David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite! discussion
This topic is about
Scott Sigler
Author Q&A
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Scott Sigler (Author of Alive & The Infected Trilogy) Q&A Event--June 29-July 2nd
Todd wrote: "Do you have any book idea, that you can tell us a little about, so completely different from anything you've written so far that you dare not write it for fear of alienating your fan base? Not that..."To be honest, a good number of my existing fan base is upset that I wrote ALIVE, because they don't think they'd want to read a YA book. That's unfortunate for them, because I didn't set out to write a YA book, it just turned out that way. There is a deep background culture behind these characters, details that won't be revealed until Book II and even III. When the entire story is told, it makes perfect sense that they are innocent and don't curse.
I write the stories that come to me. My audience has been great in giving things a try. Take for example my GFL series. After writing three hardcore horror/thrillers, I asked my fans to take a chance on The Rookie, Book I of the Galactic Football League series. My scifi fans were not pleased I asked them to read a book "about football," but they did, and they found it wasn't about football, but football was just the backdrop to a richly detailed, star-spanning series about overcoming a racist upbringing to reach your true destiny. Now, they love that series!
Irene wrote: "Can I ask more than one question? :)The blurb says "a gripping sci-fi adventure trilogy in the vein of The Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Maze Runner." How do you feel about that?"
The publisher has to do what the publisher has to do. The publisher's job is to sell books. If they feel comparing Alive to Divergent or Red Rising is going to help put my story in front of people who will enjoy reading it, I'm all for that.
I'm not worried about expectations. In all things, the reader decides what he or she likes. If they expected The Hunger Games and got something else and are disappointed, that's a shame, but odds are they wouldn't have found ALIVE in the first place if not for that comparison.
In the end, the reader decides. And I'm okay with that.
I think Alive was excellent, I don't care what it's labeled as and I look forward to seeing where this series is going to go!
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The blurb says "a gripping sci-fi adventure trilogy in the vein of The Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Maze Runner." How do you feel about that?..."
It pulled me in by having that blurb and I loved Alive!! :)
Is this book a "end of the world as we know it book." I do like books like that.
INFECTED Just started INFECTED after reading some great reviews and I'm loving it so far. How much research did you have to do to understand the way infections attack the body, I found this part intriguing and something that could have been hard work I found kept the pace of the book going and added brilliantly to the novel, I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. Thanks Michael
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Oh, great question! I want to know too! I'm almost finished with
and had to force myself to put it down last night (ok, this morning...) to get some sleep.
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Do have any favorite fan moments?
Scott wrote: "To be honest, a good number of my existing fan base is upset that I wrote ALIVE, because they don't think they'd want to read a YA book."^That upsets me, and not because I'm a YA fan. That people are completely off board with something based on something like genre or target audience. I mean, I have my preferences, sure, but I don't assume anything outside my favorite restaurant is just bad food haha.
Also, to this point I haven't read a Sigler book, but the way these questions are being answered is pulling me in as much as a good book sleeve synopsis could haha.
Which of your books was your favorite to write, and why?
Lauren wrote: "I just watched the excellent book trailer for Alive. How much of a hand did you have in the production of the video? What are some of your horror influences in terms of books, authors, tv, movies, etc.? "I wrote the script for the trailer, and was there when they shot it to provide a little bit of guidance from the author. Most of it, however, was the director, Jack Bennet, and the producer, Mallory O'Meary, bringing that script to life.
My horror influences go back to the slasher hay day of the 80s. Freddy, Jason, Michael and Chucky, to name but a few. SAW was a heavy influence on me in scriptwriting, because I watched the director's commentary and learned how much of the really cool stuff came when they ran out of money and had to be creative in ways of telling the story. I have a goal to write a low-budget horror film, SAW is the template for how to do that right.
The remake of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA series is another major influence. The writing staff did a great job of creating moral quandaries, where are more than one choice and they all suck equally. There was no easy "right and wrong" in that show. It created heightened tension that had me on the edge of my seat. Magnificent, right up until that final episode ...
Stephen King was a huge influence on me because no character was safe, not even the main character. When his characters were in danger, they were really in danger, and weren't going to get saved by some convenient writer's trick. It was putting the characters in actual jeopardy that hooked me. If I'm reading a series where the main character always lives and always gets out of trouble, I don't feel any suspense when their life is on the line because I know they'll survive.
Kelly (Diva Booknerd) wrote: "The dystopian genre is still such a big part of young adult and seems to be making a resurgence of late. What do you think makes it so appealing to such a wide range of readers?"I think it's the feeling that the world is run by "them," some unseen hand of rich and powerful people that control everything. If you're not one of "them," it's very hard to influence anything, to change anything. Most dystopian tales have a structure similar to that, and it's only the Chosen One(s) that can break through and make change.
