Welcome to California Readers Online: California Author/Artist Interviews -Yoo, Paula

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MEET PAULA YOO
by Bonnie O'Brian

The first novel I ever read was EB White’s CHARLOTTE’S WEB. I was in the first grade when I read it. The minute I read the opening sentence, “Where’s Papa going with that ax?” I was hooked! I had to know what happened next. That book inspired me to become a writer. I wanted to create imaginary worlds with cool characters, just like EB White. I also fell in love with the Laura Ingalls Wilder LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE series as well.

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 started writing fiction when I was in the first grade after being inspired by my favorite books, CHARLOTTE’S WEB and the LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE series. I continued writing these short stories throughout high school and college, and when I was 26 years old, I finally decided to write a novel. I took creative writing courses and eventually got my MFA in creative writing before selling my first novel, GOOD ENOUGH.

When you were a child did you ever have moments when you decided that you were going to be a writer when you grew up?

I knew I wanted to be a writer when I finished reading CHARLOTTE’S WEB. I have never wanted to be anything else… well, except for being a musician because I also played the violin. But I loved writing more, so I always dreamed of being a full-time writer who played the violin on the side! And I was lucky enough to have my dream come true! When I was in the 2 nd grade, I wrote my first “novel” – it was 50 handwritten pages long and entitled “The Girl Called Raindrop.” I had my mom mail it to Harper & Row because they published the Little House on the Prairie novels at the time. I received a nice letter from them a few months later saying that they enjoyed reading my submission and suggested I try out for their children’s writing contest. I remember promptly ripping up the letter, crying, “I am not a CHILD writer! I’m a REAL writer!” hahaha – my first rejection! I think it’s really neat that ironically, many years later, my first “real” novel would be published by the same company (now known as HarperCollins)!

What audience did you have in mind for your career as a writer - adult or children?

When I first began writing fiction, my intended audience was adults. I was – and still am – a huge fan of literary fiction, including such authors as Alice Munro, Ian McKewan, Tom Perrotta, and Richard Yates, to name a few. But when I signed with my literary agent, he suggested I try my hand at writing for teenagers and children because he felt I had the “voice” for it. So I tried writing both children’s picture books and YA novels and fell in love with the literature. However, when I write a YA novel or a picture book, I approach the writing process the exact same way I do when writing a novel or short story for an adult audience. A novel is a novel, period, it doesn’t matter who the audience is… the process of writing it should be taken very, very seriously. I hope one day to write another novel for adults, but for now, I’m very happy with my YA and children’s books!

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

I majored in English at Yale University. I decided writing fiction would be a hobby because I didn’t feel “ready” to write a novel yet because I felt I was too “young” and inexperienced at the time. I then received my Master’s degree in Journalism from Columbia University because I wanted to still be a writer, so I figured being a working journalist would be a dream job because you got paid to write! So I was a journalist for several years and wrote for The Seattle Times, The Detroit News, and PEOPLE Magazine before finally deciding I was “ready” to pursue writing fiction full-time again.

I graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in English, and then promptly went to get my M.S. in journalism from Columbia University. My first job was as a feature’s reporter for The Seattle Times. I continued to be a newspaper and magazine journalist for the next several years before quitting to pursue fiction writing full time.

It took a long time to get published after I quit journalism! I left my last journalism job at PEOPLE Magazine in 2000. From 2000 to 2002, I taught part-time English classes at a community college as well as violin lessons to underprivileged children in the south LA area while earning my MFA in creative writing at Warren Wilson College, which is a low-residency MFA program in Asheville, NC. At the time, I was working on an adult novel for my master’s thesis. After I graduated in 2002 with my MFA, I got involved in the world of TV writing. I was accepted into the Warner Bros. Drama Writing Workshop in 2002 which quickly led to staff writer jobs on shows like NBC’s “The West Wing” and FOX’s “Tru Calling.” By day, I am still a full-time TV drama writer. My last job was as Executive Story Editor on Lifetime’s “Side Order of Life,” and I’m currently involved in a pilot project for ABC Family. But during my TV career years, I still worked on my novels and hoped one day I would sell a novel or children’s book.

My first book was a children’s non-fiction picture book entitled, SIXTEEN YEARS IN SIXTEEN SECONDS: The Sammy Lee Story. It won the Lee & Low Books “New Voices” contest and was published in 2005. It has received many positive reviews and awards, and is also an IRA Notable book. My second book was the YA novel GOOD ENOUGH. I wrote it in a frenzy during the month of May 2004, and it sold immediately after.

