The names our parents gave us when we were born are Tyler, Katelyn, Courtney, Hannah, and Sarah. We are five friends who decided to come together and share our love of books.

We are currently a site that shares news about authors, writes reviews, writing advice, and every now and then we might toss in an interview to make the experience even more fun.

To view past posts, visit our archive and see what you've missed.

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  1. Interview #2: Susane ColasantiWe had the gargantuan privilege to interview the amazing Susane Colasanti (pictured above, left), and what’s even better is that she is our very first interview for the year of 2011! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Book Queens: How did you go from being a science teacher to a published writer? Now that you’re a full-time author, do you still have a strong interest in science?Susane Colasanti: You know those people who seem to be able to do lots of things effortlessly?  Like they can have a career and kids and organize bake sales and still find time to write books on top of everything else?  I am not one of those people.  I wrote both When It Happens and Take Me There while I was still teaching.  I was hoping that I could keep being both a teacher and an author.  But doing both was just too exhausting for me.  I like to bring 100% to whatever I do.  Anything less is unacceptable.  So in 2007, I made the switch from teacher to full-time author.  Deciding to resign from teaching wasn’t easy.  Ever since the start of my horrifying teen years, I’ve known that my purpose in life is to reach out to teens.  I want to make them feel less alone and maybe even help them improve their lives in some way.  By writing books, I can reach way more teens than I could as a teacher.I’ll always love science.  Physics and astronomy will never stop fascinating me.  I guess that’s why they somehow keep finding ways to sneak into my books!BQ: What is a quote that you live by, or what is your own philosophy of life?SC: “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life you’ve imagined.” - ThoreauBQ: Who was your favorite author when you were growing up?SC: When I was little, I adored Shel Silverstein’s books.  Lafcadio, The Missing Piece, and The Giving Tree (which still makes me cry every time I read it) all had an enormous impact on me.  I even recorded an audio book of Lafcadio before I knew that audio books would ever exist!  When I was older, I fell in love with books by Judy Blume and Louise Fitzhugh.  But it wasn’t until I read S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders that I thought about writing my own teen novel.  I wanted to help teens the way that book helped me when I felt so alone.  Those authors all inspired me and I am eternally thankful.BQ: What was the very first book you read in Children’s Lit and Young Adult?SC: Wow, it’s hard to remember.  I’m obsessed with Leo Lionni.  There were children’s books before his, but his writing and artwork really touched my heart.  Frederick, Swimmy, and Pezzettino are all remarkable.  Eric Carle is another outstanding writer and artist.  If I ever have children, their bookshelves will be filled with every book by Leo Lionni and Eric Carle for sure.Remembering the first teen novel I read is even more difficult.  Back in the day, bookstores didn’t have a teen section.  There were just one or two random shelves of young-adult books in the children’s section.  I love that readers now have so many awesome choices in a relatively massive teen section.  I would have been ecstatic if all of these amazing books were available back then!  I’m guessing that Judy Blume’s books were probably my first middle-grade reads, along with Sandra Scoppettone and the Sweet Valley High series.  But teen novels?  Sadly, there just weren’t that many outstanding ones around.BQ: Where do you find inspiration for your books? Does any of it come from fanmail?SC: Hearing from readers definitely inspires my drive to keep writing more.  Connecting with readers is the best part of my job, especially when I get to see them at events.  I sit in front of a computer screen all day, which sometimes makes me feel isolated.  When readers tell me that they related to my characters or that my books helped them in some way, I know that what I’m doing is working.BQ: Which of your characters do you relate to the most? The least?SC: Sara from When It Happens is me in so many ways.  I think a writer’s first book is usually the most autobiographical one.  When It Happens was influenced by my own experiences during senior year.  You can find lots of things from my real life in that book.  Sara’s teddy bear Chez who wears a Late Night with David Letterman tee?  Real.  Her bootleg bookshelves made out of cinderblocks and burlap?  Real.  And the whole scrapbooking thing?  Also real.  Since I can relate to all of my characters on some level, it’s not easy to identify one to whom I relate the least.  I guess I’d say Gloria from Take Me There.  What was her deal?BQ: How do you prefer to write? By computer or by hand?SC: All of my books are written on my computer.  Specifically, on my sexy iMac.  But I do have notebooks that correspond to each of my books.  Those are where I record character profiles, setting details, playlists, class schedules, research…really anything that corresponds to each book that may not necessarily show up in the book.  I also keep a little notebook by my bed for ideas that come to me in dreams so I can write them down as soon as I wake up.BQ: How do you handle writer’s block?SC: My feeling about writer’s block is this:  If you’re not excited about what you’re writing, then you need to write about something else.  Write about what makes you feel alive.  If you’re excited about what you’re writing, the words will flow.  Which isn’t to say that there aren’t bad days.  We all have them.  Some days it takes six hours for me to finish my writing, while other days I can do the same amount of writing in two hours.  But I’ve never not had something I wanted to write about.BQ: How long did it take before your first book was published? How does one go about finding an agent, publisher, etc.?SC: I started writing the first draft of When It Happens in 1996 when I was in grad school.  Most of my writing time was on weekends and over the summer.  The manuscript was ready to start submitting to publishers in 2000.  Penguin took an interest in the book in 2001 and it was published in 2006.  So it took 10 years for my first book to go from its initial stages to a published novel.For information about finding an agent and identifying which publishing houses would be right for your manuscript, I recommend checking out the writers market section of your local bookstore or library.  There are plenty of good resources out there with detailed information that can guide you in the right direction.BQ: What advice can you give to aspiring writers?SC: I’m feeling three pieces of advice today.1.  Read.  A lot.  There’s no way I’d be an author if I didn’t have such a passionate love for reading.  Reading taught me how to write.  I’ve never even taken a creative writing class.  The more you read, the better your writing will become.2.  Do not listen to negative idiots who try to discourage you.  You have no time for them.  You have a dream and you’re determined to make it reality.  Never give up.3.  Be honest with your writing.  It can be really hard to share things that we’re afraid to say on the page.  I’ve definitely been there.  But it’s that honest, uncensored voice that will make your story relatable.  Always tell the story that’s in your heart.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Susane’s upcoming book, So Much Closer (pictured above, right), will be released on Tuesday, May 3rd. We highly encourage you all to go out and buy it.Another gigantic thank you to Susane for allowing us to interview her!You can connect with Susane in the following ways:Website: http://www.susanecolasanti.comBlog: http://windowlight.livejournal.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/susanecolasanti Fan page: http://tinyurl.com/susanefan Twitter: http://twitter.com/susanecolasanti

