Totally YA

INTERVIEW: Claude Izner - French Author of Murder on the Eiffel Tower: A Victor Legris Mystery

2009-12-04T19:10:00.012-05:00

Welcome to “Totally YA". For every interview I will be introducing a literary personality discussing their books written especially for adolescents and teenagers around the world

Today’s interview is with Claude Izner who is actually the nom de plume of two French sisters, Liliane Korb born in 1940 and her sister Laurence Lefevre born 1951 who wrote hugely successful books.

After colorful and separate careers they started working together as secondhand booksellers on the Right Bank of the Seine in Paris many years ago. They are experts on nineteenth-century Paris.

The sisters have been writing together for over ten years. Their early novels written together were targeted at younger readers, and they two sisters turned to detective fiction since 1999. They jointly write the popular Victor Legris series of crime novels. Legris is a bookseller in the late 19th-century Paris who is also an amateur detective. The books were originally bestsellers in France.

Liliane initially worked as chief editor before becoming a bookseller. She has participated in writing several of audiovisual performances and plays.

Laurance becomes a bookseller at the same time as her sister in 1970’s. Alongside her work as publisher she wrote two novels for adults in which from the society of men of letters an award.

E.I. Would you share some early insight into who you were as a teenager? What were you like? Please tell us more about Laurence Lefèvre -- one of the women behind the Claude Izner num de plume?

C. I. When I was a teenager ? Well, I was a rather lonely person, who liked to dream and above all to read, all sorts of novels, plays and poems. Not only mystery stories, but also science-fiction, XIXth century english litterature such as Dickens and the Brontë sisters, American novels (Steinbeck, Erskine Caldwell, Richard Wright, Carson Mac Cullers,etc...), Russian novels (Tolstoï, Dostoieveski) or plays (Tchekhov), and so forth. But also comics (Tintin by Hergé !)

And who liked to go to the movies. I still do !

E. I. What is it about the art form of writing detective mystery that enchants you the most?

C.I. Lilian and I like to give us challenges : will we be able to invent a mystery and to solve it ? It gives us a frame inside which to put everything we are fond of, humour, tenderness, popular language, and of course a little fear (not too much !) And our love for old Paris.

But we wrote many other kind of books, in particular for children, so we do not consider ourselves "crime specialists" !

E.I. How do you imagine audience as you are writing your detective novels? Do you try to do character development, chapter outlines, various novel-related brainstorming? Do you have sheets of newsprint covered in a story boards all over your walls?

C.I. We do not imagine our audience, let them forgive us ! We think that we must first entertain ourselves, in order to please other people. We talk a lot. We make "sketches" exactly as, I think, a painter. We try some "tricks", if we are not satisfied we cut them off, we try other ones ! It is long and tiring but worth while ! It thrills us.

The walls...I live in a small flat, so the papers are in drawers or on the table where my computer awaits me !

E.I. What was your biggest challenge in developing the character of the Parisian bookseller, Victor Legris in your book “Murder on the Eiffel Tower”? Did you work them out in advance, or did they evolve as you wrote the story? How did you overcome these challenges?

C.I. The bigest challenge ? To make Victor and Tasha, and all the characters around them, as real as possible, To re-invent 1889 Paris so as to insert in all that stuff a non-realistic story - as are almost all criminal stories !

We had no ideas of what would come off the magical hat ! It was like building a house : you have to put a brick after another...and look at the result : is the house a solid one ?

E.I. How much of Victor Legris life is planned out in your head? How do you know where you will go next with any of your characters?

C.I. Nothing is planned. Of course, each year we write a book taking place in a chronological suite, from 1889 to 1900 (we are now in 1898). We know that some changes will happen in Victor's and other characters'life, but we invent by and by ! We try to ignore where we go, to be "fresh" and inventive...except with the central plot which is the main bone of the skeleton...and the biggest challenge !

E.I. If you were asked to read a page from “Murder on the Eiffel Tower” is there one that you would personally select to share with your fans?

C.I. The page that I would choose would be the first I wrote, the very first of the series, which begins in the american edition p.5 by these words : "Wearing a tight new corset that creaked with every step, Eugénie Patinot walked down Avenue des Peupliers.". I wrote it in summer, without any documentation except an old map of Paris, and without guessing what would be Eugénie's fate ! We still know this phrase by heart ! Then, some weeks later, Lilian wrote the prologue.
And the adventure began, for us !

E.I. How do you weave so much suspense and elements of information into your stories and yet you keep them so fast-paced?

C.I. It is for us a mystery ! We choose a short part in one year, we invent a plot, a plan, chapter after chapter. Then we search in old newspapers and books what happened during these weeks. Then...the ideas some !

We have to try to put some order in all these informations ! We like a fast rythm. Do not forget that Lilian was a film editor, and that we both loved cinema, especially old films (for instance americain classical ones). We are "visual", we have to see the scenes.

E.I. Many writers describe themselves as "character" or "plot" writers. Which are you? And what do you find to be the hardest part of writing?

C.I. Without characters, no plot. Without plot, no book ! I do not know if we are more gifted for this or that. I think that in fact we could manage with any plot, because we could fit it to our own mind, which is a fantaisist one !
We for instance love Hithcock and his "Mac Guffins" !

Anyhow, the plots...they is a limited number of them ! What gives savour to a story ? The characters, the way you show them, the way they think and talk, the errors they make, as Victor, who is not a great sleuth ! This is our authors' small credo...

E.I. You are well known in Internationally as a former chief editor before becoming a bookseller, you also participated in writing several of audiovisual performances and play? What is one thing you would change if you can do it all over again?

C.I. It is Lilian, not I, who was a former chief editor. She worked with great documentarists such as Jean Rouch, Joris Ivens, also with Peter Brook, Maurice Pialat, among others. Maybe she would have liked to direct movies, but it is very difficult, many reponsabilities. Writing is more simple, no producers, no comedians...

I, myself, do not regret the life I had, selling old books gave me freedom.

E.I. Your book has been translated into different languages and has been published all over the world and now a bestselling author. Do you ever feel pressure or insecure, or are you able to separate all that from your own creative process?

C.I. It seems a dream, being translated : we never thought this could happen ! But we stay the same as before. We still doubt of ourselves. Of course, we separate our anxiety (it is rather frightening, even if exciting) from the writing process. When the book is finished, now, we sometimes pity our translators, so many jokes and popular expresssions !
Maybe, being "Claude Izner", that is a third person, helps us to feel more secure !

E.I. Ms. Lefevre, Thank you for contributing to my blog. It has been a pleasure for me to get to know your work a little better. Would you like to end your interview with a writing tip or advice for young aspiring writers?

C.I. Advice ? I do not consider me a teacher...All I would say is : be yourself, forget the teachings, read a lot, create what you like. Then...work, do not be sure to be the greatest writer, be humble and believe in yourself at the same time. Choose to write science fiction, or fantasy, or love stories, or criminal investigations, or poetry, if this is what you prefer. Do not be too serious ! Do not hope to change the world...but be happy if some people appreciate you.

There is not one unique way, life is a rainbow even if the sky is often very cloudy. Choose your colour and try to feel joy, because life is also very short...

Photo of Claude Izner (Liliane Korb and Laurence Lefèvre)by Monika Katz

To purchase their books please visit AMAZON

INTERVIEW: New York Times Bestselling & Award Winning Author- Charles Shields

2009-12-03T02:53:00.009-05:00

Welcome to “Totally YA". For every interview I will be introducing a literary personality discussing their books written especially for adolescents and teenagers around the world

Today’s interview is with Charles J. Shields, he is the author of two books about critically acclaimed author, Harper Lee, written for the young adult audience. The former English teacher proffers a unique understanding for Harper Lee the person, and offers a nuanced appreciation for her iconic novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird."

Mr. Shields spent four years researching and writing "Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee," published in 2007. His portrayal earned critical acclaim, and established Mr. Shields' literary credibility. The new author's achievement is exalted by the fact that Ms. Lee was unwilling to participate in the project, rejecting his request for an interview. It should be noted that she had not granted an interview since 1964. Nevertheless, he went on to publish his second book on the same subject, "I Am a Scout: A Biography of Harper" in 2008.

Harper Lee's rebuff forced Mr. Shields to rely on exhaustive background work to ensure accuracy. He conducted more than 600 interviews to fill the void left by the reclusive Lee. The daunting list of contributors includes Harper Lee's neighbors, childhood friends, and law school classmates. Notably Kansas residents, who Lee met while working as research assistant to childhood friend Truman Capote on "In Cold Blood," proved to be a valuable source. They validated the speculation about her collaborative role in Capote's success, and offered some explanation as to how an unknown writer could catapult into iconic stardom.

