Ask J.K. Rowling a Question About The Casual Vacancy Showing 351-400 of 1,725

[[deleted user]]

I know many people are critisising the book, saying it was no where near the Harry Potter standard they were expecting, but putting Harry aside, I would like to know; Is The Casual Vacancy a success in your eyes? 'Cause if it is, then that's good enough for me.

[[deleted user]]

Interview Questions for J.K. Rowling:

• Did you ever feel insecure, uprooted, or vulnerable when delving into new territory while writing The Casual Vacancy’s realistic fiction?
• Describe how you dance to your fans.
• What inspired you to write The Casual Vacancy?
• What’s the one thing no one knows about you except you?
• Was writing The Casual Vacancy difficult or easier than you expected?
• When you were poor, what was your favorite gift?
• In these technological times, what do you use to write?
• What is your worse quality?
• What’s your favorite part in The Casual Vacancy?
• What is your favorite food?
• Did any of your new characters make you cry?
• What would make you scream?
• Do you ever feel insecure as a writer?
• What’s the silliest thing you’ve ever done?
• Is The Casual Vacancy related to any part of your life?
• If a cockroach crawled up your foot right now, what would you do?
• How did you come up with the title: The Casual Vacancy?
• What’s in your bucket list?
• How would your friends and family describe you?
• What are your weaknesses?
• What’s on your night table?
• What can’t you live without?
• What are your hobbies?
• What makes your heart beat faster than usual?
• What’s your worse fear?
• What would make you the happiest person alive?

[Nicolas]

It's difficult to write a novel with only muggles and squids as main characters? Was there sort of an "empty" space to fill for you or it came naturally? Could it be that Robbie's death has something to do with a dementor prescence in the park?

Thank you, loved the book.

[John Paulo]

Literary works ,as I understand, contain a part of the life of the author. What motivates you to write this book?

[Jeimy]

Many actors get typecast after playing a particularly memorable role. After the Harry Potter series, was that something you feared -to be known as someone who could/should only write fantasy for young adult readers?

[Jamie]

I hold on to the past a lot and really can't bring myself to read the casual vacancy, (I did buy it as I love your writing) but I feel like I would be betraying Harry as stupid as it sounds how would you say it compares to HP and what would you tell me about it to convince me to move on? Lol

[Aaron]

What were the reasons for not choosing a pen name like previously suggested, and do you think the book would have been as well received had you gone the nom de plum route?

[Judy]

I read "The Casual Vacancy" and really enjoyed the depth that you took the story to - so many secrets and stories intertwined. Were any of the characters based on people that you know or knew? Your characters seem so real - but then, to me, so did those in the Harry Potter series...Thanks for a really enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to your next novel!


Judith Plante

[Sammee]

The characters in your tale are awful people; do you really think people are that horrible?

[Ryannon]

Dear J.K Rowling,
What was it like writing The Casual Vacancy, an adult novel, compared to your previous works? Why do you think it was like this?
Thank you for your novels, they make me who i am :)

[Erica-Lynn]

Can you talk about how Charles Dickens helped shape you as an author? Sadly, he has somewhat fallen "out of fashion" in America compared to Jane Austin; what about Dickens' writing has continued to influence you and influence this novel?

[Ananya]

Dear J.K Rowling
How was it like when many people objected to you writing an adults book. How did you feel at the time?

[Ilya]

Voldemort or Vladimir Putin - who's the impersonation of absolute evil?

[Jessica]

It seemed to me that most of the men in the book were presented in a rather evil or harsh light. Is there a particular reason for this? Or is that just how the characters turned out?

[Kristy]

Dear Jo Rowling,

First of all, I am a big Harry Potter-fan, so I would like to thank you for writing about Harry and changing my life. And although I normally don't read novels like 'The Casual Vacancy', I really enjoyed the book.
I was wondering: what character do you relate to the most? (if you relate to any)
Thank you for being the author that created and saved my interest in reading and writing!

[Rehan]

Did any aspects of Harry Potter carry over vaguely into The Casual Vacancy in a more realistic version?

[Sandie]

Do you regret writing this? Did you enjoy writing this or Harry Potter more?

[Frances]

put off reading casual vacancy because I had enjoyed the Harry Potter series so much, but when I read it I enjoyed it....will you be writing more with these characters?

[Christian]

What inspired you to make up this characters and does the book have a tiny connection to Harry Potter knowing that "The Casual Vacancies" starts with a death and it evolves around it? Oh and by the way, you did an amazing job entertaining me and your other fans with Harry Potter.

[rineve]

Who is your favorite character on this novel?

[Maria]

Which storyline with which characters is your favorite and why? Which is your least favorite?

[Mereki]

If you could have given Krystal any future, not what the book needed to have so much power, what future could/would have been a possibility for her?

[Lizbeth]

What do you prefer to writing a single novel compared to a series of books?

[Princess Dil]

You've said you write Harry Potter for yourself when depressd, What/Who did you write this for?

[Eric]

If you could spend a day with J.R.R. Tolkien or C.S. Lewis whom would you choose?

[Kim]

Do you take in Harry Potter in any way in your normal life and how?

