Author Interview: Veronica Roth

Dropping in today is the awesome Veronica Roth, debut author of Divergent! You know, the awesome dystopian set in Chicago where everything is divided into factions?

What book would be Divergent's best friend? 

Since I believe that a best friend must be similar enough to understand you but different enough to challenge you, and in many cases, a best friend can be much, much cooler than you are, I would have to say: Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. They have a few things in common (training for battle!) but many differences (alien warfare! Vs. dystopian Chicago!), and I am far too fangirly over Ender’s Game to say they’re on equal footing, but they could definitely be buddies.


You're trapped in a horror movie with your characters! What happens, and does anyone die?

A flock—excuse me, a murder—of crows descends upon the group in a flurry of feathers and squawking and glassy-eyed terror! Veronica, the coward, dives to the ground and clings to Four’s legs for support. Four and Tris take out their guns and very coolly fire at each bird individually. Birds fall to the ground in heaps! Veronica gets really nauseated because of all the dying birds! Robert decides to comfort her by playing the banjo, and everyone lives…well, creeped out-ily every after.


If you could pair Tris and Four with any character from any book, what would be your pick for each?

This is a tough one, because Tris seems to only have eyes for Four. But I would put her with a young Severus Snape. I think she would admire his intelligence and ingenuity. Of course, her admiration would be unreturned, since he was pretty much obsessed with Lily—but whatever. And Four? I think Jane Eyre, because she doesn’t take any crap from anyone, she’s not conventionally attractive, and she’s a deep thinker.

If you were a demigod, what god/goddess would be your parent? What about Tris?

Tris would probably be the love child of Athena (goddess of wisdom and strategy, among other things) and Ares (god of war and courage). As for me…Hermes, maybe? In many ways, being a writer is a lot like being a messenger. You just tell the world what your characters think and do. Relaying information, as it were.


What kind of cake/confection would you describe yourself as? 

Carrot cake. It’s a little bit odd, it’s not too sweet, it doesn’t mesh that well with small children, and not everyone likes it, but it is nonetheless delicious. 

 Thank you, Veronica, for those fantastic answers, and congrats on the release!!

Now make sure all of you check out Divergent. This is easily one of my favorite books of the year, and is a must read by everyone! It's out now so run to your local bookstore!