Exclusive Interview with Laurie Faria Stolarz(Author of The Blue is for Nightmares Series and the Deadly Little Secrets Series)

We all read the Blue is for Nightmares and loved it so much that we had to ask her some questions and she was more than happy to answer!!



RTR: What’s your guilty pleasure?
Laurie: Popcorn with soy butter, salt, and garlic powder; dark chocolate in almost any form; french fries at least once every couple of months; reality TV and lots of it.

RTR: Do you have any weird talents or hobbies?
Laurie: Not really a talent, but I can eat tomato sauce straight from the jar like pudding.  I can also drop some serious crane in yoga class.

RTR: If you could have lunch with anyone, alive or dead, who would you choose and why?
Laurie: Gary Zukav.  I find his insights and perspective on life fascinating.  It’d also be fun to kick it with Oprah.

RTR: What are some odd jobs you had before you were a writer?
Laurie: My first job was as a piano teacher (I was 9).  I’ve also been a waitress, a supermarket cashier, worked in a ceramics studio, worked as a tour guide for international exchange students, been a teacher, a script reader, an editor, and written obituaries for a newspaper.

RTR: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Laurie: My biggest advice is to persevere.  There are many talented writers who give up after 5, 10, or even 100 rejection letters.  Be open to learning and to getting better in your craft.  If more than one person criticizes the same point in your work – i.e. your main character whines too much – chances are you need to look at that point again.  Never pay reading fees while trying to get published.  Do your homework.  Know to whom you’re sending your query letter, who their clients are, what their track record is, and what they’re looking for.  Every letter should be personalized and reflect that you’ve done your research.  And, lastly, consider joining a writers group.  There’s nothing better than being in a group of like-minded writers who can help inspire and cheer you on, and who provide constructive feedback that helps to strengthen your work.

RTR: What are your favorite songs on your iPod?
Laurie: I’m an old fashioned girl and still use CD’s.  But, if I had an iPod, it’d be loaded with anything by Fergie, James Blunt, Tori Amos, Sting, Sarah MacLachlin, Gwen Stefani, and The Black-eyed Peas.

RTR: How did you get into/ hear about the wiccan religion and spells used in Blue is for Nightmares?

Laurie: When I started the novel, I had no idea I would delve into the world of magic and witchcraft – that is until I did a free-writing exercise in a workshop class. I wrote a scene in which Stacey, my main character, was meditating in front of a blue candle. Someone in the class suggested that since she had the candle, and since I’m originally from Salem, Massachusetts, I should try making her a witch.  Not knowing too much about the formal practice of the Craft, I had heard growing up that my grandmother had experience with the sixth sense, and so I started doing research and asking lots of questions. I learned a lot this way. I learned of passed down home remedies, interesting family superstitions, tea readings, card readings, and specific experiences with the sixth sense. I also researched the more formal practices of Witchcraft and Wicca, as well as other home remedies that pass down within families.

RTR: How did you come up with the idea to use pychometry in the deadly little secrets series?
Laurie: I started researching different types of supernatural powers and discovered the power of psychometry (the ability to sense things through touch).  The concept fascinated me, and so I wanted to bring it out in a character, showing how sometimes even the most extraordinary powers can also be a curse.

RTR: Chad or Jacob?
Laurie: Jacob.  Who else?

RTR: How do you come up with such evil characters in all of your books?
Laurie: I write about things that are scary to me.  The actions of my evil characters are scary, and so I try to portray those actions in a believable way, heightening the fear factor even more.

Thank you Laurie!  We can’t wait until Deadly Little Games!