| Interview with Catherine Gilbert Murdock |
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 today…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?
Wow, good question. I always wrote – I loved creative writing in high school – and then in college and
graduate school, of course, I wrote several million papers. (Well, it felt that way.) For a while I worked as a
technical writer, then a copy editor, and I worked for an architectural firm writing grant applications. For
eight or nine years I studied screenwriting . . . I guess I would say that I never really made a conscious
decision to BE a writer; it was just part of me, like left-handedness. And just as frustrating, sometimes!
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
It’s a bit awkward to describe, because on the surface it looks so painless: I wrote a novel, my sister
recommended an agent who loved the story, and – snap – it was sold. I never even wrote Dairy Queen with
the intention of marketing it; I just loved the story and wanted to practice for a “real” novel sometime in the
future. Perhaps that’s what made the story work, that I was writing for an audience of one! But please
understand that I’d spent years and years and years studying screenwriting. And in that process I’d
experienced more than my share of rejections, and difficult lessons – difficult because I SO didn’t want to
learn them, it’s much easier living in denial. I always say that screenwriting is a phenomenal, possibly
optimal, method of learning the art of storytelling. It worked in my case, at least. At least a little.
Tell us a little bit about your latest 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?
Only ONE? That’s really not fair. But if I had to pick a single emphasis, I guess I’d say that The Off Season
really delves into D.J. and Brian’s relationship. And has a lot more about her brothers. Okay, that’s two. But
I couldn’t help it.
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
I’d have to say the movies. Obviously someone who bangs her head against a wall for a decade studying
screenwriting has a thing or two for film. Perhaps because of movies, perhaps just because we’re a visual
species, but I see stories. This can often make it easier to write them, although I have to say it was an
enormous relief, when I first began Dairy Queen, to have the luxury of writing her thoughts. In a screenplay
you can’t ever do that, you have to either have a character verbalize or act out her thoughts, or – ugh –
speak in voiceover. But in a novel, just fire away! That’s great.
Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!
Yes, they are, which is sweet. This past weekend I received an award from Borders booksellers – their
Original Voices program – and my daughter took the award to school today for Sharing. It’s a copy of Dairy
Queen enclosed in plexiglass, which makes it darn hard to read but at least protects it from spills. I was
very touched that she chose the award instead of Mr. Fuzzy, her enormous round yellow rabbit. Although
my 11-year-old son recently asked me not to write any more books because I get so distracted. Which is
true; I do. But I’m afraid I’ve got the bug now, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop.
Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?
My greatest comfort food – it’s disgusting, it’s tacky, it’s weird as heck but I love the stuff – is buttered
noodles with ketchup. I know, I know. My husband finally consented to trying it – you’d think I was feeding
him live snails – and grudgingly admitted that it was good and that he would never eat it voluntarily. But just
writing about it makes me hungry – I’m boiling water for the noodles. Spaghetti works as well. Any pasta.
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
I put on a bathrobe. Some people leap out of bed and get dressed, but I need to ease into that sort of
commitment. A bathrobe – preferably silky, because it’s nice feeling glam first thing – really helps. A
dressing gown. Then I read the advice column in the local paper. I can’t really function without that. On
Sundays I’ll read The Ethicist in the New York Times Magazine instead, because the Sunday paper, oddly,
doesn’t have advice. Then I make the kids breakfast in bed.
If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise
me the most?
Well, if you looked in my garage, you’d be very surprised by how clean it is, because I spent yesterday
cleaning it instead of writing. But you’d better come fast, because it won’t stay clean long. I think if you
looked in my closet, you’d be surprised by how much purple clothing I have. I’m surprised by that. I’ve got
this thing for purple shoes, and it’s gradually morphed into a closet that looks like a Welch’s Grape Juice
ad. Very odd.
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?
Not purple, much as I appear to love it. Probably slate blue because I do love that, and it’s so calming,
which I’m not. And as far as the tree question: a tulip tree, because they’re so tall and have such beautiful
leaves and flowers. Or a yellowwood, which I just planted and it better start growing because I have BIG
plans for that guy.