    Interview #2: Susane Colasanti

    We had the gargantuan privilege to interview the amazing Susane Colasanti (pictured above, left), and what’s even better is that she is our very first interview for the year of 2011!

    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

    The Book Queens: How did you go from being a science teacher to a published writer? Now that you’re a full-time author, do you still have a strong interest in science?
    Susane Colasanti:     You know those people who seem to be able to do lots of things effortlessly?  Like they can have a career and kids and organize bake sales and still find time to write books on top of everything else?  I am not one of those people.  I wrote both When It Happens and Take Me There while I was still teaching.  I was hoping that I could keep being both a teacher and an author.  But doing both was just too exhausting for me.  I like to bring 100% to whatever I do.  Anything less is unacceptable.  So in 2007, I made the switch from teacher to full-time author.  Deciding to resign from teaching wasn’t easy.  Ever since the start of my horrifying teen years, I’ve known that my purpose in life is to reach out to teens.  I want to make them feel less alone and maybe even help them improve their lives in some way.  By writing books, I can reach way more teens than I could as a teacher.

    I’ll always love science.  Physics and astronomy will never stop fascinating me.  I guess that’s why they somehow keep finding ways to sneak into my books!

    BQ: What is a quote that you live by, or what is your own philosophy of life?
    SC:     “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life you’ve imagined.” - Thoreau

    BQ: Who was your favorite author when you were growing up?
    SC:     When I was little, I adored Shel Silverstein’s books.  Lafcadio, The Missing Piece, and The Giving Tree (which still makes me cry every time I read it) all had an enormous impact on me.  I even recorded an audio book of Lafcadio before I knew that audio books would ever exist!  When I was older, I fell in love with books by Judy Blume and Louise Fitzhugh.  But it wasn’t until I read S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders that I thought about writing my own teen novel.  I wanted to help teens the way that book helped me when I felt so alone.  Those authors all inspired me and I am eternally thankful.

