Libba’s Comments (group member since Jun 21, 2011)

Libba’s comments from the Ask Libba Bray - Special One-Day-Only Group group.

Mia wrote: "Hellooo, Your Awesome Fabulousness!

I actually have a couple of questions for you if you don't mind.

I've always been curious about the reading group questions found at the end of so many nov..."

Hi Mia. Great questions. The publisher usually hires someone to write up the discussion guides at the back of the books. I think generally they are pretty thoughtful. But truthfully, it's been a loooong time since I looked at the trilogy and I can't remember what was asked! (It's a miracle I remember my address most days...)

As for casting, if they ever made a movie of the GDT, I'd hope they'd cast unknowns as the girls. That would be my wish. But I always imagined Olivia Williams or Jennifer Ehle as Miss Moore. Who do YOU see as the characters?

A question I've always wanted to be asked..."Why is Colin Farrell so in love with you?" A: I don't know. The poor heartbroken dear. ;-)

Thanks.

Dabney wrote: "What do you feel an author owes--if anything--a reader in a book?"

That's a very interesting question, Dabney. I'm kind of tempted to ask you what you think. (You can, in fact, answer if you're so inclined. I'd be curious to know.) I think you get into some dicey territory when you talk about owing a reader something. I think all you can do as a writer is write the best possible story you can. But I suppose if a writer does owe the reader (and him- or herself) anything, it is honesty. Fiction is made up of lies designed to get at the truth of something, and I think writers should do their due diligence in finding whatever that truth is, large or small. Thanks!

Holly wrote: "I thought of more questions. Sorry.
1. Can you TELL US what you're planning next?
2. Have you ever seen the play Once On This Island? (I ask because I was finishing The Sweet Far Thing while on t..."

Wow. Okay. I'll try to tackle what I can.

1. Can you TELL US what you're planning next? / THE DIVINERS, a new supernatural series set in 1920s New York City.

2. Have you ever seen the play Once On This Island? (I ask because I was finishing The Sweet Far Thing while on the plane to a theatre camp where we were putting on the show... The girl turns into a tree at the end. SFT: Katrik turns into the tree. I threw the book across the room and into the wall. The hotel manager came and told me I was causing people to complain. I couldn't stand the parallel between the two. So ironic.) / I have never seen ONCE ON THIS ISLAND. Sorry you got in trouble with the hotel manager. Just tell her/him that at least you aren't Keith Moon.

3. I want to know the workings of your friendship/editing group? with all the big name authors I know--- Scott Westerfield, Cassandra Clare, Holly Black, Maureen Johnson... how did that work? So jealous. / Honestly? We're just friends. Friends like to get together. That's the story, morning glory.

4. Have you ever done any writing based on a really weird dream you've had?/ Yes. But I've never published it.

5. Quick-- the weirdest thing you've ever done in an airport?/ Bought socks?

6. Were you into writing when you were a kid or young adult? Or did the real passion for it come about in your adult life? / I wrote but didn't realize I was doing it. I just did it for fun. My first passion was art followed by music followed by theatre. Clearly, statistics was not going to be my life path.

7. A book you absolutely hate? / Hmm, well sometimes I hate people's interpretations of books like the Bible, especially when those interpretations are then used to justify hatred, violence, bigotry and oppression. But I can't think of any actual books I hate.

8. If you were an animal, what would it be? / I want to say something cool like a wolf. But I'll bet I'm something dorky like a platypus.

9. Does Miss New Mexico ever get the tray out of her forehead? / What do you think? (You're the reader; you get to decide.)

10. ... And does Taylor Rene Krystal Hawkins get that bullet wound fixed up? Because it'd be real easy for that to get infected, and therefore die of on the island. And, honestly, that'd be a pretty pathetic ending to one of my favorite nutters. / I like that your Gonzo-esque neurosis/worrying is in line with mine. I'm guessing if anybody knows about proper wound care, it's Miss Texas.

11. Would you ever consider letting your fans read/posting on your livejournal early versions of your books or deleted scenes? I think many of us would really enjoy it. Really, really enjoy it. / I have posted deleted scenes before and will probably post some BQ outtakes soon. Stay tuned.

12. Do people recognized you on the street? / You mean like my neighbors and the folks at 7-11? Yes. If you mean strangers, then no. I move in the shadows like a ninja.

13. If you weren't a writer, and you could be anything else in the world, what would you like to be? / A singer-songwriter.

14. Am I going to get in trouble for asking so many questions? / There is no penalty box on Goodreads that I know of. You're good.

Holly wrote: "Libba! I love you and your craziness so insanely much :) I just found the videos on youtube with Maureen Johnson and nearly died, thank you very much. Anyways, I just finished Beauty Queens (and th..."

Hi Holly! Ah. So you found the MJ & Libba videos and LIVED TO TELL THE TALE! You are made of brave, brave stuff, my friend. Beauty Queens came about in a very different fashion from any of my other books in that the germ of the idea came from David Levithan. Years ago, he took me to lunch and said, "A colleague and I have an idea for a book and we want you to write it: A plane load of teen beauty queens crash on an island. What can you do with that?" The answer is BEAUTY QUEENS.

