Interview with Sarah Beth Durst

I was lucky enough to interview YA author, Sarah Beth Durst, about her newest novel and Halloween!

A little bit about the author: Sarah Beth Durst has been writing fantasy stories since she was ten years old and holds an English degree from Princeton University, where she spent four years studying English, writing about dragons, and wondering what the campus gargoyles would say if they could talk. Sarah lives in Stony Brook, New York, with her husband and children.

Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst
Published September 13, 2011

Pearl is a sixteen-year-old vampire... fond of blood, allergic to sunlight, and mostly evil... until the night a sparkly unicorn stabs her through the heart with his horn. Oops. Her family thinks she was attacked by a vampire hunter (because, obviously, unicorns don't exist), and they're shocked she survived. They're even more shocked when Pearl discovers she can now withstand the sun. But they quickly find a way to make use of her new talent. The Vampire King of New England has chosen Pearl's family to host his feast. If Pearl enrolls in high school, she can make lots of human friends and lure them to the King's feast -- as the entrees. The only problem? Pearl's starting to feel the twinges of a conscience. How can she serve up her new friends—especially the cute guy who makes her fangs ache—to be slaughtered? Then again, she's definitely dead if she lets down her family. What's a sunlight-loving vamp to do?

What part of Drink, Slay, Love did you enjoy writing the most?

I loved writing Pearl. She's a 16-year-old vampire without a heart of gold. Or any heart at all. She was immensely fun to write. Basically, for any scene, I'd simply think, "What would I NEVER do or say in this situation?" And that's what she'd do and say.

Three words or phrases to describe Pearl?

Funny, fearless, and (mostly) evil.

What is the most memorable Halloween you've ever had?

I will never forget the year that I had the not-so-brilliant idea to dress up as a robot. I found an enormous box and decorated it with buttons and so forth. It looked great, but when I tried to follow the big kids through the woods between houses... I got stuck between two trees.

Why do you prefer writing young adult books?

I write what I read. I firmly believe that the sage old writing advice "write what you know" should really be "write what you love." You should write the kind of book that you would delight you. And personally, I love YA books. Especially fantasy. I am a sucker for any girl-with-sword, girl-with-dragon, girl-with-wolf, girl-with-talking-cat kind of book.

What's the funniest costume you've ever seen or worn during Halloween?

Last Halloween, I saw a woman dressed as a spiderweb. She had her baby strapped to her stomach in a spider costume. Adorable.

Most haunting nightmare you have ever had?

This is somewhat embarrassingly odd, but I used to have a recurring nightmare that a robotic Gonzo would come from outer space and shoot M&M-size beetles out of his nose that would burrow into people's foreheads. I couldn't watch the Muppets for years.

If you had to spend the night in a haunted house, who and what would you bring with you?

I'd bring the Ghostbusters and their ghostbusting supplies. If they were unavailable, I'd bring my husband (to comfort me) and my laptop (to write down everything that happened).

Are you superstitious?

I'd like to say no, but I do knock on wood when the occasion warrants it... I have no issue with black cats, though. And not walking under a ladder is just common sense. I've seen enough cartoons to know that's how you get a bucket of paint on your head.

What can fans be expecting from you next?

I am currently working on revisions for Vessel, a standalone YA fantasy that will be out from Simon & Schuster in fall 2012. I'm really, really excited about it!

Thank you for answering my questions, Sarah!

Thanks so much for interviewing me!

FIND SARAH ONLINE: Website | Goodreads | Blog