Author Interview with Lauren Baratz-Logsted author of the upcoming Crazy Beautiful

Hey all, please welcome the author of the upcoming book Crazy Beautiful, Lauren Baratz-Logsted! :D

Where did you come up with the idea for Crazy Beautiful? What inspired you? Was some of the story based on your real life experiences?

I was in New York City two years ago, doing a round of editor visits, and I found time to take in "Beauty & the Beast" on Broadway. I started thinking about why that's the one Disneyfied fairy tale that has translated so well to stage and screen, and how it's really the only one where the male lead is more than just a Ken doll, designed to make the girl look good. In fact, the Beast is the more compelling character of the story because he's so complex. Before I knew it, I was dreaming up my own contemporary version, featuring a boy with hooks for hands and a gorgeous girl who meet on their first day at a new school. I have known a few people in my life with hooks for hands, but other than the pool-shooting in the book - I love to shoot pool - none of it is based on real life.

Why did you choose to write about a guy with hooks for hands (that's so cool!)?

I wanted to explore what it'd be like to be a guy at an age when guys are really thinking about having physical contact with romantic partners and how even the simplest things - like feeling another person's hand in yours - would be frustratingly out of reach. I also wanted Lucius' difference from others to be visually apparent, making the other kids in his new school outside of Aurora regard him as something of a beast, even though we readers know it's wrong to view him so. Oh, and I'm glad you think it's cool. I think Lucius is very cool - one of the coolest characters I've created - although in his past he's definitely done some things that are uncool.

---Whoa! I did not expect you to say that at all! I love the idea and can't wait to read the book and to learn what uncool things Lucious has done, I'm VERY curious!

When did you first know you wanted to be a writer? Are you happy with your career? If you could be anything in the world (career-wise) what would you be and why?

I was 12 when an English teacher first gave me the idea that I could write but it wasn't until 20 years later that I walked out on my day job to take a chance on my dream career. I've never been sorry. I love writing and I particularly love that in my career I've had books published for nearly every age group imaginable, from books for young readers aged 6-10 to books for adults. In terms of that "anything in the world (career-wise)" question, I'm assuming you mean other than a writer? Well, I love doing a lot of things that surround writing - agenting, editing, reviewing - and have even dabbled in most of them. But if I had to go totally outside this field, I'd say politics. Lauren Baratz-Logsted, Mayor of Danbury - how does that sound?

Haha yeah I assumed other than a writer :D Lauren Baratz-Logstead, Mayor of Danbury sounds awesome! hahaha


What's your biggest fear?

Not living long enough to take care of my nine-year-old daughter until she grows up. (Don't worry, I'm not dying, or at least not anymore than anyone else is, but that is my biggest fear.)

Awww cute


Can you tell us a little secret? I wouldn't suggest confessing to a murder here you never know who's watching/reading :D

I love being female but there are times I wish I could be a male for a day. Oh, I don't mean I want to be a cross-dresser - not that there's anything wrong with that! - but I do think males experience the world differently than we do, and I am curious. I guess that's why it's such a blast channeling characters like Lucius - for the period of time I'm writing the character, I get to live an existance wholly different from my own.

Oooh nice one. I had never thought about it that way before.


What constantly makes you smile?

Easy: my daughter, Jackie.



Know a good joke? :)

Not right now, I don't! And may I say, it is totally unfair to spring something like that on someone! Oh, wait a second, here's one that's big with third-graders: Why did Tigger flush the toilet? (Wait for it now!) Because he saw Pooh.

Hahaha I'm not in third grade anymore but that made me smile. : )


Do you read much? What's the last thing you read? What's your favorite book?

I read almost constantly when I'm not writing or doing stuff with friends and family. We're talking a few hundred books a year here. The last thing I read was Stephenie Meyer's Eclipse. In writing circles, there's constant debate - "Is she any good?" "Are these books bad for girls?" - so I wanted to form my own opinion straight through. As for my favorite book, among live authors it's Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Love in the Time of Cholera; among dead ones it's F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.

Awww I loved The Great Gatsby!


Are you also a TV addict? What are some of your favorite TV shows?

I do love TV! I know lots of "lit types" find it fashionable to disdain it, but not me. Here are some of my loves: General Hospital, all the political shows on MSNBC, One Tree Hill, Smallville, 30 Rock, American Idol, Mad Men, Dexter, Gilmore Girls, House, Friday Night Lights, Nip/Tuck, Weeds, Entourage, Rescue Me. Really, I could go on and on. Oops, looks like I just did.
Thank you so much for having me.

--Woo hoo! Another T.V addict! I also watch Dexter, Smallville (Superman's my favorite superhero and it doesn't hurt that Tom Welling plays the part), House, and Weeds.

Thank you for letting me interview you it was fun! :D

Crazy Beautiful will be released next month, September 7, 2009 (!!!).

You can find Lauren here:
http://laurenbaratzlogsted.com/
MySpace
Amazon
Teen Fiction Cafe

She's also the author of:
Angel's Choice
Secrets of My Suburban Life
Me, in Between
Vertigo
and many more books. :D

Look for my review of Crazy Beautiful next week. :) I wouldn't want you to forget what it's about so I shall post it a while before its release date.

Comments? Thoughts? Are you excited to read Crazy Beautiful? :)