from The Hub @ American Library Association
31 Days of Authors: an interview with Pittacus Lore, author of I Am Number Four (a 2011 Teens’ Top Ten winner)
by Gretchen Kolderup
Teen Read Week was October 16th through the 22nd, but here at The Hub, we’re celebrating all month long with 31 Days of Authors. On each day in October, we’ll bring you exclusive author interviews and profiles plus reflections on what YALSA-recognized books have meant to us. Today we feature an interview with Pittacus Lore, whose book I Am Number Four is #4 (of course!) on this year’s Teens’ Top Ten list.
Can you tell us about your own life on Lorien before its destruction? Were you a writer then, as well?
I was the ruling Elder of the planet, its political and military leader. We led a very peaceful existence. Our planet was healthy and flourished environmentally. Our people lived simple, beautiful lives, absent of hunger and war. I never expected the Mogadorian War, and I never expected to be fighting that war on earth, and documenting it in a series of books.
Is it hard to write and work with a publisher when you’re constantly on the run from the Mogadorians?
Ours is a covert war. Almost a cat and mouse game. The Mogadorians are trying to find us and kill us. We hide from them, and strike when we feel the time is right. Writing the books is a way of recording the history of the conflict. I also enjoy it, and it relieves some of the stress of fighting.
Have you seen the movie based on the story you wrote? What did you think about it?
I watched with all of the Loriens who are currently together. We went to a theater and nobody knew who we were. We had a great time. It was fun seeing #4 and #6 portrayed on a large screen in a big Hollywood movie. And it was great working with Mr. Bay and Mr. Spielberg. One thing, though, the Mogadorian are far uglier in real life.