Q: Why did you focus on our modern preoccupation with youth in Starters? Could you see the premise old people 'borrowing' younger bodies ever happening?Ī: I've had readers tell me they could see this happening. Publishing is embracing this, and it is reaching readers.

Q: Would you write an adult dystopian novel or do you feel that dystopian instinctively belong to teenagers?Ī: Right now, and this is just my take, I feel the most exciting writing is flourishing in the YA category. The dystopian novel allows a reader to address some of these underlying fears but in a completely entertaining way because it is so removed and hopefully imaginative and fun. It also seems as if we've all endured catastrophic natural disasters in the last few years.

Here in the states, huge brands are dying - Borders, a major bookstore chain closed last year for example. Q: Why do you feel that dystopian novels are flourishing now, is the world in a bad way?Ī: I'm an optimistic person, but I do see that many people are reacting to our world situation. I think some of the most inventive writing going on today is in this arena and that's why there is so much crossover into all ages of readers. You just told your story in the best way possible, with a teen protagonist. What Fisher and Collins showed me was that you did not have to talk down to a YA age group.

I also loved THE HUNGER GAMES and the UGLIES series by Westerfeld. Q: Why write for the YA audience, what appeals to you about this age group?Ī: I found the books I was enjoying the most were YA, particularly dystopian novels: INCARCERON by Catherine Fisher, a British author, was one of my favorites (and the sequel). Now I'm writing or doing publicity for writing just about 24/7 (okay, I do eat and sleep and sometimes shower). Q: What was your 'day job' before you started writing? Are you now writing full time?Ī: I've been writing full time for a while now. But there are darker plans afoot for the teen donors. Then teen Callie discovers the Body Bank where teens rent their bodies to seniors who want to be young again. In a future world ravaged by war, teenagers live as outcasts while 'seniors' rule. When she sat down to write, she found that the most surprising journeys were still inside her mind. She lives in the foothills of Southern California, but has previously travelled the world walking with elephants in Botswana, swimming with penguins in the Galapagos and travelling with nomads in India. Lissa (pronounced LISS-sa) has written children's television for Jim Henson Productions and is an award-winning screenwriter.

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