The Monday Muse: Bev Katz Rosenbaum

Today's Muse: Bev Katz Rosenbaum

Author of: I Was a Teenage Popsicle and Beyond Cool

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Bookworm: What inspired you to write Floe's [pronounced "Flo"] story?

Bev: I really wanted to write about what it feels like to be an outsider. This is a common theme in young adult fiction, of course, but I think teens really need/like to see this theme explored in a variety of ways. It makes them feel like they're not alone! I certainly remember that horrible feeling of not fitting in from my own high school days. I thought, wouldn't it be interesting to take a girl who was one of the cool ones and to have something freaky happen to her to make her a complete outsider? My husband gave me the idea to have her frozen and awakened in the future. At the time, there was a lot of talk about Ted Williams, a famous baseball player, being cryonically preserved.

Bookworm: What would you miss most about modern times if you were frozen into the future like Floe?

Bev: Sweatpants. I'm not big into the unitard thing!

Bookworm: Who's your favorite character to write about?

Bev: I really enjoyed writing Floe--she's a bit sarcastic and prickly (like me!). She's much wittier, though; it was a real challenge coming up with those great one-liners. In my own life, it takes me hours to come up with them--how I wish I could just zing them on the spot like Floe does!

Bookworm: Have you read any good books lately, and what are they?

Bev: I just reread Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. It's a young adult novel that was written about ten years ago and I reread it every year because it's just that good. It's much more serious than my Popsicle books, but also explore that theme of outsider-ness. It's incredibly well written and though it's a serious book, it also has elements of humor.

Bookworm: Are you planning on writing any more YA books in the future?

Bev:  I have two new books in the works, neither of which are set in the future. Keep watching my website for news of new releases! 

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Thanks, Bev! 

For a review of I Was A Teenage Popsicle, click here!