Book Scene | So Many Books, So Little Time.

Author Interview-Heather Brewer

By, Book Scene

1.What was your inspiration for EIGHTH GRADE BITES?

I was actually hugely unpopular growing up, so writing about some of those feelings and experiences through Vlad have been quite healing. But my son, Jacob, has also been an enormous source of inspiration. The reason, of course, that I chose to write about a teenage vampire is that it's what I know. I'm obsessed with vampire lore; I'm chock full of wit and sarcasm (not to mention humility...); and every vampire novel I've ever read has let me down at least in a small way. So I chose to write the book I wanted to read.

2.Could you consider Vladimir do be somewhat like you?

Vlad is very much like me. We think in the same way. Plus, we're both night people.

3.How many books will be in this series?

I have five books planned for the series. We'll get to see Vlad all the way through his high school graduation…if he lives that long.

4.Which character do you think developed the most in the book?

I'd have to say that Vlad developed the most. One minute, he's just an ordinary half-human, half-vampire teen. The next, he's kicking major paranormal butt.

5.What else are you working on, besides the series?

I'm working on a YA horror called DEVON'S PLAYGROUND right now. It's about a teenage boy who moves to a small town, where bad things happen…mostly involving a gang of kids with supernatural powers, and giant, winged, flesh-eating monsters.

6.Do you have any advice for other writers?

My best advice is this: learn how to take criticism. Whether it's from a friend, a critique partner, an agent, or an editor—you have to learn how to listen with an open mind when it comes to things that might be wrong with you story. It's a natural reaction to get that "yeah, but…" feeling when you hear someone say something critical of your work. But ignore that feeling and try to hear what they're really telling you.

7.What/Who are some of your favorite books and authors?

I adore Stephenie Meyer's TWILIGHT, as well as Robin McKinley's SUNSHINE, and Gena Showalter's OH MY GOTH. But the classics, like Bram Stoker's DRACULA, and Stephen King's SALEM LOT can't be ignored. Most recently, I've had the pleasure of reading Jackie Kessler's HELL ON EARTH series, and Richelle Mead's VAMPIRE ACADEMY. All of them were delicious in their own way.

8.Do you ever look in your books and say "Man, I wish I could change that"?

There comes a point where you just have to let it go. I've only read EGB once since it became an actual book, and luckily, didn't see anything that I was desperate to change. But when the books are in manuscript stage, oh yeah. All the time. ☺

9.How long have you been a writer?

All my life. ☺ But I didn't get really serious about it until about 2003.

10.What do you want to come for 2008 in your writing career?

I'd love to watch my Minion Horde (what I call my fan base) grow even more, and I look forward to getting to know as many of my Minions as I can!

Author Interview-Brian Sloan

By, Book Scene

1.What was your inspiration for "A REALLY NICE PROM MESS"?

I have always been interested in the "real time" genre of storytelling where the whole thing takes place in one day or one night. Also, being a filmmaker too, a lot of my inspiration as a writer comes from other movies. One of my favorite movies is AFTER HOURS and that was a big inspiration to me when it came to thinking about PROM MESS. I thought it would be fun to try and do a high school version of that movie.

2.Could you relate with Cameron?

Cameron tends to act before he thinks while I'm generally the opposite. In fact, I sometimes never get to the acting part, just the thinking. But, on the other hand, I've heard from friends of mine that some of the funnier things Cameron says sound a lot like some of the things I have said. So I can't totally deny that we have a few things in common personality-wise. But Cameron is definitely very different situationally because I never had a boyfriend in high school. Man--that would have been awesome!

3.Is this prom experience anything like yours?

It wasn't like my senior prom, that's for sure. That event was actually a lot of fun for me as I had a girlfriend(!) and we loved dancing. (She should have known then, right?) However, the inciting incident of the book was inspired by another high school dance where I got set up with this girl who I didn't know and when I arrived to pick her up at her house that afternoon she was a bit drunk. It was sorta bizzare and sorta funny too. Actually, the one direct quote from life is how she tells her mother that she'll come home when she feels like it. I mean sometimes you can't make-up stuff that is that good!

4.How do you think Cameron developed to a more matured teenager?

