The Casual Vacancy
discussion
Ask J.K. Rowling a Question About The Casual Vacancy
As a writer myself I find that my stories take 'me' places ... the writing of them is a type of self-exploration. What was your underlying feeling when you wrote 'The Casual Vacancy'? Were you describing the state of being that you felt when your Harry Potter series came to an end ... like there was a 'vacancy' within yourself; your life ... maybe?
What was more fulfilling as a writer, The Casual Vacancy or the Harry Potter series?
What prompted to you to change perspectives? I found while reading that because there were many more characters and perspectives in the novel that there wasn't as much character depth as I would've liked. Did you ever feel like you were sacrificing character quality for quantity?
Hi,My favourite thing about reading The Casual Vacancy was watching the complexities of the characters unfold throughout the novel -- the characters that I disliked at the beginning became the only ones I liked by the end, and the people I thought would be harmless turned out to be the most aggressive. How did you go about understanding the characters? Did you begin to write the characters with protagonist(s) and antagonist(s) clearly in mind, or did you let their personalities develop and decide from there?
Hi J.K. Rowling! I was wondering, what you would describe the overall idea or theme behind The Casual Vacancy to be? I've always greatly appreciated how you've proclaimed the underlying importance of the Harry Potter series to be love.(Thank you for being such an incredible influence in my life! You have transformed it, and for the better, in recognizing and sharing love.)
For me, one of your greatest qualities as a writer is how REAL your characters seem. With the Harry Potter series and with The Casual Vacancy, I was so invested in the characters. Even though The Casual Vacancy wasn't necessarily a pleasant read, I couldn't put it down because of your flawless character development. Did you learn this skill in your writing or does it come naturally?
Harry Potter is your invented world; The Casual Vacancy is the world we're stuck with. How does it shape the character development differences?
This is quite a change from your Harry Potter series. However, I get the definite impression that you are making a statement here about a number of social situations - you feel that readers "need" to read your book. So, my question is simply, "why do you feel the topics in this book worthy of addressing in this manner, and will readers be able to get your message through the fiction?"
How did the series Harry Potter come to your mind as a group of books?
After years of Harry Potter, why did you decide to write something new and how were you inspired for the storyline?
What do you think is the essence of this book to the society today?
Was this a book you wanted to write before the Potter series but didn't know how to get it all out? Or did it come to you later on? Either way, your take on small town politics is shrewd - I was a reporter for many years covering small councils, boards, and commissions, and I definitely recognized familiar personalities and motives here.
You went from Harry Potter-the books I could read to my kids before bed-to adult books, that were not wizards and magical creatures. Why was that change? Will you continue to try new genres?
Don't think I dislike it, they are all very good books, I am just curious.
Don't think I dislike it, they are all very good books, I am just curious.
What's next after The Casual Vacancy?
What did you most want your readers to get out of reading Casual Vacancy? Both about the content and about you as an author?
will you ever do a sequel and what would be your base, as in what more stories do you think you could get out of this new world?
what made you want to stop writing children's literature and start branching out into writing adult literature? and which do you like writing most series or stand alone?
Will you write anything like Harry Potter again? Casual vacancy was ok for any other writer, but not you. Please stick to Harry.
why you choose write about adult story?
Are you going to write anymore Harry Potter books? Because you could write about his children and things.
do you plan to make other books like casual vacancy or you will be back with other fantasy?
Hi, Jo! My name is James and I'm a very big fan of yours. I just wanted to ask you what your favorite part of the book was and why.
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..."Do you get tired of all your new works being compared to Harry Potter? You are writing in a different genre now and people are still comparing it to your famous series. How frustrating is that?
Which is your next book & when is it coming? Please say that you have started working on next book...
I was just wondering how you came up with each of the characters' names.
I'm not yet finished with the Casual Vacancy and can't help but feel sad everytime I take the book out for a read. It's like I'm moving on or something.. Or you're moving on or something. which I know will never happen, but yeah. So my question is, is there some sort of history or premonition towards this story, like how you figured Harry potter all on a train ride?
