David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite! discussion
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Kat Zhang
Author Q&A
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Kat Zhang (Author of What's Left of Me)Q&A Event--Feb 3-6
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I already own What's left of Me, but haven't gotten around to reading it yet. I hope I can read it before the Q&A!
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Don't forget to post them in bold so Kat and I can find them! Thanks!
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What's been your favorite fan experience?
If you were stranded on a desert island with one of your characters, who would it be and why?Thanks :)
Thanks for answering our questions! :) How did you come up with such a unique plot?
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What's your favorite thing to do that's NOT book/writing related?
I still haven't managed to read What's left of me :(. I hope I can read it soon, it sounds so good!Okay here are my questions:
- The Hybrid Chronicles is being shelved as Dystopia and science-fiction, what is it in these genres that appeals to you?
- As which genre would you yourself classify the Hyrbrid series?
- How would you describe What's Left of Me in a few sentences?
Thanks for having me, guys! It's great to talk with you all :) I'll start answering your questions asap!
What was your inspiration for these books? How did the idea come about and how did you transform that idea into the books?
How did you choose the names for Eva, Addie and all the other characters and why did you pick them?
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You're most welcome, Kat, thank YOU! Whenever you can squeeze us in is just fine, we're always here!
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We are beyond thrilled to have you! :)
I have a question about the world/society (spoilers ahead! I hope people here have read the first book):(view spoiler)
(sorry if this is answered in Once We Were - I've only read the first book).
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Jenny wrote: "Kritika, I put it under spoiler tags at the top! And its kind of answered in the second book--that actually becomes a huge plot point between Addie and Eva."Ok thanks! I'll spoiler tag my post too.
whoops...I guess I will have to read the second book haha
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Yay, Kat! We look forward to your answers!! This will be fun!!
Here are some of the questions answered! :) 1. Layla--Who is your favorite of all your characters, or who do you most identify with?
Hmm... Well, obviously, I rather have a soft spot for Eva, her being the main character and the POV character! I do feel like I know her best, from spending so much time in her head. However, I also have a thing (both in my own writing, and in other people's stories!) for side characters. Due to the nature of the books and the way they're written, I don't get to focus on some of the side characters as much as I'd like to.
If I had the chance, I'd have loved to put more attention on Dr. Lyanne, Devon, and Sabine.
2. Layla--What authors have inspired you most?
Around the time I first started playing around with writing books (age 12 or so), the three big books that influenced me were THE GOLDEN COMPASS, ENDER'S GAME, and GREEN ANGEL. Even now, I think those books still affect me and the way I write, though I haven't even read them in years!
I'd say books inspire me more than authors as far as my actual writing goes, but I'm often inspired by authors in my writing journey and the way I approach my writing career. I couldn't name them all!
3. Layla--What would a normal day in your life look like?
Ooh, hard to say. Back when I was in school (I'm recently graduated), I suppose my life was pretty similar to that of most college students, plus more email-answering/writing-related social media/writing. My life is pretty average, I'd say :) The nice thing about writing is being able to have a normal, usual life when you want to and also to be able to go on tour and and do events and things like that. I see those as more special days!
4. Karen--What's been your favorite fan experience?
In summer of 2013, three other writers and I did a 2.5 week tour across the North-Eastern US. In addition to the usual bookstore signings and stuff, we did free writing workshops for young people in about 7 different cities. It was a really great experience, and I loved talking with aspiring authors :)
5. Justine--If you were stranded on a desert island with one of your characters, who would it be and why?
Well, Dr. Lyanne is a doctor ;) And she'd be sure to keep a level head. I think we'd survive!
6. Katelyn--How did you come up with such a unique plot?
I don't have any super special story, sadly! I just got to wondering what it would be like if that little voice in the back of your head--your inner monologue, so to say--were an actual real, other person. What would it be like to live with someone else watching? What would it be like to watch someone else live, and be unable to do anything yourself? The rest of the plot and world came from those questions.
I'll get to more questions soon! :)
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Let's try that again, shall we? lol
Great answers, Kat! I especially loved the answer to #6! It is such an interesting concept and kind of strange to think about, but you made it work! I bet that workshop tour was a lot of fun!
What is your favorite thing about being a writer?
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Thanks, guys! Glad you're enjoying the answers :)7. David--What's your favorite thing to do that's NOT book/writing related?
I really love film, which means anything TV/movie related. I took film and screenwriting back in college, so I've gotten to take part in a few projects, and it was always a lot of fun. I really enjoy being on set and just making stories in a different media.
I also like to draw/paint. I've recently gotten more into digital art since getting myself a tablet :)
8. Lolita--The Hybrid Chronicles is being shelved as Dystopia and science-fiction, what is it in these genres that appeals to you?
I've always been a fan of darker stories, I think, and dystopia is primed for that, haha. I also really like how dystopia and sci-fi can tackle a lot of "real world" issues--not just on a grand, big picture level like government and society, but also on the level of human-to-human interactions--but elucidate it with a more fantastical twist. Sometimes, I think issues can be easier to tackle that way. Certainly, it can make for a more dramatic story!
