between the buns with...ally carter

Hey you. It's time for another awesome author to brave our ridiculous burger pop quiz...this week's fearless, fabulous guest is Ally Carter, who took time out from her busy sched promoting her new one, I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You....which we hear has Hollywood knocking and will probably be coming to a theater near you soon...but enough of our blabber--here's Ally!

Who is your favorite writer that most people have never heard of?

About the best YA novel that I’ve read in a long time was by Megan Shull and it’s called Amazing Grace.  I don’t know how many people have heard of her—hopefully a lot—but it bears repeating. 

I also love Dennis Lehane—he wrote Mystic River and a bunch of insanely good mysteries for older readers.  He never disappoints, and I worship him. 

Girls’ Poker Night by Jill A. Davis is another favorite of mine.  Burger-flippers are well-aware of E. Lockhart, I know, but The Boyfriend List is one of my faves as well.

Oh, and there are these books about this boy wizard…I can’t remember what they’re called…but those rock, too.

What kid or teen books rocked your world growing up?

My favorite book ever is To Kill a Mockingbird—always has been, always will be.  When I was younger I’d occasionally go through a Nancy Drew phase, but honestly (and a part of me hates to admit this) I wasn’t a huge reader (picture Ally ducking as readers, teachers, and librarians throw things). 

I was outside a lot and had a very active imagination.  When I found a great book I’d read it a hundred times—seriously.  But, to be honest, I don’t think YA fiction was as good then as it is now.  Now, I can’t get enough of it.

Describe your ideal place to write.

I’m a laptop and notebook girl, so I can (and do) write anywhere and everywhere.  Probably my two favorite places are at my dining room table and also at a small, secluded desk in a deserted corner of my local library—no internet, no phone.  When I have a serious deadline, that’s where you’ll find me.

Your life is a TV series. Name the theme song, one event that would be on the "best of" episode, and one that would be on the blooper reel.

Oh my gosh, I have such a music inferiority complex, you can’t even imagine.  So while I want to answer this question, I’m terrified to, because I know that anything I’d say would be so incredibly uncool.  Do you think the Burger-flippers can nominate theme songs for me?  I need all the help I can get. 

A s for the series itself, the “best of” episode would absolutely have to include the day my first book, CHEATING AT SOLITAIRE, came out.  I was in New York, meeting with my editors and publicists for I’D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU BUT THEN I’D HAVE TO KILL YOU.  It was so glamorous and very official.  Then I went to a bookstore to see my book on real shelves for the first time.  It was a great day.

For the blooper reel I see a montage of very unfortunate hair styles.

Burger-flippers want to know: have you ever had a job that required you to wear a geeky uniform? Details, please!

No.  Not really.  But I can tell you that I grew up on a farm, so while other high school kids were sacking groceries and waiting tables I was baling hay and working cows, so my uniform was jeans and shorts and t-shirts with big floppy hats to keep me from becoming a human French fry.  Do big floppy hats count?  They were very big and very floppy if that counts for anything.

We'd like to name a burger in your honor.  What kind of fixins should it have?

A burger?  For ME?  I’m thrilled.

It must have both mayo and mustard—that’s key.  And lettuce, pickles, and swiss cheese.  Okay now I’m hungry.  This is all your fault!

Comments

[deelite]

the idea of your book is so great. i hope they do make it into a movie!

[Ally Carter]

Thanks! I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

-Ally Carter

[Little Willow]

Great interview. Hurrah for Megan Shull - Amazing Grace is fantastic, and the two Skye O'Shea books are sweet.

[Kami]

I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have To Kill You was AWSOME!!!! I read it in like a day, i seriously couldn't put it down. This book would make SUCH a cool movie! PLEEEEASE tell me that there is going to be a sequel, and another sequel to that sequel, and another sequel to that sequel :)
LOVED this book!
Ally Carter ROCKS as an author!!!

[Ally Carter]

Kami, Deelite, and Little Willow YOU guys rock!

Yes, I am working on a sequel! It will probably be out in the fall of 2007 (long time to wait--I know!) But I want it to be good--no, GREAT--better than the original. So we're working extra hard to make that happen.

Plus, I've got a couple of other books. One's already out, CHEATING AT SOLITAIRE. And then it has a sequel, LEARNING TO PLAY GIN, which will be out in November.

Plus, we're going to have a contest this fall over on AllyCarter.com where readers (and hopeful Gallagher Girls) can "decode" the Top Secret title to book 2. Winners will receive something SUPER cool!

Thanks again, and keep reading!

Ally

[Alexis]

Wow I just finished your book today and it seriously rocked. I was soo excited about it that I went and checked out your website and your myspace, lol. Then I got even more hyped up when I read there might be a movie!! I know this is dorky but I soo want to be in it haha. Well Can't wait for the next book ^_^

[Abby]

I really loved the book I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have To Kill You, but I found that writing a biography on you is difficult because there wasn't many things I could figure out!! It is a lot of research to do..well can't wait for your next book!

[Billygirl]

wow, nice.... and yep, you guessed right, i am great with words. I'm yet again reading To kill a mocking bird... its one of the best classics, but sadly, dont kill me for saying this, i dont thing there are a lot of "good" classics out there.

[Ben]

I was soo excited about it that I went and checked out your website and your myspace, lol. Then I got even more hyped up when I read there might be a movie. http://www.fullmediafire.com