A Conversation With Chris Colfer

Evelyn with Chris Colfer at Bexley High School in Columbus, Ohio

Many TV fans know Chris Colfer for his portrayal of singer Kurt Hummel on Glee, a hit series that aired until 2015. Colfer also happens to be my favorite author.

When the actor, singer, and writer traveled to Bexley High School in Columbus, Ohio, last spring, I got a chance to talk with him. I mostly wanted to know about The Land of Stories, Colfer’s best-selling fantasy book series, which is published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Here are excerpts from our conversation.

What do you want your fans to take away from The Land of Stories: An Author’s Odyssey [Book 5 in the series]?
The Land of Stories Books 1-4 inspired many of my fans to read more. I hope that the fifth one will inspire them to write. 

What inspired you to write the series? 
I loved Harry Potter growing up, and I wanted to write my own world that kids could grow up in. 

What does it feel like to be a professional author? 
It feels great that kids like my books. Otherwise, it would be kind of pointless. 

What advice would you give to kids who want to be authors?
Never be discouraged by other authors. Sometimes, writers and authors can be a little competitive. If you have a story that you want to tell, you have every right to tell it. 

What do you like most about writing and reading?
I like writing because you can do it in your pajamas. I like reading because it’s very intimate, and you don’t need technology to do it. 

What do you like better, writing or acting?
It’s hard to pick. I like them both for different reasons. If I had to choose, I would choose writing because I can do it in my pajamas.

What are you working on now? Will there be another Land of Stories book?
Yes, there will be a sixth book in the Land of Stories series. I also might do a prequel series or a completely different series. After the sixth book, I still have The Land of Stories Treasury, a graphic novel called Goldilocks, and a Trollbella picture book coming out. So the adventure will continue with The Land of Stories.