Ask the Author: Leah Thomas
Answered Questions (31)
Leah Thomas
Lily, I'm sorry for the late reply!
Thanks so much for the book club plug, and I hope it went well for you all those months ago. The characters aren't specifically based on anyone, although they do share some traits with people near and dear to me. If I could spend the day with any one of them, it would probably be Molly, Fieke, or Arthur.
Thanks so much for the book club plug, and I hope it went well for you all those months ago. The characters aren't specifically based on anyone, although they do share some traits with people near and dear to me. If I could spend the day with any one of them, it would probably be Molly, Fieke, or Arthur.
Leah Thomas
Thank you so much, Hannah! :D
Gah, I know it's hard to be left hanging. I wrote a third book (titled If We Part) a few years ago, but it's unlikely to ever be published. It would require a complete rewrite and the harsh truth is that despite how amazing my readers are, there isn't enough of a demand to justify publishing it. I won't say it's impossible, but it's not on the table for now. Believe me when I say I feel your pain. Maybe time will tell!
Gah, I know it's hard to be left hanging. I wrote a third book (titled If We Part) a few years ago, but it's unlikely to ever be published. It would require a complete rewrite and the harsh truth is that despite how amazing my readers are, there isn't enough of a demand to justify publishing it. I won't say it's impossible, but it's not on the table for now. Believe me when I say I feel your pain. Maybe time will tell!
Leah Thomas
Gray, as far as I know, we haven't sold an audiobook edition, alas! Sorry to disappoint.
Leah Thomas
Aw, thank you, Eli!
I'm not sure I always do avoid cliches! Certainly there are tropes in coming of age stories that you see in my books and in a lot of other books, too. This is because as people there are some shared experiences we like telling each other about, I think. But the way to take those familiar stories and keep them away from *feeling* cliched is by delving deeper and adding nuance. Sure, lots of kids want to run away from home as teenagers. But *not* all kids are blocked from doing so by power lines. And yes, bullies suck. But not all bullies find redemption in the end. I think keeping it human and listening to your characters, letting them be complicated people, is the best way to combat making cookie-cutter characters!
I'm not sure I always do avoid cliches! Certainly there are tropes in coming of age stories that you see in my books and in a lot of other books, too. This is because as people there are some shared experiences we like telling each other about, I think. But the way to take those familiar stories and keep them away from *feeling* cliched is by delving deeper and adding nuance. Sure, lots of kids want to run away from home as teenagers. But *not* all kids are blocked from doing so by power lines. And yes, bullies suck. But not all bullies find redemption in the end. I think keeping it human and listening to your characters, letting them be complicated people, is the best way to combat making cookie-cutter characters!
Leah Thomas
Makayla,
I'm sorry not to have replied to this earlier! It's so wonderful to hear from you. I don't do twitter anymore, as it fed my anxiety in a bad, bad way, but recently I've been dipping my toes into instagram with no casualties so far (@fellowhermit) and I've long since been a fan of tumblr (@cuttooothom).
In any case, thanks for reaching out. Epilepsy paid a large role in my upbringing (an immediate family member lives with the disorder), and I was tired of never seeing stories about people like him. I'm glad the books found you!
I'm sorry not to have replied to this earlier! It's so wonderful to hear from you. I don't do twitter anymore, as it fed my anxiety in a bad, bad way, but recently I've been dipping my toes into instagram with no casualties so far (@fellowhermit) and I've long since been a fan of tumblr (@cuttooothom).
In any case, thanks for reaching out. Epilepsy paid a large role in my upbringing (an immediate family member lives with the disorder), and I was tired of never seeing stories about people like him. I'm glad the books found you!
Leah Thomas
Oh gosh. I don't have specific references and I know this message is way too late! I mean, in my head Ollie is blondish with brown eyes, and Moritz is of Turkish descent, with dark hair. Ollie is much taller than Moritz, and of course Moritz doesn't match his clothes well. He does like textured clothing like corduroy and wool, and has decent dress sense apart from the color blind issue. Ollie is the type of kid who throws on whatever is closest. Ahaha.
Leah Thomas
Dani,
Aw, thanks!
1. I was living abroad and feeling homesick when I started writing this book.
I was thinking a lot about how we rely on technology to communicate, and how lonely the world might be without that crutch.
2. We haven't sold the movie rights to the book, and alas, I doubt we ever will! So it goes...
Aw, thanks!
1. I was living abroad and feeling homesick when I started writing this book.
I was thinking a lot about how we rely on technology to communicate, and how lonely the world might be without that crutch.
2. We haven't sold the movie rights to the book, and alas, I doubt we ever will! So it goes...
Leah Thomas
Alina,
Thank you so much for your lovely words. I will hold them close and keep on writing.
Thank you so much for your lovely words. I will hold them close and keep on writing.
Leah Thomas
Makayla,
Aw, please do whatever you wish to! I live when creativity inspires creativity. I have made my share of fanfilms over the years. :P
Aw, please do whatever you wish to! I live when creativity inspires creativity. I have made my share of fanfilms over the years. :P
Leah Thomas
Evelynne,
Apologies for the late reply! As far as I know, no audiobook is forthcoming! I am so sorry!
Apologies for the late reply! As far as I know, no audiobook is forthcoming! I am so sorry!
Leah Thomas
Rachel,
I am sorry I didn't reply sooner! My advice would be to let the characters lead you. Let the plot form around them rather than trying to squeeze them into a plot. This doesn't work for all stories, but Ollie and Moritz made choices as I was writing that helped them become realer people as the book progressed.
I am sorry I didn't reply sooner! My advice would be to let the characters lead you. Let the plot form around them rather than trying to squeeze them into a plot. This doesn't work for all stories, but Ollie and Moritz made choices as I was writing that helped them become realer people as the book progressed.
