Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author of multiple books including Becoming Chloe, The Day I Killed James, and the upcoming release Diary of a Witness which will be released on August 25 of this year.
KBB: Were you a big writer or reader growing up? What about now? Do you prefer writing your own books or reading someone else’s?
CRH: I was a huge reader when I was a kid. I was into Dr Seuss (still am, really), Winnie the Pooh. Then the whole Black Stallion Series (along with My Friend Flicka, the Misty books, and just about every other horse book I could get my hands on). Then I got into High School and the books my teachers assigned pretty much killed my love for reading. Fortunately, I was able to get it back. A lot of people don’t. I still read, but it’s hard to find time, because I don’t read while I have a novel in progress. Plus, to answer your final question, I really like writing my own books better than reading. But reading will always have its important place.
KBB: What was your favorite book growing up and what about now? Do you have a favorite or do you just love them all?
CRH: I have a handful of favorites. Flowers for Algernon. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Cat’s Cradle. Bless the Beasts and Children. I think Flowers for Algernon was my #1.
Now is harder. Maybe there isn’t any one. But I loved The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. I read tons of YA. Probably 80% of what I read is YA.
KBB: What would you consider the best moment in your writing career?
CRH: I guess I would have to say my invitation to the (Bill Clinton) White House (for the screening of the Pay It Forward movie).
KBB: Is one of your books your favorite and if so, why?
CRH: Becoming Chloe is my favorite. It’s hard to wrap my head around why. In some ways I think I just have a strong heart connection with the characters. But I also like the issue they are facing. The world is so beautiful. And it’s so horrible. Can we love it just the way it is? It’s really not an easy question.
KBB: How long does it usually take you to write a book?
CRH: Well, I’ve been doing one adult and one YA every year for some time now. It’s a pretty hectic pace, but so far I’m managing.
KBB: Where do you get your ideas for your books?
CRH: I wish I knew. Then I would never be without an idea. I think this is the classic writer question, and I think the reason it keeps coming up is that we have never answered it to your satisfaction. Because we don’t know. It’s all imagination, which is a very mysterious process. But I will say that I study human nature with great interest, and that helps.
KBB: Do you have any new books in the works? If so, can you tell us anything about them?
CRH: I have two coming out this year. A young adult here in the U.S called Diary of a Witness. About two teenage boys on the low end of the social totem pole in high school. One of whom is starting to lose it over the abuse they’re taking. I also have an adult novel coming out in the U.K. in September about the bond between a middle-aged man and the boy he discovered abandoned in a pile of leaves in the woods the day after he was born. It spans decades of their lives.
My next YA is due out in the Fall of 2010, and it’s about a 16-year-old girl who falls in love with her older next-door neighbor before realizing he is transgender (female to male in transition). I love taking on brave subjects that get people thinking and talking (or yelling as the case may be) and I’m really looking forward to that release.
I have another YA on my editor’s desk, but it’s too early to spill the beans. I don’t even have her reaction to it yet. I’ll just say it’s the only time I’ve ever returned to existing characters (from another of my books) and written more of their story.
KBB: Is there anything else you would like to tell your readers?
CRH: Just that I really appreciate my YA audience because they are so accepting of so many titles I’ve written, and very rarely stuck at Pay It Forward like many of my adult readers. I’m working on book #15, so you can imagine at this point in my career it’s a great relief to be treated as a multi-book author. It’s not the only reason I appreciate my YA audience, though. There are many. Oddly I learned the joys of a YA readership when Pay It Forward came out. Yet those are the readers who moved on to try more of my books. Thank you! Not sure where I would be without you.
KBB: Thanks so much, Catherine! I am looking forward to more books from you in the future. Readers, here is your chance to win a copy of Becoming Chloe.
+1 comment about interview
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The contest will run until July 25, the same day as my 100 followers contest so get entering!
Great interview! I already have a copy of Becoming Chloe (amazing book!), so don’t enter me 🙂
-Allison
Nice interview! The YA novel that comes out in the fall of 2010 sounds really good, I can’t wait for it! 😀
+2 already a follower
+3 posted a link on my sidebar
Briana
getanzt@gmail.com
Wow! I really can’t wait to read the book Catherine will have out fall 2010. It sounds amazing! I want to read it right now! I also think her new adult novel sounds quite intruiging as well.
I’m already a follower.
Jenna
jennapomme@yahoo.com
I love reading authors interviews. This is a great one. 🙂
misusedinnocence@aol.com
I follow. 🙂
misusedinnocence@aol.com
Great interview! I can’t wait for your 2010 release! Sounds interesteing!
I’m already a follower 🙂
Erica
thebookcellar@wi.rr.com
Great interview. I’m excited about reading some of Catherine’s books now.
