An interview with N.D. Wilson, author of 100 Cupboards

N.D Wilson's debut novel, an adventure called Leepike Ridge, prompted comparisons to Mark Twain and garnered much recognition.  Now, with his 100 Cupboards trilogy, Wilson is dipping into the fantasy realm with great success.  Check out his blog and website for writing tips and all around great content.  He's also a fun interviewee:  

Lori:  I come from a family full of teachers.  How does your teaching inform the kind of writing you do?

NDW:  I've had to learn to shift and slide my verbal approach on the fly (tone of voice, inflection, comic vocab, sudden anecdotes, etc.) in order to keep students awake and interested. That forced me into a degree of versatility I might not have come by otherwise. I'm sure there are other ways that my teaching has influenced my writing, but according to me, right now, at this moment in time, that's the most notable.

Lori:  You seem like a ham (See author photo).  Do you have any theater in your background? 

NDW: Ham?  I'm quite serious about photos. . . Actually, I have (throughout the duration of my remembered life) been completely unable to take a "traditional" (note the scare quotes) photo without first ruining several shots. It's only one of the ways in which I have failed to grow up. As for theater, I have only a little in my background. Some junior high stuff (I'm sure I was amazing), and one community theater performance which I enjoyed immensely (a comedy called Leave it to Psmith). Not sure I could ever be involved in something that wasn't a comedy.

Lori:  What were your favorite books to read as a young person?

NDW:  Nothing original here. Narnia and Lord of the Rings from a pretty early age. In junior high, I expanded into C.S. Lewis's Space Trilogy. The third book (That Hideous Strength) remains my all-time fav.

Lori:  What have you read lately (for adults or kids) that you'd recommend?

NDW:  Hmm. Define lately? On the kid side of things, I really enjoy Megan Whalen Turner's stuff. And Holes remains as close to perfect as a book can get. For adults, I recently read (and truly enjoyed) Truck: a Love Story by Michael Perry.

Lori:  I read that you've turned book three of the cupboard series in to your editor.  Can you tell us anything about what you're working on now?

NDW:  Too many things. But on the top of the pile, there is a picture book called The Wisdom of Ninja-Boy and a new five book series that I'm shaping (the name of which I am not currently sharing). Both are for Random House.

Lori:  If you had a secret cupboard in your house, where would it take you?

NDW:  When I first pondered this question (in adulthood), I came up with far too many answers. Eventually, I was able to narrow it down to 98 possibilities, and the 100 Cupboards trilogy was born. Currently, I think I would want it to take me up to my daughter's palace in the sky. She's been inviting me to a picnic up there, and I just haven't been able to find my way.

 

Lori:  How do you feel about your books being made into movies?  Is anything like that in the works?

NDW:  I feel conflicted. There is no greater marketing tool than a film. Incidentally, there is also no greater tool for inflicting authorial pain. Various movie types are eager to chat, but nothing's in production.

 Lori:  Do you write every day, and do you have any of those quirky writer rituals like, say, the required company of a rubber chicken?

NDW:  I don't write every day, but every day contributes to my writing (research, reading, sketching, etc.). No rubber chickens here, but I do have a large, smooth, 1911 British penny that always stays with me while I write. I also tend to find a single album for each project. That album is the only one that gets played until a project is finished, so it's important for me to choose wisely. (Example: Coldplay's X&Y provided background for Leepike Ridge.)

Lori:  What books do your kids love?

NDW:  My son (who just turned seven) has been sucked completely into Dandelion Fire. Obviously, that's a lot of fun for me to watch. We generally have to pry it away from him to get him into bed, and he gets up early to read it before we wake up.

Lori:  Please tell us about any upcoming appearances.

NDW:  The L.A. Times Festival of Books is next on the slate. I'll be on the Target Children's Stage at 4:4o in the pm on April 25th. I'm wrapping up a hectic spring and am looking forward (hopefully) to a quiet summer.

Lori:  Finally, do you prefer milk chocolate or dark?  Dessert or hors d'oeuvres?

NDW:  Dark everytime. But dessert or hors d'oeuvres? My stomach is an inclusive operation. There's room for both.

Lori:  Anything I didn't ask that you have an answer for?

NDW:  Notta. Cheers, and thanks so much for the grilling.

Lori:  Thank you.  It was a pleasure!