| Interview with Valerie Frankel |
First off, thanks so much for joining us for an up-close and personal interview for TeensReadToo.com! My
name is Jen, and I’ll be your server toda…oh, wait, wrong job! Anyway, thanks so much for taking time out
of your writing schedule—which I’m sure is busy!—and answering a few questions for your readers and
fans.
Happy to!
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?
I always wanted to be a writer. I made a heart-shaped book out of construction paper when I was seven-
years old called “The Book of Love.” I’ve stopped using crayon, but all these years later, I’m still doing
pretty much the same thing.
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
My first job out of college was at a magazine, and I started writing short articles. That lead to my second
job at Mademoiselle, where I worked as an editor/columnist for ten years. I still do a ton of magazine
journalism for Self, Glamour, Allure among others. My magazine contacts helped me land an agent after I’d
written my first novel at age 24. And I just kept the ball rolling. By now, I’ve written twelve novels (two
coming out next year) and four non-fiction books.
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?
Fringe Girl is my new (and first) novel for teens. It’s about a girl who is on the fringe of her school’s social
world. Dora is not a loser, not exactly popular. She’s holding on to the edge, the fringe, for dear life. She
has a fight with the Ruling Class queen (a boy is involved) and decides to use a social studies project on
non-violent revolution to stage a coup d’etat at her school. She climbs all the way up, only to find out that
it’s lonely at the top.
The one thing to say to convince readers to check out the book? Most girls will relate to Dora’s nameless
longing, the intense feeling of wanting something more, even if they know their desire is superficial, be it
popularity, a particular boy, certain kinds of friendships.
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
I’m inspired by all sources of input. Books, movies, TV, my friends and family. The images, ideas, bits of
conversation and events filter into my head, and are then mixed up in the blender that is my brain, and out
come plots and characters.
Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!
My parents are very supportive. They always have been, since “The Book of Love” days. I’ve got a family
full of writers, actually. My sister is also a journalist and author, as is her husband. My two daughters are
interested in writing as well. My first-grade daughter draws and writers comic books every night. The
creepier the better. “Vampire Babysitters Attack” is her latest title.
Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?
A big steaming bowl of pasta with olive oil and garlic.
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
Pee
Wake up my fifth grade daughter
Crawl back in bed with my husband for five more minutes.
If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise
me the most?
My wardrobe is impressively small. When I worked at a fashion magazine, someone told me “Women wear
ten percent of their wardrobe ninety percent of the time.” I vowed that I’d only keep the necessary ten
percent around, and get rid of anything I didn’t wear often. I can honestly say I wear every piece of clothing
in my closet. Which is pretty rare for a woman.
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?
My favorite color is red. My entire living room (walls, rugs, couches, curtains) is red (it’s an intense room).
Since I’m so attracted to this color, I’ll go with being like it. Why? It’s bright, dramatic and energizing.
Who is your favorite cartoon character? Which cartoon character is most like you?
I’ve always been partial to Bugs Bunny. Modern day? SpongeBob earns my sympathy. He’s such a good
sponge. Always wants to help his pals. Most like me? Mr. Crabs. I can be a little bit cheap (but I’m trying to
stop!).
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?
I would have love to see the Beatles in concert. So, take me back to London, 1969.
So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while
you’re writing?
I don’t listen to music when writing. It breaks into my concentration. Concerts I’ve seen in the last year:
Rolling Stones, Avril Lavigne, Alanis Morrisette, Sheryl Crow, Wilco, Coldplay, Citizen Cope. I WISH I’d
seen Green Day last summer (still mourn that mistake). I’m on a Ryan Adams blitz at the moment. I like
classic rock, alt rock, alt country (aka Wilco). Sing along with an edge.
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?
I watch The Sopranos. Sex and the City, of course, was amazing while it lasted. I love any movie
adaptation of Jane Austen novels, especially the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice which is the one
movie (six hours long) that I watch every year. The last movie I saw in the theater was RV with my first
grader.
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
Follow your passion. Whatever it is. A deep passion for chocolate, for instance, can become a lifelong
career (Mrs. Fields had to start somewhere). Anything that makes you curious and excited is worth
learning more about. So do.
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
Fringe Girl in Love, the sequel, comes out next April. I’m nearly done, and it’s just as good as the first, but
deeper because the characters are that much more established. I’d like to do four Fringe Girl novels, and
then we’ll see what my blender brain spits out next.
Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!
name is Jen, and I’ll be your server toda…oh, wait, wrong job! Anyway, thanks so much for taking time out
of your writing schedule—which I’m sure is busy!—and answering a few questions for your readers and
fans.
Happy to!
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?
I always wanted to be a writer. I made a heart-shaped book out of construction paper when I was seven-
years old called “The Book of Love.” I’ve stopped using crayon, but all these years later, I’m still doing
pretty much the same thing.
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
My first job out of college was at a magazine, and I started writing short articles. That lead to my second
job at Mademoiselle, where I worked as an editor/columnist for ten years. I still do a ton of magazine
journalism for Self, Glamour, Allure among others. My magazine contacts helped me land an agent after I’d
written my first novel at age 24. And I just kept the ball rolling. By now, I’ve written twelve novels (two
coming out next year) and four non-fiction books.
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?
Fringe Girl is my new (and first) novel for teens. It’s about a girl who is on the fringe of her school’s social
world. Dora is not a loser, not exactly popular. She’s holding on to the edge, the fringe, for dear life. She
has a fight with the Ruling Class queen (a boy is involved) and decides to use a social studies project on
non-violent revolution to stage a coup d’etat at her school. She climbs all the way up, only to find out that
it’s lonely at the top.
The one thing to say to convince readers to check out the book? Most girls will relate to Dora’s nameless
longing, the intense feeling of wanting something more, even if they know their desire is superficial, be it
popularity, a particular boy, certain kinds of friendships.
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
I’m inspired by all sources of input. Books, movies, TV, my friends and family. The images, ideas, bits of
conversation and events filter into my head, and are then mixed up in the blender that is my brain, and out
come plots and characters.
Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!
My parents are very supportive. They always have been, since “The Book of Love” days. I’ve got a family
full of writers, actually. My sister is also a journalist and author, as is her husband. My two daughters are
interested in writing as well. My first-grade daughter draws and writers comic books every night. The
creepier the better. “Vampire Babysitters Attack” is her latest title.
Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?
A big steaming bowl of pasta with olive oil and garlic.
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
Pee
Wake up my fifth grade daughter
Crawl back in bed with my husband for five more minutes.
If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise
me the most?
My wardrobe is impressively small. When I worked at a fashion magazine, someone told me “Women wear
ten percent of their wardrobe ninety percent of the time.” I vowed that I’d only keep the necessary ten
percent around, and get rid of anything I didn’t wear often. I can honestly say I wear every piece of clothing
in my closet. Which is pretty rare for a woman.
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?
My favorite color is red. My entire living room (walls, rugs, couches, curtains) is red (it’s an intense room).
Since I’m so attracted to this color, I’ll go with being like it. Why? It’s bright, dramatic and energizing.
Who is your favorite cartoon character? Which cartoon character is most like you?
I’ve always been partial to Bugs Bunny. Modern day? SpongeBob earns my sympathy. He’s such a good
sponge. Always wants to help his pals. Most like me? Mr. Crabs. I can be a little bit cheap (but I’m trying to
stop!).
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?
I would have love to see the Beatles in concert. So, take me back to London, 1969.
So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while
you’re writing?
I don’t listen to music when writing. It breaks into my concentration. Concerts I’ve seen in the last year:
Rolling Stones, Avril Lavigne, Alanis Morrisette, Sheryl Crow, Wilco, Coldplay, Citizen Cope. I WISH I’d
seen Green Day last summer (still mourn that mistake). I’m on a Ryan Adams blitz at the moment. I like
classic rock, alt rock, alt country (aka Wilco). Sing along with an edge.
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?
I watch The Sopranos. Sex and the City, of course, was amazing while it lasted. I love any movie
adaptation of Jane Austen novels, especially the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice which is the one
movie (six hours long) that I watch every year. The last movie I saw in the theater was RV with my first
grader.
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
Follow your passion. Whatever it is. A deep passion for chocolate, for instance, can become a lifelong
career (Mrs. Fields had to start somewhere). Anything that makes you curious and excited is worth
learning more about. So do.
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
Fringe Girl in Love, the sequel, comes out next April. I’m nearly done, and it’s just as good as the first, but
deeper because the characters are that much more established. I’d like to do four Fringe Girl novels, and
then we’ll see what my blender brain spits out next.
Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!
