Visiting with Lauren Baratz-Logsted

www.laurenbaratzlogsted.com

Today we're visiting with prolific author Lauren Baratz-Logsted, whose latest YA release, THE TWIN'S DAUGHTER, was just released on 8/31/10 by Bloomsbury!



Lucy Sexton is stunned when a disheveled woman appears at the door one day…a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to Lucy's own beautiful mother. It turns out the two women are identical twins, separated at birth, and raised in dramatically different circumstances. Lucy's mother quickly resolves to give her less fortunate sister the kind of life she has never known. And the transformation in Aunt Helen is indeed remarkable. But when Helen begins to imitate her sister in every way, even Lucy isn't sure at times which twin is which. Can Helen really be trusted, or does her sweet face mask a chilling agenda?

Filled with shocking twists and turns, THE TWIN'S DAUGHTER is an engrossing Gothic novel of betrayal, jealousy, and treacherous secrets that will keep you guessing to the very end.

**I had the chance to ask Lauren a few questions about her life and writing, and I hope you enjoy her responses as much as I did!

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

Kit Tyler from THE TWIN'S DAUGHTER. I’ve written antiheroes before and reluctant heroes but I don’t think I’ve ever written a character that’s so purely heroic.

Your own six-word memoir.

Life’s short and so am I.

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

In Victorian England, a teen learns that her society mother has an identical twin who was raised in the workhouse

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

Jo March from LITTLE WOMEN so I could finally talk some sense into her.

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

Before I wanted to be a psychologist/singer – we’re going way back now! – I wanted to be a member of the Robinson family on Lost in Space so I could travel with them on their spaceship. I was sure I could usurp daughter Judy’s place in Major Don West’s affections.

The one book everyone in the world should read.

This year it should be KINGS OF THE EARTH by John Clinch. Next year the answer will change to whatever my favorite book of 2011 will be.

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

BETWEEN FRIENDS, Kristy Kiernan; KINGS OF THE EARTH, Jon Clinch; INSIGNIFICANT OTHERS, Stephen McCauley; FAITHFUL PLACE, Tana French; SHATTERING GLASS, Gail Giles.

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

THE ISLAND, by Elin Hilderbrand. I’m obsessed with her Nantucket-based books.

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

“Did I mention my daughter’s a writer?” My mother tells everyone she encounters about me. If only Mom had a bigger platform.

Using the letters J L W (my initials!), create the title of your next bestseller. (For example, Jumping Love Walrus.)

Jennie Loves Walter, a contemporary ROMEO & JULIET story about a poor girl from CT and a royal from England.

What is your ultimate vacation destination?

At the moment, Italy. A friend of mine is going there for a month to celebrate her 50th birthday and I wish I could go with her.

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 recently saw a trailer for an upcoming Robert Downey Jr. film called Due Date. I want to be in that because Robert Downey Jr. is in it.

You’re invited to a White House function, and you have the chance to give a 10-minute speech to the President and everyone else attending. What do you speak about?

Hold on a second here. You mean they didn’t invite me just to do a book-signing?

Your publisher has instructed you to write a new series based on an endangered species. What animal do you choose?

Zuniga’s Dark Rice Rat. Unlike Abbott’s Booby, it’s at the very bottom of the endangered list, alphabetically. Poor little Zuniga’s Dark Rice Rat – probably no one ever worries about you at all.

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

THE TWIN'S DAUGHTER. But let’s find unknowns for Lucy and Kit. That way we can make people’s careers like they did with that little Harry Potter franchise and that Twilight thingy.

**Thanks so much to Lauren for visiting with us today! Be sure to check out her website, listed above, email her directly at glogsted AT aol DOT com, or find her at:

The “Writer in Residence” column at BiblioBuffet

Teen Fiction Café

Facebook

MySpace

Twitter

Be sure to leave any comments or questions you have for Lauren in the comments section!