After Kimberly and I read AS King’s just-released Ask the Passengers and both loved it, we knew we had to seek her out for this month’s Twitterview.
Along with telling us about the inspirations for Ask the Passengers, about the genre of books she writes, and her favorite writing advice, we’ve got a finished copy of her book to give away to one lucky reader.
Without further ado, AS King:
Pitch Ask the Passengers in 140 characters.
Astrid Jones sends her love to the passengers in the airplanes that fly overhead because she doesn’t know what else to do with it.
What inspired Ask the Passengers?
The constant labeling of human beings inspired ASK THE PASSENGERS. And my senior Humanities class. And Plato. And a bar I used to go to.
Setting plays a huge part in Ask the Passengers. Talk a bit about that.
Setting ATP in a gossip hotbed was unintentional, but then I realized that gossip is a setting most people can relate to. We all live in it.
Ask the Passengers is a story about sexuality without being a story ABOUT sexuality. Who or what is Astrid because of this? Does it matter?
It doesn’t matter. Astrid is a human being. People who try to label sexuality weird me out. It’s not about sex. It’s about love.
Tell us your message to the passengers above.
When I look at planes, I send love. It’s a habit I started decades ago. So, I guess the message is: I love you.
What, if anything, should readers walk away with from Ask the Passengers?
Love? And understanding of the process of questioning? A newfound interest in Zeno or Socrates? A craving for crab Rangoon?
If you had to give your book a “____ meets _____” pitch, what two (or three! or four!) books/films/shows would Ask the Passengers be a meeting of?
I am at a loss here because I don’t watch TV or many modern movies. I know it’s a cop out, but I just don’t know. Can you do it? Please?
Your books bend genre. If you had to classify them, how would you label ’em?
They’re A.S. King books. I think. They don’t like to be classified…just like Astrid. And me. And probably hawks or bumble bees.
Do you find yourself relating to or holding a character from any of your books a little more closely than others?
Yes. I relate to Vera Dietz, Lucky Linderman and Astrid. I hold Ken Dietz very close. And Granddad Harry. And Socrates.
Who or what do you write for?
I write for me and the water heater in my office. And the boiler and washing machine. They are my biggest fans.
What was your most influential read as a teenager?
Lord of the Flies and The Republic. Counting early teen years: Paul Zindel’s work.
Who are your top three writing influences?
Kurt Vonnegut, Tom Robbins and Salman Rushdie. Those are the writers who made me want to write.
Who do you believe is breaking ground in YA right now?
Andrew Smith writes ground-breaking, mind-blowing books. I’m especially excited for GRASSHOPPER JUNGLE, coming fall 2013.
What’s the best writing advice you ever received?
Writing advice: Get your ass in the chair. Publishing advice: Enjoy every second.
What’s your best writing advice to give?
Check out my Writer’s Middle Finger series. Part Six will come soon.
What is your writing routine?
Write as often as I can as much as I can. Made easier this year by my youngest kid going to school all day.
What gets you jazzed to write?
Music. Ideas. History. But mostly, writing. Writing gets me jazzed to write. I wake up, I run to the office, and I write.
Do you have a writing soundtrack? Care to share a bit?
Every book has a different soundtrack. But the one song that weaves though all my work is Bob Marley’s “Burnin’ and Lootin’.”
What’s next for you?
ASK THE PASSENGERS came in late October. REALITY BOY will come in Oct. 2013. It’s about Gerald Faust. He’s angry. With good reason.
Favorite ice cream?
My classic favorite was mint chocolate chip. But the giant ice cream cone down the road sells this black raspberry soft serve that I love.
Want to win a copy of AS King’s latest, Ask the Passengers? Fill out the form below, and we’ll pick a winner at the end of the month.