But I think it illustrates that the idea you start with is rarely the place you end up. Thanks!

Erika wrote: "Hi Libba,

While reading the Gemma Doyle trilogy I noticed that they just kept getting longer and longer! I was wondering if you could tell us a bit about your editing process and how you decide ho..."

LOL. That's a kind way of putting it, Erika. Those books are freaking door stoppers! Seriously, you could get an upper body workout just trying to lift TSFT. I probably should have stretched the story out over four books, but I had no idea it would the story would take me in so many different directions or that it would need so much room to tell. I didn't map it out beforehand. So suddenly, the last book came along and I went, "OMG! I have so many ends to tie up and so many stories still to tell.." But alas, I needed to pull it all together. Pity my poor editor who had to try to whittle the last book down from its original 900+ pages. I still think poor Wendy (my wonderful editor on the Gemma books) deserves to have her own island.

Thanks!

Allison wrote: "Going Bovine has some incredible themes running through it - it's deep, entertaining, and told from a teenage boy's perspective, the latter of which makes it incredibly different from your other bo..."

Hi Allison. Okay, will it freak you out if I say that GOING BOVINE was completely IN my comfort zone? ;-) The joke is that when the Gemma books came out, all my close friends went, "Wha?" They had no idea I was into that sort of thing. (I am.) But when GB came out, they all went, "Oh, yeah. This makes total sense," and all the readers of the Gemma books went, "Wha?" Honestly, Bovine comes closest to the way my brain works most of the time. Which is a deeply troubling thought.

As for why I chose mad cow disease, it was because I had known of someone who died from it, and his story haunted me for years. And when I read more about the disease, I discovered that it often goes misdiagnosed for some time because the symptoms can mimic things like psychological disturbances or drug use, which worked for the story as well. It's a terrible, terrible disease.

Thanks for your questions, Allison.

Victoria wrote: "Hey!
I just wanted to say how much I love your books! i mean the Gemma Doyle series is one of the best series I have ever read! It had everything you could possibly want in a book, I just want to ..."

Hi Victoria. You are not alone in wanting a happy ending. Many readers felt that way. I answered their questions (and offered tissues) in this blog post from 2007. I hope it answers your question for you. Thanks! http://libba-bray.livejournal.com/278...

Catalina wrote: "Hi Libba. I really like your books.
I just have two questions:
What inspires you to write?
Any advice for aspiring writers?"

Hey Catalina--scroll through for the answers to these questions in other posts. Thanks!

Casey wrote: "Hey there Libba, I absolutely LOVE you and your books! You are my favorite author of all time. I really enjoy how kooky and witty you are and how you don't let anything get in the way of your writi..."

Hey Casey.
Um, thank you for this: "Or is it because if you did anything else your unusualness would be awkward?" I am laughing out loud. My unusualness has frequently been awkward, so it is probably good that I am shut off from society most days, hunkered over my computer with only the cats to shudder at my oddness. LOL.

Why do I write? I can't imagine doing anything else. Even when I worked about 10 jobs and tried to find whatever time I could to write, I kept at it, because I love it. I love story. I love what story can do, how it can connect people, how it can make sense of the world even in the most absurd of tales. I am very lucky to be able to do what I love for a living.

Would I ever write a sci-fi? Man, I'd love to have the mad skillz to write a quality sci-fi, but I'm not sure I have that. I suppose I have written "speculative fiction," but I'm never really sure where the lines are, to be honest. (Maybe that's the point. There are no lines.) Anyway, I do have a "speculative" story coming in a new steampunk anthology called STEAMPUNK! An Anthology of Fantastically Rich and Strange Stories, edited by the fabulous Kelly Link & Gavin Grant, which will be out in October.

Alien Porno is going on my band name list.

Thanks for your questions.

Sariah Rose wrote: "Hi Libba Bray,
I don't really have any questions, but I just want you to know how deeply infatuated I am with you and your books. You're such an inspiration to me, your words move me breathless. Yo..."

Aww, shucks. Thanks so much.

Amanda wrote: "Good evening,
I'd like to start by saying that I thoroughly loved the Gemma Doyle trilogy. I love reading novels where there is a female protagonist leading the whole story. It isn't very often you..."

Hey Amanda. Awesome questions. Well, the first thing is to make your novel the best it can be. I know that sounds simplistic but it's true. It's the one thing you have the most control over, y'know? Then you should look for an agent. I often recommend reading the acknowledgments pages of authors whose work you like and seeing who their agents are. (Writers almost always thank their agents.) Then look those agents up on the Interwebs and see if you think you might like them or they might be a good fit for your work and find out if they are accepting new writers and what their submission policies are. Then--and this is important--FOLLOW THEM TO THE LETTER. If an agent says, "Please only submit via email and do NOT submit a full manuscript," then don't snail mail them your 1,000-page opus. You'll only earn a spot in the trash can.