Why did you choose thus specific topic to write about? There are different types of fiction besides fantasy you could've written, but why a psychological mystery? Why not "spy-fy," chick-lit, historical fiction, or romance?
What made you write "The Casual Vacancy"?
Why did you choose this theme to be a novel? who has inspired you in creating all the characters in The Casual Vacancy? What's the weakness of this novel based on your own opinion?
I'm not going to ask a question, too many questions, I think I'll ask for a favor in exchange of a small compliment.Please, please, please keep writing. I want to read more.
Your character development is great, I love the progression of many characters in Harry Potter, and as The Casual Vacancy paperback release is for my birthday I'll get it as my small present.
J.K Rowling is the fairy Godmother for millions of kids around the world who grew up with Harry Potter Series, including me .So, when the series came to an end, the readers' expectations had reached such a level that all of us wanted more from the writer in this series.
So, my question is, was "The Casual Vacancy" a conscious decision on your part to move out of the genre of Children's books, so that people start identifying you with other genre and accept you as a writer who writes good books and also accept the fact that Harry Potter series is 'actually' over and we cannot expect to have more books in this series ?
Personally I love writers that can show you a new way to live, a new way of perceiving things, takes you on a journey, or inspires you to do something you never thought possible--such as taking on a career as a writer even though the odds are against you. When I get a chance to read it, what do you think the readers should take from the novel?
What did it feel like to write The Casual Vacancy compared to writing the Harry Potter series? Did it become a part of you as much as Harry Potter did? P.S Thank you for Harry Potter, I really can not imagine my life without it!
Was it any different writing an adult-based mystery book then the books before?
What drove you to create this Dark Comedy atmosphere that seems to enthrall, as well as perplex, your fans? Is it a hidden wonder inside you to dive into and explore uncharted territory? Also, what drives you to create such perplexing and outstanding characters?
Being a Potterhead it was quite a change for me to go to The Casual Vacancy. Still, I was a reader. How difficult or easy was it for you to go from something so fantastic, imaginative and, sorry to say this, fictional (Breaks my heart) to something that is so real about an average teenager's life where the characters can be seen just at any normal school?
what was your inspiration, J.K Rowling, behind writing 'the casual vacancy'?does writing this novel has any connections with Harry potter book or its incidents.??
J.K. Rowling, why did you choose 'Under My Umbrella' as the theme song for the girls' rowing team?
PS. I have always -since I read the book- wanted to ask you this.
PS. I have always -since I read the book- wanted to ask you this.
Why such a huge change, after Harry Potter series?
Which character in The Casual Vacancy is very close to your heart? I identify with both Krystal and Parminder's daughter.
All children are born with infinite potential, but so many, like Krystal are born into a situation where they face massive social obstructions to reach that potential. Most don't get to fully achieve their best but end up repeating the cycle of becoming a young single parent/welfare dependent/drug or alcohol dependent... What do you see as the solution or solutions to this problem? What ways can society/government help children like Krystal break out of the poverty/welfare-dependent trap?
Do you feel any pressure to duplicate the fantastic success of Harry Potter with this new book?
If you sorted your characters in the Casual Vacancy into houses what houses would they be in?
I have not yet read this book so I want to know: What is the one feature that you are most proud of and that would appeal to Harry Potter fans?
What was the true reason you wrote this book.,and do you feel that you reached the true goal you wanted . Your readers to experience.?
Do you think you could have written Casual Vacancy before you wrote Harry Potter and achieved fame?
I would love to know how JK Rowling came up with the idea for this book- what drew her out of the fantasy world and into this rich idea?
I cared about all the characters in the book. Your observations about fat people are very insightful in that they show the pain but also the humour. Do you think that you became somewhat moralistic and heavy-handed in terms of the messages you conveyed>
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With that said:
You made the character of Krystal a very tragic figure. When you created her and established her societal standing, where did you draw your inspiration for her? Was part of it from your situation before you got your teaching job? Was there any person, like a student or even a fan, that inspired you at all? And was her home life anything you had experience with?
I hope that still counts as "one" question! Thank you, I consider it an honor to address you.