Jonathan Maberry (Author of the Benny Imura series) Q&A Event--June 22-25th

[Karen’s Library]

How much input did you get on the covers of the Rot & Ruin series? They're probably the creepiest covers I've ever seen!

[Karen’s Library]

So excited that you may be continuing the Rot & Ruin series!! What ideas are brewing? Are you continuing with Benny, Nix and the gang, or new characters?

[Jonathan]

Karen wrote: "How much input did you get on the covers of the Rot & Ruin series? They're probably the creepiest covers I've ever seen!"

I discuss the covers, but so far none of my ideas have made it onto the cover. Laurent Linn, the art director for Simon & Schuster, is pretty amazing. I've made some suggestions for elements and cropping, and that's happened.

[Jonathan]

Karen wrote: "So excited that you may be continuing the Rot & Ruin series!! What ideas are brewing? Are you continuing with Benny, Nix and the gang, or new characters?"

If I do another series it will likely focus on Benny and his friends going across country with the cure --and getting in trouble because there are different kinds of zombies and other biological threats, including wild animals and all sorts of mutations. Another possibility would be a story told featuring a different set of kids in an area that has had no contact at all The American Nation. And I have other possibilities i may want to explore.

[Karen’s Library]

Jonathan wrote: "Karen wrote: "So excited that you may be continuing the Rot & Ruin series!! What ideas are brewing? Are you continuing with Benny, Nix and the gang, or new characters?"

If I do another series it ..."

Serious *grabby hands* right now, Jonathan! Plleeaasseee make that happen!!

[Donna]

Such a good job on the Benny character. When i started reading I almost gave up because I disliked the little brat so much. And you did such a good job showing his growth into a young man and a leader. Loved this series. Will always read more. So I guess no questions, just praise.

[Jonathan]

Donna wrote: "Such a good job on the Benny character. When i started reading I almost gave up because I disliked the little brat so much. And you did such a good job showing his growth into a young man and a lea..."

Yeah, Benny is definitely not very likable at the outset. But that's true of many damaged people. You have to get behind the thorns to see the rose, so to speak

[Donna]

Jonathan wrote: "Donna wrote: "Such a good job on the Benny character. When i started reading I almost gave up because I disliked the little brat so much. And you did such a good job showing his growth into a young..."

Yes, and many writers try to show that and succeed or fail on various levels. You succeeded very well. Now we love Benny.

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Jonathan wrote: "Karen wrote: "So excited that you may be continuing the Rot & Ruin series!! What ideas are brewing? Are you continuing with Benny, Nix and the gang, or new characters?"

If I do another series it ..."

I would read anything at all set in this world. Love it!

[Alison]

What would your bounty hunter name be? <\b>

[Jonathan]

Alison wrote: " What would your bounty hunter name be? "

Big Kahuna.

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Jonathan wrote: "Alison wrote: " What would your bounty hunter name be? "

Big Kahuna."

LOL!

[Jonathan]

Jenny wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "Alison wrote: " What would your bounty hunter name be? "

Big Kahuna."

LOL!"

That's been kind of my nickname for a lot of years. Even before I moved to Southern California I was known for wearing loud and obnoxious Hawaiian shirts.

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

That's awesome! Very cool nickname :)

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Jonathan wrote: "Alison wrote: " What would your bounty hunter name be? "

Big Kahuna."

That's hysterical. Methinks you should join me in Hawaii! It's a great place to write, I promise :)

[Karen’s Library]

I have a zombie card of "Big Kahuna"!!! ;)

And NOOOOO, I am NOT trading it! ;-P

[Alison]

That is awesome!!!!

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Do you ever get writer’s block, and if so, how do you deal with it?

[Tommy]

If you you became a zombie and could consciously pursue one celebrity to make your first meal, who would it be?

[Jonathan]

Tommy wrote: "If you you became a zombie and could consciously pursue one celebrity to make your first meal, who would it be?"