Mr. Shields has a B.A. in English and an M.A. in American history from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, where he was a James Scholar.

E.I. Would you share some early insight into who you were as a teenager? What were you like? Please tell us more about Charles Shields -- the man behind the former English teacher and now a critically acclaimed author of Harper Lee’s biography & life.

CJS I decided at fifteen that I wanted to be a writer. It was an actual statement I said out loud, in answer to a friend asking me, “What are you going to do after high school?” (We were playing soccer: strange time to be asked about career plans.) And I said, “I want to be a teacher and a writer.” Because I said it without hesitation, I realized I meant it. And besides, whenever I dawdled in front of racks of paperback books I thought nothing would make me happier than to have a book of my own.

I was a loner as a teenager, but well-liked. I still enjoy being alone. I can’t imagine being an extrovert and a writer, too. The two don’t seem compatible.

E.I. What is it about the art form of writing that enchants you the most?

CJS I enjoy imagining my reader. I work as hard as I can to entertain, surprise, inform, and delight him or her.

E.I. How do you imagine the audience when you are writing? Do you have sheets of newsprint covered in a story boards all over your walls?

CJS No, I tried that and it didn’t work for me. For the book I’m currently writing, the first biography of Kurt Vonnegut, I’ve kept my study practically paperless. First, I scanned absolutely every document, article, dissertation, and letter; then placed each file into desktop folders by topic; then created extremely detailed, chronological outlines. Using the Spotlight feature on my MacBook Pro allows me to find any word or phrase I’m want to add to the outline. Considering that I have 1500 letters— not to mention the hundreds of book reviews and interviews with Kurt I’ve collected (I also interviewed 125 people myself)— being able to locate a term or a name instantly is like having a genie helping me.

E.I. What was your biggest challenge in writing “Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee”? How many years of research did you do, and how did you decide what level of details your reader will accept? Did you work them out in advance, or did they evolve as you wrote the story? How did you overcome these challenges?

CSJ Miss Lee not only refused to allow me to interview her, she also called friends and asked them not to speak to me. Instead of feeling discouraged, I felt more determined when I found that out. I spent two years researching the book and two years writing it. I never had the opportunity to choose how many details my reader would accept; it was a struggle trying to find enough. But remember, a biography is not an obituary, which is just a list of facts written as prose. It needs all the elements of fiction: setting, exposition, description, scenes, reversals, character. So when I was stuck for details, I turned to some other aspect of storytelling.

E.I. In your book “I Am Scout”, how much of Harper Lee is planned out in your head? How do you know where you will go next with your story based on your research?

CSJ The chronology of a person’s life drives a biography, of course. But then you have to structure the chapters by deciding what needs to be explained clearly, logically, and a little slowly in each one. “What point am I trying to make about her?” you keep asking yourself. There has to be a sense of development.

E.I. If you were asked to read a page from “I AM Scout” is there one that you would personally select to share with your fans? And why?

CSJ The page I think about the most is the first one when Lee is pulling other kids off Truman during a playground fight. I think about it because if I don’t hook the reader immediately, I’ll lose him or her. So the beginnings of both I Am Scout and Mockingbird haunt me in a sense.

E.I. Why do you think Ms. Lee refuses to give interviews or talk about the novel that made her a household name? Was it to avoid topics pertaining to Truman’s Capote or just to keep her privacy?

CSJ Miss Lee is tired of talking about her only published novel and of resisting the pressure to produce another one. She doesn’t have a career she can converse about like Mailer, or Updike or Joyce Carol Oates so to her, it’s a dead issue.

E.I. What did you find to be the hardest part of writing both books? Was it the research or frustration with people who were uncooperative?

CSJ The hardest part is watching the seasons change outside my window and having to accept that I spend most days in a room, doing something that comparatively few people understand.

E.I. You are well known in the writing community as the former teacher and the New York Time bestseller of your books. Do you ever feel pressure or insecure, or are you able to separate all that from your own creative process?

CSJ Writing is my reason to be. I don’t have a choice except to go on writing, so feeling insecure, etc. doesn’t factor in.

E.I. What would you tell those authors considering applying to an M.F.A. program? In your opinion how important is it for a writer to have a writing degree?

CSJ Aristotle said, “Anything that we have to learn to do we learn by the actual doing of it... We become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate ones, brave by doing brave ones.” I believe that applies to writing, too. You have to do it; not be taught to do it when you’re old enough to be a graduate student. So no, I’m not in favor of MFA programs. Read Wayne C. Booth’s The Rhetoric of Fiction; Francine Prose’s Reading Like a Writer; or James N. Frey’s How to Write a Damn Good Novel. Then go and do likewise. And read deeply in the genre you want to practice whether it’s playwriting, fiction, or nonfiction. Read with a pencil in hand. Underline; make notes.

E.I. The media has it that you are writing about the first biography of author Kurt Vonnegut which will be published in 2010. Are you excited about being the first one to write his biography? How many years of research have you done?

CSJ I met Kurt and interviewed him on and off for six months before his death. He passed away in April 2007. So I’ve been researching and writing for about two-and-a-half years now. This book is the best work I’ve done so far.

E.I. Mr. Shields, Thank you for contributing to my blog. It has been a pleasure for me to get to know your work a little better. Would you like to end your interview with a writing tip or advice for young aspiring writers?

CSJ Start referring to yourself as a writer. Say it in conversation. People may act skeptical; they do even when I say it. Some ask me, “Yes, but what do you DO?” Never mind. Anything artistic endeavor is mysterious. That’s part of the excitement. Say you’re a writer and push off with the Argonauts to explore places unknown. Pen and paper will take your there.

To learn more about Charles Shield please visit his WEBSITE
To purchase his books please visit AMAZON and Barnes & Noble

UPCOMING INTERVIEW: Kristina Springer - Author of Young Adult Fiction

2009-11-27T08:33:00.002-05:00

Kristina Springer debut novel, Espressologist, is about a 17-year-old teenager with an unusual talent. The teen, Jane Turner, takes people watching in a Chicago coffee shop, where she is a barista, to a new level. Moving from the sublime to the surreal, she explores her ability to "match make" by observing nuances in the way customers take their coffee. The premise is a clever twist, and perhaps social commentary, on the coffee phenomena, and the art of people watching.

Inspiration for the book came from Ms. Springer's personal coffee shop experience.
In fact most of the manuscript was penned while the author observed customers as they performed this seemingly benign ritual unaware that every flavor-adding-impulse was being translated into a greater meaning with life altering implications.

Ms. Springer has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Education from Illinois State University, and a Master of Arts degree in Writing from DePaul University. She lives in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois with her husband, and their four small children.

She is currently working on a new novel, My Fake Boyfriend Is Better Than Yours, which due for release in 2010.

To learn more about Kristina Springer please visit her WEBSITE
To purchase her books please visit AMAZON and Barnes & Noble

HAPPY THANSGIVING

2009-11-26T08:01:00.001-05:00

To my friends and readers,

Thank you so much for your enduring support and encouragement. I am very grateful.

I wish each and everyone a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday.

Warmest Regards,

E.I. Johnson

"Thanksgiving is generally considered a secular holiday, and is not directly based in religious canon or dogma".
Author Unknown

UPCOMING INTERVIEW: Environmentalist, Attorney and Author: S. Terrell French

2009-11-23T01:54:00.001-05:00

Debut author S. Terrell French Operation Redwood novel is a eco-adventure modern day fantasy book for ages 9-12.

The book is about young people, who put so much on the line in defending the importance of preserving our natural habitats. Our hero is a twelve years old; Julian Carter-Li who lives with his wealthy, high-powered uncle and finds himself embarks on a campaign saving redwood trees.

The author spends her summer sailing and swimming in the Chesapeake Bay, and loves to run around barefoot in the forest as a child.

S. Terrell French, is a graduate of Harvard College. She moved to San Francisco to work with a environmental organization. She loves her job so much that she decides to attend Berkeley Law School and finds a company that practice environmental law.

She and her husband have three children.

