Thank you for all
your submissions!
Please click on a question to read Lurlene's
answer.
Will there
be another book about Katie O’Rouke?
How did you come with up
with all your ideas?
I love your books and I
wonder when is your next book is coming out...
What book did you enjoy
writing the most? Which one touched you the
most?
Are the people you write
about real?
Are any of your books going
to be made into films in the near future?
In Mother Help Me Live,
does Sarah end up getting a transplant?
I love your books and
I just wanted to know if there was any other
reason...
In your book “Angel of
Hope” I keep reading this sentence over and
over again...
How do I become a Pink
Angel?
When are
the next books in Angel in Pink going to come
out?
When did you start writing and
what inspired you to write?
On the cover of the book called
"My Secret Boyfriend...
I was wondering if you could make
another book about Lacey and Jeff's relationship.
I was just wondering if you will
ever do any books that have happier endings?
I am from Norway and in my book
club (tl stabenfelt) we get your books....
I am a big fan of yours and I was
wondering where I could find your books.
Have a new question or
comment? Click here to ask
Lurlene.
Will
there be another book about Katie O’Rouke? Also,
I was noticing in Reach for Tomorrow, you kept
mentioning the diamond pendant and Amanda’s
name. I thought the diamond earring was Jillian’s?
- Susie of California
At this time, I've planned no
other books about these characters. I wrote
REACH FOR TOMORROW to sort of warp up all the
loose ends of the ONE LAST WISH series. Your
question about the diamond stumps me. I guess
I've been too long away from those characters.
How did
you come with up with all your ideas? Did you
experience them or did you just think of them?
Jessica, from Minnesota
Ideas are everywhere---in newspapers,
real life, TV---sometimes I see or hear something
and I begin to ask, "What if....?" And next
thing I know, I have a plot for a new book cooking
in my old brain.
Wow!
I love your books and I wonder when is your
next book is coming out “My Secret Boyfriend”.
Will you let me know? - Latoya of Arkansas
MY SECRET BOYFRIEND is actually
a very old book that I wrote for another publisher
years ago. They have been re-issuing these older
titles---that one can be special ordered at
your favorite bookstore or online. I think that
I've learned a lot about crafting a better novel
since those old titles were written, so my new
books for Random House are the best work I do.
What
book did you enjoy writing the most? Which one
touched you the most? - Rachel of Iowa
I loved writing GARDEN OF ANGELS
and still think it's the best book I've written
to date!
Are the
people you write about real? - Cara of Michigan
No, the characters are all made
up in my stories. But meeting and knowing a
wide variety of people HELPS me create interesting
characters. That's why letters from my readers
are so special to me: I get to "meet" a huge
number of teens through my fan mail!
Are any
of your books going to be made into films in
the near future? - Nicole of Wisconsin
Not that I know about....but any
day my phone could ring and Hollywood might
be calling! I'll post such cool information
on my websites if it happens! My Random House
book DON'T DIE, MY LOVE, was made into a TV
movie a few years back. The makers re-titled
it for broadcast and now Lifetime Cable TV sometimes
shows it under the title of "Shattered Hearts."
I have
been dying to ask you this question! In Mother
Help Me Live, does Sarah end up getting a transplant?
Please tell me! - Christine of British of Columbia
I honestly don't know. If she
does have a BMT, it will have to be from an
unrelated donor, which means that the chance
of success is much lower---but at least, it's
a chance. That's why having a National bone
morrow bank is so important for our country.
The more people who donate a blood sample and
sign up for the registry, the better the odds
that people like Sarah will find a match outside
of their relatives---especially minorities.
I signed up years ago.
I love
your books and I just wanted to know if there
was any other reason other that your son’s illness
that make you start writing books like this
for teenagers? Also what tips would you give
a young writer in their teens writing their
first book? - Erika of Massachusetts
Sean's diabetes was the sole reason
for me to begin writing the medical/inspirational
novels that I write. Teens who want to be writers
need to get a good education, take an interest
in what's going on in the world, read,read,
read, keep journals and/or blogs (practice writing
poems, stories, etc.), work on your school newspapers
and yearbooks, look around for writing classes
at local colleges, etc and take a course. Remember,
the talent for writing is a gift from God. The
craft of writing is learned. The more you know,
the better your chances to get publish.
