Category: Life

 

I’m pretty excited to attend the second annual utopYA Con the last weekend in June in Nashville. I was invited to be a panelist, but I’m just as psyched about attending the other panels. They will be chock full of successful Indie authors and publishing pros presenting invaluable information from both the craft and business sides of writing and self-publishing. All you writers (or fans of paranormal YA): I’d love to meet up with you there!

In the meantime, D.B. Graves wrote a blog post highlighting one of the panels I will be on. It’s about how we authors build worlds that (hopefully) draw readers in as inevitably as a favorite character or unique plot. Check it out –

http://utopyacon.com/divinedeities/

Something very cool happened tonight. I was eating at Wahoo’s Fish Taco with my children, a few friends, and their children. (I had the shrimp bowl with brown rice and Cajun beans, in case you were wondering. It was tasty.) I’d just taken a rather uncooperative bite when I noticed a boy with a wide smile chock full of braces standing in front of me. He obviously didn’t want to interrupt.

I know him – he goes to my daughter’s school. I said hello after chewing, and hopefully swallowing, most of my bite of shrimp and rice. He asked if I wrote THE SCOURGE? I said I did. He said he read it and really liked it. I said thank you (I wanted to give him a big hug and a bigger THANK YOU, but grabbing other people’s children in restaurants is generally frowned upon). He called over a friend, who said she also read it. And they asked when Book 2 would be ready to read. I slid my laptop up out of my bag where it usually runs to hide after hours of me pounding on it. “It’s right here!” I said, “. . . but it’s not ready yet.” I’m not sure which of us looked more disappointed.

The children wandered away with more important things on their minds, like raiding the giant bowl of Starlight mints again. But they gave me a gift I’ll cherish. I’ve heard from many of my wonderful readers since I published THE SCOURGE, but not often in person. And because THE SCOURGE is only an e-book right now, and because most children and teens don’t have access to e-readers, not many of those readers have been under the age of 18. To hear, in person, from the young horse’s silver-shod mouth that my book was appreciated, was a special moment.

So, thanks, kiddos, for reading Book 1 and for anticipating Book 2. Have another mint on me.

I’ve learned a lot in the last ten months since I published my debut novel, The Scourge. But the biggest revelation is that I’m not just writing for myself. I’m writing for readers.

Um, obvious, right? Not always. Many people start off writing for themselves. Then, by necessity, they write for friends, family, critique partners, or for an agent, a publisher, and an editor. THEN they write for readers. My path took me straight from writing for myself and the few people I showed my work to before publishing it, to my readers. It has been a profound learning experience.

Connecting with readers has been one of the unexpected joys of this year. I’ve been genuinely surprised at how much I’ve enjoyed conversing with the people who write to me through my blog, Facebook page, Goodreads, or who find me on Twitter. I always love hearing from you, even if it’s just a simple, “Hey, your book wasn’t bad” tweet.

The first person to contact me after I published The Scourge was Jenna. This was way back in early March 2012 when the book had sold a mere few hundred copies. Until then, the only readers I had heard from were the brave family and friends who took a chance on it, full-well knowing they may have to lie like politicians and say they liked it : ) So I was over the moon to hear from a “stranger.” Jenna asked if I was planning to write a sequel (my answer at the time: I don’t know). She told me what she liked most about the book was that it was hopeful compared to many dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels. I love that. As a psychologist, I’m all about giving people hope that things can change for the better. I didn’t expect to be all about that in my writing, too.

Emily, a teen reader, wrote soon after to ask me specific questions about the first book and to request a second book in the series. It was fun to correspond with her, and her questions guided the early chapters of the sequel. Another reader that made an impression was Michelle, who contacted me through Goodreads. Her comment prompted this blog post. Several Indie authors also got in touch. It’s been amazing to connect with other talented, funny, and hard-working writers across the country.

Every author should be so lucky to have a few readers who love their book enough to shout it to the blogosphere (not to mention book bloggers/reviewers – you guys rock!) I’ve had at least two such devoted readers: Terri and Colleen. They both wrote to me directly, then proceeded to tweet about The Scourge, and to leave comments on other reading/writing blogs about how much they enjoyed the book. It means so much to me that they took the time out of their busy lives to spread the word.

Recently I’ve had the opportunity to Skype with two groups of middle school readers from Macon, Georgia. They asked wonderful questions about the book and about my influences, inspirations, and writing process. I had no idea going into it how much fun it was going to be to talk to groups of young readers. Definitely a highlight of the year.

