I kid, I kid.
Today I have the great pleasure of bringing you an exclusive interview with Kent Fuller, one of the many great characters (and can I say my favorite) from Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall.
First off, please tell us a little about you.
Sure thing. Let’s see. My name’s Kent McFuller and I’m a senior at Thomas Jefferson. I’m the editor-in-chief and founder of The Tribulation, the school humor newspaper. My dream is to write for The Onion one day, or maybe the Daily Show. (I’m man enough to say it: I love you, Jon Stewart.) My favorite book is Catch-22. When my grandfather died he left me this old-school bowler hat in his will. It’s my favorite possession.
What can you tell us about your role in Before I Fall?
I’m the Dashing and Incredibly Studly Romantic Hero, of course. Well, okay, maybe not exactly dashing or studly, but I think I end up being a romantic hero anyway, at least for part of the book.
What was your favorite part or scene of the book? Or maybe is there a favourite line(s) you had that you want to share?
Do you even have to ask? I get to kiss Sam in this book. I’ve been dreaming about kissing her since I was, like, four years old.
Overall, how do you think Lauren Oliver handled your story?
To be honest? Five out of ten. I’ll give her some props for the conversations I got to have with Sam (and did I mention the kissing?) but I have some major issues with the overall arc of the book.
Showing posts with label Lauren Oliver. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lauren Oliver. Show all posts
Friday, March 5, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Falling back in time with Sam
Today please welcome Sam from Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall. She was kind enough to answer some questions for me and I hope that you enjoy reading her answers.
First off, please tell us a little about you.
Um, okay. What do you want to know? My name’s Samantha Kingston but everyone calls me Sam, and I’m a senior at Thomas Jefferson in Ridgeview, Connecticut. I’m 5’8”, and I have brown hair and green eyes. I like broccoli but I hate asparagus. My favorite soda is Dr. Pepper and the smell of Red Bull makes me sick. When I was five I fell off the jungle gym at school, and I still have a scar on my knee. Is that good enough for you?
What can you tell us about your role in Before I Fall?
Well, I mean, the whole book is kind of about me, so…
What was your favorite part or scene of the book? Or maybe is there a favourite line(s) you had that you want to share?
First off, please tell us a little about you.
Um, okay. What do you want to know? My name’s Samantha Kingston but everyone calls me Sam, and I’m a senior at Thomas Jefferson in Ridgeview, Connecticut. I’m 5’8”, and I have brown hair and green eyes. I like broccoli but I hate asparagus. My favorite soda is Dr. Pepper and the smell of Red Bull makes me sick. When I was five I fell off the jungle gym at school, and I still have a scar on my knee. Is that good enough for you?
What can you tell us about your role in Before I Fall?
Well, I mean, the whole book is kind of about me, so…
What was your favorite part or scene of the book? Or maybe is there a favourite line(s) you had that you want to share?
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Talking to Lauren Oliver
Today I am pleased to welcome Lauren Oliver to Ticket to Anywhere and to YA Roundup. Lauren is the author of Before I Fall which is available now in stores.
First off…tell us a little about you?
I grew up in Chappaqua, a small town in Westchester, New York (very similar to the fictional town of Ridgeview, the setting for Before I Fall.) I was very creative—and extremely melodramatic—as a kid. Actually, I pretty much haven’t changed at all!
My parents are really cultural enthusiasts and our house was full of art and books and music. I was always dancing in the living room, or putting on plays with my older sister (one spectacularly ill-fated production of Les Miserables comes to mind), and drawing or messing around with clay. I don’t remember when, specifically, I “wanted” to be a writer. My father is a writer and I grew up seeing him write every day, so for me writing was just something you did. It was a normal part of everyday life. You woke up, you brushed your teeth, you ate, you wrote.
I remember finishing my first “novel” when I was in fourth grade. It was, like, thirty hand-written pages and I’d worked on it for a month. I remember fantasizing about what the critics would say when they reviewed it. I had serious delusions of grandeur.
