News round-up: Interview edition

I’m gearing up for some author interviews this week, so I thought I’d scout about for some fun ones to share this morning…

Elinor Lipman talks to the Beacon Journal about Helen Hunt’s adaptation of her Then She Found me

[A]bout three years ago, a screenplay with Hunt’s name attached reached Lipman. After reading it, she asked if she could have an e-mail forwarded to Hunt — basically that she was happy with what she had read.

”I sent a small, little e-mail. I got back a very long, heartfelt e-mail from her,” Lipman said. ”How the book meant a great, great, great deal to her. Helen was very generous.”

Then She Found Me hit cinemas in LA and New York in April, with wider release this month.

Publisher’s Weekly writer Kevin Howell interviews Barbara Walters about her book, Audition (Knopf, May)

I think I was able to write the book because I am happy. Because a lot of the ghosts have faded. And because I am very contented with my work now. It’s just a good place for me to be in right now and I’m not auditioning anymore. Except for this book. When I read the book, I was concerned that that every other chapter was telling you how guilty I felt. So I went back and took a lot of guilt out.

The Kansas City Star talks to Gregory Maguire about the musical, Wicked, based on his 1995 book, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

To some extent I was shocked at how well it worked, I gave myself the privilege of not being too involved in the development. I figured if L. Frank Baum didn’t come back from the grave and haunt my dreams while I was writing, then the least I could do was allow the same creative distance from me.

New author Geri Halliwell tries out the Independent‘s 5-minute interview

If I weren’t talking to you right now I’d be reading a book I’m reviewing for the Orange Fiction Award, The Road Home. I’m 23 pages in. It shows Britain through the eyes of Polish man working here.

Rose Tremain’s The Road Home was published by Chatto and Windus last year.