NON-FICTION AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Hillary Carlip

Finally! The chance to sit down and speak to (okay, email with!) the very funny and talented Hillary Carlip in our second non-fiction author interview! (Find the first one here). Over to Hillary...

How would you summarise your book?

Well, let’s just say it took a lot of work with my publishers to come up with the summary on the back cover of the book. And it’s always easier to have someone else toot your horn rather than yourself! So here it is:

A hilariously offbeat memoir about an adventurous young woman's escapades as she defies conventions and transforms an ordinary Los Angeles life into a star-studded, extraordinary miracle of self-discovery. Queen of the Oddballs: And Other True Stories from a Life Unaccording to Plan forms a chronology of Hillary Carlip's habitual straying from roads more traveled -- from a wisecracking third-grader suspended from school for smoking (while imitating Holly Golightly), to a headline-making teen activist, juggler and fire eater, friend (NOT "fan") of Carly Simon and Carole King, grand prize-winning Gong Show contestant, cult rock star, and seeker of spiritual and romantic truths that definitely defy expectations. Illustrated with ephemera -- from diary entries and photographs to a handwritten letter from Carly Simon -- Queen of the Oddballs presents a virtual time capsule of pop culture's last four decades and celebrates a creative life lived to the hilt.

More from my favourite memoirist of 2006 over the cut!

What do you enjoy about writing non-fiction?

It’s important to me that whatever I write has the potential to inspire people – to live their lives more fully and creatively, and to embrace who they are. It feels easier for me to do that with non-fiction.

What's an average writing day like? (briefly!)

I personally need to flit. I prefer to focus for some time, then go do something else, then return to writing. It’s like when I learned how to juggle when I was a teenager. If you continue doing it for too long at one time, you’ll just start dropping everything. But if you leave and come back, there’s more focus.

What's your favourite novel by a woman?

As you may be able to tell by the stories in Queen of the Oddballs, I don’t like limiting myself, or narrowing anything down!! So it’s incredibly hard to pick one piece of writing as my favourite when there are countless books and authors I adore.

Who is your favourite female character (fictional or real), and why?

Same as the last question. Impossible to pick just one! However, I will name one female character I definitely related to as a child, and is included in my book. Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Daring and darling, she shoplifted and had only one friend, her cat named Cat. She was strong and independent, saying things like: “You don't have to worry. I've taken care of myself for a long time," and had such a unique sense of style.

What are you working on next? (If you can give us a hint!)

I’m working on several projects. One is a top-secret novel, the other is an anthology book of personal essays from my literary site, Fresh Yarn.

What question have you never been asked in an interview, but think you should have been? (Tell us the question and answer it too, if you like!)

THIS ONE! For the last six months I have been doing scores of TV, radio, print, and web interviews. I can’t think of one question that’s not been asked… until yours. So, good job! Very original! :)

Thanks Hillary! (And that was Keris's idea!)

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