Interview with Lauren Oliver

Music plays a big part in your book. Do you use music to help you write? And is there a song that makes you think of the book?

I can’t write while listening to music, because music is so evocative of emotions. For instance, if it’s sad, it makes me write cheesy things! If one song came to mind while writing the book, though, it would be “Bring Me to Life.”

What gave you inspiration for the books? How did you come up with your topic? And why does the main character keep reliving her life?

I asked myself, What is a perfect day? If I only had one day, how would I spend it and who would be there? Why are people mean to each other? Dismissive? I think how mean people are is in proportion to how happy or unhappy they are.

Do you need to read a lot in order to know how to write?

It’s important – a major deal – to read a lot. Then you get to know different voices and stories and how to solve a problem.

Do you sometimes feel that writing is hard for you? And when writing a story, what should you do to get through writers block?

I overcome writers block by practice, and I write consistently and all the time. I was a full-time student, working at Penguin and had an evening job at a bar until 4:00 a.m. I was 100 percent tired all of the time. So I am grateful I don’t have to work that hard anymore. I have more time for my writing.

Does money come right away when you publish your book?

You don’t get money right away. You sign a contract first with a publishing house, which can take two-six months. Then you get one payment and an additional payment when an approved, publishable manuscript is turned in. The last chunk of money comes when the book is published.

If you could describe yourself by one characteristic, what would it be?

I’m driven – perfect – ambitious, loyal and competitive.

Were any of your friends or family upset that you portrayed characters like them in a negative light?

I didn’t portray my friends, but instead portrayed my characters in negative light. My sister Lizzy was the only one who was upset because the younger sister in the book is Izzy, and Izzy has a lisp. Everyone thinks my sister Lizzy had a lisp, and asks her if that was her, but in reality it wasn’t. I was the one with the lisp … so details from real life are in the story, but not quite the same.

Why do the characters drink so much coffee?

I drank 10 cups a coffee a day. My best friends and I spent a majority of our time drinking hazelnut-flavored coffee from Dunkin Donuts.

What authorized you to write this book? It seems like a great book.

Nothing/Zero. Anyone can write a book though.

Was publishing your first book a difficult process?

My publishing experience was almost like a fairytale experience, except that you have to remember that I wrote six books before this one. Overall, it was actually a good experience.

How is it living in Brooklyn?

Brooklyn is a self-contained world of happiness.

Did you write this book to inspire young adults?

I was a very troubled teenager with a very difficult adolescence. It would have been important to me to have had a book like this – something that explained that it’s people’s desires, fears and insecurities which lead them to be mean to each other.

How old are you?

I’m 27.

When can I marry you?

When I get the ring?

After the program with Lauren Oliver, several of the students blogged about it in Remix World, Chicago Public Library’s YOUmedia online space. Join Remix World to watch their videos and read their postings, but we wanted to give you a sneak peek below:

Blogs about the Experience in YOUmedia. Meeting Lauren Oliver

Reflection: 3/9/10

TODAY WE WERE ON A CLASS TRIP TO THE LIBRARY (YOU MEDIA CENTER) WE LEARNED HOW THE CENTER WORKS AND THE HOURS. WE TOOK A TOUR AND SAW HOW WE COULD CHECK OUT LAPTOPS AND CAMERAS. WE MET THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK BEFORE I FALL.

Reflections On Meeting Ms.Oliver

Here at the library was very fun because i got a change to meet a young book reader. i will be reading this book.(before I fall By:lauren oliver). - VMoore

At The Library

At the library today i learned about blogging. I learned more writing skills. I also enjoyed learning a lot and about the book from author Lauren Oliver. - ACarter

Reflections On Meeting Ms.Oliver

THIS WAS MY FIRST TIME MEETING SOMEONE THAT HAD EVER PUBLISHED A BOOK AND LEARNED WHAT IT TAKES TO WRITE A BOOK AND WHAT THE PROCESS OF GETTING SINGED AND HOW LONG IT TAKES. I LOOK FORWARD TO READING THIS BOOK. - AFINKLEA

My Day At U Media!

The girl’s name was Samantha Kingston. The author’s name is Lauren Oliver. First published book called Before I Fall. Father wanted her to watch t.v but she wanted to read and she read books and wrote the next part for them for them. Went to UOC. SHe learned at the UOC to read read read. Father was a non-fiction writer. Went NIU and became a master of fine arts. Found a job that paid you in books. Lesson number three she learned is that books need to have a plot. Samantha dies in a car crash.

Writing Prompts

Bad luck all ways comes in threes.

They say love hurts.
Wham! I was drinking my orange juice minding my own business when when?
They told me love hurts, then that explains why my heart is opened like the butterfly doors on a lamborgini. See I gave her my all, but it wasn’t enough. For she let me fall of the hill and plummet to my death. The pain was excruciating but not like the pain of her face as I fell from heaven to a watery hell.
He’s an animal like no other. He’s the king of the forest always regulating the order. His whiskers never meet the rigid ground of the earth. His tail is all was sweeping against his lovely mistress madam tree. He recreates the world adjusting it to his own quo. He is the fox of the wilderness with a indifferent style for society. My lil twin brother and best friend forever king fox Darcae.
The trees were gnarled towards the back of the house but towards the front it was paradise. The flower beds always embraced your love on a spring morning. The critters and creatures of the night and day always play on the open fields of berries and agriculture. The back was dead and deranged looking always looking for means to draw you into it’s uvula to devour you whole. No hide and seek to play back there for the creatures are always lurking around with a devilish grin and cricked smile. But now this once half-paradise half-hell is nothing but an unbarring wasteland waiting to be returned to it’s older form. - Djones

Hope + Desire=Love

They say that love hurts but really thats the lie.
Love isn’t nothing but desires and hopes that heals your heart.
To me love is for the ones who need it the most.
The lonely, the hurt, the heart broken, and the confused are the ones who need love.
But like i said love is just desire and hope. - FOXKING