Linda Joy Singleton eBooks
Linda Joy Singleton is the author of over 35 books for kids, including YALSA honored THE SEER series and DEAD GIRL WALKING trilogy. She submitted short stories to magazines when she was 14 and finished her first book during a 2-week holiday. She kept stories she wrote as a kid and loves to share them when in her school presentations.
Her childhood 100-book collection of girl series books like Nancy Drew, Judy Bolton and Trixie Belden grew to an adult passion and now thousands of juvenile series books fill her home library. A fan letter at age 13 led to her friendship with author Margaret Sutton and later a co-written Judy Bolton mystery. When she was 14 she wrote a goal of wanting to write a series of her own--and it happened. She encourages kids, "Follow your dreams no matter how impossible they seem. With hard work and determination, dreams come true."
Interview with Linda Joy Singleton
When you were little, did you want to be a writer when you grew up?
Yes. I have stories that I saved from when I was 9 years old, and at age 11 I attempted my first novel, a murder mystery called Holiday Terror. At age 14, my dad helped me submit short stories to a teen magazine, and I was proud to receive encouraging rejections.
If you could be any character in fiction, who would you be?
I love vintage series books, and my favorite is from the Judy Bolton series published from 1932 to 1967. I got to know the author and co-wrote another Judy Bolton book with her. So my answer is Judy Bolton.
Name a book that you'd be embarrassed to be seen reading.
Anything by a politician who promotes hate and intolerance.
What is the best contemporary novel you've read in the last year?
If you mean an adult novel, my answer is THE THIRTEENTH TALE. For YA books, almost everything I read is fantasy or mystery, and my favorite is a time travel called RUBY RED by Kerstin Gier.
If you had a book club, what would it be reading and why?
I used to have a book club until the local bookstore closed, and it was great fun choosing a book every month. I just finished reading THE UNWANTEDS by Lisa McMann and think this magical adventure would appeal to a wide audience.
What is a typical writing day like for you? Do you have a work set schedule? What are your surroundings?
My usual writing schedule it to write all morning, then go exercise at Curves around 11AM and afterwards have lunch. Then back to my computer for social networking, email and sometimes a Zynga game.
What is the greatest challenge you have had to overcome in your writing career?
Sales and distribution, the publishing end of what I do that I have little control over. I keep learning how to navigate the internet—tweeting, blogging, etc.—and do my best to share my books with readers.
Do you ever base characters on real people you have known?
Absolutely! Josh from THE SEER was based on an old boyfriend who was being apprenticed as a stage magician. Hero Dominic is based on my outdoorsy husband. And Thorn in BURIED: A GOTH GIRL MYSTERY is based on a goth teen who was in my ballet class years ago.
Do you believe it is important for authors to have a strong online presence?
Yup. But only do the things you enjoy doing because the web can be a time suck. I love to tweet and blog. I love chatting with other writers. And I especially love hearing from fans of my series.
If you could choose one superhero power, what would it be and why?
Flying, for the freedom and perspective.
