Liz Gallagher
Describe your latest project.
The Opposite of Invisible tells the story of Alice, a fifteen-year-old Seattle girl, as she figures out the difference between a crush and love, and love and best-friendship. She's always been happy spending time in a metaphorical cocoon with her best friend, an outsider-artist boy named Jewel. But when Simon, a more popular boy and the object of Alice's secret crush, starts to notice her, she has to deal with the possibility of leaving a friend behind in order to explore her own potential.
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"With its striking setting and diverse cast of well-developed characters, Gallagher's debut-like Alice-shines." VOYA
"The author's voice is strong — she bears watching." Publishers Weekly
Introduce one other author/illustrator you think people should read, and suggest a good book by him/her.
Lisa Jahn-Clough! She's an author/illustrator of wonderful picture books that are subtly sophisticated, but what I most love are her Young Adult novels. The more recent of her two novels, Me, Penelope, is a vivid exploration of teenage desires and emotion.
Describe your most memorable teacher.
So many teachers have affected me, but I need to tell you about my kindergarten and first grade teacher, Mrs. Stella Niccolo. I remember her encouraging me to write, even at that young age. And I recently unearthed a note from her; it says, "I will always remember you, Lizzy, and I know that you will continue to do exciting and creative writing. Perhaps some day I will go to a library and find one of your books on a shelf. Remember to read and write each day."
What is your favorite literary first line?
We went to the moon to have fun, but the moon turned out to completely suck.
From Feed by M. T. Anderson.
What is your favorite breakfast cereal?
If I'm being honest, I can get major cravings for Cocoa Puffs! But you're more likely to find me eating the new Multi-Grain Cheerios.
What do you do for relaxation?
When I can afford it, I go for a facial. When I can't, I go for a manicure. I guess I like to be taken care of!
Name the best Simpsons episode of all time, and explain why it's the best.
Oh, there are so many that I love. But I always come back to the one where Homer is "fixing" the toaster and ends up traveling to alternate realities. I love the one where everything is so perfect, and he asks for a donut, and Marge says, "What's a donut?" so he screams and toaster-rides outta there, and once he's gone it starts to rain donuts. I just find that hilariously sad.
What's your favorite holiday and why?
I absolutely love Halloween. I love the fall in general, the crispness in the air and those falling leaves. And then you get to dress up and pretend to be someone else and everything is creepy and I just think it's wonderful. Not to mention all of the chocolate! Opposite takes place around Halloween because I thought it would be a fun season to write about.
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Liz Gallagher is a former children's bookseller and early education teacher. She received her MFA in writing for children from Vermont College. The Opposite of Invisible is her first novel. She lives in Seattle, Washington.
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