every camera move, and every sound effect in my brain, taking up valuable space. I’m pretty varied in my movie tastes, too. I love sappy, cheesy romance stuff, artsy romance stuff, heist-style romance stuff, and action-romance stuff. See? I’m totally diverse.

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

Read many great books. Don’t know any? Ask your mom. Ask your English teacher. Ask your librarian. There are so many wonderful words (and worlds) out there, so get a taste of lots of them. Then go home and write your own. Because that? Is really fun.

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

I’m working on several (cause I’m disheveled like that), but I think I’ve found my mojo in the contemporary YA fiction/romantic comedy world. We’ll see how that changes when (if) I decide to grow up. Don’t count on it.

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

Interview with Matt Beam

2010-07-12T17:19:00.001-07:00

www.mattbeam.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?

I knew I wanted to be a writer some time in high school, but I didn’t do much about it until my late-twenties. I call 0-28 my research years!

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

My road to publishing, while always a road – and I truly appreciated that some writers bushwhack for years before they even see a path – has had all kinds of bumps along the way. The first publisher to buy one of my books, CAN YOU SPELL REVOLUTION?, took a full year and a half to actually say yes, and then a week later it went bankrupt and my manuscript became a frozen asset. It wasn’t until I sold my second book, GETTING TO FIRST BASE WITH DANALDA CHASE, that the original first was resold and became my second. Got it? :) For those first two novels, I did many and significant edits for the US market, which was a whole Odyssey unto itself.

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?

LAST DECEMBER, my most recent YA novel, was my attempt at doing two things: to authentically and honestly represent what it is like to be a 15-year-old male, and to express this reality in a lyrical and (I hope!) aesthetically pleasing way. The novel is written in the form of a letter from said young man, Steven, to his unborn sister, Sam, and it is his attempt at trying to explain to her why it is he has to do what it is he has to do. :)

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

I would have to say the greatest inspiration for my stories are my own memories of childhood and adolescence. It seems that I’ve retained this part of my life in incident and feeling. It’s just not all that hard for me to recall the dizzying affects of a first crush, or the awkward attempts one makes as a teen at being cool.

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

I come from a family of teachers, so while they are thrilled at my becoming an author, I think they are still sort of scratching their heads about how it all came to be. To tell you the truth, I sometimes pinch myself – it’s still pretty amazing to me that I’ve become an author.

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

I am addicted to Eggs Benedict and spicy, spicy wings.

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

A coffee, a few moves of online Scrabble, and then to work!

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

All my camping gear might make you scratch your head a bit. I go on canoe trips annually and there is a preponderance of little containers, water-proof bags, and cooking equipment, which all must come on these trips. The food goes into a big, tightly-sealed, bear-proof can, with shoulder-straps for carrying.

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?

It would be the color blue because after having green as my favourite colour for years and years, I’ve just made the big switch. Blue is beautiful, no? I don’t know why I never saw it. Also, Sky Blue Sky is the name of an album by one of my favourite bands, Wilco. It’s a great album and a great album name.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Bart Simpson

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Bart Simpson

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 like this question because “beam” is a word, nay, a name that I am very familiar with. When I introduce myself, I say, “I’m Matt Beam, as in sun, moon, laser – not fava, black, jumping.” I’ve always wanted to go to India. It is an exciting place to be these days, and I’ve always gravitated toward the people.

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 all kinds of music but I err toward something called Indie Pop. Some of my favourite bands/singer-songwriters include Metric, Hayden, Grandaddy, and Okkervil River. I tend to write in cafés and I find the sonic background helps me focus in. There’s nothing more daunting than the silence of my home office!

Do you have any favorite T.V. shows?

Da Vinci’s Inquest was my favourite show for years.

Movies you watch over and over again?

Down by Law by Jim Jarmusch changed my life when I saw it at 16. I watch it every couple of years.

What was the last movie you saw at the theater?

Broken Embraces by Pedro Almodovar.

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

Keep reading! Along with being a great and wonderful pastime, it quietly makes you smarter, more eloquent, more knowledgeable, and better at arguing for the most important person in the world: you!

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

I am about to write my first novel with a female protagonist! I’ve been excited about doing this for years. The rest is a secret. Oh yeah, and I’m a photographer. My first book of photography, CITY ALPHABET, was a big hit, so I’m doing a follow up for 2011!

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

Interview with Alice Rene

2010-07-12T17:09:00.001-07:00

www.alicerene.com

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

I started writing my memoir after my grandson interviewed me for a paper he was writing for a social studies class in which he chose the Holocaust as his subject.

