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WOOL Author/ Reader Discussion
Hi Hugh! Love love that you are a fan of the Oxford comma! Seems like there are fewer and fewer of us. :)
Hi Hugh, I was really thrilled to win a signed copy, thanks! And Lori for organising......I really enjoyed the plot, I was so convinced that because it was part of a series the ending would be different. That the world outside the silo was thriving, so to me the ending WAS a twist ..... All the way through you lulled the reader into believing that everyone inside the silo was being duped. I really wanted to believe that Holston would leave and find this perfect world outside that he'd read about as a child, that he and Allison would be together again (must be the soppy romantic in me!). I had to re-read the ending twice to absorb it!
I will definitely be investing in the rest of the series......I want to know what happens......!
Thanks for answering my questions Hugh! That's an interesting insight into the way that stuff works. I'm an Oxford comma man myself, too - it's the closest I ever got to Oxford! But damn it man, you had to go and write a NEW CHAPTER?!? Guess that means I'll be out shopping for a hardback copy this weekend... :0)
Hi Hugh, I got a kick out of the knitting related titles of the Wool books. What was the thought behind that?
Md wrote: "Hi Hugh, I got a kick out of the knitting related titles of the Wool books. What was the thought behind that?"It felt natural after everyone asked why in the world the book was called "Wool" to slip some knitting references in. My mother and sister started a knit store in Charleston, SC and taught me how to knit scarves. And there are all kinds of natural metaphors to explore.
Hi Hugh. Thanks for taking part in this discussion!I absolutely devoured the Wool Omnibus and Shift books. I can't wait for the sequels!
What I loved most about this series are the characters. So, I have to ask, did the plot create the characters, or did the plot grow out of your characters?
Thanks,
~ Shari
Shari wrote: "Hi Hugh. Thanks for taking part in this discussion!So, I have to ask, did the plot create the characters, or did the plot grow out of your characters?"
The plot mostly grew out of the characters. But in some ways, the plot informed the characters to begin with. The silo seems to leave impressions on the people who live there. The stifling nature, the struggle to keep things running, the not knowing what exists beyond the walls. So it works in both ways to some degree. Or maybe, Setting -> Character -> Plot.
Hi Hugh, I have a question! Does writing just come naturally to you or do you get writers block from time to time?
But there was one biggie. Jack Fogg, my editor in the UK, suggested that Marck and Shirly be introduced earlier in the story so the reader has more connection to them at the start of book 5. I loved this idea and wrote an ENTIRE NEW CHAPTER to go into book 2. The way it's blended is so seamless that you wouldn't believe it didn't already exist. It also tells a story about Jules as a kid that fleshes out her character even more. It's now my favorite chapter in the entire book.Ah, the Mark and Shirley bit left me a bit flummoxed I must admit (mentioned in my review) . Maybe I should be an editor?
Not so much a question, more comments but I am very excited to find out ... (view spoiler)
I also really liked the emphasis on how things are used in the silo, the recycling or everything, the way that everything is measured and moderated, even the population.
Anyway Hi Hugh. congratulations, really glad for your success. Not a very original question I know but any movie plans?
It must have been massively surreal to have opened your inbox to find an email from Ridley Scott and congratulations on it! I would loved to have been a fly on the wall for someone's 'moment' like that. Are you a big film fan and if so, what would your top 5 films be? (Horrible question I know, but I am sure you will manage).
Hi Hugh! I've now read 1-4 of the Wool Omnibus, and I have to say: amazing! I am recommending it left, right and center. I took a break before reading number 5, and discovered Tiny Tower (an Ios Game)... and it reminds me of your silo! :D
"12 Monkey's" is one of your all time favorite movies? What are a few other all time favorite movies? Any idea's for a time travel story?
Curious how the idea for the title "wool" developed. Love the series. What was your thought process in deciding on the title?
Anything you can tell us about what 20th Century Fox/Ridley Scott plan on doing with the film rights? I personally think this would work best as a TV series, possibly culminating into a movie with the Shift books..
Hugh wrote: "Tony wrote: "I just saw on Facebook that you're working your way through a huge pile of edits requested by Simon & Schuster. It made me wonder just what kind of changes they felt were necessary, gi..."A whole new chapter? Where can I get my hands on this? Will an update be available for those of us who bought the books on Kindle?
