I’m so excited to have Lauren Oliver on the blog today! Lauren is the author of the YA novels Before I Fall, and Delirium. She’s also generously providing a signed copy of Delirium for giveaway to one lucky winner (please see giveaway details at the bottom of the post.)
It says in your bio that you grew up in a family of writers. Who in your family influenced you most as a child?
Everyone in my family was an influence! My mother, father, and older sister are all immensely intelligent, creative, thoughtful people. My sister and I used to make up long and epic games together, and at night she would tell me stories; my mother, too, was an incredible story-teller, and she narrated to us made-up adventures of a fictional girl named Rosemary and her magical stuffed animal horse, which transformed into a real horse every night. My father is a writer and used to read or recite poetry at the dinner table. The lines between real and imaginary life were never very clearly drawn for me, and I think that helped me develop a vibrant fantasy life.
After college, you worked as what you described as “the world’s worst editorial assistant”. It couldn’t have been that bad, could it?
I was pretty bad. I mean, I was a great reader and an avid and enthusiastic member of the editorial team. But the list of things I refused to do, or just did poorly—such as copying, mailing, note-taking, and filing—made me pretty unsuitable as an assistant. In the end, my boss actually promoted me so that he could get a new assistant!
Can you tell us a little bit more about your love of ketchup?
Did you know that Heinz tomato ketchup is the ONLY food in the world that contains all five flavors (salty; sweet; sour; bitter; umami) the tongue can detect? That makes it a perfect food! I’ve loved ketchup since I was a kid. My favorite food used to be pasta with ketchup. At this point in my life, I’ll eat ketchup on pretty much anything, including toast.
I’d love to hear more about Cupid Day at your high school!
Cupid Day at my high school is pretty much identical to the one described in Before I Fall, except that the Cupids delivered carnations and not roses. I remember it just being a really stressful holiday. Every time the cupids interrupted class, you’d just be praying and praying that they would call your name and hand over a flower.
What’s something that makes you laugh out loud?
My friends are always making me laugh out loud. We make it a goal to laugh as often and as loudly as possible. The Lonely Island videos usually make me laugh out loud, too.
What’s one of the most daring things you’ve ever done?
I launched my own literary development company, Paper Lantern Lit, in 2010, despite having no experience as a business owner.
Do you like to travel? If so, and you could go anywhere, where would you go?
I love to travel! I travel about seventy percent of the year. Right now, some of the places that are on top of the wish list are: Greece, Vietnam, and the Seychelles.
Is there any news of upcoming projects and events you’d like to share with us?
There’s a gorgeous special edition of DELIRIUM coming out this August, and it includes the first chapter of Pandemonium and an exclusive Q & A. My first middle-grade, Liesl & Po, comes out this October, as does the paperback of Before I Fall. So lots of stuff to look forward to!
Visit Lauren at her website
Lauren’s Blog
Read my review of Delirium
GIVEAWAY DETAILS
*Giveaway is for a *Signed* copy of Delirium to one winner!
*Please leave a comment with your email address to enter!
*Open INTERNATIONALLY
*Must be at least 13 yrs old to enter
*Giveaway Ends July 10th, 2011
Another wonderful interview!
And it would be so wild to grow up in a family so creative. Thank you for the interview and sharing with us. 
Thanks so much for the lovely interview and the great chance to win a signed book *happy dance*!
danaan at gmx dot at
Oops, forgot my email sorry.
MyWorldinwordsandpages{at}gmail{dot}com
Delirium sounds amazing!
stephbarkerdrew(at)hotmail(dot)com
GFC: Stephanie
thank for the giveaway, great interview. I've been dying to read this book for a while.
luarroyave(at)hotmail(dot)com
Ohh I still haven't been able to get my hands on a copy of Delirium. I cannot wait to read this thanks so much Kristin for the great interview and Giveaway.
mybookishfairytale@hotmail.com
Thanks for the giveaway! I'd love a chance to read this!
captainsarahsparrow at hotmail dot com
Great interview. Thanks for the giveaway!
cjmfnobrega AT gmail DOT com
I've been wanting to read this book!! Thanks so much for the giveaway!
ohmorningglow AT aol DOT com
Great interview! Thanks for the giveaway!
beckyqward(at)gmail(dot)com
I love Lauren Oliver!
