An Interview

Here’s an excerpt from an interview TeensReadToo did this week:

Q: 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?
A: I didn’t know until I was 28 (I’ve always been a late bloomer at everything).

Q: 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: My upcoming release is THE SPECIALISTS: MODEL SPY. It’s about teen spies, because every nation needs a good 16 year old spy.

Q: What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
A: I’m a former teacher, so you’ll find bits and pieces of all my students in my characters.

Q: Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?
A: I have two. Carrot cake and salt and vinegar chips. And I eat way too much of both.

Q: What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
A: Pee. Make coffee. Check email.

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

Q: Who is your favorite cartoon character? Which cartoon character is most like you?
A: Bugs Bunny is my favorite. But I’d say I’m most like the Tasmanian Devil, always going, going, going. Wait, that’s the Energizer Bunny.

Q: 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?
A: 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.

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

Q: 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?
A: I have seen Dirty Dancing and Ever After like a bazillion times. My favorite t.v. shows right now are Smallville, Gilmore Girls, and Prison Break. The last movie I saw at the theater was Holliday with Cameron Diaz and Jude Law—it was too cute.

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