Q: Hi Niki, thanks for doing the interview. Could you start by introducing yourself?
A: Hi, I'm Niki, and I look just like Heidi Klum. I had a career as a supermodel for a number of years before turning to writing full-time after all the travel wore me out...wait, no one can SEE me while I do this interview, can they?
Scratch that.
I'm Niki Burnham and I write books for teenagers. They are of the funny, romantic variety. I do not look like Heidi Klum, but I hope to in my next life. When I'm not writing, I like to travel. Lots.
Q: I just finished reading your newest novel Do-Over, which I loved by the way. Could you tell the readers a little about the novel?
A: YAY! Glad you liked it! Do-Over is a story about Valerie Winslow, a fifteen year-old from Vienna, Virginia (a real place) who moves to the European country of Schwerinborg (not a real place) and falls madly in love with a prince. The problem is, her newly-single dad also seems to be falling for someone, which is driving Val over the edge.
Q: Do-Over is a sequel to Royally Jacked and Spin Control. Have you got plans to write a sequel for Do-Over in the near future?
A: There are no firm plans in place, but it's certainly a possibility! In the meantime, I have a short story about Val's buddy Jules Jackson available exclusively on Amazon.com. It's called Reality Check. It's an inside peek at Jules' insane existence—combat boots, Ho-Hos, Wendy's polyester pants and all. I've received a lot of e-mails about Jules, asking if I could write a story about her, asking whether she would ever get a boyfriend, all that kind of thing. So I decided to write Reality Check for anyone who's curious about what's up with ol' Jules.
Q: You’ve written a number of teen novels. Is there a specific one of your novels that is your favorite? If so; why?
A: At the risk of sounding cheesy, it's always the one I'm currently working on. The new characters tend to take over my brain and crowd out characters from past books.
Q: Did you base aspects of the character of Valerie in Do-Over on yourself or someone in your life or is she an entirely fictitious character?
A: Val herself is fictional. However, I lived in Germany for six years and went to high school there, so a lot of her observations about life in Schwerinborg are things that occurred to me while I was living in Germany.
And--shocker!--I have never dated a prince.
Q: Tell us about an average working day for you; how many pages do you write? Do you have a specific routine you follow?
A: I work on my writing career every day, but some days I do more of the promotional stuff (interviews, booksignings, my website, etc.) and on other days, I spend more time writing. How many pages I get done at a crack is largely a function of two things: 1) how close I am to my deadline; and 2) how well the words are flowing on that particular day. I endeavor to get my books done ahead of deadlines so I don't get stressed out and feel like I have to write a zillion pages in a day to get it done on time.
Q: If Do-Over or any of its prequels were to be adapted into a film in the next year or so, who would you like to see play the lead characters?
A: Fun question! I used to think either Amy Davidson from television's Eight Simple Rules or Andrea Bowen from Desperate Housewives would make a great Val, and that Paul Walker would be great as David Anderson, but they're all getting too old for the roles now (sadly!) I never have come up with a good fix on who could play Georg. It'd have to be someone good-looking, but in a quirky kind of way.
Q: Are you planning/working on your next novel yet? If so, can you offer a teaser or two?
A: I have a short story called "Night Swimming" that will be part of an anthology called Fireworks. Fireworks will also have stories by Erin Haft (Pool Boys), Sarah Mlynowski (Bras & Broomsticks) and Lauren Myracle (TTYL.) It'll be in bookstores in April 2007, and I'm very excited about it! Then, in May 2007, I have a new book coming out called Goddess Games. It tells the story of three very different teenagers forced to live together when they take summer jobs at a posh Colorado resort. One's an Army brat and elite athlete, one's a Hollywood rich kid, and one's a born again Christian. Needless to say, there's a lot of conflict there. They all have guy issues, too, which results in even more conflict (and quite a few laughs.)
Q: When did you decide you wanted to be an author? Has it been a lifelong dream?
A: I've always wanted to, but I'm a practical person. I figured my odds of making a living as an author were slim to none. I mean, how many authors lived on your block when you were a kid? I sure didn't know any. So I decided the reasonable thing to do—since I loved reading and books—was to become a lawyer. It was a reasonable career, but it wasn't as exciting as I'd hoped. I took a chance on writing, and fortunately, it has paid off!
Q: What were some of your favorite novels when you were a teenager and what are some of your favorites today?
A: I read tons and tons when I was growing up, but my favorite stories were all about adventure. I liked books by Alistair MacLean, Jack Higgins, Helen MacInnes, and Robert Ludlum. Some of my MacLean novels got read four or five times.
Today, my reading is all over the map. I read romance, teen novels, mystery, and what I call "big fat fiction." Books like The Power of One, The Poisonwood Bible, and Out of Africa are some of my all-time favorites.
Q: You have an awesome official website with a bulletin board and all the latest news. How important to you is it to keep connected with readers?
A: Thanks for the kudos—I love my website! I don't know if it's "important" or not—really, I doubt it would change my writing if I quit hosting my site and bulletin board—but I really enjoy it. I think it's fun to hear what teenagers are discovering in the bookstore or library, about what movies they're watching, or just about their lives in general.
Q: You studied Political Science in college; did you also do any courses related to writing?
A: Nope, none! I tested out of Freshman Composition, and since that was the only writing requirement for my major, I didn't take any others. In some ways, I think that was a good thing. I was able to take other courses and broaden my horizons beyond the subjects I'd studied in high school. I think it's important for a writer to be intellectually curious.
Q: In addition to teen novels you also write romance novels. Which do you enjoy writing the most?
A: Tough question! Well, since I'm currently working on a book for teenagers, right now that's my favorite. But ask me again in a few months and my answer might change.
Q: Since starting your career as an author what would you say are some of the most important lesson you’ve learned?
A: The most important lesson is to simply enjoy writing. The best words come when I'm relaxed and taking the time to savor the whole process.
Q: What advice would you like to offer to aspiring authors?
A: Get a grip on the basics of grammar. The internet, IMs, and text messaging have warped our grammar (hey, it happens.) But you need that basic level of competency if you're going to catch the attention of an editor or agent. So pay attention in your English classes.
Then write what you're passionate about. If you're not writing something you'd enjoy reading, others won't enjoy it, either. Don't write what others are telling you is what will sell, or what you "should" write if that doesn't resonate with you. (That's a good word: resonate. Use that as your litmus test, and you're good to go!)
Finally, finish what you start. A lot of authors have piles of ideas that they never do finish. You can't sell a book unless you actually write it. So sit, write, and enjoy it!
