With her first novel, Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson was instantly a writer to watch. Speak was a 1999 National Book Award finalist, and Anderson was chosen as a PW Flying Start. Since then, she's written nonfiction and picture books, and her historical novel Chains, in addition to being an NBA finalist, won the 2009 Scott O'Dell Award. In October, S&S will publish its sequel, Forge ($16.99, 9781416961444/1416961445). During BEA, she'll sign Forge at the S&S booth (3940) on Thursday, May 27, at 11:30 a.m.
On your nightstand now:
The God of the Hive by Laurie R. King (I counted down the days until its release); Ralph Ellison by Arnold Rampersad (fascinating); This Means War by Ellen Wittlinger (something new and different from a friend of mine); Talking About Detective Fiction by P.D. James (I will buy the phone book if she rewrites it); and The Road to Guilford Courthouse by John Buchanan (research for my next historical).
Next to the stack of books is a half-empty bag of honey-lemon cough drops. The yellow paper wrappers curl up on the floor.
Favorite book when you were a child:
The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I used to act out the prairie-living scenes, to my mother's everlasting horror. Now I have my own little house in the woods where I am a pioneer caught between centuries; chopping wood for the fire and using Twitter to stay in touch with readers.
Your top five authors:
Five? You're kidding, right? [deep sigh] Okay, I'll try: Neil Gaiman, P.D. James, Ray Raphael, J.K. Rowling and the incredible poet Patricia Smith.
Book you've faked reading:
Life is too short for faking anything. If a book isn't my cup of tea, I say so and give it to someone who might enjoy it more.
Book you are an evangelist for:
American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Brilliant from the first page to the last. Also, Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, which I have given or recommended to thousands of people who are trying to figure out if they have the courage to write what is in their hearts.
Book you've bought for the cover:
Covers don't make or break a book for me; the writing does. Though I did enjoy petting the fuzzy pink cover of Nick Harkaway's The Gone Away World. (Loved the story even more!)
Book that changed your life:
Ulysses by James Joyce. Opened my head up to the possibilities of a novel.
Favorite line from a book:
" 'Where's Papa going with that ax?' said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast."--Charlotte's Web by E.B. White. It manages to be horrifying and cozy in the same breath; the perfect set-up for the events of the story. I travelled down to Cornell University a few years ago and studied Mr. White's drafts for the book. It was reassuring to see that his early drafts were mostly dreadful, with flashes of potential. I learned much from his willingness to keep hammering at the story until he had crafted it to perfection. I bow down to his greatness.
Book you most want to read again for the first time:
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. It is the only book that had the power to make me sob uncontrollably on an airplane.