Was your first book accepted immediately? or did you experience a number of rejections?

My first book was NOT “Good Enough.” My first novel was an adult novel called GRACE. My literary agent submitted it to several publishers who liked it but didn’t “love” it. But instead of giving up after those passes, I kept writing and eventually succeeded with GOOD ENOUGH, which was accepted immediately for publication. The lesson? Never give up and learn from your mistakes. Treasure your rejection letters because they tell you how to become a better writer. Often, a writer’s first PUBLISHED novel is often their second or third or fourth novel that they have written.

My YA novel topics right now deal with contemporary American teens living in contemporary society… I like to write with humor and poignancy. My picture books deal with American historical figures.

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

I focus on both fiction and non-fiction. I find both genres to be equally challenging and rewarding.

Do you do other types of writing - for example, educational, nonfiction, magazine work?

Right now, I write for TV shows. My latest job is working on a pilot script for ABC Family. I used to be a journalist, and even though I don’t do journalism anymore, I still write the occasional essay or column for magazines on a freelance basis.

From the people I observe and the places I’ve explored! I always carry around index cards with me so I can jot down any random idea or observation just in case… some of these cards have led to a short story or new novel idea.

I was inspired to write about GOOD ENOUGH by my own life. I had a funny high school experience being a “nerd” who played violin in a school where sports ruled. I thought it would be funny to write about my world of youth orchestras and All-State auditions because there were never enough books about that world in YA literature.

GOOD ENOUGH is currently on the shortlist nominations for the 2009 Best Books For Young Adults (by ALA/YALSA). SIXTEEN YEARS IN SIXTEEN SECONDS: The Sammy Lee Story is an IRA Notable and been on several booklists including the Texas BlueBonnet MasterList and has received starred reviews from Booklist and Kirkus Reviews. It is also in the 2007 and 2008 Elementary California Collections.

How did your life change when you got married? and had children? Did it make it easier or harder to find time to write?

I do not have children but I am married. Being married actually helped my writing because my husband understood and supported me during the lean times when I was trying to write!

I would say my novel GOOD ENOUGH was based on my real life growing up in a small town in Connecticut.

If some of your fiction stories are factual, do you write about people that you have been interested in for a long time, perhaps since childhood?

My novels are fictional but based on real life experiences. But I make sure they are not thinly-disguised autobiography – instead, I transcend the truth and create a fictional narrative where the themes of what I experienced in real life are still there in the fictional version.

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

I love both working from my imagination and researching! Part of it stems from my journalism background – I love learning new things, so I always make research an integral part of my creative writing process.

I enjoyed writing all my books, but I would say GOOD ENOUGH was the fastest book I ever wrote – it just flowed out of me.

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

I am working on a new children’s non fiction picture book biography for LEE & LOW BOOKS that will be published in 2009. I am also working on a new YA novel.

No, I just try to write when I can. I’m fortunate that I write mostly from home when I’m not working on a TV show, so I can make my own hours.

My next book is a children’s non-fiction book biography called SHOOTING STAR: The Anna May Wong Story and will be illustrated by Lin Wang and published by Lee & Low Books in 2009.

Humor! I think we all need to laugh! Plus, I think humor makes the poignant scenes in a novel more effective.

They often ask me about why I became a writer. And I usually bring my violin, so they ask me a lot of questions about music, too.

I want the students to work hard and never to give up on their dreams and to keep reading and writing, even if they don’t become writers because reading and writing are such important life skills.

I’ve gotten some lovely emails from teen girls who identified with GOOD ENOUGH. They come from all different backgrounds and identified with the universal themes of my novel, so that made me feel happy. I’m proud that my novel has helped readers learn to relax and laugh about the high pressures they receive during their senior year of applying to college! I also receive many lovely and cute letters from children and parents who are inspired by the themes of SIXTEEN YEARS IN SIXTEEN SECONDS: The Sammy Lee Story as well.

Is there anything about yourself that you’d like to share - hobbies, where you were born, special talents other than writing/illustrating.

I have played the violin since I was 5 years old. I still play professional today on a freelance basis. I play not only classical music but Celtic fiddle, country music, and loud rock music! I have an electric violin and a lot of cool effects pedals! Also, I have a couple fun websites here:

MEET PAULA YOO by Bonnie O'Brian

MEET PAULA YOO
by Bonnie O'Brian