Hazel Edwards's Blog - Posts Tagged "ryan-kennedy"

Ever watched the film after reading the book? And felt vaguely cheated by the lack of explanation of the inner motivation but enjoyed the setting or the action more?

I watched the second film version of The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo' and felt it lacked the complex 'reasons'the book had supplied within the plot and characterisation. But the Scandinavian icy setting was so well evoked.

That's my 'reader' reaction.

As an author, when my books go into other mediums like picture book apps, film , audio or documentaries, I prefer to choose good people and let them create appropriately for that medium. Theirs is a re-Creation.
A new artwork.

Usually they add wonderfully to the original. The 'Feymouse' picture book apps is vibrant, Pocket Bonfire's 'There's a Hippopotamus on our Roof Eating Cake' short film is quirky and I'm looking forward to the Kailash Studio documentary on reactions to our controversial 'f2m:the boy within' about transitioning gender.

And then there are issues with e-books for some readers who insist that the print version is superior. No, just different.

'That's me in your novel!'

Compliment?

There are dangers in writing too close to home or the loves in your life. Circumstances change.

I don't think I'd ever be brave enough to try autobiography.'Auto' is the writer's version of events,often with dramatic licence.Occasionally it's chronological boredom.That's a danger too

When interviewed, many writers explain where they got their ideas BUT candid revelations might be dangerous.

Danger No 1. Identification

Ironically readers often assume they are the 'nasty' characters. And complain? Or sue?
Occasionally they assume they are the hero.

Danger No 2 Misunderstood Process

If it's a novel, it's fiction.
If it's a history, it must be facts.
If it's faction, the setting and time may be accurate but the characters are composites, dramatically enhanced to retain story interest.

That's an option I suggest to those attempting to write their own family histories.

But faction cannot be called a history.

However it might be a less dangerous course.

So how honest is appropriate if writing about your relatives?

As a reader ,I enjoy lazy learning from concentrated fiction, even more than non-fiction. And as an author I enjoy learning about a new setting or culture via research for a novel.

Ever wanted to ask questions of an author? Or get information to extend your knowledge of the background of the novel?

Sometimes a book can provoke strong reactions. Or in our case, it is the gender subject, not our handling of the story, which is controversial.
Our co-authored 'f2m:the boy within' is a coming of age YA novel, but because it deals with transitioning gender, and my co-author Ryan is an ftm(female to male), many readers have questions. Some are fearful of a subject about which they know little, and censor reading of the novel.

As co- authors we've been interviewed in a documentary by Kailash Studios on varied reactions to our book. Currently the doco is being edited.

It's been a significant experience to have a thoughtful interviewer ask on screen, the accumulation of three years of common and uncommon reader questions, since the book's publication. Along the way we picked up an international White Ravens award, and grateful readers who share the book with their families but also some censorship from groups who have not read the book but condemn it on the subject.

So this doco is a way of answering directly and thoughtfully.

f2m;the boy within