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S.E. Hinton. Author of The Outsiders. Susan Eloise Hinton. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma Graduated from University of Tulsa Worked in a bookstore and ran an elevator Wrote first book at age 17 Uses her initials as pen name Married with one son Enjoys reading, horseback riding,
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S.E. Hinton Author of The Outsiders
Susan Eloise Hinton • Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma • Graduated from University of Tulsa • Worked in a bookstore and ran an elevator • Wrote first book at age 17 • Uses her initials as pen name • Married with one son • Enjoys reading, horseback riding, cooking • Has written 8 books
Main Characters Dally Darry Sodapop Two-Bit Steve Ponyboy Johnny
Frequently Asked Questions(taken from S.E. Hinton Website) • Q: I just read The Outsiders in school, and I couldn’t get over the names. Why were such vivid names used in the novel? • A: I do remember at that age everyone wishing they were named something else, probably part of establishing an identity other than the one your parents have for you. The strange names seemed to fit the characters, though, so I left them.
Q: Was it hard to come up with such a fantastic plot for The Outsiders? • A: I don't know how "fantastic" The Outsiders plot is--plotting is always the hardest part for me. I basically just made it up as I went along. My strong points are characters and dialogue--I wish I could come up with more plots!
Q: Why do you only use your last name instead of your full name? • A: I use my initials instead of my first name because the publishers were afraid the first reviewers would assume a girl couldn't write a book like TheOutsiders. After that, I found I liked the privacy of having a "public" name and a private one, so it has worked out fine.
Q: What book did you like writing the best? • A: I really enjoyed writing The Outsiders the most--I wasn't thinking about getting it published or what reviewers would think, I just was totally involved in the story. It's hard to do that when it is your profession.
Q: Why are all of your main characters male? • A: I started using male characters because I was a tomboy while growing up. Most of my close friends were boys, and I figured nobody would believe a girl would know anything about my subject matter. I have kept on using male characters because (1) boys have fewer books written for them (2) girls will read boys' books, boys usually won't read girls', and (3) it is still the easiest for me.
Q: How did you first get the idea to write The Outsiders? • A: I wrote The Outsiders because I (1) like to write (2) was mad about the social situation in my high school where everyone got in his/her little group and wouldn't make friends outside of it and (3) I wanted to read it. There was no realistic fiction being written about teenagers when I was in high school--everything was "Mary-Jane Goes to The Prom".
What did you want readers to get out of your book when you started writing them? • A: I hate to say this, but when I start writing I just don't think of the reader. I think of the characters, what will happen to them; I want to please myself (I'm a pretty good critic), but I don't think about readers until the book is published. Naturally, then I hope they like it.
Q: Do you think you will ever write a sequel to The Outsiders? • A: No, never. **Note: That Was Then, This is Now follows the same story line as The Outsiders. However, it is not a sequel.