To learn more about S. Terrell French please visit her WEBSITE
To purchase her book please visit AMAZON and Barnes & Noble

UPCOMING INTERVIEW: Bestselling Author, Award-Winning Journalist of Vanity Fair, Vogue, New York Times Magazine & The New Yorker: Marie Brenner

2009-11-17T01:32:00.000-05:00

Marie Brenner is a definitive investigative journalist, and a bestselling author. She has published nine books, among them are: On the Border August 2009, Apple and Oranges May 2009, Kay Thompson’s Eloise 2005, Great Dames:What I learned from Older Women 2000, House of Dreams 1988, Intimate Distance 1983, Rookie 1980, Going Hollywood: An Insider’s Look at Power and Pretense in the Movie Business 1978 and Tell me Everything in 1976.

Her work with major magazines is prolific. She joined the staff of Vanity Fair in 1985. Since then she has been a contributing editor to both "New York," and The New Yorker magazines, and her articles have also been featured in Vogue, and the New York Times Magazine. Her work was so resonant and important that it's crossover appeal to the a broader film audience was not lost on Hollywood.

Ms. Brenner's 1996 expose' of the tobacco industry for Vanity Fair was the inspiration for a highly successful feature film released in 1999. Her essay entitled The Man Who Knew Too Much was adapted to film as The Insider, starring Golden Globe winner & Oscar winner Russell Crowe, and Emmy Award-Winning, Golden Globe and Oscar winner, Al Pacino, under the direction of Oscar award winner Michael Mann. Credited with both popular and critical success, The Insider was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

This timely story chronicled Jeffrey Wigand's dangerous struggle to reveal the dark secrets of a corrupt corporate culture. The shocking truth changed the way Americans viewed old corporate America, and provided an ominous foreshadowing of the corporate scandals to follow. It would be the first domino in the chain of scandals of marking what the end of mainstream America's blind faith in institutions like Enron, Worldcom, and Wall Street. Three years later Brenner's 2002 Vanity Fair article, "The Enron Wars," made national news when Senator Peter Fitzgerald used it as source material when questioning witnesses called to testify before the senate committee.

Ms.Brenner’s article “Erotomania” became the Lifetime channel movie Obsessed, starring Jenna Elfman, Sam Robards and Lisa Edestein. The word on the street has it that her article, In the Kingdom of Big Sugar, is being reworked for the big screen. Media sources are not sure if either Oscar and Emmy award winning director Alex Gibney for Tribeca Films, or Oscar winning actress director Jodi Foster for Universal Pictures under the banner Sugar Kings will prevail. Either camp is capable of producing a worthy tribute.

Her talent and achievements are extensive and widely recognized. She is the winner of six Front Page awards for her journalism, and was awarded the Frank Luther Mott Kappa Tau Alpha Award for research.

The playwright Alfred Uhry who’s first non-musical play Driving Miss Daisy has been commissioned to write a play adaption of Ms. Brenner’s book “Apples & Oranges,” for a Manhattan Theater Club production. Artistic director, Lynn Meadow will direct the play, at a date to be announced.

Mr. Uhry who won a Pulitzer Prize and Academy Award for the stage and screen version if “Driving Miss Daisy” is also a Tony Award-Winner for “The Last Night of Ballyhoo” in 1997.

Her book, “Apple and Oranges” is about Ms. Brenner’s difficult and ultimately moving relationship with her brother and her attempts to forge new bonds as adults while she puts her life on hold to help him after he was diagnosed with cancer.

Photo of Marie Brenner by Kate Burton

To learn more about Marie Brenner please visit her website.
To purchase her books please visit Amazon and Barnes & Noble

UPCOMING INTERVIEW: # 1 New York Time, Publisher’s Weekly & USA Today Bestselling Author, Alyson Noel

2009-11-14T12:38:00.008-05:00

Alyson Noel new sequence of novels call the Immortals series is well received by her fans. The first book, Evermore, is a New York Times Bestseller and it was released in February 2009. Her next book in the series, Blue Moon, was released in July 2009. It also another New York Times Bestseller. Ms. Noel’s third book in the series, Shadowland is now available for Pre-order at Amazon. Shadowland will be released November 17th 2009.

Ms. Noel, has also written the novels Saving Zoey, Kiss & Blog, Art Geeks and Prom Queens, Cruel Summer, Laguna Cove and Fly Me to the Moon.

INTERVIEW: Bestselling & Award Winning Author, Jon Clinch

2009-11-09T08:46:00.012-05:00

Welcome to “Totally YA". For every interview I will be introducing a literary personality discussing their books written especially for adolescents and teenagers around the world

Today’s interview is with Jon Clinch. Mr. Clinch new novel, “Kings of the Earth” is a powerful and haunting story of life, death and family in rural America is due for released in July of 2010.

In his masterful debut novel which springs from Twain's classic story, Mr. Clinch delves into the history and heart of one of American literature's most brutal and mysterious figures: Huckleberry’s Finn father Pap.

His book FINN was named one of the best novels of 2007 by three major newspaper, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune and Christian Science Monitor. FINN was name a notable book by the American Library Association and was shortlisted for the National Book Critics Circle’s first-ever best recommended list and Sargent First Novel Prize.

E.I. Can you tell us a little bit about your short story “The Dog”?

J.C. You could think of it as a missing chapter of my novel FINN, although the truth is that it's a kind of farewell to Finn himself. The short story, like the novel, takes off from the details of his death room in HUCK—only this time, instead of black cloth masks and whiskey bottles and a wooden leg, the object in question is a dog collar.

E.I. What inspired you to release “The Dog”?

J.C. I liked sending it out there as a missing piece of my first novel, the way Twain's "The Raftsmen's Passage" existed as a missing piece of HUCK. There was a nice symmetry in that. I've posted it for free on my web site at www.jonclinch.com, and it's also available for the Kindle at Amazon. The Amazon version is about as cheap as I could make it.

E.I. It seems that FINN attracted a lot of publicity and readers. When are we going to see FINN on the screen?

J.C. Sooner than you might think. All I can say right now is that the story is in the best possible hands. I've read the script, and it's a thing of beauty. We have a mighty director. Casting is under way. I'll keep you posted.

E.I. With two books under your belt, how have you evolved as a writer?

J.C. I guess you're talking about my next one, KINGS OF THE EARTH, which Random House will publish in July. KINGS is a much more modern story than FINN, set in the twentieth century instead of the nineteenth. The book's language and method and themes have a more modern feel as well. With KINGS, and with the project I'm working on now, readers will sense an expansion beyond the high-intensity claustrophobia that marked FINN.

E.I. What can you share with us about “Kings of the Earth” without spoiling it?

J.C. One description of it begins this way: "The edge of civilization is closer than we think." KINGS is about three brothers who live in poverty on a crumbling dairy farm in upstate New York. One of them dies in his sleep, and things unfold rapidly from there.

E.I. Did you feel as much pressure when you were writing “Kings of the Earth” as you did following on the success of FINN? What was your biggest challenge and obstacle while writing and creating it?

J.C. The pressure was huge, and it really got in my way for a while. It's bad enough to be constantly looking over your shoulder—but when the person who's gaining on you turns out to be YOU, it's kind of a nightmare. I finally stopped trying to replicate what I'd done in FINN, threw out an entire novel that I'd spent a year and a half writing, and began fresh with KINGS. Instead of FINN's big, mythic narrative voice, it uses a dozen first-person narrators who tell their own versions of the story at hand. That technique alone freed me up a great deal.

E.I. Give us three "Good to Know" facts about you. Be creative. Tell us about your first job, the inspiration for your writing, any fun details that would enliven your page.

J.C. My wife, Wendy Clinch, is publishing a very funny mystery novel in January with Minotaur Books, called DOUBLE BLACK: A SKI DIVA MYSTERY (it's the first in a series, set in a little Vermont town like ours).

E.I. We've been married for thirty-three years.

J.C. The best thing the two of ever did is to raise our daughter, who's now a science teacher in New York City.

E.I. What's next after “Kings of the Earth”?

J.C. Another novel set in my home area in upstate New York. More details as they become available. Thanks for inviting me to visit your blog...

Jon Clinch new novel, “Kings of the Earth” is a powerful and haunting story of life, death and family in rural America is due for released in July of 2010.

In his masterful debut novel which springs from Twain's classic story, Mr. Clinch delves into the history and heart of one of American literature's most brutal and mysterious figures: Huckleberry’s Finn father Pap.

His book FINN was named one of the best novels of 2007 by three major newspaper, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune and Christian Science Monitor. FINN was name a notable book by the American Library Association and was shortlisted for the National Book Critics Circle’s first-ever best recommended list and Sargent First Novel Prize.