+2 follower.
mj.coward[at]gmail.com
I enjoyed your interview! Please throw my name in the draw!
+2 I’m already a follower
Thanks for the giveaway,
Cheers,
julie.sherritt[at]gmail.com
Would love to read this one – enjoyed the interview
msboatgal at aol.com
+2 already a follower
msboatgal at aol.com
great review – I like that she gave us a heads up on the next release.
I am a follower.
journey through books @ gmail (dot) com
Great interview, Katie! Put me in the draw, please 🙂
Meggin
meggymegmeg96@yahoo.com
+3, already a follower, and I linked to the contest on the list I just put up on my blog. 🙂
Thanks for the contest!
Good Job 😀 And enter me in the contest please .
Don’t enter me–I actually have this one but I wanted to tell you what a nice job you did on the interview. I need to go check out her favorite kid’s books–I feel like I’m missing out because I never read those!
If this is open to Canada…
+1 Commenting! One thing I hated about reading at school was that to read a book, you had to predict, and guess, and pick at the book until you never so much as wanted to see it again… but luckily that didn’t ruin it for me. 🙂
+2 I’m already a follower.
+3 I linked here: http://bookcontestlinks.blogspot.com/2009/07/july-9rd-2009.html
Laina1312@gmail.com
I’ve always wanted to read this. Enter me please(:
+1 I really liked your interview. It was fun to read and informative(:
+2 Already a follower.
+3 Added a link on my sidebar. http://www.anotherpageisused.blogspot.com
-Lexi(:
am.ernsberger@hotmail.com
+1 very cool interview i see what she means about the quesion where do you get ideas from always coming up
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http://tashiluvsu.blogspot.com/2009/07/win-becoming-chloe-and-other-cool.html
tashiluvsu@live.com
+1 Great interview! I’m interested to read the new 2010 release.
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bball11kt@sbcglobal.net
+1 Love the interview
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Megan
bookworm8675309@yahoo.com
+1 Great interview. I would like to read this book
+2 I am a current follower of your blog
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bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com
+1 The interview was very good, and I really want to read the book!
+ 2 follower
adrienne2093@comcast.net
+1 Great interview!
+2 I’m a follower.
angels3@bluyeonder.co.uk
Sophie
Great contest! Enter me please.
+1 Awesome interview. I can’t imagine writing 2 books in 1 year.
+2 Already follower
+3 Link to conest in sidebar here: http://thebookpixie.blogspot.com/
~Briana 🙂
thebookpixie(at)yahoo(dot)com
+1 Great interview, I actually have the book The Day I killed James, so this book sounds cool!
+2 I’m already a follower 🙂
Thanks!
-Eleni
lafemmereaders@yahoo.com
That’s really neat that she got to visit the White House!
I am a new follower.
marielay@gmail.com
Count me in please.
+2 for already being a follower – thanks
libneas[at]aol[dot]com
I follow you. +2
I linked this contest at wickedgoodbooks.blogspot.com
infinitemusic19 at gmail dot com
+1 Great interview! She made me want to read this book even more!
+1 for becoming a follower.
+3 for linking on my sidebar: http://romanticharbor.blogspot.com/
romanticharbor@gmail.com
+1 Thanks for the insightful post.
+2 Already a follower.
lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com
+1 great interview! +1 I follow! Thanks for great giveaway!
+3 contest link I tweeted! http://twitter.com/Sparkleglow/status/2761723810
+1 comment about interview
Cool interview, her up coming books soung good.
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Mandy K,
bratdownstairs@yahoo.com
Nice interview! I look forward to A Diary of a Witness, and I enjoyed One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest when I read it a few years ago.
+2 already a follow
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towerofbooks(at)gmail(dot)Com
Sounds like an awesome book! Please enter me
+2 Already a follower.
Shadowofwonder47@yahoo.com
Please enter me!
I’m a follower!
Debbie F
dcf_beth at verizon dot net
Shawna Lewis
weloveourdogs@juno.com
+1 Amazing interview! She made me want to read this book right now!!!!!! thanks ;o)
+1 for becoming a follower.
+3 for linking on my sidebar: http://theblindcupid.blogspot.com/
+1 I Twittered you (theblindcupid)
+1 I’ve never read any of her books, but they all sound very good. The 2010 one is very interesting!
+1 Became a follower
+3 linked on twitter: http://twitter.com/reader_meg/status/2832620403
Thank you!
mdondero@sprynet.com
+1 it is so impressive she does two books a year that has to be crazy.
+2 already a follower
+3 linked in sidebar
teensatthelibrary[at]yahoo[dot]com