ZE BASICS

When were you born?
I popped into this world May 15, 1969, with a pen and paper already in hand (okay, it was a crayon...J). I was born in Brevard, North Carolina and grew up in Atlanta, Georgia.

What's your favorite color?
Sea foam green!

Do you have any pets?
Three cats: Barnabie, Louie, and Magic.

How about brothers and sisters?
Both--I've got three of each.

Do you have kids of your own?
Why, yes I do--Al, Jamie, and Mirabelle. I sure love 'em.

Where'd ya go to school?
Heck, where didn't I go to school?
In reverse order:
I got an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College;
I went to grad school and got a Masters in English from Colorado State University;
I went to plain old college at the University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill and majored in English and Psychology;
I went to high school at Westminster, which is in Atlanta, GA;
and I went to elementary school at Trinity, also in Atlanta.
Whew!

ZE BOOKS
Kissing Kate (Top Ten Romance for Teen Readers and also a Junior Library Guild selection)
The Fashion Disaster that Changed My Life
Bliss (currently in the works)
Rhymes With Witches
Eleven
Twelve (New York Times Bestseller)
Thirteen (coming out in March!)
ttfn (New York Times Best Seller)
ttyl (New York Times Best Seller)
l8r, g8r (New York Times Best Seller)
How to Be Bad, co-written with Sarah Mlynowski and E. Lockhart (coming out this May! Sooooo excited!)
Fireworks Such a Pretty Face
Let It Snow, co-written with John Green and Maureen Johnson (currently in the works)
Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks (currently in the works)
And hopefully many, many more to come!

WRITING AND RITUALS
What was your reaction when you found out your first novel was to be published? How did you celebrate?
I'd been at the park with my son Al--he was just a baby at that point--and I came home to a message from my editor, Susan Van Metre, saying to give her a call because she had good news. My heart started pounding, but it was after 5:00 Eastern Time, and I was worried that Susan would no longer be in her office. I called, expecting to get her answering machine, but she was still there, and she did in fact offer me a contract for Kissing Kate. Yahootie! I remember exactly what I said to her, which was, "Oh, that's wonderful! If I were the screaming type, I'd scream with joy." Later I cursed myself for saying something so incredibly dorky.

I wish I could say that I'd done something wonderful and creative to celebrate, like buy myself a silver charm shaped like a book or indulge in a new, leather-bound journal. But no, I just kind of sat there quietly and grinned. Ack. I did take my family out for ice cream, though. Yay!

How old were you when you first started to write books that got published?
Hmm. I started writing seriously when I was 22. I wrote five novels that will never be published, because they suck, though I didn't know it at the time. Then I wrote Kissing Kate. It got accepted for publication when I was 30, and it came out when I was 32. (10 years after I started! Whoa, dudes.)

Did you always want to become a writer?
I did want to be a writer from the start. I really did. I love books more than anything (except people) and I always knew I wanted books to be part of my life in a big way. I feel really lucky to get to do what I love.

Is it easy?
Are you serious? +rolls about on floor, laughing+ Um, NO.

Who inspired your love of reading?
My parents.

What is the first story you wrote that you're really proud of?
Hmm. That I'm really proud of? That would have to be my first novel, Kissing Kate, because all my stuff before that was stuff I didn't work on for long enough--I didn't yet know how--and so I secretly thought it sucked. And it probably did. But writing Kissing Kate was a work of love, which is good, since it took for-freaking-ever. I plowed through five drafts on my own before sending it to my editor, and then with her guidance I plowed through five more. It was with that novel that I finally learned to persevere--and I am indeed proud of the result.

Do you have a favorite character from your novels? Can you relate to one character more than another?
Aw, now, I can't pick favorites. My books are like my kids--I love them all. However, if you want to know which book best describes my real life, check out Eleven, Twelve, and the soon-to-be-published Thirteen.

What do you like to write about?
Oh, ya know, everything. But a common theme you¹ll see in all my books is friendship.

What inspires you?
My husband, for sure. He is so continually ridiculous, in the most wonderful of ways. Also my kids. I keep notes on the things they say, and they show up in my books. And of course just the world itself, and all the people in it, and all the things that make me tear up and think that yes, we¹re all connected.

I've heard that to get into a "writing groove" a lot of writers do really ritualistic stuff like light candles, play music, whatever. Do you do this, too?
They do? Erm, not me. If anything, I guess I have a mantra, which is just, "Do the work, you." Writing is fun, but it also takes discipline. I get to be the one--and in fact I have to be the one--who chooses whether I make it happen or not, you know?

