Catherine Ryan Hyde - Interview #14

Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author of Becoming Chloe, Pay It Forward, Chasing Windmills and many more books!

You can find her on her website, twitter & myspace.

Be sure to read my Becoming Chloe review!


Where did the idea of the book come from?

It might be weird to say that it came from Jordy. But that's how it felt. It felt as though Jordy came into my head, and I knew he had a story to tell. And I just kept taking it down until we got to the good stuff. There's really no autobiography in there at all, except that I lived in New York when I was very young (Jordy's age, 17) and I feel like that city really kicked my ass. So I guess that comes up sometimes in fiction.

How long did it take you to complete the book?

It probably only took about five months to write a first draft. I really liked it, but some of my trusted readers thought it had problems (it was very different from the final, published version). I set it aside for a long time, then did a big revision (threw out about the last 2/3 and went a different way). Later I revised it again, to tailor it for a YA audience (really just cut the length and tightened the focus, didn't try to make it any less "adult," whatever adult is). So altogether it probably took about 2 1/2 years, but I was doing other things in between versions.

How long did it take from the start of the book and getting it published?

Believe it or not, it took another 2 years to go to press after Knopf bought it. So we're looking at close to 5 years.

Did you listen to music when writing this book?

No, I really only listen to music when I drive.

Do you have any writing advice for aspiring writers?

Yes. Don't be discouraged by rejections. I got tons of them, but I still got where I was going. Just think of them as your membership card in the Real Writer's Club, and don't give up.

What is your next project and when will it be in our hands?

Depends on what I call my next project. I have one coming out in August, Diary of a Witness. A YA book about boys for a change. Then I have another new YA on the subject of transgender due in Fall of 2010 (more info on my blog at www.catherineryanhyde.com, "What's really new.") And then I have another on my editor's desk waiting to be read. I'm not ready to spill the beans about that yet, but there will be information on my site as soon as I have some I can release.

CONTEST ON CATHERINE'S WEBSITE!

Drop by Catherine's Podcast Page, listen to a short story and leave a comment. This will enter you in a contest to win an autographed copy of any of her books!

And be sure to drop into Faerie Drink Review this Saturday for a chance to win a copy of Becoming Chloe!