Adam Jay Epstein's Blog, page 6
August 30, 2010
Interview on A Fanatic's Book Blog
Link to the interview here!
1) What inspired you to choose animals as your characters instead of people?
The whole idea of writing about the familiars was born out of the fact that we were interested in telling a traditional fantasy story from a perspective that we had never seen before. Familiars in popular lore had always been sidelined to being assistants and helpers (ie Hedwig in "Harry Potter" or Shadowfax in "Lord of the Rings"). We wanted to see what would happen if they were forced to b...
1) What inspired you to choose animals as your characters instead of people?
The whole idea of writing about the familiars was born out of the fact that we were interested in telling a traditional fantasy story from a perspective that we had never seen before. Familiars in popular lore had always been sidelined to being assistants and helpers (ie Hedwig in "Harry Potter" or Shadowfax in "Lord of the Rings"). We wanted to see what would happen if they were forced to b...
August 27, 2010
A Bunch of Random Things We've Learned Since Getting Published
GUEST POST on The Fiction Enthusiast
It turns out "The Familiars" is not a YA book like we first thought.
It's actually an MG book, or middle grade. We didn't even know there was such a thing. But yes, tween and teen lit are sub-divided into picture books, MG, and YA.
We learned what those Amazon sales rankings actually mean.
And #479,505 is not good.
Naperville, Illinois has a pretty dope hotel.
While on our pre-pub tour we stayed at Naperville's very own Hotel Arista, an ultra-modern, eco-friendl...
It turns out "The Familiars" is not a YA book like we first thought.
It's actually an MG book, or middle grade. We didn't even know there was such a thing. But yes, tween and teen lit are sub-divided into picture books, MG, and YA.
We learned what those Amazon sales rankings actually mean.
And #479,505 is not good.
Naperville, Illinois has a pretty dope hotel.
While on our pre-pub tour we stayed at Naperville's very own Hotel Arista, an ultra-modern, eco-friendl...
August 26, 2010
Autumn 2010 Indie Kids' Next List
See the link on Indiebound!
THE FAMILIARS has been selected by Indie Booksellers for their fall Next List! Thanks for the support :)
THE FAMILIARS has been selected by Indie Booksellers for their fall Next List! Thanks for the support :)
Why We Write MG: "30 Going on 13"
GUEST POST on Forever YA
When we decided to write our first novel, we weren't thinking about who we were writing the book for. We just knew it was a story we wanted to tell. But looking back, it's no surprise that we now find ourselves writing middle grade fiction. The truth is, we are two early 30-something guys going on 13. When Andrew was a seventh grader, he remembers going to see a midnight screening on the opening night of Tim Burton's Batman. Two summers ago, he went to see the midnight...
When we decided to write our first novel, we weren't thinking about who we were writing the book for. We just knew it was a story we wanted to tell. But looking back, it's no surprise that we now find ourselves writing middle grade fiction. The truth is, we are two early 30-something guys going on 13. When Andrew was a seventh grader, he remembers going to see a midnight screening on the opening night of Tim Burton's Batman. Two summers ago, he went to see the midnight...
August 24, 2010
Why I Read Twilight, Watch Gossip Girl, and Listen to Justin Bieber
GUEST POST on Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf
It's research. At least that's what I tell friends and family who ask why I'm reading the Twilight books, or watching the CW, or listening to tween pop music. Yes, I'm a man in my early thirties. I'm married with a kid on the way. But for much of my career I wrote teen comedy movies and for MTV, and now I have transitioned into writing fantasy middle grade fiction. So it's not entirely a stretch when I justify my tendencies toward adolescent entertainme...
It's research. At least that's what I tell friends and family who ask why I'm reading the Twilight books, or watching the CW, or listening to tween pop music. Yes, I'm a man in my early thirties. I'm married with a kid on the way. But for much of my career I wrote teen comedy movies and for MTV, and now I have transitioned into writing fantasy middle grade fiction. So it's not entirely a stretch when I justify my tendencies toward adolescent entertainme...
Describing the Chandelier
GUEST POST on YA Highway
One of the questions we most frequently get asked since becoming authors (after 10 years of screenwriting) is, "What's the difference between writing books and writing for film?" Our answer: the chandelier. As screenwriters you learn that economy is key. It's telling a story with a minimum amount of words. Writing a blueprint that will become richer once it's brought to screen. When writing about an interior location, if you ever find yourself describing the chandelier...
