TWISTED live, in Penguin Land

Thank you, Book Page, for the excellent review! (Be sure to check out all the featured YA titles, including Cynthia Leitich Smith’s excellent Tantalize.)

My totally excellent publisher, Penguin Books, has posted a bunch of TWISTED stuff on their site.

You can read the first chapter online!

Check out the discussion guide questions.

Examine the playlist.

The good penguins also asked decent interview questions. I thought they might amuse you.

Grew up in?
Several tiny villages in Northern & Central NY and Syracuse, NY: the big city.

Childhood ambition?
To read all the books in the library and climb to the top of the rope in gym class.

Desert island book?
Ulysses, by James Joyce.

Favorite city?
Tough question! San Francisco, with Paris running a close second.

Favorite movie?
It’s A Wonderful Life, Van Helsing, Rocky, Last of the Mohicans.

Where do you write?
My office is the third floor loft of our house, with windows that look over our woods and meadows. If it’s really cold, I take my computer down to the living room and work in front of the fire. Sometimes I work in coffee shops and libraries and book stores, just to see other human beings. But mostly, I like my loft.

What made you decide to write Twisted?
Many of the teenage guys I met in the last ten years had fascinating things to tell me. While the book is not based on anyone’s story, the themes of a guy’s alienation from his dad, a broken family pretending to be happy, and the despair that leads kids to kill themselves came from what they told me. And I like a challenge. I’d written a bunch of books from a girl’s point-of-view, and I wanted to see if I could get in the head of a boy.

What would you like readers to learn from Tyler?
That they are not alone with their darkest thoughts, that most people go through hell, and that it is possible to survive having parents who are clueless jerks. Oh, and that friends are gold.

What adjectives would you use to describe Twisted?
Aaahhh…twisted? No, that’s too obvious. Dark, funny, dangerous, and honest.

Favorite food?
Popcorn with butter, bran muffins (not too sweet) and strong coffee, bacon and eggs cooked over an open fire while camping, pickled herring.

Favorite song?
Hotel California (live version) by The Eagles and Clocks, by Coldplay.

Favorite item of clothing?
Hoodie sweatshirt just out of the dryer.

Greatest achievement?
Raising my kids to be good people (though they did most of the work).

Most embarrassing moment?
There are countless!! The worst was when my little sister and I got into a knock-down, drag-out fight at a family reunion and all of the older second cousins I had been hoping to impress dismissed me as being one of the stupid little kids because of it. (I was 11 years old.)

Smartest thing you ever did?
Went overseas, took some time off after high school, then went to community college before transferring to a four-year school. Marched to the beat of my drummer.

Life motto?
It’s not a mistake if you learn from it.

19 Replies to “TWISTED live, in Penguin Land”

  1. Great excerpt! I like how it sets the stage for both school and family stuff… I’m definitely psyched to read the whole thing now. 🙂

  2. I’ve just started reading Twisted, and I absolutely love it. Just–so much love. More detailed thoughts when I’m done. 🙂

  3. Hotel California? Hotel California? The song that traumatized my childhood? That’s your favorite? I listened to the radio at night and when those first eerie notes began I’d throw back the covers, race across the room and shut WOLF off. Across town you were singing along? I might have to rethink this friend thing.

    Oh and hey, congrats on TWISTED.

  4. I’m impressed your desert island book is Ulysses. I have a BA in English and I still haven’t read the whole thing, and the parts I have read completely confused me. I admire people who get Joyce.

  5. twisted release date

    this is probably a really stupid question, but what day does twisted come out? i’m wanting to get it but i couldn’t find it on your site. the answers to those questions were funny lol. i’m so excited to see you on may 11! =) ♥

  6. Rocky Balboa? like or not?

    Laurie- Looking forward to reading Twisted but I was curious about your opinion of the Rocky Balboa (6th and final film) movie–
    Since Rocky is one of your all time favorite films.

    Personally I thought Stallone did a magnificent job of wrapping up many of the characters storylines and gave a very satisfying end to a long time well loved franchise.

    Anyone who missed it the DVD is due out march 20th THIS month!

  7. I could barely get off the ground.

    But now I can chin-ups!

    I usually acheive my goals. Sometimes it takes a awhile.

  8. Note that I did not say that I understood the book. I will spend the rest of my life trying to do that. But that’s what would make it the perfect desert island book.

  9. Twisted

    Hi Laurie,
    Just read the first chapter online and I love it! Good luck with the launch and tour! I’m sure it will all go fine. A voice from the past, Mary Beth Miller

  10. picture…and other things…

    Hi!!! One of my very good friends and I were there for the Keynote Address you did in LaCrosse, WI in…I don’t remember what month. I just wanted to say it was AMAZING. Speak is an awesome book too…as is Fever 1793. I am sad to say I have not been able to read any of your other books. So sad. I really want to though.

    Oh yeah!!! Forgot to ask…what’s with the picture for your screen name and stuff. It’s interesting.

    Until next time,

    Anonymous

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