Post date: Jun 5, 2016 5:27:16 PM
Laurie Stolarz interview with David Alan Binder
Bio from Good Reads: Laurie Faria Stolarz attended Merrimack College, and received an MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College in Boston.
Laurie Faria Stolarz is an American author of young adult fiction novels, best known for her Blue is for Nightmares series. Her works, which feature teenage protagonists, blend elements found in mystery and romance novels.
Stolarz found sales success with her first novel, Blue is for Nightmares, and followed it up with three more titles in the series, White is for Magic, Silver is for Secrets, and Red is for Remembrance, as well as a companion graphic novel, Black is for Beginnings. Stolarz is also the author of the Touch series (Deadly Little Secret, Deadly Little Lies, Deadly Little Games, Deadly Little Voices, and Deadly Little Lessons), as well as Bleed and Project 17. With more than two million books sold worldwide, Stolarz's titles have been named on various awards list.
Website: www.lauriestolarz.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/laurie.stolarz
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lauriestolarz
Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/lauriestolarz
Good Reads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/58846.Laurie_Faria_Stolarz
1. How do you pronounce your name?
Laurie Fa-ree-ah Sto-larz
2. Where are you currently living?
Boston.
3. What is the most important thing that you have learned in your writing experience, so far?
Perseverance is key.
4. What would you say is your most interesting writing, publishing, editing or illustrating quirk?
I give myself mandatory deadlines of 10 pages per week, regardless of how busy I am. If I haven’t finished my 10 pages by the end of the weekend, I’ll punish myself by cancelling things, i.e. an outing with friends, to meet my deadline.
5. Who is the name of your publisher and in what city are they?
Hyperion/Disney Books for Children, New York City
6. Do you have any secret tips for writers on getting a book published?
Read the acknowledgements pages of your favorite books to generate a list of editors and agents and their work.
7. How did you or would you suggest acquire an agent? Any tips for new writers on getting one?
I read a book that I felt was like mine. I read the acknowledgements, got the name of that author’s agent, and wrote a query letter to her. The agent responded that she wanted to read my manuscript. I got a call a few weeks later. She wanted to represent my work.
8. Do you have any suggestions or helps for new writers (please be specific and informational as possible)?
Aspiring writers need to be open to learning and to getting better in their craft. If more than one person criticizes the same point in the work – i.e. a main character whines too much – chances are that person needs to look at that point again.
Writers should never pay reading fees while trying to get published – ever. Writers need to do their homework. Know to whom they're sending a query letter, who that person’s clients are, what that person’s track record is (i.e. the details of his or her most recent acquisitions), and what that person is looking for. Every letter should be personalized and reflect that they've done their research.
Writers should consider joining a writers group. There’s nothing better than being in a group of like-minded writers who can help inspire and cheer you on, and who can provide constructive feedback that can help to strengthen your work.
9. What was one of the most surprising things you learned your creative process with your books, editing, publishing or illustrating?
I learned that my marketing degree really paid off. Writers need to be very creative not only with the writing of their work, but also with the selling of it.
10. How many books have you written?
16
11. Do you have any tricks or tips to help others become a better writer (please be as specific and information as you possibly can)?
Read a lot. Ask yourself why a book works. Or why it doesn’t. What does the character want? What keeps him from getting it? What does he have to learn to get it? Study the arc of the story. Does each scene push the story forward and/or reveal character. How about dialogue? Does it sound authentic? Is it too pointed or stilted? Or does it accomplish just what it needs to?
When I ask aspiring writers what their characters want, they often tell me that their characters want to be loved or accepted. We all want that. Go deeper. What do they really, truly want? What is their motivation? What secrets are they hiding? Always go deeper. Writing is as much psychology as it is story building.
12. Do you have any suggestions for providing twists in a good story?
Try to predict how your readers might guess at the outcomes of some of your subplots and storylines, and then throw them in another direction.
13. What makes a book stand out from the crowd?
Relatable characters; great stakes; compelling storylines; scenes that push the story forward, raise questions, and reveal the characters.
14. What are some ways in which you promote your work?
I’m very active on social media. I do a lot of book signings and participate at and attend conferences. I also sign stock at bookstores, answer every e-mail and fan letter I receive, and host contests. Additionally, I put out a newsletter via Constant Contact, with info about books, contests, appearances, etc.
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If you a published author or in a band with or without a book or an up and coming celebrity and want to garner following or get your message out there then I’d like to interview you and feature you and your book(s) or message on this web site in one of my blogs.
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