I'd eat Donald Trump, but that amount of stupid might give even a zombie indigestion

[Jonathan]

Jenny wrote: " Do you ever get writer’s block, and if so, how do you deal with it?"

I don't believe in writer's block. That's a label erroneously slapped onto several different challenges faced by writers who are learning their craft.Writers who say that they encounter it most often are those who are trying too hard to make their first draft read like a polished final draft. They are imposing unrealistic expectations on themselves. First drafts should be done quick and dirty –get the story out of your head and onto the page. That process taps into the part of us that is instinctive –we’re either storytellers or we’re not. Once the essential story is down, no matter how flawed and clunky, we then shift mental gears and approach the revision with an entirely different process. Craft. That’s something we learn. The skills of craft include figurative and descriptive language, point of view, person, pace, timing, dialogue, metaphor, and so on. These are things we learn in order to refine our stories. Writers who understand that these are separate stages of the writing process never get writers block.

Another reason for the myth of writers block is a lack of structure. I know some folks rail against the sacrilege of writing an outline for a novel. They don’t consider that to be how an ‘artist’ does it. Blah blah blah. A story must have some internal logic or it is simply writing without a point. The plot needs to be nothing more detailed than bullet-points for the logical flow of one event to another and on to the best and most interesting conclusion. A plot doesn’t have to be set in stone, either. However having one gives a write a place to start, a direction to follow, and some guideposts along the way so they don’t wander off on a tangent that has no value to the final project.

I also think that many writers believe in the block because they’re trained to. It’s part of the process of mythologizing the process of writing that the writer is more of an artiste than he or she is a professional. I was trained as a journalist and came to fiction much later in my career. But could you imagine being a reporter and telling your editor that you’re blocked and can’t turn in the story on last night’s house fire? Or that the political debate you’re covering didn’t ‘speak to you’. Please. I have very little patience with the kind of writer who allows anything to get in the way of writing. After all, this is what we love to do. So, damn it…stop complaining and write. If it comes out wrong, so what? That’s why we learn the skills of revision.

[Tommy]

Jonathan wrote: "Jenny wrote: " Do you ever get writer’s block, and if so, how do you deal with it?"

I don't believe in writer's block. That's a label erroneously slapped onto several different challenges faced by..."

I think I am currently falling into the first category of trying to hard to spit out a finished draft. I refuse to use the term "writer's block" because I think it lends the term power, but it is hard to turn off the inner critic sometimes.

But, I am officially inspired, so thank you for that, sir. Now, shutting up and opening my story :)

[Jonathan]

I can recommend two superb writing books, both by Donald Maass. The first is WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL, which explores reliable ways to craft your book. And the second is a companion book that I feel is the single best writing book ever published: WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL WORKBOOK. It's brilliant and is filled with a series of writing exercises built around deepening your understanding of your work in progress. I buy a new copy every time I start a book, and I now have over twenty of them on a shelf. You can't find a more immediately useful book on writing anywhere.

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥]

Jonathan wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "David wrote: "I've got another question: Were you a zombie-fanatic as a kid, too? Or did you get into zombies later in life?"

I got hooked on zombies when I was t..."

That is so very cool!

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Jonathan wrote: "Jenny wrote: " Do you ever get writer’s block, and if so, how do you deal with it?"

I don't believe in writer's block. That's a label erroneously slapped onto several different challenges faced by..."

Wow, so informative, thank you for that! I think you made some very valid points.

I'm not a writer, but I'm an artist, and I do swaps with people all over the world. I run into this every so often, when someone is late sending a swap, they'll complain that they are "blocked" and can't get their project done. It annoys me to no end! So I understand exactly what you're saying with this!

No one is a writer (or an artist) unless they enjoy it. If they don't they are definitely in the wrong profession (or hobby)!

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Okay, peeps, just a few more hours to get your last minute questions in for Jonathan!

