The Casual Vacancy
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Ask J.K. Rowling a Question About The Casual Vacancy
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Jul 06, 2013 06:06PM
Hello J.K. I found The Casual Vacancy incredibly moving; so much so that it inspired me to write a song titled "St. Michael, Himself". Would you like to hear it?
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People often say that the writer puts a piece of themselves in each character. Which character in "The Casual Vacancy" did you put the most about yourself into? Why did you choose this character to do so, and how are you similar?
With the phenomenonal success of creating Harry Potter, did you find it rather difficult to conceptualise "The Casual Vacancy" or did the idea came natural as was with Harry Potter?
Is there anyone in your life that strongly inspired one of the characters in "The Casual Vacancy"? And which character did you enjoy the most to write?
For Harry Potter, it's said you used your initials because the publisher didn't want people to loose interest in Harry because you're a woman. Is there any reason you still use your initials, or is it because you're well known as such?
You first became known all over the world for the Harry Potter series, a book for children and young people. Now you've been out with your first non Harry Potter book for almost a year. Obviously there has been a difference in writing these two both genre wise and reader wise, seing as these two works are a different genre and your wish to reache different ages with them.I was wondering what was the differnce in writing the Harry Potter series and The Casual Vacancy? What was the difference in writing books for children and young people and a book for adult?
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..."It seems that another local conflict brewing throughout the Western world is the generational divide between the traditional faithful and their more secular children. Do you foresee your future work straying into that territory? "The Casual Vacancy" obviously has an element of that, but I mean a storyline dealing with it more directly.
The Casual Vacancy is obviously very different in both tone and intended audience than Harry Potter. What was the biggest adjustment from writing HP to The Casual Vacancy?
I enjoyed reading this book and knew going into the process that this would be an adult book; however, it still was a shock to the system to read because of associating you with Harry Potter for so many years. Did you enjoy writing a book that was so different from the Harry Potter series or was it an adjustment? Also, some of the reviews believe that you went overboard with the adult topics, but I believe you addressed that people and towns are like onions; they have many layers. Would you agree with that statement?
What was the inspiration behind this book?
Were the characters in The Casual Vacancy modeled after people you know/knew?
As the practice ground for the girls’ rowing team as well as the site of Robbie Weedon’s death, the river has both a positive and negative impact on the life of Krystal Weedon. Is this river intentionally symbolic? And if so, what does it represent?
What effect did writing for an adult audience—rather than a young adult audience—have on your writing?
Huge fan of the Harry Potter series, first of all. Second, I am pretty cautious when it comes to switching books by a single author, because I don't know what to expect. Did they take on a whole new idea?, or is the same genre as the others they've written? So is it similar to Harry Potter? Or is it "a whole new ball game,"?, as my dad would say?
Wow such a different book magical "Harry Potter" to a war situation, "The Casual Vacancy" , how you get the feeling to write a war emotion and sadness fill up at the book?
Do you know how life unfolds in, say, the next five years for the Jawanda family, Kay and Gaia, the Wallers and the Prices, Gavin, the elder Mollisons, etc.?
I remember Stephen King saying that it was hard to continue writing The Dark Tower series because he really disliked the character of Roland. In your story, there are so many unlikable characters. Honestly, the only guy I felt I could sit down and eat a meal with died at the beginning of the book. Were you ever put off by these mesmerizing but somewhat unsavory characters or did you enjoy it?
What inspired you to write this book for adults and were you worried that this would not be accepted after having such a huge success with Harry Potter?
At what point in writing The Casual Vacancy did you feel most connected to the characters and/or story?
I have never read The Casual Vacancy before, but I have read all of the Harry Potter books. Many times. MANY. TIMES. Like, multiple times. But Causal Vacancy hasn't grasped my interest like Harry Potter had(I repeat, MULTIPLE TIMES.). I think, in my opinion, that the reason I have not read Casual Vacancy yet, is because its hard for me, and probably a lot of other people, to see such a great fantasy writer go from writing about witches and wizards, to politics and social justice. (And, from reading some of the reviews, manage to pull it off so brilliantly.)So how do you react to fans who aren't ready to let go of their broomstick just yet?
Did you get different nightmares while writing The Casual Vacancy as compared to your years writing the Harry Potter books? Or none at all?
Why did you choose to write something so different from the Harry Potter series?
why did none of the characters have an overall happy life?
You really have a talent for getting into the minds and feelings of the young people/teens in your novels. I really felt that the teens in The Casual Vacancy were much more well rounded characters than the adults and I always loved how you captured Harry, Ron and Hermione, as well as the other young people at Hogwarts, and blended in their natural age related angsts and insecurities even in the wizard world. Do you have any plans to go back to writing for young adults or are you going to try to stick more with an adult genre?
