David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite! discussion
This topic is about
Mike Mullin
Author Q&A
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Mike Mullin (Author of the Ashfall trilogy) Q&A Event--Jan 13-19th
Sandra "Jeanz" wrote: "This reallyis a brilliant dystopian series, I've read Ashfall, Ashen Winter and Darla's Story. I love the latest cover how they all tie in. Though I also loved the original cover for Ashfall. . . ...."Thanks, Sandra! And thanks for being on board right from the beginning. You were one of the first to embrace my work.
I loved the original cover, too. But B&N's YA buyer hated it, so it had to change. I like the new covers as well, but I'll always have a special place in my heart for the black ASHFALL hardcover. By the way, signed first printings of the original hardback go for $45+ on rare book sites now.
Holly wrote: "I'm really looking forward to the Q&A starting!! I haven't yet read ASHFALL (boo! hiss!) though I DO have it on my Kindle and hopr to be able to read it before the discussion :) I follow Mike on Tw..."Welcome! And don't feel shy about jumping in on the discussion. It's okay--I have a mountain of a TBR pile myself. Seriously. Here's a photo: http://instagram.com/p/ic5lmHlsOj/ I'm not being super-careful about spoilers, though. Should I be?
Jennifer wrote: "I'm excited for this!! I've been lucky enough to have the chance to meet Mike twice and have both my books signed by him. I love the Ashfall series!!"The library in DeMotte is the bomb! I'd go back anytime. Great to see you again here, Jennifer.
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Thanks! I really appreciate the enthusiasm readers have shown in proselytizing my work. It helps!"
My pleasure :) I am a major book pusher of books I love, and your series is definitely one of my favorites!
Dnicole wrote: "Jenny wrote: "From January 13-19th, bestselling author Mike Mullin will be coming to our group to answer questions about his bestselling Ashfall series, his life as an author, and about anything el..."Aww, thanks!
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Mike, I'm so glad you here this week! Beyond excited!
First of all, I was addicted to your books from the first couple of pages...."
That's a LOT of research! Taking a road trip for research is a great excuse to travel though, right? ;)
Jenny wrote: "You were scarily accurate in how you portrayed the setting of Iowa."I've been to Iowa and NW Illinois five times in the last three years researching my books. My wife (who teaches fourth grade) got so tired of me using all her vacation time to visit Iowa, that she turned to me and said, "If you're going to use up all our vacations to research your books, you'd better set the next one in The Bahamas, Key West, or Italy." I replied, like the good husband I am, "yes dear."
Karen wrote: "Are you trained in martial arts, especially in the use of a bo staff (my weapon of choice by t..."Yes, I have a black belt in Songham Taekwondo from the American Taekwondo Association. I started taking taekwondo to learn to write my books better. I knew I was writing a hero's journey, and the hero normally has a special inner quality that enables him/her to persevere. (Magic for Harry Potter, the force for Skywalker, etc.) But I wanted to write a realistic book. So I settled on martial arts. The only problem? I didn't know any. So I signed up for taekwondo. I figured I'd do the free introductory month, learn enough to fake it, and write my book. But I got hooked and stuck with it. I still hit the dojahng twice a week.
I love the staff! When I was drafting ASHFALL, I was a color belt, and color belts don't typically do weapons in my dojahng. But I asked Master Parker to let me take a few classes, and she agreed. Now it's my best weapon. I have to master the forms for five weapons to test for second degree. Jahng Bong will definitely be one of them.
Karen wrote: "What does your typical day look like?"It varies a lot. But typically I get up, eat breakfast, and then try to write 500 words. When I get my 500 words, I give myself a reward. Many days that's a walk to the library about 8 blocks from my house. Then I try to write another 500 words. If I get my second 500 words, I get to eat lunch! Sometimes I'll write more, continuing in 500 word chunks. More often, I spend the afternoon and evening on other stuff--email, social media, doing contracts for author visits, etc.
