1. Where can I read more about you?

A very popular question. (Mainly with my parents.) Furthermore, an excellent transition to a set of links to interviews I've given. Should you have a  frequently-asked-question that isn't answered here, you may very well find your answer in one of the following places:

4. Will you come speak at my book club?

Sure, but it will probably have to be over the phone, unless you live in New York City, or I happen to be in your city at the time.

5. Will you be writing a sequel to Elsewhere?

No, but I might write a prequel some day.

6. I really hate you/your book/the way you write. Do you want me to tell you about it?

Not really, no.

2. I still have a different question. How can I contact you?

By e-mail is fine: askgab@memoirsofa.com. I'm a slow and intermittent e-mailer though, and I only check every other week. This does not make me a good source for information on book reports that are due the next day, urgent medical advice, and the like.

 

3. But can't I send you a bonafide paper letter?

Indeed you can. I like letters and, because this is so, you're probably more likely to hear from me if you contact me this way.

Gabrielle Zevin
c/o Children's Marketing Department
Farrar Straus Giroux
18 West 18th Street
New York, NY 10011

What does the title Conversations with Other Women mean?

It refers to THE WOMAN's line of dialogue that she has "no interest in other women." It is the idea that THE MAN is talking to a version of THE WOMAN from the past, a version that no longer exists in the present. THE WOMAN, then, becomes the "other woman" to herself.

What does the ending of Conversations with Other Women mean?

SPOILER!

Whatever you think it means is what it means. I meant it to be ambiguous.

THE WOMAN is either in a cab back to London by herself OR she is in a cab with THE MAN.

They have either been playing an elaborate game with each other in order to spice up their marriage OR she's a cheater.

Etc., etc.

And, of course, this doesn't account for what the director thought or the actors thought or what you thought. All are certainly as valid as what I thought. So, Cineaste, you may take your pick.

In Conversations with Other Women, are the children THE WOMAN's?

I will tell you that Helena Bonham Carter, who played the WOMAN, thought they were.

In Conversations with Other Women, are any of the children THE WOMAN'S and THE MAN'S together?

Only if you believe THE MAN and THE WOMAN are in the cab together at the end. If you don't think they're together, then I would have to say, no.

What does the ending of Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac mean? Specifically, do Will and Naomi get together?

SPOILER!

Yes, they are together at the end, but I don't necessarily think it will be forever. Naomi's only seventeen, so I don't imagine she'll be marrying anyone very soon.

For me, the ending was about Naomi having the maturity to take things more slowly. It was about Will and Naomi coming to a shared understanding and appreciation of each other.

Why did you write Elsewhere?

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

You can find a longer answer here: http://www.memoirsofa.com/Elsewhere_Behind_the_Story.html 

Do you believe in an afterlife like the one depicted in Elsewhere?

In short, no.

I wrote Elsewhere because I wanted to write about the things that mattered to me in this life, the one I'm living and the only one I know for certain. In terms of what the afterlife is like -- well, let's just say that I am prepared to be surprised.

When I write something nasty about you or your books on the internet, does it hurt your feelings?

Yes, it does.

In Elsewhere, did you mean for Curtis Jest to be a near anagram to Jesus Christ?

No, I am not nearly so clever.

Why are you so slow to reply to e-mail?

I'm honestly trying to improve. The main reason for my delinquency, I suspect, is because most of us have an allotment of words everyday - I use most of mine up writing books.

Why are you so slow to reply to letters?

See above. I love getting your letters, but they take a while to get to me and some of them even get lost. If you send me a letter, I will definitely reply to it though it might take a while.

What is your ethnic background?

I'm Korean on my mother's side and Russian, Polish, Lithuanian on my father's.

How old were you when you wrote Elsewhere?

Twenty-five.

How old are you now?

I'm thirty.

Why, when you're so very old, do you write about teenagers?

I don't think of myself as writing about teenagers; I think of myself as writing about people.

Why is Elsewhere in the present tense?

Among other reasons, I wanted it to feel as if the reader was experiencing things along with Liz. Elsewhere was so much about time and timing for me.

This reader has a nice explanation for it:
http://qelrc.blogspot.com/2008/06/elsewhere-by-gabrielle-zevin_26.html

Why do all of your books have a head trauma in them?

