Kenneth Oppel is the 3rd of our 4 "Guys". See him with Lipsyte, Hartinger, and Trueman on Thursday from 10-11:50. His book, Airborne (Harper Collins) is on the 2006-2007 Lone Star Reading List.

Have you attended TLA before? If so, what advice do you have for new authors?

This is my first time, and I'm really looking forward to it.

The theme for TLA 2008 is "Books, Bytes and Beyond". How would you describe yourself in 4 words?

Contrarian ecoholic control freak. But that makes me sound pretty unappetizing, doesn't it. How about: Buoyant amusing outgoing optimist.

What is your preferred method of writing and why -- laptop, longhand, typewriter?

Longhand for notes (for the speed and mobility of jotting things down), then onto the computer for the actual writing (because it makes rewriting so much easier -- and you always have a back-up copy of your work!) .

What are you reading right now?

Just finished Before Green Gables, the prequel to Anne of Green Gables, and am now onto The Great Gatsby. I think I read it before in high school, but I can't remember.

Movie you've loved in the past year.

I can't say I was totally in love with anything, but I did enjoy "Once," and "Across the Universe".

The perfect vacation is...

I've already had it. Sorrento, Italy with my family, having after-dinner drinks and playing cards on a terrace overlooking the Bay of Naples, while bats flitted overhead in the dusk.

Which do you prefer? Zombies or Vampires?

Vampires; they've just got more flare, and have better personal hygeine.

Do you have a blog or website that you would like to share with us?

Please take a look at www.kennethoppel.com or www.airborn.ca.