TAKE A BOW, Elizabeth Eulberg! I Think You Are Great!
I can’t remember, exactly, when Elizabeth Eulberg and I first met, but I know it was when we were both working for Scholastic (circa 2001 or -2), and I DEFINITELY know that her peppy energy and now-famous personality struck me at once. This history of ours makes me all the more glad to be one of many people cheering Elizabeth’s career as an author, with The Lonely Hearts Club, Prom and Prejudice, and now Take A Bow (released April 1st) on the shelves.
In spite of our past connection, Elizabeth and I had no idea that we were secretly working on books that would turn out to be fraternal twins. I’d be excited about Take a Bow no matter what, but the uncanny parallels to Being Friends With Boys make me even moreso. I took some out of Elizabeth’s busy schedule to ask her as much as I could about Take a Bow, and here’s what she had to say!
TEM: The similarities between TAKE A BOW (just out) and my new book, BEING FRIENDS WITH BOYS (released May 1st) are sometimes creepily close. And yet neither of us had any idea what the other was working on. Any reflections on why the collective unconscious pointed us both in these specific ways?
EE: Totally agree with you. It’s amazing the similarities, but each book is it’s own unique story. Maybe it’s because we are both so cool? (Obviously!) Besides that, I’ve always been fascinated with performing arts high schools since I was a kid. Music played such a huge part of my teen years, so I wanted to write a book set in that environment. I have noticed that there have been a lot more performance-based books out lately. I think (and I’m curious to hear about your inspiration) that the popularity of Glee may have something to do with it, although I have this idea before then. But I’ll admit that it’s success made me happy that people would be interested in a story about the arts in school.
(TEM NOTE: I agree that Glee has something to do with this, but maybe also that people just need, these days, the joy and delight that’s associated with singing along to your favorite song? For myself, I picked a band motif because I thought that was a project that a girl and several boys might realistically work on together. It’s not like they’re going to sit around and do each other’s nails!)
TEM: Every time I picked up TAKE A BOW, I have to admit (because of the jacket copy), I had either Madonna’s “Take a Bow,” or Irene Cara’s “Fame” playing in my head. And music plays a really important role in this book, though you don’t often mention specific performers. So I have to ask, what was going through YOUR head while you wrote?
EE: The title TAKE A BOW didn’t come until after I was done writing the book (and the title did come from my iTunes). But music always plays a huge part of when I write. For this book I listened to a lot of alternative bands like Arcade Fire, The Shins, and Death Cab for Cutie. And Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” plays an important role in a scene so I had that on repeat while writing that scene. I can’t imagine writing without music!
(TEM note: I love that “Beat It” scene!!)
TEM: Emme (your main protagonist) and Charlotte (mine) are both girls who prefer to blend into the background, but are pushed, during their stories, to find their own voices. The band element in their lives is obvious. But what do you think it is about being surrounded by a lot of good guy friends that encourages this?
EE: I think, unfortunately, that girls can be very competitive with each other. Guys are, generally speaking, more laid back. I really wanted Emme to have a very different group of friends from Sophie, who she’s known since she was little. The band dynamic really worked well and I spent a lot more time with the band than I originally planned. I think every girl really needs a couple of good guy friends.
TEM: Let’s talk about Sophie. (Emme’s best friend in TAKE A BOW.) I felt like you were DEAD ON with her voice, and this kind of character. And yet I had a hard time empathizing with her. Can you just . . . talk about her?
EE: Yes, Sophie! I knew when I was writing Sophie that she was going to be a character that people had strong reactions to. And I have to admit that she was a blast to write because she is so different from me.
The idea of Sophie came from something that happened to me as a kid. I was the best music student at my little private school that I went to, and I honestly didn’t have to work that hard. Then I went to public high school…and was third chair! I was suddenly the little fish in the big pond. I took this to a more extreme place with Sophie, who was the best in her neighborhood, but once she got to this extremely competitive performing arts high school, talent is the norm and she was no longer special.
