| Interview with David Levithan |
TRT reviewer Christian C. recently had the chance to "sit down" with author David Levithan for an
interview. What follows is a transcript of that interview.
Q: Describe yourself in a few words
A: Headstrong, idealistic, busy, well-adjusted, creative (I hope)
Q: What do you do in your free time? (Do you have any free time?)
A: Mostly, I spend time with my friends. We go to concerts, see plays, watch movies, go out for dinner and
talk. That occupies most of my time after work. Then I come home, read magazines, and sleep. Weekends
are when I get most of my writing done.
Q: What bugs you?
A: Unkindness in any form.
Q: What bugs people about you?
A: Probably that I can be very busy at times. And the fact that I don't like talking on a cellphone.
Q: What would you change about yourself?
A: I'd try to find more time to write.
Q: If you weren’t an author or an editor, what would you like to be?
A: I would love to be a DJ on a cool radio station like WFUV or KEXP. Or even just be a DJ at a club once a
week. In the meantime, i try to make good mixes for friends.
Q: Can you share an embarrassing moment?
A: Any time I dance, I consider it an embarrassing moment. It all depends on whether or not I choose to
care.
Q: Can you describe yourself as a teen?
A: I was 11th in my class... which seems about right. Not the most intelligent, but in their class. I was
definitely an English major in the making -- I co-edited the school newspaper and the literary magazine. My
friends were all readers. We weren't the coolest of crowds, but our school didn't push the popularity thing
as much as other schools do. We all had our niche.
Q: Did you ever skip classes as a teen?
A: No. I would do everything possible to get out of gym class, but I don't think I ever just skipped.
Q: Ever cheated in school?
A: I copied a lot of homework (and allowed my homework to be copied a lot), but I don't remember ever
cheating on a test. I am not a very effective liar, so no doubt I would've been caught.
About Wide Awake
Q: Why should anyone read it?
A: Because if you're going to read one gay Jewish political teen novel this year... well, this is your only
choice. Although, really, you don't have to be deeply involved with any of those things to enjoy it.
Q: Why do you think it’s a good book? Wait! Do you think it’s a good book?
A: I'm really happy with it, which is saying a lot. But I leave it up to the readers to decide whether it's good
or not.
Q: What’s the best comment you ever got about any of your books?
A: Any time anyone sends me an email saying the book was meaningful to him or her... well, it's an
amazing thing.
Q: What’s the worst?
A: Strangely enough, I don't think I've gotten a 'worst' yet.
Q: Do you read your books after they get printed?
A: Usually only when I'm doing a reading or there's a foreign edition that's coming out. I know some
authors refuse to go back -- they see all the things they could've done better. Luckily, I don't feel that way.
If anything, I'm impressed by the things I got right . . . and only wince a little at the things I'd do better now.
What’s your first reaction/thought when you hear the following words:
Q: IM
A: It would control my life if I let it.
Q: Censorship
A: People desperately trying to control things that are beyond their control.
Q: Cell phones
A: Necessary, but annoying.
Q: Alcohol
A: Moderation is essential.
Q: Money
A: Honestly, this word causes Cyndi Lauper's "Money Changes Everything" to start playing in my head.
Q: War
A: Peace is better.
Q: Should I be asking you anything else?
A: Not that I can think of.
This is the end of the interview
Q: Are you happy it's over?
A: As will any book, it's always best to end at just the right spot.
Have a great one, and thanks so much for answering all these questions.
interview. What follows is a transcript of that interview.
Q: Describe yourself in a few words
A: Headstrong, idealistic, busy, well-adjusted, creative (I hope)
Q: What do you do in your free time? (Do you have any free time?)
A: Mostly, I spend time with my friends. We go to concerts, see plays, watch movies, go out for dinner and
talk. That occupies most of my time after work. Then I come home, read magazines, and sleep. Weekends
are when I get most of my writing done.
Q: What bugs you?
A: Unkindness in any form.
Q: What bugs people about you?
A: Probably that I can be very busy at times. And the fact that I don't like talking on a cellphone.
Q: What would you change about yourself?
A: I'd try to find more time to write.
Q: If you weren’t an author or an editor, what would you like to be?
A: I would love to be a DJ on a cool radio station like WFUV or KEXP. Or even just be a DJ at a club once a
week. In the meantime, i try to make good mixes for friends.
Q: Can you share an embarrassing moment?
A: Any time I dance, I consider it an embarrassing moment. It all depends on whether or not I choose to
care.
Q: Can you describe yourself as a teen?
A: I was 11th in my class... which seems about right. Not the most intelligent, but in their class. I was
definitely an English major in the making -- I co-edited the school newspaper and the literary magazine. My
friends were all readers. We weren't the coolest of crowds, but our school didn't push the popularity thing
as much as other schools do. We all had our niche.
Q: Did you ever skip classes as a teen?
A: No. I would do everything possible to get out of gym class, but I don't think I ever just skipped.
Q: Ever cheated in school?
A: I copied a lot of homework (and allowed my homework to be copied a lot), but I don't remember ever
cheating on a test. I am not a very effective liar, so no doubt I would've been caught.
About Wide Awake
Q: Why should anyone read it?
A: Because if you're going to read one gay Jewish political teen novel this year... well, this is your only
choice. Although, really, you don't have to be deeply involved with any of those things to enjoy it.
Q: Why do you think it’s a good book? Wait! Do you think it’s a good book?
A: I'm really happy with it, which is saying a lot. But I leave it up to the readers to decide whether it's good
or not.
Q: What’s the best comment you ever got about any of your books?
A: Any time anyone sends me an email saying the book was meaningful to him or her... well, it's an
amazing thing.
Q: What’s the worst?
A: Strangely enough, I don't think I've gotten a 'worst' yet.
Q: Do you read your books after they get printed?
A: Usually only when I'm doing a reading or there's a foreign edition that's coming out. I know some
authors refuse to go back -- they see all the things they could've done better. Luckily, I don't feel that way.
If anything, I'm impressed by the things I got right . . . and only wince a little at the things I'd do better now.
What’s your first reaction/thought when you hear the following words:
Q: IM
A: It would control my life if I let it.
Q: Censorship
A: People desperately trying to control things that are beyond their control.
Q: Cell phones
A: Necessary, but annoying.
Q: Alcohol
A: Moderation is essential.
Q: Money
A: Honestly, this word causes Cyndi Lauper's "Money Changes Everything" to start playing in my head.
Q: War
A: Peace is better.
Q: Should I be asking you anything else?
A: Not that I can think of.
This is the end of the interview
Q: Are you happy it's over?
A: As will any book, it's always best to end at just the right spot.
Have a great one, and thanks so much for answering all these questions.