| Interview with Laurie Faria Stolarz |
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?
I've been writing since before I could even hold a pen. As a small child, I was constantly telling stories to
whomever would listen to me. When I'd exhausted my family with my endless babbling, I'd go out and tell my
tales to the neighborhood kids, passing the stories off as truth. I'd tell of going into the meadows at night
and wrestling with a mountain lion or the time I found a boa constrictor in my mom's garden and had to
grapple for my life, winding the snake from around my neck just in the knick of time. Telling stories is just
something I've always done. I used to write plays and scripts for my Barbie dolls and make people watch the
performances. My love of creating stories continued into school when I'd have to write a paragraph or short
essay about what I did during Christmas vacation or summer break. I never thought my own life was exciting
enough, so I was forever inventing stories.
People along the way, including some teachers, would tell me that I should pursue writing as a career but, at
the time, it wasn't a possibility. We didn't have a lot of money growing up and majoring in something like
English wasn't really an option. It was more like a luxury. I ended up going to business school, following in my
older brothers' footsteps. It wasn't until after I got my B.S. in marketing that I pursued my graduate degree in
creative writing. I'm thankful for my marketing degree now, however, because it really helps me with my
books.
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
It was a tough road in the beginning. I have a folder filled with rejection letters for Blue is for Nightmares, my
first novel. My favorite rejection letter is from an editor who said: "While this is an interesting project, I do not
feel it is strong enough to compete in today's competitive young adult market." That same young adult novel
has sold well over 100,000 copies, was named a Reluctant Reader Quick Pick, was nominated for YALSA's
Top Ten Teen pick list, and has been translated into seven different languages. And that same editor has
since expressed interest in my future work. When I speak to young people and aspiring writers, I always tell
them this story, that if I had stopped persevering, like many of my former classmates, after I received my first
-- or my 40th rejection letter -- I may never have been able to enjoy the success of my series. I was finally
lucky enough to find an enthusiastic home for Blue is for Nightmares at Llewellyn Publications.
Perseverance is key -- and so is believing in yourself and being open to learning and getting better in your
craft.
Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release.
Bleed takes place over the course of a single day and is told from ten different points-of-view. I really wanted
to explore how the decisions we make everyday -- even the smaller ones -- can affect others in ways we may
never even consider. The decision whether or not to pick up the phone or let the machine get it; the
decision of walking to someone's house versus taking the bus; or of taking a walk by a cemetery rather than
at the beach -- how the outcome of those decisions can have a domino effect, affecting other people-s lives'
even the lives of people we may not even know. The book starts out with one girl (Nicole) grappling with the
decision of whether or not to betray her best friend (Kelly) by going after her best friend's boyfriend (Sean)
while the best friend is away. We see how the effect of that decision plays out, affecting all the other
characters in the book. The book also explores teen bullying, a different take on cutting, the kernels of an
eating disorder, and the ongoing pen-pal relationship one character has been having with a convicted
murderer in prison.
My next book, Project 17, due out in the fall of 2007, is about a group of teens who decides to break into an
abandoned haunted asylum to film a movie. It's very scary and, just writing the novel, kept me awake for
several nights, especially since it's based on a real asylum.
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?
I think the most interesting thing about Bleed is, again, how the decisions we make everyday can affect other
people -- in ways we may never even consider. Plus, I promise you, it's pure juicy goodness.
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
My love of telling stories is really my biggest inspiration. I'm lucky to be able to do what I love. I love exploring
different characters and different lives -- and the challenge and responsibility that comes along with that.
Now for some fun facts. What's your greatest comfort food?
Popcorn with soy butter and salt.
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
Meditate, drink coffee, brush teeth -- in that order.
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 collection of Barbie dolls. As a child, I was hooked on Barbie. She was the star of all my screenplays and
helped me act out the stories in my head. I have at least four boxes and a van filled with Barbie
paraphernalia, and I just can't part with them.
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?
Purple -- because it's a little dark, but also because it's made by mixing blue (a peaceful, happy color) and
red (a passionate color) together.
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?
Paris -- it's my favorite city in the world, though I also love NY. I love high-energy city life, filled with
excitement and diversity. I also love visiting lush spas (I treat myself once a year). Any of those would be
great at any given time.
So what's your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while
you're writing?
I love Sarah MacLachlin, The Black-eyed Peas, Sting, Tori Amos, Gwen Stefani, Fergie, Kelly Clarkson,
Tracy Chapman, Josh Groban, I could go on and on.
Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again?
I love reality TV -- Breaking Bonaduce, Laguna Beach, The Bachelor (blushes), Wife Swap, stuff on the
Food Network. I also love reruns of Sex & the City and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
What was the last movie you saw at the theater?
Fast Food Nation
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
Perseverance is key. Always pursue what it is you feel passionate about and make sure it finds a place in
your life.
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
Well, definitely Project 17. I also have a short horror story coming out in an anthology next fall with
Scholastic.
Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!