Thanks for the interview and giveaway!!
pranali_nk04@yahoo.com
Love the giveaway.
tammyb_2810(at)yahoo(dot)com
I loved Before I Fall and would love the chance to read Delirium. Thanks for making this international!
rusted ivory (at) hotmail (dot) com
This is amazing interview and amazing giveaway!
Lauren Oliver rocks!!
My email: trskovahanka@gmail.com
WHAT?! Are you serious? This is INTERNATIONAL?! Thanks for the giveaway and thanks so much to Lauren for signing Delirium! That is AWESOME!
readingowling AT gmail DOT com
Ahhh I loved this book so much! The ending made me cry.
Thanks for the giveaway!
iLiveiLaughiLoveBooks@gmail.com
Such a great prizes! Thank you for the giveaway.
seesen9[at]gmail[dot]com
Wow, thank you for the giveaway and the post
I loved it 
mikki-mano@hotmail.com
I have never been a fan of ketchup, but I know lots of people who are.
Traveling that much sounds like fun, but also very tiring.
helpersarah2009@gmail.com
thank you for the chance to win!
eveningreen AT gmail DOT com
Oh, I would LOVE a signed copy of Delirium! She's so awesome!
I'm totally laughing at ketchup being the perfect food. LOL!
Great interview!
I'm sorry. I'm the lame person who forgets their email *sigh*
littleshelf AT gmail DOT com
Thanks a lot for the chance!
by.evie at yahoo dot com dot br
Awesome! Thank you!
naruto_and_hinata(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thank you for a great giveaway. Please count me in! =)
Cambonified(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
YAY, that's awesome. Pls enter me:)
goldie-mail(AT)web(DOT)de
Thank you for the giveaway & the great interview!
Please enter me:
smith_p43[at]sky[dot]com
Thanks for the great giveaways!
grvyon at gmail dot com
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!! I've been dying to read this book!!
watson_beccalyn@yahoo.com
I'd love to be entered! I have heard so much fantastic stuff about Oliver's books!
yavampire(at)hotmail.com
Signed and international, well you sure know how to put a smile on your readers faces
Thanks
frellathon(at)gmail(dot)com
Mary D
zenrei57 (at) hotmail dot com
Lauren Oliver is one of my favorite YA authors! Before I Fall was the best book I've read all year, so heck yeah!!! Would be thrilled to win a signed copy of Delirium
Thanks for the awesome giveaway! Lovely interview, too – I want to go to Greece!
mizzbookworm@gmail.com
That's funny! Vietnam is at the top of my traveling list also! Great interview!
Kara
Survivorluvr33ATgmailDOTcom
I never thought I'd come across someone who likes ketchup more then my little sister does!:)
Thanks for the awesome giveaway, Delirium sounds so good.
Orchid
The Haunting of Orhcid Forsythia
hauntingorchid(at)aol(dot)com
Gosh I've been wanting to read this!! Awesome Giveaway!
wbbusby(at)gmail(dot)com
I loved Delirium! And I just finished Before I Fall yesterday and I think I loved it even more than Delirium, which I didn't think was possible. Awesome giveaway, I'd love to win this. Thanks for the chance
jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net
Delirium was amazing! Probably the best book I have read this year! Thank you! Great interview!
liedermadchen(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thanks so much for the lovely interview and a giveaway.
ivaondrejkova(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks so much for the giveaway!!
valialind(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
Loving this one, thanks!
Vivien
deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com
I loved Before I Fall so I know I will like Delirium.
rickimc[at]aol[dot]com
I have wanted this book for a while. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
Awesome! Count me in
quixoticdreamer(at)hotmail(dot)com
Great interview. I love Lauren Oliver's writing and enjoyed learning more about her
Thanks for the giveaway!!
