Have you met Julie? Well, you should, because she’s hilarious. | Photo credit: Mindy Tucker

We were lucky enough to actually talk to Julie Klausner before, so we were super psyched to check back in with her after reading her new novel, Art Girls Are Easy. It’s about 15-year-old Indy, who is headed back to art camp – though this summer proves to be way more dramatic than previous years.

If you’ve ever gone to camp, crushed on someone older, loved art, had a best friend or just enjoy laughing, then there’s something in this book for you. We wanted to get to know Julie even better, so she answered some of our burning questions on a few of our favorite topics (Food! Crushes! Social media!).

What were you like in high school?
I WAS A NIGHTMARE! I was so unhappy, oh lord. And really angry. I wanted to have friends so badly, and yet I couldn’t have worked harder at pushing people away. And yet, none of my tastes jibed with my disposition. I wasn’t, like, into Ministry. I listened to They Might Be Giants. I watched Kids in the Hall obsessively. I carried big books around to seem smarter. I would send a photo, but that would spiral me into a deep depression, or at least a bout of horrible coughing from all the dust I’d have to plow through to find one. Just picture me with a fatter face, wearing a flannel shirt over a babydoll dress over jeans, holding a copy of Helter Skelter, or in a Sub Pop “Loser” t-shirt, eating a Subway tuna fish 12-inch in my car. I know, you’re jealous. It’s okay.

What’s the worst fight you ever had with a friend?
I’ve had a few bad fights with people I’m still friends with, but the ones that hurt are from fights that ended the relationships completely. I can think of one where I was in the wrong and the other where she totally was. But let’s not talk about those–they’re too painful. I can actually deal with some romantic breakups with less heartache than I still experience when I discuss the best friends that got away. In fact, to even tell you about the details of those fights seem like a huge breach of confidence. I can’t answer this question! I have too much loyalty to my female friends, even the ones who currently hate me! And this is coming from somebody who wrote a book about her romantic misadventures. Take that as you will.

Have you ever had a crush on an older guy? What happened?
Totally, and nothing. It wasn’t for any lack of intensity or intention on my part! Believe me, I tried. But ultimately, I just lived in my head for a really long time because I had no other choice. Then I got older and things got a little better. But the problem with being an adolescent person is that your hormones make you insane for a pretty long period before your brain or your body or your maturity level follows suit. You just have to sweat it out, or be patient. God knows I was never good at being patient. But time passes even if you aren’t. That’s the good news!

This should be on YOUR summer reading list!

What’s on your summer reading list?
I’m looking forward to reading the new David Sedaris book. Emily Bazelton’s Sticks and Stones, and Stephen King’s Shining sequel, Dr. Sleep When does that come out? Damn it, a Google search says September. I’ll be reading Google searches for Dr. Sleep this summer. And magazines on the beach! Shout-out to magazines.

What would be your perfect meal?
Just, like, a garbage bag-full amount of spaghetti. With marinara sauce and cheese. Honestly, if I died suffocating eating that much pasta, I’d be really happy with how my life ended. If a little confused about how events led me to that fate. Oh, and I want a brownie chaser. A brownie the size of a large dog. Like, a Saint Bernard. Not a labrador. I’m not on a diet! I basically have the appetites of a glutton, and the tastes of an eight year old girl. If I could only order from the children’s menu for the rest of my life, I’d be thrilled. Chicken nuggets, plain ziti, ice cream sundaes. Done.

What relationship advice do you wish you learned earlier?
It gets better. In terms of how you react to stuff. That’s literally it. Oh, and that everything will be okay because you’re a rock star.

Twitter or Facebook?
Twitter! Twitter rules. You can just blurt out whatever joke or thought occurs to you, and you get instant feedback from strangers as well as from people you know or like and respect! Where as, on Facebook, if you say or post something and one of your dumb-ass friends weighs in, you can’t ignore him. I mean, I guess you can. But it’s a whole thing. The element of “Oh great! My cousin is weighing in on this photo of me. Cool, now I know that.” And if you delete him, you’ve ruined Passover. Whereas on Twitter, you can watch B-celebrities have a breakdown in real time, or interact with real celebrities, and how surreal is that? Plus you get the news on your feed before you ever did on TV? Oh, if I could marry Twitter I would.

Check out Julie’s new book, Art Girls Are Easy! Seriously, you can buy it now (it’s available in both paperback and as an e-book!).

Did you enjoy this interview with Julie Klausner? What other questions would you have for her? Will you be putting Art Girls Are Easy on your summer reading list? Tell us in the comments!

Check out our interview with Troian Bellisario!

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