Why do you write?
I write to entertain myself and others. I write to explore the world. And, most importantly, I write so that I can say to all my readers it's going to be okay. Nobody's perfect, and everyone who goes through the crazy process of growing-up will at some point say, "Oh--that was awkward." I write to remind readers that it's okay to be goofy/uncertain/dorky or whatever. You'll survive. I guarantee it. ;)

What inspired you to use an IM format for your books?
I was talking one day with my darling editor, Susan Van Metre, and she and I were reminiscing about how different our lives were than the lives of girls today. Meaning, we'd come home and get on the phone and gossip about who wore what, who was crushing on whom, etc. But now, girls come home and do that same gossiping on the internet--while at the same time doing their homework, polishing their nails, and working toward world peace, of course. Anyway, that convo let to the idea of the Internet Girls books. Susan and I thought it would be a fun way to "eavesdrop" on the characters and get a really up-close, intimate glance at their lives.

Will there be a l8tr, g8r sequel?
Oh, golly. Maybe????

What books did you enjoy as a kid?
When I was little, I read constantly: in the car, at the park, at the dinner table, under the covers with a flashlight held between my knees. My favorite books were Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and James Clavell's King Rat, which some might say was a wildly inappropriate pick for a ten-year-old, but which I found utterly engrossing. I'm not too swayed by the "appropriateness" argument, even now. Books are supposed to make you think; they're supposed to open your eyes to new ways of looking at things.

You have an online fan group called "Lauren Myracle Land" on MySpace. How groovy is that?
Pretty darn groovy! But I think there are, like, five members in it. So let's not get too excited. ;)

Some of your books are considered controversial. How do you deal with that?
My editor said the nicest thing to me recently. I'd come to her all sad and bummed out about a nasty email I'd received (I get those more often than you'd think, maybe because my teen books tend to deal with authentic teen issues), and she said, "Lauren, you're doing your life's work. Just keep doing it. That's all that matters." My life's work--yeah. So when people criticize me or my books, I remind myself of that and just keep doing my thing.

What have readers said about your books that makes you happy?
Aww, everything readers tell me makes me happy, except when they say I suck. Or that my books suck, whatever. But some especially happy-making comments? I've been told that my books are 'the best ever,' 'sooooooo hilarious,' and, my personal fave, 'I can't believe they were written by a--cough, cough--grown-up.' Comments like that make me SUPER happy.

Pen and paper or computer and keyboard?
Keyboard all the way. I've had nightmares of losing all my fingers and having to switch to a voice activated whatever--and that would be the pits.

UPCOMING EXTRAVAGANZAS
What are you currently working on?
I just finished a novel called How to Be Bad, which I co-wrote with two absolutely fabulous writer-friends, Sarah Mlynowski (of Bras & Broomsticks fame) and E. Lockhart (of The Boyfriend List fame). It was soooooo much fun! The novel¹s about three girls who take off on an unplanned (and un-parentally-approved) road trip through Florida. There are pirate-themed hotels. There are gators. There are mangos. And of course, there are groovy-cool guys (who also happen to be HOT). But mainly it¹s about the three girls¹ friendship, because friendship is where it¹s at.

For those of you Rhymes With Witches fans, I'm writing a prequel called Bliss. Also, I'm working on a YA novel about a girl in high school trying to figure herself out, and that one's called Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks. And finally, I'm working on a winter-themed book with John Green (Looking for Alaska) and Maureen Johnson (13 Little Blue Envelopes) called Let It Snow.

Any upcoming events we should keep our eyes peeled for?
Hmm. Thirteen will be coming your way in February 2008, as will the paperback of l8r, g8r. And How to Be Bad will make its debut in May 2008. Big spring! Much fun.

WORDS OF WISDOM (???)

Some of your books deal with characters who have to deal with new situations (like college or a new school or figuring out to use tampons). Any advice for teens facing similar dilemmas?
Change is scary, no doubt about it. But you can't control the future, and worrying about it won't do a single bit of good. So live this time and enjoy this time--and the future will take care of itself. (Oh, and tampons DO come with instructions. Don't be afraid!)

Your novels often center around the issues of popularity and social acceptance. What advice would you give to a teen that does not "fit in" at school?
Sheesh, I know all about not fitting in. I went to a private prep school where there was a lot of wealth, a lot of beauty, a lot of privilege. . .and then there was me, who had none of those things. I made some wonderful, wonderful friends, though, and I guess I realized that truly, you don't have to play the game when it comes to popularity. In fact you're probably better off (especially in the long run) if you're NOT popular in the conventional sense of the word. So I'd just say: Ride with it! It'll be hard sometimes, but you'll survive. Just be true to yourself and be kind and try try try not to worry about what other people think. And read lots of good books to keep your sanity!