Kris
elfdrop at gmail dot com
Great interview! We tried being "cupids" on Valentines Day in the company I work for and it's really stressful. Being cupid and delivering flowers all day isn't as easy as it looks.
Thanks for the giveaway! I'd love to win Delirium!
amaterasureads AT gmail DOT com
Incredible interview hon, I found myself laughing. The ketchup bit is definitely new to me, but that is a very interesting fact. Man you are lucky. Your boss promoted just so he can get someone new. See you obviously weren't all that bad LOL! I love the Lonely Island too. The Creep video does me in everytime. Just genius! Really great interview again guys and thank you so much for the giveaway
drharleyquinn87 (at) gmail (dot) com
great book
chllybrd(at)gmail.com
Thanks for the chance to win a signed copy of Delirium!
Ambur
ambiepie_6(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thanks for the giveaway. Great interview!!!
claroxide@yahoo.co.in
I would love to win this novel! I know the author is fun and talented (Good Reads) already. Thanky you! GFC Krystal Larson edysicecreamlover18ATgmailDOTcom
Thank you for the interview and giveaway!
ceeenndee at gmail dot com
I enjoyed the interview thank you. Great giveaway.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Thanks for the giveaway, great interview!
ladypentesylea@yahoo.com
Awesome interview & thanks for the amazing giveaway.
palauprincezz@gmail.com
thanks for another great interview and Giveaway!
Toreynmarjie@yahoo.com
http://thoughtsofareelfoothoodrat.blogspot.com/
That was a really fun and quirky interview to read! <3
pherlaithiel at gmail dot com
Thank you for this giveaway and for making it international!!!
Madiha Assegaf
mymedi@yahoo.com.my
I love that she was such an awful assistant that she earned a promotion!
meredithfl at gmail dot com
I still haven't read this because i haven't had the time but I can't wait to get to it…
Thanks for the giveaway!
katie_tp(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks fot the awesome giveaway!! :o)
Kaitlin
Fairytalebooklover at hotmail dot com
This is so epic! I would love to have a signed copy! Pick me!!!
thegirlonfire27 at gmail dot com
Love the interview, thanks for the great opportunity!!!
nat_isabel(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thank you so much for the chance to win!
Rathouska.jana@gmail.com
Thanks so much for this wonderful giveaway.
mce1011 AT aol DOT com
I'm <3 ing MFT!!!
Thanks for organizing such an amazing event!
youngreadersathomeATgmailDOTcom
Thanks for the giveaway, I would love to win this.
jessicamariesutton(at)msn(dot)com
Thanks for the giveaway! Lauren Oliver's writing is just awesome!
maidenveil(at)gmail(dot)com
I want to read this book so bad! Thanks for the great giveaway
And a great interview, too!
jwitt33 at live dot com
I would love to win Delirium! Thanks for the opportunity(:
Felicia
paradisified(at)gmail(dot)com
This is a truly awesome giveaway! Count me in, please!
jazriyah(at)gmail(dot)com
frederikker.jb@gmail.com
I learn so much new stuff about ketchup everyday! Awesome! XD
I've wanted to read this book for a while!
ajiehuang1997 (at) gmail (dot) com
Count me in!
kapranova.sofija@gmail.com
Thank you for the chance to win!
methom@earthlink.net
Thanks so much!
mnchapm2@mail.usf.edu
I have been so curious about this book!
books (dot) things (at) yahoo (dot) com
Your family sound so awesome! Wish mine were even a little like that. Looking forward to Delirium!
Gabbie-ethela AT hotmail DOT com
Ooh, I loved Delirium, too bad the one I read was a a library copy. I'd love my own copy.
tirachii(at)yahoo(dot)com
the book looks really interesting!
thanks:)
starlightgirl678 at aol dot com
thanks for the giveaway :*
ioana_raluk95@yahoo.com
katklaw777 at yahoo dot com
Great giveaway, thanks!