INTERVIEW: Bestselling Author, Novelist, New York Times & San Francisco Chronicle Journalist: Tom Dolby

2009-11-07T22:09:00.021-05:00

Welcome to “Totally YA". For every interview I will be introducing a literary personality discussing their books written especially for adolescents and teenagers around the world

Today’s interview is with Tom Dolby. He was born in London, but raised in San Francisco and now divides his time between Manhattan's West Village and Wainscott, New York. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Village Voice and San Francisco Chronicle. He is a graduate of Yale University, where he received his BA in the history of art.

Secret Society is his first book for young adults and is now available in every bookstore and on line.

E.I. Tell us about your latest book “Secret Society” for young adult? What drew you to attract the YA readers?

T.D. I had an idea to write a book about a secret society that was recruiting teens, and it seemed like the YA genre would be right for it. Secret societies are full of mystery and intrigue and it seemed like a good fit.

E.I. What was your biggest challenge or obstacle while writing and creating the characters Phoebe, Lauren, Nick, and Patch? Did you work them out in advance, or did they evolve as you wrote the story?

T.D. A little bit of both -- I knew the characters before I started, but they certainly evolved as the story developed.

E.I. If you were asked to read a chapter from this book, is there one that you would select to share?

T.D. I like the initiation scene a lot!

E.I. What inspired you to write “Secret Society”?

T.D. I was inspired by real-life secret societies, as well as classic adventure stories.

E.I. As a first time YA novelist, do you feel more pressure, feel insecure or are you able to separate all that from your own creative process?

T.D. I think a novelist just has to write the best book he or she can write -- you can't worry too much about the book's reception, particularly while you are writing it.

E.I. If you were allowed total control of the Hollywood version of “Secret Society’’ who would be in it? And who do you think should direct?

T.D. I would love to see a Wes Anderson version of it -- my favorite parts of the book are the quirky moments, and I think he would bring that out. As for casting, it's hard to say -- I'll have to think about that!

E.I. Mr. Dolby, thank you for contributing to my blog. It has been a pleasure for me to get to know you, and your work a little better. Would you like to end your interview with a writing tip or advice for young aspiring writers?

T.D. Just keep at it, and try to write every day -- it's important to stay in practice!

Bestselling author, journalist, and editor. He is the author of the best-selling novel

To learn more about Tom Dolby please visit his website at: http://www.tomdolby.com/about/

To buy his books please visit www.amazon.com

INTERVIEW: Updates On Bestselling Author Tish Cohen

2009-11-06T10:58:00.006-05:00

Welcome to “Totally YA". For every interview, I will be introducing a literary personality discussing their books written especially for adolescents and teenagers around the world.

Today’s interview is with Tish Cohen. Ms. Cohen, is the bestselling author of Inside Out Girl and Town House, as well Little Black Lies for teens and the Zoe Lama series. Her adult novel ‘Town House’ was a 2008 finalist for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. Her novel ‘Town House’ was sold to FOX movie producers before it was picked up by HarperPerennial.

E.I. Tell us about your latest book for teens “Little Black Lies”? What drew you to attract the teen readers? What sort of feedback do you get from readers that have contacted you about “Little Black Lies”?

T.C. I was drawn to write a teen novel after writing Inside Out Girl, which features three protagonists, one of whom is a fourteen-year old girl named Janie. I adored writing in Janie’s angsty, lovesick, insecure, fragile voice, and chose to write an entire book from a teen voice. I think the teen years are years we really remember as adults. That coming-of-age time is so fraught with memories good and bad, it is a great place to draw from when writing a story.

Readers seem to relate well to Sara Black from Little Black Lies because she is such an underdog. She’s the new girl at a school for genius kids, her mother has left the family and her obsessive-compulsive father—the school janitor) is inadvertently destroying any chance she has for a social life at school because his condition is growing worse. She’s in a sort of desperate situation.

E.I. What challenge or obstacle did you encounter in creating the character Sarah Black while writing and creating her in your novel?

T.C. It was challenging to show her as a loving daughter, in spite of the things she does to save her social skin. But the truth is, high school is so filled with angst and pressure, and many kids (like my own!) are terrified to even have their parents walk into the school, that a friendless girl like Sara—so desperate to fit in even in a small way—could easily make some bad choices in the interest of social survival.

E.I. Your novels are known for unusual and lovable characters. Do you always know a story's ending when you begin writing?

T.C. Thank you. Character is Number One for me. In terms of knowing the ending, definitely not. I didn’t know how Little Black Lies would end until I wrote the end. It was important to me that the readers’ emotions would be settled, but that Sara not have things in her life be magically resolved. Some things she’s just forced to accept.

E.I. Do you find that the real story magic comes in the editing? Does the story continue to evolve for you even beyond the first draft? Do you have any particular approach to editing your work?

T.C. I felt that for Inside Out Girl, the final scene on the riverbank where you see this broken family facing their next phase, both happy and terribly sad, was the magic of the book. That was one ending I had imagined right from the start. But in answer to your question, the story evolves with every draft, even to the point of adding or removing characters. For me, the story is ripe for change until I sign off on the final proof pages.

E.I. This may be a ridiculous question but do you ever get writer’s block? How do you overcome it?

T.C. I don’t believe in writer’s block, actually. I do believe in writer’s lack of focus and it definitely happens to me. And as much as I love writing, it still terrifies me and I still look for excuses to do anything other than write. But usually once I fall in love with the characters on the page and grow to care about their lives, the need to peruse the Internet or straighten my writing room dissipates.

E.I. When did you get the first inkling that your books might become wildly popular? Can you describe your feelings upon realizing this?

T.C. Well, when I heard the film rights for Town House had sold, I was gobsmacked. Filled with anxiety as well. What would it mean? Would my life change? As happy as I was, I found it terrifying. It’s taken a couple of years to get over that fear of success—the tortoise pace of Hollywood helped with that!—but I can honestly say I’m in a place now where I welcome it.

E.I. With four books under your belt, how have you evolved as a writer?

T.C. I think the books I’ve read in these years have helped me evolve as a writer as much as the books I’ve written. Nothing is more inspiring to me than coming upon a turn of phrase that makes me stop and read it over and over again. I think I strive harder now to create stories, scenes, sentences, that stir the reader in that very way. I don’t know if I’ll ever achieve it but I try.

E.I. What can fans look forward from you in the coming months? Can you give us a hint as to what it's about?

T.C. My next novel for adults will be released June 8, 2010. The Truth About Delilah Blue is about a twenty-year old nude model who discovers a terrible secret about her adored father, a secret she may never forgive.

To learn more about Tish Cohen, please visit her website: http://www.tishcohen.com/

To purchase her books please visit http:www.amazon.com

INTERVIEW: Stan Swanson - Author - The Misadventures of Hobart Hucklebuck

2009-11-05T13:03:00.009-05:00

Welcome to “Totally YA". For every interview, I will be introducing a literary personality discussing their books written especially for adolescents and teenagers around the world.

Today’s interview is with Mr. Stan Swanson. Mr. Swanson worked as a writer, columnist and editor for a Denver area newspaper. He also worked as the entertainment editor for Denver Magazine. He formed Stony Meadow Publishing in 2005 as a means to writing and publishing additional works

The Dragons of Shadara was Stan’s Swanson’s first book and was released in 2003. His book, The Misadventures of Hobart Hucklebuck, is a juvenile fantasy adventure was published in 2007. The second book in his exciting fantasy series Pandemonium in Pennywhistle will be available in 2010.

Mr. Swanson currently resides in Colorado with his wife, Joy. He has three children and four grandchildren.

E.I. Would you share some early insight into who you were as a teenager? What were you like? Please tell us more about Stan Swanson -- the man behind the author and journalist?

S.S. I was rather shy growing up, but I learned to play guitar when I was about 14. I was in several groups through my college days and soon got over my stage fright. I wrote a lot in my teenage years and was really into science fiction. (I also got into songwriting so you can tell I was really into the creative process in my formative years.)

E.I. Do you enjoy writing? *What is it about this art form that enchants you the most? Why have you chosen to write in the genre in which you write?

S.S. I do enjoy the writing process, but people might be surprised to find out it is work just like any job. Sometimes I can sit down and write quite easily, but at other times I really have to force myself. I don't really believe in 'writer's block'. You just need to sit down and write no matter what comes out of your pen, pencil or keyboard. I think what enchants me the most is creating something out of nothing and then actually seeing it in print. It's like scoring the winning touchdown in a football game. And I actually write in different styles for different audiences even though I really enjoy writing stuff for tweens and teens. Even though the first book I wrote The Dragons of Shadara was aimed at teens, my next two books were non-fiction works for songwriters. I then wrote the first book in the Hobart Hucklebuck series and consider it one of my favorites. The characters really came to life for me and I could really use my sense of humor. However, my latest work is strictly for adults. (Forever Zombie: A Collection of Undead Guy Tales is now available on Amazon along with my other works.)