I'm glad to hear that you assume Cam did develop into a more mature teen! :) But I do think the prom experience was probably a big turning point in his life. I think that through all the craziness of that night, Cam learned that while dishonesty might work in the short term it only leads to major trouble in the long term. And to me that's really what the book is about; Cameron learning how to be honest. Not only with himself but with others too. That is a big step on the road to maturity for anyone.

5.Will there be a sequel?

I have had some vague thoughts about another book reuniting Cameron and the whole gang and having them all working at some crazy summer job together. But, right now, there is nothing concrete in the works. In some ways, I would find it hard to top all the action and excitement that got crammed into the one night of PROM MESS. But it would be fun to see everyone a few years down the road and how they've changed. I imagine that Cam will continue to get himself into messes but, hopefully, will figure out better ways to deal with them.

6.Have you ever had a boyfriend like Shane?

Oh man---everyone wants to know who the real Shane is! Well, to be brutally honest, I have to admit that a lot of Shane comes directly from me. I am not a jock as the only sport I ever excelled in was bowling. However, a few years ago I was in a relationship where I was not that appreciative of my boyfriend at the time and sorta took him for granted in the same way that Shane treats Cam. And, just like Shane, I couldn't even see I was doing anything wrong. So that situation really helped me relate to Shane's struggle in some ways and write his character.

7.What do you think is going on with Cameron right now, like he was a real person?

It's funny you ask that. Cameron is pretty real to me. I think as an author you have to believe your characters exist, otherwise no one else will believe your story when reading it. So, with that in mind, I think Cameron is probably enjoying college life at UVA as an out and proud gay dude who is dating a totally hot junior who is on the lacrosse team. ;)

8.Will this book become a movie?

Actually, the whole thing started out as a movie. Sort of. When I gradated from film school, I wrote the basic story outline of PROM MESS as a treatment for what I had hoped would be my first feature film. But it didn't go anywhere because the concept of a gay teen protagonist was a little out there at the time. But, now that PROM MESS is doing well as a book and paperback, there has been some interest in Hollywood lately to make it into a movie. So we'll see what happens...

9.If you could choose a cast, who would you cast for Cam, Shane, Viginia, and Jane?

The easiest one for me to cast is Lindsay Lohan as Virginia....she would be awesome! I think she is incredibly talented, especially with comedy. The FREAKY FRIDAY remake she did was hilarious. As for the rest of the gang, a hot Shane/Cam combo would be Chace Crawford and Penn Badgley from GOSSIP GIRL. They would be such a cute bickering couple, no? For Jane, Amanda Bynes is pretty funny and she was fantastic in HAIRSPRAY. Wow...this is getting me excited to do the movie! As things develop on that front, I will post any news on my website, www.briansloan.com. So check it out--and thanks for your interest in PROM MESS and the great questions too. Take care!

Author Interview-Laura Ruby

By, Book Scene

1.What was your inspiration for "GOOD GIRLS"?

The short answer: I was mad.

The longer answer: A few years ago, I was between projects and watching a lot of TV. There was a ton of dumb stuff on, much of it about sex (yeah yeah, I know, big news there). But as I watched some of this stuff, I started thinking that a lot of it seemed designed to humiliate girls or make them feel like garbage (think Girls Gone Wild, MTV's Spring Break, etc.) And that made *me* really angry. I started thinking about how all those camera phones make it so easy to catch everyone and everything on video. I wondered what a nice, normal high school girl would do if someone took a movie or a picture of her and passed it around. How would she ever live it down?

2.How do you advise teens to be careful when at parties?

Well, I think it's always a good idea to be aware of your surroundings, whether you're at a party or wherever. And I'd say that it's never a good idea to let anyone take a picture of you that you wouldn't want sent to other people, posted on the Internet, etc. (because it could happen so easily).

3.Do you think there was any character development for any of the characters, including Audrey?

I think that Audrey, Ash and Pam really changed the most over the course of the book. Audrey developed a lot of strength that she never knew she had, Ash learned to be more open and forgiving (of herself most of all), and Pam had to own up her mistakes.

4.Do you think Ash was kind of hurtful to her at some points or being a good friend?

