Eric Luper's Random Musings

Today, we have a not-so-frequent installment of our Author Interview. We are fortunate to have YA writer, Susane Colasanti, joining us.



She is the author of When It Happens, a young-adult novel published by Viking Children’s Books, available in stores now.

Reviews

“Realistic dialogue, multi-layered characters, musical references and issues that matter most to teens make this story happen. Like Sarah Dessen, Colasanti knows how teens operate.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Colasanti obviously remembers the kind of love that makes your insides churn, belly flips and all. Her take on young romance is insightful, fresh and fun, her characters fully formed and likable.” - Debra Leithauser, editor of The Post's Sunday Source, The Washington Post

“A sweet and touching love story…of a true and meaningful connection between souls that transcends the social strictures of high school. - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

“Teen readers will enjoy the dynamics of Sara and Tobey and their friends and identify with their bantering. It is a fully satisfying story that will please young adult readers looking for a little romance.” - VOYA, 4Q 4P (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal)

“Colasanti’s sweet debut…realistically captures the thrill of first love.” - Publishers Weekly

POKER QUESTIONS

Sadly, no.

Is it because you fear my poker playing abilities?
Duh! You’re clearly the man.

No really, is it because you’ve never had the opportunity or because you have something against it?

I’m a total games person. I love Parcheesi, backgammon, Chinese checkers, and those Cranium ones. I’m definitely a cards person, but I mostly focus on Rummy 500 for sentimental reasons.

Okay, how would you play an ace-ten on-suit in an 8-player game if you had a medium stack and were sitting to the left of the big blind?

Personally? I’d announce that it’s time for a snack break. That type of hand would probably call for warm chocolate chip cookies, where the chips are all gooey.

Sounds yummy! Do you ever go to casinos?

Here are the two times I went to casinos:

1) When I was like eight or nine, I became a Pac-Man addict. I even developed a reputation as someone you would not want to play. I mean, unless you were into losing. So there was this one casino in Atlantic City, maybe Ceasar’s Palace, and it had a video game room for the kids. My grandparents went to the Atlantic City casinos a lot, so I’d get to play there. People would gather around me and stare. It was awesome.

2) When I traveled across the Sierra Nevada mountains, there was Las Vegas looking all sparkly on the other side. So of course I had to go to a casino there, just for the experience. I played the nickel slots. I lost.

When I was a teen, every time I read a young-adult novel it was almost always from the main girl character’s point of view. I’d be dying to know what the boy was thinking. Like, what was he thinking right now? And why did he say that? And did he talk about her to his friends later? Questions like that always bothered me. So I would invent the boy’s side to every story, filling in the blanks. I told myself that if I ever wrote a teen novel, I’d write it from both perspectives.

How long did it take to write?

First draft:

Well, I wrote about 80 pages in grad school, but it was pretty random stuff. Then when I finished the first draft, it turned into rectangles on my flippin’ idiot of a PC. That was fun. So I guess all together it took me about two years.

Revisions:

About three years. When It Happens began as a different story in some ways, so there were several major plot changes during revisions.

What is it that distinguishes your book from every other one on the shelves?

Before it was published, I would have said the alternating perspectives. But other books like Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist were released around the same time. So now I’d have to say that it’s the perspectives thing plus a sweet quality plus the dialogue-centric style plus the focus on searching for a soul mate. All of those characteristics together equals synergistic originality.

How did the editorial process affect your book?

I think I did seven revisions. Originally, Sara didn’t break up with Dave before going out with Tobey. So the story was a lot different. The original title was Trust, and the book was more about exploring how easily trust can be broken and how difficult it is to rebuild.

The characters also changed, some significantly. For example, Tobey was originally a virgin. But my editor felt that it would be more realistic for him to have had more experience with girls. Also, she wanted him to think about sex more than he did at first. So Tobey changed in ways I didn’t predict.

Are you pleased with your cover design?

I was very lucky to have the opportunity to provide input about the cover. Because most authors have zero control over it. On the mock-up, Tobey was wearing white sneakers. I suggested (but was really begging) that he wear black Converse. Sara’s skirt was also updated.

How do you feel having a book on the shelves in actual bookstores?

Dude. It rocks.

How can others help get the word out there?

If you like When It Happens, it would be righteous if you’d tell your friends about it. I think teens telling other teens to read this book is the best promotion out there. They’re the reason I write books.

"WHEN IT HAPPENS" SPECIFICS

There are quite a few f-bombs and sexual references in your novel. Was this a consideration in writing it?

I wanted the dialogue and action to be way realistic, so the language had to be there. I’ve been a teacher in New York City for nine years, so I hear teens every day and this is how they talk. Actually, some people say I talk like I’m 16 and do I know how old I am? But that’s another story. So yeah, it was all about portraying reality. A teen novel wouldn’t feel authentic to me without some harsh language and sex stuff in it.

WHEN IT HAPPENS taps into a lot of eastern philosophy and motivational concepts. Do you use these same philosophies in your own life? How?

I’m all about living a Zen lifestyle. My ultimate goal is to achieve self-actualization. Right now I’m working on ways to achieve and maintain inner peace. Since everything is connected, I make sure that my physical space is simple and streamlined. This enhances my emotional state.

