In talking to Chelsea (The Page Flipper) and Heather (Book Woman), I thought it would be a fun to turn the tables and do a series on my blog of interviews with YA book bloggers — let them be the stars! So now every Tuesday, another Book Blogger will be featured.
If you’re interested, please e-mail me.
Danielle S., The First Daughter/There’s A Book
1. Describe yourself without using any qualifiers relating to reading, blogging, or writing… who are you outside of your literary life?
I’m a mom to two wonderful kiddos whom I’ve nicknamed The Turkeybird and Littlebug, and have now been married for 5 years. We recently moved from Virginia to California after my husband graduated law school and started work with a law firm here. It’s been a whirlwind, but I’m glad to be settled finally. I also have a love of music; most of my life has been spent studying and performing the flute (around 25 years of it). Besides those things I have a passion for teaching and helping others in whatever way I can.
2. You’re trapped in a dystopian society like that in Fahrenheit 451, where all books, periodicals, scriptures, texts, or other forms of written communication have been banned… but in this society, every person can hoard away one piece of writing to keep for herself. What is the one written piece that you choose to keep, and why?
If I had to chose, I would say my own personal journal. So many things and thoughts can be contained in a journal and I have found throughout my life that it is the one thing I always refer back to. In good times and bad I can turn to it for guidance or merely to see how far I’ve come so that I can have the encouragement I need to carry on.
3. Congratulations! You’ve been given the position as Personal Assistant to any author of your choice (all time periods and genres allowed)… who is it, and what’s the biggest problem you have to overcome working with them?
Probably Cassandra Clare. She’s an amazing writer and extremely snarky, which I think is great! But my biggest problem would be holding my own, because I truly think she can dish it out so well.
4. When it comes to reading and reviewing, which aspect of a book is the most important to you? The plot? The characters? The setting? Something else entirely?
Absolutely, without a doubt, THE PLOT! I usually have a hard time not picking up on what is going to happen in a story (or even a TV show or movie) and it drives me crazy. So, when I can pick up a book and get to the end without thinking, “oh yeah, this again…” it’s truly the best thing ever and I will generally read the book over and over.
5. If book blogging weren’t an option, how would your reading habits be affected? Would you be as motivated to read if you couldn’t widely impart your thoughts on books to other readers?
Yes, in fact if I was blogging I’d probably read more, if I’m being honest. But I have a desire to help others who have been in my same predicament and so the time spent blogging is very rewarding.
6. You’re giving a dinner party for three contemporary (living) YA authors and three dead classical authors. Who are they, and who do you seat next to whom? Why?
Contemporary: Stephanie Meyer, Holly Black and Cassandra Clare
Classical: Jane Austen, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ayn Rand (Not sure if these all qualify, but I like them, so there!)
Besides keeping Meyer and Austen apart because they would never shut up, I really don’t mind who sits by whom, although Fitzgerald and Clare could have some very interesting conversation to listen in on I think. Most I picked these authors because they’re all ones I love. There work inspires me and is enjoyable to read.
7. What’s your favorite punctuation mark? Why?
Recently, the good ole ? This comes because my son is just getting into that stage where he asks questions like “where does the water come from???” And so on…I think it’s great, that is if I can tolerate it.
8. What literary device could you happily never see used again? (Simile, metaphor, spoonerism, hyperbole, etc.)
Don’t really have one I feel is overly used, so keep them all!
9. What is your favorite local bookstore? What’s a bookstore that you’ll never set foot in again? And do you have a ‘dream bookstore’ that you’d either love to visit… or would love to design and own one day?
Unfortunately the local bookstore I loved went out of business last year. It was in the town we are living in currently and was where we purchased one of my sons first books. The amazing thing about it was that on the walls it had original art work from all the children’s illustrators in the store. I loved it! It also wasn’t super cluttered with rows of never-ending books that you couldn’t get through with small children in tow, so it was perfect for me at the time. This would probably also fit into my ‘dream bookstore’ as well, I just think that there should be some kind of incorporation of authors/illustrators to keep the public in touch with where they’re getting their “entertainment”, it makes it more personal. It did for me at least. Don’t really have a bookstore I wouldn’t go into.
10. Have you been to any Teen Read Week events or other Writers’ Conferences? What was your favorite meet-and-greet or interview experience?
No conferences yet, but I am planning on attending BEA in May 2010. My favorite “interview” has been with the illustrator for the site, Jenny Mattheson, she has been amazing and is wonderful at what she does.
11. In your opinion, what is a YA novel? How is it different from a children’s novel, and how is it different from an adult novel? What makes someone a YA reader — because it’s clearly more than a matter of their being “a young adult.”
I think more of it has to do with a state of mind and not so much an age number. A children’s novel is most definitely aimed at children – you can feel the whimsical nature attached to it. And an “adult” novel seems to me, in my personal experience, a little more technical or analytical. Most of us may not want to admit it, but our “highschool” or college years were some of our most fun times. Our emotions and feeling were tied to everything we did. This is what makes a YA novel to me. It’s about the emotional experience the feeling of adventure in whatever aspect it takes on. This doesn’t make it juvenile in my opinion, but embraces our truest nature, the feeling part of us.
12. What’s your guilty pleasure reading snack? And what’s your guilty pleasure to read while snacking on it?
Definitely Lindt White Chocolate Truffles, but I can’t eat too many, it’s just not good for me. My guilty pleasure to read…anything written by Charlaine Harris or Stephenie Meyer. What can I say?
13. “Don’t judge a book by its movie!” As a connoisseur of all types of books, which genre do you think translates the best from page to screen? What’s your favorite book-to-movie adaptation? Conversely, what’s a book that you hope never to see filmed?
I think I’d be a little prejudiced by saying I think YA books translate best, but that’s probably because I don’t like a lot of “adult” books and the ones I have read that became movies stink. Even though it was a while ago I still think the first Harry Potter movie, The Sorcerer’s Stone was the best book to movie translation. I’m not really looking forward to The Host by Stephanie Meyer being made into a movie, because I think it could be very bad.
14. What are your plans for the future? Do you see yourself working in the literary community?
I plan on continuing forward with There’s A Book in hopes that I can expand on some of the features I have planned, like “When I Was Young”. As far as working in the literary community, I’d love the opportunity, but primarily to help encourage reading in youth. I think the industry has come a long way in a few short years and I want to do my part to continue it’s growth.
15. Describe your perfect reading location… are you in a coffee shop sipping cappuccino or curled up at home near the window? Reading on a Kindle in the Big City or taking in the smell of a dusty hardcover?
Anywhere quiet, without children, if I’m reading for myself and I’d have to have a hardcover – I’m way more into the feel of the book in my hands. But if I’m doing what I do everyday, it would be sitting down on the overstuffed “beanbag” chair in my sons room with him curled up next to me reading out of a stack of books he picked out while he continues to say, “more more mom!”
