Ellen Hopkins everybody!

I have been lucky enough to be granted an interview with the splendid Ellen Hopkins. She is the author of the favorite books Crank, Impulse, Burned, Indentical, and Glass. She is a poetic and deep writer, making her work one of another world. Thank you so much Ellen Hopkins. 

Q&A with Ellen Hopkins

Q: What was your inspiration for Impulse, Crank, and your other books?

Inspiration comes from many places. Friends, family, in the news. Readers' stories, even. With Impulse, it was because we lost two teens to suicide in one year, in the small valley where I live. With CRANK, it was a personal story (see below).

Q: Where do you get inspiration for your characters? Are they based off people you know, or made up entirely?

CRANK and GLASS are loosely based on my daughter's story of meth addiction. There are threads of real people in most of the other characters, too. I think all authors bring threads of real life into their writing.

 

Q: How do you start writing your books? Do you get an idea, and go from there, or research for the perfect topic?

Ideas come to me all the time. I have more ideas than time to right them. Once I know what I want to write about, however, I research meticulously.

 

Q: Are you a natural writer or have you taken classes to get to where you are today?

Writing with passion takes a certain intuitive talent, I think. I have taken many classes to learn how to write better, but the drive is inborn.

Q: When did you begin writing?

I've been writing pretty much since I learned how. Even when I wasn't writing to make a living, I was writing something. Poetry. Short stories. Later articles and nonfiction books, all before tackling novels.

Q: When you were young you were adopted. How was did that effect you? Did that have any influence on your own adoption?

I always felt wanted because I was adopted. Of course it stung a bit to think my biological parents didn't want me but I understood they were to young to raise me well. I suppose it influenced our decision to adopt Orion, because every child should feel wanted and loved.

 

Q: What are some of your favorite books and why?

I was a big Stephen King fan, and especially loved his earlier work--Thinner, Dead Zone, The Shining, Carrie. All are character-driven, which is important to me. A close second is Ken Kesey, who wrote One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and my favorite--Sometimes a Great Notion. Again, character-driven, and hard-hitting. Superb books.

Q: Many young teens are wishing to be the next Ellen Hopkins or Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games). What advice do you have for young writers. 

To read voraciously and write from the heart. Build multi-layered characters first, and let plot flow from character. Never try to force your characters into a plotline you conceive first. That's where you'll get into trouble.

Q: How were you and your books discovered?

I sat down at a writers conference with an editor at Simon and Schuster. She was critiquing manuscripts and I showed her a picture book, which she loved. However, she didn't edit picture books and asked if I had anything else. I had five pages of Crank written at the time. She liked it and asked to see it when I was finished. Two months later, I had 75 pp finished. I emailed her and asked if she'd like an exclusive first look. She said yes. Three weeks later, I had a contract.

Q: Why do your books tend to end in a sad tone? Do you do this for a certain reason? 

I tend to write about difficult subject matter. Rarely do these issues result in "happily ever after." I hope I leave readers feeling like I gave them honesty and at least a small sense of hope for my characters.

Thank you very much for this interview Ms. Hopkins. I really appreciate it.