More Than Just A Pretty Face: Interview with the Author

An interview with Syed Masood, author of More Than Just A Pretty Face

About the book:

1.  How did you come up with the story of More Than Just A Pretty Face?

I can’t really honestly say I came up with the story. I kind of discovered it. As I discuss a little later on, I don’t plot my stories, so I don’t usually know how things are going to turn out. I’m often as surprised as readers are at what is happening. That’s part of the fun of it for me.

I will say that I was interested in the idea of forgiveness -- who gets forgiven and for what and why and who is denied forgiveness -- and it kind of unfolded from there. So, basically, I came up with Churchill and Bisma first and then just wrote from there and things happened and suddenly there was a story. I’m sorry if that isn’t a very good answer. My writing process is pretty chaotic.

2.  Which of the characters are you the most similar to in More Than Just a Pretty Face?

At this stage in my life, I think it’s Zar. I’ve spent most of my life moving away from being a Sohrab person to being more of a Zar person. I used to be pretty grim and serious. There is something about being a first generation immigrant child that can do that, especially if you’re told that the family moved because of you, because they wanted a better future for you, and that the family will depend on you moving forward.

A lot of kids have to deal with that and it’s a lot of weight to carry around for a fourteen year old. It makes you very intense but not necessarily in a good way. Your parents are trying to make you focus, but you can begin to lose touch with aspects of yourself that aren’t in their vision of you. At least, that is how it was for me.

Anyway, it wasn’t until I left home for college that I really began to discover who I was. Books helped a lot. I hope mine will help someone too.

3.  What part was the hardest to write? The beginning, middle or the end?

The beginning is always the hardest for me! I don’t plot out a story at all. I just start writing. This means that the first fifty pages or so that I write usually have to be thrown out. They’re just there to get me rolling, to give me a feel for the voice of the characters and a way for me to come up with a supporting cast. It’s pretty painful to toss out that much work, but that’s the only way that works for me.

 

4.  What was your favorite scene to write in More Than Just A Pretty Face, without spoiling?  

There are a few scenes where Danyal and Bisma are at the library working on the Renaissance Man project that were a lot of fun. There is one in particular where Danyal talks about the concept of a face pond. I really enjoyed writing that one. It was a big moment in his development.

5.   Where can readers purchase More Than Just A Pretty Face?  

It should be available at all major bookstores. The Little, Brown Young Readers website has a page for it with a bunch of purchase links.

About You:

1.    If you won a prize for something, what would it be and why? 

You could pick any Libra trait--positive or negative--and I’d probably be in the running for a prize for it. I’d win the stereotypical Libral prize, I guess.

2.    If a director wanted to make More Than Just A Pretty Face into a movie and wanted you to act in it, who would you be and why?

Some random unnamed teacher in the background? Maybe just an uncle Danyal walks past at a party? Basically a very minor character. I know I can’t act. I was in a school play once in the third grade and it was...well, it was not great. Being in a movie isn’t for me. A man should know his limits, I think.

3.    What are some of your favorite tv shows or movies?

I love “The West Wing”! I’ve seen it a gazillion times! Aside from that, I’m a big Trekkie! I love all those shows...well, some more than others. “Scrubs” is another perennial favorite, along with “Parks and Recreation” and “The Office” (the US version.) I’ll watch that stuff any time, no matter how much I’ve seen it. Oh, also “Firefly” and “Buffy” were fantastic.

As for movies, I adore “Shakespeare in Love” and “A Few Good Men”. “Deadpool” is an instant classic. “Munna Bhai, MBBS” was amazing for anyone looking for a Bollywood recommendation, as was “Chennai Express”.

4.    If you could have dinner with any 3 people (fictional, real or dead), who would it be? 

Mohsin Hamid. Mirza Ghalib. Oscar Wilde.