Interview with Christopher E. Long
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 decided I wanted to be a writer when I was 13 after reading a short story by Ernest Hemingway called
A Clean, Well-Lighted Place.
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
I read as much as I could and wrote as much as I could. Finally, when I was in college, I had an article
published in a magazine. Since then, I've published an assortment of comic books, a children's novel,
and a handful of articles in various national magazines.
Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release.
Blackfoot Braves Society was published by Actionopolis in September 2006. It's about three friends at
summer camp who stumble upon an ancient secret that threatens to destroy the world. The three friends
are given supernatural abilities to defeat the evil -- if it's not already too late.
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?
Elements of this story are based on Native American legends.
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
My father is my greatest inspiration. He is a wonderful storyteller, and he taught me how to tell a story.
Let's hear about your family, who I'm sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!
Both my parents are very supportive of my writing. They're the first people to read everything I write. My
father is a professor of forestry, and my mother teaches middle school students.
My wife, Jamie, designs clothing, and my 19-month-old son, Jackson, is a handful.
Now for some fun facts. What's your greatest comfort food?
Vanilla ice cream.
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
Change my son's diaper. Wash my hands. Brush my teeth.
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 office is overflowing with comics and books.
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?
I'd be blue, because I'm laid back.
Who is your favorite cartoon character?
Superman.
Which cartoon character is most like you?
Shrek.
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'd go to Boston in 1774, right before the American Revolution. That time period has always fascinated
me.
So what's your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while
you're writing?
Rock 'n Roll! I'd have to say, right now, I really like AFI. No, I don't listen to music when I write -- I have to
concentrate to get those words out of my head.
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?
My favorite TV show right now is Heroes. I love that show! Because of my son, I've been watching Cars
over and over lately. The last movie I saw in the theater was Superman Returns.
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
Keep reading! All the successful people I know read all the time.
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
I have a children's novel called Dragonblood that will be published through Actionopolis in early 2007.
Check in with www.actionopolis.com for updates on that and on the sequel to Blackfoot Braves Society.
Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!
Thanks!
wanted to be a writer?
I decided I wanted to be a writer when I was 13 after reading a short story by Ernest Hemingway called
A Clean, Well-Lighted Place.
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
I read as much as I could and wrote as much as I could. Finally, when I was in college, I had an article
published in a magazine. Since then, I've published an assortment of comic books, a children's novel,
and a handful of articles in various national magazines.
Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release.
Blackfoot Braves Society was published by Actionopolis in September 2006. It's about three friends at
summer camp who stumble upon an ancient secret that threatens to destroy the world. The three friends
are given supernatural abilities to defeat the evil -- if it's not already too late.
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?
Elements of this story are based on Native American legends.
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
My father is my greatest inspiration. He is a wonderful storyteller, and he taught me how to tell a story.
Let's hear about your family, who I'm sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!
Both my parents are very supportive of my writing. They're the first people to read everything I write. My
father is a professor of forestry, and my mother teaches middle school students.
My wife, Jamie, designs clothing, and my 19-month-old son, Jackson, is a handful.
Now for some fun facts. What's your greatest comfort food?
Vanilla ice cream.
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
Change my son's diaper. Wash my hands. Brush my teeth.
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 office is overflowing with comics and books.
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?
I'd be blue, because I'm laid back.
Who is your favorite cartoon character?
Superman.
Which cartoon character is most like you?
Shrek.
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'd go to Boston in 1774, right before the American Revolution. That time period has always fascinated
me.
So what's your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while
you're writing?
Rock 'n Roll! I'd have to say, right now, I really like AFI. No, I don't listen to music when I write -- I have to
concentrate to get those words out of my head.
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?
My favorite TV show right now is Heroes. I love that show! Because of my son, I've been watching Cars
over and over lately. The last movie I saw in the theater was Superman Returns.
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
Keep reading! All the successful people I know read all the time.
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
I have a children's novel called Dragonblood that will be published through Actionopolis in early 2007.
Check in with www.actionopolis.com for updates on that and on the sequel to Blackfoot Braves Society.
Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!
Thanks!