Q&A with Caroline Leavitt
Caroline Leavitt is the New York Times best-selling author of “Pictures of You,” a Costco Pennie’s Pick, a San Francisco Chronicle Lit Pick, and on the best books of 2011 lists from the San Francisco Chronicle, The Providence Journal and Kirkus Reviews. Her 10th novel, “Is This Tomorrow,” will be published in early May 2013. An online writing instructor for both UCLA and Stanford, she also reviews books for The Boston Globe, People Magazine, and she has her own book column at Shoptopia. A Nickelodeon Writing Fellowship Finalist, she also placed in the first round of the Sundance Screenwriting Lab. This is Caroline’s second appearance at the Gaithersburg Book Festival.
What are the best books you’ve read recently?
“Life After Life” by Jill McCorkle. Set in a retirement community, it’s about life, death, regrets, joy, and it absolutely sparkles.
What was your favorite book as a child?
I loved fairytales as a child. Every week I’d go to the library and get out the Red Fairytale Book, The Blue Fairytale Book, and any other color I could find. I read everything, working my way through the alphabet, and often being scolded by the librarian for taking out books she considered “too adult for me.” My parents gave me a note that said I could take out ANY book I wanted, and it was like a “get out of jail” card for me!
Why do you enjoy attending book festivals, either as a presenter or audience member?
It’s a thrill for me to meet readers, to talk to them face to face, and to know them as people. Festivals also bring out a lot of people who want to be writers but are unsure how, and it’s my pleasure to give advice and encouragement. I also love, love, love to talk, which surprised me, since I always thought of myself as shy! (I’m clearly not!) I also love meeting fellow authors and getting to know them, too.
Have you been to the D.C. area before? If so, what is your favorite thing about it?
My sister and her family live in the D.C. area and my family visits a lot. We love the museums, and it’s always a thrill to see the White House. Also, the best Ethiopian restaurant in the world is in D.C. I also love the friendly people.
What is the most difficult, or challenging, aspect of being a writer?
I love being a writer–and truthfully, I couldn’t do anything else. I tried when I was young and I was fired from just about every job, including working at an answering service and at a dirty puzzle factory! But while the writing itself is wonderful, it’s difficult sometimes to handle the nervous terror of prepublication and publication sometimes. I spend a great deal of time downright scared. Will people like my book? Will critics? Did I create a world so alive readers will believe in it? While I am writing, I’m not thinking about any of this. I’m just lost in the world of the story and my characters and I’m busy solving story problems. But as soon as I turn the final manuscript in, I start to be very aware of my readers and the public and I desperately want them to love my characters the way I do!
