Interview with Pearl North Author of Libyrinth

I am extremely honored to welcome Pearl North to Eating YA Books. She is here to answer some questions about about her YA novel Libyrinth, which has been released today in paperback.   

So, lets get to it!

What four words would you use to describe Libyrinth? 

Thoughtful, bookish, dire, hopeful.

  

Why did you decide to write a young adult novel and then publish it under pseudonym?  

I'd had the idea for Libyrinth in the back of my head for many years and in fact had written the opening few scenes. When I finally got around to writing the whole book, I thought the characters and the subject matter were perfect for a YA novel. The choice of writing under a pseudonym came as a way to set the Libyrinth books apart from the science fiction I've written for adult readers.  

What inspired you to write Libyrinth?  

That's a strange story. When I was about six, my folks took me to a movie called On a Clear Day You Can See Forever. It's a musical about past-life regression starring Barbara Streisand. No, really.  Anyway, as a child I was captivated by a scene in that film in which a small girl walks past rows of bookshelves covered in cobwebs. As she goes by, each book speaks to her. That idea stuck with me for the rest of my life and eventually evolved into Libyrinth. But here's the thing: Prior to Libyrinth's publication, but after I'd finished writing it, that film aired on television. I watched it, eagerly awaiting the scene that had given birth to my new book. And it wasn't there. There is no such scene in the movie. My guess is that at six, I got pretty bored with the film and I daydreamed it, so I suppose the idea was mine all along.  

Which character in Libyrinth do you most identify with and why?  

 Probably Clauda, actually, though I have my Haly side. But Clauda and I share a certain energy level, recklessness, and sense of humor.   

In looking at a few summaries, I noticed differences in how the setting of Libyrinth was described. Tell us about the setting and what thought processes you went through as you wrote about Libyrinth’s world.  

Without giving away too much, since the nature of the world is a big part of the third book, Libyrinth takes place on a world that is connected to our earth, and to humanity, though in a  less direct way than some surmise. I'm fascinated with the way in which information is transmitted over long periods of time -- what is forgotten, what remains, and how words and phrases remain in use long after their original meaning has been lost.  

Now that you have written your first YA book what did you like/not like about this genre and do you plan on writing more YA books in future?  

Well, I love writing about people who are just becoming adults. That's such dramatic time of life -- there's a lot to work with, as a writer. And as a reader many of my most favorite books, and the ones that have stuck with me all my life, are ones I read as a young adult.  And to answer the second part, I've just turned in the third Libyrinth book to my editor. The working title is The Book of the Night. The second Libyrinth book, The Boy from Ilysies, comes out this November. 

Tell us about authors or books that have been influential in your writing life.  

It's hard to know where to begin, really. Before I could read myself, my sister read E.B. White's Charlotte's Web to me every night before bed. That's where my interest in books and reading really began. I learned about the facts of life from Judy Blume's Forever, and survived junior high by escaping to Middle Earth. As an adult and a fledgling science fiction writer, I was inspired by the work of Gene Wolfe and Ursula LeGuin. Mid-career, Freedom and Necessity by Emma Bull and Steven Brust, and the Miles Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold, gave me a whole new direction and helped me discover who I really wanted to be as a writer. Now, I've just finished a book entitled Wicked Gentlemen by Ginn Hale that has inspired me all over again.  

What is the most difficult aspect of writing science fiction?  

I think it's balancing the ideas and world building with the character's story arc. I've always found it a creative challenge to translate a cool bit of science extrapolation into somebody's personal problem. Because stories are always about someone.  

What was the writing process like? Any specific hard, funny, or simply memorable event that happened while writing Libyrinth?  

I had a wonderful writer's group that was of great help while I was writing Libyrinth. In particular, early on in the second draft, one of my critique partners said, "They wouldn't call themselves Eradicants, they'd call themselves Singers." He was absolutely right and that observation let me to developing the whole Singer culture as it appears in the finished book. In fact, it influenced the outcome of the book as well, because it got me thinking about their way of life, and seeing things from their perspective, and they wound up being much more than just bad guys, as a result.  

Is there anything else you would like to share?  

I always find it interesting that with Libyrinth, I set out to write a book about censorship, and wound up writing a book about peace. But looking deeper, I don't think you can have peace in a world where ideas are restricted.

I want to thank Ms Harris (aka Pearl North) for taking time out of her busy writing live to answer my questions.  I can’t wait to read the next book in this fantastic trilogy, The Boy From Ilyseis due out this November.

I hope you will also check out my review of Libyrinth.

