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MEET KAMI GARCIA (9/2010)
by Bonnie O'Brian

What books influenced you most when you were growing up?

Kami Garcia

The first book I feel in love with was PIPPI LONGSTOCKING.  I really wanted to live in a house with a horse and a monkey, and no parents.  I also read a lot of classic fantasy and science fiction, like C.S. Lewis & Ray Bradbury.  As a teen, I loved THE OUTSIDERS by S.E. Hinton and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee. 

Did you write stories when you were growing up?  At school?  Or at home as a hobby?  As a young child, or as a teenager, or both?

I wrote poetry all the time as a teenager.  I probably filled 50 spiral notebooks and journals. I have them in a giant plastic tub, and I’ve posted some of them on my personal blog.

When you went to college were you already pursuing a writing career? (or a career in illustrating? Or just art in general?)

When I started college, I was a fine arts major, and dreamed of being a painter.  But I switched to education, and became a teacher instead. But before I had kids, I painted in my free time and showed my paintings in a gallery in Santa Monica, CA.

What was your first job when you graduated from college?

I was an elementary school teacher in the inner city outside of Washington DC.
Was your first book accepted immediately?  Or did you experience a number of rejections?

We wrote BEAUTIFUL CREATURES on a dare from Margaret’s oldest daughter.  We never intended to publish it.  After we finished writing BC, a friend of Margaret’s, the middle grade author Pseudonymous Bosch (The Secret Series), sent the book to his agent without telling us, and she wanted to represent us. Basically, we were really lucky.

Do you focus on fiction or nonfiction? Which do you prefer?  Do you find one easier than the other?

Currently, I write Young Adult fiction, specifically paranormal urban fantasy.  I’ve never written non-fiction, but I love to read it. 

What kinds of things inspire you to write?

I’m inspired by so many things – my colorful Southern family; places I love, like Charleston and New Orleans; my favorite music; and always great books.

Have any of your books earned special recognition?

BEAUTIFUL CREATURES:
* Instant New York Times &International Bestseller
* Amazon’s #1 Teen Pick for 2009 & #5 Overall Pick
* Finalist for the ALA’s Morris Debut Author Award
* Publishers Weekly Bestseller
* Optioned by Warner Brothers for a Feature Film
* SCIBA Book Award Finalist 2010
* Nominee for the 2011 Flume Award
* Borders Original Voices Selection
* Indie Next List Selection, Winter 2009/2010
* New York Public Library’s “Books for the Teen Age” 
* Puffin’s “70 Best Ever Books” for Children
* Nominee for the YALSA’s Teens’ Top Ten List 2010
* Nominee for Indigo’s Teen Read Awards 2010: Best Writer

Do you enjoy researching or do you prefer working totally from your imagination?

I love doing research, but creating a universe comes from my imagination.

What are you working on now?  When do you expect to start submitting it to publishers?

My writing partner, Margaret Stohl, and I are currently revising Book 3 in The Caster Chronicles. Little, Brown bought four books in the series.

When is your next book going to be in bookstores?