Let me take you back a few years. While attending college in Massachusetts, I worked in the school’s writing lab, teaching mostly international students about the proper use of commas and semi-colons. As a student writing tutor, many of my fellow tutors were professors. One of whom was English professor Laurie Stolarz. One day in the lab, Laurie was telling me about how she had just finished a teen fiction novel and that she was shopping it around to publishers, hoping to strike gold.
Fast forward a few years …
I’m now living in Texas, pursuing a graduate degree and working part-time in my favorite store, Barnes & Noble. One day, I was at work shelving books in the teen fiction section, when, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a series of books – Blue Is for Nightmares, White Is for Magic, Silver Is for Secrets, Red Is for Remembrance – and all by … you guessed it.
It seems that everyone and his pet hamster are writing a book or screenplay (yours truly included). What makes all these people believe that they actually have something interesting to say is totally subjective. Most will not achieve the level of success that they fantasize about, but every so often, one star shines a little brighter than the rest.
In just six years, Laurie has published an incredible nine novels. A popular award-winning teen fiction writer, her Blue Is for Nightmares series follows Stacey, a teen Wiccan with secrets who is threatened by nightmares that reveal perhaps more than she can handle.
Despite her success (or perhaps because of it), Laurie always finds the time to respond to her loyal fans, including answering some questions for Limité‘s readers.
Why did you decide to focus on teen fiction? Did you consider other genres?
The years of adolescence are filled with so many firsts, so much angst, and tons of drama. I just think there’s a lot of opportunity there for a writer.
How would you describe your most loyal readers?
My readers are the best. They send me messages via e-mail, Facebook, and MySpace. They create book trailers for my books. They make sure my books are in schools, in libraries, and in the stores. They’re huge advocates of my work. They come to my signings and ask their librarians and teachers to have me visit, either in person or through virtual online visits.
Do you see some of yourself in your readers? Is that how you’re able to tune into their interests?
I’m constantly keeping myself updated on what teens like and what’s important to them. I read teen books, both fiction and non-fiction. I watch an embarrassing amount of TV marketed to teens, and I read their magazines.
Do any autobiographical elements ever find their way into your novels?
Not really. I mean, there are bits and pieces here and there, but nothing directly about me per se.
What’s your writing process like?
I’m very deadline driven. When I’m on deadline, I write at least 10 pages per week. I don’t need anything special to write. I can write pretty much anywhere and at any time.
How easily do the story ideas come to you?
First drafts are tough. Though I spend a lot of time pre-writing and plotting, it can sometimes be a lot of pressure to come up with 10 pages per week. I love revising, on the other hand. I love reconsidering plot strands, strengthening, tightening, deleting, and making the work stronger and better.
Are there any themes you find yourself repeating in your writing?
Hmm … Good question. I guess the idea of trusting your instincts comes up a few times. I love writing about consequence – how the choices we make can affect other people, as well as ourselves. I also love writing about the theme of forgiveness – particularly forgiving oneself.
How difficult or easy was it for you to find representation? What was that process like?
My path to publication is paved with an array of rejection, from the standard form letter and the fortune-cookie-sized pre-printed note, to the more personalized invitation to send future work.
I tried selling my first novel, Blue Is for Nightmares, for over two years before I finally found an editor who was willing to work with me. That editor, Megan Atwood, though no longer at Llewellyn Publications, was really excited about the project, and so I knew I was in good hands.
Finding a suitable agent or editor is a full-time pursuit in itself, and luckily, I didn’t give up, even 50 rejection letters later. I’d keep a log detailing to whom I had sent my work, what exactly I had sent (i.e., a query letter, sample pages, the full manuscript), how long he or she had kept it, and what the outcome was.
My favorite rejection letter came from an editor who said, “While this is an interesting project, I do not feel it is strong enough to compete in today’s competitive young adult market.” That same young adult novel (Blue Is for Nightmares) has sold over 200,000 copies, was named a Reluctant Reader Quick Pick through the American Library Association, a Popular Paperback, was nominated for YALSA’s Top Ten Teen pick list, and it’s been translated into 15 different languages. When I speak to young people and aspiring writers, I always tell them this story, that if I had stopped persevering, I may never have been able to enjoy the success of my work.
While I was trying to sell Blue, I kept moving forward by working on a new project. I was finally lucky enough to find an enthusiastic home for Blue Is for Nightmares at Llewellyn Publications. It wasn’t until after my first publication that I found an amazing literary agent who helped me sell Bleed and Project 17 to Disney/Hyperion Books. I’ve been working with my agent ever since.
