| Interview with Taylor Morris |
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.
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?
It all began with a backhanded comment. When I was 19, a roommate who I was in the process of having
a falling out with, read something of mine. “No offense,” she said, “but I didn’t know you were a good
writer.” After I stopped bristling, I thought about it and decided that, yeah, I am a good writer. I’d written
stories as a kid and even a “novel” in fourth grade. After her comment, I applied to Emerson College.
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
Like with most people’s road to publishing, it was a long, slow process. It took me years to write my first
book because (a) I didn’t know what I was doing and (b) I didn’t have a publisher, agent or deadline so I
really dragged my feet on it. If I didn’t feel like writing one day, one week, one month, I just didn’t. When it
was all finished, I sent out my query letter just like the finding-an-agent books told me to do. After revising
a bit, one signed me. Then he did all the work and negotiating on finding me the perfect editor and
publisher.
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?
You think your mom’s embarrassing? She’s nothing compared to what Sara Thurman’s mom does to her…
(CLASS FAVORITE)
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
In general, I have a very clear memory of junior high and high school, and am constantly drawing on
those emotions and events. For my first novel, my ninth grade year at Gunn Junior High gave me lots of
inspiration. It was the year I had a paralyzing crush on a boy, and the year I learned about popularity
when I didn’t make it on any sports teams but all my friends did. I became a stat girl (which I write about in
CLASS FAVORITE), and realized that being with the boys every day for practices and games was far
superior to playing volleyball!
Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!
My family is in Fort Worth, looking at their calendars and saying, “You said you’d move back home in one
year. That was fifteen years ago.”
Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?
Cornbread and buttermilk. It’s a favorite of mine and my dad’s. Crumble fresh cornbread into a coffee
mug, then poor buttermilk completely over it, and eat with a spoon. I think it’s a Texas thing, but I’m not
sure. It sounds gross to most people, but I could eat it every day. In fact, I think I’ll have some tonight!
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
Feed the cats, who start meowing the second I open even one eye; wash my face, then put in my
contacts, which I’m completely blind without.
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 wearable keepsakes. I still have my sixth grade cheerleading jacket a cropped leather jacket with
ginormous shoulder pads from high school, and a windbreaker from Emerson College.
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 red, because it’s feisty, romantic, sophisticated. My moods change fast, so you never know what
you’re going to end up with.
Who is your favorite cartoon character? Which cartoon character is most like you?
My favorite is Lisa Simpson—I wish I’d had her gumption when I was a kid.
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 back to the 1850s, live in Concord, MA, and get a pad next door to Louisa May Alcott. Lou, as I’d
call her, and I would become bffs, and we’d have tons of adventures together. She’d show me early drafts
of Little Women plus introduce me to Ralph Waldo Emerson.
So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while
you’re writing?
I listened to music while writing CLASS FAVORITE but I don’t anymore. I like a variety of music. Rite of
Spring by Igor Stravinsky is like Metallica in the orchestral world, and one of my very favorite pieces of
music ever. Other than that, I love pop and country and don’t care what anyone thinks! I love Kelly
Clarkson, Coldplay, the soundtrack to Garden State, Dixie Chicks, Carrie Underwood, Gwen Stefani.
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 a sad amount of TV, much of it reality. My very favorite shows are American Idol, Lost and
Intervention on A&E. The last movie I saw was a very sweet Irish movie called Once. Please rent it when it
comes out on DVD if you can’t find it in a theater. It’ll make you feel warm and fuzzy and like kissing your
love!
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
It’ll all be over soon…kidding! I think all you need in life is one good friend, and you’re set. You don’t need
an army of people around you to feel loved. Your heart will get broken, you’ll fight with your family, but as
long as you have one friend you totally trust and who is there for you (and vice versa!), you can make it
through anything.
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
I’m working on my second book for Simon & Schuster, tentatively called LOW EXPECTATIONS. It has
boxing, politics, scandal, betrayal and, of course, a little love.
Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!