Tina wrote: "A whole new chapter? Where can I get my hands on this? Will an update be available for those of us who bought the books on Kindle? "I read the chapter on video for my blog. I'd have to search YouTube to find it.
Mike wrote: "Anything you can tell us about what 20th Century Fox/Ridley Scott plan on doing with the film rights? I personally think this would work best as a TV series, possibly culminating into a movie with ..."I'll know more next week. I'm flying out to L.A. to meet with the pre-production team. :)
Pam wrote: "Curious how the idea for the title "wool" developed. Love the series. What was your thought process in deciding on the title?"It comes from "Pulling the wool over someone's eyes." And the wool pads used for scrubbing. And "World Order Operation 50" (with L being the Roman numeral for 50). :D
Ted wrote: ""12 Monkey's" is one of your all time favorite movies? What are a few other all time favorite movies? Any idea's for a time travel story?"I shy away from time travel. It's so hard to do well. Go watch "Primer." That movie is BRILLIANT.
Amazon suggested WOOL to me after I finished Slaughterhouse-five. Props to Amazon for turning me on to your books. I've gotten at least 5 of my friends to read it since I read it last month. Anyway, on to my question. Do you plan on doing any book signings? Sure would love a signed copy of one of your books :)
Hugh question, Do you ever get writers block or do your fans help you out with your writing?
Great books Hugh. Looking forward to reading the Shift books as well. I know you have said you have been contacted by Ridley Scott regarding a possible movie based on the books (Congrats!). If they do get picked up or have been already, how much control do you think you will have or want to have creatively over the movie(s)? Which actor do you think would make a great Jules and/or the rest of the major characters?
Hugh wrote: "Mike wrote: "Anything you can tell us about what 20th Century Fox/Ridley Scott plan on doing with the film rights? I personally think this would work best as a TV series, possibly culminating into ..."Awesome, milk hollywood for all their worth man, best of luck
1. Were you surprised that so many readers on Amazon gave Wool I a low rating because they had no idea it was a chapter in a larger work and not meant to stand alone? 2. Not sure where I saw this -- maybe your own site! -- but saw something billed as a trailer. Many people have complained that the silo and the airlock are nothing like they are described in the book. Movies are NEVER entirely like the books upon which they were based. I liked it because it had the feel of Wool; I found it supremely creepy. Have you seen it? Who made it? What did you think of it?
Hey, Hugh, can you tell us about the name. I've heard a lot of folks think maybe "Silo" is a better title than "Wool". :-) Oh, I love that Cass and her review. I really wanted to know if you were going to be in the Midwest anytime soon promoting the book?
Mod
One word of caution:
Due to the volume of participants, before you ask a questions, please quickly review the ones posted before yours... some of the questions (like the one Craig posted directly above mine) have already been asked and answered.
Hugh's time with us is short and he's been doing such a wonderful job keeping up with us. Let's try not to burden him with repeat questions, ok?
But really, guys, I love the enthusiasm and excitement! Keep it up, you're asking all of the questions I've wanted answered to.....
Hello Mr. Howey! I skimmed the questions in to check and see if this has already been asked (and if I missed it I apologize):Can you talk a little bit about your process for designing the world of Wool? I'm in awe of how carefully considered even the smallest details are. To say such work must have been daunting must be a cruel understatement. I would love to hear even a short detail of how you went about this.
I'm home in bed with a bad cold (isn't everybody?) and I know I should Nao but I'm so engrossed in Wool that I can't stop reading! Thanks Hugh and thanks Lori. I won a copy so thank you so much. I just came from a meditation and spirituality retreat and the themes of meaning, life, death, exile, home, community are in my head as I read this book. Looking forward to this discussion. I'm already captivated by the theme of "what is real" --
Oops. I meant I should "nap". Thank you autocorrect :)
I just want to say thank you for your wonderful books. Wool led me to First Shift, which led me to Second Shift which led me to The Walk up Nameless Ridge and now on to Half Way Home. It's refreshing to see someone work so hard on something and have the marketplace recognize its brilliance and respond accordingly. Please don't stop writing because, as one Amazon reviewer so eloquently wrote... I would pay 99 cents to read Hugh Howey's grocery list!
