Ask the Author: Rob Shapiro
Answered Questions (5)
Rob Shapiro
I've been obsessed with adventure stories since I was a kid. The Book of Sam was born out of two realizations I had:
1) Young Adults fiction has really changed in the last decade. It's less about adventure and more about a "chosen one" surviving some kind of dystopian world. I missed the stories I grew up with and wanted to tell something closer in theme and voice to The Goonies.
2) I read a book that featured Hell and realized that the depiction of Hell hasn't changed in centuries (from my knowledge at least). I wanted take the rules of fantasy world-building and apply it to something I felt was lacking dimension and had grown stagnant. I wanted to turn Hell into a Middle Earth.
1) Young Adults fiction has really changed in the last decade. It's less about adventure and more about a "chosen one" surviving some kind of dystopian world. I missed the stories I grew up with and wanted to tell something closer in theme and voice to The Goonies.
2) I read a book that featured Hell and realized that the depiction of Hell hasn't changed in centuries (from my knowledge at least). I wanted take the rules of fantasy world-building and apply it to something I felt was lacking dimension and had grown stagnant. I wanted to turn Hell into a Middle Earth.
Rob Shapiro
Something is Killing the Children
Maniac of New York
High Fidelity
The Light of Days
The Final Girl Support Group
Maniac of New York
High Fidelity
The Light of Days
The Final Girl Support Group
Rob Shapiro
I read a lot of Stephen King so I wouldn't go to Stephen King's Maine, that's for sure.
I wouldn't survive 15 minutes in Westeros so I'm gonna say Middle Earth or one of Panem's nicer districts.
As for what I would do there, I don't know. I guess I would fulfill a prophecy and enjoy the nice scenery.
I wouldn't survive 15 minutes in Westeros so I'm gonna say Middle Earth or one of Panem's nicer districts.
As for what I would do there, I don't know. I guess I would fulfill a prophecy and enjoy the nice scenery.
Rob Shapiro
Switch to a new project, something very different and maybe an idea that you always put on the backburner.
I also find diving into movies, TV shows, and books can be really helpful. I mean, those people figured it out.
I also find diving into movies, TV shows, and books can be really helpful. I mean, those people figured it out.
Rob Shapiro
I'm currently writing the first drafts of a new YA novel and a script for a feature-length teen rom-com. I'm also working on a sitcom that I have in development.
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