Inside The Author's Studio with Lena Roy

Okay, duckies, it is time once again to get to know a fabulous author and this month we are featuring Lena Roy whose powerful book EDGES knocked my socks off when I read it. If you are interested in details, click the book on the sidebar. And don't forget, one lucky commenter will receive their own copy of EDGES (leave your email address so I don't have to hunt you down).

Welcome Lena!

Q: What is your favorite word?

Lena: I love the sensuality in sounds, so there are many words I love. Take BOOMS for example. The Buh sound feels so good, and the OOOOOOO feels delicious. Then there’s the MMMMMM which make your lips vibrate, and do I need to explain how cool the ZZZZZ sound at the end is? That being said, it is a word I use very sparingly, because it is indeed so powerful.

Q: What is your least favorite word:

Lena: Adverbs. Didn’t Stephen King say they are the devil? I have to choose one?

 If I have to choose one word, it would be CAN’T. Say yes people! Believe in yourself!

Q: What turns your MC on?

Lena: From Edges: two main characters, Luke and Ava. Story is told in alternate points of view.

Luke: Australian hosteler Tangerine, hiking, red rocks

Ava: doesn’t think that anything can turn her on anymore after quitting drinking

Q: What turns your MC off?

Lena: Luke: Frank, hippy dippy spirituality

Ava:  her drinking, her boss, Frank

Q: What sound do you love?

Lena: My kids laughing and having fun.

Q: What sound do you hate?

Lena: Whining. My kindergartner stops when I sing (to the tune of Lady Gaga’s Telephone): Stop whining, stop whining, I don’t think I can take anymore/ Your complaints will get me off the dance floor.

Q: What is your favorite YA quirk?

Lena:Taking pictures of gnomes in Libba Bray’s Going Bovine, and the gnomes’ justified outrage.

Q: What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?

Lena: Lounge singer, hands down. (Yes, another financially feasible line of work!)

Q: What profession would you rather bathe in a vat of urine than attempting? 

Lena: Bounty hunter. I’d be too scared!

Q: If John Green exists and sits at your table at a SCBWI conference, what would you like him to say to you? 

Lena: I got to sit next to him on a panel, and pal around a little bit at LeakyCon in Orlando. He is the real deal. I found the courage to ask him to read EDGES and he very graciously said “I would love to,” AND then when I gave it to him, he said: “I need a book to read once I’m done with my revisions: this is perfect.” Now of course, I would be ecstatic if he really did read it and gave it a shout out!

I came home and read Looking for Alaska which I hadn’t read before, so next time I see him, I would love to talk about theology and the complicated relationships we have with God.

Thanks, Lena for making it here today!  I bet I see John Green reading EDGES at the SCBWI conference this week.  

Readers, hit us with your comments for a chance to win your own copy of EDGES.