Mod
Let's say you were a member of the Silo. Which level would you be living and working in (so what type of character do you think you'd be)?
Mod
imagine being born in and living in that sort of condition, without ever knowing anything else. Without really knowing what OUTSIDE was. I can't even begin to fathom!
Hugh, Loving the Wool 1-5 series. Sent it to a friend before I finished the omnibus. Looking forward to the other in world works.Could you please comment on the success of serial publishing vs. traditional (i.e. novel length) format and how it connects to the reader (modern or otherwise)? Do you have favorite serials you've read? I just finished Steven King's "The Green Mile" which was an experiment in the format. Are there other notable stories that you enjoyed in the serial format?
Thank you for your time and your words.
I stumbled upon Wool Omnibus on the Amazon/Kindle website under highest rated. I figured with so many 5 star reviews I could take a chance at $3.99. This is one of the most original, interesting, and surprising stories I have ever read. Hugh Howey is not afraid to change things up and that is the kind of author I truly appreciate. I have been telling everyone I know that this is a book that is a "must read." Keep the books coming Hugh. I've also read Halfway Home which is unique as well. I've got The Hurricane on my to read list. Thanks for the great work.
1. In Wool was the sinister IT Dept inspired by any real life encounters with tech support? 2. In Half Way Home, Oliver the Philosopher is one of the lowest ranked members of the colony. What job is ranked #500?
Thanks so much for doing this!
Lori wrote: "So let's mix things up a bit. This is a question for everyone.Let's say you were a member of the Silo. Which level would you be living and working in (so what type of character do you think you'd..."
Unfortunately, in real life, I'm 'stuck in IT' and I suppose I would be in IT in the world of WOOL. I'd be one of the good guys there. I actually discovered WOOL because of another of Hugh's books 'I, Zombie'. Big fan of The Walking Dead, but I digress. I'm now a fan of everything of Hugh's I've read so far. Looking forward to getting into more of it. Also, thanks to Hugh for being so available to his fans. I'm helping my wife get the word out about her writing and his approach is an inspiration to us.
On that subject, Hugh, my wife was told that she needed to get an agent. Did you approach your agent, or did they approach you after you began to have success?
Howdy Hugh,The Question
Did you reach out to local/academic/national libraries in an attempt to "gift" them a copy of your book(s)? If not, is this something you'd like to do?
The Background Stuff
Recently, while discussing my local library’s lack of ebook titles, among them WOOL, by Hugh Howey (awesome, btw), I bemoaned my library’s inability to acquire such a title. Gasp, an independently published ebook by an unsigned author! My friend, a librarian, argued why the library might not have the title, and after some back and forth discussion, she ended the conversation with a simple statement -
“Well, if the library doesn’t have it, go buy it then!”
... there's more on my blog, but that's the gist of it. And for the record, I'm also a librarian type.
Thanks in advance!
Jamie wrote: "Do you plan on doing any book signings? Sure would love a signed copy of one of your books :) "I'm going on a whirlwind tour this year. I have a calendar on my website. In March, I'm going to a dozen or so US cities. And there will be more!
Stephanie wrote: "Hugh question, Do you ever get writers block or do your fans help you out with your writing?"I have a hard time writing sometimes (or I just write utter garbage), but I can usually push through. Fans inspire me with their support, but they don't write for me. I'd hate for anyone to get spoiled by their efforts and realize I'm not all that!
Mary wrote: "If they do get picked up or have been already, how much control do you think you will have or want to have creatively over the movie(s)? Which actor do you think would make a great Jules and/or the rest of the major characters? Hey Mary!
I'm in the airport right now, about to fly to LA to meet with movie people. I don't want to control the project, but I'm happy to offer any advice. I want the experts to be in charge.
I would love to see Natalie Portman or Noomi Rapace as Juliette. :)
Craig wrote: "Hey, Hugh, can you tell us about the name. I've heard a lot of folks think maybe "Silo" is a better title than "Wool". :-) Oh, I love that Cass and her review. I really wanted to know if you wer..."I'll be in the MidWest in March. I love Cass's review (and Cass as well), but so many people have picked up the book because of the odd name. Everything has gone so well that I can't imagine having done anything differently. Knitting groups are reading Wool because of the title! :D
Jill wrote: "I'm home in bed with a bad cold (isn't everybody?) and I know I should Nao but I'm so engrossed in Wool that I can't stop reading! Thanks Hugh and thanks Lori. I won a copy so thank you so much. I..."Thanks, Jill! Please feel better soon!