Saturday Spotlight/An Interview with Sharon Draper

This Saturday I am delighted and very honored to spotlight one of my all time favorite authors, Sharon Draper.  She is not only an award winning author, but an educator, speaker, poet and a National Teacher of the Year. Sharon has written over twenty book for children, young adults, and adults.  

 
Her most recent release Out Of My Mind (out March 9, 2010) is one of the most beautifully written and poignant stories I have ever read.

Because Sharon has such an auspicious career it would take several blog post to give you all the details. Luckily, Sharon has a fabulous web site that provides tons of information about her amazing life and career. She also has a blog where, I am proud to say, she featured my review  of  Out of My Mind in one of her posts. Talk about honored, I am flabbergasted. 

Sharon graciously agreed to answer some questions about her new book and her life for me to share with you.

Out of My Mind is about a brilliant young girl who does not speak or write.  Can you explain how you came up with this character and provide some insights into what made you want to write a book about her?

I’ve often wondered about what’s really going on in the mind of a person who cannot share their thoughts.  I have a pretty good idea, because I have a daughter who is disabled.  I’m pretty sure she’s really smart, but I’m her mom—of course I’d want to believe that.   So I created Melody—not as a portrait of my daughter, but as a character who is truly her own being.  Melody has spunk and determination, and a great sense of humor.  I tried very hard to make her memorable—someone you would never dare feel sorry for.
Kids with disabilities are just like their peers.  They want to be accepted, to have friends, to be included in the social life of the school.  Melody understands the pain of being ignored and overlooked, and I've given her a voice to show her humanity.  She represents all those young people, who have feelings as well as dreams.   I wanted to give those kids, who are often treated as if they are invisible, a chance to be heard, to be seen as the individuals they are, not the machines they ride in, or the disability that defines them.

What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most? What part gives you fits?

I love getting up early in the morning (4 AM!) and sitting down to a quiet house and a fresh computer screen.  I love listening to the birds outside, and watching the sun warm the trees, or watching a rain or snow storm.  All of this helps my writing.  I need complete silence and focused concentration so I can “live” in the world of the characters I’m creating.  The worst part?  I’ve done this work of love and beauty and I have to chop it up to work on the edits my editor suggests.  She is very good at what she does and we usually agree on most changes, but it’s hard to change one single word, let alone whole chapters.  But I do it and the result is always better than the original.

All of your books except for Copper Sun and Fire From the Rock are set in the present. Why do you primarily write about the here and now with characters that face modern issues affecting middle and high school students?

Teens and tweens live in the world of today—a modern, techo-friendly world of current problems and issues.  I want to speak to them, to create characters they can relate to, so I write about the world they know right now.  I want to address their issues and create a forum so they can talk about them.  I try my best to make it real for them.

All of your covers accurately portray your characters. Can you explain the process you have had working with your publishers when picking a cover?

Some covers I like.  Some I think could have been better.  Authors rarely have much say about what ends up on the cover, but I do get some input occasionally.  I REALLY like the cover of Out of my Mind.  It really captures the frustration of the main character in the book.  When a fish leaps to freedom, the result is probably not what he expected when he made that jump.  The same is true for Melody in the book.

You have a very successful career, not only are you a writer, and an educator, but you just recently completed a Doctors of Law degree. What made you go back to school to get this degree? What plans do you have for using this degree and how will it affect your writing?

You want to hear a funny codicil to getting a Doctorate?  I now get all kinds of junk mail for medical supplies and lab coats and magazines on surgical techniques.  And lots more respect when getting seats on a plane.  I just chuckle and hope no one asks, “Is there a doctor on board?”  But seriously, a doctorate is simply another means to gaining more knowledge, to being better prepared to face the world.  There is so much to know, and never enough time to absorb it all.

When you taught school, what were some of your favorite books to teach and why?

I used to love to teach Shakespeare (Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet) and Beowulf.  I always wanted to make a movie of Beowulf, and someone has done so—in 3-D no less!  It’s a powerful story of heroism and honor.  I used bits of that story in Just Another Hero.  The teacher in that novel is teaching the story to a group of students who, of course, need a hero before the end of the book.

Your bio on your website states that you travel extensively. What have been some of your favorite destinations and why?

I’ve been to England and Germany and Russia.  And Guam and Bermuda and Jamaica.  But the place I loved the most was Africa.  I loved the warmth of the air, the grace of the people, and the power of the history there.  It was during my first trip there that I knew I had to write Copper Sun.  I went back twice more for research.  I learned more and loved it more each time I visited.  The last time I went I took a group of American students with me, and we met up with a group of African students, and all of us share the book together.  Now that was a powerful experience. 

You once stated that you would love to have dinner with Zora Neale Hurston if she was still alive. What would you most like to talk with Zora about?

