The Ark by Laura Liddell Nolen Interview

About the Book:

Title: The Ark
Author: Laura Liddell Nolen
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 239
Genre: YA Scifi
Format: Paperback/Kindle/Nook

There’s a meteor headed for Earth, and there is only one way to survive.

It’s the final days of earth, and sixteen-year-old Char is right where she belongs: in prison. With her criminal record, she doesn’t qualify for a place on an Ark, one of the five massive bioships designed to protect earth’s survivors during the meteor strike that looks set to destroy the planet. Only a select few will be saved – like her mom, dad, and brother – all of whom have long since turned their backs on Char.

If she ever wants to redeem herself, Char must use all the tricks of the trade to swindle her way into outer space, where she hopes to reunite with her family, regardless of whether they actually ever want to see her again, or not . . .

For More Information

• The Ark is available at Amazon.
• Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.
• Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.
• Read Chapter One here.

Book Excerpt:

On the last day of Earth, I couldn’t find my hairbrush. That probably seems like a silly thing to worry about, what with the imminent destruction of, well, everything, but my mom was always after me about my usual ratty ponytail. Normally, I’d ignore her. Or, if I were having a really bad day, I’d tell her what she could do with her hairbrush. But like I said, it was the last day of Earth. And I figured, since it was the last time she’d ever see me, I wanted it to go smoothly. I wanted her to remember me, if not fondly, then at least without anger.

A girl can dream.

I slipped out of my cell as soon as the door swung open. I’d done the same every day for the past month, and my family had yet to show up. Their OPT—Off-Planet Transport—took off in eighteen hours, so they still had time. Barely. I couldn’t blame them if they didn’t come. It wasn’t hard to imagine that they’d rather escape to the stars without so much as a backward glance at me, their big disappointment. Even my father’s influence couldn’t persuade the government to give me a spot on an OPT.

Turns out, when humankind is deciding which of its children to save, the last place it looks is in prison.

But I was pretty sure they’d come. West had said as much in his last transmission. The thought of my younger brother actually halted me mid-step, like one of those punches in the gut where you can’t breathe for a few seconds.

“Looking for something?” The lazy drawl floated out of the nearest cell.

Against my better instincts, I turned to see Cassa lying on her bunk, her arm draped across Kip. My Kip. Or at least, my ex-Kip. Whatever. In twenty-two hours, I wouldn’t have to think about him anymore.

See? Silver lining. And they called me a perpetual pessimist at my last psych workup.

About the Author

Laura Liddell Nolen grew up in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where she spent lots of time playing make-believe with her two younger brothers. They supplemented their own stories with a steady diet of space- and superhero-themed movies, books, and television. The daughter of a comic book collector, she learned how to handle old comics at an early age, a skill she’s inordinately proud of to this day.

Laura began work on her first novel, The Ark, in 2012, following the birth of her daughter Ava, a tiny rebel and a sweetheart on whom the novel’s main character is loosely based. Completion of The Ark was made possible in part due to an SCBWI Work-in-Progress Award.

Laura loves coffee, dogs, and making lists. She has a degree in French and a license to practice law, but both are frozen in carbonite at present. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and two young children, and their dog Miley, who is a very good girl.

For More Information

• Visit Laura Liddell Nolen’s website.
• Connect with Laura on Facebook and Twitter.
• Find out more about Laura at Goodreads.
• Visit Laura’s blog.

Interview

Hi! Thank you so much for having me. I’m thrilled to be here.

Where are you from?

I grew up in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and I spent close to ten years in Nashville, Tennessee. I’ve been in Houston, Texas for about eight years. They’ve all played a huge part in making me who I am, but Hattiesburg more than anywhere else.

Tell us your latest news?

My debut novel, THE ARK, is out now! It’s a YA sci fi novel about a young convict trapped in prison on the last day of earth. Because she’s a criminal, she won’t be allowed on board an Ark, one of five massive bioships designed to protect earth’s survivors. Her parents and brother, West, have qualified. Charlotte finds herself regretting her choices and wanting to seek her family’s forgiveness for the pain she’s caused them. But in order to do that, she must break out of prison and stow away on an Ark, a crime punishable by death.

So the closer she gets to reuniting with her upstanding, rule-abiding family, the more of an outlaw she becomes.

