Courtney Summers is the author of Cracked Up to Be, Some Girls Are and Fall for Anything. Born in Belleville, Ontario in 1986, she currently resides in a small town not far from there. Before she was an author, she dabbled in photography, theatre–as both an actor and Vice President of her local theatre guild–and worked for her family's lapidary business. She is currently hard at work on her next novel.
1. How did you become a writer? Why do you write books for young adults?
I've always been interested in telling stories and I spent a lot of my teen years exploring the best mediums for me to do that, dabbling in everything from theatre to photography. When I wrote my first young adult novel, I knew that was what I was meant to do. Young adult novels have this wonderful sense of immediacy about them that I am very drawn to as a writer.
2. What's a typical day for you as a writer?
My days are about managing the business side of my writing and my nights are devoted entirely to working on my books. A typical writing night for me is to just sit down and type and hope the Internet doesn't distract me too much!
3. Where do you get your ideas? Where do you draw inspiration from?
I draw my inspiration from real life and asking a lot of 'what-if' type questions.
4. What's your favourite young adult book?
I couldn't pick just one! The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier, One Lonely Degree by C.K. Kelly Martin (and all of her books), Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma, Destroy All Cars by Blake Nelson, Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr... I could list books forever! There are so many wonderful YA novels out there right now!
5. Some young adults feel they are forced to read "classics" – Shakespeare, Dickens, Jane Austen, — that may not speak to them. Is it important for young adults to read "classics"?
Some of the most important reading experiences I had were when I was a teenager; there was nothing like opening up a book and feeling understood.
I think it's incredibly important for young adults to read books that speak to them, books that are relevant to the time they live in and to the lives they're living. Classics can be hard for them to connect to, which is not to say they shouldn't read them, but they shouldn't feel forced to because it does a disservice to them and the work.
Books aren't a 'one size fits all' type of entertainment. A forced reading experience can give teens a negative impression of reading, which discourages them from doing it. We need to instill a love of reading in young adults because it's that love of reading that will naturally guide them to the classics.
6. Today North American young people are constantly bombarded with faster entertainment options such as the internet or TV. Where does reading fit in?
When I'm reading a book, I don't feel like my attention should be anywhere else--it's not competing with the television or the Internet. Reading holds up against all other forms of entertainment.
Some people have the idea that reading is work, but it's not or at least, it shouldn't be. A good book will transport a reader and entertain. If it feels like work, you're probably not reading the right book for you.
It's so important for young adults to read because reading is a way to explore new worlds and ways of thinking. It's a way they can enrich and inspire themselves. And it's fun!
7. Do you feel there's something special about Canadian literature for young adults?
Of course! As a Canadian, it's wonderful to feel close to a setting in a novel and sometimes, to be given a new way of thinking of your home.
8. If you could tell your teen self one thing, what would it be?
Relax!
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