Archive: December 2006
Laurie Faria Stolarz agreed to answer questions about her books, her writing and offers advice for aspiring novelists. She is the author of Blue is for Nightmares, White is for Magic, Silver is for Secrets, Red is for Rememberance and an upcoming YA novel called Bleed. Here is the interview . . .
What inspired you to write this series?
I first started Blue is for Nightmares in an adolescent fiction writing workshop at Emerson College. I knew I wanted to write a mystery/thriller. I loved suspense novels as a young adult and I really wanted to write something that would have appealed to me at that age, adding in elements of humor, romance, and drama. I wanted my main character to be relatable for teens; I wanted her to be flawed, to have secrets, and to have lots of opportunity for growth.
When I started the novel, I had no idea I would delve into the world of magic and witchcraft. That is until I did a free-writing exercise in my workshop class. I had no idea what I wanted Stacey, my main character to do, so I had her meditating in front of a blue candle, looking for answers. Because I had made Stacey originally from Salem, MA, like me, people in my writers group made the witchcraft connection with the candle. They encouraged me to go in that direction. That one scene ended up being the inspiration for the novel and now the series.
Even though I grew up in Salem, I didn’t know too much about the formal practice of the Craft, though I had heard growing up that my grandmother had experience with the sixth sense. I started doing research and asking lots of questions. I learned a lot this way. I learned of passed down home remedies, interesting family superstitions, tea readings, card readings, and specific experiences with the sixth sense, some of which find themselves in the novel.
I also researched the more formal practices of Witchcraft and Wicca, as well as other folk magical practice/home remedies that pass down within families. Having done this research and seeing the way that Witchcraft is so often negatively portrayed in the media, I wanted to show the true peaceful nature of this earth-based religion, without the hocus-pocus. I wanted to weave an education into the story, using Stacey Brown as a reflective, self-empowering young woman.
After writing Blue is for Nightmares, I knew I wanted to create a trilogy, which I did, however, I also knew that the ending of Silver is for Secrets begged for a sequel. That is how Red is for Remembrance came to be.
The titles of the books are so unique (Blue is for Nightmares, White is for Magic etc.). How do you go about choosing them? Do you know the title before the book is written or does it come afterwards?
Thanks. Blue is for Nightmares started out as just a line in the book. When I was reading the chapter that had that line in front of my peers, the line just sort of stood out. I ended up using it as a working title. And then, as I was planning out the series, the color theme just seemed perfect.
Stacy deals with tough issues at such a young age, including death and stalkers, why have you chosen to tackle such serious subject matters?
Because I loved suspense/thriller stories as a young adult, I gravitated toward this genre. I was a reluctant reader growing up and wanted to write books that I would have enjoyed – ones that would make me keep turning the pages. For me, page-turners have to be "juicy." And, when I first started writing this series, "juicy" meant having a stalker, being in love with your best friend’s boyfriend, having deep dark secrets, and blaming yourself for someone else’s death. As I progressed through the series, however, because I was dealing with death in the books, it was important to me to address the topic in a way that fosters healing. Stacey is able to forgive herself, to move on from the past, and learn that though people pass on, we can choose to keep their spirits alive through our words, our actions and our thoughts.
You have four books in this series right now, when do you anticipate the end of Stacy's journey?
That’s a good question. I had planned on the fourth book being my last, but I get between 50-100 e-mails per week from readers telling me I MUST continue the series. So, I’m open to it. We’ll see.
What is your writing schedule like? Do you ever encounter the dreaded "writers block"? If so, how do you over come this obstacle?
I write whenever my toddler is napping so I’m pretty flexible schedule-wise. Luckily, I don’t get writers block. When I do get stumped, I get away from the computer, grab a notebook, and just start jotting down ideas, mapping out what I want to happen, giving myself some sort of path. I find getting away from the pressure of the dreaded blinking cursor definitely helps.
Which books and authors inspire you personally?
Robert Cormier – I love his work. Also, Francesca Lia Block. Though we don’t have the same style, I love what she’s able to do with language – how poetic she is. I also love Andre Dubus, Raymond Carver, Joyce Carol Oates, Amy Bloom, and Chris Crutcher. The Awakening by Kate Chopin is my favorite book. I also love She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, The Killer’s Cousin by Nancy Werlin, Teach Me by R.A. Nelson, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, The Torn Skirt by Rebecca Godfrey, Stained by Jennifer Jacobson, Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klaus, and Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. Give me a second, and I’ll be sure to think of another. I also must add that I’m always inspired by the work of my writers group – Lara Zeises (author of Bringing Up the Bones, Contents Under Pressure, and Anyone But You); Tea Benduhn (author of Gravel Queen); and Kim Ablon Whitney (author of See You Down the Road and The Perfect Distance).
Do you have any sage advice for aspiring young writers?
I would recommend reading what it is you love. Ask yourself why you love it, why you feel it works. What technique does the writer use that works for you? What point-of-view? What do you like about the dialogue? The characters? Do the same for books that don’t appeal to you. Become a better reader. By answering some of these questions, you’ll become one. You’ll be able to identify what works for you as a reader. Then, apply those elements to your writing. Also, join a writers group. I rely heavily on mine. They’re there for inspiration as well as critiques. We support each other through every step of the process – from that first idea to the finished book. And lastly, of course, it goes without saying that before you send anything out, know the market. Know which editors are looking for your type of book, what their policy is on reading unsolicited manuscripts, if you’ll need an agent, and which agents are accepting new clients in your genre. Also, be sure to ask your agent for a client list, check that they’re a member of AAR (http://www.aar-online.org/mc/page.do), and never pay reading fees.
What other works are you working on releasing in the near future?
I’m currently finishing up the last edits on Bleed, my newest young adult book that comes out in September with Hyperion. Bleed explores chance and coincidence and the way our decisions influence each other's lives - sometimes unintentionally. It starts out with one girl's decision whether or not to betray her best friend by pursuing her best friend's boyfriend while she is away. We see how that decision has a domino effect, affecting other people in the book. It’s really edgy and I’m very excited about it. I’m also just starting a companion book for Bleed, though I don’t have a title yet. Each chapter of Bleed is told from a different character’s point-of-view. The companion book explores one of Bleed’s most interesting and controversial characters in more depth.
Visit Laurie's Website: www.LaurieStolarz.com
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