AUTHOR INTERVIEW- Courtney Summers.

I am nothing short of thrilled to have to present to you all my very first Author Interview, especially since it happens to be with a Young Adult Author I greatly admire. I have often talked about Courtney’s books and what I believe, is the important role they have to play in school classrooms and libraries. When I reviewed Some Girls Are, I couldn’t stress strongly enough how wonderful a classroom text it would make for Year 10 and up. I have tried to ensure that the questions I asked Courtney play a role for Teachers, Librarians and Parents alike in helping to determine whether or not you choose this wonderful text for your next super engaging and thought provoking class read. Without further ado I give you…An Author Interview With Courtney Summers.

 Hi Courtney! Thank you so much for taking time out of your hectic schedule to talk to us!

 Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to be interviewed!

Your books Cracked Up To Be and Some Girls Are, are both powerful YA novels that deal with the darker side of adolescence. Where does your inspiration for your writing come from?

 You know, I think my inspiration is that darker side of adolescence!  Because that darker side of adolescence can be very unsettling and the ideas that unsettle me are the ones that inspire the most questions in me… and those questions often inspire my books.

It’s not simply that you write amazing protagonists in your novels, the support characters are also beautifully ‘fleshed out’. All of them could be a story unto themselves! How much planning goes into the ‘cast’ of your books?

 Thank you!  I think it’s a combination of planning and going by the seat of my pants, to be totally honest.  I know my main character very well.  For the secondary characters, I generally know what motivates them, but sometimes it takes several rounds of revision before they really come alive.  Other times they just lead the way!  I like those other times the best.

As the author of 2 very insightful and emotive books that may have the potential to be ‘banned’ in school libraries, because of the issues addressed and the dialogue of the characters, would you like to share your thoughts on book banning and censorship?

 When I was a teen, I would seek out fiction that reflected my own fears and dreams, hopes, secrets… and much of the time, these were very personal things I didn’t feel ready to verbalize to my family or friends.  Those reading experiences empowered me and made me feel less alone and often gave me the needed to talk to someone.  I can’t imagine having that taken away from me and I can’t imagine coming from a place where I felt I had the right to take that away from someone else.  More than a few of those books that made a positive impact on my life appear on the list of most commonly challenged books.  Book-banning–as with all forms of censorship–is awful.  But the people who fight against it are awesome.

An adult reading your novels is offered a confronting and disturbing glimpse into the world of teenagers. Was this an intention of yours?

 When I write any novel, I don’t hold back, especially not for anyone else’s peace of mind.  When I write, my intention is to always be honest.

To those same adults who would argue that the scenarios you address ‘are only rare occurrences’ what would you counter argue?

 I’d say they’re being wilfully ignorant.  Some Girls Are is about girl-bullying.  Girl-bullying is hardly a rare occurrence.  It might be more under-the-radar, but it happens frequently.  I have yet to meet a woman who doesn’t have a story about being the victim of some form of abuse at the hands of another girl or girls.  To deny it is much of the reason these types of situations end up spiralling so far out of control. 

 While I was writing Some Girls Are, my friends would send me links to incidents that made the news, like this one: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,349709,00.html.  While I was editing Some Girls Are, Kelly Ellard’s appeal for the murder of Reena Virk was happening (http:///en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reena_Virk).  I remember after I’d finished Some Girls Are, I was channel-surfing and happened upon a segment on the local news about a girl who was so bullied, she had to be pulled from school.  And I remember the outrage following Megan Meier’s tragic suicide.  These things happen with a frightening regularity.  They get out of hand very easily.  We don’t seem to realize that until it’s too late.

Rukhsana Khan was quoted in the September/October Issue of The Horn Book Magazine as saying “As professionals in the children’s literature field we must remember we wield tremendous influence over the direction of our respective societies…” How does this make you feel when you consider that you, as a popular Young Adult author are one of those professionals?

 Well…  just a little bit nervous. 

Who are your favorite Authors? How much influence would you say they have had in terms of your writing?

 My favourite author is Robert Cormier.  His work is so unflinching and fearless and honest.  Because of him, I strive to be as unflinching and fearless and honest in my own work.  And there are so many new authors out there right now that just blow me away with their storytelling abilities, and who I aspire to be as good as when I sit down to write–authors like Anna Jarzab, C.K. Kelly Martin, Nova Ren Suma and Daisy Whitney.

All of your characters use dark humor and sarcasm regularly. Is it intended as a defense mechanism?

 Definitely.   I have to give them that much, considering all that I put them through. 

What can we expect next from the amazing mind of Courtney Summers?!

 I’m currently hard at work on my next book.  After a rocky beginning, it’s going pretty well.  I don’t like to say too much in terms of plot when it’s this early in the game, but I will tell you it’s about a girl who is very close to the edge and at this point in time, her fate remains undetermined.  I feel like this is one of the grimmest things I’ve ever written…  is it wrong that makes me very happy? 

 Thank you so much for this interview!

I would like to take a moment to thank Courtney, once again for her time, efforts, enthusiasm and energy. Her thoughtful answers and the incredible books she writes! If you would like to follow Courtney’s Blog, you can find a link to her in the sidebar.