E.I. Could you describe your path that leads you to publication--any stumble along the way? Is there anything about you that you would do differently, knowing what you do now?

S.S. After many rejections on The Dragons of Shadara, I decided that self-publishing was the best route for me to take. There was a huge learning curve in doing it this way, but it has worked out well as I now have five books available on Amazon and other online bookstores. By the way, The Dragons of Shadara was originally published through AuthorHouse. I re-published recently under my Stony Meadow Publishing company as Dragontooth: The Prequel.

E.I. Was there a central theme that you wanted readers to grasp?

S.S. There was no central theme in The Misadventures of Hobart Hucklebuck. I just wanted to write something that kids would enjoy reading. It has received good reviews, but sales are always hard for the self-publisher who must do all their own marketing, etc.

E.I. Are there any kid or teen books rocked your world while growing up? And why?

S.S. I loved Raold Dahl, but I read mostly science fiction while I was growing up. Most people won't know what I'm talking about, but the Tom Corbett: Space Cadet books were a great series for kids. As far as books go for tweens and teens, you can't ignore the impact that Harry Potter has had upon the reading habits of kids. My only problem with the books was that they got darker and darker as the series progressed. The Misadventures of Hobart Hucklebuck will never take that route. I don't want to alienate my original audience.

E.I. How do you imagine audience as you are writing? Do you try to do character development, chapter outlines, various novel-related brainstorming? Do you have sheets of newsprint covered in a story boards all over your walls?

S.S. I've tried everything from post-it notes on my bulletin board to index cards. But I generally develop the basics of my story in my head and don't even jot down many notes the first few days. I usually fall asleep thinking through the plotline. The, when I'm ready, I do a chapter-by-chapter outline so that when I start writing, I know exactly what's going to happen in each chapter. Sometimes that changes as I go, but for the most part, I stick with the outline. I also do character development sheets so I get to know my characters before I start writing.

E.I. Let’s talk about Hobart Hucklebuck, the protagonist in your novel The Misadventures of Hobart Hucklebuck. How much of Hobart planned out in your head? How do you know where you will go next with his character?

S.S. By the time I started writing The Misadventures of Hobart Hucklebuck. I could visual Hobart as easily as the kid next door. I knew what he was likely to do in any situation, but he's basically an "everyday" kid that most readers can identify. He will grow and mature to a certain extent, but as I stated earlier, I don't want my characters to grow up too fast, so future books will have only short gaps in time from the previous book.

E.I. What is a typical work day schedule when you are in full writing mode? Would you tell us a little about your process for editing, revising, and novel development?

S.S. I try not to do the same thing everyday although If I really fall into a true writing mode, I might write for several days before doing anything else. But typically I will write for 2-3 days, then do some editing on a different book (I usually have 2-3 books going at once.) And some days I will stay away from the process completely and try to enjoy something else so my brain stays fresh and it all doesn't become too "work-like". I edit my books heavily. (Maybe too much...) I edited/revised The Misadventures of Hobart Hucklebuck 9-10 times before I felt it was ready.

E.I. How long did it take you to write “The Misadventures of Hobart Hucklebuck” and The Dragons of Shadara.

S.S. I wrote The Dragons of Shadara over a four year on-and-off period. The Misadventures of Hobart Hucklebuck took about two years. I wrote the second book in the series in about 3 months, but still have several edits to go before it is actually done.

E.I. What's up next? Is there another book in the works? What can you share with your fans?

S.S. I just released Forever Zombie: A Collection of Undead Guy Tales a few days ago. It is a collection of 12 short stories, but they are not your typical 'slice-and-dice' zombie tales. They all have lots of humor and endings you might not expect. I think that even a non-zombie fan would enjoy the stories. The second book in the Hobart series The Misadventures of Hobart Hucklebuck: Pandemonium in Pennywhistle is basically finished, but still needs a couple more edits. I have also started an outline for the third book in the series. (The second book should be available in the Spring of 2010.) I'm also working on a humorous book titled The Ultimate Survival Guide for Humanity: How to Survive Attacks from Zombies, Vampires, Aliens, Ex-Lovers and Other Scary Stuff which should also be available next year.

E.I. Mr. Swanson, thank you for contributing to my blog. It has been a pleasure for me to get to know your work a little better. Would you like to end your interview with a writing tip or advice for young aspiring writers?

S.S. My only suggestion for aspiring writers is just to keep writing. Don't get discouraged by rejections. All authors receive them. Many successfully books (including the Harry Potter series) were rejected many times before publication. Don't believe in writer's block -- just write, write write. And never worry about editing your stuff until you're done with the project. It just slows down the creative process if you try to edit as you go. And good luck!

To learn more about Stan Swanson please visit his website at: http://www.stonymeadowpublishing.com/

I’M BACK !!!!

2009-10-16T19:57:00.001-04:00

Hello, Everyone! Long time no see. So what did I miss?? Is the economy back on track yet? Hmmm!!!

Anyhow, I’m sad to say that I haven’t been maintaining this site as much as I would like to. Due to unavoidable circumstances my blogs were all ‘derailed’ somewhere in cyberspace.......

My focus lately has shifted to my ‘Wireless’ novel series, and that my blog was sitting here idle.

Since my last entry in last June and being offline for several months I have received numerous emails from readers and authors who wondered if I dropped of the face of the planet or... if I had given up on my commitment to my readers.

Well... It is always good to be missed! Thank you all for your kind words of encouragement, and for taking such an interest. Knowing that what I do matters to someone else is important to me.

A lot of things took place when I was offline. Now... I still got tons of emails to read and comments to moderate and I have not even started.

Well... at the risk of sounding cliché the business of life sometimes interferes with the pursuit of living! But I’m back now. Truthfully, I get a jolt from being a conduit for authors’ to express themselves through media more freely and unfiltered than a critic might be able to do. I’d like to give my authors the opportunity to connect more directly to their audience which makes a difference.

Hopefully this approach offers a different and maybe fresher perspective. I sincerely hope that my recent sabbatical has not disrupted that evolving process. I truly want my readers to know that I do value their participation, and that I eager to reestablishing contact.

At the end of the day the reader wants to know more about the person being interviewed, and less about a critic’s opinion. These days everyone thinks he’s a critic with something to say…

To all of you, who have been engaged in the process -- thank you. It has been a pleasure to have exchanged ideas with you. You have been a great source of inspiration.

My sabbatical has given me newfound enthusiasm and commitment for broadcasting your creative accomplishments and insights. Going forward I am determined to see Up Close & Personal, Totally YA and A View From The Top continue to evolve. I like to think that it serves our community of authors and readers in a unique way

I’d like to announce that new interviews, blog updates and website updated materials and whatnot will be posted here ASAP.

I truly want my readers to know that I do value their participation. Please check in to see the next installment of my interviews, which will be posted starting November 1st, 2009.

HOLIDAY CONTEST

2009-10-12T18:52:00.000-04:00

NEW UPDATE: ENTER TO WIN THE NEW WIRELESS “Life Doesn’t Rewind across the Universe” holiday contest. WIN this 3rd Generation 64 GB iPod Touch

The power of the Internet meets the brilliance of multi-touch. It is a
3.5-inch screen… you’ll find the viewing experience amazing. It is a great pocket computer to surf the web, email, manage your calendars, organize contacts, and you can use for your social networking sites such as Facebooks and Twitter.

On Tuesday, December 4th, 2009, we will randomly select Twelve (12) winners of the E. I. Johnson prize package. This will include signed copies of each of the first three books in the ‘Wireless series'

Cool Prizes for first, second, & third place categories will be posted Tuesday, Decmeber 15th, 2009. You will not be disappointed so come and CHECK MY WEBSITE and click the iPod on my time travel desk to enter the contest.
PREVIOUS WINNERS ARE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE NEW HOLIDAY CONTEST.

BACK TO SCHOOL YET?

2009-08-28T00:40:00.001-04:00

Summer vacations coming to an end for everyone. From New England to Florida back-to-school time is near. Each year, some children dread going back to school, others eagerly anticipate catching up with their old friends, making new ones and settling into their new daily routine.

Fall is such an exciting time for everyone and make sure that you encourage all those little ones and cheer for them.

HAPPY 2009 / 2010 SCHOOL YEAR!!!!!!!!!!

