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!
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
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
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 :-)
It's a great novel--very thought-provoking. Anyway, thank you for dropping by :-)
Always nice to find new autors,Lauren, good luck and always a pleasure, Bethany.
You're right about the YA genre! It's really cool. As always, thank you for dropping by :-)