Sophie is extremely driven and her quest for fame takes over. I found myself standing up straight and typing a lot faster when I was writing her. I didn’t hold back with her and try to make her someone that people would necessarily like. There are a lot of Sophie’s in the world (I’ve meet a few!), and I felt pretty strongly about not putting a pretty bow on her. She is who she is and isn’t going to apologize for it!
TEM: Another character who really stands out in TAKE A BOW is Carter. I just loved his storyline, his character, his voice, everything. I’m curious about his development during your writing process: did you have him nailed all along, or did he surprise you? (Without spoilers, of course.)
EE: Carter completely surprised me. He was originally supposed to be a secondary character. When I conceived the idea for TAKE A BOW, it was supposed to only be from Emme’s point of view. Then I decided to take a shower. I was in the shower thinking that readers really needed to know what was going on in Sophie’s mind, then I realized they also needed to hear from Ethan as well. Suddenly Carter popped into my head and I realized a secret about him and knew that he had his own story to share. I stepped out of that shower with the book going from one point of view to four. I now only take baths. 
TEM: From a writing standpoint, I felt like the banter between Emme, Jack, Ben, and Ethan was so enviably real: simultaneously sweet and harassing. What influences created this fabulous result?
I looked at Jack as a wisecracking older brother, one with a permanent smile on his face who doesn’t really take himself (or anything) too seriously. I think he’s good for Ethan (who can be too emo for his own good) and Emme (a little too naïve and sweet for her own good!). Then I saw Ben as the quiet one who would give as good as he got from Jack. Once I had that dynamic in place, the dialogue between them was easy. I really loved writing those scenes. And I so wish I was in that band!
(TEM note: Yeah that would be a good band to be a part of. Wonder how we can get them to ask us to join?)
TEM: Another thing I’m in awe of regarding TAKE A BOW was the balance and tension you created by telling the tale from both Ethan AND Emme’s perspective. Can you talk about how you planned/managed/executed that?
EE: Aw, thanks! I figured out when each character would tell the story when I was outlining. I wanted to leave some mystery for the reader, which can be hard to do when you give them everybody’s perspective. This is why I would end one character’s point of view at a certain point. I think a lot of people will be groaning at the switch in POV a few times and it’s totally on purpose! I don’t want to make readers suffer, however, you need to build suspense.
TEM: Okay, and on a fun note: you have met, I think, more celebrities than anyone I know. Care to share favorite encounters?
EE: It’s funny because my favorite celebrity encounters are the ones that I end up making a fool out of myself. I’ve been around a lot of famous people for my former job as a publicist, so I’m usually professional and calm. But every once in a while, my inner fangirl/geek unleashes herself and always at the wrong time. My friend and I were meeting New Kids on the Block (you read that right, New Kids on the Block!) and we LOVED them as kids. She was freaking out while we were waiting in line and I kept laughing at her and saying, “It’s so not a big deal, just relax, it’s going to be fine.” Then it was our turn and as soon as Joey McIntyre (who I had posters of on my walls and ceiling as a kid) looked at me, I LOST it. I turned into this babbling, nervous idiot. I kept twirling my hair and saying the most ridiculous things: “We’ve been waiting twenty years for this moment, no seriously twenty years. And like, our parents wouldn’t let us go backstage when we won passes and it was so not fair. And like, now I can talk to them again since we finally get to meet.” I only wish I was joking about this. I’m surprised security didn’t take me away. It was hilarious!
Oh, and then there’s the time I met Kiefer Sutherland in a bar and he bought me a drink. Let me repeat that: Kiefer Sutherland bought me a drink. That required it’s own blog post. http://www.elizabetheulberg.com/blog/?p=344
Thanks, Elizabeth, for this great chat AND your great books! Readers, if you’re interested in learning more about Elizabeth, her books, and her life, visit http://www.elizabetheulberg.com/