Aaron Hamburger - Author Interview: Short Story Writer

What kinds of fiction did you read as a child and teenager, and did you have some favourites?

I read a great deal of fairy tales, especially the Oz stories by L. Frank Baum. I also enjoyed Anne of Green Gables and the Little House on the Prairie series. I've recently given all these books a reread, and they really bear up!

Would you say your childhood and teenage reading has had a distinct influence on how you write fiction now, and why?

I think my early reading gave me a healthy respect for character and plot. Literary writing is not just about lyrical passages of description intended to impress the reader with your verbal dexterity. Actually, for me the greater accomplishment in prose is writing that serves character, plot, and setting without calling too much attention to itself.

Pick one of your favourites among your fiction stories or a story which is an interesting example from your fiction. What makes this story one of your favourites or an interesting example of your fiction?

It's hard to pick one story as a favorite. For me my favorite work is whatever I'm working on right at the moment because that's where my energy is most concentrated. For me, writing is about the process.
The end product, the "finished" story is almost like a souvenir or record of that process, the way a Jackson Pollock painting is a souvenir of Pollock's wandering around his canvas dripping paint.
When I stop working on a story, it isn't because it's finished, but rather because I'm finished.

Who is another author whose fiction writing you admire and why?

Dead: E M. Forster because I find his writing so elegant and so wise. Living: J. M. Coetzee for much the same reason. What both these writers have in common is an ability to combine emotion with intellect, plainspoken sentences with sudden bursts of beauty.

How would you summarise one of your short stories in one paragraph?

I've been working on a new story, "The Golden Mushroom," about a gay teenager who thinks he's obsessed with food and then transfers that obsession to a washroom attendant at an expensive restaurant.

How would you describe the appeal of this short story to readers?

Anyone who's experienced the inchoate feelings of desire as a teenager should be able to relate to the protagonist's attempts to figure out who he likes and why.

How would you summarise a scene or sub-section from this short story in one paragraph?

At the end of the story, the main character realizes that he's not going to get anywhere with this washroom attendant. He stuffs himself with food from McDonald's which makes him sick, so he throws up on the side of the road. He has a mint that the attendant gave him, which he was going to save as a love-token, but instead he sucks on it slowly, and imagines that for now, this is how love tastes.

How would you describe the contribution this scene or sub-section makes to the short story?

It brings it to a sense of emotional completion, not by tying up loose ends, but by gesturing toward the future, leaving the reader with an image and a sensory detail that stops rather than ends the action.

Do you aspire to primarily write novels in the future, or are you more interested in writing short stories, and why?

I think I'll always write both, but I'm not sure if I'll do another book of short stories. First, they're very hard to sell. Second, I prefer developing the world of the novel, relaxing into it slowly and having the time and space to explore it in depth.

Do you read many short story anthologies, and why?

I do because I love short fiction.

What lengths of short stories do you usually write, and why?

Usually about 20 pages. Any more than that and I think I'm going on for too long. I think a story ought to be something that can be read in one sitting. However, I'm no good at writing stories under 10 pages. I guess I have too much to say.

Do you submit for many short story competitions, anthologies and magazines, and what are your main motivations for this?

I do. My main motivation is to have my work out there, being read, not simply sitting on the hard drive of my computer.

Author website: www.aaronhamburger.com



Cat Patrick - Author Interview: Teen/Young Adult Novelist

What kinds of fiction did you read as a teenager, and did you have some favourites?

If I'm being honest, as a teen, I read mostly what was required in school. I read a ton as a young child but then got caught up in school/life/friendships/relationships and the books most unfortunately took a back seat. That said, in high school, we were required to choose an author for a semester-long project, reading and analyzing several of his/her works. I chose Ray Bradbury and he continues to be one of my favorites.

Would you say your reading as a teenager has had a distinct influence on how you write fiction now, and why?

