Ask the Author: Polly Holyoke
Answered Questions (77)
Polly Holyoke
Hi Kate, I'm so glad to hear you've enjoyed my Neptune books. I sure had fun writing about Nere's adventures. I don't have plans to write a fourth book because my publisher isn't interested in buying another Neptune book from me, and I do need to make money from my writing. You might try Kat Falls' DARK LIFE which is also set in the ocean, or ABOVE WORLD by Jen Reese. I also loved Rick Riordan's first Percy Jackson and the Olympian series.
Maybe you should try my new series, SKYRIDERS. The first book is out in paperback now, and the second book comes out in May. You can always ask a public library near you to order a book you'd like to read.
Hope you find something you like... there are so many good books out there!
Maybe you should try my new series, SKYRIDERS. The first book is out in paperback now, and the second book comes out in May. You can always ask a public library near you to order a book you'd like to read.
Hope you find something you like... there are so many good books out there!
Polly Holyoke
Hi Thomas, I LOVE to receive emails like yours. It just makes me grin to think my Neptune books helped introduce you to the wonderful world of reading. Now you can escape into all sorts of fabulous and interesting worlds created by authors with good imaginations. Maybe someday you might even imagine and create some worlds of your own. Writing is the best job, ever!
I came up with the Neptune books because I was worried about climate change, I was fascinated by the oceans (we don't have any in Colorado where I grew up), I was worried about advances in genetic engineering, and I needed to make money. I did not use anyone I know to create my characters, but I suppose Nere is a bit like me. I was a shy kid, but she's way more brave than I could ever be!
If you particularly like sea books, I recommend Kat Falls' DARK LIFE books. Also, my new series SKYRIDERS is out now, but that's about flying horses and chimerae monsters.
Thank you for taking the time to write, and have a great summer.
I came up with the Neptune books because I was worried about climate change, I was fascinated by the oceans (we don't have any in Colorado where I grew up), I was worried about advances in genetic engineering, and I needed to make money. I did not use anyone I know to create my characters, but I suppose Nere is a bit like me. I was a shy kid, but she's way more brave than I could ever be!
If you particularly like sea books, I recommend Kat Falls' DARK LIFE books. Also, my new series SKYRIDERS is out now, but that's about flying horses and chimerae monsters.
Thank you for taking the time to write, and have a great summer.
Polly Holyoke
Hi Bella, it's lovely to hear from you. I'm afraid COVID slowed me a down a bit. Most school librarians (who are usually the ones who arrange school visits) were so busy with their extra duties, they didn't have time to arrange in person school visits. I taught some zoom workshops which were fun and seemed to go quite well, but I'm looking forward to hitting the school circuit again when my new series, SKYRIDERS, comes out next March.
I'm so pleased and touched that you remembered my presentation!
I'm so pleased and touched that you remembered my presentation!
Polly Holyoke
Hi Sasha, I'm a big believer in leaving yourself time to daydream. Shutting down your cell and your computer and just letting your mind drift is a valuable skill. I also advise you to write the kind of book you like to read, and don't chase market trends. I had 2 editors tell me I should try writing vampire books back when TWILIGHT dominated the publishing world, but I don't like the whole vampire premise, and therefore, I knew I couldn't write a good vampire book. I do love sci/fi and the oceans, and that's why THE NEPTUNE PROJECT turned out so well. I also love horses and magic, and that's probably why I recently sold SKYRIDERS (a series about brave young couriers on flying horses fighting to save their world from the dreaded chimerae) to Viking.
I keep writing because I do love to make up stories in my head and share them, and honestly, I need to make money to help pay for my daughters' education!
I keep writing because I do love to make up stories in my head and share them, and honestly, I need to make money to help pay for my daughters' education!
Polly Holyoke
Hi Brianna, I definitely had some plot ideas for a fourth book, but my publisher wasn't interested in buying it from me. It was hard enough to self publish THE NEPTUNE PROMISE (I had to write that one for myself, my characters and my fans :) but I couldn't face self-publishing a second book. I am thrilled to have a new fantasy series coming out from Viking in March of 2023. SKYRIDERS is about brave young couriers on flying horses fighting to save their world from the cruel chimerae. Thank you for caring about my Neptune series, and I'm so very sorry to disappoint you.
Polly Holyoke
TNP takes place roughly 250 years from now. The Western Collective is composed of the three west coast states: CA, OR, and WA. I didn't know Star Trek had a Eugenics War, but lots of sci fi authors end up assuming there will be one. It will be too tempting for some governments to create super soldiers once we get better at discovering the gene clusters that can lead to being smarter and stronger. Robry has a hunch he's been engineered because his feet are so big for his size. Genetic engineering is not an exact science, and someone in the Project was tempted to make the kids have bigger feet for swimming and then removed the genes for that trait, but somehow Robry still received it. Interesting questions!
Polly Holyoke
You are most welcome. I think being a writer is one of the most exciting and interesting jobs on this planet! II hope you keep reading, and keep writing.
Polly Holyoke
I probably won't write another Neptune book for a while, anyway, but I do have a series out on submission about flying horses, and one about girls with super powers. Here's hoping they both sell.
I would be happy to post another writing contest, but I've hosted so many over the years, I'm having problems coming up with a fresh topic. If you can think of one, email me and let me know!