Thanks for having me! This was fun!
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.
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?
It all began with a backhanded comment. When I was 19, a roommate who I was in the process of having
a falling out with, read something of mine. “No offense,” she said, “but I didn’t know you were a good
writer.” After I stopped bristling, I thought about it and decided that, yeah, I am a good writer. I’d written
stories as a kid and even a “novel” in fourth grade. After her comment, I applied to Emerson College.
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
Like with most people’s road to publishing, it was a long, slow process. It took me years to write my first
book because (a) I didn’t know what I was doing and (b) I didn’t have a publisher, agent or deadline so I
really dragged my feet on it. If I didn’t feel like writing one day, one week, one month, I just didn’t. When it
was all finished, I sent out my query letter just like the finding-an-agent books told me to do. After revising
a bit, one signed me. Then he did all the work and negotiating on finding me the perfect editor and
publisher.
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?
You think your mom’s embarrassing? She’s nothing compared to what Sara Thurman’s mom does to her…
(CLASS FAVORITE)
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
In general, I have a very clear memory of junior high and high school, and am constantly drawing on
those emotions and events. For my first novel, my ninth grade year at Gunn Junior High gave me lots of
inspiration. It was the year I had a paralyzing crush on a boy, and the year I learned about popularity
when I didn’t make it on any sports teams but all my friends did. I became a stat girl (which I write about in
CLASS FAVORITE), and realized that being with the boys every day for practices and games was far
superior to playing volleyball!
Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!
My family is in Fort Worth, looking at their calendars and saying, “You said you’d move back home in one
year. That was fifteen years ago.”
Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?
Cornbread and buttermilk. It’s a favorite of mine and my dad’s. Crumble fresh cornbread into a coffee
mug, then poor buttermilk completely over it, and eat with a spoon. I think it’s a Texas thing, but I’m not
sure. It sounds gross to most people, but I could eat it every day. In fact, I think I’ll have some tonight!
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
Feed the cats, who start meowing the second I open even one eye; wash my face, then put in my
contacts, which I’m completely blind without.
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 wearable keepsakes. I still have my sixth grade cheerleading jacket a cropped leather jacket with
ginormous shoulder pads from high school, and a windbreaker from Emerson College.
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 red, because it’s feisty, romantic, sophisticated. My moods change fast, so you never know what
you’re going to end up with.
Who is your favorite cartoon character? Which cartoon character is most like you?
My favorite is Lisa Simpson—I wish I’d had her gumption when I was a kid.
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 back to the 1850s, live in Concord, MA, and get a pad next door to Louisa May Alcott. Lou, as I’d
call her, and I would become bffs, and we’d have tons of adventures together. She’d show me early drafts
of Little Women plus introduce me to Ralph Waldo Emerson.
So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while
you’re writing?
I listened to music while writing CLASS FAVORITE but I don’t anymore. I like a variety of music. Rite of
Spring by Igor Stravinsky is like Metallica in the orchestral world, and one of my very favorite pieces of
music ever. Other than that, I love pop and country and don’t care what anyone thinks! I love Kelly
Clarkson, Coldplay, the soundtrack to Garden State, Dixie Chicks, Carrie Underwood, Gwen Stefani.
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 a sad amount of TV, much of it reality. My very favorite shows are American Idol, Lost and
Intervention on A&E. The last movie I saw was a very sweet Irish movie called Once. Please rent it when it
comes out on DVD if you can’t find it in a theater. It’ll make you feel warm and fuzzy and like kissing your
love!
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
It’ll all be over soon…kidding! I think all you need in life is one good friend, and you’re set. You don’t need
an army of people around you to feel loved. Your heart will get broken, you’ll fight with your family, but as
long as you have one friend you totally trust and who is there for you (and vice versa!), you can make it
through anything.
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
I’m working on my second book for Simon & Schuster, tentatively called LOW EXPECTATIONS. It has
boxing, politics, scandal, betrayal and, of course, a little love.
Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!
Thanks for having me! This was fun!