Leah Thomas
Planet(what a name!)
Thank you so much! It means ...the planet to me to hear that ( I like bad jokes even more than Ollie does). Messages like this really keep me going on bad days. <3
Thank you so much! It means ...the planet to me to hear that ( I like bad jokes even more than Ollie does). Messages like this really keep me going on bad days. <3
Leah Thomas
Tom,
Sorry for the late reply! I am so glad you could relate to Moritz. I really feel for folks on the fringes. :) I am no genius, but I do think of myself as an almost painfully empathetic person. I tend to get absorbed in the struggles of other people, real or fictional. I think this is why one of my writing strengths is slipping into different characters. It's less that I hear their voices so much as become them during their scenes. While I do think I have a natural tendency in this area, it is something that gets easier with practice. I did a lot of theater in high school and I do a lot of cosplaying now, and those things help develop that too! I am so happy you felt less alone with my characters.
Sorry for the late reply! I am so glad you could relate to Moritz. I really feel for folks on the fringes. :) I am no genius, but I do think of myself as an almost painfully empathetic person. I tend to get absorbed in the struggles of other people, real or fictional. I think this is why one of my writing strengths is slipping into different characters. It's less that I hear their voices so much as become them during their scenes. While I do think I have a natural tendency in this area, it is something that gets easier with practice. I did a lot of theater in high school and I do a lot of cosplaying now, and those things help develop that too! I am so happy you felt less alone with my characters.
Leah Thomas
Alas, while I did write a draft for book three a few years ago, there are no plans to publish it. Forgive me for my evil!
Leah Thomas
E.R!
Although I did draft a third book a few years back, it is a dreadful mess with no publishing prospects at the moment. My next slated book is an unrelated YA S/F novel due out in 2018. Having said that, I love these characters and would welcome the opportunity to return to them, so perhaps only time will tell?
Although I did draft a third book a few years back, it is a dreadful mess with no publishing prospects at the moment. My next slated book is an unrelated YA S/F novel due out in 2018. Having said that, I love these characters and would welcome the opportunity to return to them, so perhaps only time will tell?
Leah Thomas
Heya, Dan!
Unfortunately, no Russian translation looms on the horizon! I really wish I could say yes. :(
Unfortunately, no Russian translation looms on the horizon! I really wish I could say yes. :(
Leah Thomas
Hey, Freya!
You know, before I ever sold book two, I'd already written book three. It remains the single longest draft I've ever written! The working title is If We Part. However, I'm not sure it'll ever see the light of day! It would need a lot of revisions, and frankly my publishers haven't asked for it.
From a personal standpoint, I would love spending more time with Oliver and Moritz, and bringing you all more of their story, and if that came up on the table I'd certainly go for it, even if it meant scrapping the 130,000 words I have and starting fresh. :) Time will tell!
You know, before I ever sold book two, I'd already written book three. It remains the single longest draft I've ever written! The working title is If We Part. However, I'm not sure it'll ever see the light of day! It would need a lot of revisions, and frankly my publishers haven't asked for it.
From a personal standpoint, I would love spending more time with Oliver and Moritz, and bringing you all more of their story, and if that came up on the table I'd certainly go for it, even if it meant scrapping the 130,000 words I have and starting fresh. :) Time will tell!
Leah Thomas
Ceren,
Indeed! It's already written, and due out in February! I received the galleys (early copies) in the mail just last week. :D
Indeed! It's already written, and due out in February! I received the galleys (early copies) in the mail just last week. :D
Leah Thomas
Claire,
Thank you so much! Whenever I hear I've brought more tears into the world, I cackle like a witch. Bahaha. I too am going insane, but maybe not only because of the wait for the sequel.
I'm so glad you asked about Liz! She's very much a mish-mash of my group of friends in high school and, accordingly, very much a Michigander. She's named after those friends, too -- first name and last name. As for her personality -- I get pretty crotchety when people imply that she's not a nice person. She very much is, and she tries very hard to accommodate others, and sometimes that's exhausting and unsustainable. This is something I see in a lot of people I love. (Because here's another fun fact: *MY* parents are both social workers.)
And now thank YOU for being so cool, and waiting two weeks for an answer. :p
Thank you so much! Whenever I hear I've brought more tears into the world, I cackle like a witch. Bahaha. I too am going insane, but maybe not only because of the wait for the sequel.
I'm so glad you asked about Liz! She's very much a mish-mash of my group of friends in high school and, accordingly, very much a Michigander. She's named after those friends, too -- first name and last name. As for her personality -- I get pretty crotchety when people imply that she's not a nice person. She very much is, and she tries very hard to accommodate others, and sometimes that's exhausting and unsustainable. This is something I see in a lot of people I love. (Because here's another fun fact: *MY* parents are both social workers.)
And now thank YOU for being so cool, and waiting two weeks for an answer. :p
Leah Thomas
First of all, Katniss, I want to thank you for your work. Leading a revolution, defending the districts from the evil Capitol, etc. Here's a "GREAT JOB!" sticker for your lapel. XD Don't think about the casualties.
Second of all, YES I HAVE SUCKERED MY LOVELY PUBLISHERS INTO PUBLISHING THE SEQUEL! And it comes out very earrrrly in 2017, if that's any consolation. I don't have an exact date, but word on the street is late January or the first week of February.
Second of all, YES I HAVE SUCKERED MY LOVELY PUBLISHERS INTO PUBLISHING THE SEQUEL! And it comes out very earrrrly in 2017, if that's any consolation. I don't have an exact date, but word on the street is late January or the first week of February.
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