Mattie Grace asked Lisa McMann:

Ok... So like a few other questions people have asked my heart is also shattered after Dragon Bones. If you're so sorry about the ending, why? Why would you do that? I know you probably can't actually answer that so I guess my question is... Is is hard as an author to write in the death of a character you've been working with for years?

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)[Hello to you and all the others with this question. Please note there are SPOILERS in this answer so if you don't want to know, stop reading. :)

Every death is hard to write and this particular one was the hardest because of how well I know him and what he means to me. Not to mention his deep relationships and what it means for the ones he left behind.

It feels like we know them in real life, doesn't it? And it is heartbreaking when they die. When I said I was sorry about the ending, I meant it--I'm sorry for how it hurts my readers. It was painful for me, too, especially knowing this was coming.

But that doesn't mean I'm sorry I wrote it that way. I'm not. That tragedy was supposed to happen, and writing it was terribly hard, but it was right--I knew it, I could feel it. It's hard to explain, but stories come from the gut. Sometimes writers have to write things that are shocking and painful. If we didn't, our stories and characters wouldn't be as meaningful.

The characters of Artimé have been through so many battles. I think everyone probably agrees that it wouldn't be realistic if they all made it through every time. And Alex has made it through a lot of bad situations over the years. If you think back about Queen Eagala/Revinir, she has always had a vendetta against Alex ever since he rescued Samheed and Lani back in Island of Silence. In a fair fight, when both of them know what the situation is, I think Alex could have held his own against the Revinir, despite her growing power. But this was an ambush situation. It was an unfair fight. And casualties happen in situations like that.

This time it was Alex. I cried through writing it. The moment after I wrote the rough draft of that scene I was tempted to go back and change it. I knew I had the power to do that. I knew the scene would be sad for my readers. But changing it back would've been taking the easy way out. It wouldn't have been authentic, and if there's anything a writer wants, it is authenticity to the story. The way things played out was the right way to tell it.

I want to thank all of you for caring so much for these characters. I understand your reactions. I hope you will stick with me and the rest of the characters, and grieve along with us as we all try to pick up the pieces and continue with the quest. I think you will find hope in the other characters' stories, as well as even more heart-stopping adventure.

Much love and respect,

Lisa McMann

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