Mindy McGinnis (Author of Not a Drop to Drink) Q&A Event Feb. 24th - 27th!

[Karen’s Library]

From February 24-27th, bestselling author Mindy McGinnis will be coming to our group to answer questions about her book, Not a Drop to Drink , her life as an author, and about anything else you all can come up with!! So get ready for the fun and start thinking of some questions to ask her!

AND Mindy has graciously offered us a signed hardback copy of her book for participants of this Q&A!

All you have to do to be entered to win is to ask Mindy a question! How easy is that?

If you haven't checked out her book yet, I encourage you to try it! It's an amazing story!!

AND it helps tremendously for Mindy and I to find the questions easier if you can put them in bold! Thanks so much everyone!


Questions:

Natalie - How did you come up with the title?

Victoria - I always enjoy hearing about the routines and habits of other authors, so my question is... Do you have a routine? If so, what is it? If not, why not?

Marianne - What would be your reaction to living in a world like the one Lynn lives in?

David - If you haven't read the book, do NOT click the spoiler part of this question. How hard was it to make the decision to (view spoiler)[kill Eli? (hide spoiler)]

Marianne - Do you listen to music to help you write?

Dre - Lynn was brought up with a hard mother, (view spoiler)[trusting or helping strangers were a big no-no, so basically shoot-first was always the motto, but when something happened to her mother, she suddenly became friendly to a neighbor within days. (hide spoiler)] Why was it easy for her to do so? It seems like a bit out of character for her.

Katherine - I love realistic dystopian novels. Is there going to be more from these characters to come or something entirely different to look forward to?

Jenny - My question is actually about the sequel. I've heard its more a companion story than a sequel. Can you confirm? Will any of the characters from the first book be in the sequel?

Lauren - As a YA librarian, how do the teens you work with on a daily basis react to your books?

Lauren- Have you had any particularly interesting fan encounters?

Lauren - What authors, books, movies, etc are you excited about as a librarian?

Meeks -I have to admit for a time I thought that Lynn's father was going to end up being Stebbs. Was this a conscious decision you made to up the tension and mystery or did I totally pull that out of nowhere?

Layla - What specifically inspired you to write this story, if anything?

Layla - What are some of your favorite books/authors?

Jen -While I agree that things happened the way they did for the setting, I still have to ask - (view spoiler)[ Why not Stebbs? (hide spoiler)]

Jen - Does anybody get a happy ending in the companion?

Jen - Were you the absolute genius who got to cast Cassandra Campbell for the audiobook?

Cindy - How do you come up with story ideas?

Sherrie - As a librarian how do you get teens excited about reading?

Sherrie - Also, what three books do you recommend to reluctant readers?

Karen - What surrounds you when you're writing (must have items!)

Karen - Do you have any pets?

Karen - When is going to be released?

Sandra - What were some of your greatest challenges in writing and publishing this novel? What did you learn from overcoming them?

Sandra - Based off your experience, what advice about this would you give to aspiring authors?

Marianne - What has been one of the best moments you've had in your writing career?

Cindy - What are you currently writing now?

Cindy - Are there going to be anymore books that take place in the world of Not a Drop to Drink ?

Cindy - Are you a full time author? or do you have another job or hobby you do?

Justine - If you were in Lynn's shoes would you have done anything different?

Jenny - What are some of your favorite things about being an author?

Karen - How do you make time to write, Mindy, with a full time job? Do you have a writing routine that you follow everyday? :)

Karen - Any chance you'll be at the UtopYA convention in Nashville in June?

Karen - Do you know any of Lynn's skills, i.e., shooting, hunting, skinning, etc.?

Karen - Would you be a survivor in a true apocalyptic world, such as the one you've created?

Karen - What's your FAVORITE fan moment?

Karen - You've mentioned your favorite things about being an author. What are your least favorite things?

Karen - Did you have any input in the cover designs of your books! I think they're brilliant because they come across representing the feel of the book!

Bridget - Which book was harder for you to write Not a Drop to Drink or A Handful of Dust? For most authors it seems that sequels are always more difficult was that the case for you?

Kelly - What's something you MUST have while writing?

Victoria - How, and why, did you pick your character names?

Victoria - Do you ever take advantage of quiet periods at work to do some writing?

Jenny - If you suddenly won millions of dollars in the lottery, what would you spend your money on?

Jesse - Which part of the world would you like to visit?

Linda - Were any of the characters in Not a Drop to Drink based on anyone you know?

Karen - What's your "publishing story"? How long did it take to become a published author?

Marianne - Is there a movie that you can watch over and over again?

Dre - If there's something that you can eat everyday if you, what would it be?

Dre - What is the most memorable moment of your life in 2013?

Dre - Given that your book is about survival, what do you think is the worst way to die?

J_P - Have you always known you wanted to be a writer?

Karah - Why did you choose to write this story?

Karah - Did you choose to write characters who you could relate with, or are they nothing like you?

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

I really liked this book, it was an amazing dystopian, so realistic!

