'Pretty girl' provokes emotional responses
Milltown native's 16th novel is published by MTV Books
BY JESSICA SMITH
Staff Writer

MILLTOWN - - Laura Wiess has imaginary friends. They tell her their stories, they keep her up nights, and they have helped to build her career.

One of the most recent to come calling was 15-year-old Meredith.

"She just led me straight into her nightmares," Wiess said. "She just said, 'I won't mince words if you don't turn away.' "

Wiess gives life to Meredith in her novel "Such a Pretty Girl," which was published by MTV Books and went into a second printing a week after hitting shelves Jan. 2. It sold out only days after being stocked at the East Brunswick Barnes & Noble.

This is the 16th novel for the author, who was born and bred in Milltown and lived in North Brunswick and East Brunswick before moving with her husband, Chester, to an old farmhouse in Carlisle, Pa. The book has reached beyond its original target age group, garnering responses from readers of all ages.

"This book is provoking a lot of emotional responses," Wiess said. "There's a really strong survivor spirit out there, and that's the best part."

Laura Wiess

"Such a Pretty Girl" is the story of a girl who was sexually abused by her father, and who must cope with his early release from prison. Wiess said some readers have contacted her and related their own similar experiences.

Meredith was born when Wiess was at home watching a news program about sexual abuse. She took note of the use of the word "offenders," which Wiess said she felt minimized the abuse perpetrated.

"It's an infuriating crime, and ignoring it will not make it go away," Wiess said.

The book is slated for release in England this August, and will also be released as an original adult title in the UK Commonwealth, Australia and New Zealand.

With 65 short stories and a number of novels under her belt, Wiess has had many a character come along and lead her into their world so she could tell their stories.

"Whoever shows up on my doorstep with a compelling story and it spears into me, that's what I write," Wiess said. "There basically for me is no story until someone good shows up. I have to care about them desperately."

Wiess just signed a new two-book contract with MTV Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, and is working on the first novel, which should be out by the beginning of 2008, she said. Another book with emotionally heavy subject matter, Wiess said its first chapter had the fellow writers in her critique group crying.

"I never know what's going to hit me as I'm ambling through life," Wiess said.

Although Wiess said she has always been a writer, she got serious with her craft in 1987, when she borrowed every writing manual she could find from the library. By 1993, she had published her first novel, "Downtown Boy," which is now out of print.

From there, she wrote numerous young adult novels, including "Girlfriends," a 10-book series whose concept was created by publishers. Wiess auditioned for a chance to write the series in 1993, and got it. She had to write 10 55,000-word novels in 10 months. For 10 months straight, Wiess wrote from noon until 8 a.m. the next morning, slept for four hours, then started the process all over again.

"It was guerrilla writing," Wiess said. "It was a blast, but it was exhausting."

"The Girlfriends" books were written under the pseudonym Nicole Grey. They were well received by readers, according to Wiess, and were later released in Germany.

In later years, she assisted KA Applegate with three books from the popular kids' series "Animorphs." The series later became a television show on Nickelodeon.

What makes "Such a Pretty Girl" different from Wiess' other books is that it was solely her brainchild. The other novels were prompted by the demands of publishers, according to Wiess.

Wiess is dedicated to her career as a writer, now that she has persevered through the countless rejections along with endless hours at the typewriter any author faces. The veteran wordsmith adheres to the rituals that have worked for her thus far.

"I need to be completely comfortable - no tight waistbands, no itchy sweaters," Wiess said. "Interrupt me at your own peril. Now is not the time to ask me where I put the new bottle of ketchup. I have to be able to step out of this world and into the book."

Over the years, Wiess said, she has learned lessons about the writing business.

"There are basically as many rules in this business as there are anywhere else," Wiess said. "If you let rejection stop you, then you'll be stopped dead almost immediately. If you're in a hurry, don't write. It's a great exercise in patience."