If you write books for middle-grade readers or young adults I can’t imagine why you’d live somewhere other than the Twin Cities. Seriously folks, this area is filthy with MG and YA readers. I’d list them off but I’d probably forget someone and that’d be embarrassing. But as I type this, I can list ten or eleven right off the top of my head.
Today we have the honor of featuring one of these fine authors, Anne Ursu (who also writes books for grownups. You know what else is happening today? Breadcrumbs is released. I’ve heard nothing but great, great things about this one and I can’t read it!
With the launch of a new book comes a slew of chances for you to get to go see Anne read. First up is a reading at 2 p.m. Sunday, October 2 at Red Ballon Bookshop 891 Grand Avenue, St. Paul. If you can’t make that you can see her again in a couple of weeks at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 29 at Birchbark Books 2115 West 21st St, Minneapolis or at 1 p.m. Saturday, November 5 at Wild Rumpus 2720 West 43rd Street, Minneapolis.
Finally, if you can wait until 2 p.m. Sunday, November 13 you can see Anne and Kelly Barnhill (author of the fabulous The Mostly True Story of Jack) as part of the The Loft’s Second Story Reading series (that one will be at The Loft, 1011 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis).
In the meantime, you can read Anne’s answers to the six questions we always ask.
What book(s) are you currently reading?
Bigger than a Bread Box by Laurel Snyder and Neversink by Barry Wolverton.
Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character? Who?
Nawat Crow from Tamora Pierce’s Trickster Series gives me weak knees. I also have a thing for Remus Lupin, and I feel I would be very understanding about the whole werewolf deal. But mostly I’m saving myself for Gilbert Blythe.
If your favorite author came to Minnesota, who would it be and what bar would you take him/her to?
When I am around authors I admire, I tend to either lose the power of language or start babbling in tongues. I’m pretty sure Ann Patchett thinks I’m mute, and I once met Shannon Hale and talked at her for long time in, I think, Lithuanian. That said, I would like very much to take Kate DiCamillo to Psycho Suzi’s.
What was your first favorite book?
The Monster at the End of this Book, Starring Loveable, Furry Old Grover. He can come to Psycho Suzi’s, too, if it’s okay with Kate.
Let’s say Fahrenheit 451 comes to life, which book would you become in order to save it from annihilation?
That is a lot of responsibility. I think Anne of Green Gables, because surely Gilbert would love me then. It seems immodest to save your own books, and so I can only hope my mom would chose to become Breadcrumbs. But I don’t really want to see what would happen if she were asked to choose between her daughter and Mr. Darcy.
What is one book you haven’t read but want to read before you die?
I am totally going to read The Mill on the floss. I loved Middlemarch and Daniel Deronda. And, really, I have it sitting on my shelf. I could even read it right now. But I can’t. I have things to do. But I’m totally going to read it someday.
Look at that cover! Now I want winter to come.
My grandson, Brooks, loves Annie’s books and I do, too.
Congratulations, Annie!