7 Questions For: Author Lisa Yee

Lisa Yee’s debut novel, Millicent Min, Girl Genius, won the prestigious Sid Fleischman Humor Award. With over two million books in print, her other novels for young people include Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time, So Totally Emily Ebers, Absolutely Maybe, and a series about a 4th grader, Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) and Bobby the Brave (Sometimes).

Lisa is also the author of American Girl’s Kanani books and Good Luck, Ivy, and this year's Lea Clark novels. Her novel, Warp Speed, is about a Star Trek geek who gets beat up everyday at school. A Thurber House Children’s Writer-in-Residence, Lisa's books have been named a NPR Best Summer Read, Sports Illustrated Kids Hot Summer Read, and USA Today Critics’ Top Pick.

The Kidney Hypothetical - Or How To Ruin Your Life In Seven Days is Lisa's latest novel for teens. Lisa's 2016 books include the DC Super Hero Girls middle grade novel series and the American Girl, 2016 Girl of the Year books. 2017 novels include Batgirl At Super Hero High, and Katana At Super Hero High.

Click here to read my review of Batgirl at Super Hero High.

And now Lisa Yee faces the 7 Questions:


Question Seven: What are your top three favorite books?

Oh, right. Ask me the impossible.

At this moment, I’d say, Walk Two Moons, Look Homeward, Angel, and To Kill A Mockingbird.


Question Six: How much time do you spend each week writing? Reading?

If I’m on a deadline, I write 24/7, but take time off to sleep and eat. During a normal week, I read an hour or two a day.


Question Five: What was the path that led you to publication?

Unhappiness fueled me to write. I was leading a complicated life and needed a release that belonged to me and no one else. So I began to write late at night. Later, I sent in something to Arthur A. Levine who pulled me from the slush pile. We went on to do eight novels together.


Question Four: Do you believe writers are born, taught or both? Which was true for you?

Both! Being born an introvert has its benefits. You tend to live in your own world a lot. That coupled with a mom who instilled the love of reading in me at a very young age, pointed me toward being a writer.


Question Three: What is your favorite thing about writing? What is your least favorite thing?

I love it when I write a really great sentence. I hate it when I can’t write a really great sentence.


Question Two: What one bit of wisdom would you impart to an aspiring writer? (feel free to include as many other bits of wisdom as you like)

If you think you don’t have enough time to write, then you don’t. But if you really want to write, you will find the time.


Question One: If you could have lunch with any writer, living or dead, who would it be? Why?

Harper Lee. Because I have so many questions. (But would be fine just to bask in her presence.)

lisayee.com