carriejones

Logan: Hi Tala! Thanks for stopping by to talk about Carrie’s latest book, Need. My mom had this crazy idea that she might interview Carrie about Need, but I used my special dog-Jedi mind powers to convince her to let me interview you instead. We’re much cuter than they are.

In case you missed it, you can read my mom’s review of Need here. Need tells the story of Zara, a high school junior who just lost her stepfather, who was the only father she’d ever known. Zara’s mother ships her up to Maine to live with her grandmother as she struggles to overcome her grief. As if the pressures of starting at a new school weren’t enough, strange things start happening—boys are disappearing and a strange man seems to be following Zara, leaving a trail of mysterious gold dust in his wake.

Tala, Carrie’s previous books—Tips on having a Gay (Ex) Boyfriend, Love (and Other Uses for Duct Tape), and Girl, Hero—don’t have any paranormal elements. What brought Carrie over to the dark side?

Tala: She was at a fair THAT DOES NOT ALLOW DOGS! How wrong is that? Seriously. It’s just like not letting us in grocery stores? They think we can’t control ourselves around livestock that's mooing and livestock that’s wrapped in plastic at the meat counter, but this is just not so.

I always use a napkin afterwards, don’t you?

Logan: Of course.

Tala: Anyway she was at this big organic fair in Maine and she saw this guy who freaked her out. He had a tail wrapped in cloth. Yes, a tail. He had a tail and they let him in.

Logan: What?! But you couldn't go in?

Tala: There’s a massive anti-dog bigotry in this country, I tell you. If we could just get posable thumbs we’d be all set.

Anyway this guy gave her a really creepy feeling. He looked at her. His eyes were silver. She thought, “Eek! I wish I had my dog here with me.”

She looked at him again. His eyes were brown. That freaked her out more.

It made her think about pixies and dog discrimination.

I’ve got to say that I think the true dark side is faux-meat, like those veggie burgers, but I went with you on this one because it’s an interview and I’ve never been interviewed before.

Logan: My mom's a vegetarian and I've tried some of that stuff. It's actually not too bad. I mean, it's not dead squirrel or dead bunny, but nothing really is. But, I digress. Typically, what’s the first element of a story idea that pops into Carrie’s head?

Tala: It’s usually a character doing something. Sometimes it’s a scene.

Logan: What was the spark for Need?

Tala: For NEED it was that creepy guy and then a first line, which was: EVERYBODY’S GOT FEARS, RIGHT?

Logan: When my mom is deep into a story, she spends all her time on the couch with her laptop, despite my small, brown cuteness. I’ve heard rumors that Carrie takes you for walks, even when she’s on deadline. What’s a typical day like for you guys?

Tala: The D Man walks me in the morning because Carrie is no good at mornings. I get back, leap on the bed and give her many kisses to make sure she’s not in a coma.

She always seems like she’s in a coma.

She then throws an arm around me and hugs me.

I snuggle in.

We stay this way for awhile.

The D Man makes a lot of noise in the kitchen.

Carrie falls out of bed.

She crawls like a wounded dog across the floor and brushes her teeth in the bathroom.

I prance around happily because I know she’ll give me a treat soon.

Then she crawls into the kitchen.

I wait patiently.

She gives me a treat, struggles to the computer and types.

The good thing about Carrie is that every time she’s blocked she takes me out for a walk. It’s usually a mile or a half mile.

Carrie gets blocked a lot like all good writers should.

Logan: Need takes place in Maine, where you live. Zara finds Maine to be cold and bleak, and she’s horrified to find snowstorms even though it’s only October. I agree with Zara—give me a sunny driveway to bake on, any day. What about you? Snow dog or sun worshipper?

Tala: Baby, I am such a snow dog.

Logan: Tala, I’ve got to tell you—Carrie’s book sucked my mom in. When she was reading it, she ignored everything else around her. One time, I was trying to tell her I had to go out and she wasn’t paying attention. I even did the little mom-I’m-right-here-why-aren’t-you-looking-at-me-dance (you know what I’m talking about, right?) and she still ignored me. I had to resort to making growly-whining noises before she looked at me over the top of Need’s pretty cover and finally asked if I had to go out. What was the last book that made Carrie ignore you?

Tala: 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher. Bad Jay Asher! Bad man! Bad!

Logan: I will try to make sure my mom doesn't learn of this book! I prefer to be the only thing she pays attention to. What’s next for Carrie on the writing front? Will there be a sequel to Need?

Tala: Carrie is currently starting a sequel to NEED. That will be her next book with Bloomsbury.

She also has a nonfiction picture book with David Godine that’s set to come out soon.

She also has a super secret writing project that keeps her up late at night and makes her giggle and give me extra tail scratches. Yay!

Logan: Tail scratches are the best, followed by ear rubs, followed by belly scratches. How about any upcoming appearances—and, more importantly, will Carrie be bringing you?

Tala: There are rules about dogs in bookstores, too. Why is this? It seems cats can hang out in bookstores. It’s totally unfair.

She is about to go to Vermont and be a graduate assistant for Vermont College’s MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults Program. She’ll be at CONESTOGA in April. Elizabeth at Flying Pig is trying to organize a signing.

She hopes she gets to do more stuff once January is over and her life has settled down a little bit.

I think this is a VERY bad idea because the walk/treat/tail petting decreases significantly when Carrie is not around.

Logan: Is there anything else you’d like to tell the people (or pets) reading this interview?

Tala: I’m thinking of starting a Facebook Group: 1,000,000 to Support Dogs at Grocery Stores. I hope you’ll join.

Logan: Count me in!

Thanks Logan, Tala and Carrie for taking part in this interview! And now, for the contest...

I'll be giving away one (unsigned) copy of Need. To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post. Additionally, for every place you cross-promote Need and/or this interview (e.g. your LJ, blog, website, etc.), Logan will send ten dog biscuits to Tala. Just leave a comment in this post with a link to your cross-promotion and Tala gets treats!

You don't really want to deny treats to this fluffy white face, do you?


All comments must be posted by midnight EST, Thursday January 8th.