Penguin Teen Author Spotlight: David Lubar

Author Spotlight

Sometimes we’d give anything to add a few choice books to high school required reading lists, and this is one of those books. Sophomores and Other Oxymorons is the honest and hilarious follow-up to the super popular Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie, which is teen Scott’s guide to life inside and outside the halls. Essentially, it’s the sort of read that pokes at your heart even though you’re busy laughing. Here to tell us more about the writer behind the high school wisdom is author David Lubar!

Name: David Lubar

Novel:Sophomores and Other Oxymorons

Available: August 18th, 2015

Who’s your favorite author, living or dead? If I answer that, all my author friends who I don’t pick will hate me. But you deserve an answer. So I’m going to have to whisper. Lean closer. {Katherine Paterson}

What’s your favorite thing about your book? I got to revisit all the characters fromSleeping Freshmen Never Lie, and make their lives miserable. In a fun way, of course. (Fun for me and you, that is. They pretty much suffered most of the time.)

If you could spend one year on a deserted island with one character from literature, who would you choose? Tony Stark (assuming he brought his machine shop).

Where do you write? I have an office in my house, containing the basic writing essentials, including printer, computer, ancient stereo system, archaic land-line phone, art on the walls, and various cats in various inconvenient locations.

Who is your favorite hero or heroine of history? Spartacus.

Do you tweet? What’s the funniest thing you’ve ever tweeted? I’m on Twitter as @davidlubar. Right after Seattle blew the last play of the most important game of the season by deciding not to run (resulting in an interception and a loss), I tweeted something that got more than 1,000 retweets.

“Hey, Seattle, would you like to win the Super Bowl?”
“No, thanks. I’ll pass.”

— David Lubar (@davidlubar) February 2, 2015

What is your favorite season? Garlic powder. Especially on pizza at the Jersey Shore in the late summer.

If you could teleport anywhere in the known universe right now, where would you go? The Jersey Shore. (But not the part with the loud people.)

Do you have any writing rituals? Two cups of coffee and too much self Googling.

What is your idea of earthly happiness? Self-cleaning litter boxes.

What is the best concert you’ve ever been to? The Venice Baroque Chamber Orchestra playing Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. The piece is so well know that it is almost a cliche, but I was blown away by hearing it played live.

What are you currently working on? Losing 30 pounds.