Libba Bray will be speaking on Tuesday from 2-3:50 on the Strong Voices, Other Worlds: YA Fantasy Authors panel. Her book, A Great and Terrible Beauty, is on the 2005-2006 Tayshas List. The final book in that trilogy, The Sweet Far Thing (Random House), was released in December.
Have you attended TLA before? If so, what advice do you have for new authors?
For non-Texans, “y’all” is plural, and if we tell you the dish “has just a little kick,” it will probably make your head explode.
The theme for TLA 2008 is "Books, Bytes and Beyond". How would you describe yourself in 4 words?
Surprisingly, still at large.
What is your preferred method of writing and why -- laptop, longhand, typewriter?
Laptop. And lots of complaining.
What are you reading right now?
Junot Diaz’s THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO. Rachel Cohn’s YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND ME. Kelly Link’s forthcoming short story collection, PRETTY MONSTERS. Amazing, all.
Movie you've loved in the past year?
Oh, wow. I’ve seen so few movies—once you pay for a babysitter, movie tickets, and refreshments in New York City, you could have made a down payment on your child’s future college tuition, so I pretty much have a close personal relationship with my Netflix account. I really liked “Juno.” Also “Stardust” and “Hot Fuzz.” Those all happened last year, didn’t they? Oh man, I really DO need to get out more...
The perfect vacation is...
Vacation? Writers get to take vacations? Since when? The perfect vacation is anywhere I can hang out with family and good friends.* Corny but true. *(But not if it involves camping. I don't do bugs and outdoor toilets. Just sayin'.)
Which do you prefer? Zombies or Vampires?
Vampires are easier to dance with (no sudden detaching of body parts) and often know a lot about history, but they’re smug, as immortals can be. Zombies are kind of like pets. Pets who sometimes like to eat people’s brains. Once you get past the shuffling and the cannibalism, they’re really quite charming. So I have to go with zombies for the win.
Do you have a blog or website that you would like to share with us?
You betcha. It’s www.libbabray.com