Anything else?
Er, I'm only just now getting to a GOOD place with all my issues--my hope is maybe that my books might help you girls (and maybe the occasional guy who isn¹t intimidated by my neon coversJ) get there quicker?

Also, beauty is overrated. And now to be contradictory: it's how you hold yourself that conveys beauty, anyway. Tell yourself you are beautiful (because you are). Believe it, and it shall radiate out to the world. BUT IT WON'T IF YOU DON'T LIKE YOURSELF!

You must like yourself. You are stuck with yourself, after all. Be your own best bud.

I want to be a writer! Do you have any advice?
Yes. Go get a fabulous book on writing called See Jane Write by Sarah Mlynowski and Farrin Jacobs. It's geared toward chick lit writers, but the advice applies to any writer.

Before I became a writer I would doubt whether it was possible, you know? But then my dear husband, Jack, gave me the best advice: "The only way to guarantee that you won't become a writer is to quit writing." If you want to be a writer, keep reading and writingŠand good things will come.

Does See Jane Write include specific info on how to find a publisher and all that jazz?
Yes, yes, yes! Go read it!

OTHER RANDOMNESS THAT DIDN'T FIT INTO ANY OTHER CATEGORY
So we know about the writer Lauren, but what about the Lauren apart from writing?
First and foremost, I'm a mom. I've got three kids, and they're still young(ish), so they totally NEED me, you know? I hope they¹ll need me forever, but right now that need is raw and pressing. So, I'm a mom, and I'm a wife, too. I live in Colorado, which is groovy. It's very informal, and I never have to wear hose. Praise be!

How 'bout some of the deeper issues of life. What's your take on religion? Are you a Christian?
Yes, I am. (I even teach Sunday School!) But I'm going to say a little more than just that, because religion and spirituality can be s-t-i-c-k-y. I believe that ours is a universe tha''s meaningful and purposeful, not random. I believe that our lives are meaningful and purposeful, and that it's our big duty to figure out how to honor that. (And for each of us, our path will be different.) I believe that there is a creative force in this universe that is both bigger than us and yet still part of us--and I call that force "God." But God is a term that comes with a lot of cultural baggage...and for me, I try actively to push past that. What I believe, and what I tell my kids, is that God is Father, Mother, Baby. God is you, God is me. God is nature. And I personally think that God has revealed Himself/Herself to us through *all* of the great spiritual leaders: Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed. I also think that just as some humans are, say, mathematical geniuses and have a special insight into math, that some humans are spiritual geniuses and have a special insight into spirituality. Mother Teresa comes to mind, for example. Anyway, short question, long answer. I'm not trying to preach--heavens, no! But spirituality *is* very important to me, and I did want to answer this one in as clear a way as possible.

What were you like as a teen?
For anyone who's read TTYL, I was like Zoe, the shy, boring, smart one. But let's not be too hard on poor Zoe (or poor me). Nothing wrong with shy, boring, and smart, right? We all have our charms and quirks that truly define us. And I had my break-out moments, too. I was never afraid to try new things, which I think is an important life skill.

Besides writing, what other activities do you enjoy?
I love to read--surprise, surprise. Taking walks, hanging out with my kiddos, watching tacky TV shows, listening to music, and watching. Ooh--and I do love a good nap and drinking Starbucks coffee. Though not at the same time.

Can you tell us something about yourself that is relatively unknown?
Erm...I have a guilty secret. J My favorite breakfast is a Dr. Pepper and a Jimmy Dean microwavable sausage-and-biscuit. Mmm-mmm!

How do you feel about manga, and what advice do you have for readers whose parents deem it "the spawn of the devil"?
Oh, poo. Manga is not the spawn of the devil. Some grown-ups just feel that way about it because it's foreign to them, just like the IM world. (And yes, I've been told that my ttyl books are devil's spawn, too. And it makes me feel bad, *and* it makes me roll my eyes!)

Telling stories through different forms rocks. Telling stories rocks, period! And that goes for gobbling up stories as well.

What is your middle name?
Ermengarde. Just kidding. Ellen.

How do your kids feel about you being an author?
They think it's cool. They're still young, though. They might decide it's uncool any day. (But I hope not.)

Do you know of any other IM books that might be similar to yours?
No, though I know of other books that take advantage of the internet world. Denise Vega's CLICK HERE is wonderful, for example.

As a mother when do you think your children should be able to date?
Ha. Um, as the mother of MY children--and I speak for no other--I think they should date...in the far-off future! (Note: my oldest, Al, is but nine as I type this...)

tThat's it! All done! Fare thee well, my feathered friends!!!!!!

xoxo,

me

P.S. Thanks for asking such good questions! Thanks for caring! Thanks for reading my books!!!!!