Zora grew up in a place where women didn’t write or express themselves much at all.  She grew up in a place where African-Americans weren’t expected to do much or accomplish much.  But she became the spokesperson of her generation, one of the members of those literate few of the Harlem Renaissance.  She was so creative and literate and powerful.  She was like a flower that bloomed in spite of where it had been planted.  Not only did she bloom, she still continues to influence writers and readers today.  Because of Zora Neal Hurston, I am able to write and publish and be respected for my art and creativity.  She set the path for me and many others.  I’d just like to tell her thanks and let her know that she made a difference in the lives of many.

Thank you Sharon for taking the time to be intereviewed, and for being so accessible. I have enjoyed getting to know you and wish you continued success.

If you have not yet read Out of My Mind then you need to pick this up. I promise you will not be disappointed.

Check out other great titles by Sharon Draper

Saturday Spotlight: An Interview with Leah Cypess, Author of Mistwood

Today I am spotlighting Leah Cypess and her soon to be released debut novel Mistwood. First, a little background on this up and coming author.

Leah Cypess has been writing since she was seven years-old. As she explains, she took a few detours during her college years, receiving a degree in biology and the went on to law school. However, even as she worked for a large law firm in New York, she continued to write and submit stories in her spare time and now fifteen years later she is a published novelist.


She lives with her husband and two daughter just outside of Boston, Massachusetts. You can read more about Leah by visiting her web site.


Leah graciously agreed to let me interview her and gives some interesting insights about the writing of Mistwood.


Could you explain what prompted you to write your first book about a shapeshifter?

Actually, Mistwood was not the first book I ever wrote… it  is the first book to be published. Ghosts, witches, and even vampires preceded shapeshifters. But though I love playing with all (well, most) fantasy tropes, shapeshifters have a special place in my heart. I love animals, and the idea of being able to change into an animal is both magical and fun.

Describe Mistwood’s setting for us and tell us about any research/inspiration that helped with its creation.

The Mistwood itself is an ancient, mist-filled forest.  I originally described it based purely on imagination, but while I was writing the book I visited the old growth forest in Seward Park, Seattle.  That forest was exactly what the Mistwood looked like in my mind; after being there, I went back and rewrote a lot of the description.

The Mistwood is in a country called Samorna, and Samorna is part of a larger world… but more about that in the companion novel. :)

What made you decide to write for a young adult audience?

Ironically, although most of my earlier books were written for a young adult audience, when I wrote Mistwood I thought it was going to be a book for “regular” adults.  Only when I was finished did I realize I had written another YA. Not surprising, since most of my favorite books are YA.

What element of fiction do you feel is the strongest aspect in Mistwood and why?

Personally, I like Isabel’s struggle and the plot twists that accompany it the best; I feel that these are the heart of the book.  A lot of my first-readers complimented me on the atmosphere and world-building, and I really hope I’ve done a good job with them, but honestly, those came second.  I usually start with a character and plot, and build everything else up around that.

What did you learn while writing Mistwood?

Through my research, I learned a lot about various animal senses, about castles, and about how knives are thrown. :)  Through the revising process, I learned a lot about writing, especially about pacing and tightening.  And as with all writing, I learned a lot about my characters and hopefully about human beings (or my view of human beings) in general.

Is there anything else you would like readers to know about you or your novel?

For those of you who want to be writers, I’d like you to know that Mistwood was the fifth novel I ever completed and sent to publishers, and that it took me almost five years to write.  So you should never give up on a dream, or a manuscript, just because things are taking so long that you the end seems out of view.  You just have to be patient, do your best, and wait for your time to come.

I want to thank Leah for allowing me to interview her. I for one am anxiously awaiting Mistwood's release next month.   Make sure your check out Mistwood's book trailer and the summary below. 

ISBN:9780061956997

Author:Cypess, Leah

Publisher:Greenwillow Books

Subject: Magic Fantasy Action & Adventure 

Publication Date: April 27

The Shifter is an immortal creature bound by an ancient spell to protect the kings of Samorna. When the realm is peaceful, she retreats to the Mistwood.


But when she is needed she always comes.


Isabel remembers nothing. Nothing before the prince rode into her forest to take her back to the castle. Nothing about who she is supposed to be, or the powers she is supposed to have.


Prince Rokan needs Isabel to be his Shifter. He needs her ability to shift to animal form, to wind, to mist. He needs her lethal speed and superhuman strength. And he needs her loyalty--because without it, she may be his greatest threat.


Isabel knows that her prince is lying to her, but she can't help wanting to protect him from the dangers and intrigues of the court . . . until a deadly truth shatters the bond between them.


