Hi Emily! Thanks for doing the interview. Could you start by introducing yourself?
I am the author of over a dozen books for teens including The Principles of Love series and Chalet Girls, and The Other Half of Me as well as two books for adults, Liner Notes, and The Girls' Almanac, and a few essay collections...I grew up half in the US and half in London and live with my husband and four little kids in a crumbly old Victorian house.

I just finished and enjoyed your latest novel The Other Half of Me. Could you tell us a little about the book and your inspiration for it?
I'm so glad you liked it! I kept reading and hearing about kids who have donor dads and how they might find each other later in life. I thought this would be a great plot for a book and thus the character of Jennie was created. Instead of having her newfound sister solve all her problems, I wanted finding her to make Jennie's life a bit more complex...

If any of your novels were to be adapted into a film in the next year or so, who would you like to see play the lead characters?
Oh, great question! Can Katherine Heigel play me in the movie of my life? I think that if The Principles of Love were made into a tv show - which it so could be, I mean girl on boarding school campus with Dad as the Headmaster?! - it would be best if someone new played her. Someone we don't know about so we really identify her with the character.

You’re releasing a new series “Chalet Girls” in the fall. Can you tell us a little about the books?
The first two Chalet Girls books are out now - Slippery Slopes and Balancing Acts. The third, Off the Trails, will be published in February. The books are about three girls - one from Australia, one from England, one from the States, who meet while working at a posh ski report in the French Alps.

I know it’s a tough question but do you have a favorite of your novels or one that is particularly close to your heart for whatever reason?
I adore The Principles of Love series. The seventh and last (!) book, Lessons in Love, will be out in March....I can't believe it’s ending!

You grew up half in London and half in Boston. Have you found your multi-national experiences have helped with writing?
Yes, definitely. Having a wide array of experiences gives me lots to draw from and exploring new countries is still a passion. Many of my book feature locales such as India, Iceland, and other places I've been to and from which I've gained.

When did you decide you wanted to be an author? Has it been a lifelong dream?
Since I was 4! It is a dream I am thrilled (and still surprised) to have achieved.

What were some of your favorite novels when you were a teenager and what are some of your favorites today?
The Outsiders by SE Hinton, Thimble Summer by Elizabeth Enright, Lust by Susan Minot, everything from Enid Blyton to Raymond Carver. By the time I was a teenager and very focused on writing, I was very into short stories - like Raymond Carver's.

Some recent faves include Donorboy by Brendan Halpin, The Boyfriend List by E. Lockart, King Dork by Frank Portman, and The Pursuit of Happiness by Tara Altabrando.

Since starting your career as an author, what would you say are some of the most important lessons you’ve learned?