Interview With Danielle Joseph

 Danielle Joseph, author of Shrinking Violet, took a few minutes out of her schedule to answer some of my questions!

1. Were your younger years at high school inspiration for Shrinking Violet? Did you have it in mind when you were writing?

I was shy growing up so I definitely drew from my experiences. However I was not nearly as shy as Tere. I definitely thought back to my high school years as I wrote Shrinking Violet. There was lots to draw from!

2. Do you base the characters in your books on real people in your life?

I pull character traits from different people that I've met over the years. No character in the book is modeled after one exact person but rather parts of different people.

3. How long have you been writing creatively?

I have enjoyed writing since the first grade when my teacher had us write our own stories. Writing has always been with me, even when I was pursuing other things.

4. You previously worked as a DJ before you began writing. Was the experience just like you described in your book?

Again, I definitely drew from my experiences as a DJ to create Tere's world. I interned at several stations so I pulled from each.

5. Do you write books to reach out with important messages or do you do it to simply entertain?

I write because I love to write. And by loving to write I hope others will enjoy what I've written. I also sincerely hope that readers will be able to take something away from my books.

6. Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

There are so many new wonderful authors out there, I'm truly amazed. I belong to the Class of 2K9 and the 2009 Debs. Both groups are filled with amazing new voices. You can check them out at: www.classof2k9.com and www.feastofawesome.com

7. What was the hardest part of writing Shrinking Violet?

I truly enjoyed the whole writing process but maybe it was the middle. I say that because by the time I got to the middle, I wanted to race to the end to get the whole story down.

8. Would you ever write a spin-off novel of Shrinking Violet involving some of the lesser characters like Audrey?

If I were asked I would love to write a spin-off novel. It would also be fun to see things from Gavin's point of view, or even Jason's.

9. What books have influenced you most in your life?

Growing up I was a huge fan of Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary. Right before I began writing Shrinking Violet, I read White Oleander by Janet Fitch. That book really inspired me because the writing and the story are so rich.

10. Finally, what one piece of advice would you give to young writers?

To listen. Listen to your heart. Listen to your critique buddies and listen to your audience.

Thank you very much Danielle!