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

After my interview I decided that if I was to write anything, I would try to do it the best I could. I took writing classes and joined workshops in which I read my work to other writers who critiqued my work. They were intrigued by my story and encouraged me to get it published.

Initially I tried to get an agent and get my memoir, BECOMING ALICE, into the hands of a traditional publisher. After spending some months with that effort, I decided to put it into the hands of a POD, iUniverse. It was one of the smartest decisions I have ever made. The book has been very well received. It has won a number of awards in contests I have entered. (See the Awards Page on my website) and I am still being asked to be a speaker and participant in events locally. (See the Events Page on my website)

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?

I have been asked by many people to whom I have spoken, “What happened next?” Or, what happened to your brother, your best girlfriend, or your parents?” I’ve decided to answer some of those questions, perhaps in short story format.

As you can see from my website, my book has special appeal for the teenage/young adult market, as well as the adult market. Teenagers especially can relate to the young Alice who had been damaged by the threat to her life by Nazi persecution of Jews in WWII. That situation was made even more difficult by growing up within a troubled family. This effected her entire childhood and adolescence. Young people often ask me how I got beyond that time to become the woman I am today. I tell them to read my book.

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

I think the books written by people who have had to overcome enormous odds such as the story of Anne Frank, Hellen Keller, Barack Obama, etc. etc.

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

Fortunately for me, the main characters in my book, namely my mother, father, and brother, have not been able to read the book. Lucky for me, because I think my dad wouldn’t have liked to look back at some of his behavior that wasn’t exactly admirable.

However, my husband and my kids are all very, very proud of me. … Thank God!

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

Comfort food? Well, there are so many things: chocolate, coffee, cookies (my own Viennese Almond Cookies, of course) and then there’s pizza and Caesar salad and … and … how long is this interview? I could go on and on.

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

1) Stumble into the kitchen 2) Make my first cup of coffee 3) Feed the dog who’s been barking at me ever since I got into the kitchen.

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 have a basement or attic. My closet has lots of comfy clothes: jeans, sweatshirts, tennis clothes, a couple of dressy things … for just in case someone asks me to speak to their group.

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?

I love blue. Maybe that’s because people tell me I look good in that color … it brings out the blue in my eyes. But … blue is a cold color and I don’t think of myself as a cold person. I guess I’d like to be yellow because it’s cheerful , or green, because I’m into the environment. This is a hard question. Maybe after you talk to me, you’ll choose a color for me.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Easy. Snoopy!

Which cartoon character is most like you?

I dunno. A non-nearsighted Mr. Magoo.

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?

Maybe …the turn of the century. We’ve been watching discs of the old “Upstairs Downstairs” episodes done by the BBC in the 1970’s and they are GREAT!!! ( We get them from Netflix)

Not only is the writing and acting superb, but the costumes. Oh my God, they are BEAUTIFUL!! Of course, you have to have a Parlor Maid to help you get in and out of them.

And, it’s best to have a ton of money. How much fun all that would be, even for a little while.

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 while I’m writing. I need to concentrate and the music takes my attention away. I like classical music. My favorites are Beethoven, Mozart, Vivaldi, etc. To me how can you beat Vivaldi’s Four Seasons?

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 do a lot of scrolling on TV. I often stop at Animal Planet, the Smithsonian, all the tennis tournaments, the Olympics, and any movies that I missed on screen.

Last movie I saw was Julia and Julie. There’s no one better than Meryl Streep in my book.

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

The most important piece of advice I can give teen readers, as well as any genre of readers, is to keep reading. It’s so much fun and the added benefit might be that you may learn something in the process.

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

Right now I’m working on a piece about a stalker.

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

Interview with Carmen Catalina

2010-07-12T16:50:00.001-07:00

Carmen on Goodreads

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?

I was writing my first stories when I was in the fourth grade, and I’ve known ever since then.

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

It took me a very long time to take myself seriously as a writer. In my 20s I desperately wanted to be a writer but really thought that unless I had something profound to say that I probably shouldn’t pursue it. When I read a very simple book called JEMIMA J by Jane Green and it changed my life, that’s when I realized that all stories are worth telling because anything can impact your life, even if it isn’t Pulitzer Prize winning material. That’s when I began writing for real and started pursuing my dream of publication. Before I wrote my first book, I did see my name in print when I wrote letters to the editor and wrote for my college newspapers.

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 book ...BY DAPHNE is a tale about a teenager who experiences all the angst imaginable and has quite a magical life, but it isn’t supernatural magic. It’s a real magic.

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

I’d have to say life is my biggest influence. Just living and observing has made me full of inspiration.

