1. What drew you to writing? Have you always wanted to be a writer?
I’ve always had an active inner life. I was one of those little kids who played make-believe games. I spent quality time imagining myself as Wonder Woman and Princess Leia. Some of it was just that-the power of imagination but I also loved story per se.
I went on to become editor of my junior high and high school newspaper. From there, I majored in journalism at the University of Kansas and continued on to The University of Michigan Law School. Newspaper reporting is all about true stories, and law is about telling your client’s side of the story in a dispute.
I write because story is my favorite part of life.
2. If you had to pick one of your novels to be turned into a movie, which would you pick and why?
I’d say Tantalize: Kieren’s Story, a graphic novel being illustrated by Ming Doyle, which Candlewick will release next August. Or that GN coupled the one that will conclude his story, so it has more a feeling of completion.
3. Of all your characters, who are some of your favorites to bring to life?
I’m a sucker for my minor characters. I’d love to meet the Chicago priest Father Ramos, the wereopossum Clyde, the guardian angel Joshua, and both chefs Nora and Vaggio from Sanguini’s. On the latter, I’d love to try their cooking, too.
As for leads, I’d definitely have a hug waiting for Quinice, Kieren, and Zachary. Miranda. I’m not so sure. It would depend on when I met her. I’d rather not become dinner to the vampire princess.
4. What inspired you to write Tantalize?
My first inspiration was Bram Stoker’s classic novel Dracula (1897). The story includes a Texas hero, Quincey P. Morris, and I thought it might be fun to bring the tradition “home” to Austin, so to speak. Tantalize isn’t a rewrite of Dracula but rather set in a modern-day world wherein the events in Stoker’s novel happened in the distant past.
Beyond that, I’m a huge fan of Joss Whedon’s “Buffy the Vampire” TV series. I enjoy a multi-creature verse with a bit of girl-powered, take-back-the-night verve.
5. Why did you choose a restaurant as your backdrop?
As a teen, I worked as a waitress-first at a Mexican restaurant and then a café at an athletic club. I love how restaurants are such great stages for drama. Think about it: you have a thematic menu, costuming, décor. People occasionally burst into song. And sure, people tend to think of vampires as more drinkers than diners, but I thought that might add a fresh twist to the tradition.
6. Why did you decide to switch point of views for Eternal?
I had two characters with a parallel internal arc-both seeking redemption-and a story that would suffer without including events and context that neither fully understood on their own.
I also wanted to try something new. My very cute husband, tween author Greg Leitich Smith, has written a couple of alternating point of view novels, and though challenging, it looked like fun.
7. Can you tell us a little bit about Blessed, releasing January 25, 2011?
Blessed crosses over the casts of Tantalize and Eternal and picks up where Tantalize leaves off. It extends some of the loose ends and moves even closer to the inspiration novel-Dracula.
It’s more romantic and horrific and sexier and has more heart than the previous two books. Quincie is also a far more reliable narrator than she was in Tantalize because she’s on the other side of her transformation.
8. Your website is very unique because it talks about your books, but also offers a great deal of information for aspiring writers. What inspired you to take the time to do that?
I’m a big believer in paying it forward. When I started out, authors Kathi Appelt and Jane Kurtz took me under wing. I want to pass on some of that encouragement along with a building body of insights to the next wave of voices in youth literature.
9. What is the best writing advice anyone has ever given you? Or, what is the best advice you’ve given other aspiring writers?
Write two pages in a sitting. The hardest thing is getting started, and once you’re going, you can keep going. It’s tempting to write yourself out.
But if you stop while you still have something to say and leave yourself notes, those notes will beckon you back. You’ll only have to face the blank page once-page one.
10. Do you have any upcoming appearances/lectures scheduled?
I keep my schedule updated on my website here: http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/cyn_events/events/appearances.html
New York Times best-selling and award-winning author Cynthia Leitich Smith writes fiction for everyone, but she has a particular affection for young readers, from kids to twenty-somethings.