Chris Colfer achieves childhood dream with novel

The Associated Press, Tuesday, July 17, 2012, 11:42am (PDT)

NEW YORK (AP) -- "Glee" star Chris Colfer says his favorite childhood memories are going to the book store at midnight to get the next "Harry Potter" book.

He recalled in a recent interview, "just being there with everyone happy and dressed up, and those were just really happy moments for me."

It makes sense then that the 22-year-old would want to contribute to that world. He's written his own children's novel called "The Land of Stories," which is now in stores.

The book is about twins Connor and Alex, who find themselves sucked into their favorite book of fairy tales, suddenly face-to-face with the characters they grew up reading about.

Colfer said he came up with the idea as an inquisitive child who questioned the fairytales his mother would read to him.

"I used to ask, `Mommy, who's the man in the mirror? Why's he talking to the evil queen? Why's she so evil? Why does she hate Snow White so much?'

"I just tried to clarify the questions that I had as a kid," he said.

If the book were adapted into a movie he would love for Meryl Streep to play the various fairy tale characters.

"I think ultimately I would love to see Meryl Streep play every role just because I think. `Who would not want to go see that movie? Who would not want to go see Meryl Streep playing The Big Bad Wolf or Red Riding Hood?' I mean it would be great."

Colfer said he wrote the book last summer during the "Glee" world tour.

"I was writing constantly in my hotel room and under the stage during performances even, and I'd be singing, `I Want to Hold Your Hand' and I'd think of something really witty for Connor to say. Had to run downstairs to the changing booth, type it into my computer, run off and do `Single Ladies' in leotard. It was an interesting summer. I don't think I've mentally recovered from that time."

There's already a deal to write a sequel to "The Land of Stories" where Alex and Connor will be older.

He also has written a screenplay for a psychological drama movie that he hopes to star in, and he adapted a pilot for the Disney Channel based on Florence Laughlin's children's book "The Little Leftover Witch."

A film he wrote and starred in called "Struck by Lightning" that debuted at this year's Tribeca Film Festival will hit theaters in December.

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Alicia Rancilio covers entertainment for The Associated Press. Follow her online at http://www.twitter.com/aliciar