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I don’t mean to brag but I get thousands of letters and emails. The truth is, I would love to get a glittery manicure and a matching glitter pen (natch!) and write something personal and ah-dorable to you and you alone (while admiring my sparkling nails and penmanship).
But by letter #120, my ink would dry up and my fingers would cramp. I’d have to type with my stubby, short toes. Which means my stories would be short and hard to understand. At that point you’d stop reading my books. I’d be out of a job. Out of manicure and glitter pen money. Out of my mind.**
Does this mean you’re out of luck? Doomed to a life of unrequited mail? Down the cost of a stamp? Puh-lease! Make like a Visa and give me a little credit, will ya?
I have read your letters and culled the most frequently asked questions. Now I am posting them, along with my answers. I will continue adding to this list unless you stop:
a) Writing
b) Asking
c) Caring
d) All of the above
So send your questions to:
Lisi Harrison (FAQ)
c/o Little, Brown Books for young Readers
237 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
**You don’t want that on your conscience, do you? I am assuming your answer is, “no.” If it is, “yes” we are not as tight as I thought and my friend Deezer is right. I am a terrible judge of character
WHAT IS MONSTER HIGH?
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO WRITE MONSTER HIGH?
ARE YOU A MONSTER FAN?
WHAT’S THE SEQUEL, "THE GHOUL NEXT DOOR" ABOUT?
WHAT ARE YOU HOPING WE GET OUT OF MONSTER HIGH? IS THERE SOME DEEP MEANING?
WHY MONSTERS?
WHAT TIPS DO YOU HAVE FOR REAL LIFE “MONSTERS” WHO DON’T FIT IN?
ANY ADVICE FOR ASPIRING WRITERS?
DO YOU WRITE YOUR BLAH-GS EVERY WEDNESDAY OR DO YOU HIRE PEOPLE TO DO IT?
WHEN WILL BEST FRIENDS FOR NEVER BE A MOVIE? CAN I PLEASE PLAY MASSIE?
WHO ARE THE GIRLS ON THE COVER OF THE CLIQUE BOOKS SUPPOSED TO BE?
WHICH CLIQUE CHARACTER IS MOST LIKE YOU?
HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO WRITE FOR 7TH GRADERS WHEN YOU ARE CLEARLY NO LONGER IN THE 7TH GRADE?
HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA TO WRITE ABOUT CLIQUES
ANY ADVICE FOR PEOPLE THAT GO TO CLIQUE-Y SCHOOLS?
WHAT IS MONSTER HIGH?
Monster High (September 1, 2010) is about a clique of fashionable monsters who have spent their lives trying to look like normal high school students. During a dance, Frankie Stein’s head falls off and they are discovered. And the normies want them out.
The series is about prejudice, loyalty, and courage. It’s about hiding our differences when we should be embracing them. And it‘s about friendship, boys, and the goofy/embarrassing things that happen to us when we go through puberty.
If you like the Clique you’ll love this. Mattel makes the toys, cell phone covers, clothes, Halloween costumes, and accessories. And they are freaky fabulous!
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO WRITE MONSTER HIGH?
I wanted to make a monster series for Clique fans. The kind I would want to read. Ghouls for glams.
ARE YOU A MONSTER FAN?
Not really. This is why I wanted to create a monster world that suited my sensibility. Something more steeped in pop culture, humor, and friendship than we usually find in this genre.
WHAT’S THE SEQUEL, "THE GHOUL NEXT DOOR" ABOUT?
Each book in the series will feature a new character’s point of view. Like the first, this includes Frankie and Melody but introduces Cleo. Readers will get to know her now. She's kind of my Massie.
WHAT ARE YOU HOPING WE GET OUT OF MONSTER HIGH? IS THERE SOME DEEP MEANING?
Given! It’s about our desire to fit in and belong. And how we tend to hide the things that make us different instead of celebrating them. It's also about tolerance and acceptance. Oh, and how were all kind of monster-y in high school.
WHY MONSTERS?
The monster's traits are metaphors for puberty and our physical challenges in high school. Here are some examples:
Frankie Stein: discriminated against because of her skin color.
Clawdeen: This werewolf needs a wax! She has major hair growth issues.
Billy: Feels invisible around the girl he loves. (And being invisible doesn’t help).
Lala: Rebels against her father. Also she smiles with her mouth closed so no one sees her fangs. I did that when I got braces.
Jackson Jeckyll/DJ Hyde: I mean who hasn’t dated a split personality guy?
Blue: Embarrassing skin issues.
I could go on...
WHAT TIPS DO YOU HAVE FOR REAL LIFE “MONSTERS” WHO DON’T FIT IN?
Some of us are late bloomers. I was. The school years won’t last forever. Your time will come. Once they’re done there will be tons of opportunities to find your place. And you will. I didn’t hit my stride until I was 23 and working in New York. Until then I was lost. I had no clue who I was or what I was capable of. I just followed my instincts. Always. Even when my decisions weren’t popular. And those instincts led me down the right path. For now, get through these years with grace and listen to those little voices inside yourself. They know everything. Find the people who share your values and connect with them. Quality over quantity. One amazing friend is better than 20 meanies.
