A. S. King
Krista Schumow Photography
A.S. King is the award-winning author of young adult books including the 2012 Los Angeles Times Book Prize winner Ask the Passengers, Everybody Sees the Ants, 2011 Michael L. Printz Honor Book Please Ignore Vera Dietz, and the upcoming Reality Boy. After fifteen years living self-sufficiently and teaching literacy to adults in Ireland, she now lives in Pennsylvania with her small, freakish family. Find more at www.as-king.com.
Interview
What was your favorite book when you were a child?
Young child: Harold and the Purple Crayon
Teen years: All Paul Zindel novels, especially Confessions of a Teenage BaboonWhat’s your favorite line from a book?
“Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It’s round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you’ve got a hundred years here. There’s only one rule that I know of, babies—God damn it, you’ve got to be kind.” —Kurt Vonnegut, God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater
Who are your top three favorite authors or illustrators?
Kurt Vonnegut Jr. is my favorite author. In YA lit, Andrew Smith, Matt de la Peña, and Margo Lanangan are my favorite authors. In kid-lit, Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggy books are our favorites.
Why did you want to become an author or illustrator?
Because I had words in my head and they wanted to get out.
Do you have any advice for future authors or illustrators?
Work hard and try not to watch too much television.
