Wondering something about Kody? Well, look below and see if your questions have been answered!

How old were you when you wrote THE DUFF?

A: I was seventeen, a senior in high school in a small town in Kentucky.

What inspired you to write THE DUFF?

A: I first heard the word in the cafeteria during the first semester of my senior year. A friend was telling me about a night out and how she'd overheard a boy calling a girl she knew "the duff." When she explained to me that the word meant Designated Ugly Fat Friend, I was simultaneously amused, disgusted, and intrigued. I thought I was the Duff of my group, but my friends argued that they were the Duffs. After that, the idea started out as a joke. I'd write a book about the Designated Ugly Fat Friend of a group, only my Duff wouldn't be the sweet, nice girl from movies. Instead, I wanted her to be cynical, sarcastic, and hardcore. It was all a joke—but then I got the idea, and I started writing. A few short months later, my dreams of being a writer came true when Poppy bought my book!

How long have you been writing?

A: Since I can remember. I've always loved making up characters and stories in my head. As I got older, I began writing them down. I wrote my first "novel" when I was eleven—basically, it was Harry Potter with a girl protagonist, not original at all—and I've kept going from there. I did a lot of fan fiction under a name I will never ever ever release publicly (seriously, it's THAT bad) and finally, my junior year, I started to write seriously with the idea of publishing. A year later, it happened.

Who are your favorite authors?

A: I can honestly say J. K. Rowling changed my life, so she's definitely top of the list. I also owe a lot to Judy Blume and Sarah Dessen, who really got me into contemporary fiction for teens. My current favorites also include Elizabeth Scott, Carolyn Mackler, Courtney Summers, Kristen Cashore, Suzanne Collins, Lauren Oliver, and so, so many more. I'm also a big Jane Austen junkie.

What's your favorite movie?

A: Cruel Intentions. No contest.

Why do you write books for teens?

A: I've always written about teenagers. Even when I was eleven, the characters in my book were sixteen. I was seventeen when I wrote THE DUFF, but I'm older now and I still want to write about seventeen year olds. Maybe my brain is just stuck there? Not sure, but I like it.

Will THE DUFF be a movie?

A: Movie rights have been optioned to Vast Entertainment and Wonderland with McG (who worked on THE OC, my all time favorite show EVER) to direct. It's in the early stages, but if it makes it to movie production, I will totally let you know.

Will there be a sequel to THE DUFF?

A: As of now, most likely not. I like the way it ended. But I never say never. Also, just a hint, look out for characters from THE DUFF in my future novels. You may spot them!

What is your next book about? What's it called?

A: My next book is called SHUT OUT. It's a modern re-imagining of the Greek play Lysistrata and tells the story of a 17-year-old girl named Lissa who decides to put an end to her school's sports rivalry by starting a sex-strike. It's another romantic comedy, but it also explores issues of "norms" and labels placed on teenage girls. It'll be out this Fall!

Do you write with music?

A: I do! I make playlists! Check out the Musical Muse section for details!