 An August 2005 interview with author Greg Leitich Smith, author of Ninjas, Piranhas and Galileo.
What is it like being married to another author, especially one that works in the same general genre as you do?
We both are and always have been great readers and “book people.” One of the biggest problems in our house is where to store all the books. . .
With regard to craft, Cynthia and I read and critique each others’ manuscripts and between ourselves can be somewhat less diplomatic than we are with other people. It’s not something I would necessarily recommend to newlyweds or those who haven’t attended law school together.
Are you working on anything now?
I am presently working on a new novel, set (among other places) on a ranch in Texas. Also, Cynthia and I recently completed final edits on a Christmas picture book called SANTA KNOWS (release date 2006 or 2007). It’s the first manuscript we co-authored.
How did the idea for the Peshtigo School come to you?
The Peshtigo School came about because I needed a place to set the NINJAS storyline of science fair and student court, which operate somewhat idiosyncratically and differently than they do in most places. It also had to be a place where people deeply cared about the science fair. Also, because NINJAS is a comedy, I wanted the Peshtigo School to be a funny place. Consequently, it became and extreme and exaggerated version of an academically intense school. The fact that I attended several such institutions is merely a coincidence.
What were your favorite authors growing up?
I read a great deal of fantasy, science fiction, and mystery. Science fiction and fantasy favorites included LeGuin, L’Engle, Tolkien, Lewis, Kay, McCaffrey, Heinlein, Bear, Pournelle, Niven; favorite mystery writers included Doyle, Stout, Sayers, Christie.
What authors influenced you the most?
I don’t know that any individual author influenced me, at least in terms of style. I think that just reading a great deal, of all kinds of genres and quality, helped me figure out what “works” and what doesn’t.
Do you have any advice for young writers?
Read.
If you could be any character in any book, who would you be?
Hmm. I never thought of myself as “being” any of the characters in a book. But I always wanted to meet them and experience their world(s). Middle Earth, of course, for obvious reasons. Also, I would love to have dinner at Nero Wolfe’s brownstone or meet a dragon on Pern.
Did you ever compete in science fairs in school?
Yes. In the school I went to from 5th through 8th grade, participation was mandatory. I was fairly successful at them, though they were not among my favorite activities. :-)
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