This feeling is magnified when you're in your teens and early twenties, when it seems everything you do is controlled or restricted by older people. Ever notice how most of the dystopian overlords are old?
When we read these stories, we identify with the feeling of being held down, of being a number. Do what you're told, obey your role, don't question authority, etc. It's like our world, but magnified to a high degree. When we watch our protagonists fight back, when they get some power, it's the personification of the underdog (which is us) triumphing over the static, inbred class structures that benefit only a few.
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GREAT answer, Scott!!
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Hi!With the dystopian genre being pretty much everywhere and the normal cliches are starting to develop, how do you make your book stand out for the rest? Meaning, do you follow the cliches (a main character who can't be controlled by the government) or do you try to take a different path and offer your readers something different? I don't have any problem with cliches, but I've just always wondered how authors go about making their book different.
(Sorry, I don't know how to make it bold.)
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Hi Scott! Thank you for doing this Q&A with the group! :)My question is about being a writer. People always ask what the hardest thing about being a writer is but I was wondering if there is something you consider to be the easiest thing about being a writer?
(Don't know the thing to bold it, sorry!) XD
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But for future info, you just type this: < b > Then your question < / b >
But with NO SPACES.
^If you forget that, like I do, you can click "(some html is ok) and it gives you a list of acceptable HTML and how to use them. You can just copy paste from there. That's what I do :]
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YW :) And great idea, Tommy, I always forget about that box!
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is now available on Audible as a pre-order!! Here's the link:http://www.audible.com/pd/Teens/Alive...
Weird. Looks like Goodreads censored out ALIVE for some reason. That's what has successfully made it through Audible's rigorous QC process and is now available for Pre-order. No idea why the title did not show up in @Karen's post. Thanx for getting that up when I couldn't. You RAWK!
My question is: What made you interested in writing to begin with?
My question is: What made you interested in writing to begin with?
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last week and thought it would make a great movie! Anything in the works for any of your books?
Jenny wrote: "Scott created an awesome video just for us!!https://www.facebook.com/Davidestesbo..."
Awesome video :)
Do you setup some deadlines for writing books?
Daniel wrote: "You've written both books aimed at adult readers as well as as books written for younger audiences. What are some of the differences in the strategies you use to make your books appealing to these two age groups? In other words, how is writing for young adults different than writing for adults?"By and large, I write for people, not "adults" or "young adults." Stylistically my approach is very similar for both. THE ROOKIE was originally an "adult" book. I simply BATTLESTAR GALACTIFIED the cursing, and viola — YA without changing one ounce of plot, character, setting, etc.
ALIVE turned out different because of the background of the characters. It's impossible to explain why without spoilers for both ALIVE and ALIGHT, the second book in the series.
I think teens are just as smart as adults. I think today's teens are very aware of the big world around them and all the things it contains, both good and bad. If anything, the reduced cursing in most YA stories is there for the parent's sake rather than the teen reader's.
Cassie wrote: "We take inspiration from around us - is there anyone in particular that gave you the muse for Em (or even just to write Alive)?"The inspiration for Em is a combination of several strong women, as well as the relationship between my mother and father. My mother and father have been equals in their relationship since before I was born. It was an amazing environment to grow up in, one of equality, respect, and strength. There is a lot of that in ALIVE, where there are strengths and weaknesses that vary among the characters, but gender is irrelevant. When Yong challenges Em's leadership, the fact that he's male and she's female has nothing to do with it; he thinks he's a stronger leader, so he vies for control.
Em is also influenced by my business partner. We're 50/50 owners in our company. She doesn't put up with bullshit from anyone, and when she commits to a project or a cause, she is all-in. That's Em — she is going to do everything in her power to get the job done. My partner and I have a phrase we picked up from watching JUSTIFIED: "We dug coal together." It's a way of saying we've been on the line together when our business was all investment and no profit, and we did every bit of work there was to do. Em is like that. Even though she doesn't know it when the book begins, she's willing to put in the blood, sweat and tears to make something great. If you dig coal with Em, she'll do anything for you.
Finally, I think Em is inspired by the actress Michelle Rodriguez. I find pictures of actors and actresses that fit my vision of the characters, put them up on my wall, and refer to them when I am writing. I have a great picture of Ms. Rodriguez from her movie GIRL FIGHT. Her laser-focus scowl shows utter determination, and a general "screw you, you can knock me down, but you can't keep me down vibe that gives me chills. Picking that picture actually helped shape the character as the book rolled on.
Stephen KingKate wrote: "I hate to ask but I have to :)Which author has been your biggest inspiration, and if you were ever to co-write a novel with them what do you think it would be like?"
