• The ECC Questionnaire

E. Lockart: Our 2014 Extreme Trivia Challenge Host!! | September 22, 2014

Hello, members of the ECC!

I am E. Lockhart and I write fiction for young adults, including The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks and We Were Liars. I wrote a series called The Ruby Oliver Quartet as well, which begins with The Boyfriend List. I am also Emily Jenkins – that is, I publish under two names. As Emily Jenkins I wrote the Toys series, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky, which begins with Toys Go Out; and the Invisible Inkling series, illustrated by Harry Bliss. I also wrote a bunch of picture books. The most recent two are Lemonade in Winter, illustrated by Brian Karas and Water in the Park, illustrated by Stephanie Graegin. I teach in the MFA program in Writing for Children at Hamline University and have a doctorate in English literature. I have never hosted a trivia night and I am terrified.

In the world of children’s books, you write just about everything on the spectrum, from picture books to young adult. Is there an age group you enjoy writing for more, or that you find easier?
The longer novels are bleeding and suffering and headaches and caffeine. I am happy only when I have made something I am proud of. The shorter books, middle-grade, are cheery and fun with only the occasional bruising. The picture books are cupcakes and don’t hurt at all.

What children’s books influenced you as a child and teenager? Was there any particular writer you aspired to be like?
I wanted absolutely to be Joan Aiken, author of The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, etc. I filled many Montessori school notebooks with imitations of her writing. I am nothing like her.

Being a writer has its ups and downs, like any other job. What do you find most rewarding about your career choice, and what do you find most challenging?
I am very glad to tell stories. Stories matter to me, and I think they matter to humans. We are the only animal we know of who tells them, and we have always told them. It is a primal art. I find the irregular paychecks challenging.

There has been a lot of media coverage around the popularity of “realistic” fiction, especially in the YA genre. Why do you think teens are becoming more interested in this genre now? What do you enjoy about writing this kind of book, like your most recent, We Were Liars?
I can’t write futuristic or paranormal stories, though I like reading them. Even my books with magic in them are all based in the everyday. I am not equipped to analyze publishing trends, but certainly there have been some cool films that have elevated sales all-round for realistic YA: If I Stay, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Fault in Our Stars, The Spectacular Now.

Readers and fans of We Were Liars continue to praise the ending, and although the book has been out since May, fans seemed to have continued to “lie” to protect it. What do you think made fans so dedicated to safeguarding the book’s final (mind-blowing) secret?
Collective secrets are fun. It’s why people give surprise parties.

Can you tell us anything about what you are working on now, or what you hope to take on as a future project?
My next novel has a little bit of murder in it. That’s the YA book. It’s far from finished. As Emily Jenkins, I have two picture books coming out — A Fine Dessert with Sophie Blackall and The Fun Book of Scary Stuff with Hyewon Yum.

What advice do you like to give to aspiring writers?
Read everything. All the time. Constantly. Did you stop reading just now? Don’t stop. Read something else. Go ahead.

What was your must-have summer read this year?
Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith. That book is — it’s just delicious. Enormous, horny praying mantises take over the world while one particular boy is trying to figure out his sexuality.

 

– E. Lockhart