Interview with Lauren Oliver (author of Delirium and Before I Fall)

About Lauren- from her site:

I grew up in a small, affluent town very similar to the one depicted in Before I Fall. Many details of the book have their origins in real things and places. For example, my best friend Laura used to drive me to school every day, and we always stopped at Dunkin Donuts for large hazelnut coffees, no sugar, extra cream. We did used to go to an all-night, 24/7 deli for oily egg n' cheeses after parties (yum), and there really was a Cupid Day at my high school, when people exchanged Valograms and carried around big bouquets of flowers.
More than anything, my friendships defined my high school experience, particularly my relationships with a small core of girls who have remained my best friends to this day. And that, too, lies at the heart and core of the inspiration for Before I Fall: the way that the people closest to us can wound, damage, liberate, and Ultimately redeem us. 

You can read my review of Delirium here 

--The Twitter version: tell us about your book in 140 characters or less.

DELIRIUM is a love story, set in a world in which love is forbidden. Cue action-packed romance-y goodness. Read it!

--How did you get the idea for the story?

The idea for DELIRIUM came from an essay I read by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, in which he wrote that all great books were about love or death. The next day I was thinking about that quote--particularly about how and in what form a modern love story could be told--while I was on the treadmill at the gym. I was simultaneously watching a news story about a flu outbreak that had everyone freaking out about the possibility of a pandemic, and I was kind of marveling that people so easily go into panics about reports of these diseases, and at some point the two trains of thought--love, and disease--just sort of combined in my head.

--Which character would you most/least like to have dinner with?

I would most like to have dinner with Alex—he’s a hottie! (Is it weird that I’m saying that and he’s only 19?) I would definitely not like to have dinner with Aunt Carol. She would probably talk about laundry the whole time.

--What are some of your favorite books? Do you still have much time to read?

It’s very important to me to make time to read. I follow new releases in various genres, both YA, MG, and adult. For example, I recently read Anna and The French Kiss and The Room—two very different literary experiences! Some of my favorite books are: Matilda, The Great Gatsby, His Dark Materials, One Hundred Years of Solitude, The Brain That Changes Itself, and Middlesex. See—I’m all over the map!

--If a fairy godmother told you your life could be like a favorite book for 24 hours, which book would you pick and why?

Just for 24 hours? I’d pick Harry Potter or The Chronicles of Narnia—I’ve always loved the worlds evoked by those books—they’re wonderful, magical, imaginative.

--Do you need anything to write (music, coffee, etc)? Are there any songs on your book’s playlist-" songs that inspired you or that were playing while you wrote?

I need coffee to live—I can’t even speak without coffee! But other than that, I can pretty much write anywhere and under any set of circumstances. I don’t actually listen to music while I write. I find that it unduly colors the emotional texture of my writing. BUT there are songs I listen to that get me into the mindset of my characters and help me enter into the world before writing. I listed a bunch of songs that were important to DELIRIUM here:

--Can you give us any teasers from the sequel? Is there a  publication date?

No teasers! :P I’m very stubborn that way. But it is action-packed and takes place in two different places and in two different time periods, and still features Lena as the main character.

--If you could have any superpower what would you choose?

The power to fly! I have dreams about flying a lot.

--Besides writing, what do you like to do in your free time?

I love to read, of course. I also love to cook and entertain friends at my home. Eating is a big passion of mine! Fortunately, I also love to work out. Kickboxing, running, hiking, dancing, Pilates, yoga—if it’s hard and it works my body, I’m into it