Our Interview with Young Adult Author Sarah Beth Durst!
Dear Readers,
Do I have a treat for you? Yours, Brooklyn Dorothy interviewed one of the great new Young Adult (YA) authors hitting bookshelves near you; her name is Sarah Beth Durst. Some of her awesome books include: Into the Wild, Out of the Wild, ICE, and coming soon Enchanted Ivy! Here's our conversation with her:
Yours, Brooklyn Dorothy: How did you get into writing for young adult readers?
Sarah Beth Durst: I read almost exclusively YA books. I love them. I love their optimism, their pacing, and their sense of humor. So I simply wrote the kind of book that I'd want to read. Really, that's always how I decide what kind of book to write next. I ask myself, "If I were to walk into a bookstore right now, what book would I want to find?" And then I try to write that. I'm writing for myself (and hoping that other people like what I like!).
YBD: What is your favorite book?
Durst: All-time favorite book is Beauty by Robin McKinley. It's a retelling of my favorite fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast. All-time favorite author is Tamora Pierce. She writes books about girls who kick butt.
YBD:In the book, Into the Wild Julie becomes a part of and witnesses many fairy tales take place, what is your favorite fairy tale?
Durst: I adore Beauty and the Beast because it's about true love. Lots of fairy tales pretend to be about true love, but they're more love-at-first-sight. Seriously, Cinderella goes on one date, doesn't even have a meaningful enough conversation for the prince to ask her name or to learn anything about her other than shoe size, and we're supposed to believe they know each other well enough to be certain they'll be happy married? Sleeping Beauty is worse -- she's comatose through their first date. And Snow White is dead for hers. But in Beauty and the Beast... they talk, they become friends, and THEN they marry. It's a happily-ever-after that I can believe in. My latest book ICE is a variant of the Beauty and the Beast story (except that she's an Arctic research scientist and he's a talking polar bear).
YBD: What fairy tale character do you feel you most resemble?
Durst: Ooh, great question! Let me think... Yeah, I don't know. But if I had to choose which fairy tale character I'd want to be, I'd pick fairy godmother. Nothing bad happens to her, plus she has a magic wand. I'd love a magic wand. When I was little, I used to put "magic wand" on my wish list for Santa. I still think this was more practical than my brother who, at age six, included Ferrari on his list.
YBD: Do you think there is more adventures ahead for Julie, or do you think you'll create a new character and make up stories for them?
Durst: Right now I'm working on new stories. My next book is called ENCHANTED IVY. It's coming out in October, and it's about getting into college. You know, taking the campus tour, talking to the gargoyles, flirting with the were-tigers, riding the dragons...
YBD: What advice would you give to aspiring young writers?
Durst: Don't give up! The most important quality that a writer can possess is stubbornness. This goes both for pursuing publication and for simply finishing your story. Also, ignore all writing advice that doesn't work for you. Everyone's writing process is different. Find what works best for you, and then do it!
YBD: Did you always want to be a writer? If you couldn't be a writer what would you be?
Durst:I've always wanted to be a writer. I think books are so magical -- they're these little rectangles that have the power to transport someone to another world, another life. I've always wanted to be a part of creating that magic. If I couldn't be a writer, I'd want to be a dolphin. Dolphins are awesome.
YBD: Lastly, do you think you will continue with the fairy tale theme, or do you think it's reached its own happily ever after?
Durst: I love the whole fantasy genre from dragons to vampires to wizards to ghosts to knights to princesses, and I want to write about all of it (including but not limited to fairy tales). I think fantasy literature as a whole plays an immensely important role: it helps restore a sense of wonder to the world, which is something that I think we all need.
YBD: Thanks Sarah Beth Durst for answering our questions!
Durst:Thanks so much for interviewing me!
Well there you have it! Be sure to visit Sarah Beth Durst’s site sarahbethdurst.com and follow her on Twitter. (To do this just go to the right hand side of the screen and hit the blue Twitter bird - but don't forget to follow us, to do this just click the pink Twitter bird. For more information email me at yoursbrooklyndorothy@gmail.com.) She is an amazing author and I know you will adore her! And remember: don’t let Sarah Beth Durst have all of the fun! Have fun writing yourself and who knows? Maybe you’ll become as successful as her one day!
