The following is a guest blog I wrote for The great Author Erica Orloff…Please check out her work.
Boys Read, Too!
I am really pleased to have as a guest Greg Logsted. He has a day job (nothing like a BUSY author!), so he likely won’t be by until Saturday . . . but say hello . . . ask questions, and visit over the week. He has written a terrific book for middle grade boys (and girls!). This is a topic near and dear to my heart since as the mother of an adolescent boy, I know finding books for them, that really speak to them, is hard. I love the cover. Love what Greg has to say . . . so read on.
1. I’ve seen some reviews of ALIBI JUNIOR HIGH saying it is perfect for “reluctant readers.” You’re a guy . . . were you a reluctant reader way back when? And why do you think there is such a woeful shortage of books for boys once they reach a certain age?
Erica, first of all, thanks for letting me be a part of your site!
Was I a reluctant reader? No, not really, BUT I was a very picky reader. If a book didn’t grab my attention in about ten pages I’d put it down. I liked strong lead characters that I could relate to. Actually something I really tried to do with ALIBI was to write it for my old thirteen-year-old self. I just kept thinking, ‘What thrilled me back then?’
I kept the pedal to the floor and only slowed down around the corners.
2. What was the inspiration for ALIBI JUNIOR HIGH?
One day when I was driving to work, I had the windows rolled down and the music cranked up, and the title ALIBI JUNIOR HIGH just popped into my head. I loved it! I thought, what a great name for a book…now what’s it going to be about?
So, things worked out a little backwards here.
[Erica's aside: That is exactly how my novel Spanish Disco came about!!!]
3. You’re married to a writer. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
GOOD THING! Did you notice the capital letters? Lauren (my wife is the novelist Lauren Baratz-Logsted) is a HUGE help. She pushes and pulls the best out of me. I don’t know what I would do without her.
She writes in her basement office and I write in our third-story bedroom and we IM back and forth during the day.
[Erica's aside: Lauren published with both RDI and MIRA at the same time I was pubbing some of my books. She also publishes across genres . . . also something I do. She also blogs with me at the Teen Fiction Cafe.]
4. You’ve written other YA and MG books. What appeals to you about writing for kids?
I loved that time in my life. When I write about being thirteen or sixteen or whatever, I’m there; I’m back. It’s like my personal time machine.
5. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve gotten or have for aspiring writers?
The best piece of advice is so incredibly simple and yet difficult. It’s…write EVERY DAY. It’s that simple. Write every day…it’s that difficult.
6. As a middle-grade writer myself, I hear from young fans/readers, and I go to schools to speak. I am very conscious of having a responsibility to them. Do you find yourself thinking of your audience, too, when you write?
Yes, but I’m not trying to preach or guide anyone. I’ll leave that to their parents and teachers. What I’m trying to do as a writer is to say, hey let’s have some fun! Let’s cut loose, here’s a cool story, come along for the ride.
I feel the most important thing I can do is to get kids reading. That’s my goal. That being said, I should add that I RESPECT my lead characters and think that they make good role models.
7. What’s next on the horizon?
I just finished a YA called THE STUTTERING TATTOO that my agent’s shopping. It’s your basic guy meets girl, guy takes girl home and finds her family dog chewing on a severed arm. Needless to say, it’s a bit gritty but I hope incredibly fun.
[Erica's aside: Can I tell you I find the title phenomenal?]
All right . . . visit Greg’s very cool site. And ask some questions, say hi . . . and all that jazz!http://www.greglogsted.com/
