Brent Hartinger
I live to write
I live to write
I am Brent Hartinger, and I live to write.
For the last twenty years, I have made my living writing just about everything that involves words.
My most famous book is probably my 2003 novel, Geography Club, which has been adapted into a feature film starring Scott Bakula, Marin Hinkle, Ana Gasteyer, Cameron Deane Stewart, Justin Deeley, Ally Maki, Andrew Caldwell, and Nikki Blonsky. It'll be released in 2013.
Geography Club is now the first book in the Russel Middlebrook Series: In order, the books are: Geography Club (book #1); The Order of the Poison Oak (book #2); Double Feature: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies (book #3); The Elephant of Surprise (book #4).
I like to write for all ages, but I particularly like writing for and about teenagers. I think it's because I identify so strongly with them. Whenever I hear an adult complain about a teenager, I almost always take the side of the kid, even without hearing his or her version of the story!
For the record, I try hard to write books that people like to read. The most frequent comment I get from readers is that my books are "page-turners," which makes me very happy, because that is exactly what I want them to be. If I had to describe my own books, I would say, "Strong central concept, strong plot, strong character and voice." (I may not always succeed in creating these things, but they're what I always strive for.)
My biggest complaint with books I hate is that they don't get to the point (or, worse, they don't *have* a point!): vague, cliche, or overdone concept, and all atmosphere and world-building with no real story.
My second great love is the theatre. My plays have been performed at dozens of theaters across the country. And I adapted Geography Club into a stage play, which has been successfully produced many times. (If you're involved with a theater and want a copy of the script, contact me: brentsbrain@gmail.com)
I also sometimes teach writing, in the MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College and elsewhere.
I live in Seattle, Washington, with my partner, the writer Michael Jensen, and I answer all email (even if it sometimes takes a while!).
Brent Hartinger
www.brenthartinger.com
My "Official" Biography:
BRENT HARTINGER is the author of a number of novels, mostly for and about teens, including Geography Club (HarperCollins, 2003) and three sequels: The Order of the Poison Oak (HarperCollins, 2005); Double Feature: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies (HarperCollins, 2007); and The Elephant of Surprise (2013).
His other books include The Last Chance Texaco (HarperCollins, 2004); Grand & Humble (HarperCollins, January 2006); Project Sweet Life (HarperCollins, 2008); and Shadow Walkers (Flux Books, 2011).
Mr. Hartinger's many writing honors include being named the winner of the Lambda Literary Award, the Scandiuzzi Children's Book Award, a GLAAD Media Award, and a Book Sense Pick (four times).
A feature film version of his first novel, Geography Club, will be released in 2013, starring Scott Bakula and Nikki Blonsky.
Hartinger is also the author of many award-winning screenplays and plays, including a stage adaptation of Geography Club, which has received regional productions in Tacoma, Salt Lake City, Edmonton, and elsewhere. A feature film version of his play The Starfish Scream, which has also received many regional productions (and was twice produced Off-Off Broadway in New York), is in active development for a possible 2014 release.
Hartinger is a sometime-member of the faculty at Vermont College in the MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults, and is also the co-founder of the entertainment website AfterElton.com, which was sold to MTV/Viacom in 2006.
He lives in Seattle with his partner, writer Michael Jensen.