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

My six-year-old daughter Mia is my biggest fan. She tells everyone that her mom is a “book signer” and likes to pretend she is my assistant. She is the most fun. My family is a little shocked because to hear me talk about something I wanted to do for so long and finally doing it is a huge deal. I’m lucky to have a few friends who are tremendously supportive and excited about my writing adventures.

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

Pizza is my weakness. For celebrations, we get pizza. If we’re upset, pizza makes it all better.

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

I ignore the buzzer for way too long, then I take too much time checking my email and the daily headlines, then I rush around trying to get us ready to begin our 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?

My closet is surprising because I have a small wardrobe. Then you’d notice the six years worth of magazines that I can’t let go of.

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?

I’d want to be the color black because I associate power, mystery, class and sophistication with black, so I’d definitely want to be black.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Right now, Candace from Phineas and Ferb cracks me up.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Rex from Toy Story.

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 would have to meet my grandmother’s parents in probably the early 1900s. I feel a tremendous connection to my great-grandmother who died during childbirth when my grandmother was very young. I’d like to see her, and watch her and try to figure out the connection I have to her.

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

Musically I’m totally stuck in the 80s. Van Halen, Psychedelic Furs, Depeche Mode and Night Ranger are my favorites. I love Shakira and Shania Twain. I don’t listen to music when I write because it distracts me. Sometimes when I hear music I just have to dance, and I can’t dance and write at the same time.

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 haven’t watched TV regularly since Friends went off the air. Sometimes I have been known to be a couch potato during marathons like House, The Real Housewives or Tori and Dean. Movies I can watch over and over again are You’ve Got Mail, Sunset Boulevard, National Treasure and Sex and the City. The last movie I saw in the theater was the Hannah Montana Movie. Can’t wait for Fame.

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

Try not to forget who you are and always remember to dream big.

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

I’m working on the sequel to ...BY DAPHNE and a screenplay. I’ll definitely keep you posted.

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

Interview with Mark A. Cooper

2010-02-22T21:59:00.001-08:00

http://markacooper.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?

I started making up stories for my son when he was about three. It went from there, once he was twelve his grades improved after he read the ‘Harry Potter’ series. However once that was finished he could not get into a book that would hold his attention, he wanted an action adventure boys book. So I wrote Fledgling: Jason Steed, for him.

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

I originally self-published Fledgling: Jason Steed, it was just intended for my son and immediate family. It was listed like all books on Amazon and Barnes & Noble; there were all sorts of rumors circulating to who actually wrote the book, I was stunned by the book's success. One afternoon out of the blue an agent called me, I have since signed with her and we now have a contract to publish two more Jason Steed novels.

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 publishers are going to re-publish and edit Fledgling: Jason Steed. I have completed Jason Steed book two; ‘Boudica’. In this Jason is on the run from a ‘Triad’ gang across Europe, he travels on trains, planes and even a ski lift. I feel this is by far the best book I have written, the action is non-stop, yet we still have the emotion that we had in Fledgling. I know my readers who enjoyed Fledgling will devour it.

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

In 1939 a fourteen year old British cabin boy was killed when a torpedo from a German U-boat shot it. Raymond V Steed was the youngest recorded service dead of the Second World War.

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

My son is my biggest fan; I have often found him peeking at my notes and computer to see what’s happening to Jason Steed.

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

That’s easy. I am an Ice Cream aholic.

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

After I stop myself from throwing the alarm clock out the window, it’s straight into the shower, followed by a glass of ice water. This wakes me up much faster than coffee.

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

My wife keeps our home immaculate, if we don’t have a need for it, she gives it away to charity, so you would be so surprised how organized it is. Our attic must be the cleanest in America.

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?

I would be Blue, like the warm sky on a summer’s day.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Bart Simpson.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Apu from The Simpsons. I don’t work in a 24 hour Kwik E Mart but I am a workaholic, working seven days a week.

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?

Beam me back to May 14th 1944 to Auschwitz with a modern high powered machine gun. I would love to spray the Nazi’s with bullets as they tried to gas the poor Jewish people.

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

I listen to music most of the time, the list of artists are too many to name. The style of music, ranges from classical composer Rossini, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley right through to Queen and my favorite rock band AC/DC.I do listen to music while I write, but I often write the next chapter in my head while driving, eating and much to the annoyance of my family when they are trying to talk to me….Sorry!

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?

Favorite TV shows: 24, and American Idol, last movie I saw at the theatre was Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Movies I will watch over and over are Rocky, Rambo and my favorite movie of all time are the ‘Scrooge Christmas Carol movies, they are all similar but I am a sucker for a happy ending.