You're very welcome!!!
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?
I've been writing since before I could even hold a pen. As a small child, I was constantly telling stories to
whomever would listen to me. When I'd exhausted my family with my endless babbling, I'd go out and tell my
tales to the neighborhood kids, passing the stories off as truth. I'd tell of going into the meadows at night
and wrestling with a mountain lion or the time I found a boa constrictor in my mom's garden and had to
grapple for my life, winding the snake from around my neck just in the knick of time. Telling stories is just
something I've always done. I used to write plays and scripts for my Barbie dolls and make people watch the
performances. My love of creating stories continued into school when I'd have to write a paragraph or short
essay about what I did during Christmas vacation or summer break. I never thought my own life was exciting
enough, so I was forever inventing stories.
People along the way, including some teachers, would tell me that I should pursue writing as a career but, at
the time, it wasn't a possibility. We didn't have a lot of money growing up and majoring in something like
English wasn't really an option. It was more like a luxury. I ended up going to business school, following in my
older brothers' footsteps. It wasn't until after I got my B.S. in marketing that I pursued my graduate degree in
creative writing. I'm thankful for my marketing degree now, however, because it really helps me with my
books.
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
It was a tough road in the beginning. I have a folder filled with rejection letters for Blue is for Nightmares, my
first novel. My favorite rejection letter is from an editor who said: "While this is an interesting project, I do not
feel it is strong enough to compete in today's competitive young adult market." That same young adult novel
has sold well over 100,000 copies, was named a Reluctant Reader Quick Pick, was nominated for YALSA's
Top Ten Teen pick list, and has been translated into seven different languages. And that same editor has
since expressed interest in my future work. When I speak to young people and aspiring writers, I always tell
them this story, that if I had stopped persevering, like many of my former classmates, after I received my first
-- or my 40th rejection letter -- I may never have been able to enjoy the success of my series. I was finally
lucky enough to find an enthusiastic home for Blue is for Nightmares at Llewellyn Publications.
Perseverance is key -- and so is believing in yourself and being open to learning and getting better in your
craft.
Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release.
Bleed takes place over the course of a single day and is told from ten different points-of-view. I really wanted
to explore how the decisions we make everyday -- even the smaller ones -- can affect others in ways we may
never even consider. The decision whether or not to pick up the phone or let the machine get it; the
decision of walking to someone's house versus taking the bus; or of taking a walk by a cemetery rather than
at the beach -- how the outcome of those decisions can have a domino effect, affecting other people-s lives'
even the lives of people we may not even know. The book starts out with one girl (Nicole) grappling with the
decision of whether or not to betray her best friend (Kelly) by going after her best friend's boyfriend (Sean)
while the best friend is away. We see how the effect of that decision plays out, affecting all the other
characters in the book. The book also explores teen bullying, a different take on cutting, the kernels of an
eating disorder, and the ongoing pen-pal relationship one character has been having with a convicted
murderer in prison.
My next book, Project 17, due out in the fall of 2007, is about a group of teens who decides to break into an
abandoned haunted asylum to film a movie. It's very scary and, just writing the novel, kept me awake for
several nights, especially since it's based on a real asylum.
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?
I think the most interesting thing about Bleed is, again, how the decisions we make everyday can affect other
people -- in ways we may never even consider. Plus, I promise you, it's pure juicy goodness.
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
My love of telling stories is really my biggest inspiration. I'm lucky to be able to do what I love. I love exploring
different characters and different lives -- and the challenge and responsibility that comes along with that.
Now for some fun facts. What's your greatest comfort food?
Popcorn with soy butter and salt.
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
Meditate, drink coffee, brush teeth -- in that order.
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 collection of Barbie dolls. As a child, I was hooked on Barbie. She was the star of all my screenplays and
helped me act out the stories in my head. I have at least four boxes and a van filled with Barbie
paraphernalia, and I just can't part with them.
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?
Purple -- because it's a little dark, but also because it's made by mixing blue (a peaceful, happy color) and
red (a passionate color) together.
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?
Paris -- it's my favorite city in the world, though I also love NY. I love high-energy city life, filled with
excitement and diversity. I also love visiting lush spas (I treat myself once a year). Any of those would be
great at any given time.
So what's your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while
you're writing?
I love Sarah MacLachlin, The Black-eyed Peas, Sting, Tori Amos, Gwen Stefani, Fergie, Kelly Clarkson,
Tracy Chapman, Josh Groban, I could go on and on.
Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again?
I love reality TV -- Breaking Bonaduce, Laguna Beach, The Bachelor (blushes), Wife Swap, stuff on the
Food Network. I also love reruns of Sex & the City and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
What was the last movie you saw at the theater?
Fast Food Nation
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
Perseverance is key. Always pursue what it is you feel passionate about and make sure it finds a place in
your life.
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
Well, definitely Project 17. I also have a short horror story coming out in an anthology next fall with
Scholastic.
Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!
You're very welcome!!!