Yes. I always preferred the more "out there" premises--as long as they still had a clear message to convey--and that is what I enjoy writing the most now, too.

What did you do before you became a published teen/young adult novelist, and how did you come to write your first teen/young adult novel and get it published?

I worked in public relations for thirteen years before getting the idea for FORGOTTEN. I'd always wanted to be a writer, and throughout my life, I wrote poetry, short stories and several attempts at novels. After the birth of my twins in 2008, I forgot what I was doing in the middle of an activity, then began thinking of amnesia...and amnesia in high school. The idea for a girl who remembers the future instead of the past just popped into my brain. I began writing that day, and finished the first draft of FORGOTTEN less than three months later. I queried my top pick agent and he got back very quickly--I attribute that to having the right story and the right pitch at the right time. He and I worked together to fine-tune the book until it went to auction six months later; after that, it sold to twenty one foreign territories and the movie rights were purchased by Paramount. It's been an amazing experience--I consider myself incredibly lucky because I know the process is not always as smooth as mine was.

How would you describe your style of teen/young adult fiction or your approach to writing teen/young adult fiction?

My style is fairly straightforward: I'm not an overly poetic writer. I like to tell approachable stories of teens with strange lives that are similar to the lives of teens in our world today so that they can relate, without hitting them over the head with "the moral of the story."

Who is another author whose teen/young adult fiction you admire and why?

I admire Maggie Stiefvater, the author of The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy and others. I'm not a poetic writer but she is, and I love diving into her dreamlike worlds. She makes science fiction style ideas seem completely normal, and her novels are timeless.

How would you summarise one of your teen/young adult novels in one paragraph?

FORGOTTEN is the story of London Lane, a teen who remembers the future instead of the past. The book chronicles her school and home life, and relationships, with her strange condition, and challenges London to solve the mystery of her past so that she can move forward with her future.

How would you describe the appeal of this novel to teen/young adult readers?

Though London has a made-up condition, I think she's relatable to teens because she has many of the same feelings (awkwardness, isolation, confusion about how to handle ethical dilemmas, etc.). I've heard from many readers that she feels "real," like someone they'd go to school with.

How would you summarise a chapter from this novel in one paragraph?

The book opens on a typical day for London Lane. She's arrived at school in the morning with no memory of yesterday or the days before, and without her cell phone, which normally helps keep her on track. She remembers what's going to happen tomorrow and beyond, but that doesn't help her when she goes to dress for PE and she's missing a T-shirt. Thankfully, a friend loans her one; most unfortunately, the loaner's not fashionable to say the least, and London won't be happy to be wearing it when she meets the new guy at school, Luke Henry. London doesn't remember Luke, so he won't be in her future. Or will he?

How would you describe the contribution this chapter makes to the novel?

This chapter sets the stage for the entire novel--it starts to explain London's condition to readers and also hooks them with the romance aspect very early on.

To what extent would you say fiction written primarily for young readers is different from fiction written primarily for adult readers?

YA fiction as a category is as diverse as adult fiction; I'd say the biggest difference is that the protagonist is usually a young adult himself/herself.

Author website: www.catpatrick.com



Susan Vaught - Author interview: Teen/Young Adult Novelist

What kinds of fiction did you read as a teenager, and did you have some favourites?

I read mostly science fiction and fantasy, and loved John Christopher's Tripods Trilogy, anything by Marion Zimmer Bradley, Octavia Butler, and Andre Norton, and short-story anthologies that let me sample work by a lot of different writers. I also loved horror, like Stephen King's work, and I really remember Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper by Robert Bloch.

Would you say your reading as a teenager has had a distinct influence on how you write fiction now, and why?

Yes, because I loved reading so much, and I want young adult readers to pick up books I write because they love the characters and the story. I also want them to find stories that speak to the broad range and depth of their experiences.

What did you do before you became a published teen/young adult novelist, and how did you come to write your first teen/young adult novel and get it published?