Oh, I think Ash was pretty hurtful at times. When we ourselves are hurt, it's hard to be sympathetic to other people. Ash's heart was broken and I think deep down she blamed herself for that. It was hard for her to see Audrey hurt, but it was also hard not to blame Audrey for it.

5.What character are you most alike and why?

I'd say I'm a combination of Ash and Joelle. I'm a poetry AND a drama geek.

6.What are you currently working on?

I just finished a new book called Play Me, about a guy "player" who has his heart broken by the one girl who can do it.

7.What are some of your "New Year Resolutions"?

To cut down on the coffee. And I can tell you it's not going well.

8.Which character did you have the most fun writing about?

Pam. She's so old school, so retro. She was angry and mean and very real to me. I had a great time with her dialogue.

9.Which character did you despise?

Even though there are some despicable characters in Good Girls -- Chilly to name just one -- I didn't despise any of them. As their creator, I must have some understanding, even sympathy for even my worst characters. If I hated them, I wouldn't write them very well. They'd turn into cartoons rather than people.

10.Is this book anything like your own life?

Fortunately, I never had to suffer the kind of humiliation that Audrey did, but I'd say the friendships are very much like friendships I've had and continue to have. I'd never make it without my friends!

Well, that was the interview! We hoped you enjoyed it and we hope to see more of Laura!

Author Interview-Justina Chen Headley

By, Book Scene

1.What Was Your Inspiration For "GIRL OVERBOARD"?

To tell you the truth, I watched a few too many episodes of My Super Sweet Sixteen on MTV! Those shows are like watching traffic accidents of teen lives—and yet you can’t look away. And then after I turned off the TV, I’d feel so repulsed at those kids’ devouring materialism AND my own weird fascination with their lives. So think of Girl Overboard as the dark side of the rags-to-richest story. I wanted to show what having it all really means. Like how Syrah knew that everyone who orbited around her only wanted access to her dad’s toys. Like how Syrah was raised by a nanny.

2.Do you think Syrah had any character development?

You bet! By the end of the book, Syrah has such a strong sense of herself—you just know that she’s not going to let anyone push her around. More than that, she knows what she wants in life: to be open to possibilities. That’s such a long way from where she starts in Girl Overboard.

3.Is this story based off of any of your life?

Like most people unfortunately, I know what it’s like to be used by someone. It hurts. And afterwards, you think to yourself, stunned: how did I not know? So I was able to channel a lot of those experiences into Syrah.

4.In one word, how could you describe your book?

Multi-layered.

5.Do you think Bao-Mu leaving Syrah for the short period of time, helped Syrah become stronger or if it was finding her REAL family?

I love this question! The short answer: absolutely. Syrah really needed to stand on her own. What Bao-Mu instilled in Syrah was the knowledge of unshakable love. She was so loved. But Syrah needed to know that she could fight for herself and what she wanted.

6. Could Syrah alter-ego?

Shiraz was Syrah’s manga alter-ego—able to do the things that Syrah wished she herself could do.

7.Which Character did you have the most fun writing about?

I must say, I loved it every time Bao-Mu came on scene. She was so strong and so clearly drawn in my head.

8.Any advice for other writers?

Read, read, read, read, read. And then write every day.

9.What else are you working on in the moment?

I just saw the cover for my next novel, NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL, which is due out in February, 2009. That was so exciting and makes the novel feel so real.

Now, I’m trying my hand at my first fantasy novel. It’s so much fun to write in a different genre. And the wonderful thing is, my agent and editor are incredibly supportive. They always tell me to write whatever I want. That’s really a blessing.

10.Will there be a sequel?

Hmmm…do you think there should be a sequel? More than with my first novel, NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH (and a few white lies), I can see sequel material for Syrah…if enough readers demand that her story continue.

11.Do you like manga?

I really love manga and the way stories can be told in that medium. I really wish I were artistic. I would definitely be a manga writer.

Hopefully we can see more of Justina in the future! We hoped you enjoyed this interview!

Author Interview-Lauren Baratz-Logsted

By, Book Scene

1.What was your inspiration for "SECRETS OF MY SUBURBAN LIFE"?