One of the questions we most frequently get asked since becoming authors (after 10 years of screenwriting) is, "What's the difference between writing books and writing for film?" Our answer: the chandelier. As screenwriters you learn that economy is key. It's telling a story with a minimum amount of words. Writing a blueprint that will become richer once it's brought to screen. When writing about an interior location, if you ever find yourself describing the chandelier...
My First Crush: The School Librarian
GUEST POST on Readspace
When I was 9 years old, I remember the thrill of leaving my classroom and heading down the short hallway to the library. My third grade teacher was uninspiring. She was more concerned with organizing her pencils and sucking on lasengers than engaging with her students. But I knew that three times a week, I would be transported away by the energetic words of Mrs. Schwabe, E.M. Baker's school librarian.
Now, I wasn't in love with her — that was reserved for the pig-tailed ...
When I was 9 years old, I remember the thrill of leaving my classroom and heading down the short hallway to the library. My third grade teacher was uninspiring. She was more concerned with organizing her pencils and sucking on lasengers than engaging with her students. But I knew that three times a week, I would be transported away by the energetic words of Mrs. Schwabe, E.M. Baker's school librarian.
Now, I wasn't in love with her — that was reserved for the pig-tailed ...
August 20, 2010
"My Childhood Pet Breathed Fire"
GUEST POST on Manga Maniac Cafe
When I'd walk home from elementary school, there would be a dragon sitting on my shoulder. Not a big one, just a pocket-sized one. Green scales and small red eyes. Wings that looked like a butterfly's. He'd eat the occasional bird or squirrel, and possibly burn the hairs off the back of my neck if he coughed. Yes, when I was 10, I dreamed of having a familiar of my own. I remember some of my friends would pretend that their family dog or cat was magical, but my ...
When I'd walk home from elementary school, there would be a dragon sitting on my shoulder. Not a big one, just a pocket-sized one. Green scales and small red eyes. Wings that looked like a butterfly's. He'd eat the occasional bird or squirrel, and possibly burn the hairs off the back of my neck if he coughed. Yes, when I was 10, I dreamed of having a familiar of my own. I remember some of my friends would pretend that their family dog or cat was magical, but my ...
August 19, 2010
Blog Tour Posts
In case you want to catch up on our tour through the blogosphere (so far), here are the links!
August 5 "Work Husbands" GUEST POST on Katie Talks About Blog
August 9 "Archimedes did it in a Bathtub, We do it in the Shower" GUEST POST on The Children's Book Review
August 10 "Hermione or Bella? Brains vs. Brood" GUEST POST on The Page Turners Blog
August 10 "Working With a Book Editor" GUEST POST on Mindful Musings
August 10 "Adam's Top 5 Fantasy Books" GUEST POST on Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books
Aug...
August 5 "Work Husbands" GUEST POST on Katie Talks About Blog
August 9 "Archimedes did it in a Bathtub, We do it in the Shower" GUEST POST on The Children's Book Review
August 10 "Hermione or Bella? Brains vs. Brood" GUEST POST on The Page Turners Blog
August 10 "Working With a Book Editor" GUEST POST on Mindful Musings
August 10 "Adam's Top 5 Fantasy Books" GUEST POST on Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books
Aug...
The Overnight Illusion
GUEST POST on Tif Talks Books
Here's a story that sounds too good to be true. Two guys write five chapters of a book with a detailed proposal, get a book agent within a month, sell the uncompleted manuscript within two days of going out to publishers, and sell the movie rights the next week. Well, it's sort of true, and sort of a big fat lie. Because what it doesn't mention is the 10 years of rejection and frustration before it. We started writing screenplays when we met during college, and we...
Here's a story that sounds too good to be true. Two guys write five chapters of a book with a detailed proposal, get a book agent within a month, sell the uncompleted manuscript within two days of going out to publishers, and sell the movie rights the next week. Well, it's sort of true, and sort of a big fat lie. Because what it doesn't mention is the 10 years of rejection and frustration before it. We started writing screenplays when we met during college, and we...