Now Isabel faces a choice that threatens her loyalty, her heart . . . and everything she thought she knew.

Literary RoadTrip with Ridley Pearson

Welcome to my first Literary Road Trip Post. 

The Literary Road Trip is a project in which bloggers volunteer to showcase local authors. It is hosted by Michelle at GalleySmith. As a resident of Missouri I will be spotlighting various authors who write young adult novels and hail from the "Show Me State."

Today I would like to introduce you to Ridley Pearson. Mr Pearson writes for both adults and adolescents. His adolescent books include the Starcatcher Series, the Kingdom Keeper series and the Steel Trapp series.

Steel Trapp: The Academy was released last month (see  my review), and is the second book in this exciting series about a boy with photographic memory. Kingdom Keeper: Disney in Shadow the third book in this series is due out in April.


Mr. Pearson graciously took time out of his busy writing schedule to answers a few questions about Steel Trapp and his writing life.

Jan: Where did the idea to create an adolescent protagonist with a photographic memory come from, and did you know when you first began developing Steel that his mind would be so useful to creating suspenseful plots?
 
Ridley Pearson (RP): I think photographically, so creating this character came naturally. The more I wrote in Steel's world, the more unfolded and I realized how big the canvas was.

Jan: Your first adult novel was released in 1985. What prompted you to begin writing books for adolescents, and how is writing for this audience different than adults?
 
RP: I became a dad.  That's about it.  That led me on unexpected adventures; and since I read each night to my kids and invented stories at bedtime, I started to want to write  something more permanent.

Jan: I read that you often work on four books a year?  Can you explain a little about the process it takes for you to accomplish such a feat?
 
RP: I'm writing three at the moment. I actually enjoy the process. Nothing gets stale -- to say the least.

Jan: Steel Trapp seems like a natural extension of your adult crime novels, all of which have intricate and twisting plots, and like your crime novels, both of the Steel Trapp novels are “aerobic fiction,” a term you used to named “good old page turners”. Can you provide insight into your writing process that helps you create fast paced exciting plots?
 
RP: With Steel, and to a certain degree the Kingdom Keepers, I wanted to write books of a slightly more "adult" level.  Not "See spot run," as so many YA books are.  I wanted to write my crime novels but PG-13 or PG instead of R.

Jan: In addition to creating such great plots in the SteelTrapp novels, you also write very realistic characters and carefully described settings. Is there any one element of fiction that you feel is more important than another or that seems to be more difficult to create?

RP: Character is what carries the reader through a book.  Place can be an important character. Plot is the engine.  If the engine's too loud it can drown out the characters -- it's that balance that either works or not in "fun" fiction.  I'm not writing to deliver a message; I leave that others.  My message is: have fun.

Jan: Steel Trapp is told from third person limited. Why did you choose this perspective instead of writing it from first person?

RP: As much as I like writing in 1st person, I rarely publish in it.  3rd person allows the writer multiple view points -- inside the head of the girl, the boy, the criminal.  It expands and is a more complex world to create.  I like to be challenged.

Jan: You have a home in Idaho and in St. Louis. From what I’ve read you spend the school year here in St Louis do you consider yourself a Missouri resident or an Idaho resident? What advantages does St Louis have over other cities?
 
RP: I am very much a Missouri resident, but my heart is probably more firmly rooted in Idaho where I spent 20+ years of my middle life.  There is nothing like a hike or ski in the Idaho countryside.

Jan: You are a bass guitar player and play in a band called the Rock-Bottom Remainders with other published authors. How did the band begin? How often do the members get together to jam, and when and where is your next gig?

RP: Most of this can be read about on my web site.  The Remainders had a strange beginning indeed!  Our next tour is April:  Washington, DC; Philadelphia; New York City; Boston. Should be a great one.

Jan: What is up next for Steel Trapp?

RP: China?  My family just got back from living in Shanghai for a year.

Jan: You will be releasing a new Kingdom Keeper book in April 2010. Can you tell us about this series and what to expect from Disney in the Shadow.
 
RP: This is SUCH a fun series to write.  Disney gives me full access to their parks, and the Imagineers give me back stage, behind the scenes tours when the park is closed at night, or in the early, early morning.  I translate that research into the lives of five teenagers battling Disney villains.  Shadow enters the world of EPCOT and takes us to places we have not been before.
 

I want to thank Mr. Pearson again for giving me the opportunity to spotlight his new book. If you are in St Louis February 25, you can meet Mr. Pearson in person at the St. Louis County Library where he will be appearing. Here is the link for the address and time.

If you would like more information on his books, both adult and children make sure you visit his web site.