[Kimberly]

I've read that some of your inspiration for names of characters in Harry Potter came from some of your favorite books, for example, that the word "Dumbledore" came from Hardy's Mayor of Casterbridge, etc. Were the names of characters in The Casual Vacancy inspired by any of your other literary favorites?

[Sarah]

The Casual Vacancy has received so much comments about its dominating themes : Social Issues, Politics and Poverty, what would you tell the people about it?

[Regina]

Did you want [i]The Casual Vacancy to make[/i] to make a social statement about poverty and the poor?

[Alison]

Do you enjoy writing more toward an audience of adults or young adults? Please explain. How does your personal connection between writing The Casual Vacancy and the Harry Potter series differ?

[Loren]

After being entrenched for so many years writing Harry Potter, How did it feel to write about something completely different and grounded? As a reader, I have to disassociate myself from the previous world you created for us that I've chosen to live in for over 11 years now so as a writer how did you feel whilst writing well.. Not about Harry and his friends? Thank you for all the beautiful work you continue to produce.

[Fátima]

If you had so much success with the Harry Potter's series (a children/young adult's books), how come you wanted to write about something completely different, especially an adult novel?

[Gab]

How were the challenges of writing a mundane setting different from those of writing a magical setting? Which one do you prefer?

[Liz]

Hello, Ms. Rowling! I found this book both deeply moving and disturbing because of its raw and uncensored look into the world of social services. As a social work student, I found myself grieving for Krystal and her circumstances. I wonder how you decided to make Krystal an important central figure in the novel? So many people would have cast her aside as a one-dimensional "lost soul" character, but you have her the life she deserved. What was that process like for you?

[Cheryl]

What will Fats be like as a man?

[Francella]

I saw a quote once from you (supposedly) that said something about every author puts a part of themselves into their characters. what characters have you put the most of 'yourself' into and what parts of you have you put in?

I'd just like to say thank you for everything. I can't express how much Harry Potter means to me. It's been hard to accept it's over and I still talk about it and reference it with friends daily. I can't wait to have kids and make them Potterheads XD
Thank you,
'Always'
Francella

[Amelia]

You truly proved yourself as an author capable of writing in many genres and I must commend you for that. I also think it'd be unfair if I ask you a question so as to compare the Harry Potter series with The Casual Vacancy, since they are two separate books, each like two individuals.

What I wanted to know, is what prompted you to write this book, and deal with the issues that you did.

[Christine]

After writing a whole series from one character's perspective, what made you decide to tell this story from almost every character's perspective?

[Theresea]

I have not had the opportunity to read The Casual Vacancy yet, but as an avid Harry Potter fan (in my late 40's no less), how does the swing from such an epic coming of age/fight against the ultimate evil compared to the type of book that The Casual Vacancy is feel to you both as an author and as a person? What prompted such a change, and will you be doing more adult books, or will you consider doing more young adult reads?

[Books]

i wanna ask about something different becasuse it,s 100% different than harry potter i knew it,s adult book and it,s ur first experience in that kind of books the question is where you are in all this novel ?

[Catherine]

The story of Casual Vacancy was very familiar to me. I was raised in the Catholic Church (my father became a deacon after I graduated high school, but took classes all during my child hood). So the "fishbowl" view of many of the characters was familiar. What made you decide to right this book from this perspective? You brought a whole village to life and yet made the characters very complex. I am sure your own life is reflected in some of the characters, but why choose to expose the proverbial "dirty little secrets" of small town living?

[George]

After writing the Harry Potter series, using a 1 to 10(best) scale, how would you rate your writing of the Casual Vacancy ?

[Dan]

Your book features several topics that are barely referenced, if at all, in Harry Potter - specifically, drug use, child abuse, and sex. Did you find it challenging to tackle such difficult material, especially since it stands in such sharp contrast to the material covered in your previous works?

[bipasha]

What inspired you to write this book and an adult book at that especially after the harry potter fame?
I mean, do you plan on making it a series like harry potter too?
Thank you for this opportunity to ask a question, really appreciate it.

[Heshima]

What mental preparation did you have to go through(if any), prior to sitting down to write Casual Vacancy? Did you stay away from home or in a town similar to the one in Casual Vacancy?

[Sharon]

Harry Potter's idea was found on a train, and you immediately knew that you had to write 7 books, one for each of Harry's year.

Was it as "easy" to structure The Casual Vacancy, and what troubles did you face when changing genres?

[Gina]

I loved this book and found it incredibly profound, my question would be;

Do you think people will view the character of Krystal as a victim of societies ignorance or as a heroine because she chose to end her life on her terms?

[Francella]

Dear J.K, wow... How do I address one of the greatest inspiration and influences in my life?
What made you want to write something so different from HP and did you ever have to remind yourself that characters would do things the "muggle way" after writing HP for so long?
Also, I've heard so many rumours about whether or not you're going to write more from HP, could you give me an answer. do you think you will ever write more. and if so, what sort of time will it be in ie. next generation, the marauders etc...
Just incase my question does get chosen, which I doubt, I'd like to say thank you for everything and bringing much more than just magic to my childhood.
Love 'Always',
Francella x

[Leyana]

I love you J.K. Rowling :)

[Erika]

There was one question in my mind while I was reading "The Casual vacancy" named; How much are your own experiences in these stories?