I would be happy to post another writing contest, but I've hosted so many over the years, I'm having problems coming up with a fresh topic. If you can think of one, email me and let me know!
Polly Holyoke
Hm, I've had a website up at www.pollyholyoke.com for a long time now, and it has lots of great pics and activities on it. Because I was a teacher, I wanted kids to have interesting material to read and explore when they come to my website.
Polly Holyoke
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Polly Holyoke
Hi Hannah, I think Dai and Nere probably will be together, at least for a while. I kept thinking Tobin was more her speed, but she just wouldn't listen to her author and creator, and I respected the fact that Dai was trying so hard to change and settle down. By the end of Promise, I hope my readers understand just how tough Dai's life has been. I think he deserves a happy ending, as does Nere!
Polly Holyoke
Hi Aurora,
I'm so glad that you enjoy my books! I'd love to write another Neptune book, but it really depends on how well The Neptune Promise sells. I do need to earn a living with my writing. So, please tell all your friends about the series. I hope to write a novella about how Nere met her First Nation friend... maybe next summer?
Take care and thanks for taking the time to write to me!
Warmly,
Polly H.
I'm so glad that you enjoy my books! I'd love to write another Neptune book, but it really depends on how well The Neptune Promise sells. I do need to earn a living with my writing. So, please tell all your friends about the series. I hope to write a novella about how Nere met her First Nation friend... maybe next summer?
Take care and thanks for taking the time to write to me!
Warmly,
Polly H.
Polly Holyoke
Hi Pearly, Disney/Hyperion has the rights to my first two books, and it's really up to them to decide if TNP becomes a graphic novel. I think it would make a fabulous one, and I think it would make a great weekly cartoon show!
Polly Holyoke
Hi Pearly,
I'm so excited to hear you won a reading contest! That is so very cool. All your school career and work will be easier if you can read well (plus reading can be a ton of fun, as you've been finding out)! I'm honored to be your favorite author. I may write a novella (a short book) about Nere and crew, but right now I'm working on a big middle grade fantasy series about a prince who can talk to animals and a girl who sees emotions in color. If you pop into my website from time to time, I will post news there of what I'm writing next. Thank you for taking the time to write, and thank you for caring about my books!
I'm so excited to hear you won a reading contest! That is so very cool. All your school career and work will be easier if you can read well (plus reading can be a ton of fun, as you've been finding out)! I'm honored to be your favorite author. I may write a novella (a short book) about Nere and crew, but right now I'm working on a big middle grade fantasy series about a prince who can talk to animals and a girl who sees emotions in color. If you pop into my website from time to time, I will post news there of what I'm writing next. Thank you for taking the time to write, and thank you for caring about my books!
Polly Holyoke
Hi Ella, I would love to come to you school, but I'm afraid I do have to charge some money to do so. Each day I visit a school is a day I'm not actually writing new books. Your librarian or principal or PTO would need to invite me. I do love traveling and visiting schools and meeting fans. I'm actually going to Portland, Oregon in a few weeks because a fan there asked me to come to her school, and I once even visited a school in Hawaii after a fan wrote to me. So, it does happen!
Polly Holyoke
Hi Amelia,
I don't have the money or resources to make my Neptune Trilogy into a movie, and I'm afraid that for now my publisher Disney has no plans to do so, either. This does make me sad as I always thought TNP would make a great movie or a background for a fun weekly cartoon series. Maybe it will still happen someday. Thank you for your interest, and please let your friends know that THE NEPTUNE PROMISE is available now, too. Have a great summer!
I don't have the money or resources to make my Neptune Trilogy into a movie, and I'm afraid that for now my publisher Disney has no plans to do so, either. This does make me sad as I always thought TNP would make a great movie or a background for a fun weekly cartoon series. Maybe it will still happen someday. Thank you for your interest, and please let your friends know that THE NEPTUNE PROMISE is available now, too. Have a great summer!
Polly Holyoke
Hi Nicole,
I was very concerned about climate change, I've always been fascinated by the sea and I really needed to make some money to help my daughters pay for college. These three factors came together to inspire me to write my Neptune books. I have had dreams about some of my other stories, but TNP grew out of my awareness that climate disaster books were popular, but I wanted to tell a story about the effects of climate change in a new and fresh way... which is how Nere and crew ended up in the ocean!
Thank you for your interest. I hope you know THE NEPTUNE PROMISE (Book 3 in the Neptune Trilogy) is available now. Have a great summer!
I was very concerned about climate change, I've always been fascinated by the sea and I really needed to make some money to help my daughters pay for college. These three factors came together to inspire me to write my Neptune books. I have had dreams about some of my other stories, but TNP grew out of my awareness that climate disaster books were popular, but I wanted to tell a story about the effects of climate change in a new and fresh way... which is how Nere and crew ended up in the ocean!
Thank you for your interest. I hope you know THE NEPTUNE PROMISE (Book 3 in the Neptune Trilogy) is available now. Have a great summer!
Polly Holyoke
I'm so glad you enjoyed my story. I'd love to see a movie, but Disney has no plans to make one right now. You should check out THE NEPTUNE CHALLENGE and THE NEPTUNE PROMISE as well.
Polly Holyoke
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Polly Holyoke
Dai is actually the Welsh form of David, and it is pronounced Die.
Thank you for asking!
Thank you for asking!
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