In which I am interviewed by an eighth grader. :)

This particular set of questions has inspired me to add a category to this blog called, cleverly enough, Information for School Assignments.

 

What genre of books do you like to read?

All kinds. Really.

Who is your favorite author?

I can’t pick just one.

If you could work with any author who would it be?

Someone who’s really good at coming up with plots. I almost always have characters in mind before I have any idea what happens to them.

Who or what inspired you to write?

Reading. Living. My parents. Certain awesome teachers.

How did you get your first book published?

I was lucky.

Do you have any books that have been made into movies? If so which ones?

If I had, don’t you think I’d have something about it on my website? ;)
In other words: no, not yet.

If you could change one thing about your books, what would it be?

I wouldn’t change the books. I’d change the minds of people who want to remove them from school libraries.

What was your favorite toy as a child?

A tiny plastic elephant.

Do you have any siblings?

No.

Do any of your relatives read your books?

Yes. Also, some of my mom’s friends, which is even more unnerving. Cool, but unnerving.

Did you ever think you’d ever become an author? If not what would you be?

Yes.

I’m also a librarian.

What do you consider your best accomplishment?

I hope it’s still ahead of me.

What is your daily life like today?

I work as a librarian during the day. I write at night and on the weekends — when I’m not answering questions like this, that is. ;)

As a child did you do a lot of writing? Reading?

Yes.

If you had all the time in the world, what would you do?

Travel more. Spend more time with my friends. Also, probably take up the violin again.

Have you had any books that you’ve written NOT get published?

I threw one out.

What advice would you give to people who “run out of creativity” when writing?

Here are a few ideas:

Step away and do something else for a while. Sometimes you need a little distance before you can see where your story’s going.

Try bibliomancy: close your eyes, open a book to a random page, and point somewhere on the page. Whatever sentence your finger lands on, apply it to your story.

Ask yourself: what’s the worst thing that could happen to my characters right now? (Aside from, say, having them all die suddenly for no apparent reason. ;))

What is some advice you would give to an aspiring writer?

Pay attention to everything. Keep a notebook and a writing instrument (pen, pencil, marker, whatever) with you at all times. Eavesdrop. Read.