PSSST....
Check out my updated website at http://www.eijohnson.com/ and click the “blue book” on top of my time travel desk. You’ll find the latest infos and explore all the different icons.

HOW MUCH SEX IS ACCEPTABLE IN YA NOVELS?

2008-10-01T09:49:00.007-04:00

Next topic..... coming up this week.......

There is definitely more explicit content in TV, films etc., out there now than when I was a kid. I think it isn’t necessarily a good thing, but we can prepare our kids and help them to deal with it.

Many people wouldn’t expect reading sex in YA BOOKS, but hey, let’s face it – teens aren’t ignorant of it, as many adults would like to believe, and for many, sex is a big part of their lives.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

2008-05-26T01:23:00.000-04:00

Today we stand up and salute all of our men and women, from the past to the present, who have served their country in the U.S. Armed Forces and have given their lives, fighting for our freedom.

Because of their bravery and dedication to their country, we remain a Free Nation. This is a salute to all of them and their families.

Have a safe three day weekend, everyone!

SUMMER CONTEST ANNOUNCEMENT: 'LIFE DOESN'T REWIND ACROSS THE UNIVERSE'

2008-05-22T00:57:00.005-04:00

NEW UPDATE: ENTER TO WIN THE NEW 'LIFE DOESN'T REWIND ACROSS THE UNIVERSE CONTEST'

On Tuesday, July 1st, 2008, we will randomly select Twelve (12) winners of the E. I. Johnson prize package. This will include signed copies of each of the first two books in the ‘Wireless trilogy'

COOL PRIZES FOR FIRST, SECOND & THIRD PLACE CATEGORIES WILL BE POSTED TUESDAY, JULY 15TH. YOU WILL NOT BE DISSAPOINTED SO COME AND CHECK MY WEBSITE & BLOG SITES FOR FURTHER DETAILS. PREVIOUS WINNERS ARE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE NEW CONTEST.

CONTEST: WINNER ANNOUNCEMENTS

2008-01-16T09:04:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to all winners of the Wireless in the Fabric of Time contest. All winners were notified the week of January 7th 2008.

Here are the lists and photos of the “Live the Digital lifestyle” winners:

First Prize Winner

Inga Schwarz
Boston, Massachusetts 02110

Prizes: A new 16 GB iPod Touch and a signed copy of the first book in the Wireless series.

Second Prize Winner
Breanna Fortner
Tacoma
Washington
98406

Prizes: $50.00 gift certificate from Amazon and a signed copy of the first book “Wireless in the Fabric of Time” in the Wireless series.

Third Prize Winner
Yvonne Dutreaux
Foster City
CA
94404

Prizes: $40.00 gift certificate from Amazon and a signed copy of the first book “Wireless in the Fabric of Time” in the Wireless series.

Thanks to everyone for entering our contest.

CONTEST ANNOUNCEMENT

2008-01-06T08:52:00.000-05:00

On Monday, January 7th, 2008, we will randomly select the winners of the E. I. Johnson's Wireless in the Fabric of Time contest.

The First Prize winner will be awarded a new 16 GB iPod Touch, Second and Third Prize winners will receives $50.00 and $40.00 gift certificates from Amazon.

Each will receive signed copies of the first and 2nd book in the Wireless series. Second book will be mailed to the winners June 2008.

Winners will be posted Tuesday, January 8th, 2008. All winners will be notified by email and registered mail.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2007-12-31T19:57:00.000-05:00

I wish each and every one of you a very wonderful, healthy, prosperous and cheerful 2008.

Wireless: Life Doesn't Rewind Across The Universe (Second part in the trilogy)

2007-12-18T08:53:00.000-05:00

WATCH MY BOOK TRAILER VIDEO
Available in bookstores August 2008

VIEW MY BOOK TRAILER: Wireless... In the Fabric of Time (First novel in the trilogy)

2007-12-07T10:31:00.000-05:00

BUY THE BOOK from Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Dont forget to enter the Wireless in the Fabric of time iPOD iTOUCH contest. Visit http://www.myspace.com/eijohnson page or visit my website: http://www.eijohnson.com/ and click the "iPod" for more details.

Sarah Beth Durst - Author of "Into the Wild" & "Out of the Wild"

2007-12-03T14:19:00.000-05:00

Today’s YA interview is with Sarah Beth Durst. She's the author of Into the Wild a great twisty ride novel through fairy tale. A twelve-years old Julie has a secret under her bed, and has grown up hearing about The Wild, the dangerous world of fairy tales, from which her mother, Rapunzel, escaped. Into the Wild is a fun read. A twisty ride through fairytale.

"Out of the Wild" is sequel to "Into the Wild" coming June of 2008. Into the Wild is available now from Razorbill, Penguin Young Readers, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

EI: Would you share some early insight into who you were as a teenager with your readers? What were you like as a teen? Please tell us more about Sarah Beth Durst -- the woman behind the author.

SBD: As a teen, I was shy, insecure, and my hair looked like a poodle. (I mean, my haircut looked like a poodle's haircut. It wasn't actually in the shape of a dog. That would be odd.) But other than basic hair issues, I was happy. I was (and am) a rather fiercely determined optimist. So I skipped the whole teenage-rebellion thing and actually had a rather good time in high school. (No one likes middle school, of course. I don't trust anyone who liked middle school.)

EI: Do you express your inner self in your writing or do the personas you create exist only in your imagination?

SBD: Little bits of me leak into all my characters, I'm sure, but by the end of a few drafts, the characters begin to feel more like very close friends rather than aspects of me.

In terms of actual personality, the character from INTO THE WILD who I think I am most like is the protagonist's best friend Gillian. When Gillian is told that a deep, dark fairy-tale forest has spread over her hometown, she doesn't think, "Oh, no, what a disaster. Life as we know it is over." She thinks, "That's awesome!!!" I would definitely react like that. And then I'd probably get eaten by Little Red Riding Hood's wolf or something.

EI: What is your response to the public perception that writers’ creative insight and energy is frequently the product of personal conflict?

SBD: I don't think you need to have a Dickensian childhood or an angst-ridden adult life to be a writer. Everyone has issues and obsessions that show up in their stories, of course, but I don't think writers need to be or have been miserable in order to be productive. For me, the happier I am, the more I write (and the converse is also true: the more I write, the happier I am). I think writing is more about joy than pain.

EI: What would you like to say to writers who are reading this interview and wondering if they can keep creating, if they are good enough, if their voices and visions matter enough to share?

SBD: Of course you're good enough. Of course your voice and vision matter! Shut off that voice in your brain (I recommend loud music or a nice pep talk) and go write. The more you write, the better you'll get at it. It's like any other art -- the more you practice playing the piano, the happier people will be to hear you play.

And if, still, no one wants to hear you play, there's value in continuing anyway. Writing is good for the soul. Better than chicken soup.

EI: Many writers describe themselves as "character" or "plot" writers. Which are you? And what do you find to be the hardest part of writing?

SBD: I think character and plot come at the same time for me. I start with a person in a particular situation, and what they choose to do both defines who they are as a character and what the plot of the story is. I can't separate out Julie (from INTO THE WILD) as a character from her plot choice to brave the fairy tale to rescue her mom.

As far as the hardest part of writing... absolutely the first draft. I find first drafts to be very, very painful because they can never be as good as what you picture in your head. After the first draft, subsequent drafts are much better because the story feels like it's improving, but that first draft... I try to slog through it as quickly as possible, which leads to scenes with phrases like "and then something cool happens." After I'm done with the first draft, then the real writing can begin.

EI: Are you armed with notebook and pen at all the times? Do you always carry your laptop or PDA with you to write?

SBD: Yep, I always have a notebook in my purse. Or at least a stray scrap of paper. I don't carry my laptop everywhere because I honestly write best at my own desk with all my papers and books and everything around me. I always wish I were one of those writers who could hop from cafe to cafe... I'm not a cafe-writer, though. I eavesdrop way too much for that. I sit there wondering about strangers’ lives instead of working on my story.

EI: Do you let anyone read your manuscript, before you send it to your editor or agent?

SBD: Only my husband and a few very close friends.

I trick myself into writing first drafts by promising myself that no one will ever see a word of it. It's only when I reach the final draft that I feel ready to share it.

EI: Was there anyone who really influenced you to become a writer?

SBD: Every book that I've ever read and loved has influenced me. Every time I close a good book, I think, "I want to do that." Some books that inspired me (and continue to do so) are ALANNA by Tamora Pierce, DEEP WIZARDRY by Diane Duane, JACK THE GIANT-KILLER by Charles de Lint, and BEAUTY as well as THE BLUE SWORD by Robin McKinley.