Karen wrote: "What's next after the Ashfall series? "I'm drafting a young adult thriller now about a teen who sees a group of terrorists causing a plane to crash from the ground. He's the only one who knows how they are crashing planes, and they see him watching them. Chaos ensues.
Carl wrote: "Did you expect Darla to take over the book for so many readers?"I'm not surprised. Darla is based in part on my wife, Margaret. Margaret is just as tough, loyal and determined as Darla. But she can't fix our cars, darn it! Anyway, if you knew both of us, you'd agree that she's far more interesting than I am.
David wrote: "Thanks so much for stopping by our group, Mike! It's a true honor having an author of your caliber joining us :)How did you end up becoming an author? Did you always want to be an author? "
My pleasure! When I was growing up I wanted to be a fireman and a ballet dancer. (I dated a budding ballerina for a while.) I sort of stumbled into writing by virtue of getting fired from every other job I tried.
Rose wrote: "Any plans to bring Ashfall to the big screen? "I sold a two-year option for film rights six or eight months ago. The option holders are trying to turn it into a TV series, which I think could be quite good in the hands of the right people. Last I heard they were pitching AMC. It's a long shot, though--keep your fingers crossed!
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I've been to Iowa and NW Illinois five times in the last three years researching my books. My wife (who teaches f..."
HAHA, you are a good husband :)
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Jenny wrote: "Okay, you're favorite book of all time. Or several if you can't choose!"Here's the list of my 25 all-time favorite books: http://mikemullin.booklikes.com/shelf...
If I must pick only one: The River Between Us
Mike wrote: "Rose wrote: "Any plans to bring Ashfall to the big screen? "I sold a two-year option for film rights six or eight months ago. The option holders are trying to turn it into a TV series, which I th..."
I think a TV series would be perfect! Then it doesn't have to be cut short. I hope it happens!
Then it doesn't have to be cut short."Exactly. And it seems like a lot of the best book adaptations are happening on TV right now--Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead, e.g. They don't have as many creative or financial limitations as the movie studios do.
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I sold a two-year option for film rights six or eight months ago. The option holders are trying to turn it into a TV serie..."
I agree!! I think it would be much better!
Jenny wrote: "I haven't read The River Between Us, I'll have to check it out. I've only read a few of your favorites, although most of them are on my TBR list. Charlotte's Web--one of my favorites since I firs..."Graceling was incredible! And I liked Fire. But Bitterblue makes the list because the eponymous protagonist is an ordinary teen struggling in extraordinary circumstances. And there's a deep understory of memory and forgiveness that really resonated with me. Reminded me of the post-apartheid political struggles in South Africa.
Oh, and the cool thing about Charlotte's Web is that it holds up beautifully to rereading as an adult. It's a deceptively simple story with layer on layer of meaning. Still one of the best opening lines ever, too, "Where's Papa going with that ax?" If you're a true fan, make sure to read The Annotated Charlotte's Web. It's like taking a master class from White and Nordstrom (his editor). Lots of their correspondence about the book is included in the margins or end notes.
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I should reread those. It's been 20+ years.
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Hi Mike, I'm Jen and apparently the comic relief amid my good friends David, Karen, and Jenny. I absolutely loved Ashfall and Ashen Winter. Seriously - loved them. Loved them! I think it's the realism in light of all the science we hear of today. I know that at the end of Ashfall you made mention of the fact that in reality the explosion would probably be much worse. Man, I hope not, especially if it actually happens in our lifetime!I have two questions for you. First, it seems like every apocalyptic story depicts humanity sinking to its most base level. Why is that? Would people really be that bad? You have pockets of people helping each other, but holy cow those camps and especially isolation. Talk about a nightmare.
And secondly - Darla is amazingly talented when it comes to mechanics and the workings of things. Are you handy as well, and how did you come up with these inventions of Darlas?
