Interview with Amanda Marrone

Quick Start

SS: What is your motto or maxim?

AM: Expect good things to happen.

What Readers want to know...

SS: What’s your greatest fear?

AM: The basement or dark rooms after watching a scary show.

SS: If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you choose to be?

AM: Going to see a Broadway show before jetting off to Scotland.

SS: What do you regret most?

AM: Bad choices in high school.

SS: If you could acquire any talent, what would it be?

AM: Singing

SS: Which living person do you most admire?

AM: There are so many, but Stephen Sondheim is an amazingly talented man.

SS: What is your greatest achievement?

AM: Publishing a book.

SS: What’s your greatest flaw?

AM: Procrastination

SS: What’s your best quality?

AM: Kindness

SS: If you could be any person or thing, who or what would it be?

AM: A broadway star.

SS: What trait is most noticeable about you?

AM: Shyness

SS: Who is your favorite fictional hero?

AM: Buffy

SS: Who is your favorite fictional villain?

AM: Spike--though he turns into a hero.

SS: What is your biggest pet peeve?

AM: rude people

SS: What is your favorite occupation, when you’re not writing?

AM: Reading

SS: What’s your fantasy profession?

AM: Broadway star

SS: What 3 personal qualities are most important to you?

AM: Kindness, a sense of humor and a positive outlook.

SS: If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your days, what would it be?

AM: Grilled Chicken Salad

SS: What are your 5 favorite songs?

AM: This changes all the time, but right now Johanna, Not While I'm Around, and Pretty Women from Sweeney Todd, Bitch of Living and Don't do Sadness from Spring Awakening, and Home by the Talking Heads--hmmm--that's six.

General Questions

SS: What is your birthdate?

AM: 7/7

SS: What were your previous occupations?

AM: Book seller, cocktail waitress, teacher

SS: What was/is your favorite job?

AM: writing!

SS: Where did you go to high school and/or college?

AM: North Shore High School on Long Island and SUNY Cortland

SS: Name of your favorite composer or music artist?

AM: Stephen Sondheim

SS: What is your favorite movie?

AM: I can't narrow it down--The Wizard of Oz, The Sure Thing, Sweeney Todd, Elf, Spirited Away

SS: What is your favorite television show?

AM: Some past and present favorites--Buffy, Angel, X-Files, America's Next Top Model, Survivor, Veronica Mars, Big Bang Theory, Gilmore Girls

Questions About Books and Writing

SS: Who are your favorite authors?

AM: Wow--too many to mention, but as teen I loved Stephen King, Anne Rice, Ray Bradbury, Kurt Vonnegut, Lucy Maud Montgomery, and Piers Anthony.

SS: What are your 5 favorite books of all time?

AM: It changes all the time, but as a teen I loved Anne of Green Gables, A Spell for Chameleon, and Salem's Lot. Recently I was blown away by Unwind and The Hunger Games.

SS: Is there a book you love to reread?

AM: Bridge to Terabithia

SS: Do you have one sentence of advice for new writers?

AM: Read a lot!

Get more on Amanda Marrone at SimonandSchuster.com