Laini Taylor Official Fan Group discussion
Laini Taylor Q&A #3
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Marie-loup wrote: "Hi Laini,First of all, thanks for taking the time to answer your readers questions.
Well, obviously I love the Daughter of smoke and bone books! It's really refreshing, sensual and deep. And Kar..."
Hi Marie-loup! Thanks for the questions :-)
I chose Prague for the setting because I wanted it to be a real-world setting but still have a kind of Gothic, fairy-tale, anything-might-happen feeling. And I think Prague is perfect for that!
And the movie is coming along! The director is working with a screenwriter on what will hopefully be the final draft of the script. It's all very exciting :-)
J.F. wrote: "Hi again! :) I have another question though I think I already know the answer. Would there be a possibility that NoCaP would be made into a physical book?"Oh god I hope so, in some way. Since I don't e-read, it doesn't really feel like it exists to me yet. If I can't put it on my shelf, it's just an idea. I'm old school...
What authors inspired you to write such a feminist character?
Brandi wrote: "Hello Mrs.Taylor! So happy to see you answering our questions again.:)) I was wondering about the special edition books on the tour also. On another note I recently got a tattoo inspired by Karou (..."Hi Brandi! I can't wait to see the tattoo! Which tour stop will you be at? As for special editions, those are exclusive to B&N so they'll be at those stops.
Karou wasn't based on anyone. Really, she was this kind of wish fulfillment character, like the girl I wanted to be when I was 17, you know? Bold and arty and adventurous. (I still want that!) Cosplay details...You've got the "true" and "story" tattoos? How about the bullet scars, ha ha. (I hope not! ;-) The Kirin crescent moon knives. A thurible? No one has made a thurible yet...
Stacie wrote: "Hi Laini!I am so excited for DoGaM! I have it on pre-order here in England and can't wait for the release date! My question is when you wrote the trilogy who was your favourite character to write..."
Hi Stacie! Karou was always the first in my heart, but often it's the side characters who are "easier" to write. Zuzana came so naturally, her scenes just always leapt to life. Creeps like Razgut are fun too, the more eccentric, the easier, in a way. It's creating the more nuanced, subtle "realistic" emotional portraits that are the biggest challenge. Oh, Liraz and Hazael were fun too!
April wrote: "Hi Laini,I love this series! I think it is one of the most creative and original series I've read. I've heard rumors of a film adaptation, how would you feel about that and do you think Hollyw..."
Hi April! The film is in development at Universal, with the Roth Company producing. There director is Michael Gracey, and the visual development so far is stunning. I can't wait for the next step!
Romy wrote: "Laini Taylor, ruiner of grades. You know, I got Dreams and Monsters a week ago and rather than study for my psych exam I stayed up all night to fully immerse myself in your story. And I wept, laugh..."Hi Romy. Thank you so much! That's really lovely. I'm sorry I won't get to meet you on my tour. Maybe some day! :-)
Shveta wrote: "Hi, Laini!I have a question for you, too. Not only do I love your sense of worldbuilding (I even had my writing group examine the opening chapter to DoSaB to see how you did what you did), but I..."
*waves to Shveta* Hi!! :-)
Gosh, I don't know. I think the only answer is a TON of brainstorming. For all that I find I can't plot out the books or series, I still do a ton of "what if this" and "what if that" trying to come up with just the right balance of conflict and fun. I was never really comfortable writing about war, but I sort of inadvertently set myself up to do that in DoSaB and I had to just GULP and get on with it, and do the best I could.
It's certainly been on my mind the past few months that I don't want my next book to have those kind of massive stakes, but something a bit more contained, localized. It was scary!
Carl wrote: "A writing question (I asked a version of this at a previous discussion and you said you'd think on it).NOCAP starts somewhat in the darker tone of the novels. But after Zuzana's description of Ki..."
Hi Carl! I recall this question from before. Thanks for coming back! I think the only answer is that the story found its groove as I wrote it, and because it was written on time stolen from DREAMS, I didn't subject it to massive editorial scrutiny. I may have worried about that seeming lack of cohesion if I'd had the time, but I'm glad I didn't. I like that it starts in a more formal way and then loosens up into the characters of Zuze and Mik. It feels right to me. And I love that opening, with the puppet that bites. And I think that I had to acknowledge the foundation of darkness, to fit this episode into its proper place in the series, before moving on to the lightness that surround Zuze and Mik. If it were purely buoyant, it would feel glib or something, like it's too divorced from the main story. But really, it just is what it is :-)
Clarrissa wrote: "First of all, I love all your books...I think I've got them all read. I know that I definitely had to have them in both hardcover and also on my kindle, so you just keep earning from me. :) My qu..."Hi Clarrissa! (And others who've mentioned Dreamdark.) I just want to say that it was never my intent to stop at Silksinger, but publishing is funny sometimes, and authors often don't get their way. But I do very much hope to finish that series some day. I think about it often. It will be a matter of timing, really. Thank you so much for keeping Magpie and co alive! :-)
Laini,I am sad that your book tour does not bring you to Seattle. I love Portland though so maybe I will run into you there sometime. Perhaps at Powell's? :)
Hi, Laini!First off, I just wanted to say that it is so cool you're doing this and answering all these questions. You're the best!!
Also, I had a couple quick questions, one on writing and one on the books themselves.
Writing wise (I'm working towards becoming a writer myself), do you ever struggle with writer's block? How do you combat it? Any tips?
Bookwise, I just want to first say that I absolutely adore Liraz - she's one of my favorite female characters ever. Anyway, my question - how did you come up with the ideas and develop the characters in the story? The DOSAB trilogy really has some of the strongest characters I've ever run across, and I was wondering how you did it. Where did you get the ideas for amazing figures such as Brimstone and Liraz, and how did you develop them?
Thanks so much for even reading this, whether you answer it or not - you are awesome and a great writer!!
I'm not sure if this a spoiler or not .I'm really interested in the sirithar and nithlam ,since it gets talked about a lot during the books . Can you explain where that came from ? Is it magic ? Is emotion ? Or is more spiritual like reaching nirvana ? I just re-read the chapter in d.o.b.s where akiva explains it,I can't put my finger on it.
I adore these books by the way :)
Hi J.F.! I think my overwhelming feeling this time was racing-the-clock relief. I really cut it soooo close. Well, of course there was huge pride too, and sadness, but "the end" has never been *quite* so emotional to me since my first book, Blackbringer, when I literally burst into tears. I think I was just too exhausted to process it!