I believe a lot of our lives happen in our heads.

Why don't you blog/have a myspace page/facebook page/etc.?

Because I am very shy. Because I value my privacy. And because I don't know instantly what I think about most things.

Because I think, if I had any of these things, I would become unable to write books.

Do you dislike those annoyingly sociable authors who do blog/have a myspace page/twitter/facebook/whatever?

No.

Really? 'Cause in the question you totally called them "annoyingly sociable"?

Okay, sometimes I dislike authors who do those things because it sets up the expectation that I, too, should do those things. And if I were good at internet marketing and what have you, I probably would have gone into that as supposed to book writing.

But, no, I don't dislike, say, [redacted] personally.

Do you hang out with other writers?

No. I mainly hang out with my dog.

Are you writing any other books?

Always.

What about that prequel to Elsewhere?

No progress to report, Dear Reader.

Do you have a playlist for Memoirs?

Yes, but doesn't it seem so tired to do that? What book doesn't have a playlist? Oh, all right, if you insist…

Here's one I made for an interview. The idea behind this mix is that it's one Naomi created on a college road trip when she was in the mood to reflect about that wacky year in high school where she dated three boys and had amnesia.

Part the First: Songs for Will
“Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) – Arcade Fire
“Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots” – The Flaming Lips
“A Certain Romance” – Arctic Monkeys

Part the Second: Songs for James
“First Day of My Life” – Bright Eyes
“Vindicated” – Dashboard Confessional
“Angeles” – Elliot Smith
“World Spins Madly On” – The Weepies

Part the Third: Songs for Ace
“Wigwam” – Bob Dylan
“Ripchord” – Rilo Kiley
“Better Man” – Pearl Jam

Part the Fourth: Songs for Myself
“Foux de Fa Fa” – Flight of the Conchords (in honor of Naomi’s French class)
“Life on Mars?” – David Bowie (“Changes” can be substituted here.)
“1979” – Smashing Pumpkins
"The Heart of the Matter" - India.Arie
“That’s the Story of My Life” – The Velvet Underground
“Your Ex-Lover is Dead” – Stars

Will you be coming to England anytime soon?

Not that I know of.

Will you be touring the US again anytime soon?

The next time I have something to promote, perhaps.

Name something good about being a writer.

I like looking at reader-inspired art for my books. 

For instance:
http://flickr.com/photos/28280892@N07/sets/72157605997081879/
http://youtube.com/watch?v=blGHWCeTxe4
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BsdD9g5hYms
http://0blackiris0.deviantart.com/art/Elsewhere-67923282
http://kitsunesember.deviantart.com/art/Elsewhere-NotFinished-74592766

(Have you made something interesting? Feel free to send it to me at askgab@memoirsofa.com) 

I also enjoy the foreign editions of my books, perhaps because I lack the ability to read them. And I get to share an office with my dog.

Something else?

Someone once said that books let us know we are not alone. So, if I've made anyone feel a little less lonely, there's certainly a pleasure to that.

Are any of your books being turned into movies?

Maybe... But nothing for certain. If anything becomes certain, I'll be sure to report it here.

I read Margarettown. It was very strange and confusing. There were several sex scenes, and it didn't seem at all appropriate for children.

That's because it wasn't meant for children. It was published for adults. But thanks for reading and apologies to your parents!

I didn't really like it.

That's all right. Neither did my grandfather in Daytona Beach.  

Is a soundtrack available for Conversations with Other Women?


Can you help me get published?

No. I have no pull with publishing companies or literary agencies. On her website, Stephenie Meyer has a terrific account of how she came to be published. I'd recommend reading that as Ms. Meyer seems to have done pretty all right for herself. http://stepheniemeyer.com/twilight.html

Also, my favorite blog about writing is The Longstockings: http://thelongstockings.blogspot.com/ They abound with useful tips about such matters.

Any advice for young writers?

Read. Write. It's that simple.

Do you do school appearances/library visits?

Only very occasionally. If you'd like to try to schedule one, Farrar Straus Giroux has information on their website about arranging such an appearance.  
http://us.macmillan.com/Content.aspx?publisher=fsgbyr&id=1387

You still haven't answered my question?

E-mail me at askgab@memoirsofa.com.


 

Even More Frequently Asked Questions! Updated 6/2008! In no particular order!