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

AMAZING!! I LOVED this book and can't wait to get to know the author :) And that's super nice of her to giveaway a SIGNED BOOK woot woot!

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Yes, that always makes things more fun! PRIZES!!!

[Karen’s Library]

Definately a favorite book of mine! Scary realistic!

[Tracy]

Like Karen I found this book to be very realistic and the characters very likable. As I said in my review I could not pick a favorite character because they all brought something amazing to the table. I really enjoyed this original amazing story.

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

I couldn't agree more Tracy!

[Jen]

I loved this one. It renewed my love for apocalyptic dystopia. The characters were rich and interesting. I can't wait to ask Mindy about the plot -

[Jesse]

I finished this book yesterday, I really loved it

[Natalie (Never trust a duck)]

You guys always bring he best authors to this group, you honestly rock.

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Awww thanks, Natalie! All us mods work hard on this! :)

[Natalie (Never trust a duck)]

Thank YOU! You guys work brilliantly together.

[Karen’s Library]

Thanks Natalie! We do make an awesome team! I love working with Jenny and David on these!

[Karen’s Library]

Jen wrote: "I loved this one. It renewed my love for apocalyptic dystopia. The characters were rich and interesting. I can't wait to ask Mindy about the plot -"

Ask away my friend! :)

[Karen’s Library]

Jesse wrote: "I finished this book yesterday, I really loved it"

So glad you loved it too, Jesse!

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Karen wrote: "Thanks Natalie! We do make an awesome team! I love working with Jenny and David on these!"

Ditto!!

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

@Jesse- Awesome! SO glad you enjoyed it too :) Think up some good questions for the author!

@Natalie- Thank you SO MUCH! We really just want the group to be an awesome place for readers to experience things they wouldn't get to otherwise. I'm so proud that the author Q&As have done exactly that, and having some of the best YA authors in the world come to our group has been a dream come true for us mods too :) So glad you're enjoying them!

[Victoria]

I agree; it's a fantastic book, and I'm looking forward to book 2!

[Karen’s Library]

Who's excited for Mindy???

ME, ME!! *raises both hands*

2 more days!

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

I am!!

[Donna]

I haven't read the book but I hadn't read Lissa Price's books and I won the free copies which I am not on the second one and loving them. So I know nothing about Mindy's books but may see what I can find out and show up to see more about her.

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Great idea, Dnicole! I loved her book, it was very realistic dystopian!

[Victoria]

*Raises hand* I'm excited! I love these author Q&A sessions; even if I don't participate a lot of the time, but instead just quietly lurk in the background and read the posts.

[Natalie (Never trust a duck)]

Can we start asking??
either way XD
How did you come up with the title?

[Donna]

I guess since I have not read it yet, just the review summary, I am wondering how they protect the pond and how they get food....grow it? More to protect. It seems that people would be after not only the water but the food, the shelter and of course the power. I hope all this is addressed in the book, which I have put on my "to read" list. Thanks.

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Yup, go ahead, start asking your questions :)

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Victoria wrote: "*Raises hand* I'm excited! I love these author Q&A sessions; even if I don't participate a lot of the time, but instead just quietly lurk in the background and read the posts."

Nothing wrong with just reading everything :)

[Victoria]

I always enjoy hearing about the routines and habits of other authors, so my question is... Do you have a routine? If so, what is it? If not, why not?

[Jesse]

Hi Mindy I really loved your post-apocalyptic novel. I was so thrilled with it.

What inspire you to write ?

[Marianne (Boricuan Bookworms)]

Hi Mindy! I really loved Not a Drop to Drink and cannot wait for In A Handful of Dust!

My question to you is:

What would be your reaction to living in a world like the one Lynn lives in?

[Victoria]

Jenny wrote: "Victoria wrote: "*Raises hand* I'm excited! I love these author Q&A sessions; even if I don't participate a lot of the time, but instead just quietly lurk in the background and read the posts."

No..."

Good! :)

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

I'm SO EXCITED! Spoiler Alert! If you haven't read the book, do NOT click the spoiler part of this question. How hard was it to make the decision to (view spoiler)[kill Eli? (hide spoiler)] During our buddy read, we had a robust discussion about this decision, so I just had to ask you!

[Mindy]

Natalie (Never trust a duck) wrote: "Can we start asking??
either way XD
How did you come up with the title?"

Hi Natalie!

The title is from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, the title for the companion novel IN A HANDFUL OF DUST is from T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land. Both my characters Mother and Lynn use poetry - the words of others - to express their emotions, as they have a hard time doing it themselves.

[Mindy]

Victoria wrote: "I always enjoy hearing about the routines and habits of other authors, so my question is... Do you have a routine? If so, what is it? If not, why not?"

Hi Victoria -

I don't really have a routine so much as I just lie down in my bed after dark and start writing. I definitely don't write everyday, and I don't have a set time that I start or certain amount that I aim for when I begin, although I always want more than 1k words every time.

