Cameron Glenn grew up the third of seven children in Oregon. As a child he dedicated hours to the pursuits of basketball and cartooning, as well as waking up way too early for his paper route in order to earn money to buy toys, candy and comic books. He also loved to read and write, which he continues to do voraciously. He currently lives in Salt Lake City after having earned a BA in literature from Boise State.

Check out the books written by Cameron Glenn.

 

EXTRA CREDIT WITH CAMERON GLENN:

Today Cameron Glenn is stopping by to earn a little Extra Credit from LitPick! A few of Cameron’s many books include Basketball and Dance Love, Pink Frost and Delano in Hollyhook.

Do you have a solid outline before writing, or do you usually get ideas as you go along?

Some of my books would probably have ended up better had I developed a more solid outline before beginning. But I usually start with just an idea, main conflict, and overall emotion I want to convey.  Even when I have begun with a more solid outline, with more plot heavy narratives, some of the most fun I've had while writing is becoming surprised by where it goes and how it veers from my original plan.  

Has someone you knew ever appeared as a character in a book (consciously or subconsciously)?

Isn't that illegal? That's why they have those "all characters are fictional and any likeness is coincidental" disclaimers after movies and stuff right?  haha.  No, but the reality is that some of the best fiction books ever written have been semi-autobiographical or journalistic (The Sun Also Rises, The Grapes of Wrath, etc.) For me personally, not too much, although every good novel probably has at least one character that represents some of the author’s personal thoughts and ideas. Sort of related, my short novel Pink Frost was originally written as a screenplay for Hillary Duff to offer her a juicy role to "prove" she could act (the main character deals with all sorts of tough issues, two personalities, and possible insanity). Dance and Basketball Love was also first a screenplay written for someone I knew who was really good at dancing and basketball.  

What do you do when you get writer's block?

I stop writing and catch up on reading. (A short answer since my last answer was long.) 

If you could live in a book's world, which would you choose?

Good question. Can comic books count? It'd be pretty cool to live in a world where superheroes save the world. It'd make the news more entertaining.  

What is your favorite book-to-movie adaptation?

A bit too easy an answer probably, but To Kill a Mockingbird is really great. Also, The Hunger Games movies and the Harry Potter movie franchise have been done really well.  

If you could have lunch with one other author (dead or alive!), who would it be?

William Shakespeare, probably. It'd be intimidating and scary for sure, but fascinating. Not much is known about him personally. Was he a funny guy or melancholy guy? My guess would be funny. I'd have to ask some of the Shakespeare experts for some really good questions and then share the interview with the world. 

Wild Card question: Your books cross multiple genres: romance, paranormal, fantasy. Do you find one genre easier to write than others, and do you have one you prefer?

One reason I like writing so much is the discovery that happens, as well as the challenge. I ask myself questions like "what would my attempt at dystopia, or romance, or paranormal, or fantasy look like?” Then I attempt to answer that question and find out. Some of it is still, after a long time, I have to admit, trying to find what genre I may be good or best at. But no, so far one genre hasn't really been easier to write than any other. I think I most prefer writing "sad realist fiction," but I may be better at writing children's fantasy. I'm still trying to figure it out, I guess.

Cameron, thank you for spending time with LitPick. Yes, you can definitely choose to live in a comic book’s world!

Happy Holidays to you and your family. We look forward from hearing more from you in 2016!

 

SIX MINUTES WITH CAMERON GLENN:

Hi, LitPickers! On today’s Six Minutes with an Author, we have an exclusive interview with Cameron Glenn. Cameron Glenn grew up the third of seven children in Oregon. As a child he dedicated hours to the pursuits of basketball and cartooning, as well as waking up way too early for his paper route in order to earn money to buy toys, candy and comic books. He also loved to read and write, which he continues to do voraciously. He currently lives in Salt Lake City after having earned a BA in literature from Boise State.

How did you get started writing?

I’ve always liked to doodle and draw. During one long summer road trip when I was around twelve, I took out my sketch pad and tried some cartooning. The bumps and vibrations of the car made it difficult to make the circles and squiggles as smooth as I'd like. I had to do something to entertain myself! I didn't have any portable movie players or video games. So, instead of drawing I wrote poems. I think my first poem was about how hot I was in the car. I instantly fell in love with how you can express yourself with words just as you can express yourself with drawing. Writing is just another form of art after all. I had enjoyed writing before then, usually having to do with schoolwork, but that was the first time I really connected to it as a form of self-expression and creative release.  

Who influenced you?

I hadn't studied the great authors like I should have until I went to college and decided to major in English Literature. That's also around the same time I developed the ambition to try and write longer narratives. Some authors that really struck a chord with me were Tobias Wolff and Don DeLillo. I also really liked (and still do, of course) Hemingway and Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald probably a tad more. For poetry, it was e e cummings. However, for many years, each month I've been freshly amazed by what great authors are able to do, and have lots of favorites. I guess I didn't really answer that question well. It's a hard question!  

Do you have a favorite book/subject/character/setting?

For YA, I'll try to pick something that maybe not a lot have heard of and go with The Tribes of Palos Verdes by Joy Nicholson. I love this book so much. It's lyrical, sad, funny, and beautiful. It really captures a Southern California feel as well. The ending is a bit complicated and makes you think. It's not perfectly happy, but it's not entirely depressing either. It questions how we deal with negative pressures in our lives and how much comfort can be had in the solace of escape (which for Medina happens to be surfing). I've tried to take on this theme as well with some of my own YA books. Although it was published in 1998, I recently heard they're shooting a movie based on it. Hopefully this will mean this wonderful book will be getting some more exposure soon.  

What advice do you have for someone who wants to be an author?

First of all, write because you enjoy it and love it. It can be a lifelong pleasure regardless of everything else. If you seek to be published, get over your fear of rejection. Even Harry Potter was rejected at first! It helps to develop a tough skin and not take things personally. From reading the process of famous authors, it seems that everyone has their own process and philosophy and ways of working, whether to write a ton and then whittle down or laboring over each sentence. Find what works for you, which you'll discover just as you write a lot. If you find it's driving you crazy, take a break. (lol)

Where is your favorite place to write?

This is kind of weird, but in the past I liked to write while sitting at fast food tables, longhand in notebooks. The music they played and people watching helped me to brainstorm and keep writing. More recently, just writing on my laptop on my kitchen counter has worked fine.  

What else would you like to tell us?

I’m really impressed with young readers today! They are so smart and open! It's very encouraging.  

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Thanks for spending six minutes with us, Cameron! We agree that young readers are smart and open – we have great student reviewers at litpick.com. :) Readers, make sure to check out his latest, Basketball and Dance Love.