My biggest inspirations are Jack London, Anne McCaffrey and Stephen King. London's story The Sea Wolf changed my life by changing my view of religion. It taught me to question everything I am told, and that people who do not question things and seek to learn the truth for themselves will always wind up the pawn of others.
McCaffrey's Dragonflight series held me riveted throughout high school. It was my first experience with series-based storytelling and masterful world building. I might have read that series six or seven times before I graduated. The lushness of it all, the realistic feel of something that would never be real ... she mesmerized me with those stories. I wanted to be on Pern. I wanted to live there. After that, I wanted to give other people that same sensation of becoming lost in a story, but one that I created.
Sadly, both London and McCaffrey are no longer with us. That leaves King!
I discovered Mr. King in high school, because my mom was reading him. He was my first experience of horror stories that involved regular, modern-day people. Being from a small town, his characters felt like my neighbors, my teachers, the lady at the grocery store, the car dealer, etc. He showed me that great fiction didn't have to involve fancy people or "very important" books of "literary significance," stories could just be kick-ass crazy stuff that happened to people he made real in my head. As a small-town kid, King smelled like my own kind.
Writing a collaboration with him? Doubt that's going to happen. As for what it would be like, I have no idea. The few collaborations I've done so far have been fun, but I think I'm difficult to work with because I have a specific vision of how I think things should go. I doubt I'd be like that with King, though, as he's proven his skills a million times over for a million readers. I'd be happy to learn all I could from him.
Maureen wrote: "Did something in your personal life inspire the story or any of the characters?"When I was a teenager, my grandfather on my mother's side slowly withered away due to Alzheimers dementia. When I was a boy, he'd been a brilliant man: funny, witty, always loving and great to be around. To watch his memories fade until he didn't recognize his own daughter terrified me. His hardware was working fine, but the software was scrambled. I called on those sensations for ALIVE, trying to imagine what that would feel like — you don't know what's happening, who the people around you are, even where you are. Screw ghosts and goblins, man, that's some seriously scary stuff right there.
Scott wrote: "Maureen wrote: "Did something in your personal life inspire the story or any of the characters?"When I was a teenager, my grandfather on my mother's side slowly withered away due to Alzheimers de..."
I'm so sorry to here that Scott. You did a great job portraying in the book what it would be like.. I mean we don't really know, but I never would have thought about that. It's so sad but a very good idea to use in a book. Thank you for sharing,
What kind of books do you tend to read and who are your favorite authors?
You currently have a duology (ANCESTOR), a septology (GFL series) w/"bonus" novellas, this new trilogy (GENERATIONS), and two open ended series (EARTHCORE & NOCTURNAL) all in progress requiring more work/time from you for them to be complete. How do you decide what project to tackle next? Obviously it's impossible to keep all of your fans happy, each will have their personal favorite. Do you take what they want into account or do you just go with whatever muse is hollering loudest at the time you're ready to begin a new project? Does it ever bother you juggling so many open story lines simultaneously rather than completing them prior to beginning another?
You've co-written a few of the GFL novellas, but, by and large you seem to prefer working on your own. Is this true? If so, why? What are the pros & cons of working with another author versus working alone?
Where do you, as an author, hope to see yourself in ten years?
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If you could push one book and/or series that you don't think gets enough love(not one of yours, you rascal!) on people to get it in front of more eyes, what book and/or series would that be?
Ok I missed this it looks like but Scott, if you're still listening I am following your ALIVE podcast and can't wait for the next installment.
Hi, Scott! Thank you for this generous offer. I wanted to ask if writing has started to impact your life, and if you feel as if the world of reading will flourish in the future where so much technology is coming out. If you think so, what do you think we can do as readers and authors to promote reading? Thank you!!!
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THANK YOU, Scott, for coming to our group and hanging out with us this week! Its been so fun :)
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Oh, wow :)Thanks once again to my favorite group on this entire awesome website and a giant, mega thanks to Scott for being so generous.
I look forward to vacationing in the world you have created, sir.
Wow!! Thanks for offering such a fantastic giveaway! I'm looking forward to reading Alive!
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Can't way to see what you and Tommy think of it! You write the BEST reviews, Lauren!!!
David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite!
Books mentioned in this topic
Alive (other topics)Alive (other topics)
Alight (other topics)
Divergent (other topics)
The Hunger Games (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
John Green (other topics)Stephen King (other topics)
Stephen King (other topics)
Jack London (other topics)
Anne McCaffrey (other topics)
We have it submitted with Audible right now and are waiting for it to pass their quality control process. Audible takes audiobook quality very seriously. Hopefully, the audiobook will be on iTunes, Audible and Amazon on July 14.