What is your writing process like?
My writing process is really inconsistent. For example, today I did all my writing in an airport. Yesterday I did all my writing on the subway, typing on my phone! When I’m home I like to sit at my dining room table so that I’m extremely close to the coffee machine (easy refills!). And sometimes I like to go to cafes for a change. My favorite café of all time to write in is called Arabica. Their coffee is strong and hot, their toast is delicious, the space is sunny and warm. Unfortunately, it’s in Portland, Maine, which makes the commute somewhat problematic from my house in Brooklyn. I usually type on my computer but sometimes, when I’m stuck, I switch to writing long-hand. I write in Moleskin notebooks pretty much exclusively. They are so worth the hype.
What’s the best advice you have received about writing?
Two pieces of advice. Aim for truth, and beauty will follow. Aim for beauty, and truth will not necessarily follow. And: Write every day.
When you finish a book who reads it first?
My agent, Stephen Barbara. Occasionally I show little portions of my books-in-progress (3-5 pages) to friends, but very rarely.
What’s your most embarrassing childhood memory?
Yeesh. I have no idea. To be honest, I’ve probably successfully repressed my most embarrassing childhood memory. I threw up once in the cafeteria in first grade after eating a banana. That was pretty embarrassing. And I still despise bananas. I don’t even like to look at them.
If it makes you feel any better I did something similar in the second grade. Public vomiting in class. Wasn't fun and so I can understand the trauma!
What was your worst subject in school? Your best?
I grew up in Chappaqua, a small town in Westchester, New York (very similar to the fictional town of Ridgeview, the setting for Before I Fall.) I was very creative—and extremely melodramatic—as a kid. Actually, I pretty much haven’t changed at all!
My parents are really cultural enthusiasts and our house was full of art and books and music. I was always dancing in the living room, or putting on plays with my older sister (one spectacularly ill-fated production of Les Miserables comes to mind), and drawing or messing around with clay. I don’t remember when, specifically, I “wanted” to be a writer. My father is a writer and I grew up seeing him write every day, so for me writing was just something you did. It was a normal part of everyday life. You woke up, you brushed your teeth, you ate, you wrote.
I remember finishing my first “novel” when I was in fourth grade. It was, like, thirty hand-written pages and I’d worked on it for a month. I remember fantasizing about what the critics would say when they reviewed it. I had serious delusions of grandeur.
What is your writing process like?
My writing process is really inconsistent. For example, today I did all my writing in an airport. Yesterday I did all my writing on the subway, typing on my phone! When I’m home I like to sit at my dining room table so that I’m extremely close to the coffee machine (easy refills!). And sometimes I like to go to cafes for a change. My favorite café of all time to write in is called Arabica. Their coffee is strong and hot, their toast is delicious, the space is sunny and warm. Unfortunately, it’s in Portland, Maine, which makes the commute somewhat problematic from my house in Brooklyn. I usually type on my computer but sometimes, when I’m stuck, I switch to writing long-hand. I write in Moleskin notebooks pretty much exclusively. They are so worth the hype.
What’s the best advice you have received about writing?
Two pieces of advice. Aim for truth, and beauty will follow. Aim for beauty, and truth will not necessarily follow. And: Write every day.
When you finish a book who reads it first?
My agent, Stephen Barbara. Occasionally I show little portions of my books-in-progress (3-5 pages) to friends, but very rarely.
What’s your most embarrassing childhood memory?
Yeesh. I have no idea. To be honest, I’ve probably successfully repressed my most embarrassing childhood memory. I threw up once in the cafeteria in first grade after eating a banana. That was pretty embarrassing. And I still despise bananas. I don’t even like to look at them.
If it makes you feel any better I did something similar in the second grade. Public vomiting in class. Wasn't fun and so I can understand the trauma!
What was your worst subject in school? Your best?
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