Thanks for the giveaway. Count me in:D
balmezandrada at yahoo dot com
Thank you for this, Delirium has been in my wishlist for a long time!
thebookish96(at)gmail.com
Please count me in!
petra_socaciuAYyahooDOTcom
Everyone says Lauren Oliver's books are so awesome I am quite ashamed I never got to read one! (:
mika.apostrophe@gmail.com
Lauren Oliver is awesome! Thanks for the review (:
booksaredreams@gmail.com
Thanks so much for the giveaway and the review!
Miss Lauren
misslaurenwilk at gmail dot com
Thanks for the interesting interview! It must have been so cool to grow up w/such an imaginative family!
andreat78@yahoo.com
Really like Before I Fall so far. Would love a copy of Delirium. Thanks for the giveaway!
Clara
thewannabeknight at gmail dot com
OMG WANT!!!!
THANK YOU FOR THE GIVEAWAYS!
youngreadersathomeATgmailDOTcom
+JMJ+
I had to look up "umami" after reading this interview. What a word! I think I'll try dropping it into every extended conversation I get into this month! LOL!
Thanks for making the giveaway international. =)
altaemoeniaRomae
[at]
Gmail
[dot]
com
And if you'd like to visit me, here is a quick link to my blog: Shredded Cheddar! =)
Been wanting to have a copy of this one! thanks for the awesome giveaway!
fallendream03 AT gmail DOT com
Great interview! Ketchup also holds a special place in my gastronomical heart!
Thanks for the giveaway.
candicerjames [at] gmail [dot] com
Thanks so much for the great giveaway and for making it international!!
tasnim-sheikh(AT)hotmail(DOT)com
Tasnim xx
What an awesome giveaway! I really want to read Delirium!
jadedlittlegirlx [at] gmail [dot] com
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
Leslie
workingforthemandroid at gmail dot com
Great Interview and awesome giveaway!
I really want to read this book!
shiirleyyx@gmail.com
Huh, I did not know that about ketchup! Thanks for the giveaway
ayleejaine(at)gmail(dot)com
A signed copy would be gorgeous on my shelf! I would love to win!
TaraTagli at gmail dot com
Still haven't read this. Thanks for the giveaway.
Jennifer K Jovus
kjovus at gmail dot com
This looks great ! thanks for the giveaway!
coffee_ishita@yahoo.com
I love that she loves HEINZ ketchup! Proud to be a Pittsburgher! This was such a wonderful interview.
speduzzi496(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for the interview and the giveaway! I quite liked Delirium.
Email: nudging.along[at]gmail.com
Leannz0r@gmail.com
I've been wanting to read this!
Mare
tommygirl828 (at) gmail (dot) com
OMG!!! thx for this!!
calbizzz_152(at)hotmail.com
Hi there, great interview! I would love to win this. Please enter me!
clderwee at gmail dot com
Of course we're all dying to win this
sophiathewriter at gmail
Amazing Giveaway! I am dying to read this book!! Thank you so much!!
PelicanJL[at]hotmail[dot]com
Ketchup on toast? Well now I think I've heard just about everything :p
Thank you for the giveaway! I've been wanting to read this book for months now.
jaedia(at)live(dot)co(dot)uk
Oh, the book sounds great.
xjustakidx(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thank you so much for this giveaway. Delirium has long been on my wish list and I would love to read it! I've read quite a few interviews with Lauren and she is always so nice and cheerful! I <3 her!
evieseo(at)gmail(dot)com
I have been dying to read Delirium, it sounds awesome!
Thanks for the giveaway!
danceislove27(at)gmail(dot)com
katklaw777 at yahoo dot com
Great giveaway, thanks.
Awesome interview
I'm excited to read this one, it's been on my list for a while.
Thanks for the giveaway.
danielle.
http://www.mymercurialmusings.com
MyMercurialMuse (at) gmail (dot) com
Thanks for another great giveaway!!!
crazypplrok at gmail dot com
Fantastical imterview! I want to win after reading it!
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
drhodes123@live.com
Thanks for the giveaway. Have been wanting to read this book
jenhedger at hotmail dot com
Thanks for the giveaway!
amandaccopulos at g-mail dot com