Ask the Author: Erin Bowman
Answered Questions (12)
Erin Bowman
I'm so glad you enjoyed the Kate & Jesse novella! Thank you. Due to current deadlines and life craziness (I'm on maternity leave) I won't be releasing a story focused on Charlotte and Reece any time soon. However, if the right idea comes to me and timing allows it, I would consider writing one in the future.
Erin Bowman
I haven't been informed of a paperback release date yet, but usually paperbacks come out about a year after the hardcover release. In this case, that would mean fall (November) of 2019.
Erin Bowman
Hi! I've never heard of this book, but now I certainly want to read it. Thanks for the recommendation. :) Vengeance Road was actually inspired by the Legend of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine (I talk about this in the Author's Note at the end of the novel), but it's only fair to acknowledge that the "child sets out to avenge family's death" premise is a popular one for many works of literature, especially westerns. The same is true of the "girl dresses as a boy" trope.
Thank you again for reading. So glad you enjoyed the book.
Thank you again for reading. So glad you enjoyed the book.
Erin Bowman
My biggest piece of advice is to read often, and widely. Read anything you can get your hands on, and dissect it all. What do you like? What do you hate? Apply that to your own writing. (You can do this with all forms of storytelling--movies, TV, video games). And then, of course, be sure to keep writing. Finish a book. Seek out feedback and revise, because stories only shine once they're polished. Write the story *you* want to read and don't give up!
That's broad advice, so if you're looking for direction on specific elements of the craft, you can check out the resources on my website, too: http://www.embowman.com/extras/for-wr...
Best of luck with your writing, and thank you for the kind words about my trilogy!
That's broad advice, so if you're looking for direction on specific elements of the craft, you can check out the resources on my website, too: http://www.embowman.com/extras/for-wr...
Best of luck with your writing, and thank you for the kind words about my trilogy!
Erin Bowman
Hi Ben! I really enjoy Skype visits. I get to chat with classrooms and smart students from the comfort of my home, so no, I don't get too nervous in those situations. :)
But when I do bookstore events, or larger school visits (think: me standing on a stage in front of a packed auditorium), YES, I get nervous. But this has very little to do with the audience being children. I'd get nervous for a large crowd of adults, too. In these situations, my nerves are usually just a small case of stage fright, and once I start talking, they slowly fade away. (It also helps that teen readers are some of the smartest readers out there. You guys are so much fun to chat with.)
But when I do bookstore events, or larger school visits (think: me standing on a stage in front of a packed auditorium), YES, I get nervous. But this has very little to do with the audience being children. I'd get nervous for a large crowd of adults, too. In these situations, my nerves are usually just a small case of stage fright, and once I start talking, they slowly fade away. (It also helps that teen readers are some of the smartest readers out there. You guys are so much fun to chat with.)
Erin Bowman
Yes, I hope to write more historical fiction. In fact, I'm playing with an idea right now that is a companion novel for Vengeance Road -- same world, but ten years later, with a new cast and plot! With any luck, I'll get it in the world some day. :)
Erin Bowman
I'm playing with two different book ideas at the moment: a companion novel for VENGEANCE ROAD (set ten years later, same world, new plot/characters), and a sci-fi novel currently called ACHLYS (think rescue mission gone wrong, a la Alien). I'm having a blast with both, and have my fingers crossed that you guys will be able to read them in book-form in the future!
Erin Bowman
Thank you so much! No other series plans at the moment, but I do have a standalone out right now (VENGEANCE ROAD... a Wild West revenge tale set in 1877 Arizona), and I'm always working on new novels too.
Erin Bowman
Hi Maria. Thank you so much! I'm thrilled to hear this. :)
VR is a standalone. I'm playing around with an idea for a companion novel, but nothing is contracted, and even if it *does* happen one day, it will be new main characters and a new plot/conflict.
VR is a standalone. I'm playing around with an idea for a companion novel, but nothing is contracted, and even if it *does* happen one day, it will be new main characters and a new plot/conflict.
Erin Bowman
I did? Go me. I'm usually terrible about pitching/suggesting my own books. Either way, thank you--I'm thrilled to hear you loved Taken! As for other book recs...
More YA sci-fi/dystopian like Taken: Blood Red Road (Young), Legend (Lu), The Maze Runner (Dashner), Under the Never Sky (Rossi)
Totally different YA genres, but still highly recommended: The Scorpio Races (Stiefvater), Something Strange and Deadly (Dennard), Not a Drop to Drink (McGinnis), Tiger Lily (Anderson), Everything Leads to You (LaCour), The Book Thief (Zusak)
More YA sci-fi/dystopian like Taken: Blood Red Road (Young), Legend (Lu), The Maze Runner (Dashner), Under the Never Sky (Rossi)
Totally different YA genres, but still highly recommended: The Scorpio Races (Stiefvater), Something Strange and Deadly (Dennard), Not a Drop to Drink (McGinnis), Tiger Lily (Anderson), Everything Leads to You (LaCour), The Book Thief (Zusak)
Erin Bowman
The Taken trilogy jackets (and interior pages) were designed by Erin Fitsimmons, who works for my publisher, HarperCollins. I'm not sure if she takes on projects outside of Harper titles, but either way, I have nothing but great things to say about her! Here's her site: http://www.efitzdesign.com/
Erin Bowman
Thanks for the kind words! TAKEN is a trilogy and will conclude with FORGED this April. (There's also companion e-novella, STOLEN, which provides some backstory for Bree for those interested.)
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