I was and am a practicing neuropsychologist, and I've always written short stories and novels (really, always, since third grade). I wrote for adults until I was in my thirties, and around that time, my son JB had a back surgery. I wrote a fantasy piece to amuse him while he was debilitated, and that piece later became our co-authored Oathbreaker books. I realized that my natural narrative voice came out in young adult fiction, so I wrote another, then another. I started working with an on-line critique group serious about publication, and when one of the members got an agent, she referred me. That agent, Erin Murphy, has sold eleven books for me and counting (hope I didn't miss any).

How would you describe your style of teen/young adult fiction or your approach to writing teen/young adult fiction?

Most of my stories are contemporary, and they have both dark and humorous elements. I'm more interested in how my characters handle situations and recover from blows rather than the blows themselves, so I usually don't write about the bad situation happening. I pick it up afterward, and keep the focus of the story on how the character moves through the challenges.

Who is another author whose teen/young adult fiction you admire and why?

There are sooo many, it's hard to pick one, or even a few! I love Laurie Halse Anderson's strong narrative voice, and Tamora Pierce's characters and easy to read prose (okay you could argue she's middle-grade, but I'd argue right back that her stories are any-agers, and timeless). I love Philip Pullman because he never coddles younger readers or talks down to them, or assumes they can't handle any subject matter--plus his stories rock. I still love Judy Blume, too, because when I was a younger reader, I always felt like she was writing directly to me. Man, I hope I pull that off sometimes!

How would you summarise one of your teen/young adult novels in one paragraph?

Going Underground:
Welcome to Del's world--or his lack thereof. A graveyard is a strange place to find yourself and get a life, but when every other option gets stolen away from him, Cain Delano Hartwick does the only things that make sense to him. He digs and he digs and he talks to his parrot and he watches his best friend go from Cookie Monster to Romeo and he falls in love with a fairy girl. Oh, and he calls his parents to chase away the resident vampire, not that it helps much. Non Surgeon-General's Warning: there are no actual vampires or fairies in this story. But, there are graves, a one-eyed rooster, a big fat drooling cat, at least one dead guy, and a live guy who can't bring himself to tell you his secrets outright. Not yet. But give Del time. He'll keep trying until he gets it right.

How would you describe the appeal of this novel to teen/young adult readers?

First off, I'd say, music and humor. The story's full of both. It also deals with falling in love, and with messing up so badly it's hard to figure out how to get life back on track. I think those are universal experiences. Plus it has parrots, a not-vampire, other freaky animals, and a guy who wears a giant rubber cookie suit. Hard to beat that, right?

How would you summarise a chapter from this novel in one paragraph?

Going Underground: Chapter One
When you find a guy digging graves for a living, you have to wonder how he got in such a big hole--pun intended. How deep is it? How does he climb out? And what's he supposed to do when he's minding his own business, trying to stay out of trouble, and he meets the most beautiful and interesting girl ever in the last place he expects to find her: a cemetery. He's got secrets, but no doubt she's got secrets, too. He should stay away from her. That would be best for her. It would be best (and safest) for him, too. Thing is, he probably won't stay away from her. Yeah, right. He definitely won't. The question is, will she help him out of that big, deep hole, or will he just drag her underground with him and shovel on the dirt?

How would you describe the contribution this chapter makes to the novel?

I think the chapter shows Del, the main character, living his life now, after all the bad things happened. I hope it shows who Del is, how he's coping, and what he wants in life (and can't have). I also hope it interests the reader in knowing how Del got into the shape he's in, and what might happen between him and the beautiful girl who captures his attention in those opening paragraphs.

To what extent would you say fiction written primarily for young readers is different from fiction written primarily for adult readers?

When I write for young adults, I get to the point, both in the plot and dialogue. I think young adult readers are pickier and less patient than adult readers, so authors have to "write tighter" and keep the action going!

Author website: http://www.susanvaught.com/