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This month The Edge of the Forest talks with children's author
Lauren Myracle about her writer's life.
The Edge of the Forest: Lauren, thanks so much for agreeing to talk with me for our Day in the Life series.
Lauren: No problemo! Hi, Kim!
The Edge of the Forest: Before we begin, tell us a little about yourself. Where do you live?
What brought you to that part of the country? How does living and working in that community inform your writing?
Lauren: Okey-doke. Well, first and foremost, I'm a mom. I've got three kids, and they're still young, so they
totally NEED me, you know? I hope they'll need me forever, but right now, that need is raw and pressing. So, I'm a mom,
and I'm a wife, too. I live in Colorado, which is groovy. It's very informal, and I never have to wear hose. Praise be!
The Edge of the Forest: For readers unfamiliar with your work, please tell us about your writing.
What types of books do you write and why?
Lauren: Hmmm. That's an interesting question (though you perhaps didn't mean it to be!), because my quick
response is, "I write girly books," because that's what people SAY I write. But actually, *I* think I write all sorts of
books: girly books, spooky books, funny books, irreverent books. The common thread is that they're all about friendship,
in one way or another, because that's something I'm endlessly fascinated by. My "Internet Series" books are for teens,
while my "Winnie" books (Eleven and Twelve) are for the tween set...but I find that there's a lot of
overlap between the readerships.
The Edge of the Forest: What attracted you to children's literature and writing for children?
Lauren: Ah, Kim, I just love that stuff. Love it. My editor said the nicest thing to me recently. It was after
I'd come to her all sad and conflicted about a nasty email (I get those from parents sometimes, because my teen books tend
to deal with authentic teen issues), and she said, "Lauren, you're doing your life's work. Just keep doing it; that's
all that matters." My life's work—yeah. That's why I'm attracted to it. ;)
The Edge of the Forest: Tell us about a typical writing day. How long do you write? When do you write? And why?
Lauren: Oh, Lordy. Well, I've got kids, remember? So first I get up, get them up, get the boys off to school, and,
three days a week, drop my daughter off at a wonderful caregiver's house. And then I go STRAIGHT to Starbucks and get busy
writing. I write there because 1) the coffee rocks (and just hush, you anti-Starbuckers!); 2) there are no
laundry-machine-ish distractions; and 3) it's just the most efficient way of getting in as much writing time as I can
before going back to get my daughter at noon. Then, while my daughter sleeps, I tend to the busywork deeds of being a
writer, such as answering fan mail and dealing with other correspondence. Although sometimes I fall asleep. I do love
taking naps!
The Edge of the Forest: Some writers work in long hand. Others use a keyboard. How do you work? How does this
technique inform your creative process?
Lauren: Keyboard, baby! For composing, it's keyboard all the way, and I've had nightmares of losing all my fingers
and having to switch to voice activated whatever—and that would really suck. I truly do think there's a link between
my brain and my typing hands. That link could be there with pen and paper, but it's grown so much stronger with the
computer. AND I finally got a groovy MacBook and decorated it with Hello Kitty stickers and Pandapple stickers, and I must
say, it gives me great pleasure.
The Edge of the Forest: Some writers write for very personal reasons, using their art to help make sense of the
world. Others feel the need to share their joy of language with young readers. Why do you write? Have you noticed themes
that have surprised you?
Lauren: Ah, you know, I write to write. I write to amuse myself; I write to amuse my sister. I also have become
very aware of writing for my readers, who are mainly tween and teen girls, and wanting them above all else to know that
IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY. That it's okay to be goofy/dorky/uncertain or whatever, and that here I am, a grown-up, reaching my
hand back to my pre-confident self to say, "Yes. You *are* going to survive."
The Edge of the Forest: Writers find inspiration in many places. Who or what inspires you?
Lauren: My husband, for sure! He is so continually ridiculous, in the most wonderful of ways. My kids: I keep
notes on the things they say, and they show up in my books. And of course just the world itself, and all the people in it,
and all the things that make me tear up and think that yes, we're all connected.
The Edge of the Forest: Writing can be a lonely and isolating avocation. Where do you find the support you need
to survive the process?
Lauren: I have a great support group of other writers, both in the flesh and on-line. And also, my brain goes
back to the "mom" thing. I'm not the slightest bit lonely, not with my three kids—and not with all the other mommies
I by necessity hang out with. I find it's good to be in the world in an un-writer form, too!
The Edge of the Forest: Many writers I know use totems, music, and/or rituals in order to find the inspiration they
need during their writing day. What items and/or rituals do you use when writing? Do these change depending on your
current project?
Lauren: Oh. They do? Erm, not me. If anything, I guess I have a mantra, which is just, "Do the work, dammit."
I figure I get to be the one to choose whether I make it happen or not, you know?
The of the Forest: You're a mom as well as a writer. How do you balance the demands of work and family?
Lauren: I worry sometimes that I don't. I feel as if I'm either a mom or a writer, and nothing else, and that
doesn't leave time for just being lazy lazy me. So, I'm probably a little crazed and stretched out these days, but so
it goes. There are worse problems to have.
The Edge of the Forest: I noticed that you have an online fan group called "Lauren Myracle Land." How cool is that?
Lauren: Pretty darn cool! BUT, I think there are, like, five members in it. So let's not get too excited. ;)
The Edge of the Forest: Tell us about your favorite book from childhood.
Lauren: To Kill a Mockingbird! And I don't need to tell y'all about it, because I *know* you've read it.
Right?!!
The Edge of the Forest: What's the last good book you read?
Lauren: Odd Girl Out. Fascinating
The Edge of the Forest: What are you reading now?
Lauren: We Need to Talk about Kevin, by Lionel Shriver. It's frickin' amazing.
The Edge of the Forest: Any advice for aspiring writers?
Lauren: Ack. Well, it's somewhat obvious, but: read, read, read and write, write, write. And if you're feeling
motivated, check out a fab book by Sarah Mlynowski and Farrin Jacobs called See Jane Write. It's right up there with
Stephen King's On Writing and Annie Lamott's Bird by Bird in terms of being a kick-ass book about craft issues and
publication issues, both.
The Edge of the Forest: Can you tell us about your most current project?
Lauren: But of course. I'm working on How to be Bad, a road trip novel, with two other YA novelists, E. Lockhart
and Sarah Mlynowski. It is soooo much fun. (Oh, and that's a way to avoid the loneliness pitfall, too. Co-write a book
with a buddy!) I'm also finishing up Thirteen, which is the sequel to Eleven and Twelve, and I've just started a
prequel to a book of mine called Rhymes with Witches. Eee-gads. This is why I feel maxed out! ;)
The Edge of the Forest: Anything else you want to add?
Lauren: Nah, I'm good. But thanks so much, Kim! It's been fun! ;)
About Lauren Myracle
Lauren is the best-selling author of eight books for teens and tweens. Her titles include ttyl, ttfn,
l8r, g8r, Eleven, Twelve, Rhymes With Witches, The Fashion Disaster that
Changed My Life and Kissing Kate. ttyl, ttfn, l8r, g8r and Twelve
are all New York Times best-sellers.
What to learn more? Visit Lauren Myracle's website.
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