Friday Five -- L.B. Schulman

L.B. Schulman is another Apocalypsies author who lives in Northern California.  I met her several years ago, just after LEAGUE OF STRAYS sold and just before GILT did.  She is gracious, unassuming, welcoming and courageous, and I am delighted to be able to consider her one of my writer friends.  She also has an incredible talent for writing setting and character details that spark and pop and make every scene in STRAYS come alive.

THE FIVE:


1.  What keeps you awake at night?

My plots. I keep thinking of points I forgot to put into my work-in-progress. I am writing a very complex story right now, involving the Holocaust, and I wake up wondering what major details I’m missing.

2.  What is your most treasured possession?

My Nespresso machine. I go through three lattes a day. I adore the colorful pods, the no-clean-up hassle. I even polish it every day with stainless steel cleanser, lovingly.

3.  What is the most surprising thing you’ve learned since becoming a writer?

That people don’t always have patience for weak heroines who learn how to find their way; they prefer strong ones who grow stronger and solve problems. I tend to write realistic, every day characters, but I am finding that they’re not always the most likeable or commercial. This theory may change, but it’s how I feel right now.

4.  What intrigues you?

At the moment, controversy. But I’m afraid of it at the same time. I wish I had the guts to say what I mean, when I feel it, and not have to worry what others will think. I find controversy to be very exciting and thought-provoking.

5.  What annoys you?

As soon as people have to be by themselves in public, they pull out their cell phones. I get that it’s a way to look busy, but it’s eliminated the possibility of random communication. Twenty years ago, I met a really good friend in the DMV line. I’m not sure that would happen today.

ABOUT LEAGUE OF STRAYS:

This suspenseful debut follows a group of teenage misfits in their delicious quest for revenge on those who have wronged them at their high school. When a mysterious note appears in Charlotte’s mailbox inviting her to join the League of Strays, she’s hopeful it will lead to making friends. What she discovers is a motley crew of loners and an alluring, manipulative ringleader named Kade. Kade convinces the group that they need one another both for friendship and to get back at the classmates and teachers who have betrayed them. But Kade has a bigger agenda. In addition to vandalizing their school and causing fights between other students, Kade’s real intention is a dangerous plot that will threaten lives and force Charlotte to choose between her loyalty to the League and her own conscience.

You can order LEAGUE OF STRAYS here!

ABOUT L.B. SCHULMAN:

You can find Lisa on her website.
On Twitter.
And on the blog Emu's Debuts.

Taking a Break

As some of you may have noticed, I didn't post last Monday.  I've been going through a rough time, personally, which I wrote about on the YA Muses blog last week.  Between that, copyedits for TARNISH, finishing the first draft of Book 3, upcoming events and just life in general, I need to take a bit of a break from the blog.  So please, bear with me - I'm hoping November will be a bit less hectic.

I will continue to post the Friday Five, so please come back and meet more Apocalypsies authors every week!