9. Lolita-- As which genre would you yourself classify the Hyrbrid series?
I usually call it sci-fi-lite, or alternate reality. I don't like using the word dystopian to describe it, personally, because to me, dystopian stories take place in some kind of future, and the hybrid chronicles were never supposed to represent something our future could become.
10. Lolita-- How would you describe What's Left of Me in a few sentences?
Fifteen-year-old Eva fights for her right to survive in an alternate universe where two souls are born into each body and one is doomed to disappear. ;)
11. Kathryn--What advice would you give to someone trying to write a novel?
If you haven't finished it yet (especially if it's your first novel), don't focus on anything but actually getting the thing done. You don't need to worry about other stuff yet--there's time to get to it later, and right now, it can just be a big distraction. Get the story finished. Enjoy the process. This is writing at its purest, and it's a fabulous thing.
12. Kathryn-- Have you / would you ever do NaNoWriMo?
Yes, I have! I love NaNo. I finished my first book (not WLoM--this one was never published) when I was 17 or so through NaNoWriMo. Since then, I've done it a few couple times, but usually with a smaller goal. I'm not really a very fast writer--more slow and steady :P
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Vanilla or Chocolate?
Do you have any pets?
Do you have a sister? How do you think you would react having to share a body with someone?
13. Katie--What was your inspiration for these books? How did the idea come about and how did you transform that idea into the books? I talked a bit about this for Question 6, but in general, having an idea and having a fully written book are two very different things, haha. I've had many cool ideas that ended up not being nearly enough to sustain a book. In fact, I think most stories that are just "idea" tend to fall a little flat. You need character and plot, too, to really bring a story to life. Luckily for me, Eva and Addie and their struggles came to me pretty quickly after my initial two-souls concept :)
14. Katie--How did you choose the names for Eva, Addie and all the other characters and why did you pick them?
"Eva" I chose because I remembered a book I'd read years ago where "Eva" meant "life." I really liked the idea of a character having that name, since Eva is literally struggling to have the right to live. Addie and the rest of the names, I mostly chose based on what felt right.
15. Kritika-- *I don't know how to spoiler tag something! How do I do that? But yes, it's talked about a lot more in ONCE WE WERE :)
16. Jenny--What is your favorite thing about being a writer?
Hmm. I definitely just love story telling of all kinds. I love sharing stories, too. Sharing emotions. That kind of thing :)
17. Jenny-- Vanilla or Chocolate?
Vanilla!
18. Jenny--Do you have any pets?
Not right now, sadly. I've had a number in the past...fish, birds, 2 hamsters, a dwarf rabbit, a cat, a dog...I even had chickens for a bit when I lived in China ;)
19. Karah--Do you have a sister? How do you think you would react having to share a body with someone?
I'm an only child, actually! And I don't think I'd like sharing my body with anyone, haha. It would definitely be difficult to get along in our world like that.
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I don't have any pets at the moment, either, but I used to have tons growing up! I miss cats and dogs.
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And thanks to all the members who joined in and asked questions ;)
Of course, a very special thanks to Jenny for making it all happen!
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And you're welcome of course, but no need to thank me, I love doing it! :)
I hope everyone had fun, I know I did!! Thank you so much Kat, you've been awesome!!!
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is now OUT! The third and final book in the Hybrid Chronicles!
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David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite!
Books mentioned in this topic
Echoes of Us (other topics)What's Left of Me (other topics)
Once We Were (other topics)
And if you haven't checked out her books yet, I encourage you to try them! They are great dystopian reads!
Questions
1. Layla--Who is your favorite of all your characters, or who do you most identify with?
2. Layla--What authors have inspired you most?
3. Layla--What would a normal day in your life look like?
4. Karen--What's been your favorite fan experience?
5. Justine--If you were stranded on a desert island with one of your characters, who would it be and why?
6. Katelyn--How did you come up with such a unique plot?
7. David--What's your favorite thing to do that's NOT book/writing related?
8. Lolita--The Hybrid Chronicles is being shelved as Dystopia and science-fiction, what is it in these genres that appeals to you?
9. Lolita-- As which genre would you yourself classify the Hyrbrid series?
10. Lolita-- How would you describe What's Left of Me in a few sentences?
11. Kathryn--What advice would you give to someone trying to write a novel?
12. Kathryn-- Have you / would you ever do NaNoWriMo?
13. Katie--What was your inspiration for these books? How did the idea come about and how did you transform that idea into the books?
14. Katie--How did you choose the names for Eva, Addie and all the other characters and why did you pick them?
15. Kritika--(view spoiler)[At one point in What's Left of Me, Addie is recoiling at Eva's kiss. To me, this was a little weird, especially since people outside of America - where most people are hybrids - have romantic relationships and children. So how do romantic relationships work when you have two souls and only one body? (hide spoiler)]
16. Jenny--What is your favorite thing about being a writer?
17. Jenny-- Vanilla or Chocolate?
18. Jenny--Do you have any pets?
19. Karah--Do you have a sister? How do you think you would react having to share a body with someone?