I wouldn’t say any one thing specifically inspired me to write this story, but always simmering in the back of my mind, for nearly as long as I can remember, is the notion that so much in life can change in a single instant; that’s pretty much what happens in Angel’s Choice, which was my first YA novel, too. Something happens, or you turn right instead of left, and everything that follows is altered. Life is like that. When my eight-year-old daughter was in kindergarten, her best friend’s father who was also a close friend of mine died. He and his wife were watching TV one night, she fell asleep for just ten minutes, and when she woke up he was dead. And then there’s the modern reality of going to work in the morning and having the skyscraper you work in brought down by a hijacked plane. The trick is in being aware of the tenuous nature of everything, and therefore appreciating the value of life, and yet still being able to go on and experience joy. I’m like that, and I think Ren is too.

2.How do you think Ren developed as a character?

I think Ren changed a lot! While staying true to her personality - quirky, resilient, individual - she got in touch with her own grief, learned to be more forgiving of the human flaws in others and herself, learned to see others more clearly, and further learned that letting others in doesn't make you less cool or weaker; it makes you more cool and stronger.

3.How can teens keep safe?

Be careful! If someone is making you uncomfortable, I’d say - corny as it sounds! - to report it to a trusted teacher or parent or even the police. If it’s happening on a popular online hangout like MySpace, then also report it to the management there – believe me, they don’t want predators there anymore than you do. You don’t want to start seeing shadows everywhere or cry wolf on the innocent, but you also don’t want to become a victim simply because you’re too nice or too scared or too ashamed to speak up.

4.If you had one word to describe your book, what would it be?

Unusual. Can I also say "quirky"? How about "original"? Actually, it's better if you call it original. Would you, please?

5.Any advice for other writers?

Read widely. I know that sounds like old-lady advice, but you have no idea how many people of all ages tell me they want to write, and then it turns out they never read anything! So read, read a lot, and be sure to read outside your comfort zone. You can learn a lot from people who write different things and you can often learn as much from what you don’t like as from what you do. Then, when you’re ready to write, please ignore the writing-school advice to “write what you know.” Rather, write about ideas and themes you’re dying to explore or write the world as you would like it to be. Finally, the last thing I say to every would-be writer, no matter what the age: If being a writer is what you truly dream to be, then always remember, the only person who can ever really take you out of the game is you.

6.What are you working on at the moment?

7.What are some of your favorite books?

Ooh, I wish you'd narrowed this to YA or contemporary so I could cut down my long list! Since your site does focus on YA, though, I'm going to assume that's what you want and list my favorite YA and tween books from 2007:

Goose Girl ~ Shannon Hale

The Invention of Hugo Cabret ~ Brian Selznick

Harmless ~ Dana Reinhardt

How to Ruin a Summer Vacation ~ Simone Elkeles

Twisted ~ Laurie Halse Anderson

Peak ~ Roland Smith

....................

So that was the interview! We hoped you enjoyed it!

Author Interview- Marina Kuperman

By, Book Scene

1.Why did you decide to write a book like "Turtle Feet, Surfer's Beat"?
I went to visit the turtles for the first time as a tourist, and when I saw these
creatures for the first time I was so moved it was intense. Afterwards I found
out that they are the number one endangered marine animal in the world and I got
inspired to write a fun book to educate and entertain at the same time.

2.How do you think Penelope develops into a mature woman; was it
helping with the turtles, Penelope finding love, etc?
She matures most with the work with the turtles. When one discovers who they
really are when they have a goal in life, and automatically mature!

3.Is this book anything like your life? I guess I can relate to Penelope, I too
grew up in a typical suburb. However, I never had such awesome
experiences of understanding the problems of the world until much later in life, but we're all
young forever, really:)

4.Which character could you relate to the most? Penelope for her will and also
for her love of surfers:)

5.If you had one word to describe your book, what would it be?
Adventure!

6.Are you working on any other novels or books; will there be a sequel?
I'm working on another novel about a skater girl who is actually handicapped, and how
she struggles with the obstacles of a male oriented sport to come out
as a champion.

