Lauren Oliver is one of my favorite authors, so it's no surprise I sought out getting an interview with this awesome lady. Thankfully, she not only granted me some of her valuable time, but she's also contributing signed copies of her Delirium series to one lucky reader. Check out Lauren's interesting answers below, and find out how you can win her cool prizes!
1. Tell us about your life growing up in New York. Were you compelled
to become a writer due to the fact that your parents both taught
literature?
That was absolutely a huge source of inspiration to me. I was certainly raised in a very literary household. I started telling stories at a very young age, and started writing them down as soon as I physically knew how to!
2. How long did it take to establish the story in Before I Fall?
Before I Fall was an interesting process. I basically started hearing Sam's voice in my head, and I needed to start writing it down. It also deals with a lot of themes that had been interesting me, such as peer pressure.
3. Your debut is more on the contemporary, realistic fiction side, while
your new series is focuses on a post apocalyptic fantasy world. What
inspires your versatility as an author and do you think it’s important
to be able to take on different genres?
I try to just focus on telling the specific story I want to tell, and not on "oh, I'm telling a dystopian story now... what does that mean I have to do?"
4. What makes the Delirium series different from other dystopian
books out now?
I think it has very distinct characters, and hearing the story through their voices would differentiate it, no matter what the genre is.
5. And what inspired you to write a story where love is classified as a
disease?
There's an essay by Gabriel Garcia Marquez where he says that all stories are about either love or death. Since my first book was about death I wanted to write a story about love. At the same time I was watching something on TV about pandemics. I guess the two ideas got mixed together in my head and I started thinking about a world where love was a global disease.
6. Pandemonium is a mind blowing sequel, picking up beautifully the
momentum left by the first. Can you give us some details about the
third, Requiem, and where you’re hoping to take the characters
next?
All I'm going to say is that it's told from two different points of view, and that it includes characters that the readers haven't seen since Delirium.
7. Let’s put writing on the side for a bit. What do you do for fun outside
of creating these intriguing stories?
I like doing most artistic things, singing, dancing, cooking.. I love seeing my friends, and watching movies with them, and doing physical activity.
8. Why do you hate bananas? I’m just curious to know.
Because bananas are evil!! Their little yellow smiles disgust me.
9. If you lived in a post apocalyptic world where you were only allowed
to keep three things from the past, what would those three things
be?
Libraries, the power grid, and prospect park. And the heinz tomato ketchup factory.
10. Thanks for taking the time Lauren. Please leave a message for your
readers, and any tips for aspiring writers.
I would love to give a huge thank you to all my readers, and a reminder to all aspiring writers to write write write every day!
~GIVEAWAY~
Sorry, for the US only.