In
your book “Angel of Hope” I keep reading this
sentence over and over again. “Am I my brother’s
keeper?”. What does that mean? - Melissa of
Ontario
That phrase comes from Genesis
4:9...and occurs when God asks Cain the whereabouts
of his brother, Abel. In this chapter of Genesis,
Cain becomes jealous of Abel and murders him.
Of course, God knows this already, but still
asks, "Where is your brother Abel?" And Cain
lies by replying, "I don't know. Am I my brother's
keeper?" (meaning, why should I be responsible
for his whereabouts?) Today this question has
become a universal question that makes us think
about our personal responsibility toward others.
Do we think of others? Or only about ourselves?
Do we try and help those who have little or
nothing (as Heather went off to Africa to do),
or do we close our eyes to the needs and wants
of others? How we feel and think about our "brothers"
(others in the world), often determines the
quality of our own existence.
How do
I become a Pink Angel? - Ilene of Michigan
Anyone interested in hospital
volunteer work should contact their local hospital
and ask about their specific programs. Teen
volunteers are much appreciated!
When
are the next books in Angel in Pink going to
come out? I thought that it was in January and
March 2005! Plus, I'm a really, really, great
fan of yours. I absolutely love your books.
- Simone of California
ANGELS IN PINK series
is set for KATHLEEN (in stores now), RAINA (May
2005), HOLLY (Oct 2005), plus GARDEN OF ANGELS
is available in paperback, Jan 11.
When
did you start writing and what inspired you
to write? - Brianna of Maine
My personal website, www.eclectics.com/lurlenemcdaniel
has lots of personal info about me, check it
out.
On
the cover of the book called "My Secret
Boyfriend" the picture shows a boy with
black hair but the boy in the story has blond.
Who is the person on the cover. Who's the girl?
- Morgan of California
Cover art is often out of my control, as in
SECRET BOYFRIEND (written years ago before I
wrote for to Random House!) It would be great
if such facts as hair and eye color were double
checked before books are sent to the art department
for cover treatment, but often that's not the
case. Which makes me very happy that Random
House does double check and always gives me
a sneak peek at covers for my comments! Now,
isn't that nice?
Howdy
Mrs. Lurlene!!
I was wondering if you could make another
book about Lacey and Jeff's relationship. I
have a little book club with my friends and
we'd all like to read more about Lacey and Jeff.
- Rachel, Barbara, and Pooja of Maryland
Many of you seem to
want more books about Lacey and Jeff, Leah and
Ethan, Katie and Josh (and also Julie and Luke
from DON'T DIE MY LOVE). Frankly, I've moved
on to other characters and hardly give a thought
to the characters left behind because I'm too
busy creating new ones for new stories. I leave
it up to each reader to think up stories of
their own for these favorite characters. This
way, you can create any ending you'd like for
them---it's something I used to do when I was
growing up and wanted more about favorite characters
in favorite books. And look what happened to
me! I ended up becoming a writer with a head
and heart full of stories and ideas.
Lurlene,
I was just wondering if you will ever do any
books that have happier endings? - Leticia of
Utah
I know sad stories aren't for every reader,
but it's the kind of story that most of my readers
like from me. When I write "happy"
books, many readers complain. So I focus on
what I do best---stories that might bring a
tear, but that focus on real life (where happily
ever after rarely occurs). And while the books
may not have "happy" endings, I try
to give readers a satisfying ending---life is
full of trouble and matters out of our control.
How we deal with troubles determines our own
character.
Hello.
I am from Norway and in my book club (tl stabenfelt)
we get your books. I love them so much that
(there are) not words for it! - Ina of Norway
I love hearing from my readers in other countries!
Thanks for your kind words.
Hi.
I am a big fan of yours and I was wondering
where I could find your books. I've been looking
for your books and I can't find them so I have
to check them out in the library and the library
only has some of your books.
Also thank you for helping
me get into reading. - Bianca of Arizona
All/any of my titles can be special ordered
at your favorite book store, or online at www.barnesandnoble.com,
or www.amazon.com