Yours,
Brooklyn Dorothy
Do I have a treat for you? Yours, Brooklyn Dorothy interviewed one of the great new Young Adult (YA) authors hitting bookshelves near you; her name is Sarah Beth Durst. Some of her awesome books include: Into the Wild, Out of the Wild, ICE, and coming soon Enchanted Ivy! Here's our conversation with her:
Yours, Brooklyn Dorothy: How did you get into writing for young adult readers?
Sarah Beth Durst: I read almost exclusively YA books. I love them. I love their optimism, their pacing, and their sense of humor. So I simply wrote the kind of book that I'd want to read. Really, that's always how I decide what kind of book to write next. I ask myself, "If I were to walk into a bookstore right now, what book would I want to find?" And then I try to write that. I'm writing for myself (and hoping that other people like what I like!).
YBD: What is your favorite book?
Durst: All-time favorite book is Beauty by Robin McKinley. It's a retelling of my favorite fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast. All-time favorite author is Tamora Pierce. She writes books about girls who kick butt.
YBD:In the book, Into the Wild Julie becomes a part of and witnesses many fairy tales take place, what is your favorite fairy tale?
Durst: I adore Beauty and the Beast because it's about true love. Lots of fairy tales pretend to be about true love, but they're more love-at-first-sight. Seriously, Cinderella goes on one date, doesn't even have a meaningful enough conversation for the prince to ask her name or to learn anything about her other than shoe size, and we're supposed to believe they know each other well enough to be certain they'll be happy married? Sleeping Beauty is worse -- she's comatose through their first date. And Snow White is dead for hers. But in Beauty and the Beast... they talk, they become friends, and THEN they marry. It's a happily-ever-after that I can believe in. My latest book ICE is a variant of the Beauty and the Beast story (except that she's an Arctic research scientist and he's a talking polar bear).
YBD: What fairy tale character do you feel you most resemble?
Durst: Ooh, great question! Let me think... Yeah, I don't know. But if I had to choose which fairy tale character I'd want to be, I'd pick fairy godmother. Nothing bad happens to her, plus she has a magic wand. I'd love a magic wand. When I was little, I used to put "magic wand" on my wish list for Santa. I still think this was more practical than my brother who, at age six, included Ferrari on his list.
YBD: Do you think there is more adventures ahead for Julie, or do you think you'll create a new character and make up stories for them?
Durst: Right now I'm working on new stories. My next book is called ENCHANTED IVY. It's coming out in October, and it's about getting into college. You know, taking the campus tour, talking to the gargoyles, flirting with the were-tigers, riding the dragons...
YBD: What advice would you give to aspiring young writers?
Durst: Don't give up! The most important quality that a writer can possess is stubbornness. This goes both for pursuing publication and for simply finishing your story. Also, ignore all writing advice that doesn't work for you. Everyone's writing process is different. Find what works best for you, and then do it!
YBD: Did you always want to be a writer? If you couldn't be a writer what would you be?
Durst:I've always wanted to be a writer. I think books are so magical -- they're these little rectangles that have the power to transport someone to another world, another life. I've always wanted to be a part of creating that magic. If I couldn't be a writer, I'd want to be a dolphin. Dolphins are awesome.
YBD: Lastly, do you think you will continue with the fairy tale theme, or do you think it's reached its own happily ever after?
Durst: I love the whole fantasy genre from dragons to vampires to wizards to ghosts to knights to princesses, and I want to write about all of it (including but not limited to fairy tales). I think fantasy literature as a whole plays an immensely important role: it helps restore a sense of wonder to the world, which is something that I think we all need.
YBD: Thanks Sarah Beth Durst for answering our questions!
Durst:Thanks so much for interviewing me!
Well there you have it! Be sure to visit Sarah Beth Durst’s site sarahbethdurst.com and follow her on Twitter. (To do this just go to the right hand side of the screen and hit the blue Twitter bird - but don't forget to follow us, to do this just click the pink Twitter bird. For more information email me at yoursbrooklyndorothy@gmail.com.) She is an amazing author and I know you will adore her! And remember: don’t let Sarah Beth Durst have all of the fun! Have fun writing yourself and who knows? Maybe you’ll become as successful as her one day!
Yours,
Brooklyn Dorothy