EI: Now let’s shift gears here for a second... Can you share with us some of the challenges you faced to publish your first novel “ Into the Wild?” Is there anything about you that you would do differently, knowing what you do now?

SBD: One of the hardest parts about the road to publication is that there isn't a very clearly marked road. It's not like other careers where first you are a assistant then you're promoted up through the ranks to senior whatever. You have to find (or make through sheer stubbornness) your own road, and that can be both difficult and stressful. I am not sure what I wish I'd done differently, but I can tell you one thing that helped: asking questions, doing research, attending book signings and events and talking to authors... basically learning as much about the business as I could.

EI: What was the inspiration for your novel ? What is your response to the public perception about your creative insight with your book?

SBD: I have always loved fairy tales. Back in high school, I had the idea: wouldn't it be cool if fairy-tale characters were walking around right here and now? What would they do? What would they be like? I was pretty sure that Rapunzel would own a hair salon, and that idea lingered until I started writing INTO THE WILD.

Public response has been wonderful. It's been so fun getting emails from people and talking to people who read it. (If you're curious, you can see some of the official responses on the Reviews page of my website: www.sarahbethdurst.com/reviews.htm)

EI: How much of Julie Marchen & her mother is planned out in your head? How do you know where you will go next with their characters? What was your biggest challenge in creating them? 12. How did you develop these characters? Did you work them out in advance, or did they evolve as you wrote the story?

EI: It would be nice if characters sprung out of my head full-blown like Athena from Zeus's head... On the other hand, that always sounded kind of painful. Seriously, though, Julie, Zel, Boots, Gillian... all of them evolved over the course of many, many revisions.

SBD: What is a typical work day schedule when you are in full writing mode? Would you tell us a little about your process for editing, revising, and novel development? How long did it take you to write ‘Into the Wild’ including the time it took to research the book?

I try to write every day including weekends. It's not necessarily the same time every day or even the same length of time, but daily is key. If I don't write for a couple days, I find it very slow and difficult to start back up again.

I started INTO THE WILD in 2000. I worked on other things as well, of course, but I really believed in this novel so I kept coming back to it.

EI: What about writing for young adult appealed to you?

SBD: It's what I love to read. I read much more middle-grade (MG) and young adult (YA) fiction these days than I do adult fiction. I like the worldview. I like the optimism. I like the themes of coming-of-age and underdog-triumphing-against-tremendous-odds that are prevalent in this age range. I like that you can have humor, adventure, and depth all in the same novel.

EI: Do you feel more pressure, feel insecurities or are you able to separate all that from your own creative process?

SBD: Every story I write, I always hit a point where I think it's doomed, I'm doomed, we're all doomed, doomed, and doomed. And my husband always gives me a wonderful pep talk, and then I sit back down at the computer and in a little while, everything's fine and sunshiny again. Sometimes we joke that he should simply record his pep talk so I can play it back whenever I need it.

I don't think I'll ever be able to fully separate out those feelings. I care too much about writing to not feel anxious about it. I want desperately to tell great, exciting, fun, rich, wonderful stories, and I think you always feel anxious whenever you want anything desperately.

EI: What's next for your fans?

SBD: The next book will be a sequel to INTO THE WILD. It will be coming out next summer from Razorbill / Penguin Young Readers. I'm really, really excited about it.

EI: Ms. Durst, thank you for contributing to my blog. It has been a pleasure for me to get to know you, and your work a little better. Would you like to end your interview with a writing tip or advice for young aspiring writers?

SBD: Write what you love, and don't give up. Also, take all advice with a grain of salt. No one really knows what they're talking about. Myself included.

Thanks for interviewing me!

To learn more about Sarah Beth Durst, please visit her at:
http://www.sarahbethdurst.com/
http://sarahbethdurst.blogspot.com/
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=123798284
http://classof2k7.com/authors/sarah_beth_durst.php

Marley Gibson - Author of Sorority 101"

2007-11-27T11:51:00.000-05:00

Welcome to “Up Close & Personal.” For every interview I will be introducing a literary personality discussing her views and insights, as well as upcoming literary events around the world.

Today’s YA interview is with Marley Gibson, writing as Kate Harmon. She's the author of "Sorority 101" a must-read book for everyone who dreams to be in the sorority. "Sorority 101" is about three girls with true friendship and their bond of sisterhood.

EI: Would you share some early insight into who you were as a teenager with your readers? What were you like as a teen? Please tell us more about Marley Gibson -- the woman behind the author.

M. GIBSON: Wow. . . as a teenager, I was a northern-born girl growing up in the deep south. I was your typical band geek, and then, eventually a varsity cheerleader. I was in the Honor Society and Who’s Who and all of that, but I was really into school spirit and participation, event planning and being in every club imaginable. In the summer between my freshman and sophomore year, I was diagnosed with bone cancer, which I was treated for and beat. It certainly changed my outlook on life. . .not that I didn’t appreciate things, but fighting a disease that could possible leave you with only one leg is a lot more eye-opening than who’s dating who and who’s not speaking to what person.

EI: Do you express your inner self in your writing or do the personas you create exist only in your imagination?

M. GIBSON: Good question. The answer is both. That’s not a cop-out, but how can you not express your inner self when you’re opening up emotions and pouring words onto a page? But I do love creating characters and deciding what they’re like, what their challenges are, what they look like, etc. I wrote eleven (11) manuscripts before my sorority series sold and a lot of those characters are very real and 3D to me. I tend to put expressions of myself into my stories, like what I like to eat, drink, music I listen to, etc. Write what you know, right?

EI: What is your response to the public perception that writers’ creative insight and energy is frequently the product of personal conflict?

M. GIBSON: I haven’t really experienced that perception yet, but I do know of other writer friends who have run into that. You know, life is full of personal conflict and conflict is what fuels fiction. So, if people want to bring their insight and energies into their writing, I have no problem with it. It’s all in the execution. As a fan of reading, I’m just looking for a compelling story that keeps me turning the pages.

EI: What would you like to say to writers who are reading this interview and wondering if they can keep creating, if they are good enough, if their voices and visions matter enough to share?

M. GIBSON: Well, I say. . . anyone who wants to write and feels they have characters in their head and a story to tell. . . quit talking about it and thinking about it and just sit down and do it! You never know what you’re capable of until you try it. Everyone has a voice and a vision. Some people just express it in writing. Others through song, or dance, or painting, or in working with old people, or taking care of little animals. I believe we’re all creative and have the ability within us. It’s honing so much about honing your craft and practicing and just doing it!

EI: Many writers describe themselves as "character" or "plot" writers. Which are you? And what do you find to be the hardest part of writing?

M. GIBSON: I am a plotter allllllllllll the way. I can’t start writing a story until I can see it in my head, from start to finish, like a movie – from opening to closing credits, complete with full orchestration and soundtrack. Seriously. At that point, I write an outline or synopsis and then just start writing. I type about 100 words per minute, so once I can fully visualize my story, I just get it out of my head as fast as I can and then go back and polish, straighten and tighten to make it better. The hardest part of writing? Well, I think for a lot of people, it’s just giving yourself permission to sit at the computer and do it. I know too many people who are hesitant to write—although they have stories—because they’re afraid of what other people will think. Who cares?! Write for yourself. Write for the pure enjoyment of it. Write because if you don’t, you’ll explode. For me, the hardest part of writing is believing that my ideas are sellable. But then, I plow forward on them anyway.

EI: Are you armed with notebook and pen at all the times? Do you always carry your laptop or PDA with you to write?

M. GIBSON: Oh, you know it! I have about three notebooks of various shapes that I keep with me at all times. When I’m working on a story, I keep my AlphaSmart Neo with me. I have a flash drive that I carry with me everywhere that has everything I’ve ever written on it. You never know when you can pull a scene from a five year old manuscript, spruce it up, and add it to the work in progress. I have to say that I’m constantly thinking of ideas, directions, new characters and am always testing out dialogue in my head. I know. . . I sound like a crazy person!

EI: Do you let anyone read your manuscript, before you send it to your editor or agent?