What was your life like before publishing your first novel? How has it changed?
I was teaching and in grad. school, working towards publication. I still teach from time to time because I love working with young people, but I’m a full-time writer now. In addition to writing, I also do a ton of marketing for my books. I travel around doing author visits and book signings. I attend conferences and lead workshops. I also answer the fan mail (75-100 per week), update my website, and keep Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter pages.
Your popular Blue Is for Nightmares series focuses on Wicca and Witchcraft. How has growing up in Salem, MA, the home of the Salem Witch Trials, influenced your subject matter?
Having been raised in Salem, MA, and having done a lot of research on Witchcraft, I do have a lot of respect for the religion. Growing up, it was really no big deal to have practicing Wiccans in class with you in school. They’re normal people with normal jobs who go about their normal lives. It’s a major religion in Salem and people take it very seriously. I think Salem’s biggest influence on me is that I’m open to that.
The fact that my main character ended up practicing folk magic happened purely by accident in a creative writing class in grad. school. My main character was lighting a candle and someone in class suggested that since she had the candle, and since I’m from Salem, I should try making her a witch.
Black Is for Beginnings, the fifth book in the Blue Is for Nightmares series, was recently released. Its format is different from the previous books in that it’s in graphic novel form. Who made the decision to format the book in this way, and why?
I wanted to try something different. The arcs of the first four books are similar in many respects, and so I wanted to give the series a creative spin. I felt the series was finished at four books, but readers kept asking me for a fifth. When my editor approached me with the idea of writing a graphic novel, I was very intrigued because it gave me the opportunity to not only try something new, but to really picture the book as a movie. I have a background in screenwriting and wrote Black Is for Beginnings in screenplay format, adding in ideas for illustrations and sidebars. It was an absolute thrill to write and to have the opportunity to work with an illustrator for these characters and situations I’d created.
Did you have any concerns about changing the format of an established series? Are you happy with the way it came out?
Black Is for Beginnings is a companion book to the series, not a standard fifth book in the series. I wrote it to compliment the series, not take the place of a regular book.
What kind of reaction have you been getting from fans of the series regarding Black Is for Beginnings?
Critical reviewers have been loving it. It’s just been nominated for the Great Graphic Novel list through the American Library Association, and I’ve received a lot of film interest as a result of writing it. Readers are enjoying it, as well. I’ve received lots of positive feedback, but of course, they still all want another standard book in the series, which is good.
Do you plan to continue the Blue Is for Nightmares series?
We’ll see. 
You’re known for your popular Blue Is for Nightmares series, but your writing spans beyond that one set of books. How have the fans of that series been responding to your other books, including Bleed and Project 17?
Both Bleed and Project 17 have done really well. There’s an online petition fans created for a sequel to Bleed, and both titles have won awards. My new Touch series is also doing really well. Deadly Little Secret will soon be available at Target, which is really exciting news. It’s also been nominated for a Quick Pick through the American Library Association. Barnes & Noble will also be selling an exclusive bonus edition starting in November. Deadly Little Lies, the second book in the series, will be out November 10th.
Why did you decide to become a writer? What would you be doing if you weren’t a writer?
It’s what I always wanted to do. I’ve been writing since before I could even hold a pen. As a small child, I was constantly telling stories to whomever would listen to me. When I’d exhausted my family with my endless babbling, I’d go out and tell my tales to the neighborhood kids, passing the stories off as truth. I’d tell of going into the meadows at night and wrestling with a mountain lion or the time I found a boa constrictor in my mom’s garden and had to grapple for my life, winding the snake from around my neck just in the knick of time. Telling stories is just something I’ve always done. I used to write plays and scripts for my Barbie dolls and make people watch the performances. My love of creating stories continued into school when I’d have to write a paragraph or short essay about what I did during Christmas vacation or summer break. I never thought my own life was exciting enough, so I was forever inventing stories.
People along the way, including some teachers, would tell me that I should pursue writing as a career, but at the time it wasn’t a possibility. I ended up going to business school, following in my older brothers’ footsteps. It wasn’t until after I got my B.S. in Marketing that I pursued my graduate degree in creative writing. I’m thankful for my marketing degree now, however, because it really helps me with my books.
If I wasn’t a writer, I’d probably still be teaching, but I’m also really interested in nutrition. I might try pursing a degree in holistic nutrition.
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Visit Laurie’s website at lauriestolarz.com and follow her on Twitter @lauriestolarz.