ANY ADVICE FOR ASPIRING WRITERS?
Read the things you love to read. Not the things you think you should read. That will turn you off faster than the Clapper.
Journal for ten minutes every day. It doesn’t have to be good. Just drain your brain and connect with your thoughts.
Carry a notebook everywhere you go. Be an observer of life. Record great outfits, horrendous outfits, conversations, annoying habits, rude behavior, goofy walks...sprinkle these details into your writing like a chef with salt. They will make your work come alive.
If someone says you’ll never make it as a writer, or even implies it with a doubtful snarl, put on your pointiest boots and kick them in the shin. Then record their reaction in your notebook.
DO YOU WRITE YOUR BLAH-GS EVERY WEDNESDAY OR DO YOU HIRE PEOPLE TO DO IT?
I wish I could hire someone to be me. Not only would they write my blah-gs but they would do my cardio, go to my ob-gyn appointments, pee for me on road trips, write my thank-you notes, learn to cook, walk Bee Bee, make my bed (with hospital corners), and finish answering this question. But alas, I can’t find a single applicant.
If I was paying someone, my blah-gs would be brilliant, week after week. They would post at the same time-10:00am. And I would never skip a post. Instead, you have to keep logging on and checking. Because some weeks I am so busy my fingers curl up in protest. But does that stop me? Not usually! Because I love staying in touch with you so much it hurts (occasionally). TTYW.
WHEN WILL BEST FRIENDS FOR NEVER BE A MOVIE? CAN I PLEASE PLAY MASSIE?
Everyone asks this question. EVERYONE! And I wish I had better news for you. I really do. All I know is that there are powerful suit-wearing people in Hollywood trying to make this happen. But until they do you’ll have to keep reading the books and imagine yourself saying the lines. As soon as I get an update I will post it on LisiHarrison.com. Pinky-swear. And for all you wannabe Massie’s out there: practice your comebacks and keep honing your inner queen bee. That way you’ll be ready if opportunity knocks!
WHO ARE THE GIRLS ON THE COVER OF THE CLIQUE BOOKS SUPPOSED TO BE?
Is the one in the middle Massie or Alicia? Where is Claire? And why are there only three of them and not four?
The girls on the covers are models, meant to represent a clique not the clique. It's up to you to decide based on my description and your imagination what Massie, Claire, Alicia, Kristen and Dylan look like. So if the
girl in the middle looks like Alicia to you, then fine, she’s Alicia. And if she doesn’t then that’s fine too. Whatevs.
WHICH CLIQUE CHARACTER IS MOST LIKE YOU?
I’m like Massie because I love fashion, bratty comebacks and my puppy Bee Bee. But I am not a bully and would never want to make anyone cry, especially my friends. I am also very Claire-ish because I have learned to accept myself for who I am. I am like Alicia because I can’t run. And I am like Dylan because I think burps are funny. The character I am not like at all is Kristen because I stink at sports, I never came close to getting a scholarship, and I would never lie about being rich. Oh, and I probably wouldn’t look very good as a blond.
HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO WRITE FOR 7TH GRADERS WHEN YOU ARE CLEARLY NO LONGER IN THE 7TH GRADE?
Simple. I WAS in the seventh grade. And I remember what it feels like to wake up in the morning and wonder if my friends will still like me, even though I did nothing wrong. I also remember what it feels like to gang up on someone else because, well, better them than me, right? We’ve all been Massie’s and we’ve all been Claire’s at one point or another and those feelings of abusing and being abused never go away. If you’ve ever seen The Hills or Real Housewives of (fill in the blank) you know that the claws can come out at any age. Reeeowwww! The best thing you can do is work on your self-esteem so other people’s issues don’t become yours.
HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA TO WRITE ABOUT CLIQUES
I worked at MTV for 12 years and it reminded me a lot of middle school. People were always trying to fit in with the “cool” crowd and it brought back a lot of memories. I’d hear things like; who are you hanging out with this weekend? Did you get invited to any cool parties? Where did you buy that outfit? Who did you eat lunch with today? Ew, you like her? Sound familiar? It wasn’t long before I realized that cliques and the desire to be accepted don’t go away when you get older. They just get easier to laugh at. And that’s why I wrote The Clique as a comedy and not a heart-wrenching drama. Sometimes the way we act is so pathetic it’s funny.
ANY ADVICE FOR PEOPLE THAT GO TO CLIQUE-Y SCHOOLS?
For starters, you have to understand why mean girls are mean.
They are insecure. I know that’s hard to believe because they’re probably pretty, popular, stylish and outgoing. But trust me it’s true. Girls that put other girls down do it to feel better about themselves. So keep that in mind next time a pack of wild meanies treat you like a loser. Know that they are the pathetic ones and simply walk away. And stop, stop, stop trying to be accepted by them. Do you seriously think you’d be happier if you were friends with them? Puh-lease!
Go find someone that shares your real interests and hang with them. It’s better to have one real friend than one hundred fake ones. Given!
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