M. GIBSON: Sure. . . I think you have to. I have a very solid, trustworthy critique partner, whom I’ve known since 2002. We started out on this whole writer’s journey at the same time and experienced some of the same pitfalls and successes. She sold her series a year before I did, but I was just as happy for her than had I sold. And the same thing for her when I sold. We have similar voices and the same warped sense of humor, so we’re able to help each other out. I also have some trusted readers who’ll just read through and give me their overall impressions and not a line-by-line critique. When you work on a manuscript, your eye can become married to it and you can skip over typos, grammatical errors, and missed words. I think it’s essential to have fresh set of eyes on it – especially before submitting to an agent or editor.

EI: Was there anyone who really influenced you to become a writer?

M. GIBSON: I would say my parents encouraged me to be creative. Whether that was playing the piano or trumpet as a teenager or doing advertising campaigns in college or writing marketing and public relation pieces in my professional career, they always stressed that I use the talents given to me to the best of my ability. I always excelled in English and Writing classes, so I think it’s only natural that I fell into writing as a beloved hobby.

EI: Now let’s shift gears here for a second... . tell us what is the premise of your book ‘Sorority Rush Begins?’ which I understand will be published by Puffin Books in summer of 2008? Can you give us a sneak peek?

M. GIBSON: Just a correction on the title. . . “Sorority Rush Begins. . .” is my marketing line for the series. The first four books in The Sisterhood Series are Rush, Pledge Class, Greek Week, and Spring Formal – all with A Sisterhood Novel after the title. The books are set on a fictional college campus in central Florida, steeped in rich, Southern tradition, and are centered on three very different heroines, each going through Sorority Rush for different reasons. Rush and Pledge Class will be released simultaneously in May 2008 in a push for the series.

EI: Can you share with us some of the challenges you faced to publish this first novel ‘Sorority Rush Begins ?” Is there anything about you that you would do differently, knowing what you do now?

M. GIBSON: My challenges in getting published were before this series idea. I had come close with a couple of chick lit manuscripts and then a romance I had written, but lines went under and it just wasn’t in the cards. Also, I was with my first literary agent and two and a half years into trying to sell. I felt I needed to shake things up a bit, so I signed on with a new agent who thought I should take a stab at the Young Adult market. Again, we came close with a manuscript, but it didn’t sell. In January 2006, a publisher came to my agent (because of her reputation in selling YA) and asked if she had a writer who could write a proposal for them based on three heroines all going through Sorority Rush. My agent knew me and my voice well enough to know that 1) I was in a sorority in college and 2) I could do this quickly and get it back to the editor. I came up with a three-book idea with three heroines and submitted it in early February. By March 16th, we had the deal. What I know now that I’d do differently? I wouldn’t have wasted so much time with an agent relationship that wasn’t working for me. But then again, everything happens for a reason, right?

EI: What was the inspiration for your novel? What is your response to the public perception about your creative insight with your book?

M. GIBSON: As I said, the original concept for the series was my publisher’s. Both of my editors were/are sorority girls and they really wanted something that focused on the sisterhood and philanthropy that the national sororities provide. I, of course, drew upon my own college experiences, but then again, that was a thousand years ago (LOL!), so I talked to some friends who were just out of college and studies their sorority experiences. I hope that I’ve weaved the two together nicely in the books.

EI: How much of your characters is planned out in your head? How do you know where you will go next with them? What was your biggest challenge in creating them?

M. GIBSON: These are common questions, yet not easily answered as it will vary from writer to write and even from story to story. I like to see my characters as 3D figments in my imagination before I start writing. However, as I begin writing, sometimes a character will decide “hey, I want to do fill-in-the-blank” and I realize that might be best for the story. Other times, I know exactly the journey I will take them on. As for how I know where they’ll go next? Let’s just say I have an overactive imagination and love playing “what if.” I’ve always been the type of person that people watches and tries to come up with a back story. Like, the other day, my husband and I were sitting in traffic and this woman walked by us with the gargantuan bucket. The rest of the way home, I had come up with not only what she had in the bucket, but why she had it, where she’d gotten it, where she was going with it and how much she paid for it. Nonsense? Perhaps, but a lot of fun. I honestly have to say I have never had a problem creating characters.

EI: How did you develop these characters? Did you work them out in advance, or did they evolve as you wrote the story?

M. GIBSON: In developing the characters, I knew the publisher wanted three heroines and I thought it would be more realistic to have them from very separate backgrounds. The first girl, Roni, is a Boston Brahman who escapes her Beacon Hill, Harvard-bound life to go to a state school fifteen hundred miles from her hands-off, aristocratic parents. The second girl, Jenna, is a bubbly, fun, cute girl from Atlanta, who grew up in a house full of kids, but she is battling a disease that makes fitting in sometimes difficult. Then, there’s Lora-Leigh, a native of Latimer (my fictitious town), who wants nothing more than to get away to NYC or LA for fashion design school, but because her father is Dean of Students at Latimer, she can’t escape the city limits just yet. I planned these girls out in advance, but, of course, as I’ve been writing, they are evolving. . . just like people evolve as they get older. It’s a lot of fun to see what each girl is going to pull on me! LOL!

EI: What is a typical work day schedule when you are in full writing mode? Would you tell us a little about your process for editing, revising, and novel development? How long did it take you to write ‘Sorority Rush Begins’ including the time it took to research the book?

M. GIBSON: First of all, I have a full-time, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. job. When I’m working on a story, I will bring my AlphaSmart with me and work over my lunch hour and then I’ll go to work in my writing room at home after work. Because of my speed in typing, I can get about 1,500 words done in an hour. So, when I’m in the blood fever of writing, if I can get 1,000 words per day done, then I’m golden. To me, it’s all about staying on schedule and getting things to your publisher (or agent) in a timely manner and when they ask for it. As for writing Rush, I did an initial draft, then a re-write and a round of copyedits. I started working on Rush last year and it took about eight months from first draft to final copyedits. I don’t know if this is typical or not because this is the first book in the series and we really worked hard to make sure it had the right feel and tone to it. Also, it was my first time working with an editor. I researched pretty quickly, but it was mainly reading back copies of my sorority alumnae magazine and talking to my friends fresh out of college. The research on this one really is an example of write what you know. People who went to The University of Alabama (like I did) will definitely recognize the layout of the campus of Latimer University.

EI: What about writing for young adult & teens appealed to you?

M. GIBSON: I think there are a lot of opportunities in writing for teens that you don’t necessarily have when you’re writing for adults. Teens are growing and developing and always learning, so it’s easier to have a naïve character that needs to go on a personal journey towards a particular goal. Not that you don’t do that in adult writing, but I find the innocence of my YA characters to be a lot more fun and challenging in terms of crafting and forming them. I still read and write adult stuff and would love—one day—to publish some of my adult fiction. We’ll see!

EI: Do you feel more pressure, feel insecurities or are you able to separate all that from your own creative process?

M. GIBSON: I’ve never really felt pressure in my writing. From day one of writing, I put myself on a very strict schedule, always giving myself a “deadline,” so that when that magical day came that I got an editor, I would be able to produce on time for them. The only pressure I have is on me to get it done. I believe every writing goes through insecure phases, especially when you’ve been through a few years of knocks, pings, and rejection from the publishing industry. But you have to remind yourself that it’s a business and it’s not against you personally. You have to get back on that horse and go to the next project. Insecurities will creep into you head if you allow the elves of self doubt to tell you stupid crap and you listen to them. That’s why you have your close circle of trusted friends you can go to when those insecurities hit. You share them with those people, let them build you back up, and hand you tissues to dry your tears. You don’t blog about it or shout it out to the universe. . . you just deal with and then get back to work. It’s like that in any career you have, especially where you’re putting yourself out there in such a creative manner.

EI: What's next for your fans?

M. GIBSON: Oooo. . . I have fans? Exccccccccccellllllllllent!!! In 2008, there are four books in The Sisterhood Series. I hope people who read the first couple will not only love them, but will buy the following ones and then request more books in the series from my publisher. I would love to be able to write these characters all the way through their college graduation. How fun would that be?!?! People are welcome to visit me online at my website at http://www.marleygibson.com, where they can e-mail me, or visit my group blog that I do with six other amazingly talented YA authors, http://www.booksboysbuzz.com.

EI: Ms. Gibson, thank you for contributing to my blog. It has been a pleasure for me to get to know you, and your work a little better. Would you like to end your interview with a writing tip or advice for young aspiring writers?

M. GIBSON: My tip is if you really want to write and create and express yourself, then don’t talk about it, do it! Thanks for letting me do this! 

http://www.marleygibson.com/
http://www.marleygibson.com/home.htm

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL OF YOU!

2007-11-22T10:16:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving is generally considered a secular holiday, and is not directly based in religious canon or dogma - Author Unknown