The Casual Vacancy
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Ask J.K. Rowling a Question About The Casual Vacancy
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Joanne
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Jul 04, 2013 03:46PM
I was wondering if the town Pagford a town at war with itself is at all a metaphor for the writing war you must have had with yourself to write something so totally different from Harry Potter?
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I just sorta wanna know why Casual Vacancy. I mean, "Why so serious?" Harry Potter was this grand adventure you made, but CV is just sorta ... local parish stuff. I suppose you could say (if you were a puff) that the grand adventure is in the mind this time, with it's own, far more dangerous, adversities. But still. Like, why CV?
As an aspiring writer myself I was wondering how long it took you to complete A Casual Vacancy?
What characters, if any, did you base off of people that you know in real life?
Dear J.K. Rowling,My question is in reguards to your projects as a whole. I would like to know what book was your favorite to write and why? And I would also like to know what your next project is? If you woke up and decided tomorrow to write six more Potter books I would buy them all. Your fans are eager to see new work from you again. including me :)
Why did you make Krystal finish in this (tragic) way? Of course it is very realistic, but I would rather let hope spread a Little bit more at the end of the novel.Anyway, it was really a very nice surprise to find you writing so differently from Harry and still being you as a writer, I mean, sticking to your own style.
Best regards from Argentina
Silvina
I received many messages while reading this book and I know authors usually have a message when writing a story. What did you want people to learn? What was your message?
What were your inspirations for writing this book?
J. K. Rowling -- I've been a great fan of yours because of "THE" Harry Potter Saga. (: And being someone who's a fan of yours but just heard about The Casual Vacancy.. what's there for me to expect? What's in store? Is it far from your Harry Potter series, like what i have inside my head (having read the synopsis only)? How do you expect people/fans and followers to embrace this work of yours? Are we going to see a sliver of Harry Potter here? Thanks!
Once you had finished writing The Casual Vacancy did you feel satisfaction with finally distancing yourself from the Harry Potter books or did you feel pleased at accomplishing what you had envisioned in a new novel?
Did you deliberately decide in advance to not have any happy endings for any of your characters in "The Casual Vacancy", or is that just how the story worked out?
Will you continue writing books such as this or ones branched off the brilliance of a fictional world?
when did you decide to start writing "The Casual Vacancy"?
What encouraged you to write a adult novel as opposed to another children's novel?
Well I have not read this book yet but it sounds very good. J.K Rowing can I ask you a question about Harry Potter?
if I had any question I would want the answer to from this novel it would be involved in the future of the two towns and do any of the characters change their ways or do they keep on living ignoring the issues as if all the death was for nothing.
Every character in "The Casual Vacancy" is affected to a greater or lesser extent by the death of Barry and it is fascinating how this one event drives so much character development through the book. Did the idea for this book come from a personal experience of death?
Love the Harry Potter series!! Do you think you will write more Harry Potter related books??
J.K Rowling, I've been waiting for an opportunity like this to confirm an answer to this question that constantly ponders on my mind.I find your writing quite subtle, and as the incredible author you are, im sure you can tell me, how do you create the subtle and humble atmosphere that is required to be capable of defining such significant characters that are in no way similar to yourself?
P.s my name is K.J Dowling.
Natasha wrote: "Love the Harry Potter series!! Do you think you will write more Harry Potter related books??"I really hope that she does.
What inspired you to write "The Casual Vacancy"?
Even though you are now a world-famous author, were you more nervous about 'The Casual Vacancy' book coming out than you were with the first Potter book?...
You seem to have a very intimate empathy with the teenager not only in this book but also in the Harry Potter series. Where do you think this knowledge comes from and do you plan on using this natural ability in your next book/books?
Dear J. K. Rowling,To be honest, I don't know what to ask for.
It seems somehow so difficult for me, but I'm trying.
Anyway, as you may guessed, I'm a big Harry Potter fan - in fact, I've grown up with the books, and I can't imagine my life without it!
So, my question is simple, even if it has already been asked, I don't mind that, so here it goes: How come the idea to write these wonderful books?
Best wishes form Estonia,
Ingrid Madreia S.
How much were you influenced by George Eliot's 'Middlemarch' when writing 'The Casual Vacancy'? As I was reading your book I was reminded of Eliot's community 'web' and the need for us to take responsibility in looking after each other.
"The Casual Vacancy" and the Harry Potter world are completely different from one another but it is impossible to talk about J. K. Rowling without mentioning Harry Potter. Did the book series influence your work on "The Casual Vacancy" and, if yes, how?
Have you heard of the argument that America is having about Makers versus Takers and do you think social safety net programs turn people into takers or not, or do you feel that they serve an important purpose in societies?
