Author Interview with Lauren Oliver and Giveaway!

We do have a very special interview and giveaway today. She's famous for writing Delirium and Before I Fall and she has a new release coming to you in October 2011 called Liesl and Po.......Yes that's right....it's Lauren Oliver!

Welcome Lauren! Before we start we'd like to say thank you for taking the time to chat with us today. We'll go straight to the questions!  

1) When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I’m not sure I ever “realized” I wanted to be a writer. Writing has just always been a piece of my life, a mechanism of self-expression and also a way of untangling the complexities of the world around me. I’ve been writing pretty continuously since I was a child; I really don’t remember a time when I didn’t write.
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2) How long does it usually take you to write a book?

Usually, my first drafts take about ten months. Then it usually takes an additional six months for me to revise according to my editor’s notes.

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3) What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

I have a specific word count I try and hit every day. I am very rigorous about working every day, and have been known to work in the back of cars, on airplanes, in bathrooms, and on the subway. I kind of infamously wrote much of Before I Fall on my blackberry.

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4) Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

From everywhere! It’s so important to pull inspiration from the world around you. I have gotten ideas for books from articles in magazines and newspaper pieces, from picture books and artwork, from stories tell me and from my own personal experiences.

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5) What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

Hmmm. I feel like I’m constantly surprised by the process of writing and of creativity in general, but I guess one thing that has surprised me is that it doesn’t seem to get easier. I hope that’s because I’m constantly stretching and challenging myself, and not just because I’m not improving!

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6) Out of all the books you've written, which is your favourite?

That’s so hard! It’s like picking a favorite child. I really love them all in very different ways, although my first middle-grade, Liesl and Po, which will be released in October 2011, is probably the most personal of all my books.

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7) Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

I do! My readers are very important to me, and I love corresponding with them. My readers share a vastly different array of stories and types of notes with me. But on the whole, my readers are incredibly generous and inspiring and supportive, and I’m so grateful for that.

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Three Random:

1) As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

A ballet dancer.

2) What's your favourite book? 

That’s too hard! But if I absolutely had to chose, maybe Matilda, by Roald Dahl.

3) What's your favourite food? 

Pasta! And ketchup. (Sometimes mixed together.)

Again, thank you for taking the time for us Lauren. There's so many amazing answers! and we're sure our followers will be agreeing with us.

Giveaway Time! 

Lauren kindly donated a few books for us to giveaway! Isn't that nice of her. Yay! Are you excited? Not only do we have a few books to giveaway but they are also signed books! Wow! 

We have up for grabs......

 

One hardback signed Delirium book & Two paperback signed Before I Fall books! 

Now because these books are quiet heavy and the P&P costs will be quiet expensive the signed books will ONLY be open to members of the United Kingdom and Europe! 

And because we love our other international followers, we have decided to provide ONE copy of Before I Fall which will be purchased from The Book Depository for anybody who lives outside of UK/EU. A few things to remember though....This copy will NOT be signed by the author and please check that The Book Depository deliver to your country before entering. 

There will be FOUR winners! Yes that's right! 2 UK winners, 1 EU winner & 1 US winner! So want to enter? 

If you live in the UK or EU please fill out this Entry Form

If you live outside of the UK or EU e.g USA, CAN etc.. please fill out this Entry Form

You may only enter ONCE! 

Here's are Giveaway Policy and yes, there are two forms, please make sure you fill in the correct one otherwise entries will be disqualified. 

Contest will run until June 30th 2011. Winner's will be announced on July 1st. 

Good Luck!