    BQ: What was the very first book you read in Children’s Lit and Young Adult?
    SC:     Wow, it’s hard to remember.  I’m obsessed with Leo Lionni.  There were children’s books before his, but his writing and artwork really touched my heart.  Frederick, Swimmy, and Pezzettino are all remarkable.  Eric Carle is another outstanding writer and artist.  If I ever have children, their bookshelves will be filled with every book by Leo Lionni and Eric Carle for sure.

    Remembering the first teen novel I read is even more difficult.  Back in the day, bookstores didn’t have a teen section.  There were just one or two random shelves of young-adult books in the children’s section.  I love that readers now have so many awesome choices in a relatively massive teen section.  I would have been ecstatic if all of these amazing books were available back then!  I’m guessing that Judy Blume’s books were probably my first middle-grade reads, along with Sandra Scoppettone and the Sweet Valley High series.  But teen novels?  Sadly, there just weren’t that many outstanding ones around.

    BQ: Where do you find inspiration for your books? Does any of it come from fanmail?
    SC:

    Hearing from readers definitely inspires my drive to keep writing more.  Connecting with readers is the best part of my job, especially when I get to see them at events.  I sit in front of a computer screen all day, which sometimes makes me feel isolated.  When readers tell me that they related to my characters or that my books helped them in some way, I know that what I’m doing is working.

    BQ: Which of your characters do you relate to the most? The least?
    SC:     Sara from When It Happens is me in so many ways.  I think a writer’s first book is usually the most autobiographical one.  When It Happens was influenced by my own experiences during senior year.  You can find lots of things from my real life in that book.  Sara’s teddy bear Chez who wears a Late Night with David Letterman tee?  Real.  Her bootleg bookshelves made out of cinderblocks and burlap?  Real.  And the whole scrapbooking thing?  Also real.  Since I can relate to all of my characters on some level, it’s not easy to identify one to whom I relate the least.  I guess I’d say Gloria from Take Me There.  What was her deal?

    BQ: How do you prefer to write? By computer or by hand?
    SC:     All of my books are written on my computer.  Specifically, on my sexy iMac.  But I do have notebooks that correspond to each of my books.  Those are where I record character profiles, setting details, playlists, class schedules, research…really anything that corresponds to each book that may not necessarily show up in the book.  I also keep a little notebook by my bed for ideas that come to me in dreams so I can write them down as soon as I wake up.

    BQ: How do you handle writer’s block?
    SC:     My feeling about writer’s block is this:  If you’re not excited about what you’re writing, then you need to write about something else.  Write about what makes you feel alive.  If you’re excited about what you’re writing, the words will flow.  Which isn’t to say that there aren’t bad days.  We all have them.  Some days it takes six hours for me to finish my writing, while other days I can do the same amount of writing in two hours.  But I’ve never not had something I wanted to write about.

    BQ: How long did it take before your first book was published? How does one go about finding an agent, publisher, etc.?
    SC:     I started writing the first draft of When It Happens in 1996 when I was in grad school.  Most of my writing time was on weekends and over the summer.  The manuscript was ready to start submitting to publishers in 2000.  Penguin took an interest in the book in 2001 and it was published in 2006.  So it took 10 years for my first book to go from its initial stages to a published novel.

    For information about finding an agent and identifying which publishing houses would be right for your manuscript, I recommend checking out the writers market section of your local bookstore or library.  There are plenty of good resources out there with detailed information that can guide you in the right direction.

    BQ: What advice can you give to aspiring writers?
    SC:     I’m feeling three pieces of advice today.

    1.  Read.  A lot.  There’s no way I’d be an author if I didn’t have such a passionate love for reading.  Reading taught me how to write.  I’ve never even taken a creative writing class.  The more you read, the better your writing will become.

    2.  Do not listen to negative idiots who try to discourage you.  You have no time for them.  You have a dream and you’re determined to make it reality.  Never give up.

    3.  Be honest with your writing.  It can be really hard to share things that we’re afraid to say on the page.  I’ve definitely been there.  But it’s that honest, uncensored voice that will make your story relatable.  Always tell the story that’s in your heart.

    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    Susane’s upcoming book, So Much Closer (pictured above, right), will be released on Tuesday, May 3rd. We highly encourage you all to go out and buy it.

    Another gigantic thank you to Susane for allowing us to interview her!

    You can connect with Susane in the following ways:
    Website: http://www.susanecolasanti.com
    Blog: http://windowlight.livejournal.com
    Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/susanecolasanti
    Fan page: http://tinyurl.com/susanefan 
    Twitter: http://twitter.com/susanecolasanti




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