My ideal apartment design has lots of light and glass and wood and space. Only, I live in the West Village, so I don’t have the lots of light and glass and space thing yet. But today I picked out paint to make circles on my bedroom wall and my bathroom has this spa type vibe going on, and those things make me happy.

The book that Sara is reading, Creative Visualization, is an actual book by Shakti Gawain that I love. It’s all about creating your ideal life. So yes, When It Happens definitely incorporates a lot of my actual life philosophy.

I grew up not five minutes from the Short Hills Hilton and I was born in Overlook Hospital. Why North Jersey? Why my hospital???

Um, yeah. I didn’t get the memo that you own North Jersey. Last time I checked, some other people were from there. And last time I checked, some other people were born in that hospital. But not me. I was a candy striper at Overlook Hospital, though. And we went to the Short Hills Hilton after the senior prom. So you can share, Eric ;)

Hey, maybe you were a candy striper when I was born! I am quite young, you know.

I happened to notice that your jacket design shows a boy and girl with their heads behind a tree trunk. They are both exactly dressed in outfits described in your book. Were the scenes altered to fit the picture or the picture altered to fit the characters?

After the cover design was finalized, I made changes in the book to reflect what Sara and Tobey were wearing. It always bothers me when the characters on the cover look nothing like their descriptions in the book. I’m all like, “That is so not them!” I wanted my readers to have a happy cover experience.

WRITING PROCESS

What is your writing schedule like?

It’s about to change. Usually, I write for two hours when I get home from school and all day on weekends. But sometimes I’m really tired after school and have a severe case of fuzzy brain and all I can do is watch “The Office” or “Dawson’s Creek” on my computer (because I’ve never owned a TV) and call it a day.

So I just resigned from teaching. I know! It’s so wild! I mean, kids need good science teachers, but kids also need good books to read. So now my schedule is writing for about five hours a day. And I’m doing private tutoring because I love teaching.

What is your process for going about writing a book?

The main plot idea burns inside of me for a while, as I’m finishing revisions on the previous book and planning the next one. I see the characters and play scenes like short films in my head at random times, like when I’m standing in line at the post office.

Then when I start a new book, I get a special notebook and do notes on each character, scenes I want to write, bits of dialogue I want to use, things like that. Then I make a chapter outline, so I know where the story’s going (otherwise I tend to ramble on forever, as you can deduce from this interview). Sometimes the characters take over and make me write scenes I didn’t plan, so the outline gets changed as the manuscript progresses. But the heart of the story remains the same.

Are you in a critique group?

No. The only people who read my manuscripts are my agent, my editor, and my publisher. Although I’ve heard groups can be very helpful.

FUTURE WORK

Are you working on something new right now?

My second book is called My Way Home. It will be released May 2008, also by Viking Children’s Books. At the same time, the paperback edition of When It Happens will be released.

Right now I’m working on my third book.

Can you give us a hint as to what it’s about?

My Way Home is told from the perspectives of three New York City teens (two girls and one boy). It takes place during one week of their junior year. The story is about how they overcome inertia by taking risks to find what they’ve been looking for.

Is it related to your previous book or is it a stand-alone title?

I haven’t written a sequel yet. Readers email me often that they’d love a sequel to When It Happens, but the characters would be in college. Which isn’t really done in the young-adult world, so I don’t think I’m allowed.

Do you already have a contract? Release date?

I’m hoping my third book will be released in 2009.

MISCELLANEOUS AND SUNDRY

Just because I can ask it, if you could have dinner with any famous person (living or dead) and language was not a barrier, who would it be and why?

John Lennon. He was all about peace and love. We need more activists in the spotlight to speak out against war, since they’re the ones who can reach the most people through media exposure. So I’d want to talk about his latest plan of action for world peace. And John adored New York City. And he was in The Beatles. That is serious.

Who are your favorite authors in your genre?

Laurie Halse Anderson and Blake Nelson are my absolute faves. I worship them in a godlike way.

Aside from my novel, what are your three favorite books for young people in any genre?

Big Sli – oh, snap. Reading directions helps. Speak, The Outsiders, and The Little Prince.

Would your book be best as a big screen picture, television series, documentary, HBO movie or something else?

Uh, hello! Big screen, baby!

Who would play your main character(s)?

Yeah. This has changed drastically over the years, considering how much time elapsed between writing the first draft and publication. I love Evan Rachel Wood as Sara because she is awesome. And whoever plays Tobey has to have the big blue eyes thing going on. Unfortunately (and this really hurts to admit), Tobey Maguire is just not young enough for this role.

Oh! This question is so unfair! Because I have a whole list of songs from When It Happens that are the soundtrack of the book. There are actually 18 key songs that I listened to over and over while I was writing it. And I can only pick one? Then it would have to be “Fascination Street” by The Cure. Probably.

List a question you’re dying to answer and answer it here.

What color was the paint you bought today?

Seafoam green. So the circles will be like ocean bubbles in a tropical oasis, as I drift off to sleep in a sea of tranquility. Or, you know, just like some rad circles.

Please list your website, blog info, or any other contact information here so I can include them for interested readers!

Website: www.susanecolasanti.com
Email: friendly.neighbor@hotmail.com

Susane, it was a pleasure having you as guest interviewee on the blog. Best of luck with your future work. I look forward to seeing what you do!