[Mindy]

Jesse wrote: "Hi Mindy I really loved your post-apocalyptic novel. I was so thrilled with it.

What inspire you to write ?"

Hi Jessie - thank you!

I watched a documentary called Blue Gold, which is about a projected shortage of potable water on our planet due to overpopulation. It was a horrible thought - we all need water to survive, and it's something we can't make. I went to bed very grateful for the small pond in my backyard, and that night I dreamt I was teaching a young girl how to operate a rifle so that she could help me protect the pond. I woke up and thought, "Hey... I wrote a book in my head just now."

[Mindy]

Marianne (Boricuan Bookworms) wrote: "Hi Mindy! I really loved Not a Drop to Drink and cannot wait for In A Handful of Dust!

My question to you is:

What would be your reaction to living in a world like the one Lynn lives in? "

Good question - and it's something I'd like every one to ask themselves after they read the book. Unfortunately I don't know what my answer is - I'd like to think that I wouldn't shoot people on sight, but then again, I like being alive, and I'd do anything necessary to stay that way. I think it's very hard for anyone to say what they would or would not do in a survival (or even a high stress) situation. We simply don't know until we are actually in it.

[Mindy]

David wrote: "I'm SO EXCITED! Spoiler Alert! If you haven't read the book, do NOT click the spoiler part of this question. How hard was it to make the decision to [spoilers removed] During our buddy read, we ha..."

Hi David. It was quite simple. I let my stories tell themselves. I don't plot, I don't plan. I simply sit down and write. When it came towards the end of this book, I knew that someone wasn't going to make it through the final showdown. It's completely unrealistic to assume that "the good guys" would all survive. I didn't know who wasn't going to make it until it actually happened, and when it did I thought to myself, "That makes sense." And I believe it does.

I often believe in true storytelling the decision isn't always the author's to make. We have to go with what the story wants.

[Marianne (Boricuan Bookworms)]

Thanks for answering my previous question! :)

Do you listen to music to help you write?

[Dre]

Hi Mindy! Super happy that you are here!

I just finished your book, and something was bothering me...

- Lynn was brought up with a hard mother, (view spoiler)[trusting or helping strangers were a big no-no, so basically shoot-first was always the motto, but when something happened to her mother, she suddenly became friendly to a neighbor within days. (hide spoiler)] Why was it easy for her to do so? It seems like a bit out of character for her.

[Katherine]

I love realistic dystopian novels. Is there going to be more from these characters to come or something entirely different to look forward to?

[Karen’s Library]

Please put your questions in bold if you can! Thanks!! :)

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Hi, Mindy, thanks so much for joining us this week! I loved your book!

My question is actually about the sequel. I've heard its more a companion story than a sequel. Can you confirm? Will any of the characters from the first book be in the sequel?

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Mindy wrote: "Jesse wrote: "Hi Mindy I really loved your post-apocalyptic novel. I was so thrilled with it.

What inspire you to write ?"

Hi Jessie - thank you!

I watch..."

Wow, what an amazing dream that must have been! The premise of this one scared me quite a bit, I loved the realism so much!

[Lauren]

Hi Mindy! Thanks for dropping by our group to answer our questions. I haven't read Not a Drop to Drink yet, but it doesn't sound very interesting and I've added it to my to-read list. :)

As a YA librarian, how do the teens you work with on a daily basis react to your books? Have you had any particularly interesting fan encounters? What authors, books, movies, etc are you excited about as a librarian?

Thanks again!

[Melissa]

I have to admit for a time I thought that Lynn's father was going to end up being Stebbs. Was this a conscious decision you made to up the tension and mystery or did I totally pull that out of nowhere?

I LOVED this story and cannot wait for the companion novel. Thanks!

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Meeks, I thought the same thing for awhile as well!

[Jen]

Mindy wrote: "I often believe in true storytelling the decision isn't always the author's to make. We have to go with what the story wants. ."

I knew it. I have long believed that sometimes the characters will just run away with the story. While I agree that things happened the way they did for the setting, I still have to ask - (view spoiler)[ Why not Stebbs? (hide spoiler)] I got to the end and just sat and wondered - just like in real life - why things couldn't have gone a completely different direction.

Regardless, it was a 5-star book hands down. Along with Jenny's question, I have to add this: Does anybody get a happy ending in the companion? This is such a raw, bleak world - a bright spot wouldn't be expected but it would be nice!

And one last thing - were you the absolute genius who got to cast Cassandra Campbell for the audiobook? She was fabulous! She completely captured the feel and tone of the story, and she nailed Lynn and Stebbs. I listen to audiobooks most of the time, so I know a good narrator when I hear one - and she was great and did your book proud.

[Karen’s Library]

Wow! Really amazing questions already!! Keep them coming!! ;-)

[Victoria]

Great answers so far.

I'm glad you don't have much of a routine, because it makes me feel better about not having one, LOL!

That dream sounds amazing, and I completely agree that quite often the story tells itself and the author has to let things happen.

[cindy ♡]

How do you come up with story ideas?