Marita’s Comments (group member since Nov 02, 2011)

Marita’s comments from the Q&A with Marita A. Hansen group.

With Graffiti Heaven published now, I can finally get back to Behind the Tears. And, for anyone that has read both Behind the Hood and Graffiti Heaven, don't worry, Tiana is not out of the picture. Stay tuned! Beth has big trouble on her hands.

Raven wrote: "Is this really urban fiction??"

My first book Behind the Hood (a hood book) is pure urban fiction, while Graffiti Heaven is Edgy YA, but has elements of urban fiction as it's connected to Behind the Hood (just set 10 years prior). Though, it's not pure urban fiction because, unlike Behind the Hood, it is toned for it's YA audience - not as explicit or as violent. But, it still deals with controversial topics, because it has a lot of the same themes: sex, drugs and violence. Though, it's for older teens and up (not under 15). I suppose the closest thing you can relate it to is the British version of Skins (second generation). I write about the same place in both books, which I was told was the worst neighbourhood in New Zealand. I didn't know that when I lived there, only found out after I'd moved.

Anyway, if you're unsure about whether they fit urban fiction there are free samples of both of my books on my blog. Here is the link for Behind the Hood: http://maritaahansen.blogspot.com/201...
and here is the link for Graffiti Heaven: http://maritaahansen.blogspot.com/
They also have samples on Amazon with the look in feature.

Cheers, Marita.

:)

It just got a medal today on Authonomy, so I will be getting a HarperCollins review too :O

Denna wrote: "Yah! I'll be first over to get a copy. :) I've been waiting a while for a second novel from you."

Cool, hope you like it :) It's different from Behind the Hood. Not as harsh, plus it has humour in it.

The ebook has just been published. Amazon made it available today.

Denna wrote: "Great news, can't wait to read it. :)"

Thanks, Denna :)

Looks like "Graffiti Heaven" is getting published on time. The ebook version is due out next week, by August 1, while the paperback is coming out at the end of August.

Damn! Facing a dilemma with Behind the Pain. Looks like the cover and title are going to be changed, plus some elements to the story. Because it's a work in progress and not due to be published until August of this year the title may end up being called "Behind the Words" and with one of the Rata brothers on the front instead of the guy with the tattooed face. Though, I'm not letting the Behind the Pain cover go to waste as that book will still go ahead just with a different storyline. The reason for the cover and title change is because the book is looking more like it's turning into an edgy YA read due to the characters of Ash and Dante Rata. Stress! Just want to get onto book 3 as that storyline is mostly sorted and is so much easier to write.

Melinda wrote: "Avo for afternoon, in high school they said it was arvo. Haha kiwis have butchered the heck out of some words. If people doubt that some kiwis speak like that then go check out police 10/7 on youtube."

I tend to use avo, but I checked just in case I was wrong, because I do have a habit of mucking things up :) Anyway, the great Lord and Master Google had both arvo and avo being used, so not sure which is right. The urban dictionary was one of the places that had both.

Behind the Hood is now free to borrow for Prime members on Kindle. Check it out here:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_nos...

If you guys have any books that are for loan on Amazon's new library program pop it in this thread.

Debbie wrote: "Hope you take your own advice! And anyone who can create the world and characters in Behind the Hood should need no outside advice on the events leading up to it.....just do your thing.....your rea..."

Thanks, Debbie :) It's good to get support like yours as I'm just having one of those days where I should've stayed in bed.

By Yourself.
Currently I am writing "Behind the Pain" the prequel for "Behind the Hood." And right now I'm going through a stage wondering whether it is all worth it due to certain circumstances. Off course I will soldier on and publish it as I'm obligated to now, plus I love writing about these characters. But, often as a self-published author I feel stranded, by myself without anyone telling me that I'm doing the right thing with my stories. I'm sure many other writers feel the same way. Yes, there are sites like youwriteon.com and authonomy.com that can connect you to other writers who can help, but those sites can often confuse you when some people say everything is great and then you get a couple that chop down your confidence telling you the opposite. And often the people that chop you down don't give you a proper reason why, just give you a bad rating, but fail to point out the areas why it got this mark. And when they add that the story is well-written, you're left scratching your head and saying, "What the hell?" And, it's not just these sites that may confuse writers, because I've seen many books (even famous ones) getting 5 star reviews, which are set in such stark contrast to a bunch of 1 star reviews.

Of course everyone has different tastes, but still, how do you progress in a story when you're unsure if you're going down the right track? I'm lucky in relation to one thing: I have found a person, a fellow writer that I trust to be utterly honest with me. She read my first draft of "Behind the Pain" (the first 3 chapters) and said it was too similar to "Behind the Hood," so I rewrote it and the second version she liked, saying it was different enough to distinguish it from the first book.

Therefore, as a writer I think the most important thing is to find that one person who you know will be utterly honest with you, and not spin you a line of rubbish. Because, believe me, I have come across people that will tell you how wonderful something is just to save your feelings. But, those people don't realise that they are only doing your writing career damage and wasting your time.