Of all the people I’ve heard from, Monica might have the best story. Here’s what she had to say:

So your book was so good it saved my life…literally! I am currently a student studying in the Middle East. I’d somehow left my gas stove on a little so it was slowly filling my apartment with gas. I had meant to go to bed early, but I got started on your book earlier, and could not put it down. By 2 am, I was done, but had a killer headache. I went out to the kitchen and hadn’t noticed the gas until it about knocked me over. Had I just been able to sleep, I might not have woke up this morning. So, your awesome story kept me awake, and alive. I have three kids and a husband back home that I need to get home to. Can’t wait to read the next book (without the life threatening circumstance; the story was exciting enough.)

I’m very glad my book didn’t put Monica to sleep! I know that adding conflict and drama to a story are of utmost importance, but I never thought the consequences of not adding them would be so high. Monica and I have been emailing, and she shared the blog she is writing about her time studying in Jordan. I’m fascinated by her description of daily life in the Middle East, and awed by her honesty as she talks about the emotional roller coaster that her time there has become.

I haven’t had the chance to meet many readers in person, but I hope I will at some point. I want to shake your hands and tell you how grateful I am for your support. Until then, please keep emailing, tweeting, and commenting. You keep me going when I’m too tired, lazy, or uninspired to write. I am still writing for myself, but now I’m writing for you, too.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I hope your blessings are many, as mine are.

I’m it! (Um, not it as in the Next Big Thing, but as in a game of tag.)

Author Adriana Ryan tagged me in a game of blog hop. According to author Shel Delisle, the idea is “about a lot of authors getting together to share their readers and to help them to find other great authors to read.” We are supposed to answer ten questions about one of our books, or a work in progress, so I’ll talk about both – The Scourge, Book 1 and my WIP, Book 2.

What is the working title of your book?

Okay, is it bad that I’m stumped by the first question? I obviously named the first book The Scourge. When it was published, I wasn’t really sure if I would write a sequel to it. Now that I am, I need at least some subtitles for books 1 and 2. So here goes – let me know what you think of them.

The Water-Bearer (The Scourge series, Book 1)

The Air Between (The Scourge series, Book 2)

I have outlines for possible books 3 and 4, which would also have elemental titles.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I cover this in my bio section in my blog, so I’ll bring my answer over from there:

I got the initial idea for The Scourge while traveling through the bayous of Louisiana. I wondered what would happen if, after an apocalyptic event, people had to live in those swamps without access to basic necessities. I figured they would move up in the trees. But what if only some of them were allowed to move up while others were left on the ground below? And there were horrible zombie-type creatures roaming around?

What genre does your book fall under?

YA Fantasy (or dystopia . . . or post-apocalyptic . . .)

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I did a blog post on this one a while ago. I’m terrible at this because I don’t know that many actors. But when I searched for actors that fit how I see Fenn and Peree in my head, here is what I came up with:

Fennel – this picture of Isabelle Fuhrman, who plays Clove in The Hunger Games movie, is close. And she’s used to playing characters named after a plant product, so that’s a bonus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peree – grow his hair out to shoulder-length and Lachlan Buchanan is perfect. Dana, one of my readers, suggested Jake Abel. Can’t argue with her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

The Water Bearer: Fennel, a Sightless girl living in a post-apocalyptic world terrorized by the Scourge, has just inherited the duty of collecting fresh water for her people. She should be one of the few who are protected from the creatures, but she hasn’t been tested. Until now. (Yeah, I know that’s three sentences. I cheat.)

The Air Between: Unable to tell friend from foe, and with the Scourge pushing the fragile truce between the Groundlings and Lofties to the breaking point, Fennel must once again decide exactly how much she is willing to sacrifice to ensure a future for the people of the forest. (Hey, I made it in one!)

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

Book 1 was self-published in January 2012. Book 2 will be released in 2013.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

One year for book 1. Ten months for book 2.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I think it’s very similar to Veronica Rossi’s Under the Never Sky. In fact, I was weirded out by all the similarities:

Dystopian? Check.

Romeo and Juliet type romance? Check.

Epic journey plot? Check.

Male protagonist is blond and his weapon of choice is a bow? Check.

Our male protags are even named the same thing! (Peree in mine, Perry in hers, but both short for Peregrine.) Several minor characters also have the same names, including Bear and Sable, and there were other similarities that I can’t mention because they would be spoilers. Like I said, weird.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

I had just read The Giver by Lois Lowry (see my recent post about that one) and The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan, which is a beautifully written YA zombie novel. They both inspired me. But I also have to give props to M. Night Shyamalan’s film, The Village. I think Fenn was directly inspired by the main character, Ivy Walker (just realized she’s named for a plant, too!) I loved how brave, sparkling, and genuine she was, and how her blindness was a reality of her life, but never a crutch.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

Listen to the song Trees by Marty Casey. It’s the perfect anthem for Fenn and Peree’s relationship!

And now, to tag several more awesome YA authors to join the blog hop – you’re it!

Susan Kaye Quinn

Katie French

R.A. Gates