7.How can teens help out with the Leatherback Turtles? First they can understand
all that affects the turtle. For instance don't throw plastic bags or any garbage
for that matter into the oceans. Join organizations that work with marine
conservation and preservation. There are so many fun things you can do
and it will help keep the turtles alive and safe.

So, there you have it! We hope to see more of Marina in the near future. And please, help out with the enviroment. It doesn't matter if you are young or old. Animal and our Earth need you! Soon there will be a link on Book Scene on helping out, but for now, check out www.turtlefeetsurfersbeat.com for more!

Author Interview-Brian Sloan

By, Book Scene

1.What was your inspiration for TALE?
The main inspiration was probably my best friend from high school,
who I'm still in touch with. I wasn't "out" to him in high school,
or anyone for that matter as I didn't really figure that stuff out
til I was in college. But when I did come out to him, our friendship
changed and actually deepened as we had these very interesting
dialogues about sex and love and life in general. Usually I think
the perception is that there is this huge divide between the straight
world and the gay world but, with our friendship, I found that this
wasn't the case. I always thought our friendship was pretty
interesting in that way and thought it would be cool to try and write
a book about that.
2.Is this book anything like your own personal life?
Since I didn't really get that I was gay until after high school, the
book is pretty far from my actual experiences as a teenager. And I
didn't fall in love with any hot French guys--though that would have
been awesome! :) There are some details in the book, though, that
are drawn from my life like the locale. I grew up in Kensington and
Wheaton, Maryland and I hung out at Wheaton Plaza a lot, though it
was much trashier back in the day. I even took a driving course at
Einstein High School which made me the terrible driver I am today.
The one character, actually, who is most true to life is Brett. She
is very much based on the girl who sat next to me at Einstein and,
despite all those boring classes, she never learned how to drive. I
sometimes wonder where she is and how she gets around.
3.In one word, how could you describe TALE?
Hmmmm--how about two? For me, the book is about friendship and love.
First and foremost, I see the book ultimately as the story of Chuck
and Hal's friendship and how it changes yet survives over the course
of a very action-packed summer. Secondly, the book is about that
first big love which can be scary, thrilling, confusing and totally
hot all once. I really wanted the book to capture that feeling of
being in love for the first time, both from the gay and straight
perspective so that people could see that it's really the exact same
feeling. That is my subversive little message to all the people out
there who still think there is something wrong or immoral about being
gay. My answer is and has always been "what's so terrible about
falling in love"?
4.Is there any other books you are working on in the moment?
Right now, I'm working on a high school movie actually. It's called
PROM QUEENS and it's an indie film a trio of unique girls with a bit
of a gay twist to it. We are just starting to cast it now but if we
get Zac Efron, I'll be sure to let you know!
5.Who and/or what are your inspirations?
So many things inspire me, from other authors to movies to theatre. I
live in New York, in the middle of Greenwich Village, so sometimes
taking a simple walk to the grocey store can be inspiring! But I
have to say that usually my greatest inspiration comes from my
friends. They are always encouraging me and always keeping me going
as a writer. Some of them have even been the inspiration for
characters in my books and films.   But the names are always changed,
as I like to say, to protect the guilty. ;)
6.Who are some of your favorite authors?
Michael Chabon is one of my all-time favorites because his first
novel, THE MYSTERIES OF PITTSBURGH was a huge inspiration for me. I
also like Phillip Roth, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Tennesse Williams (his
short stories are amazing!),Harold Brodkey and Paul Russell.
7.What are some of your favorite books?
Oh wow--so many. Here's some of the greatest hits that I return to
again and again: KAVALIER AND CLAY, BREAKFAST AT TIFFANYS (the actual
book is soooo different from the movie!), CATCHER IN THE RYE, THE
SWIMMING POOL LIBRARY, AT SWIM TWO BOYS, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, THE
AWAKENING.
8.Any advice for other writers?
Keep writing! Every day if possible. Either in a journal or a blog
or a notebook...somewhere or anywhere. It doesn't matter as long as
you do it. If you don't exercise those writing muscles, they will
never grow and neither will your writing. People are always asking
me "how do you become a writer" and I have a tendency to give the
smart-ass answer which is "write!". But it really is true. That's
the only way it will happen because if you don't write it down you
will never know.