Who is your favorite cartoon character? Which cartoon character is most like you?
Elastagirl from The Incredibles. Though I’m also immensely fond of the wolf from Hoodwinked – another of
my all-time favorite films. I’m not sure if Elastagirl is like me, but I certainly want to be like her. She’s so
resilient, and I don’t just mean physically. That’s really admirable.
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 think the third quarter of the eighteenth century would be quite fascinating, to meet Ben Franklin and
Jefferson, John Bartram (a naturalist), Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, even Voltaire. They were
enthralling, curious people, and I can’t help but think that we’d have loads to talk about.
So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while
you’re writing?
I’d have to say, judging from my iTunes library, a wide array of sixties music – Motown, R&B, folk, rock –
and what my husband calls “women wailers.” I’m a big Annie Lennox fan, and the B-52’s, Yaz . . . No, I don’t
listen to music when I’m writing. It’s like trying to write with babies around: they’re enchanting or annoying,
but either way completely distracting.
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?
Last movie I saw with the kids was Shrek the Third, which . . . well, I’ll always love the first one. I’ve seen
Hoodwinked dozens of times. Talladega Nights. Ocean’s Eleven – who couldn’t love that? We don’t have a
television, but we watch lots of shows on DVD. I’m a big Dharma & Greg fan. And Monk.
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
Take advice! If someone takes the time to critique your work, listen. Their recommendations, invariably, will
improve your writing. I’ve learned this lesson many, many times, and I can’t stress it enough.
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
Oh, boy . . . Next spring I’ve got a wonderful fairy tale coming out called Princess Ben – well, I think it’s
wonderful. Whether anyone else will like it is an entirely different question. But I love it so much that that
almost doesn’t matter. I’ve got a picture book I’m working on when I’m not cleaning the garage, and an
historical-fiction novel . . . Like I said, I’ve got the writing bug.
Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!
And thank you! You’ve got a wonderful website.
name is Jen, and I’ll be your server today…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?
Wow, good question. I always wrote – I loved creative writing in high school – and then in college and
graduate school, of course, I wrote several million papers. (Well, it felt that way.) For a while I worked as a
technical writer, then a copy editor, and I worked for an architectural firm writing grant applications. For
eight or nine years I studied screenwriting . . . I guess I would say that I never really made a conscious
decision to BE a writer; it was just part of me, like left-handedness. And just as frustrating, sometimes!
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
It’s a bit awkward to describe, because on the surface it looks so painless: I wrote a novel, my sister
recommended an agent who loved the story, and – snap – it was sold. I never even wrote Dairy Queen with
the intention of marketing it; I just loved the story and wanted to practice for a “real” novel sometime in the
future. Perhaps that’s what made the story work, that I was writing for an audience of one! But please
understand that I’d spent years and years and years studying screenwriting. And in that process I’d
experienced more than my share of rejections, and difficult lessons – difficult because I SO didn’t want to
learn them, it’s much easier living in denial. I always say that screenwriting is a phenomenal, possibly
optimal, method of learning the art of storytelling. It worked in my case, at least. At least a little.
Tell us a little bit about your latest 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?
Only ONE? That’s really not fair. But if I had to pick a single emphasis, I guess I’d say that The Off Season
really delves into D.J. and Brian’s relationship. And has a lot more about her brothers. Okay, that’s two. But
I couldn’t help it.
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
I’d have to say the movies. Obviously someone who bangs her head against a wall for a decade studying
screenwriting has a thing or two for film. Perhaps because of movies, perhaps just because we’re a visual
species, but I see stories. This can often make it easier to write them, although I have to say it was an
enormous relief, when I first began Dairy Queen, to have the luxury of writing her thoughts. In a screenplay
you can’t ever do that, you have to either have a character verbalize or act out her thoughts, or – ugh –
speak in voiceover. But in a novel, just fire away! That’s great.
Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!
