| Interview with Sarah Beth Durst |
First off, thanks so much for joining us for an up-close and personal interview for TeensReadToo.com! My
name is Jen, and I’ll be your server toda…oh, wait, wrong job! Anyway, thanks so much for taking time out
of your writing schedule—which I’m sure is busy!—and answering a few questions for your readers and
fans.
Let’s get some of the typical interview questions out of the way first. When did you first know that you
wanted to be a writer?
I have wanted to be a writer since I was ten years old. Before that, I wanted to be a ballerina or Wonder
Woman. I think it hadn’t occurred to me that real, live people could be writers (though oddly, I didn’t seem
to have a problem with “superhero” as a career path…)
Anyway, I actually remember the moment when I realized that I wanted to be a writer. It was during a
conversation with my dad. I asked my dad what I should be when I grew up. I was really worried about this.
After all, I was double-digits and I had no career goals. (Yes, I was an anxious kid.) My dad took me
seriously (for which I am forever grateful) and said, “Well, you’re creative. You could be an architect, a
writer, an interior designer, an investment banker…” I tuned out after “writer.”
Seriously, that’s the way it happened. Once the idea was planted in my head, it took root. Wanting to be a
writer became part of who I am and how I define myself. Now, I can’t imagine wanting to do anything else
with my life.
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
Last spring, I signed with my current agent (the wonderful Andrea Somberg). Six weeks later, I had
multiple offers for INTO THE WILD as well as an unspecified second novel.
But that’s only the latest bend in the road. If you count since I was ten years old (when I decided to
become a writer), it was a very, very, very long road leading to those six weeks. Even if you count since
the year after college (when I officially started submitting manuscripts for publication), it was still a very,
very long road.
During that time, I wrote a lot (nearly every day), sent out queries to editors and agents, wrote more, sent
out more queries to editors and agents… I also tried to learn all I could about writing and the business of
writing by talking to professionals and reading a lot of advice books. I swear I read every single how-to-be-
a-writer book in my hometown library. I majored in English. I attended conventions, went to book signings,
read writers’ blogs… and, of course, dreamed about the day I’d see my name on a book cover.
I think the secret to publication is this: stubborn optimism. Believe that the road will lead somewhere. Keep
walking down it. If it’s truly your dream, then it’s worth the journey.
Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release. If you could only tell your readers one thing
about the story that had to convince us to buy the book, what would it be?
INTO THE WILD is the story of Julie, a perfectly normal 12-year-old girl, who just happens to be the
daughter of Rapunzel. (Yep, that Rapunzel -- long hair, tower, prince…) Long ago, Rapunzel and her
fellow fairy-tale characters escaped the fairy tale to live in secret in our world. But here’s the one thing
that I hope will convince you to buy the book: Julie’s world, our world, is about to change -- the fairy tale
wants its characters back.
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
My husband inspires me by always believing in me. As far as specific inspiration for INTO THE WILD, I’d
have to thank my mother. She instilled in me a love of books and especially a love of fairy tales. The
original idea for INTO THE WILD came from looking around my hometown and thinking, “If fairy tale
characters lived here, what would they be like? I bet Rapunzel would own a hair salon…”
Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?
Bread. I loooove fresh-baked bread. And Raisinets.
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
Brush my teeth. (I hate morning breath.) Put on Chapstick. (I’m a Chapstick addict.) And use the toilet.
(Anyone who doesn’t mention that is lying!)
If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise
me the most?
I’ve never looked in my attic. Seriously, I think there may be a family of raccoons up there, and I really just
don’t want to know.
Everyone asks the question about “if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?” so I want to know: If
you could be a color, which color would it be, and why?
Sunrise pink. I’m rarely awake for sunrise, but I like the optimism inherent in it. (Fresh day. No mistakes
yet.)
Who is your favorite cartoon character? Which cartoon character is most like you?
Ray-Ray Lee from Cartoon Network’s short-lived “The Life and Times of Juniper Lee.” (It’s basically “Buffy
the Vampire Slayer” but in cartoon form without the whining.) In it, June has this little brother Ray-Ray Lee
who thinks it’s AWESOME that his sister is a secret super-hero who kicks monster butt.
I’m basically four years old inside, and I think the world is AWESOME. Seriously: sunsets, dolphins, music,
chocolate, manatees, air conditioning…
If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world (“Beam me up, Scotty!”), during any time in history,
where and when would it be—and why?
I’m actually pretty happy where and when I am. As much as I love reading about the Middle Ages, I don’t
think I would like the smell. Or, y’know, the Plague.
So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while
you’re writing?
I almost always listen to music while I write. It helps quiet my brain. Can’t muddy up the waters with too
much thinking. Seriously, if I’m too critical too early in the process, then I freeze up. Music helps. Plus it
keeps me from focusing too much on the drip from the kitchen faucet.
Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again?
I know this is like admitting that you eat Twinkies for breakfast, but I love “American Idol.” At its heart, it’s a
show about people reaching for their dreams. How can I not love that?
As far as movies, I could watch “Star Wars” on endless loop and never get sick of it. I also love “The
Princess Bride” and all versions of “Pride and Prejudice.”
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
Be kind to yourself and everyone around you.
And don’t eat poisoned apples. Or Gingerbread Houses with witches inside. And watch out for wolves in
granny clothes.
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
My next novel will be coming out in summer 2008, also from Razorbill/Penguin. Very excited about this! I’d
tell you more, but it’s still a secret project, so I’d have to kill you. And really, who’s got time for that?
Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!
name is Jen, and I’ll be your server toda…oh, wait, wrong job! Anyway, thanks so much for taking time out
of your writing schedule—which I’m sure is busy!—and answering a few questions for your readers and
fans.
Let’s get some of the typical interview questions out of the way first. When did you first know that you
wanted to be a writer?
I have wanted to be a writer since I was ten years old. Before that, I wanted to be a ballerina or Wonder
Woman. I think it hadn’t occurred to me that real, live people could be writers (though oddly, I didn’t seem
to have a problem with “superhero” as a career path…)
Anyway, I actually remember the moment when I realized that I wanted to be a writer. It was during a
conversation with my dad. I asked my dad what I should be when I grew up. I was really worried about this.
After all, I was double-digits and I had no career goals. (Yes, I was an anxious kid.) My dad took me
seriously (for which I am forever grateful) and said, “Well, you’re creative. You could be an architect, a
writer, an interior designer, an investment banker…” I tuned out after “writer.”
Seriously, that’s the way it happened. Once the idea was planted in my head, it took root. Wanting to be a
writer became part of who I am and how I define myself. Now, I can’t imagine wanting to do anything else
with my life.
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
Last spring, I signed with my current agent (the wonderful Andrea Somberg). Six weeks later, I had
multiple offers for INTO THE WILD as well as an unspecified second novel.
But that’s only the latest bend in the road. If you count since I was ten years old (when I decided to
become a writer), it was a very, very, very long road leading to those six weeks. Even if you count since
the year after college (when I officially started submitting manuscripts for publication), it was still a very,
very long road.
During that time, I wrote a lot (nearly every day), sent out queries to editors and agents, wrote more, sent
out more queries to editors and agents… I also tried to learn all I could about writing and the business of
writing by talking to professionals and reading a lot of advice books. I swear I read every single how-to-be-
a-writer book in my hometown library. I majored in English. I attended conventions, went to book signings,
read writers’ blogs… and, of course, dreamed about the day I’d see my name on a book cover.
I think the secret to publication is this: stubborn optimism. Believe that the road will lead somewhere. Keep
walking down it. If it’s truly your dream, then it’s worth the journey.
Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release. If you could only tell your readers one thing
about the story that had to convince us to buy the book, what would it be?
INTO THE WILD is the story of Julie, a perfectly normal 12-year-old girl, who just happens to be the
daughter of Rapunzel. (Yep, that Rapunzel -- long hair, tower, prince…) Long ago, Rapunzel and her
fellow fairy-tale characters escaped the fairy tale to live in secret in our world. But here’s the one thing
that I hope will convince you to buy the book: Julie’s world, our world, is about to change -- the fairy tale
wants its characters back.
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
My husband inspires me by always believing in me. As far as specific inspiration for INTO THE WILD, I’d
have to thank my mother. She instilled in me a love of books and especially a love of fairy tales. The
original idea for INTO THE WILD came from looking around my hometown and thinking, “If fairy tale
characters lived here, what would they be like? I bet Rapunzel would own a hair salon…”
Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?
Bread. I loooove fresh-baked bread. And Raisinets.
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
Brush my teeth. (I hate morning breath.) Put on Chapstick. (I’m a Chapstick addict.) And use the toilet.
(Anyone who doesn’t mention that is lying!)
If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise
me the most?
I’ve never looked in my attic. Seriously, I think there may be a family of raccoons up there, and I really just
don’t want to know.
Everyone asks the question about “if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?” so I want to know: If
you could be a color, which color would it be, and why?
Sunrise pink. I’m rarely awake for sunrise, but I like the optimism inherent in it. (Fresh day. No mistakes
yet.)
Who is your favorite cartoon character? Which cartoon character is most like you?
Ray-Ray Lee from Cartoon Network’s short-lived “The Life and Times of Juniper Lee.” (It’s basically “Buffy
the Vampire Slayer” but in cartoon form without the whining.) In it, June has this little brother Ray-Ray Lee
who thinks it’s AWESOME that his sister is a secret super-hero who kicks monster butt.
I’m basically four years old inside, and I think the world is AWESOME. Seriously: sunsets, dolphins, music,
chocolate, manatees, air conditioning…
If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world (“Beam me up, Scotty!”), during any time in history,
where and when would it be—and why?
I’m actually pretty happy where and when I am. As much as I love reading about the Middle Ages, I don’t
think I would like the smell. Or, y’know, the Plague.
So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while
you’re writing?
I almost always listen to music while I write. It helps quiet my brain. Can’t muddy up the waters with too
much thinking. Seriously, if I’m too critical too early in the process, then I freeze up. Music helps. Plus it
keeps me from focusing too much on the drip from the kitchen faucet.
Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again?
I know this is like admitting that you eat Twinkies for breakfast, but I love “American Idol.” At its heart, it’s a
show about people reaching for their dreams. How can I not love that?
As far as movies, I could watch “Star Wars” on endless loop and never get sick of it. I also love “The
Princess Bride” and all versions of “Pride and Prejudice.”
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
Be kind to yourself and everyone around you.
And don’t eat poisoned apples. Or Gingerbread Houses with witches inside. And watch out for wolves in
granny clothes.
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
My next novel will be coming out in summer 2008, also from Razorbill/Penguin. Very excited about this! I’d
tell you more, but it’s still a secret project, so I’d have to kill you. And really, who’s got time for that?
Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!
