In BRAVE NEW GIRL, first time YA novelist Louisa Luna mines familiar territory --- the confusion and alienation of adolescence. Yet hers is not a cliched, overly sentimental story, but rather a gritty, often funny, existentialist tale tinged with hope. Teenreads.com writer Tammy Currier was fortunate enough to ask Louisa Luna some questions on the inspiration behind her book, her thoughts on MTV breaking into the book world, and the challenges of getting BRAVE NEW GIRL published.
Teenreads: For writers who don't know anything about the MTV imprint, which actually does publish some quality cutting edge literature, the connotations of "MTV" might seem unappealing. What did you initially think of the MTV imprint? And what do you think of them now?
LL: You know, I didn't know they did books, and it was a little strange to think of them as having something to do with fiction, but I really think the line is perfect for this particular book and vice versa.
Teenreads: This is your first novel --- what were the challenges of writing it and then getting it published?
LL: I wrote it while I was in college, and it took a long time because I was in classes and working. I mean, I had it a lot easier than say, someone who works full-time and takes care of a family, but I'm saying I got distracted a lot. Getting it published was a long road --- about a year and a half to find an agent and then another year and a half after that to find the publisher. The biggest challenge is getting people to see what you see in it.
Teenreads: What do you think teens get from reading that they can't from television or music?
LL: Books offer a whole different thing (that's articulate, huh?). It's not an experience you let happen to you, but one you partake in. I think it takes energy and creativity to read, a lot more than it takes to watch TV or listen to music.
Teenreads: What do you think teens are looking for when they pick up a book?
LL: Different people look for different things. Some are looking to escape, some are looking to be entertained, some look for a character or situation they can identify with.
Teenreads: As a teen, what were your favorite books? Did you have any that you turned to time and again? Any that changed your life?
LL: I read a lot of different kinds of stuff. My father gave me whatever he was reading and enjoying at the time. I really liked THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP and IN COLD BLOOD. I also read a lot of Richard Brautigan and Anne Lamott. I don't know about life-changing, but I was certainly influenced very strongly by everything I read at that age, and I still am.
Teenreads: Since you write for young adults, do you have any current YA favorites --- authors or books?
LL: I'm afraid I'm not
really familiar with many YA authors or books. But I'd also
like to think that teenagers could pick up any of the books
I just mentioned or CRIME AND PUNISHMENT and get something
out of them, be they YA or not. And likewise, an adult could
pick up my book or WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE and get something
out of it.
Teenreads: What do you hope your readers will take away
from reading this book?
LL: Whatever they want. You know, ideally, I hope it makes them laugh and feel good for a while.
Teenreads: Have you always wanted to be a writer? How did you get involved?
LL: I've always written; it's always been a part of my life, so it felt kind of inevitable. Not that I'm taking anything for granted --- I'm extremely lucky I get to do this for a living (you know, almost. I still work part time).
Teenreads: What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
LL: Write every day; treat it like soccer practice or playing the piano, because that's the only way you get better...and read everything you get assigned in English class.
Teenreads: And finally, are you working on anything new? If so, can you give us a sneak preview?
LL: I finished my second book a couple of months ago, but that's all I can really say about it right now. I'm pretty superstitious. I will say that it's fairly different from BRAVE NEW GIRL, though.
