Courtney Summers was born in Belleville, Ontario, Canada in 1986 and currently resides in a small town not far from there. When she was 14, she dropped out of high school so she could pursue her education. Now she writes gritty young adult novels.
It is the best job ever.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Because it suits me. I love it.
It means a lot to me that people want to know what happens to Parker, Regina and Eddie after the last page of their respective stories. While I have no immediate plans to write a sequel to any of these books, I never say never! (But honestly, it’s probably not going to happen.)
Read, read, read, write, write, write. And don’t lose heart–writing is a highly subjective business. Cracked Up to Be was my fourth completed novel and my first published book. There are a lot of ‘nos’ before there’s a yes. And it only takes one yes.
This is by no means a comprehensive list. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier, Stolen by Lucy Christopher, Through to You by Emily Hainsworth, Everything Beautiful by Simmone Howell, Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta, My Beating Teenage Heart by CK Kelly Martin, Beautiful Music for Ugly Children by Kirstin Cronn-Mills, Destroy All Cars by Blake Nelson, Beautiful by Amy Reed, Send Me a Sign by Tiffany Schmidt, Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma, The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp, The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney, The Space Between by Katie Williams, Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr….
Again–by no means comprehensive! Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke, Bible Camp Bloodbath and One Bloody Thing After Another by Joey Comeau, In the Miso Soup by Ryu Murakami, Battle Royale by Koushun Takami, Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent.
Because they’re scary and they eat your brains. They lend themselves perfectly to that search for a greater meaning in life. To watch a zombie movie where people get stripped of the things that make their lives worth living, and yet still want to live in spite of it, can be very inspirational. Yes, zombies inspire me every day.
