YALLFest Interview with Lisi Harrison
October 11, 2013
YALLFest is coming! YALLFest is coming! On November 9th, 2013, fifty YA authors will descend on Charleston, SC, for an amazing day of free panels, presentations, and book signings. Visit the YALLFest website for more details and follow them on twitter @yallfest. In the weeks leading up to the big event, I’m hosting interviews with the talented YALLFest authors several times a week, so keep stopping by to learn more about these fabulous folks. 
YALLFest
Today’s New York Times bestselling author is Lisi Harrison, who has written over thirty novels. She was born in chilly Toronto but now lives in the always-warm Laguna Beach, CA. Lisi worked at MTV for twelve years, working her way up to Senior Director of Development, where she got to create new shows like Room Raiders. Her books include the series The Clique, Alphas, and Monster High, and Pretenders – the first book in her new series about five popular students whose secret journals get released to the school – was released on October 1st. 
Lisi Harrison Pretenders
And now for the Q&A with Lisi:
 
What one thing do you need to have when you write?
A scented candle. Each book has it’s own scent.
 
Describe your book in 5 words. 
Popular freshmen’s secret journals revealed.
 
What is the hardest line to write – the first or the last?
First. 100%
 
Best writing tip you ever received?
Stop writing in the middle of a chapter instead of the end. It will be easier to start up again the next day.
 
What one young adult novel do you wish you had when you were a teen? Why?
Stargirl.
 
Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.
I can’t run. I have a tattoo with a type-o. It’s supposed to say, “creativity” but it says, “dry.”
In college I thought it would be cool to get a tattoo written in Chinese characters.
I was supposed to be on one of the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center. I changed my reservation at the last minute. Now every time I look at a clock it says 9:11.
I can’t stand being asked about my “favorites.” I don’t have favorites. If I did I’d forget what they are the minute you asked and would remember them the minute you leave. It’s maddening.
I prefer to give 6 random facts.
 
Where's your favorite place to write?
My office.
 
What are you working on now?
Pretenders #2: License To Spill.
 
What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read?
What did I just tell you about “favorites?”
 
At what point in the development of an idea do you know that it will become a full-length novel?
When I can describe it in one sentence. And do it without cringing.
 
You can learn more about Lisi at her website, on facebook, and on twitter.  
 
Are you planning to attend YALLFest? Have you read any of Lisi’s books? Which one(s) are your favorite(s)?
 
You can read about the first two YALLFests here and here.
 
Previous YALLFest interviews:
Cinda Williams Chima                       Lauren Oliver
CJ Lyons                                          Sean Williams
Rainbow Rowell                                Ransom Riggs
Veronica Rossi                                  Kami Garcia
Melissa de la Cruz                             Shannon Hale

YALLFest is coming! YALLFest is coming! On November 9th, 2013, fifty YA authors will descend on Charleston, SC, for an amazing day of free panels, presentations, and book signings. Visit the YALLFest website for more details and follow them on twitter @yallfest. In the weeks leading up to the big event, I’m hosting interviews with the talented YALLFest authors several times a week, so keep stopping by to learn more about these fabulous folks. 
YALLFest
Today’s New York Times bestselling author is Lisi Harrison, who has written over thirty novels. She was born in chilly Toronto but now lives in the always-warm Laguna Beach, CA. Lisi worked at MTV for twelve years, working her way up to Senior Director of Development, where she got to create new shows like Room Raiders. Her books include the series The Clique, Alphas, and Monster High, and Pretenders – the first book in her new series about five popular students whose secret journals get released to the school – was released on October 1st. 
Lisi Harrison Pretenders
And now for the Q&A with Lisi:
 
What one thing do you need to have when you write?
A scented candle. Each book has it’s own scent.
 
Describe your book in 5 words. 
Popular freshmen’s secret journals revealed.
 
What is the hardest line to write – the first or the last?
First. 100%
 
Best writing tip you ever received?
Stop writing in the middle of a chapter instead of the end. It will be easier to start up again the next day.
 
What one young adult novel do you wish you had when you were a teen? Why?
Stargirl.
 
Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.
I can’t run. I have a tattoo with a type-o. It’s supposed to say, “creativity” but it says, “dry.”
In college I thought it would be cool to get a tattoo written in Chinese characters.
I was supposed to be on one of the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center. I changed my reservation at the last minute. Now every time I look at a clock it says 9:11.
I can’t stand being asked about my “favorites.” I don’t have favorites. If I did I’d forget what they are the minute you asked and would remember them the minute you leave. It’s maddening.
I prefer to give 6 random facts.
 
Where's your favorite place to write?
My office.
 
What are you working on now?
Pretenders #2: License To Spill.
 
What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read?
What did I just tell you about “favorites?”
 
At what point in the development of an idea do you know that it will become a full-length novel?
When I can describe it in one sentence. And do it without cringing.
 
You can learn more about Lisi at her website, on facebook, and on twitter.  
 
Are you planning to attend YALLFest? Have you read any of Lisi’s books? Which one(s) are your favorite(s)?
 
You can read about the first two YALLFests here and here.
 
Previous YALLFest interviews:
Cinda Williams Chima                       Lauren Oliver
CJ Lyons                                          Sean Williams
Rainbow Rowell                                Ransom Riggs
Veronica Rossi                                  Kami Garcia
Melissa de la Cruz                             Shannon Hale

Jocelyn Rish

Jocelyn Rish is a writer and filmmaker who never imagined her cheeky sense of humor would lead to a book about animal butts. When she's not researching fanny facts, she tutors kids to help them discover the magic of reading. Jocelyn has won numerous awards for her short stories, screenplays, short films, and novels and lives in South Carolina with her booty-ful dogs.