Sophie
asked
Victoria Laurie:
"When" is my favorite book ever <3 THANK YOU so much for writing it!!!! It's so sad you won't be writing a sequel though :( I have one question. How did you get inspiration to create Maddie Fynn? I really love the concept and the plot! ITS JUST PERFECT!
Victoria Laurie
Hi Sophie! *waves*
I LOVE your enthusiasm, girl! What an awesome post you've totally delighted me with today! And thank you so much for your kind words about When. It was a labor of love, and I'm really touched that you enjoyed it so thoroughly.
Maddie's character is largely based on me as a teenager. She shares many of my own sixteen-year-old traits - the shyness, the introverted nature, the inability to really grasp the magnitude of all the things happening around her. I was bullied as a kid, both at home and at school, and one of my parents was an alcoholic. I was also "burdened", if you will, by an intuitive talent that I greatly feared and didn't really understand and which made me even more of a target. Rather grim stuff to pull from, I know. ;)
Maddie's ability to see death dates is also very loosely based on my own experiences. Several years ago my best friend's father-in-law was dying of bone cancer. Things were very, very hard for the family, because he was suffering a great deal. She asked me when I thought he would pass as she wanted to prepare and be strong for everyone who loved him who would be crushed by his passing. I told her it would be close to the holidays. He died in early January. After that experience, I thought a lot about creating a scenario where someone would have a unique "gift" to pinpoint the exact date that someone would die. The concept intrigued me enough to play around with an idea for a thriller, and I outlined the whole story several years before I had the time to actually write When.
And one last bit of trivia for you, Maddie's name was taken directly from a young lady I once worked with, who's actual name is Maddie Fynn. I thought it the absolute PERFECT character name, and had to wait a few years to be able to use it.
And that's the story of how Maddie came to be! Again, thank you so much for your lovely post and your question. :)
I LOVE your enthusiasm, girl! What an awesome post you've totally delighted me with today! And thank you so much for your kind words about When. It was a labor of love, and I'm really touched that you enjoyed it so thoroughly.
Maddie's character is largely based on me as a teenager. She shares many of my own sixteen-year-old traits - the shyness, the introverted nature, the inability to really grasp the magnitude of all the things happening around her. I was bullied as a kid, both at home and at school, and one of my parents was an alcoholic. I was also "burdened", if you will, by an intuitive talent that I greatly feared and didn't really understand and which made me even more of a target. Rather grim stuff to pull from, I know. ;)
Maddie's ability to see death dates is also very loosely based on my own experiences. Several years ago my best friend's father-in-law was dying of bone cancer. Things were very, very hard for the family, because he was suffering a great deal. She asked me when I thought he would pass as she wanted to prepare and be strong for everyone who loved him who would be crushed by his passing. I told her it would be close to the holidays. He died in early January. After that experience, I thought a lot about creating a scenario where someone would have a unique "gift" to pinpoint the exact date that someone would die. The concept intrigued me enough to play around with an idea for a thriller, and I outlined the whole story several years before I had the time to actually write When.
And one last bit of trivia for you, Maddie's name was taken directly from a young lady I once worked with, who's actual name is Maddie Fynn. I thought it the absolute PERFECT character name, and had to wait a few years to be able to use it.
And that's the story of how Maddie came to be! Again, thank you so much for your lovely post and your question. :)
More Answered Questions
zyneb
asked
Victoria Laurie:
Hi Victoria, I'am a huge fan of you books, literally once i start one i cannot put it down and I've always admired your work and dedication to your books. I was wondering if you could let all of us know, what is one book that had some sort of impact on your life aswell as writing ? Thanks , Zyneb
A Goodreads user
asked
Victoria Laurie:
I just finished reading an advanced copy of Death Date and loved it. I was so shocked at the end. Will you be writing more young adult mystery novels?
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