And we’re back for BBGB: 2010 Edition!

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.

Susan Safra, Whatcha’ Reading Now?

1. Describe yourself without using any qualifiers relating to reading, blogging, or writing… who are you outside of your literary life?

I’m a Homecoming Queen trapped inside the body of a high school English teacher.

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?

That’s a super hard question to answer, but if I had to choose one piece of writing then I think it would be The Hunger Games to remind me of what a dystopian society can do to a person’s spirit if we let go of our humanity.

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?

I’d love to work with Judy Blume because she was one of the authors who truly made me love reading. Her stories inspired the little girl in me, helping me understand and feel confident about myself. I can’t imagine that I would encounter any problems working with her, although I think she would have a problem with me since I would never want to leave work at the end of the day.

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?

For me, it’s all about the characters—the details of their lives, how they grow, how they overcome their obstacles. I love reading about characters that I can relate to, even the paranormal ones. And, if there’s romance between them that’s just an added bonus for me. Love the romance!

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?

That would be really hard since most of what I read comes from the suggestions of other people. Then, if I just totally love a book, I want to tell everyone about it. I probably would read less if it wasn’t for book blogging and that would mean I would miss out on so many cool novels. The thought is just too depressing… can we move on to another question???

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?

WOW! Love this question, but so hard to chose…

1. Scott Westerfeld (author of The Uglies series) sits with George Orwell (author of Animal Farm)… so they can discuss how the elite are always trying to control society, but there are a few of us who can elude the stifling of democracy.
2. Stephanie Myer (author of Twilight series) sits with William Shakespeare (needs no introduction)… so they can discuss the tragic comedy of everlasting love.
3. Dan Brown (author of Angles and Demons) sits with Dante (author of The Inferno)… just for the heck of it.

As for me, I’d sit back taking notes on my laptop and enjoying the show!

7. What’s your favorite punctuation mark? Why?

I love the exclamation point!!! In fact, I probably overuse it!!! But, it totally shows my personality because I am loud and usually say what I think!!!!!!!!!!!

8. What literary device could you happily never see used again? (Simile, metaphor, spoonerism, hyperbole, etc.)

Similes are like wasted words when there is always a better way to say something. They are as corny as a bad joke on David Letterman.

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?

So many questions, so little time…

I don’t think I’ve ever met a bookstore I didn’t like, but my favorite local bookstore is the Borders near the Sawgrass. The comfy big couches are perfect places to prop my feet, sip a mocha latte and read the day away. In my “dream” bookstore, I would have a comfy sofa reserved just for me right in the middle of the YA section and with moccachinos delivered to me on the hour by some hottie.

10. Have you been to any Teen Read Week events or other Writers’ Conferences? What was your favorite meet-and-greet or interview experience?

The Miami International Book Fair was awesome! I spoke with amazing authors such as Joyce Sweeney, Alex Flinn, Gaby Triana, Danielle Joseph, Debbie Fisher, Meg Cabot, and so many others. It was so inspiring to hear their stories and it encouraged me to keep working on my own novel.

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.”

Typically, YA is supposed to be for kids 12 to 18, but I think the lines are becoming blurred. So many adults like to read YA—the stories are much more fun and fresh. Even though the characters in these novels are teens, adults were once teens, too, and can totally relate.

12. What’s your guilty pleasure reading snack? And what’s your guilty pleasure to read while snacking on it?

I don’t usually eat while I’m reading—I’m too involved in the story to notice anything around me. But, I do frequently light candles while I’m reading and my fav scents are vanilla and lavender. As for my guilty reading pleasure… well, I hate to admit it, but I read Twilight three times. Edward was just so delicious!

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 usually don’t like when great books are made into movies because they always seem to lose some of the magic. I’d rather see the movie I create in my own mind. However, the one movie I thought was great was The Color Purple. In fact, I liked the end of the movie better than the novel ending. That said, I think that dramas make the best book-to-movie adaptations.

14. What are your plans for the future? Do you see yourself working in the literary community?

In my very near future, I see my novel picked up by an agent and acquired by a top publisher. In the future over the next few years, I see it as a best-seller!

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?

My favorite place to read is sitting in an old rocking chair by the fireplace in the Smoky Mountains…. pure luxury! As for what I’m reading—a hardcover or paperback because I love the feel of the pages melting away in my hands as I immerse myself in the story.