Many people were clearly expecting a "Harry Potter sequel" from your new book. How do you feel about these expectations, and was your process for writing the new book very different from when you wrote the Harry Potter novels? How so?
Sukhvinder seemed to gain confidence as the novel progressed. As many, if not all, characters were not secure in themselves, which character do you think has the best chance to do the same in the "after the book" world?
Patrick wrote: "If you could ask J.K. Rowling one question about The Casual Vacancy, what would it be? In celebration of the paperback release, J.K. Rowling will answer one winning question about the book from Goo..."The characters in A Casual Vacancy embody traits that we all struggle with to one degree or another at some stage in our lives. A famous author (I can't remember who) said "the purpose of a novel is to help the reader understand herself better". Was this your intent in Casual Vacancy?
Was it hard to "leave" Harry Potter and start writing a new book? Many authors feel so connected with their books that start feeling as if they were real somehow, did it happen to you?In your books, do you have a moment or phrase that marked you? If yes, can you say why?
Your novel inspired me to work on a novel with multiple point-of-view characters, too. After doing my own writing, my question is this: Did you have to map out the plot to keep all the characters straight and to keep the momentum of the story at a good pace? If not, how did you do it?
Do you think you will ever write another series like Harry Potter, but for adults?
I really liked the character of Krystal and saw other books in her future. Did you consider not killing her off and writing a sequel about her.
How hard is it to get inspiration for such a different novel, after writing such a famous and beloved book series as HP?
If you got to write anymore books that was involved in a series would "the casual vacancy" be part of a planned series or is it just a novel on its own?
Why did you create a cast of characters that for the most part were insipid and unsympathetic, while basically abandoning any of the characters thathad warmer more wholesome natures?
What is the one issue that you raised in The Casual Vacancy that keeps you up at night and what would/could you do to make a difference to change it?
Like millions, I adored the Potter series for the fanciful world-building and pure escapism. Also like millions, I could not tune into Casual Vacancy with anything approaching the enthusiasm of the Potter books. As one of your many, many adoring fans, I gave it my best shot, but ultimately just shelved it for another day, another mood, perhaps. Doubtlessly you have heard similar messages from readers. It's fine for fledgling writers to advise other writers not to listen to overly harsh criticism or give too much stock in fan disapproval, but as someone who does produce products for sale--and who has famously kept her rights to input over all the Potter-branded experiences--how do you feel about such an influx of negative reader feedback?
It strikes me as quite dissimilar to those who objected to the Potter books based on ridiculous Black Magic claims and the like.
I still have your lovely fan response letter pinned to my office wall, received months after posting you a tearful fan letter, myself (and I'm a grown woman!). I know you care very deeply about pleasing your fans. I hope this question isn't too cheeky or a "PR no-no." I'm so curious how you are dealing with the aftermath of this choice.
With the greatest of respect and admiration,
Leslea Tash
I loved the theme of secrecy and the fact that some characters got away with their sins and misdeeds. Indeed, the idea that most people are harboring secrets which change our perception of them is found frequently in your writing. What message or conclusion, if any, are you trying to convey through this?
After the success of the Harry Potter series, did you approach writing this book a different way? Or has your method stayed the same?
The novel's characters are divided into two distinct communities. I found the collective attitudes and world views of both communities to be VERY realistic, and I find that I most definitely more sympathetic to one community over the other. However, I cannot know if I am applying my own personal experiences and biases into my analysis of the two communities. How objective and neutral did you try to be in developing your characters, and how much of your own personal experiences did you allow to influence your portrayal of the two communities?
What was your inspiration towards picking the backstory of being at war with one another?
The absolute strength of the book The Casual Vacancy is the characterisation. How do you get into each of the characters heads to make them so different and so believable?
What action or change do you most want to inspire in readers upon finishing The Casual Vacancy?P.S. You are an incredible woman, JK. Your bravery in choosing to write this novel, especially after the Harry Potter series, is truly commendable.
My question is this.... How is this book any different than the Harry Potter books and do you think this is going to be a series and if it is will this one be just as popular as the Harry Potter series.
When I read 'The Casual Vacancy', the whole time I thought it would make an amazing stage play.Have you ever considered writing a play, or adapting The Casual Vacancy?
How closely do the people, the communities, and the social structure parallel aspects of real life in England? How did you go about intertwining the lives of the characters?
as the author that wrote a seven-book-fantasy-series, and that is known as the author that brought the breakthrough of magical books, and that had inspired many children to shut down the technology and to pick up the book, yes the book. what kind of events had happened that has made you want to open the people in to a whole new world that many of them probably don't wish to see or to admit they see it. what had made you want to write something so completely different and unexpected from what your fans had wanted and wished for from you.
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