Author Interview-Laura Ruby
By, Teen Book-Shelf
1.What was your inspiration for "GOOD GIRLS"?
The short answer: I was mad.
The longer answer: A few years ago, I was between projects and watching a lot of TV. There was a ton of dumb stuff on, much of it about sex (yeah yeah, I know, big news there). But as I watched some of this stuff, I started thinking that a lot of it seemed designed to humiliate girls or make them feel like garbage (think Girls Gone Wild, MTV's Spring Break, etc.) And that made *me* really angry. I started thinking about how all those camera phones make it so easy to catch everyone and everything on video. I wondered what a nice, normal high school girl would do if someone took a movie or a picture of her and passed it around. How would she ever live it down?
2.How do you advise teens to be careful when at parties?
Well, I think it's always a good idea to be aware of your surroundings, whether you're at a party or wherever. And I'd say that it's never a good idea to let anyone take a picture of you that you wouldn't want sent to other people, posted on the Internet, etc. (because it could happen so easily).
3.Do you think there was any character development for any of the characters, including Audrey?
I think that Audrey, Ash and Pam really changed the most over the course of the book. Audrey developed a lot of strength that she never knew she had, Ash learned to be more open and forgiving (of herself most of all), and Pam had to own up her mistakes.
4.Do you think Ash was kind of hurtful to her at some points or being a good friend?
Oh, I think Ash was pretty hurtful at times. When we ourselves are hurt, it's hard to be sympathetic to other people. Ash's heart was broken and I think deep down she blamed herself for that. It was hard for her to see Audrey hurt, but it was also hard not to blame Audrey for it.
5.What character are you most alike and why?
I'd say I'm a combination of Ash and Joelle. I'm a poetry AND a drama geek.
6.What are you currently working on?
I just finished a new book called Play Me, about a guy "player" who has his heart broken by the one girl who can do it.
7.What are some of your "New Year Resolutions"?
To cut down on the coffee. And I can tell you it's not going well.
8.Which character did you have the most fun writing about?
Pam. She's so old school, so retro. She was angry and mean and very real to me. I had a great time with her dialogue.
9.Which character did you despise?
Even though there are some despicable characters in Good Girls -- Chilly to name just one -- I didn't despise any of them. As their creator, I must have some understanding, even sympathy for even my worst characters. If I hated them, I wouldn't write them very well. They'd turn into cartoons rather than people.
10.Is this book anything like your own life?
Fortunately, I never had to suffer the kind of humiliation that Audrey did, but I'd say the friendships are very much like friendships I've had and continue to have. I'd never make it without my friends!
The short answer: I was mad.
The longer answer: A few years ago, I was between projects and watching a lot of TV. There was a ton of dumb stuff on, much of it about sex (yeah yeah, I know, big news there). But as I watched some of this stuff, I started thinking that a lot of it seemed designed to humiliate girls or make them feel like garbage (think Girls Gone Wild, MTV's Spring Break, etc.) And that made *me* really angry. I started thinking about how all those camera phones make it so easy to catch everyone and everything on video. I wondered what a nice, normal high school girl would do if someone took a movie or a picture of her and passed it around. How would she ever live it down?
2.How do you advise teens to be careful when at parties?
Well, I think it's always a good idea to be aware of your surroundings, whether you're at a party or wherever. And I'd say that it's never a good idea to let anyone take a picture of you that you wouldn't want sent to other people, posted on the Internet, etc. (because it could happen so easily).
3.Do you think there was any character development for any of the characters, including Audrey?
I think that Audrey, Ash and Pam really changed the most over the course of the book. Audrey developed a lot of strength that she never knew she had, Ash learned to be more open and forgiving (of herself most of all), and Pam had to own up her mistakes.
4.Do you think Ash was kind of hurtful to her at some points or being a good friend?
Oh, I think Ash was pretty hurtful at times. When we ourselves are hurt, it's hard to be sympathetic to other people. Ash's heart was broken and I think deep down she blamed herself for that. It was hard for her to see Audrey hurt, but it was also hard not to blame Audrey for it.
5.What character are you most alike and why?
I'd say I'm a combination of Ash and Joelle. I'm a poetry AND a drama geek.
6.What are you currently working on?
I just finished a new book called Play Me, about a guy "player" who has his heart broken by the one girl who can do it.
7.What are some of your "New Year Resolutions"?
To cut down on the coffee. And I can tell you it's not going well.
8.Which character did you have the most fun writing about?
Pam. She's so old school, so retro. She was angry and mean and very real to me. I had a great time with her dialogue.
9.Which character did you despise?
Even though there are some despicable characters in Good Girls -- Chilly to name just one -- I didn't despise any of them. As their creator, I must have some understanding, even sympathy for even my worst characters. If I hated them, I wouldn't write them very well. They'd turn into cartoons rather than people.
10.Is this book anything like your own life?
Fortunately, I never had to suffer the kind of humiliation that Audrey did, but I'd say the friendships are very much like friendships I've had and continue to have. I'd never make it without my friends!
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