Above is Brian's new book, A REALLY NICE PROM MESS, coming in paperback in February!

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Author Interview

Wendy Toliver

By, Book Scene

1.Where Did You Get The "Teenage Siren" idea from your book? I've
always been facinated with Greek mythology and in particular sirens.
They're so mysterious and powerful, yet there's something sad and
lonely about them too. I wanted to explore the character of the
siren while bringing new life to it, and what better vehicle than a
plain-Jane band geek from the Denver 'burbs?

2.Who and/or what are your inspirations? My mom inspires me to be
a better mom, a good friend, a killer hostess, a generous soul, a
teacher, and to concentrate more on inner beauty than outer.

3.When did you decide to become an author? I decided to become an author about 5 years ago when I went to the LA
Film Festival and had a great experience that I wanted to write about.

That was about the time chick lit was really popular, and my first
manuscript was of that genre. It was never published, but it did
attract my first agent and did well in contests. But most of all, it
showed me that I could write a book.

4.What are you currently working on? My next novel, MISS MATCH,
which is slated to come out next Valentine's Day or so. It's about a teenage matchmaker who is hired by a new guy to fix him up with her very own sister, only to discover that she's crushing on him herself.

5.If you had one word to describe your book, what would
it be? Unique

6.Who are some of your favorite authors? Charles Dickens, Oscar
Wilde, Dr. Seuss, to name a very few

7.If you had a choice, would you become a Siren? Definitely! :)

8.Any advice for any other writers? Read as many books as
possible, in a variety of genres.

9.What are some of your favorite books? Where the Wild Things Are, Memoirs of a Geisha, Carrie, Of Mice and Men ... oh way too many to list!

Author Interview

Lauren Myracle

By, Book Scene

1.What made you want to be a writer?
You know, for me this is one of those odd questions that doesn't really have an answer. I didn't *choose* to want to be a writer; I was wired that way. I love books so much--they've always been incredibly important to me. And I always knew that I wanted to do something I believed in. Writing stories was a natural fit.

2.What inspired you for the TTYL series?
My editor! My coolio wonderful editor, who had a convo with me about how different girls' lives are than in the olden days when--ahem--we were teenagers. We talked and talked, and from that came the idea of writing an entire novel (which turned into three novels!) all in IMs.

3.Will there be any more sequels to TTYL?
Aye-yai-yai. The big question. I'd LOVE to, but at the same time, I don't want to write some crappy shouldn't-have-been sequel that everyone clucks in regret over. So right now...the answer is, "No comment!"

4.If you had one word to describe TTYL, TTFN, and L8r G8r, what would it be?
To quote dear Angela: +superflyingtacklepounce!+

5.What are your favorite books?
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee; all of Beverly Cleary's Ramona books; anything by Flannery O'Connor. Yahoo!

6.Which character from your books are you most alike with?
Oh good golly. Winnie from the Eleven series + Zoe from the ttyl series, I guess!

7.Who are your inspirations.
My goofy silly husband, my kids, my parents, my writer buddies, my buddies in general. I am inspired by MANY wonderful peeps!

8.What's next for you?
La la la, all sorts of stuff! Thirteen comes out in February, wh-hoo! And then, in May, How to Be Bad comes out, which I co-wrote with two fabulous writer buds, Sarah Mlynowski and E. Lockhart. Writing that novel was *ridiculously* fun. And, I'm working on a prequel to Rhymes with Witches called Bliss...and I'm working on a YA novel called Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks. Whew!

And there ya have it. :) Thanks for the opportunity to chat!

So, hopefully we can see more of Lauren!

Author Interview- Brent Hartinger. [Photo Credit- Tim Cathersal]

1. What inspired you to start writing books, novels, and short stories?

I was a classic artsy geek as a kid, always working on some project with my buddies: movies, posters, plays, you name it. I grew up knowing that I would do something creative. I tried lots of different things--filmmaking, acting, etc.--but writing wasn't the only thing I had any talent for. So that's where I ended up!