Anyway, writers keep going and don't give up. I know it can be hard at times, but hopefully one day it'll all be worth it.

Debbie wrote: "Well said! I have sometimes felt frustrated when US group members criticise the English forms of....well.....English! Hullo......it's called English because!"

That's funny :)

Both past and present, I've had people who have read my drafts telling me that I use UK, US, and New Zealand (Maori included) sayings and ways of speaking in my dialogue. Then they say it doesn't sound right. Make up your mind woman, choose one or the other! And it usually comes from people in either the United Kingdom or the Unites States that comment on this. My initial reaction is always frustration, because I clearly state that my books are about New Zealanders, and since I'm a New Zealander I would know how my fellow countrymen (and me!) would speak. Right! Nope, apparently not because I still get people telling me that it doesn't ring true. But, unfortunately for me (as I'm the one getting the comments) the reviewers are wrong, because I only write what I know and have heard around me. And, with my Behind the Lives series, which is set in South Auckland, the American sayings will be even more abundant as the US media saturates what we watch in this sector of New Zealand society. And because New Zealand is a British colony, it goes without saying that we will also use their words as well.


1 Assuming you know a culture:

*The real definition of assume: "Making an 'ASS' out of 'U' and 'ME.'"

What I'm getting at here is how people view different cultures. A lot of it is assumption and when the author from a particular country writes something that goes against the reader's perception of what that country is like they automatically assume the author is wrong. I remember my husband telling me about an interview with a South African author and how he regularly gets told that he doesn't write South African enough. And the comments have all come from foreigners.


2 The Internet and other media:

I'm going to do a bit of assuming here, so hopefully I won't make an arse (NZ spelling) out of myself :) With Hollywood taking over the world (not the governments) as well as Google, Yahoo, and every other search engine, it goes without saying that it will affect how some people speak. It has me, because I might say the word pub (English) and it scared the living shit outta me (which I've been told is a US saying when people read my stories) and cuz (the New Zealand slang word for cousin) all in the same sentence.


"Last night after coming home from the pub this big mof&*%er scared the living shit outta me when he pulled a knife on my cuz..."

Did I really say that? Nope, I'm a good girl ... well, my parents think so. And my parents don't lie. But, I have heard people talk like this in South Auckland, and as I said I use the above words, minus the mof&*%er because I'm a good girl. Anyway, mofo is easier :)


3 New Zealanders are notorious for butchering language / shortening words.

And so are Australians. And don't contradict me Aussies, because I've heard enough Gazzas, Bazzas, and Shazzas to last me a life time ;)


So, if you're reading a New Zealand (or Australian) story you may get a little confused sometimes, because if we're trying to correctly portray our country there are bound to be some bastard words in there. Hopefully, the sentence you're reading in either my book, or some other Kiwi's, will make sense, but if it doesn't the author may sometimes put in a glossary.

Here are some commonly butchered words from New Zealand:

Afternoon = Avo.
Present = Pressie.
or Christmas presents = Crissy pressies.
Barbecue = Barbie.
Chicken = Chook.
Cup of tea = Cuppa.
Elastic strap (as in Bungy Jumping) = Bungy.
Full / overflowing = Chocka.
Good Day, sir = G'day, mate.
New Zealander = Kiwi (And not the fruit! That's called a Kiwifruit in New Zealand).
Sunglasses = Sunnies.
Take a quick look = Squiz.

And so forth...


In conclusion: If you're reading about a different country put your assumptions aside and give the author (who was born and bred in the country they are writing about) the benefit of your doubt.


Cheers!

June wrote: "Amazing! I'm in awe over your talent... I've shown your work to my 16yr old son who is studying graphic art and he is also very impressed..."

I used to be a graphic artist before computers took over the field. You can find some of my other artworks on this site http://www.artslant.com/global/artist...

Here's Nike Daniels from Behind the Hood

Debbie wrote: "Cos you thought you were in trouble? ;-)"

lol, the "Maia smile."

Got told by my husband that my book shocked someone today. They were Singaporean. Guess they didn't realise there were parts of New Zealand like this. The comment actually made me smile. Don't ask me why, it just did.

Angela, I forgot to say. The guy on the cover of book 2, Behind the Pain (the prequel), is Tane Rata, Ash and Dante's father.

Angela wrote: "I want you to draw a picture of Nike. Pleaasssse :) He's my favourite. And since you've done Tama on the cover and Maia, it's got to be Nike's turn now. Then you can do the two oldest Rata brothers..."

Yes, Ma'am. Lol. Nike is proving to be a problem. I have an image I want to use, but it isn't the right pose or expression, so I have to do some more referencing, then combine them so I can do the sketch. But, I have found the right images for Mikey and Jess, and possibly Ash and Dante Rata (just deciding whether those two should be drawn together as they look so much alike). However, I want to hold off a little on those drawings since Nike really should be drawn first. I'll see.