Karen wrote: "What's your favorite fan moment/s?"I've done four or five author talks in juvenile detention centers now. A year after the writing workshop I gave at the Linn County Juvenile Detention Center in Cedar Rapids, IA, I got some fan mail that's still my favorite. I wrote about it here: http://mikemullinauthor.com/2012/10/2...
P.S. - I'm waving at you from just south of Shelbyville! I used to live in Castleton before my husband dragged me down here to the "Amish Triangle" between Shelbyville, Rushville, and Greensburg. Talk about the middle of nowhere! This city girl is lost - all my friends are up there in Fishers and Carmel and I'm up there for shopping all the time. Talk about true love. Get me outta here.
Jen wrote: "it seems like every apocalyptic story depicts humanity sinking to its most base level. Why is that? Would people really be that bad?"I researched this, like almost everything in ASHFALL. The books more influential to my depiction of people's disaster response were: A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities That Arise in Disaster, Zeitoun, and Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. The short answer is yes, disasters very quickly bring out both the best and the worst in human nature. After Katrina, more than 50,000 people from all over the country volunteered to help. The U.S. Coast Guard did amazing work. But it only took three days before disaster-related shootings began.
Jen wrote: "Darla is amazingly talented when it comes to mechanics and the workings of things. Are you handy as well, and how did you come up with these inventions of Darlas? "I'm a fair carpenter and handyman, but I don't have anything like Darla's mechanical aptitude. Whenever I need Darla to do something mechanical, I call my brother, who is an electrical engineer. (And, not coincidentally, named Paul. He's the model for Uncle Paul in the books.)
I'll say something like: so, Darla's got a farm workshop, some old bikes, and a broken pickup. The electric doesn't work. How would she recharge batteries?
Jen wrote: "P.S. - I'm waving at you from just south of Shelbyville! I used to live in Castleton before my husband dragged me down here to the "Amish Triangle" between Shelbyville, Rushville, and Greensburg. ..."Ah, sorry. I can give you an excuse to visit Indy, if that helps? Come to the SUNRISE launch party! Here's its FB page: https://www.facebook.com/events/52200.... If you feel like coming to the after-part at my house, shoot me a note & friend request on Facebook and I'll send you an invite to that, too. (We have to have an afterparty because we're not allowed to have alcohol in the children's bookstore. Go figure.)
Mike wrote: "Ah, sorry. I can give you an excuse to visit Indy, if that helps? Come to the SUNRISE launch party! Here's its FB page: https://www.facebook.com/events/52200.... If you feel like coming to the after-part at my house, shoot me a note & friend request on Facebook and I'll send you an invite to that, too. (We have to have an afterparty because we're not allowed to have alcohol in the children's bookstore. Go figure.) "Done! Whoa! Thank you! I'll do all 3. I'm guessing from the map that Kids Ink is in Broadripple? I'll have to come up and have a look before the party. Any chance to go to Broadripple is a good one. Looking forward to it would be kind of an understatement!
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Mike wrote: "Karen wrote: "What's next after the Ashfall series? "I'm drafting a young adult thriller now about a teen who sees a group of terrorists causing a plane to crash from the ground. He's the only on..."
Ohhhhh, that's the stuff that bookgasms are made from. We see so many young adult novels with revolutions and freedom fighters, I can't tell you how excited I am to see the flip side. My question is:
With the new series being what could be a sensitive subject for some, were you mindful of the possibility of racial profiling and the sensitivity towards the terrorist attacks in the U.S?
Hi David :). I haven't actually had time to read Ashfall yet but I have it downloaded on my ipod ready to read when I do. The question i want to ask you is : What makes Ashfall different and similar to other post apocalyptic books such as 'Inhuman' by Kat Falls, ' The Fifth wave' and others.
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I've done four or five author talks in juvenile detention centers now. A year after the writing workshop I gave at the Linn County Juvenile Detent..."
That gave me goosebumps, Mike! Thanks so much for sharing. I LOVE these stories!
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Me too!!