Thank you SO MUCH, Jonathan for coming to our group! You have been awesome, and I have loved chatting with you all week :)

[Jonathan]

Jenny wrote: " Okay, peeps, just a few more hours to get your last minute questions in for Jonathan!

Thank you SO MUCH, Jonathan for coming to our group! You have been awesome, and I have loved chatting with yo..."

This has been a lot of fun. You guys ask great questions!

[Karen’s Library]

Jonathan, thank you so much for joining us and answering all of our wild questions! This has been a blast and I can't wait to see what you come up with next!

I hope to run into you again at other Phoenix area events! It's always such a pleasure to get to chat with you LIVE and in person! I'll be sure to bring you cookies again next time! ;) And my fingers are crossed that Dead of Night gets picked up as a movie and that the gorgeous actress you mentioned to me is the one who ends up playing Dez!!

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Jonathan wrote: "Jenny wrote: " Okay, peeps, just a few more hours to get your last minute questions in for Jonathan!

Thank you SO MUCH, Jonathan for coming to our group! You have been awesome, and I have loved ch..."

Thank you! I'm glad you've had fun too :)

[Tommy]

Jonathan wrote: "I can recommend two superb writing books, both by Donald Maass. The first is WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL, which explores reliable ways to craft your book. And the second is a companion book that I f..."

That is very high praise by someone who clearly knows what they're talking about. I will look into them ASAP. Thank you so much for the recommendations!

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥]

Thank you for being here with us Jonathan :-)

[Kimberly]

Thank you Jonathan I look forward to reading your work!

[Karen]

Thank you Jonathan.I love all your books

[Jonathan]

Melissa wrote: "Thank you for being here with us Jonathan :-)"

My pleasure!

[Jonathan]

Follow me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/jonathanmaberry

Twitter: @jonathanmaberry

And on my website: www.jonathanmaberry.com

Thanks!!!!

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Jonathan wrote: "Tommy wrote: "If you you became a zombie and could consciously pursue one celebrity to make your first meal, who would it be?"

I'd eat Donald Trump, but that amount of stupid might give even a zom..."

HAHAHA! Jon Stewart's coverage of Trump has been hysterical :)

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Thanks so much for spending your valuable time with us, Jonathan! Such an entertaining Q&A!

[Jonathan]

I had a great time. Thanks to you and the whole crew here!

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

It was truly our pleasure!

[Karen’s Library]

DITTO what David said!!! :)

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

GREAT NEWS EVERYONE!

We are doing a little impromptu Q&A Giveaway!

I've randomly selected one question from the Q&A and the result was:

19. Sherrie--If you were going on a trip and could only pack three items( not including food). What three items would you bring and why?

CONGRATULATIONS, Sherrie! You've won a Signed Bookmark Bundle from David Estes!!!

Look for a message from me in your inbox :)

Thanks, everyone, for your amazing questions!

[Karen’s Library]

Awwww, congrats Sherrie!!! Woot woot! :)

[Sherrie]

Thanks Karen! :) I'm so excited!

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Congrats Sherrie! Just a little thank you for being an awesome group member and participating in the Q&A :)

[Sherrie]

Aww, thanks for the kind words David! I love being a part of this group! :)

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Sherrie wrote: "Aww, thanks for the kind words David! I love being a part of this group! :)"

LOVE hearing this :) I REALLY LOVE being a mod of this group!

[Tommy]

I don't know(and even kind of doubt) if Johnathon will be popping back in this thread, but I just wanted to say I'm looking through the Breakout Novel book and its workbook that he recommended and it's already got me thinking, not so much in "different" ways, but in a more focused way about certain things. Even if I don't go all in with it like J-Mab did(I may, though) I have no doubt that I will learn and grow from having spent some time with it.

So, whether you see this or not, thanks Johnathon!

[Karen’s Library]

Yay Tommy! I hope Jonathan pops back in too!

[Jonathan]

Anything is possible.

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥]

That is so great Tommy. I'm happy for you :-)