Today, we’ve got part 2 of our 3-part exclusive interview with Lauren DeStefano, the author of our April Book of the Month, Wither.
Would you ever consider writing any spin-offs (short stories or books) about any of the other characters in WITHER? Maybe the other wives or Linden? (Because we’d read those — we’d totally read those!)
I’ve done that as mini-writing exercises. Whether the world will ever see them, I don’t know.
How did you get the idea to give Rhine two different colored eyes?
There is definitely a reason for this, but at the time I started writing Rhine, her eyes and her name were two details that immediately came to me before I understood why.
We’re interviewing the folks who designed your cover later this month … if you could tell them anything, what would it be?
If Lizzy Bromley and Ali Smith don’t know that I think they’re a pair of mad geniuses by now, I haven’t bombarded their inboxes with enough praise.
If you met someone in a bookstore, and they were thinking about buying your book, what would you say to convince them?
I wouldn’t let on that I was the author. I’d probably go hide out in another section of the store so that they wouldn’t be creeped out by the crazy girl stalking the YA section to see if anyone checks out the WITHER tree. Actually, something similar to this happened on Thursday.
At Novel Novice, one of our main goals is encouraging teens to read. What would you say to reluctant teen readers to convince them to pick up a book (any book)? Why do you think reading is so important?
Read things that are out of your comfort zone. Pick up something you don’t think you will like. Even if you turn out to be right, you’ve opened a door that will lead you to thoughts you might never have known you were capable of having.
What question do you always wish someone would ask you during an interview?
I’m not sure. I’ve been asked so many things I never would have thought anyone would want to know about me.
Tune in tomorrow for part 3!
Novel Novice 