Q&A with Julia DeVillers

Julia DeVillers is the author of several young adult books, including “How My Private, Personal Journal Became a Bestseller,” which became the Disney Channel Original Movie, “Read It and Weep” in 2006. She is also the author of the “Liberty Porter, First Daughter” series and the coauthor of the “Trading Faces” series, written with her twin sister, Jennifer Roy.

What are the best books you’ve read recently?
“Far from the Tree” by Andrew Solomon, “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn, “Origin” by Jessica Khoury, “Every Day” by David Levithan, and “Wonder” by RJ Palacio

What was your favorite book as a child?
“From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler” by E.L. Konigsberg. Oh, how I loved that story about two kids who run away from home and live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (and it has influenced the ‘wish-fulfillment’ aspect of my own books.)

Have you been to the D.C. area before? If so, what is your favorite thing about it?
I love DC! One of the most fun trips was when I was researching my book series, “Liberty Porter, First Daughter,” about a nine-year-old whose father is elected president. I got to go on a great (a little bit behind-the-scenes) tour of the White House, watch Marine Force One land—and meet the President as he disembarked. Then, I got my official White House M&Ms.