Addition to the Author Survey

So a while back I asked several authors (via Readergirlz chats) the same question: What is your favorite part of the writing process?

Tonight, I caught Shannon Hale, author of many fabulous books including The Goose Girl, Princess Academy, and Austenland on the Readergirlz chat, and here's what she had to say.

Shannon Hale: Finding that perfect sentence. And meeting people who didn’t like to read until they read one of my books, and have gone on to read many books. I don’t feel like it was me who did either of those things, but they both rock.

By the way, Readergirlz is an online book club, run by a bunch of women who also happen to be authors of YA books. Every month they pick a book to read, and everybody discusses it on their MySpace forum. Then, they have a live chat with the author. Pretty cool if you ask me. www.readergirlz.com

Interview with a Vampire -- errr, Chemist

Jacob got in to UIUC. They got back to him within two weeks and offered him a sweet deal. Plus they were his first choice anyway. Lets have an short interview with the future Illinois resident.

Book Stew: So, why was UIUC your first choice?
Jacob: because it was a good program in an area with reasonable cost of living.
BS: How good of a program?
J: They're ranked in the top ten overall in Chemistry in the country. They're the second highest ranked public university.
BS: Why did UIUC want you so bad?
J: Do you want me to brag about myself or what? To put it how [one of my professors] put it, "you want to go into Physical chemistry, you have research experience, you're qualified, and English is your native language."
BS: So there are a lot of international students that study chemistry?
J: Yes -- sciences in general. Half of my lab group is from China.
BS: What's that on your face?
J: Oh, a gash from my glasses on the bridge of my nose... it's from when I blocked a spike with my face in my volleyball class. Not recommended.
BS: Well that band-aid just adds to your nerdy appeal.

Author Survey

In the month of October, the Readergirlz hosted a chat with an author every night. I took the chance to survey a few authors with the following question:

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

In no particular order,

Stephenie Meyer (Twilight): I love it when it's just flowing--when the words are rolling off my fingertips and I can hardly keep up. Dialog tends to go like that. And I love it when I forget that I'm writing and I'm just in the story. Also, I love it when I make myself laugh. Basically, writing is awesome. Except for transitions, expositions, and editing. :)

Rachel Cohn (Naomi & Eli's No Kiss List): My favorite part of the writing process is when I'm FINISHED! And the ice cream can truly be consumed in celebration.

Meg Cabot (The Princess Diaries): My favorite part of the writing process is the first draft, which is the fun, creative part, when you are just discovering your characters and your story. My least favorite is revisions! YUCK!

Sara Zarr (The Story of a Girl): Starting a new book! The idea is all shiny and wonderful and perfect and I haven't screwed it up yet or gotten into the little details like WHAT IS THE PLOT? :)

Shannon Hale (Princess Academy) Finding that perfect sentence. And meeting people who didn’t like to read until they read one of my books, and have gone on to read many books. I don’t feel like it was me who did either of those things, but they both rock.

It also seems like I asked one more author, but I can’t seem to figure out who it was. Anyway, what do you think of that? What’s your favorite part of writing? Personally, I really like editing.

Readergirlz Chat -- John Green

Chatting with author John Green was, to use the Nerdfighter term, awesome. I think I'll post some of the questions that I posed to him, (those he answered).

Q: So John, what is your favorite scene in An Abundance of Katherines?
A:That is a tough question. Hmm. I guess the hog-hunting scene. That is the one that I most enjoy reading when I'm doing readings, at least. I like to write set pieces like that (or like Barn Night in LfA). -John

Q: John, tell us about what you're working on!
A: My new book, "Paper Towns, " is about ... uh, it's kind of about a disappearance. It's a mystery novel. Except with a lot of Walt Whitman in it. The first chapter is hear-able on my videoblog if anyone's interested.
I'm also working on a novella for a book I'm writing with lauren myracle and maureen johnson (who are both so great and so highly recommended). -John

Q: John, if you had to have an alternate career (as in not "writer") what would your career be?
A: Good question, and I have no idea. Probably an editor or something. I can't imagine not being around books.
Sometimes I fantasize about being a financial analyst at a big firm and working crazy hours and having all these wacky brilliant hyper-rich friends--but then I remember that I hate math. -John

Q: Any plans to come west and speak/sign/promote? I'm talkin' about Utah, Nevada, Arizona stuff.
A: Not at the moment. I will probably tour next fall. -John

Q: Who would you say has been the most influential person as far as your writing goes?
A: There are two, probably: Ilene Cooper, my editor at Booklist and the author of many children's books, and Julie Strauss-Gabel, my editor at Dutton. I don't think I'd be working as a writer if it wasn't for them. -John

Q: Who came up with the awesome cover for Katherines? Do you like it? (Jacob's question)
A:I like the cover very much (although they are changing it for the paperback, which is pretty common). The designer is Christian I-Cannot-Spell-His-Last-Name. He's at Penguin, and he's brilliant. :) -John

Q: Do you speak/read/write any languages besides English? (another one from Jacob)
A: No. Well, I speak and read some French, but I'm certainly not fluent.

Of course there are all kinds of other questions and answers on the thread. I didn't ask lots of questions, because other people did. It was pretty (really) neat.