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Exclusive Interview with Linda Rey | Insights & Stories on CraveBooks

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Linda Rey

Member Since: 11/2023

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Writing a bio is a awkward as having to write a “What I Did Last Summer” report the first day back in school, but here goes: I write “fish out of water” books for tweens and teens because I spent my fair share of time treading the shallow end of the popularity pool as a middle schooler and I remember how it felt. I live in Orange County, CA not too far from Disneyland. My favorite color is green, but blue is a close second. I’d rather eat potato chips than ice cream, but give me a donut and I’ll be your friend for life. I’m a grandma of 7, but I’m a gool grandma with a tattoo on my wrist that says “Believe.” My favorite books as a child were The Secret Garden, Charlotte’s Web, and anything my Judy Blume. If I can be remembered for just one thing after I’m gone I hope it’s that people thought I was nice.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your hobbies and interests.

I was born with the voice of an angel and a brain so amazing that I'll probably donate it to science. When I'm not busy fa la la-ing from the hilltops or doing fantastical brain stuff in laboratories, I can be found at my computer making up stories.

When and why did you start writing books?

I was SUPER slow on the roll. Even though I wanted to be an author since I was a little girl, I actually didn't write my first book until I was a grandma!! Moral of the story: Never give up on your dream.

What made you decide to tackle writing as a career?

Writing is my passion, but I'm an interior designer by trade. When I hit 50 years old, I figured I needed to start writing before my hands became too old and gnarled to type and I'd have to hunt and peck at the keys with my nose.

Which one of your books or characters is your favourite?

My series, Confessions of a Nerdy Girl, is about a "tween" named Willa, whom I adore! She's quirky, witty, sassy, and yet sensitive. She's also super tidy. Which is a quality we don't share.

Which one of your books was the hardest to write and stretched you the most as a writer?

I have a YA, the first in what will be a three-book series, about a troubled girl who travels back in time to relive her previous lives as a teen martyr in key moments in history. My character was Joan of Arc, a gladiator in ancient Rome, and a prisoner in Auschwitz. The research and the writing on those was pretty tough. It took a while to decompress from it.

Who is your favourite author and book?

Childhood authors would be Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary. More current authors would be J.K. Rowling, Jodi Picoult, John Green and Suzanne Collins.

What book are you reading right now?

"The Giver of Stars" by Jojo Moyes

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

Everyday life.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Interior Design, Reading, Writing, Gardening.

Do you have any new books in the works?

I'm getting ready to launch the 6th book in my Nerdy Girl diary series, "Sunny Side Over" on November 13, 2023, and have just started on the 7th book, "Letters From the Heart," to debut in spring of 2024.