Interview With Lucienne Diver

Lucienne Diver is not just a super agent with the Knight Literary Agency, she's also a YA author. Her new book, Vamped, just came out! And one lucky commenter is going to win a copy!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I was born a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…okay, it was Baltimore, Maryland. We moved to NY when I was five, and that’s where I grew up, reading anything I could get my hands on: science fiction, fantasy, mystery, romance. Not much has changed, except now I do it for profit as well as fun. I love agenting and writing, mostly because it makes me a part of the rarified world of publishing, which is ever challenging and never dull!

2. How did you get the inspiration for Vamped?
One day Gina (my heroine) just started speaking in my head. It was either see a shrink or give her a story. It was just supposed to be a short one, a vignette, really, but she wanted more. My writers group wanted more. This was the same writers group that was sometimes known to whap me over the head with rolled up manuscripts (you know who you are), so I knew they weren’t just being nice. So I gave Gina a novel. Now she wants a series. Beware newly minted vampire fashionistas…they’re out for blood!

3. What authors do you read?
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Janet Evanovich, Laurell K. Hamilton, Aaron Elkins, Mary Stewart, and my own wonderful authors: Rachel Caine, Marjorie M. Liu, Rosemary Clement-Moore, David B. Coe, Faith Hunter, Susan Krinard, Diana Pharaoh Francis…. I could go on!

4. Who is your favorite character?
Ever? Wow, that’s tough. I’ve fallen in love with so many characters: Melanie Rawn’s Rohan from The Dragon Prince series, Lynn Flewelling’s Seregil, Carol Berg’s Seyonne, The Scarlet Pimpernel and, of course, the unattainable Sherlock Holmes.

5. What five things are always in your purse?
My wallet (hopefully!), a pen, something to write on (whether it be a notepad, an envelope or the back of my bank book, business cards and lint.

6. What music are you currently listening to?
I can’t listen to music and think enough to answer interview questions at the same time. I have this tendency to give whatever I’m doing my full attention and not work well with distractions. I was way better about that in college, where I could listen to music, watch tv, do homework and chew gum all at the same time.

7. Tell us about your pets?
We have two gerbils we won in a raffle that my son has named Charcoal and Smoky. Very descriptive. I can’t look at them without thinking of Stephanie Plum’s hamster Rex and wanting to give them a raisin. I think I’ll try it and see what they think.

8. One item of makeup you can't live without.
Powder. I like to be shiny in the Joss Whedon’s Firefly way only.

9. First thing you drink in the morning.
Coffee!

10. Best/worst prom/high school memory.
My best friend Liz and I double dated to our junior prom. My date drove. Now, you know all about my notorious sense of direction…or rather lack thereof. Well, the after-prom party was at my place. Guess which was the only car not to find our way? You guessed it. First, we started out the wrong way on a one-way street. After we pulled an illegal U-Turn and hyperventilated for a few minutes, we got going in the right direction…or so we thought. We ended up almost in New Jersey. By the time we made it to my place, my friends had rung the bell and thrown rocks at the house to wake my folks and then fallen asleep on our sofas waiting for us. I’m the hostess with the mostess, yes I am. I now let my husband give the directions, which is why I still have friends.

11. If you could go back in time and talk to the teenage you, what would you tell her?
Lord, I’d tell her to stop hiding the body I had then in big, bulky shirts. I look at the pictures of the old me now and wondered why I didn’t flaunt it when I had it! I’d also show her where a waist is supposed to be (i.e. not above the navel)!

12. What are you working on next?
I’m really excited about the middle grade idea I’m working on now from the point of view of a latchkey kid in New York City who gets embroiled in some strange and interesting things.