Ask the Author: Ben Farrell
Answered Questions (3)
Ben Farrell
Leah! Thank you for all the kind words! It means so much that you enjoyed The Unseen as much as you did! After all the years of writing, rewriting, editing, editing and editing...well, "wonderful" is the closest word that approximates how it feels to have it out there in the wild!
The kids are amalgamations of numerous people I've known over the years. Most directly, Colman and Maeve are more interesting/cooler versions of us...well actually just me, my sister is pretty much as interesting as Maeve! What they accomplish in the backcountry is what I saw my students do in the backcountry (minus George of course), they saved my butt out more there than once!
I wanted this story to have kids doing heroic things without having to be superheroes. I wanted them to be in extraordinary situations and find a way to help save the day.
Thanks for the question! And, thank you again for taking the time to read The Unseen. Take care.
The kids are amalgamations of numerous people I've known over the years. Most directly, Colman and Maeve are more interesting/cooler versions of us...well actually just me, my sister is pretty much as interesting as Maeve! What they accomplish in the backcountry is what I saw my students do in the backcountry (minus George of course), they saved my butt out more there than once!
I wanted this story to have kids doing heroic things without having to be superheroes. I wanted them to be in extraordinary situations and find a way to help save the day.
Thanks for the question! And, thank you again for taking the time to read The Unseen. Take care.
Ben Farrell
Thanks for the question! As someone who still considers himself very much in the category of "aspiring writer", I would say just a few things. Write, write and then keep writing. For my novel THE UNSEEN, I've essentially written two full novels to get to where I am right now. I could see all the other tens of thousands of words as a waste but I actually view them as part of the journey. When I needed them, they were my comfort. They allowed me to better understand my characters and the world I'm trying to build and (hopefully!) they made me a better writer. It has taken me years to get to this point but I don't think I would change a thing if I could.
Actually, that's not entirely true. I would have fought the fear that I had and started writing in my twenties. There are stories in all of us but I let myself believe that I wasn't good enough to let mine out. And hey, maybe I'm not, but I know that I need to write, it's a part of who I am, especially when I'm my best self.
I hope that makes sense! Thanks again for the question!
Actually, that's not entirely true. I would have fought the fear that I had and started writing in my twenties. There are stories in all of us but I let myself believe that I wasn't good enough to let mine out. And hey, maybe I'm not, but I know that I need to write, it's a part of who I am, especially when I'm my best self.
I hope that makes sense! Thanks again for the question!
Ben Farrell
That is a heck of a question! I have a fairly good idea of where I see the next two books going and I have written the first chapter of the second book...so we'll see how much I can get done this summer and fall! I'd love to have to ready by next winter!
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