Ask the Author: Caroline Kepnes
Answered Questions (54)
Caroline Kepnes
Here you go, Lori, a reading group guide!
http://www.simonandschuster.com/books...
And I've got links to some fantastic think-pieces on my website:
http://www.carolinekepnes.com/author/...
This in particular is a great book club primer: http://lithub.com/the-fine-grim-line-...
http://www.simonandschuster.com/books...
And I've got links to some fantastic think-pieces on my website:
http://www.carolinekepnes.com/author/...
This in particular is a great book club primer: http://lithub.com/the-fine-grim-line-...
Caroline Kepnes
Thank you, Stefanie! I'm writing new books with new characters, more complicated individuals with questionable morals. And FUN yes! And then I will do another Joe book eventually. When I have dates, I'll put them everywhere!
Caroline Kepnes
Thank you, Tissy. I love that feeling so much, when you want to give the book to everyone. I am that way with I'M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS which I just loved so so so much. I'll have a new book, not Joe, this one is Jon and Chloe and some others. No pub date yet but when I have one I will be screaming it from all the rooftops, virtual and real!
Caroline Kepnes
Hi Amanda, I'm writing a new book, so into it, so excited to share it. You'll get more Joe eventually, I just want to give you some new ones first!
Caroline Kepnes
I want to do more, Alicia. I just have a couple of new books I want to do first!
Caroline Kepnes
Candace is RIP but Joe got away with it. Joe just wasn't a fan of Candace's brother. He's sort of a Milo, you know?
Caroline Kepnes
Hi Tina! Eventually. As you know, Joe has a way of surviving. :)
Caroline Kepnes
Eventually...in the future...don't you love a vague answer? But in the meantime, I'll have a new book out, whole new world, very excited to share that with you.
Caroline Kepnes
Hi Amy! I hope to have some news in the next few months. Very exciting indeed!
Caroline Kepnes
Hello Helen-Marie! I do think I'll go back to Joe. I certainly have plans for him. A few months before I started writing, I had a nightmarish health scare, a freak abscess by my epiglottis (I have blocked out the specifics, but Sarah Silverman just talked about a similar experience). Anyway, middle of the night, I'm in the ER. I could not talk out loud and the doctor did the scan and was like "yes, technically you are dying, your throat is closing". And then another doctor was driving in to do the surgery to keep me breathing. I had just lost my father a couple months before. My mom had just had serious surgery. Brutal times. I think about that moment in the ER of the ultimate dark comedy: dying from a sore throat. Like WTF. And this liberating peace of like, well, we are all going to die. It is the ultimate part of life, like it or not. As you know, I lived (yay!) and a few months later, while going thought voice therapy, I started writing about Joe. It all feels connected, as Joe firmly believes that death is a part of life, which is how he often justifies murder.
Caroline Kepnes
I was so in it that I didn't think about the future, but writing it made me so obsessed. I mean I would go out to do dinner with a friend and friend is talking about real life and I would start talking about Joe and friend is like...um, you mean the character in this story you're writing and I'd be like no no you don't get it. He is REAL. His voice was so loud and clear to me, the more I worked, the more he existed. So I cannot tell you how thrilling it is to see other people feel that way. He's from my love of dark humor, pop culture, Todd Solonz movies, Pip from Great Expectations, Prince lyrics, so many different places and experiences, books and movies. There was no moment of "I'm gonna combine this guy and that guy". That happened as I wrote. He's from moments, laughing when you're not supposed to, heightened emotional experiences, the horror of losing my father, who also had a very dark sense of humor. From the good and the bad, Hannibal and Clarice.
Caroline Kepnes
Thank you so much, Evgeny. Aaah yes, it all makes sense now, right? I have been reading some terrific books lately. PERFECT DAYS by Raphael Montes is spellbinding. WHERE'D YA GO BERNADETTE made me laugh. I'M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS scared the living daylights out of me, I mean locking he doors, nightmare, tremendous tight book, that one. THE DAYLIGHT MARRIAGE by Heidi Pitlor is another smart, memorable pageturner. And I love me some Mary Kubica. Also, I have an essay in the CRUSH anthology about the summer I exchanged letters with Brian Austin Green (or his mother). Lot of great essays in that collection, Roxanne Gay and Stephen King among other amazing others, like the gifted Nicola Yoon.
Caroline Kepnes
Thanks, Heidi! I agree, oh the way he does Joe and everyone else. It's amazing. And you know he's also Hans in Frozen right? And he's on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend too. Santino Fontana = major talent
Caroline Kepnes
LOL Alex, you crack me up. I didn't mean to do it. I started writing You and it was clear to me that Joe was not going to be done in one book. I will return to him. In the meantime, I'm working on a couple of new books that will help with the Joe jonesing. And I have written a lot of short stories, some of them are online, like this one: http://www.eclectica.org/v9n3/kepnes.... Also, I am reading Perfect Days by Raphael Montes, major Joe vibes.
Caroline Kepnes
Oh, Autum that means the world to me! Hooray for love. Yes, I will have a new book out next year. It starts with a boy on his way to school and it evolves into a story about the almost supernatural power of unrequited love. In New England. To me it's similar to my other books in the sense that it's voice-driven. This time, you're in jumping from one perspective to another. And I think it's scary. I want to go and finish it so you can read it!
Caroline Kepnes
You have a great eye, Giulia! Amy is using colored contacts, which is why her eyes are chestnut in the first book, blue in the second book. This part got cut out of the final version. And this was one of those character points, Amy is a person who would use color contacts. Like really work them. Joe has dark brown hair and intense eyes. Oh very intense. I picture them being brown, but above all, they grab onto you and maybe scare you. And entice you. :)
Caroline Kepnes
Hello fellow Cape Codder! You know, I think there's something inherently inspirational about the Cape, any peninsula or island. You're trapped in a way, for better, for worse. I love that. It's exciting, the extremes of the seasons, the "summer people", the seasonal tourist economy, the immense local pride. I've been thinking about all of this since I was a kid scooping ice cream. I love watching people try and deal with each other when they're coming from such different backgrounds. And as a writer, I love to jump from one perspective to another. Finally, of course, the beaches there are astoundingly beautiful and restorative. Aaah now I wanna go back!
Caroline Kepnes
There will be more. There has to be more. I have more to do with him, oh so much more.
Caroline Kepnes
I am late on this, but I will always have the events posted on my website. And as I write this I am thinking I better get over to my website for an update!
Caroline Kepnes
I love that feeling, Kat! That can't put it down feeling is one of the greatest sensations. I'm working on a new book that will be out next year, some really enchanting voices in there, oh I get that it's-alive feeling when I write. It's otherworldly. And then I do want to do another Joe book. Sometime soon-ish! And I know what you mean about the picture. I feel Joe in my head. He changes but he always has dark hair!
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