Siobhan Vivian, literary DJ and maker of PB&J

Siobhan Vivian is one of my favorite writers of realistic fiction, and I read her before I knew her so I can say that objectively.  Pittsburgh is lucky to have her and she graciously agreed to submit to being our first author interview on this occasion of her new book, The List, being released.

photo by Matt Salacuse

One of the themes running through Siobhan’s work are the undercurrents of friendship, especially between girls.  In A Little Friendly Advice she takes a deft look at the point at which a close-knit group of friends starts to fray at the seams. Same Difference takes place in the transition between a girl’s old self and finding new friend crushes, then goes beyond the crush stage, as Rebecca explored in her review on Wednesday.  Not That Kind of Girl wove the myriad interpretations of feminism into a senior/freshman battleground without falling prey to easy stereotyping.  And now The List takes a look at how anonymous judgment changes the lives and social world of Mt. Washington High, when the annual list of prettiest and ugliest girls in each grade is posted before Homecoming.
Siobhan’s characters do a lot of thinking, but I love that they also tend to be people of action. They shape events as much as events shape them. So for this interview I had Siobhan take some action of her own. And by action I mean pictures.

1. What is the thing hung on your walls that you most like to look at when you write and why? could you provide a photo?

I love this print from Sapling Press. It makes me feel better about my lazy days.

2. Your new book, The List, has 8 main characters. If you were to make a playlist for them, what would their representative songs be?

umm, this is the best question EVAR!!!!

Abby (prettiest freshman) – Living the Life of Dreams by Julie Dorian

Danielle (ugliest freshman) – Sugar by The Concretes

Lauren (prettiest sophomore) –Part of Your World from The Little Mermaid Soundtrack

Candace (ugliest sophomore) – Such a Joke by The Vivian Girls

Bridget (prettiest junior) – Miss World by Hole

Sarah (ugliest junior) – Cool Schmool by Bratmobile

Margo (prettiest senior) – Little Bit by Lykke Li

Jennifer (ugliest senior) – The Fairest of the Seasons by Nico

3. Take a picture of a book that you wanted to read while writing The List but couldn’t because you were too busy working on your book.

Nice cover by Seth!

4. Did you have any literary inspirations for writing this new book?

Absolutely. I think I must have reread The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier and Daughters of Eve by Lois Duncan no less than twenty times each.

5. What’s your favorite food to eat or make while writing?

PB&J with an iced Americano. Easy to eat, plus sugar and caffeine!

6. Do you like making lists in general (not necessarily lists of people who you think are pretty or ugly)?  What’s the last fun list you made?

I love making To Do Lists. I make them crazy detailed too, so I have more things to cross out. Like, Make a To Do List shouldn’t be on my to do list, but it is and I cross it off proudly when I’ve listed everything I need to get done.

Thanks, Siobhan!

Are you intrigued by Siobhan’s playlist for the characters in The List?  Just itching to get your eyes on its words?  Leave a comment on this post describing one of your own high school experiences bumping up against feeling pretty or ugly and you can have a chance to win one of 2 copies of the book!  (We have an ARC and a hardcover to give away).  Winners will be picked next Monday.

I’ll start you off.  When I was in high school I loved to wear giant JNCO pants.  They made me feel invincible, like I was a cartoon character.  But now I feel like they are the worst idea ever.  Here’s photographic evidence:

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