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Spotlight On Author: Lauren Oliver

Happy Friday Everyone,

I'm delighted to introduce November author interview to you, Lauren Oliver. I read her YA Dystopian novel, Delirium, and it was very thought provoking, imaginative, interesting, and kept me on the edge of my seat.

Me:  In Delirium love is viewed as a disease. What made you decide to write a dystopian YA dealing with that possibility?


Lauren:  The idea for Delirium came from an essay I read by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, in which he wrote that all great books were about love or death. The next day I was thinking about that quote--particularly about how and in what form a modern love story could be told--while I was on the treadmill at the gym. I was simultaneously watching a news story about a flu outbreak that had everyone freaking out about the possibility of a pandemic, and I was kind of marvelling that people so easily go into panics about reports of these diseases, and at some point the two trains of thought--love, and disease--just sort of combined in my head.


Me:  What sort of "teasers" can you tell us about the sequel(s) for Delirium and how many books will be in the series?


Lauren:  There are two sequels to Delirium—Pandemonium, which comes out March 2012, and Requiem, which comes out March 2013. I don’t want to give too much away, but I can say that Pandemonium takes place in two difference time frames, while Requiem gives voice to two narrators.


Me:  What other genres do you write, or do you stick with YA Dystopian?


Lauren:  I’ve written in a bunch of other genres. Before I Fall, my first book, was YA contemporary; my first book for middle-grade readers, Liesl & Po, just came out in early October. I have a second middle-grade book coming out next fall, and I also write adult stuff. So I’m definitely all over the map.


Me:  What's your favorite Season of the year?


Lauren:  Fall! I love the changing trees…and my birthday is in November.


Me:  What advice do you have for aspiring authors/writers?


Lauren:  Read and write as much as you can! Carve time to do both every day.


Me:  What drew you to write YA Dystopian novel(s)?


Lauren:  Oh, I didn’t intend to write YA, or dystopia. All of my books begin with character and theme; the genre and audience kind of emerge organically from the story. I just go where the ideas lead me!


Me: What's your favorite Holiday?


Lauren:  Christmas or Passover! I’m half-Jewish and half-Catholic, so I get to enjoy both.


Me:  What's your solution to writer's block?


Lauren:  Writer’s block, I think, is what happens when you give in to the feeling of not wanting to write or not having anything to say; so the solution is simply to resist giving in to that feeling—to resist the resistance, in other words. If you can force yourself to write even a sentence—even a sentence that’s bad, ungrammatical, or nonsensical—you’ll find that more sentences emerge from it.


Me:  Are you a "pantser" or a "plotter" type writer? (Do you outline or do you just go with whatever inspiration comes?)


Lauren:  It’s kind of a combination of both, and it somewhat depends on the book. Usually, I write about 5,000-10,000 words to see whether the world and the characters take hold of me, whether it’s a book I feel I’ll be able to commit to for the next year. Then I sit down and try to generate a rough outline, a general sense of the large conflicts and tensions. As I continue writing, I keep working the outline as well, and revising both as necessary.


Me:  What's on the horizon for you and your novels (what do you have coming up)?


Lauren:  Right now I’m working on the last book in my Delirium trilogy, Requiem. After that…who knows!


Me:  Anything else you'd like to add?


Lauren:  Just thank you for having me!


Thank you, so much, Lauren Oliver, for agreeing to appear on my blog! I can't wait to read Pandemonium. Best wishes on your future releases :-)


Have A Fantastic Friday, Everyone!

Comments

Ryan Vukmanovic (Vukie) said…
I loved reading this. Especially reading Lauren's response to writer's block which I have often when stuck on something a character should do in a scene or what kind of scene to do,etc,etc. Your blog has certainly made me want to write more and be glad that I do write no matter what genre I take a stab at.
Loretta Wheeler said…
Very interesting interview, Lauren and Bethany:)

What a unique concept, that love is a disease. I think you're onto something...why didn't all of us catch on to the word lovesick, that says it all!:)

I enjoyed this:)
Lo
Bethany said…
Ryan,

Fantastic! I'm glad you can get something from this blog and that you enjoyed the interview with Lauren Oliver! Thank you for dropping by :-)
Bethany said…
Loretta,

It's a great novel--very thought-provoking. Anyway, thank you for dropping by :-)
Tonette Joyce said…
Thanks for another interesting introduction, Bethany.Lauren's trilogy is unique. I have a feeling,or maybe it's a hope, that love conquers all in the end, but I guess I will have to wait! Anyway,I find it fascinatiing that so many writers are finding a voice in YA.Who would have foreseen YA as a major player and that 'serious and successful' authors would jump into it? And how many of we 'serious readers', (who are adult), would ever have found ourselves picking up and enjoying YA books?
Always nice to find new autors,Lauren, good luck and always a pleasure, Bethany.
Bethany said…
Tonette,

You're right about the YA genre! It's really cool. As always, thank you for dropping by :-)

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