Visit with Antony John

http://antonyjohn.net/

Today we're visiting with author Antony John, whose latest YA title, FIVE FLAVORS OF DUMB, will be released by Dial on 11/11/10!



Eighteen-year-old Piper has gotten herself into a mess. Because of her big mouth, she has one month to get a paying gig for her high school’s hottest new rock band, called Dumb. In Piper’s mind, the band couldn’t have a more perfect name. Just look at the members: one egomaniacal pretty boy, one silent rocker, one talentless piece of eye candy, one angry girl, and one nerd-boy drummer – five discordant personalities who, when put together, seem ready to self-destruct at any moment. Getting them an actual gig seems impossible. Add to that the fact that Piper doesn’t know if their music is good or not, because, well, she’s deaf.

But Piper is determined to get the band a gig to show her classmates that being deaf doesn’t mean she’s invisible. And as she gets to know the five flavors of Dumb, some hidden talents, secret crushes, and crazy rock music emerge. She doesn’t need to hear the music to sell it, but Piper wants the chance to feel the music too. Does she have what it takes to manage Dumb and discover her own inner rock star?

Extra Extra - Read all about it!

If anyone is attending the Anderson’s YA conference in Naperville, IL this weekend, please come say hi to me. (Since John Green and David Levithan will be there, I figure no one will want to talk to me, and I’m worried about being the Awkward Guy In The Corner.)

Don't let Antony sit alone in the corner! That is your mission, if you choose to accept it!

**I had the chance to ask Antony a few questions about his life and writing, so enjoy his answers so you have plenty to talk to him about this weekend!

If you could bring any character from one of your books to life, who would it be and why?

Piper, the narrator of FIVE FLAVORS OF DUMB. She’s snarky, opinionated, occasionally mean, but also loyal and courageous. I’d like to tell her that someone as smart and savvy as her is going to be fine, so relax already!

Your own six-word memoir.

He loved every bit of it.

Twitter your newest or upcoming release in 140 characters or less.

Deaf senior Piper manages her high school rock band, with humorous and occasionally devastating results.

You have the chance to spend the day with any character from one of your favorite books. Who would you choose and why?

D.J. Schwenk from DAIRY QUEEN by Catherine Gilbert Murdock. For one thing, she’s a completely fascinating character. For another, we could play basketball while we chatted (though she’d completely whip my ass).

What was your favorite book growing up as a teen?

Even though I lived in England I was far more interested in the YA books coming out of the US. In particular, I had a major obsession with S.E. Hinton. I think I read and reread THE OUTSIDERS quite a few times.

When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Hollywood film composer. I couldn’t get through a movie without talking to my friends about the music. (After a while, they stopped inviting me.)

Your favorite subject in high school – and your least favorite.

Favorite: music. Least favorite: biology and chemistry, in a tie. (Now I’m married to a biochemist. Sheesh!)

The one book everyone in the world should read.

HOW I LIVE NOW by Meg Rosoff – this book blew me away when I read it. It really is perfect: everything has meaning, every character is flawed yet sympathetic, and the voice is completely unique and compelling. Oh, yeah, and it achieves all of this in half the space of most YA novels.

The book you wish you had written.

STARGIRL by Jerry Spinelli – again, the book is just about perfect. Who isn’t madly in love with Stargirl within seconds of meeting her?

Your five favorite reads from 2010 (books you read during the year; they do not have to have been published during 2010).

IF I STAY by Gayle Forman – beautiful writing, and music plays a central role.
BEIGE by Cecil Castelucci – one of the very best books about rock music.
THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX – exquisitely written; thought-provoking too
PLAYING WITH MATCHES by Brian Katcher – hilarious and moving, often both at the same time
KATANA by Cole Gibsen – you can’t read this one yet, ’cause it doesn’t come out until spring 2012, but it’s a rollercoaster ride, and I couldn’t put it down

The 2010 release you’re most looking forward to reading.

THE SCORCH TRIALS by James Dashner. For one thing, the first book in the series (THE MAZE RUNNER) was insanely gripping, and for another, James is one of the coolest and most modest dudes writing today.

If your mom wrote the author profile for the jacket of your next book, what would she write?

Antony showed a lot of promise at school, but then decided to study music at university. He even got a Ph.D., but then he decided to switch to writing books. On the bright side, he married a very lovely, sensible woman who has a real job, so he’ll never be destitute. Oh, and he also gave me two grandchildren, which is not as good as five grandchildren, but will have to do.

You have the chance to go back and change a scene from one of your previous releases. What book would you choose, what scene would you change, and how would you alter it?

I’d rewrite the climax for my first novel, BUSTED. Instead of having a boy punch the evil jock, I’d have a girl do it instead. One reader wrote a review that basically said (and I’m paraphrasing here) “Loved the book right until the end, when the whole message of female self-empowerment is undone by a having a boy save the day”; and you know what, that reader was kind of right.

