Interview #2! Same questions, totally different person!
Lauren Emily Whalen has been a regular at the bookstore for a while and I have looked forward to seeing her smiling face at all sort of different events. So I was so incredibly excited for her when I learned that she had her debut novel coming out. Satellite is a beautiful exploration of friendship and self discovery. I can’t wait for her to join us at the Chicago Young Adult Book Festival on Friday!
Q: What attracts you to the YA genre?
A: I love how YA and its authors are willing to take risks. Both YA and romance (which I also write) are way ahead of the game when it comes to representation and real issues, but its authors also have a sense of humor and fun. It’s the perfect balance!
Q: If you could be any character from any of your books, what character would you be and why?
A: Probably Sara, the ballet mistress in SATELLITE. I’d love to be in the (toe) shoes of a professional dancer and someone who has the inside story on that crazy, beautiful world. Also I admire Sara’s toughness!
Q: What is your pump-up song?
A: I have so many! Right now I’m loving “Mr. Jones” by Counting Crows, which is also my go-to karaoke song, and “Life is a Highway” (both the original Tom Cochrane and the Rascal Flatts cover are so much fun!).
Q: What is your favorite procrastination technique?
A: Bingeing Netflix and Hulu. I’m currently on a “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” kick.
Q: If you were a shoe, what shoe would you be and why?
A: My absolute best Christmas present this past year: flowered Doc Martens. The kind of shoes I’ve wanted since I was sixteen and now they are MINE. I’d be those flowered Docs!
Q: What is your favorite guilty pleasure TV show?
A:I’m a faithful Fuller House viewer, because my sister and I LOVED Full House when we were kids and can still recite whole episodes. I also love Archer, because I want to be as no-nonsense and witty as Malory.
Check out Satellite and join us at the festival on Saturday to pick up a copy and get it signed by Lauren!
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