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 1) What was the publication process for I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone? Was it a difficult road to getting it published?
Some parts were harder than others. I found an agent very easily because I was going to grad school at Columbia College Chicago and my agent Caren Johnson visited for Story Week. I met with her for a critique of my first chapter and she loved it, wanted to know when I could finish the book. So I worked very hard over the next six months to finish it and submit it before she forgot me. I did one revision and then she signed me. The hard part was finding a publisher. She spent over a year shopping the book. She shopped it to every adult publisher in town and then asked me if she could try some YA editors. Jen Heddle at MTV Books snapped it up and I couldn't be happier because I love her.
2) What's your next book about? When will it be released?
My next book is called BALLADS OF SUBURBIA and it will be released by MTV Books in Summer 2009. It's about a teenage girl, Kara, who has always had a hard time fitting in in her suburban town. Eventually she gets her nerve up to start hanging out at this park in the center of town where all the skaters and punks and misfits hang out. She makes some amazing friends, but like her, they are pretty troubled kids. All of them have different family issues and their group of friends is really the best family they have. But they are teens, they can't raise themselves, so they start to fall prey to some of the traps of growing up too fast, like drinking and drugs. They keep a notebook where they tell about their innermost secrets and stories, and Kara likens those to ballads, hence the title. Yeah, that's the best explanation I have, but you can get a sneak peek of it on my website at www.stephaniekuehnert.com/backstage.html that would probably do it more justice.
3) What is your writing process like? Any fun little rituals that you do to get in the writing mood?
Well, due to having a dayjob, I'm forced to write at night, which isn't ideal. Ideally I like to start in the morning and go for as long as possibly can. My little ritual to get into the mood, bizarre as it is, is that when I come home, I cook dinner (usually with music blaring) and then I eat and watch One Life To Live. Yeah, the soap opera. What can I say, it gets my mind off work and gets me thinking about plot and dialogue and drama. Then usually before I actually write, I listen to a song or two to get me into the mood.
4) What has been the biggest surprise or misconception that you've seen of being a published author now that you are one?
The biggest misconception is about money probably. Most writers aren't wealthy superstars like Stephen King. Most of us can't even make a living off our writing and have to work other jobs, which sucks when all you want to do is write. I think if you broke it down, I probably made about fifty cents an hour for writing my book! So its a good thing that I do it for the love of the story and don't care about getting rich. Though being able to write full time would be my dream come true!
5) What writing advice do you have for aspiring writers?
Read, read, read!!! I know everyone tells you that but it is true. Also you can't write by yourself and become a good writer. You need feedback. I wrote without feedback for about 5 years and I sucked. Seriously. Then I went to school and made all kinds of writing friends and got feedback from teachers and my writing really improved! I'm not saying everyone should go to school for creative writing, but find some writers in your community or online and exchange work. I still do it with my trusted readers!
6) Courtesy of Marissa Doyle, who asked me this a while back and I now can't get out of my head and must ask people now, what is your favorite jelly bean flavor?
Oh but I love them all!!!!! Seriously jelly belly jelly beans are one of my favorite candies ever. I guess if I had to pick, cotton candy. Or pina colada.
7) What are you reading right now (aside from these interview questions)? Who are some of your favorite authors? What are some of your favorite books?
Right now I am reading Frenemies by Alexa Young and King Dork by Frank Portman, two people who I am going to be doing events with in the next week. My fave authors include John Steinbeck, Francesca Lia Block, Irvine Welsh, Joe Meno, Melissa Marr, John McNally, Laura Wiess.... I could really keep going forever. |
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