I love talking with other writers, getting a bit of insight into how their creative brains work and how they pull everything together.

Jeanne DuPrau and I had the chance to trade questions in a brief interview recently as she heads off to promote Diamond of Darkhold and her soon-to-be-released movie City of Ember.

As a part of that, Jeanne also offered up an extra copy of Diamond of Darkhold. So, one random commenter on this post today will get their own copy of the book to check out for themselves.

Just reading through these again makes me want to pull out that dusty old manuscript that will die a very un-published death in the back of my closet…because, of course, I need at least one more major project:)

Here’s Jeanne:

1. Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m a native Californian who loves California.

I’m a writer, which means I sit in a chair at a desk and stare at a computer for large parts of the day.

Outside of books and writing, my interests include my dog, my garden, my friends and family, music, nature, the state of the world, and the many possibilities, both fearful and wonderful, for the future.

And good food–mustn’t forget that.

2. What inspires you to write in this genre and for this age group?

I never actually decided “I’m going to write science fiction for young people.” I just had an idea that I was very interested in (the dark city) and knew that it was a story that kids would enjoy.

As it happens, a lot of grownups seem to enjoy it, too.

3. The Books of Ember series is a compelling look into a possible future. When you write, how do current events and the global condition come into play in how the story is crafted?

I do think about current events a lot.

When I was writing The People of Sparks, for instance, I was reading about the conflict between Israel and Palestine, and thinking about the problem of two groups claiming the same piece of land.

The ideas that drive global events are the same ones that drive events on a smaller scale, such as conflicts between individuals, and so they are bound to crop up in novels.

4. Storytelling as a tool for teaching social responsibility is historically very effective. Do you see yourself as an agent for change? If so, what inspires you to advocate for a change in thinking?

If I’m an agent for change, then it’s by accident, not on purpose.

I wanted to tell a compelling story in The City of Ember, a story with some truth and meaning to it, but not a road map for action.

Still, it’s true that I’m happy to get e-mails from readers who say that The City of Ember makes them appreciate the world in a new way and want to take good care of it.

5. What do you hope your book inspires in young people?

I hope it inspires in them a desire to curl up in a chair and become immersed in the story. I hope they have a hard time putting the book down.

I hope they might possibly love the amazing planet Earth a little bit more than they did before.

6. When I was in elementary school, we had weekly bomb shelter drills. I suspect you grew up in a very similar environment. What do you think you have to hide under your desk from today?

I remember those bomb drills very well. They made a big impression on me.

Today I think the nuclear danger is still with us, though people don’t talk about it as much.

And of course there are all kinds of new threats to the human race as well–the changing climate, air and water pollution, poisonous chemicals in our food, new diseases.

Unfortunately, hiding under our desks isn’t going to help a whole lot.

7. Why is it important to find your voice, regardless of whether it is writing, art, politics or just simply being confident in your ability to express yourself?

Well, for one thing, a democracy needs people who can think–people who can read, formulate views, and express those views.

And for another thing, it’s highly satisfying to be able to take things that are inside you–your thoughts, feelings, views of the world–and bring them outside for other people to consider and perhaps enjoy.

8. Doon and Lina seem to be very normal young people forced into a situation that quickly turns them into adults. What qualities do you look for in a central character and why? How do they relate to kids today and the challenges they face?

I’m interested in writing about characters who have some understanding of themselves and their world, who are curious about other people and places, and who have (as do real people) good qualities and qualities that aren’t so good.

I don’t want to write about superheroes or purely evil villains (though I know there can be good stories about those).

As for today’s challenges–there are many of them, and to deal with them, young people are going to need not just courage and determination but the ability to think hard about problems that are very complex.

9. If you could give parents one compelling reason for picking up Diamond of Darkhold for their teen, what would you tell them?

There’s a vision of a possible future at the end of the book that might be inspiring to some readers.

But the best reason for reading The Diamond of Darkhold is that it finishes the story begun by The City of Ember. If kids have read that book and the two that follow it, they’ll probably want to know how it all ends.

There’s more to learn about DuPrau and her writing life as her blog book tour continues:

Check out reviews on the Kidz Book Buzz Blog Tour for Diamond of Darkhold:

01 Charger, the 160acrewoods, A Childhood of Dreams, A Christian Worldview of Fiction, All About Children’s Books, And Another Book Read, Becky’s Book Reviews, Book Review Maniac, Cafe of Dreams, Comox Valley Kids, Dolce Bellezza, Fireside Musings, Homeschool Buzz, Hyperbole, Looking Glass Reviews, Never Jam Today