Carrot: How do you deal with writers block?
Kirsten: I don’t believe in writer’s block. I do believe that there are days/weeks/months when it seems almost impossible to get anything decent down on paper. But you just have to push yourself! Writing isn’t meant to be easy. In fact, it’s one of the hardest jobs you can have. But you have to remember that it is a job. And I promise—if you stick it out, your inspiration will eventually return.
Carrot: What was the best "fan encounter" on tour?
K: Aside from meeting you in Austin? (See below.) I love it when people tell me that my books have inspired them to create art of their own. Perhaps they’ve written stories. Or made films. Or painted something amazing. And when “fans” share their work with me, it always makes my day. I have a bulletin board above my desk that’s covered with “fan” art. It makes me happy every time I sit down to write.
Carrot: Who was the guest judge in the fiction contest?
K: A fellow writer who has asked that his identity remain secret. Ha.
Carrot: Darkness Dwellers teasers?
K: Let’s see. What secrets can I share without giving too much away? Half of the book takes place in New York. The other half is set in the catacombs beneath Paris. (Which I once visited—alone. Quite scary!) Betty is the hero—though all the Irregulars play big roles. And Molly Donovan (my favorite delinquent, who’s based on my best friend in high school) makes a surprising and triumphant comeback.
Carrot: Who are the awesomest people you ever got a ride from in Austin Texas after zombies vs. Unicorns?
K: Ha! You guys, of course! You saved my bacon that night. Andrea Cremer and I would have been forced to hoof it all the way back to our hotel. And I was too tired to have made it more than a block. The police would have found me passed out on the side of the road.
Carrot: How long have you wanted to write before you wrote Kiki?
K: I can’t remember a time when I didn’t write. I was concocting strange stories in kindergarten. But I never expected to earn a living as an author. I’m still surprised that it’s possible!
Carrot: Favorite song?
K: I’m not sure I have a single favorite. But I love Miss You by the Rolling Stones. I think it’s the greatest song ever written about New York City. And you know how much I love New York!
Carrot: Any advice for aspiring writers?
K: Sit down. Turn on the computer. Stay in your chair until you have something great (even if it’s just a sentence or two). It may take an hour. It may take a whole day. But persistence is what separates those who write from those who want to write. (Some people call it “butt power.”)
And now a question for my uncoolreaders:
What book should I read next? Tell me in the comments.
~and remember to eat your carrots!
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