Yes, they are, which is sweet. This past weekend I received an award from Borders booksellers – their
Original Voices program – and my daughter took the award to school today for Sharing. It’s a copy of Dairy
Queen enclosed in plexiglass, which makes it darn hard to read but at least protects it from spills. I was
very touched that she chose the award instead of Mr. Fuzzy, her enormous round yellow rabbit. Although
my 11-year-old son recently asked me not to write any more books because I get so distracted. Which is
true; I do. But I’m afraid I’ve got the bug now, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop.
Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?
My greatest comfort food – it’s disgusting, it’s tacky, it’s weird as heck but I love the stuff – is buttered
noodles with ketchup. I know, I know. My husband finally consented to trying it – you’d think I was feeding
him live snails – and grudgingly admitted that it was good and that he would never eat it voluntarily. But just
writing about it makes me hungry – I’m boiling water for the noodles. Spaghetti works as well. Any pasta.
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
I put on a bathrobe. Some people leap out of bed and get dressed, but I need to ease into that sort of
commitment. A bathrobe – preferably silky, because it’s nice feeling glam first thing – really helps. A
dressing gown. Then I read the advice column in the local paper. I can’t really function without that. On
Sundays I’ll read The Ethicist in the New York Times Magazine instead, because the Sunday paper, oddly,
doesn’t have advice. Then I make the kids breakfast in bed.
If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise
me the most?
Well, if you looked in my garage, you’d be very surprised by how clean it is, because I spent yesterday
cleaning it instead of writing. But you’d better come fast, because it won’t stay clean long. I think if you
looked in my closet, you’d be surprised by how much purple clothing I have. I’m surprised by that. I’ve got
this thing for purple shoes, and it’s gradually morphed into a closet that looks like a Welch’s Grape Juice
ad. Very odd.
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?
Not purple, much as I appear to love it. Probably slate blue because I do love that, and it’s so calming,
which I’m not. And as far as the tree question: a tulip tree, because they’re so tall and have such beautiful
leaves and flowers. Or a yellowwood, which I just planted and it better start growing because I have BIG
plans for that guy.
Who is your favorite cartoon character? Which cartoon character is most like you?
Elastagirl from The Incredibles. Though I’m also immensely fond of the wolf from Hoodwinked – another of
my all-time favorite films. I’m not sure if Elastagirl is like me, but I certainly want to be like her. She’s so
resilient, and I don’t just mean physically. That’s really admirable.
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 think the third quarter of the eighteenth century would be quite fascinating, to meet Ben Franklin and
Jefferson, John Bartram (a naturalist), Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, even Voltaire. They were
enthralling, curious people, and I can’t help but think that we’d have loads to talk about.
So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while
you’re writing?
I’d have to say, judging from my iTunes library, a wide array of sixties music – Motown, R&B, folk, rock –
and what my husband calls “women wailers.” I’m a big Annie Lennox fan, and the B-52’s, Yaz . . . No, I don’t
listen to music when I’m writing. It’s like trying to write with babies around: they’re enchanting or annoying,
but either way completely distracting.
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?
Last movie I saw with the kids was Shrek the Third, which . . . well, I’ll always love the first one. I’ve seen
Hoodwinked dozens of times. Talladega Nights. Ocean’s Eleven – who couldn’t love that? We don’t have a
television, but we watch lots of shows on DVD. I’m a big Dharma & Greg fan. And Monk.
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
Take advice! If someone takes the time to critique your work, listen. Their recommendations, invariably, will
improve your writing. I’ve learned this lesson many, many times, and I can’t stress it enough.
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
Oh, boy . . . Next spring I’ve got a wonderful fairy tale coming out called Princess Ben – well, I think it’s
wonderful. Whether anyone else will like it is an entirely different question. But I love it so much that that
almost doesn’t matter. I’ve got a picture book I’m working on when I’m not cleaning the garage, and an
historical-fiction novel . . . Like I said, I’ve got the writing bug.
Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!
And thank you! You’ve got a wonderful website.