After so many years of growing your characters through the Harry Potter series, what was it like starting off from scratch with new characters for the Casual Vacancy?
which is harder to write, young adult fantasy? Or the more modern day Casual Vacancy?
both harry potter and the casual vacancy start out with a sudden death of a character that alters the course of events for an entire community. why do you choose to start your novels off with such a dark tone? (not that im complaining, im just curious). and also, was it liberating to break free of the hp kids and write characters like krystal and fats and sukhvinder who are more raw and realistic with their dialogue and behaviors? i bet that was a little fun!
Sanja wrote: "My question is this: Why did dropping the f-bomb on practically every single page become necessary to write a grown up book? This is why I refused to read it. I don't mind a couple but c'mon! I hav..."
I agree with this comment ... I found it disappointing that JK Rowling thought it necessary just because it was an 'adult' book.
I agree with this comment ... I found it disappointing that JK Rowling thought it necessary just because it was an 'adult' book.
Dear J.K.Rowling, If Barry Fairbrother didn't die, would the internal war commence in Pagford? Is this your way of portraying a society with no idealists to guide the people, in order to emphasize how poor is human's responsibility to others?
P.S: You are very inspirational. Love all the books you write :)
Casual Vacancy was a really big change of genre and theme from the Harry Potter series. What happened in your life that made you risk a big change like that?
How did you get the inspiration for this story? And how did you go about laying out the plot?
Ms. Rowling, I have read your Harry potter books and even watched the movies.. the thing i wanted to ask is:"starting your career from a sci-fi series (harry potter) suitable for all age groups, what made you feel to right about adult adventures?"
What inspired you to write an adult novel instead of something like Harry Potter?
When is the first time you realized that you want to write The Casual Vacancy especially since it is like a 180° turn from Harry Potter? =))
I want to wholeheartedly thank you for creating a character with OCD where the symptoms did not include obsessive hand washing. In fiction in particular OCD has very specific symptoms, and you did something completely different that was still very honest. As someone who suffers OCD WITHOUT the hand washing, I am very happy to see it. But I wondered what or who inspired that? And at any point were you worried people would not understand it or not believe it?
Hi Jo!Honestly speaking, I actually haven't read the book but I'll take every chance to communicate to you:D. Anyway, I'd just like to ask how you adapted to the environment of the book "The Casual Vacancy" after spending more or less 10 years writing about Harry Potter and the wizarding world. Was it kind of hard writing "The Casual Vacancy" knowing that this is a world far from the magical one?
Harriet,
The Casual Vacancy expresses the magic of JK Rowling at quite it's best. But the way the book deals with the facts is quite often mesmerising, yet conveys a sense of serendipity. I wish to know, how different would the book had been, if the Harry Potter series had never been written ? (although it would be extremely awful not to have the Boy who Lived)
First Dumbledore in "Harry Potter".. Then Patricia in "The Casual Vacancy".. So, what do you think about sexual minorities? What would you do, if know, that your daughter is a lesbian?
The Casual Vacancy was brilliant. I saw quite a bit of myself in each of the characters, good things and bad things, which was funny and sobering at the same time. Which character just flowed from your pen, and which one was the hardest for you to create?
Do you find any connection with any character of the book that inspired you to write so passionately and realistically about her? Through any past event that you imagined she went through that shaped her character(Inside or out the book)? Are all your books somewhat connected? Your writing style is inspiring and magical! It somewhat seems to be a spells cast by one of Hogwart's wizards that draw you in... #JKROWLING
Did you draw experiences from your own life as either an adolescent or adult when writing about these amazingly realistic characters? If so, could you please go into specifics? Thank you for writing this book, as I loved reading it. I truly hope to see more books under your name on the bookshelves in the near future.
Which experience did you enjoy more, writting for children or adults? And what was the difference? ♥♥♥
How do you feel about kicking George R R Martin's ass in the POV genre? :D
Did the characters just "walk" into your head, like they did for the Harry Potter series?
Is the casual vacancy your way of moving on from harry potter? And when did it's storyline came up to your mind?
Was the transition from Harry Potter to The Casual Vacancy tough? Were you ever worried that The Casual Vacancy wouldn't be taken as seriously, but criticised and compared?
I just want to know one thing. What inspired you to write this book and made you finish the book? Well, my dream is an author, not just an author but a bestselling book author in the whole world despite nationality and language. I try to write a lot of books but every time I write, I can't continue the writing. I hope that you'd tell me how to become a good writer. I'm asking you how to start writing. I'm sure that you'd know the answer since you're one. Thank you.
In Casual Vacancy, Pagford is a small town but it has the civil war.My question is "Why you choose the small town like Pagford to be the main place in Casual Vacancy ?"
After writing Harry Potter, you wrote this novel for "adults" and described it as "comic tragedy"... Why is comic tragedy the best description for this book?
Was she influenced in her desription of small town life by Agatha Christie's work, in particular St Mary Mead the home of Miss Marple ?
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