Interview with D.J. MacHale

Quick Start

SS: How would you describe your life in only 8 words?

DM: My life is an ongoing, ever changing adventure.

SS: What is your motto or maxim?

DM: Do unto others...(etc.)

What Readers want to know...

SS: How would you describe perfect happiness?

DM: Laughing with my girls.

SS: What’s your greatest fear?

DM: Leaving something undone.

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

DM: Right here because "No matter where you go, there you are."- Buckaroo Banzai

SS: What are your most overused words or phrases?

DM: "Excellent!" and "Exactly!"

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

DM: I'd love to play the piano, and I'm going to work on it.

SS: What’s your greatest flaw?

DM: I often oversimplify

SS: What’s your best quality?

DM: My ability to oversimplify

SS: Who is your favorite fictional hero?

DM: A toss-up between Groucho Marx in his films, and Bugs Bunny (Because I think they are the same character)

SS: Who is your favorite fictional villain?

DM: Goldfinger. He had the most brilliant super villian plan ever, and a great theme song.

SS: If you could meet any historical character, who would it be and what would you say to him or her?

DM: Probably Adolph Hitler just so I could say: "You're kidding, right?"

SS: What is your biggest pet peeve?

DM: People who crowd the baggage carousel at airports. Relax people, we'll all get our luggage.

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

DM: Playing with my daughter.

SS: What’s your fantasy profession?

DM: That's easy. Astronaut. Hey, I'm a child of the 60's!

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

DM: Sense of humor, compassion, honesty...in that order.

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

DM: Toss up. Pizza or Thanksgiving dinner.

SS: Which living person do you most admire?

DM: Anyone who can do something I can't, which is a very long list of people that includes artists, gymnasts and mathematicians

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

DM: A dog who belonged to me. It's a good life.

Questions About Books and Writing

SS: Who are your favorite authors?

DM: Jack London, Ernest Hemingway, J.D. Salinger

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

DM: The Call of the Wild by Jack London The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger Moonraker by Ian Fleming Candide by Voltaire The Shining by Stephen King

SS: Is there a book you love to reread?

DM: The Whale and the Snail by Julia Donaldson Reading it aloud to my daughter is a blast.

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

DM: Always write about what you know.

SS: What comment do you hear most often from your readers?

DM: Hurry up with the next book!

General Questions

SS: What were your previous occupations?

DM: Busboy, trophy engraver, poultry farm worker, television producer

SS: What was/is your favorite job?

DM: Any job that allows me to create stories

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

DM: Greenwich High School, Villanova University, New York University

SS: What is your favorite movie?

DM: The Guns of Navarone

SS: Name of your favorite composer or music artist?

DM: Too many to name!

Get more on D.J. MacHale at SimonandSchuster.com