What are your five favorite books, and why?
1) "Little House on the Prairie: These Golden Years" by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I did things kind of backwards, and fell in love with the television show prior to reading the books. When I did finally get them one Christmas, I loved them just as much, if not more. Having had a HUGE crush on Dean Butler's portrayal of Almanzo Wilder, I was pretty partial to that part of Laura's story, and I can distinctly remember how giddy I was to read the more accurate presentation of how that relationship came to be. I was SO committed to loving these characters, as a matter of fact, that I ran around our backyard clad in a long dress and bonnet, and refused to answer to anything but "Laura." (Miss Ingalls, if you're nasty.)
2) "Anne of Green Gables" by L.M. Montgomery
Anne is one of the most amazing characters I've ever read in a book. She's like an extra-strength dose of Laura Ingalls Wilder - a feisty spitfire of a girl who blazes her own trail. The only reason I didn't run around our backyard in a red wig was that I was technically too old to do something like that by the time I read these books. Don't think it didn't cross my mind, though.
3) "Wasted" by Marya Hornbacher
I find Marya's writing to be blunt - almost crass - in such an appealing way. She doesn't sugar coat anything with pretty adjectives, she doesn't soften the edges of what she's saying, and even though she doesn't always paint a visual picture with words, you can conjure the scene in your mind, anyway, by the sheer power of the little bit she does reveal. I also admire her extreme transparency in sharing her struggles. If you have to battle something so terrible, I imagine helping others through their own battles afterward must be cathartic and rewarding.
4) "Fifteen" by Beverly Cleary
This was the first teen romance book that I connected with. I was a bit of a late bloomer in that I'd much rather have played video games with a boy than kissed him. But, as the relationship between the two main characters unfolded, I could hardly wait for the day when some guy inspired the same kind of crush that Jane was experiencing. There was the added bonus of it having been first published in the 50s, so the boys were exceptionally respectful and well-mannered. Even though that wasn't necessarily characteristic of the boys my age, it helped to set the tone for what I should expect from a boyfriend. A kind boy is more than worth the wait!
5) "The Pistachio Prescription" by Paula Danziger
I can't even tell you how many times I must have read this book during my adolescence. The main character, Cassie, is quirky and sassy, and her vice is just downright weird. What's not to love?! (I also credit this book with my love of pistachio nuts.)
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in Houston, TX, but absolutely idolized the West Coast. I somehow stumbled upon re-runs of the Monkees and Gidget when I was six years old and instantly became obsessed. I figured if I could get to California and learn how to surf, I could probably land Davy Jones as a prom date. (Seriously. This is how my mind works.) While I wouldn't live in California until my late 30s (a place I, ironically enough, despised almost immediately), my fascination with the state played a huge part in this series. I was 18 when I began writing it, and what better place to set an idyllic story staring idyllic teenagers than idyllic California? Granted, the story has taken a much different turn over the past two decades than what I envisioned it would (which has made the characters MUCH more interesting than they used to be), but the setting remained the same. Just think how complicated their lives will be when they graduate from college and have to pay California taxes!
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