Author Interview-Lauren Baratz-Logsted
By, Teen Book-Shelf
1.What was your inspiration for "SECRETS OF MY SUBURBAN LIFE"?
I wouldn’t say any one thing specifically inspired me to write this story, but always simmering in the back of my mind, for nearly as long as I can remember, is the notion that so much in life can change in a single instant; that’s pretty much what happens in Angel’s Choice, which was my first YA novel, too. Something happens, or you turn right instead of left, and everything that follows is altered. Life is like that. When my eight-year-old daughter was in kindergarten, her best friend’s father who was also a close friend of mine died. He and his wife were watching TV one night, she fell asleep for just ten minutes, and when she woke up he was dead. And then there’s the modern reality of going to work in the morning and having the skyscraper you work in brought down by a hijacked plane. The trick is in being aware of the tenuous nature of everything, and therefore appreciating the value of life, and yet still being able to go on and experience joy. I’m like that, and I think Ren is too.
2.How do you think Ren developed as a character?
I think Ren changed a lot! While staying true to her personality - quirky, resilient, individual - she got in touch with her own grief, learned to be more forgiving of the human flaws in others and herself, learned to see others more clearly, and further learned that letting others in doesn't make you less cool or weaker; it makes you more cool and stronger.
3.How can teens keep safe?
Be careful! If someone is making you uncomfortable, I’d say - corny as it sounds! - to report it to a trusted teacher or parent or even the police. If it’s happening on a popular online hangout like MySpace, then also report it to the management there – believe me, they don’t want predators there anymore than you do. You don’t want to start seeing shadows everywhere or cry wolf on the innocent, but you also don’t want to become a victim simply because you’re too nice or too scared or too ashamed to speak up.
4.If you had one word to describe your book, what would it be?
Unusual. Can I also say "quirky"? How about "original"? Actually, it's better if you call it original. Would you, please?
5.Any advice for other writers?
Read widely. I know that sounds like old-lady advice, but you have no idea how many people of all ages tell me they want to write, and then it turns out they never read anything! So read, read a lot, and be sure to read outside your comfort zone. You can learn a lot from people who write different things and you can often learn as much from what you don’t like as from what you do. Then, when you’re ready to write, please ignore the writing-school advice to “write what you know.” Rather, write about ideas and themes you’re dying to explore or write the world as you would like it to be. Finally, the last thing I say to every would-be writer, no matter what the age: If being a writer is what you truly dream to be, then always remember, the only person who can ever really take you out of the game is you.
6.What are you working on at the moment?
Read widely. I know that sounds like old-lady advice, but you have no idea how many people of all ages tell me they want to write, and then it turns out they never read anything! So read, read a lot, and be sure to read outside your comfort zone. You can learn a lot from people who write different things and you can often learn as much from what you don’t like as from what you do. Then, when you’re ready to write, please ignore the writing-school advice to “write what you know.” Rather, write about ideas and themes you’re dying to explore or write the world as you would like it to be. Finally, the last thing I say to every would-be writer, no matter what the age: If being a writer is what you truly dream to be, then always remember, the only person who can ever really take you out of the game is you.
7.What are some of your favorite books?
Ooh, I wish you'd narrowed this to YA or contemporary so I could cut down my long list! Since your site does focus on YA, though, I'm going to assume that's what you want and list my favorite YA and tween books from 2007:
Goose Girl ~ Shannon Hale The Invention of Hugo Cabret ~ Brian SelznickHarmless ~ Dana ReinhardtHow to Ruin a Summer Vacation ~ Simone ElkelesTwisted ~ Laurie Halse AndersonPeak ~ Roland Smith
....................
So that was the interview! We hoped you enjoyed it!
I wouldn’t say any one thing specifically inspired me to write this story, but always simmering in the back of my mind, for nearly as long as I can remember, is the notion that so much in life can change in a single instant; that’s pretty much what happens in Angel’s Choice, which was my first YA novel, too. Something happens, or you turn right instead of left, and everything that follows is altered. Life is like that. When my eight-year-old daughter was in kindergarten, her best friend’s father who was also a close friend of mine died. He and his wife were watching TV one night, she fell asleep for just ten minutes, and when she woke up he was dead. And then there’s the modern reality of going to work in the morning and having the skyscraper you work in brought down by a hijacked plane. The trick is in being aware of the tenuous nature of everything, and therefore appreciating the value of life, and yet still being able to go on and experience joy. I’m like that, and I think Ren is too.
2.How do you think Ren developed as a character?
I think Ren changed a lot! While staying true to her personality - quirky, resilient, individual - she got in touch with her own grief, learned to be more forgiving of the human flaws in others and herself, learned to see others more clearly, and further learned that letting others in doesn't make you less cool or weaker; it makes you more cool and stronger.
3.How can teens keep safe?
Be careful! If someone is making you uncomfortable, I’d say - corny as it sounds! - to report it to a trusted teacher or parent or even the police. If it’s happening on a popular online hangout like MySpace, then also report it to the management there – believe me, they don’t want predators there anymore than you do. You don’t want to start seeing shadows everywhere or cry wolf on the innocent, but you also don’t want to become a victim simply because you’re too nice or too scared or too ashamed to speak up.
4.If you had one word to describe your book, what would it be?
Unusual. Can I also say "quirky"? How about "original"? Actually, it's better if you call it original. Would you, please?
5.Any advice for other writers?
Read widely. I know that sounds like old-lady advice, but you have no idea how many people of all ages tell me they want to write, and then it turns out they never read anything! So read, read a lot, and be sure to read outside your comfort zone. You can learn a lot from people who write different things and you can often learn as much from what you don’t like as from what you do. Then, when you’re ready to write, please ignore the writing-school advice to “write what you know.” Rather, write about ideas and themes you’re dying to explore or write the world as you would like it to be. Finally, the last thing I say to every would-be writer, no matter what the age: If being a writer is what you truly dream to be, then always remember, the only person who can ever really take you out of the game is you.
6.What are you working on at the moment?
Read widely. I know that sounds like old-lady advice, but you have no idea how many people of all ages tell me they want to write, and then it turns out they never read anything! So read, read a lot, and be sure to read outside your comfort zone. You can learn a lot from people who write different things and you can often learn as much from what you don’t like as from what you do. Then, when you’re ready to write, please ignore the writing-school advice to “write what you know.” Rather, write about ideas and themes you’re dying to explore or write the world as you would like it to be. Finally, the last thing I say to every would-be writer, no matter what the age: If being a writer is what you truly dream to be, then always remember, the only person who can ever really take you out of the game is you.
7.What are some of your favorite books?
Ooh, I wish you'd narrowed this to YA or contemporary so I could cut down my long list! Since your site does focus on YA, though, I'm going to assume that's what you want and list my favorite YA and tween books from 2007:
Goose Girl ~ Shannon Hale The Invention of Hugo Cabret ~ Brian SelznickHarmless ~ Dana ReinhardtHow to Ruin a Summer Vacation ~ Simone ElkelesTwisted ~ Laurie Halse AndersonPeak ~ Roland Smith
....................
So that was the interview! We hoped you enjoyed it!
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