Q&A With Meg Cabot
Meg Cabot is the author of more than 50 books for both adults and teens, including
The Princess Diaries series. She is now writing a new middle grade series called
Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls.
Q: What can you tell us about your new character, Allie Finkle? How is Allie
similar and/or different from you when you were growing up?
A: Allie is exactly like me when I was growing up. Just like me, Allie has two pesky
little brothers and a big smelly dog that she loves, and just like me, Allie longs
for a kitten all her own — not to mention a best friend. And just like me, Allie
tries really hard to get along with her friends and stay out of trouble — but it’s
so hard when you’re in the 4th grade. There are so many rules to remember — about
friendship, about family, about school, about fashion, about fun — only no one will
tell you what they are! It’s like they’re unwritten. So Allie decides to start writing
them down, so she won’t forget. And that’s what Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls is
about.
Q: Are any of the characters in this new series based on people you know?
A: Hmmm, I don’t want to get into trouble and say yes, but I will say that many
of the characters in this book have a lot in common with certain people I knew (and
lived with!) growing up. Like Allie, I had a group of best friends I played with
all through 4th and 5th grade — and we’re still in touch today! Like Allie, I had
a pretty teacher I loved named Mrs. Hunter. Like Allie, my parents made me move
from a lovely modern house in the suburbs into an ancient creaky house in town,
where I went to an old-fashioned school two blocks away and came home for lunch
every day — and I got a kitten from one of our neighbor’s showcats in exchange for
being a good sport about the move! So . . . I guess you could say it’s not based
too much on real events or people!
Q: How is writing for the tween audience different from writing your novels
for teens and adults?
A: People ask me this all the time, and really, there isn’t much of a difference
to me. It’s all about getting into a character’s head, and whether that character
is 9, 16, or 30, it’s the same amount of work — hard work! Fortunately, I remember
being 9 as well as if it were yesterday and have many 9-year-old friends with whom
to consult! So I think the chances of capturing a genuinely 9-year-old voice are
high.
Q: When you were Allie’s age, what kind of books did you like to read?
A: I liked adventure and animal stories, fantasy and sci-fi, but also historical
stories, diary stories, anything featuring a funny heroine — really, I wasn’t particular.
I’d read just about whatever anyone put into my hands!
Q: What do you hope tweens will take away from reading Allie Finkle’s Rules
for Girls?
A: As with all my books, I hope readers will see that Allie has the same problems
they do, and that they’re not alone out there. Allie is just like they are — her
rules aren’t just for her, but for everyone (although perhaps the “never eat anything
red” rule can be ignored by everyone but her!).
Q: What’s in store for Allie in future books?
A: Allie’s going to be making a lot of new friends — and maybe a few new “frenemies”
— but hopefully she’ll figure out a way to make them friends too. And maybe, just
maybe, she’ll get that kitten she’s always wanted!