The Writers Who Read series continues this week with YA author Amy Kathleen Ryan.
Who are you?
I am Amy Kathleen Ryan, author of the young adult Sky Chasers series, which has been published in over a dozen languages, and also the contemporary YA novels Vibes and Zen and Xander Undone.
What are three beloved books you first read before the age of 12?
A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L’Engle, a fascinating science fiction story about the power of love. This is the first children’s book I read that didn’t seem to be talking down to me as a reader. It is full of brilliant, fascinating ideas, and challenging language.
The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Graham, a completely heartwarming tale of friendship. It deserves to be a classic.
The Little Engine that Could, a story retold by many authors, based on the sermon by Charles S. Wing. I obsessed about this story as a very young child, and I believe it contributed to my perseverance, which has allowed me to be a professional writer.
What is one book you are always recommending to friends and family (and maybe the local barista) as an adult?
Lately I’ve been pushing Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood on people. It’s a really great science fiction novel about an insane plot to restore the natural order to the planet by killing every human. The world that is left is so riddled with genetically modified animals that the future looks very monstrous indeed.
What is your book kryptonite–those unique elements in a book, beyond just great writing and three-dimensional characters, that make you unable to resist reading? (Example: I have a strange weakness for books with British characters, bawdy writing, and stories involving high school reunions.)
That’s funny, I love books set in England too! Books that I tend to love have a few things in common: Great characters who are realistically flawed, absorbing setting but not so much description that I feel bogged down, and a story that doesn’t make me want to ask the question, “So what?”
What is your ideal time and place to read?
Quiet house, dogs on my chair with me, cup of Earl Grey with milk and sugar, snowing outside, nothing to do all day long. Been a long time since I’ve had that perfect alchemy. The last time was when I read Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell by Susanna Clark, about nine years ago, in our dingy little apartment in Brooklyn. (There were about nine colors of blue paint in that place, but it worked for me. I like blue.) Since then I’ve moved to Colorado and had three kids! Very little time to read now.
Which books have had the biggest influence on your writing?
I think because of Madeleine L’Engle’s depictions of family life, I would have to point to her as the reason why I write for young adults. I grew up in a dysfunctional family, like almost everyone I think, and I coped by losing myself in books that showed stable parents and a loving family setting. This isn’t to say I wasn’t loved. I was, but my parents were overwhelmed, and had a hard time responding to my emotional needs, something I understand better now that I’m a parent! Madeleine L’Engle was balm to my soul. I want to offer the same comfort to my readers.
How do you balance reading and writing in your life?
Balance? Could you define the term? I am unfamiliar. The truth is that since I had kids, I am out of balance most of the time. (Since I started writing the answers for this interview, I’ve broken up two fights and provided a hasty morning snack.) While my kids are very young I feel that they must be my first priority. I owe that to them. So for a few years I have no balance, and finding the energy, time, and head-space to write is a constant struggle. I can only hope it will get easier when they are older.
Choose your preferred book form: ebook, physical book, or audio book?
Physical book, preferably from the library. I like worn-in books that have been read by a lot of people. It makes me feel like I’m part of a community.
Do you consciously plan your future reading–i.e., set book goals, keep a TBR list, participate in book challenges or book clubs? Why or why not?
I would love to be part of a book club for the social aspect, but I think I would never actually read the books. I’d just show up for the wine! The truth is I need to be able to flit from book to book at will, and read only what I am in the mood for. My reading time is so very limited I don’t want to spend time on books that someone else chooses.
What are you reading now?
The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt, about a boy who survives a terrorist attack in a museum and becomes the accidental custodian of one of the great works of art. It’s really a wonderful novel and I think she deserves the Pulitzer for it.
You can learn more about Amy and her books at her website, Facebook, or Twitter.