Funday Friday! Featuring.... Lynn Weingarten!

Hey everybody! Today's author is Lynn Weingarten. She's the author of the book Wherever Nina Lies, which I recently reviewed. I LOVED the book so I thought it would be great to have her over here! Here's the interview:

1. Where did you get the idea for Wherever Nina Lies?

"Scholastic said they were looking to do a YA novel with drawings in it and so I tried to come up with a plot with which drawings would fit. I know that doesn’t sound very romantic, but that’s how it happened!"

2. Have you always been good at writing/ wanted to be a writer?

"I’ve always really liked to write but when I was a little kid it never occurred to me that writing could be a job. I thought when I grew up I’d either dig up dinosaur bones for a living or be a doctor for sick ants."

3. If you could work with any other author, who would it be?

"Hmmm. I actually have no idea. There are way too many!"

4. Are there any parts of your books that are based on events in your own life?

"Not based on necessarily, but definitely inspired by. When I was in high school a couple friends ran away from home. I have an older sister. I’ve been on road trips. I worked at a coffee shop during high school and we really did get to eat the broken cookies. Etc."

5. How long did it take to find an agent/publish your book after finishing the manuscript?

"The process happened a little out of order. I started talking to Scholastic about my writing a book for them, then I went to get an agent while the process was already in motion, then Scholastic bought the project (off an outline and some sample chapters) and then I wrote the book. Writing the first draft took about eight months."


6. What advice would you give to people who "run out of creativity" when writing?

"Well first of all – don’t panic! Sometimes it helps to try and just grit your teeth and get through it. Other times the run-out feeling means it’s time to take a productive sort of break -- read a book by an author you love, or go see a really good movie, read a newspaper or a magazine, go take a walk, or sit in a coffee shop and eavesdrop, go to a museum, or call a friend and ask them to brainstorm with you. Also, if you’re writing on a computer, try writing by hand, and vice versa. Or do something else that totally unrelated to writing – draw a picture, play an instrument. You do not have to be good at either of these things. Take a walk or a shower, or a nap. Have some candy.
Also, sometimes just concentrating on the fact that you’re Looking For An Idea gets your subconscious on the case and then without you necessarily even being aware of it your brain is still working. You might be doing something completely unrelated and suddenly out of nowhere an idea will come to you, and it will seem like magic."


7. What's your favorite part of a book?

"I like to write endings.
I like to read middles."

(Now for a couple fun questions)
8. Favorite song?

"It changes all the time, but 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton is always up there. It’s just a little too high for me to sing at karaoke, but I always try anyway!"

9. If you were going to be stuck on a deserted island, which book, movie, food, and person(s) would you take?

"Person(s) : all my friends and family members

Food: oatmeal (I know that sounds weird, but I eat it every day and have for years and just never get sick of it. It is equally delicious made sweet or savory)

Movie: Defending Your Life

Book: How To Get Off A Desert Island (this is a book that comes with a real working self-inflating helicopter right inside!)"

10. Five of your favorite things?

"Friends’ pets
The mini Toblerone bars that they sell at my corner deli
My grey boots
Those cardigan sweaters that hang down really long in the front
Talking on the phone"


Thank you very much Lynn! I loved all of your answers. I hope you guys enjoyed them as well. I definitely thought that the whole picture part of Wherever Nina Lies was way cool :)
If you guys want to check out more about Lynn or even tell her how awesome you thought her first book was, you can find her at the links below!

Twitter.com/lynnweingarten
Facebook.com/lynnw

PS: I have so many books lined up to read so you should be seeing more reviews very soon! I have to write a paper and study for two tests this weekend though, so bare with me! Thanks for stopping by and happy reading :)