On tour: Meet the author Elizabeth Wein
US historical YA fiction author Elizabeth Wein is visiting Australia in September. Wein is the author of six historical YA novels including Code Name Verity (Egmont Books) and its follow-up book Rose under Fire (Egmont Books), which is due out in September.
What would you put on a shelf-talker for your book?
For Code Name Verity: ‘Girl spy and pilot in World War II—how far would you go to save your best friend?’ For Rose under Fire: ‘World War II girl pilot in a women’s concentration camp—a harrowing story of survival and despair and hope.’
What is the silliest question you’ve ever been asked on a book tour?
‘Why did you decide to write from a girl’s point of view?’
And the most profound?
‘What are your feelings about von Linden?’ (He’s the enigmatic villain in Code Name Verity.)
What are you reading right now?
Tales of the Jazz Age by F Scott Fitzgerald (various imprints).
What was the last book you read and loved?
The White Bicycle by Beverly Brenna (Red Deer Press).
What was the defining book of your childhood?
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett (various imprints).
Which is your favourite bookstore?
This year, definitely Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, Georgia, USA. I’ve never been there but I’ve met some of the staff and I’m visiting them later this year. They gave a copy of my book Code Name Verity to President Obama!
Who would you like to challenge to a literary spat?
Dan Brown. Although he’d probably win. Everyone I can think of has a bigger brain than me.
Facebook or Twitter?
#TwitterFTW
If I were a literary character I’d be …
Sara Crewe, from A Little Princess, of course!
In 50 years’ time books will be …
Challenging, entertaining, informative, exciting, boring, relaxing, inspiring, imaginative, controversial, inventive … everything they have been for the past several thousand years despite a few major changes in their format.
What’s your favourite thing about being a writer?
Meeting people! Getting to meet my readers and getting to meet other writers. That is really the most wonderful thing that the success of Code Name Verity and Rose under Fire has done for me this year.
Tags: ontour
Category: Features
