WQI with Author Crystal Allen

Please join me in welcoming Crystal Allen, whose middle grade novel HOW LAMAR'S BAD PRANK WON A BUBBA-SIZED TROPHY debuted last month.

I had the privilege of meeting Crystal at the SCBWI conference in LA last summer. She is such a lovely person, I just knew I had to do a World's Quickest Interview (WQI) with her. 

The rules for a WQI are simple. I ask short questions and she gives me short answers. So, without further ado....

Describe your book in one sentence.  

Thirteen-Year-Old Lamar Washington always strikes out with the girls so he decides to change his image from dud to stud.

How long have you been writing? 

I've always loved to write, but it was more along the lines of rhyming poems.

Who or what inspired this book?  

This book started as a sample for a ghost-writing opportunity and blossomed into a very fun novel!

How long did it take you to write this book? 

Four years. (That includes edits from my agent!)

Besides writing, what do you like to do most? 

Hang out with my family.

If you had to be an animal, what would you be?  

A Lemur.  I like to move it-move it!

Play it safe or out on a limb?  

Out on a limb of course!  I'm a Lemur!

Are you good at math? 

No.

Tell us three things you would do in a perfect day.  

cruise, write, laugh

Any advice for aspiring writers? 

Do not listen to the little voice in your head that says "I can't."  That is not the voice of truth.

Thank you, Crystal, for taking the time to be a World's Quickest Interviewee!

Doesn't her book sound great, people? Crystal doesn't have a blog (though she does have a very cool website), so take a few moments to tell her how cool she is in the comments. I know it will make her day.