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

At some point in your life someone; maybe your parents, boy or girl friend, will let you down and hurt you. Get over it; no one is perfect not even you. We all have a fault, that’s who we are. Love them for their good points and bad points.

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

The Jason Steed novels are set for at least eight books. We will see Jason come across the very worst our society has to offer. We may lose some of the other characters along the way.

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

Interview with A.S. King

2010-02-22T17:14:00.000-08:00

www.as-king.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?

When I was fourteen. I was standing in the lunch line at school, and I got this brilliant idea that I wanted to write books that would somehow help teens and adults understand each other better. That idea died pretty quickly when an adult in my life suggested I become a newspaper journalist, which was not at all what I had in mind. In high school and college, I wrote in journals non-stop, but I didn’t really think about writing books again. The real want—the serious sit-my-butt-down-and-write-novels want—only happened when I moved to Ireland at age twenty-four.

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

It was really, really long. I started writing novels when I was twenty-five. Seven novels, three hundred rejections and a lot of poetry and stories later, I got to see one of my novels on a shelf…when I was thirty-nine. I know, right? That’s long. But now that I’m here, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Every novel I wrote made me a better writer, and during those fourteen years, I had a lot of groovy life experiences that I wouldn’t trade for anything.

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?

PLEASE IGNORE VERA DIETZ is coming out in October 2010. It follows the struggles of Vera Dietz, high school senior and full-time pizza delivery technician, who has a very big secret about her ex-best friend, who happens to be dead. It also has flow charts, which would convince me to buy any book.

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

History is a huge part of my day-to-day reading. I’m fascinated by new parts of history every year and I become obsessed with certain events and read as much as I can about little-known things. I don’t try to work those into my books on purpose. Usually it just seeps in. Also—history never gets old. There is an endless supply. Outside of history, I’ve just realized that my teen characters are often dealing with things similar to what I dealt with as a teen. Gossip, rumors, bullies. So, I guess part of my inspiration is my own past.

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

I have an awesome family. My husband and I have an amazing history, and have been together for twenty-three years. He watched me write all that time—saw every rejection letter arrive in the post, and helped me stay strong when I considered quitting. He is my rock. My kids are awesome and the one who isn’t trying to bite my leg all the time has started to brag about me at school, even though I’ve told her not to brag. My sisters and parents have always been massively supportive. Moving back to the US a few years ago was a great step for me, because I am now physically closer to them. Family has always been immensely important to me. Even my non-immediate family has been so positive and supportive. I don’t think they realize how important their support is. But it is.

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

Mike and Ikes, hands down. Outside of that, I could live on breakfast cereal.

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

Drink coffee, tell my daughter to brush her hair, then tell her to brush her hair again.

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

My office is in my basement. You’d probably be surprised that the ceiling is so low, I can’t actually stand up down there. You’d probably also be impressed by how many mouse traps I’ve got.

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?

Red. Because red is the best color for boots.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Daffy Duck.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Daffy Duck mixed with Lisa Simpson. (Call me Daffy Simpson.)

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?

Difficult question alert! Wow. Being a history lover, I have about a million answers to this. So—I will answer most realistically. If I *really* had the chance to beam somewhere, I’d go back to my first year of marriage, when Mr. King and I would sit on a blanket by the river at the local park and read books every day after work until the sun went down. Why? I’d never want to go anywhere without him, I could sleep late on weekends, and because it was just so nice and peaceful and no one was biting my leg or yelling “Mom!”

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 only started to listen to music (occasionally) when I write, since I work in the basement and have kids running over my head and sometimes need to drown out the noise. I usually listen to the same album over and over again for each book. PLEASE IGNORE VERA DIETZ was OKGO’s Oh No. THE DUST OF 100 DOGS was a lot of Bob Marley and the Wailers, which would be a long time favorite of mine. If I want to clear my head, I stick in one of the three Jimi Hendrix Experience studio albums.

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 haven’t seen a film in a theater in a long time. Might have been Star Wars II. I love and own a lot of movies that I watch at home, though. Deer Hunter and The Shining are two old favorites. Kill Bill and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon are two newer favorites. I gave up TV in 1994. Now, I turn it on to see the weather or for PBS for the kids. (Or cool stuff, like the Olympics.)

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

Please be careful. Life is short.

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

I just finished a novel called EVERYBODY SEES THE ANTS. I hope to have more news on that in the coming months. It’s a story about a kid who turns to his missing grandfather for help with a lifelong bully.

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