Blog Tour: Lauren Bjorkman Interview

Stopping by today is Lauren Bjorkman, the author of the hilarious and original debut, My Invented Life! Read on to find out more about her cover and how she came up with her character names!

1. The cover of MY INVENTED LIFE is definitely unique. Was it what you expected?

Not at all. At one point, my editor and I brainstormed covers on the phone. We both got excited about the idea of a “drama geek” Barbie. When she sent the image by email two months later, it came as a total surprise. The cover reminds me of the pictures you take with a friend in a photo booth. (See my smooshy face pic contest here: http://laurenbjorkman.wordpress.com/2010/10/16/i-haz-winnerz/) I like it. Those who don’t, usually feel that the image clashes with the content of the story.

2. How did you come up with your character names?

LOL! I borrowed the names of my friend’s children. Seriously. Roz is an adorable out-going girl, about 7 now. Eva, an elegant an talented nine year old. Nico is a dashing Ecuadorian, and Carmen a self-possessed sixth grader. I don’t know any Andie’s, though. I wanted a girlified boy’s name for her. Sometimes I visit baby-naming websites. Occasionally I look up the meaning of names to see if they fit with the character’s personality.

3. It appears you have traveled quite a bit- is there one place you are still dying to visit?

Due to budget constraints, we mostly travel to places that are cheap to travel around. Not that I’m complaining! I love everywhere I’ve been. Asian culture fascinates me. The food is amazing, and the art incredible. I would like to go to Vietnam and Cambodia next. Japan is high on my list, as is France. But they’re a tad pricier, so we’ll see.

4. If Roz could befriend any other book character who would she choose?

Andrew Zansky from Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can’t Have. He is hilarious, and she loves to laugh. His weight issue wouldn’t bother her. Plus, Roz is one of those girls who makes friends more easily with boys than with girls, I think.

5. What's next for you writing wise?

I have a second YA novel under contract called Miss Fortune Cookie about a girl at an ultra-competitive high school in San Francisco that starts an advice blog inspired by fortune cookie wisdom, which is funny until someone actually takes her advice. I’m also working on a humorous and hopeful dystopian.

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Thanks so much for stopping by Lauren! For more info on her and My Invented Life check out her website and stop by tomorrow to read my review!