But it's really the perfect place. I was always better behind-the-scenes, sort of the "big picture" guy. Writing a novel is all about having a clear and consistent vision, and about have the self-confidence to stick to that vision sometimes, while being open to good criticism at other times. It's not for the faint of heart!

2.Any advice for writers?

Everyone says, Read, read, read, and revise, revise, revise! And all that's true. But if you want a career in publishing, I say take the time to learn the BUSINESS of writing. Work in a bookstore or library or, better yet, at a publishing house. Really learn the unwritten rules of the biz, and also what people buy, and why. I'm not telling people to pander, but so many writers and artists in general? They take the time to learn their art, but they're just clueless as to how to turn it into a profession, how to be a working artist and earn a living. And as a result, I have a lot of very bitter artist-friends. It's one thing to have passion, but it's just as important to be smart about it.

The fact is, it's a cold hard world, and no one owes you anything, especially a career in the arts. It doesn't matter how talented you are--you still need to learn to work within the system.

3.What's your inspiration for all of your books?

It's usually either something that happened to me, or something I heard about, that I think is really, really interesting. Let's fact it: if I write a book, I'm going to spend six months to a year writing it, and I'm going to spend the rest of my life talking about it. So it had better be something I'm REALLY fascinated by. It's never a passing whim.

4.Which character are you most like from your books?

Oh, Russel Middlebrook is definitely my alter-ego. He's not me exactly--sort of an idealized me. If you like Russel, you'll probably like me. If you don't like Russel, I know you won't like me (and I probably won't like you!).

5. What was your favorite book you wrote?

It's always, always my latest project. If I wasn't really excited about it, I wouldn't be writing it. I also think that I've gotten to be a better writer with each project I've worked on.

Oneof the weird things about being a writer is that it takes so long for a book to actually be published--at least a year, sometimes two. So by the time a book is released, and I'm expected to talk about it everywhere and act all excited about it, I've usually long since moved on to another project. So I have to try to cast my mind back to what I was thinking and feeling when I wrote the book, which is sometimes hard.

But hey, they're still publishing my books, so there are worse problems to have, right?

6. When you write, what do you do?

I tend to be kind of manic, working day and night until I finish (and then drop dead from exhaustion). It's terribly unhealthy, but I admit it gets the work done! The secret to success in life is to learn your neurosises and make them work for you.

I'm actually serious about this. ;-)

7. What's some of your favorite books?

Well, it all begins with Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings. I'm such a fantasy geek! My favorite books as a kid were (in age-ascending order): The Great Brain books by John D. Fitzgerald; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl; The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster; The Mad Scientists' Club by Bertrand Brinley; The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis; The Neverending Story and Momo by Michael Ende; Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne; and (still my favorite books of all time) The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R. Donaldson.

My favorite books as an adult are: Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt; About a Boy by Nick Hornby; The Crimson Petal and the White by Michael Faber; The Deptford Trilogy by Robertson Davies; Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur S. Golden; Hyperion (and all the sequels) by Dan Simmons; and A Game of Thrones (and all the sequels, except A Feast for Crows, which sucks) by George R. R. Martin.

8. Any future plans?

Ohhhh, I have sooooo many things planned. Lots of fun stuff. I realize how lucky I am to do what I love and actually get paid for it. But I seem to be moving more into movies and screenplays.

9. Are you friends with any other authors?

The very best part of being an author is that you get to meet lots of other authors, including many of my favorites. I met Robert Sawyer a few weeks ago, whose books I like a lot. Most of these authors are just as nice as you'd think, but there is the occasional jerk. Which makes it impossible from then on enjoy his or her books, alas. Oh, well.

10. Do you ever read your books, and think, "Man, I wish I could change that?"

Oh, ALL THE TIME! That's why I make a point to never reread them. Though I was on a 9-hour train ride a few months ago, and all the books I've brought to read turned out to suck. So I had 8 hours left to go and no choice but to reread the only other books I'd brought, my books The Last Chance Texaco and The Order of the Poison Oak. Once I forgot that I'd written them, I started to enjoy the stories, and I really liked the characters. I kept thinking, "Hey, that's a funny joke." Which makes sense, since it's my sense of humor.

That was the interview everyone! Hope you enjoyed it, and maybe we could still see some more of Brent