There are tons of contests out there, and those are well worth entering. Again, do some research--most publishing houses have them. If you're interested in writing children's/YA, I would heartily recommend joining SCBWI, the Society for Children's Book Writers & Illustrators. They have chapters all over the country, and they have fantastic resources and conferences.

Hope this helps. And good luck!

Shadow wrote: "What was your hardest obstacle/struggle that you had to overcome to pursue your career as an author?"

Self-doubt.

Rachel wrote: "your gemma doyle series was amazing, im so excited to read beauty queens and i also enjoyed going bovine: it made me laugh. i was wondering what you picture to be the final stage of the relationshi..."

Hey Rachel--you are 100% right: I left it open for readers to interpret. *walks away quietly and shuts the doors* :)

Julia wrote: "I've read all your books. Each time I am about to begin a new one, I think she can't possibly compete with herself and top the last one. But everytime you do! Thanks so much for your varied output!..."

Hi Julia! Thanks so much --and thanks for being a teacher. Teachers rock. Did I have a response to the WSJ piece? Oh boy, did I. Actually, the night it all went down on Twitter, I responded immediately. Here is a link to what I said: http://storify.com/wsj/books-are-at-t...

Now, wouldn't it be nice if the WSJ offered a rebuttal to someone like Maureen Johnson or Laurie Halse Anderson or Cheryl Rainfield? Better yet, wouldn't it be great if they talked to teens? Just a thought. Thanks.

Javier wrote: "Hi,
I read your Gemma Doyle Series and I know that that book is not your real genre but I was wondering if you were planning to make another Gemma like series?

Thanks :)"

Hey Javier, actually, I love me all kinds of genres! I'd like to write in most of them. And yes, I've got a new historical supernatural series coming out next fall. It's called THE DIVINERS, and, like the Gemma Doyle Trilogy, it's a mix of horror, creepy, history, adventure, romance, and mystery. All those things I enjoy. Thanks.

Aden wrote: "Hello writer that has made me cry because of your Gemma Doyle series,

I love your stories and for one thing I am here ask you some questions.

First question: What is the best place to get id..."

Hey Aden, I think ideas are all around us. You just have to grab the one that speaks to you and makes you want to know more. The worst book of all time? Wow. See, I have so little time that I tend to read only books I enjoy, so I don't have an answer. And last but not least, orange tree. Although if there's a coffee ice cream tree, I choose that. Thanks!

Crys wrote: "Hey Libba! Thanks for taking time to answer all of our questions. Wow - a lot of great questions on here. I think someone may have asked mine, but here we go.

#1 - When I read Beauty Queens, I hat..."

Hey Chrys. How cool that you will be at the DBF. I will see you there! Also, teachers and librarians rock. (My mom was a HS English teacher.) Okay, on to your questions:

#1 - When I read Beauty Queens, I hated Taylor at the beginning but loved her in the end. Which of the characters from that book was your favorite to create and write?
Taylor, definitely. She surprised me, too. Plus, that woman can kick some serious ass.

#2 - As everyone else stated, Gemma Doyle is an amazing trilogy. Looking back, what is one thing you would change about Gemma as a character?
Probably, but I can't think of what that might be right now. :)

#3 - I see that you network with a lot of other YA novelists. Of those writers, who seems to give you the toughest critique? Who's the cupcake of the group?
The toughest is Justine Larbalestier, and I love her for it. The cupcake? Well, I don't think anybody's a cupcake. They all give very good, solid critique but they also give praise. But if I were feeling raw and icky about something, I'd probably phone Jo Knowles first for a verbal hug.

#4 - favorite pizza topping? Cheese. I am simple. But only with pizza.

#5 - Your plan crashes on a deserted island. What are three books you must have with you? Guide to Edible Plants. How To Get Your Ass Off a Deserted Island for Dummies. The Hotel New Hampshire.

Christine wrote: "Hello! I just want to say that I really love your A Great and Terrible Beauty Trilogy. Ever since I read it, it has been my favorite. :)
I just want to know if you're planning on continuing Gemma ..."

Yikes, sorry, Christine. I missed your question. I've answered it on page one. Just scroll through for the answers, thanks.

Christine wrote: "Hello! I just want to say that I really love your A Great and Terrible Beauty Trilogy. Ever since I read it, it has been my favorite. :)
I just want to know if you're planning on continuing Gemma ..."

Thanks so much! :)

Vivianne wrote: "Hi, I've read the Gemma Doyle series and have a few questions.

How did you come up with everything?

What gave you the idea for the book?

Did you do some major changes in the book before you pu..."

Hi Vivianne. Thanks for your questions. If you scroll back a ways, you'll find some of the answers you're looking for. As for whether I made some major changes to the book, the answer is yes! In the first draft of AGATB, Gemma had a cousin named Jane who was in an abusive marriage, and Tom was madly in love with her. She figured into the plot much more but it just didn't work with the book. Also, believe it or not, Mary Dowd's diary was NOT in the first draft! Crazy, right? That came about in the revision. This is why I say that revision is so important to me. Sometimes, I just don't get the whole picture until the second or third or fourth draft.

Great question, thanks!