You’ve invented a new national holiday. What is it called, and what does it celebrate? (Plus, would we get the day off of school and work??)

National No Internet Day. Imagine how much you could get done if everyone agreed the Internet was inaccessible for 24 hours!

What is your ultimate vacation destination?

So many to choose from, but I’m a sucker for the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Except during hurricane season.

The world has suffered from a one-day only loss of power. You have no cell phone, computer, lights, or anything else that requires a computer, cell battery, or electricity. What do you spend the day doing?

I start by trying to stay in bed for an extra hour, which is abruptly halted when my children assault me with board books. After reading to them for a solid hour, I try to do some reading of my own, but then they discover a new pile of books, and thwack me with those instead. Then they say they are hungry. After that they ask to go to the playground, followed by games, and a few more books. By the time they’re tuckered out in bed, I’m pretty tuckered out too. But, you know . . . it’s still the perfect day.

If you weren’t an author, what job would you be doing?

Well, I’m really a stay-at-home dad first, author second. And I love it. But if neither job were available, I’d go back to teaching music at university. I loved that, too.

You get the chance to star in an upcoming film release. What movie would you star in for your acting debut? (If you can’t choose an upcoming film, you can choose a past release.)

I’d play President Snow in The Hunger Games movie. I have an English accent, so I’m already equipped to be a movie villain. Plus, I’d get to do really mean things to teens, which is pretty much what YA writers do for a living, right? You know: invent characters and then make bad stuff happen to them.

A movie is being made of ONE of your books. Which book is it, and who will star as the main characters?

That would have to be FIVE FLAVORS OF DUMB. The funny thing is, like a lot of other authors, I’d love to see total unknowns cast. Specifically, I’d like to see a deaf actress cast in the role of Piper. How cool would that be?

The paranormal genre is big in teen/YA literature right now. Most bestsellers feature vampires, werewolves, faeries, angels, or the like as a main character. In your opinion, why are teens currently fascinated with all things paranormal?

I’m probably generalizing terribly here, but it seems to me that a lot of paranormal lit combines the best qualities of adult romance and thriller novels. In other words, there’s a love interest we can all get behind, but the story reads very quickly. I think it’s a great combination, and is ideal for sustaining interest.

Remember those “classics” that you were made to read in high school English class? What was your favorite, and which title should students never have to be subjected to reading?

I grew up in the county of Dorset in England, aka home of Thomas Hardy. Hence, there was at least one Thomas Hardy book each year. Even now, they’re my favorite books, because they’re such extraordinary character studies wrapped inside compelling drama. If I had to pick one, I’d go with THE RETURN OF THE NATIVE.

As for which book I wish I hadn’t been forced to read, that’s easy: GULLIVER’S TRAVELS. Don’t get me wrong: I understand the whole satire thing, but those stories are just DULL. Dull dull dull dull dull. I remember having to sit an English examination in high school where one hour was devoted to the book. I refused to answer the essay question and fell asleep on the desk instead (much to the chagrin of the moderator). My English teacher let me off as long as I promised not to do it during the national examination six months later. I kept my word, but man, it was soul-destroying.

Someone tells you that you’ll never publish another book that you write. Do you still keep writing?

Tricky question, that. I’d like to say yes, but as someone who committed his life to a career in music and now writes YA novels, I’d have to say no. I’d probably see it as an excellent opportunity to branch out into some other artistic enterprise: painting, or home brewing, for example.

A group of teens ask you the best way to become a published writer. How do you answer the question?

First off, I’d repeat the official line about reading everything and writing constantly, just ’cause it’s invaluable training. But there are two other things I’d mention as well:

The first thing I’d urge teens—and all writers, really—to do, is empathize. When you write a story, think like your characters. When you read your own work, think like a critic. When you give it to a friend, think about what you want from them, and communicate this. I know that sounds like wearing lots of different hats, but it’s a skill you need to have as a writer.

The second thing I’d point out is how many different paths there are to becoming a writer. If you want to be a doctor, go to med school. If you want to be a lawyer, go to law school. But if you want to be a writer . . . well, do what you want, and never think that you’re giving up on the dream if you decide to try something else first. I mentioned STARGIRL earlier; Jerry Spinelli had turned 40 before he got his first book published. In contrast, one of my fellow guest authors at the Anderson’s YA conference this weekend will be Alexandra Adornetto, who at the grand age of 18 has just had her fourth book published. Oh, and she’s really good. Basically, don’t give up. Ever!

**Thanks so very much to Antony for visiting with us today! I had such a blast reading his answers, as I'm sure you did, too! Be sure to check out his website, listed above, or you can also find him at his Blog, on Facebook, and at MySpace. You can also email him directly at antony@antonyjohn.net.

Antony's going to be choosing two random posters today to win an ARC of FIVE FLAVORS OF DUMB, so be sure to leave any comments or questions you have for him in the comments section. He'll definitely be stopping by later to answer questions and see what we're talking about!