Raymond wrote: "Howdy Hugh,The Question
Did you reach out to local/academic/national libraries in an attempt to "gift" them a copy of your book(s)? If not, is this something you'd like to do?
The Background S..."
I'm happy to donate an ebook to libraries. It's a lot of work, though, which takes me away from writing and things like this. What I wish I could do is sign an open letter giving every library in the world the right to pirate a copy of Wool to use however they wish! Not sure how that would go over, but I would gladly support it.
Will wrote: "On that subject, Hugh, my wife was told that she needed to get an agent. Did you approach your agent, or did they approach you after you began to have success? "Kristin Nelson came to me. I wrote a while back (over a year ago) that the new model would be authors writing the best material they could and waiting for readers to signify demand, and then the writer would hire the agent and publisher, not the other way around. This was before WOOL took off. I've been living my prediction ever since, and so have numerous others!
Lianna wrote: "1. In Wool was the sinister IT Dept inspired by any real life encounters with tech support? 2. In Half Way Home, Oliver the Philosopher is one of the lowest ranked members of the colony. What job is ranked #500?
"
1. Yes. I used to work in a computer repair center! I saw quite clearly how evil we were!
2. IT
I don't have a question at the moment, but I am enjoying reading all the questions and responses. I really loved the Wool Omnibus and read all 5 in a day! I am looking forward to reading the Shift books next. It's great that you are able to take some time to answer all these questions, Hugh. Thank you for that and best of luck for continued success!
I ordered the Wool omnibus for our library, and then I ordered First Shift. Am I incorrect in reading First Shift as a prequel to the Wool novellas? Since it explains the building of the Silos, I did assume that. Patrons have asked me for the "correct" order for reading your work. I've been saying Wool omnibus (I-V) first, then First Shift, and I just ordered Second Shift. This opportunity to ask the author himself is a wonderful treat; so..having I been advising readers incorrectly? Thank you for taking your time to participate here!
This is great! Thanks for putting this together. Hugh--thanks for taking the time. Your stories are enthralling, and your dedication to your fan base is unparalleled. So again, thank you!
My question: what are some of your favorite books? That is, what books in your experience have provided you with the same sort of excitement that Wool has provided for so many of us?
Can't wait till Third Shift in the coming weeks...
I find it interesting you would like to see Natalie Portman or Noomi Rapace as Juliette. I got a distinct feeling that she had a bit of a tan (despite no sunlight) or naturally darker skin, they are, afterall, the ones assigned to do the "grunt" work down in the lower levels. (This isn't being racist btw, this is a common portrayl as things tend to appear in lit/movies. So please, don't jump down my throat people!)With that said, I had pictured Juliette as the lovely Erica Cerra who played Deputy Jo Lupo on Eureka if the series were destined for Cable (HBO, Showtime, AMC, Etc.) or possibly Michelle Rodriguez for a film adaptation.
Anyways, questions...
On your website, you've got a picture of the poster for Wool. (I love the tag line btw) Is the camera in the upper left corner near the poster a prop or an actual camera? :)
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Hey Tony, great question. The editorial process began with Random House, which resulted in some awesome changes. Now, most of this stuff is grammar and "house style." Publishers aren't fond of the Oxford Comma. I am. There were hundreds of other tweaks like this.
But there was one biggie. Jack Fogg, my editor in the UK, suggested that Marck and Shirly be introduced earlier in the story so the reader has more connection to them at the start of book 5. I loved this idea and wrote an ENTIRE NEW CHAPTER to go into book 2. The way it's blended is so seamless that you wouldn't believe it didn't already exist. It also tells a story about Jules as a kid that fleshes out her character even more. It's now my favorite chapter in the entire book.
With Simon and Schuster, they had a book already edited by Random House!! And still, there were hundreds of small suggestions. I only incorporated the ones I agree with (which was the vast majority). If you read my rough draft of Wool a year ago before it was published and someone else read the S&S book, the two of you could gab about the series and never know there was any difference. Except for that one chapter. :)