Interview with Ariel Schrag
October, 2009
SS: How would you describe your life in only 8 words?
AS: I feel like this is a trick question
SS: What is your motto or maxim?
AS: Everything weird is good
SS: How would you describe perfect happiness?
AS: I wouldn't.
SS: What’s your greatest fear?
AS: Going crazy.
SS: If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you choose to be?
AS: Disneyland.
SS: With whom in history do you most identify?
AS: The first thing that popped into my head was "Joan of Arc," but I think that's because I thought that's what I was supposed to answer when I was asked this question in middle school.
SS: Which living person do you most admire?
AS: My mom
SS: What are your most overused words or phrases?
AS: "Awesome!" "Totally!" "Yeah."
SS: What do you regret most?
AS: I can't even talk about it the regret is so painful.
SS: If you could acquire any talent, what would it be?
AS: SKATEBOARDING!!!
SS: What is your greatest achievement?
AS: My children. Oops, I haven't had them yet. I mean..."my work" - no, wait, my friendships.
SS: What’s your greatest flaw?
AS: spacey
SS: What’s your best quality?
AS: spacey
SS: If you could be any person or thing, who or what would it be?
AS: A ripped pro baseball player who has sex with lots of hot girls
SS: What trait is most noticeable about you?
AS: I just hope one day it won't be a hunchback
SS: Who is your favorite fictional hero?
AS: Ramona Quimby
SS: Who is your favorite fictional villain?
AS: Annie Wilkes
SS: If you could meet any historical character, who would it be and what would you say to him or her?
AS: Mr Van Gogh, will you paint my portrait?
SS: What is your biggest pet peeve?
AS: handwriting font
SS: What is your favorite occupation, when you’re not writing?
AS: drawing
SS: What’s your fantasy profession?
AS: I'm living the dream
SS: What 3 personal qualities are most important to you?
AS: funny, surprising, kind
SS: If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your days, what would it be?
AS: A giant Dagwood sandwich that has every kind of food inside of it
SS: What are your 5 favorite songs?
AS: 100,000 fireflies - Magnetic Fields, Sunshine - Pailboy, Wouldn't it be Nice - The Beach Boys, My Name Is - Eminem, Stratford-On-Guy - Liz Phair
SS: Who are your favorite authors?
AS: James Joyce David Sedaris Susan Sontag Jhumpa Lahiri Chris Ware
SS: What are your 5 favorite books of all time?
AS: Ulysses Illness as Metaphor Maus Member of the Wedding Name the Baby
SS: Is there a book you love to reread?
AS: Maus
SS: Do you have one sentence of advice for new writers?
AS: finish your project.
SS: What comment do you hear most often from your readers?
AS: What did your parents say?!?!?!?
SS: What is your birthdate?
AS: 12/29
SS: What were your previous occupations?
AS: movie theater, comic shop, bookstore, phone sex, deli counter, make boxes for rare books, medical research subject, caricaturist on the street, after school art class and homework tutor, writer for The L Word.
SS: What was/is your favorite job?
AS: medical research subject. just kidding.
SS: Where did you go to high school and/or college?
AS: Berkeley High School / Columbia University
SS: Name of your favorite composer or music artist?
AS: Pailboy!
SS: What is your favorite movie?
AS: Dumbo
SS: What is your favorite television show?
AS: Beverly Hills, 90210
Get more on Ariel Schrag at SimonandSchuster.com
Quick Start
SS: How would you describe your life in only 8 words?
AS: I feel like this is a trick question
SS: What is your motto or maxim?
AS: Everything weird is good
What Readers want to know...
SS: How would you describe perfect happiness?
AS: I wouldn't.
SS: What’s your greatest fear?
AS: Going crazy.
SS: If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you choose to be?
AS: Disneyland.
SS: With whom in history do you most identify?
AS: The first thing that popped into my head was "Joan of Arc," but I think that's because I thought that's what I was supposed to answer when I was asked this question in middle school.
SS: Which living person do you most admire?
AS: My mom
SS: What are your most overused words or phrases?
AS: "Awesome!" "Totally!" "Yeah."
SS: What do you regret most?
AS: I can't even talk about it the regret is so painful.
SS: If you could acquire any talent, what would it be?
AS: SKATEBOARDING!!!
SS: What is your greatest achievement?
AS: My children. Oops, I haven't had them yet. I mean..."my work" - no, wait, my friendships.
SS: What’s your greatest flaw?
AS: spacey
SS: What’s your best quality?
AS: spacey
SS: If you could be any person or thing, who or what would it be?
AS: A ripped pro baseball player who has sex with lots of hot girls
SS: What trait is most noticeable about you?
AS: I just hope one day it won't be a hunchback
SS: Who is your favorite fictional hero?
AS: Ramona Quimby
SS: Who is your favorite fictional villain?
AS: Annie Wilkes
SS: If you could meet any historical character, who would it be and what would you say to him or her?
AS: Mr Van Gogh, will you paint my portrait?
SS: What is your biggest pet peeve?
AS: handwriting font
SS: What is your favorite occupation, when you’re not writing?
AS: drawing
SS: What’s your fantasy profession?
AS: I'm living the dream
SS: What 3 personal qualities are most important to you?
AS: funny, surprising, kind
SS: If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your days, what would it be?
AS: A giant Dagwood sandwich that has every kind of food inside of it
SS: What are your 5 favorite songs?
AS: 100,000 fireflies - Magnetic Fields, Sunshine - Pailboy, Wouldn't it be Nice - The Beach Boys, My Name Is - Eminem, Stratford-On-Guy - Liz Phair
Questions About Books and Writing
SS: Who are your favorite authors?
AS: James Joyce David Sedaris Susan Sontag Jhumpa Lahiri Chris Ware
SS: What are your 5 favorite books of all time?
AS: Ulysses Illness as Metaphor Maus Member of the Wedding Name the Baby
SS: Is there a book you love to reread?
AS: Maus
SS: Do you have one sentence of advice for new writers?
AS: finish your project.
SS: What comment do you hear most often from your readers?
AS: What did your parents say?!?!?!?
General Questions
SS: What is your birthdate?
AS: 12/29
SS: What were your previous occupations?
AS: movie theater, comic shop, bookstore, phone sex, deli counter, make boxes for rare books, medical research subject, caricaturist on the street, after school art class and homework tutor, writer for The L Word.
SS: What was/is your favorite job?
AS: medical research subject. just kidding.
SS: Where did you go to high school and/or college?
AS: Berkeley High School / Columbia University
SS: Name of your favorite composer or music artist?
AS: Pailboy!
SS: What is your favorite movie?
AS: Dumbo
SS: What is your favorite television show?
AS: Beverly Hills, 90210
Get more on Ariel Schrag at SimonandSchuster.com