Jen wrote: "I'm guessing from the map that Kids Ink is in Broadripple? I'll have to come up and have a look before the party. Any chance to go to Broadripple is a good one. "It's very close to Broad Ripple. Technically in Butler-Tarkington, I think. My house is roughly downtown, about a twenty minute drive from Kids Ink. I'll look forward to meeting you in person!
Karen wrote: "I am green with jealousy, Jen!!! I want lots and lots of photos! ;-)"If you can make it to Indianapolis on 3/15, we'd love to have you, too. (Although that might come off the wrong way from a guy who writes about cannibalism, ha!)
Kelly (Diva Booknerd) wrote: "With the new series being what could be a sensitive subject for some, were you mindful of the possibility of racial profiling and the sensitivity towards the terrorist attacks in the U.S? "Absolutely. The opportunity to explore the pernicious effect of racial and religious profiling is one of the reasons the subject interests me.
Hamna wrote: "What makes Ashfall different and similar to other post apocalyptic books such as 'Inhuman' by Kat Falls, ' The Fifth wave' and others. "First, you get to experience the apocalypse through my protagonist's eyes. Most post-apocalyptic books start long afterward. Second, I made a commitment to intense realism with ASHFALL. Everything you read has been researched--as much as possible, I wrote what actually would happen if the Yellowstone eruption of 2.1 million years ago were to re-occur now. What makes ASHFALL similar to much other post-apocalyptic YA is that it's a hero's journey and coming of age story. There's an outer story about the disaster and an inner story about Alex's journey to becoming a man. There's also, as with many of these books, a romance, although that's not the central focus.
As a writer what are the pros and cons?
Jenny wrote: "As a writer what are the pros and cons?"Pros: I don't have a boss. God, I love not having a boss. I am a terrible employee.
Cons: Are there any? It's a high-status career, I set my own hours, mostly do what I want, write the kinds of things I love to read. I'm not making as much as I did in corporate America, but I'm making far more than I ever dreamed would be possible in year three of a career as a novelist. One con is that it does take a ton of work to get good enough to break in. 10,000 hours of focused practice. But if you want to get good at anything, it takes practice. And some days, writing is just plain hard work. But anything worth doing is hard work sometimes.
Is there any due dates for all of your books like how much times you get to write before your publisher wants it
Mike wrote: "Jen wrote: "I'm guessing from the map that Kids Ink is in Broadripple? I'll have to come up and have a look before the party. Any chance to go to Broadripple is a good one. "It's very close to Br..."
Likewise. I wish my Iowa and Arizona friends could be there as well - but I'll take lots of photos.
Mike wrote: "Pros: I don't have a boss. God, I love not having a boss. I am a terrible employee."
Is there a club for people like that? Do you have to be a writer? (lol!)
One more question: who would have gotten incinerated? How far from Yellowstone would you have to live to avoid the immediate stuff from the blast, i.e. the pyroclastic flow?
Hiya Mike!!!So, I feel really bad. Your book has been sitting on my To-read shelf collecting dust because as important as school is, it leaves little time to reading. Anywho, I plan to read your book soon because I've only heard good things about it.
This may be rather badly worded, but how do you come up with scenes in your books to put in between the main, important scenes? I guess you could call them the filler scenes that give the reader a break of the intensity of your book and just get to know the characters a bit better. Sorry if it makes no sense XD
David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite!
Books mentioned in this topic
Trickster's Choice (other topics)Trickster's Queen (other topics)
Way of the Pilgrim (other topics)
Donner Dinner Party (other topics)
A Short History of Nearly Everything (other topics)
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Ben has a huge role in SUNRISE. And not just as a military expert, although obviously that's important. I tried, as I do with all my characters, to show how he grows and changes through the book, and to develop his inner, emotional story, as well as his exterior story. Obviously we spend a lot more time with Alex and Darla in SUNRISE, but Ben gets enough page time that a few early readers have commented favorably.