When and why did you begin writing?

I started writing once I’d finished school and found myself constantly daydreaming about writing. One day, my husband said something like, “Look, you have to either stop talking about this or go ahead and write a book.” So I did!

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

That’s a tough one. The common wisdom I hear on the topic is that if you write, you’re a writer. So, it’s definitely not when you’re only thinking about writing, or talking to your friends about an idea you have for a book or a screenplay. On the other hand, it’s way, way before you get published. Years, in my case. If I believed this wisdom, then I became a writer the first time I opened up a blank Word document and clumsily banged out my first short story.

The reality was a little different. When you do start writing, if you “start” all at once, as I did, you may consider yourself unsure or unworthy of such a title. “Writer,” you may say. “That’s what people called Hemingway. And I’ve read Hemingway, and his stuff is nothing like mine. I’ll never be able to write like that. I’m embarrassed to say his name in an interview, let alone share his job title!” You may feel foolish or delusional about labeling yourself Writer when the word enjoys such lofty associations. You may think you’ll never live up to it.

So here’s some wisdom of my own: That never changes.

They were right all along. There is a sense in which it is just a word describing an action. Further analysis may prove paralytic. Maybe I’ll reconsider in fifty years, or five. Maybe I really was delusional. But for now, I think they were on to something.

If you write, you’re a writer.

What inspired you to write your first book?

A pressing sense that I lacked anything concrete to show for the hours I’d spent writing. Honestly, I never even thought about getting it published. For years, I just wanted to finish writing it. That was my inspiration- leaving writing limbo.

Do you have a specific writing style?

I’m a neurotic planner. I have outlines for my outlines. I have, no joke, forty-three Word docs open on my computer right now. I’m working on this issue.

How did you come up with the title?

I’m pretty sure it started out as a placeholder. Whenever I start a new story, I label it with the first word that comes to mind. I don’t worry about what the final title will be until I’m nearly through writing it. I called it The Place Without Names for awhile, then finally realized I really do prefer The Ark!

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

No. I wrote the book with several themes in mind, and while I may have a strong personal point of view, my characters make their own decisions with sincerity, drawing from their own experiences. If someone finds something meaningful in any part of it, then I’ve done my job as a writer.

How much of the book is realistic?

All of the characters, I hope! There are loose allegories for the way things work in reality, as well. Possibly the most obvious example is the lottery system by which citizens are chosen to be saved from the meteor. It’s rigged- only the privileged ever truly stand a chance at making it, while most of the world is doomed. But the lottery is set up to look like anyone has a shot at surviving. I’ll let readers draw their own conclusions about that one.

As for the plot itself- meteor set to destroy earth- you’d be surprised how often this headline pops into view when you’re looking for it.

Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

The experiences are largely imagined, but the emotions behind them are personal.

What books have most influenced your life most?

That’s a hard one. Ender’s Game, 1984, the Star Wars extended universe novels, Jane Eyre.

And I had tons of favorite books as a child- far too many to list here. Island of the Blue Dolphins and The Witch of Blackbird Pond come to mind.  I remember really loving the ones where a young girl had to find a way to be self-sufficient. Jackaroo. Perilous Gard. Julie of the Wolves. Something about that idea always captured my imagination.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

I found Stephen King’s On Writing to be of particular use in framing my thoughts about my work in a way that gave me clear goals. For example, he writes every day. I can barely brush my teeth that often.

Orson Scott Card’s fantastic aide Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy is second to none.

What book are you reading now?

I’ve just started Supervision by Alison Stine, My Soul to Keep by Tananarive Due, and The Rule by Jack Coleman. They’re all so, so good. I’m nearly done with Outlander by Diana Gabaldon and Detective Strongoak and the Case of the Dead Elf by Terry Newman. I can never read one book at a time. Another issue to work on.

What are your current projects?

Right now, I’m working as hard as I can on the final two books of The Ark trilogy. I don’t want to waste this opportunity!

Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members?

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators gave me a Work-In-Progress award for The Ark. It was encouraging beyond words.

And my writing partner Jenna Wolf, an outstanding talent. We’ve kept each other going for years.

What would you like my readers to know?

That I’m grateful to be here! And I hope they’ll give The Ark a try.