Interview with YA Author Eric Luper

Eric Luper is the author of Big Slick and now Bug Boy. Both YA novels, Eric writes about teens facing difficult decisions in interesting circumstances. Big Slick focuses on the world of poker. Bug Boy boldly and realistically brings readers to horse racing in the 1930s. Eric talks about his first historical fiction novel in this interview. I'm not sure if we choose our stories or if they choose us. What was the case with Bug Boy? I remember going to the racetrack as a child in New Jersey. My impressions included things like concrete, chain-link fences, cigars and ratty tweed blazer-wearing gamblers. When I went to Saratoga Race Course as an adult, I was amazed that something I associated with such ugly things could be so beautiful. Saratoga is about history and culture, it’s green and lush; it’s almost like the racing comes second. Almost. And the more I read about Saratoga, the more I fell in love with it. What were the challenges in bringing this story to printed page? Wr...