Why do you write for teens?
I
love writing about teenagers, and have in all of my novels. At that time of
life, the brain is expanding fourfold every day. Teenagers are especially prone
to the first shivers of unrequited love, the despair that follows, and are
smart enough to be cynical yet open about it. They hold all the stuff of great
stories in their palms, and that does makes the writing process of young adult
literature very, very enjoyable.
How much research goes into your writing?
Research is one of my worst vices. I probably spend
as much time researching as I do writing. My rule is that I am not allowed to
use the internet. Plane tickets are OK, the web is not. For the Magnolia League
I went to Savannah
twice, spoke to a Hoodoo specialist, interviewed a bunch of people, and read
about twenty books.
Which characters is easy/hard to write? Why?
The girls - Alex, Hayes, and Madison - were
easy because they all had aspects of my own personality, both as a teen and
now. The Grandmothers were also a ton of fun. I let myself get campy with them,
but I know a LOT of Southern ladies who sound just like them. Doc Buzzard was
tough because he's an old magician and I don't run across many of those in
life.
Can you share a little of what you are working
on now?
It's a novel set in Italy about a group of young
students abroad who fall into a dark path. I just got back from a second trip
for research. Almost done....
What books do you look forward to reading this
fall?
I'm always behind on the trends. When I finish this
next novel I'll take a month off to read. I plan on spending time with Gone
Girl by Gillian Flynn, The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker, a few
Lemony Snickets, Ms. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, which I hear is
awesome, and some Flannery O'Connor. Then I'll get back to work. My next book
is a ghost story, so I'll start "novel-building reading" with Turn of
the Screw.
Oh to go on a research trip. I wanna go! Sounds like a lot of fun. And by knowing the area, it becomes more visual for readers like me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the interview.