Live Chat With Kimberly Derting

[Kimberly]

I think I did it, you guys! If I missed anyone's questions, tweet me @kimberlyderting

And thank you SO MUCH for showing up with such amazing questions! Seriously, you all really made me think tonight!!!!

XO

[Kimberly]

Joanna wrote: "Kimberly wrote...."

No worries!

And sorry about the essence question. I just remember at the end that when Max touched her, there were "sparks" (or something,) or when she was shocked, or when......"

Don't apologize--your question made perfect sense! Just because *I* know these things, doesn't always mean everyone else does ;)

[Heather]

Kimberly wrote: "I think I did it, you guys! If I missed anyone's questions, tweet me @kimberlyderting

And thank you SO MUCH for showing up with such amazing questions! Seriously, you all really made me think toni..."


Thank you! :-)

[Kimberly]

Heather wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "I think I did it, you guys! If I missed anyone's questions, tweet me @kimberlyderting

And thank you SO MUCH for showing up with such amazing questions! Seriously, you all really m..."

You're welcome!

[Colleen]

Okay I am like the lamest host ever! I actually took a nap today, something I almost never do and slept through Kimberly's chat! I'm very mad at myself. Especially because I'm such a big fan. Reading through the whole chat now though. Didn't want to miss anything.

[Colleen]

Kimberly wrote: "Valerie wrote: "i loved how you explored the concept of segregating people by language and i just wanted to say that i would probably have been one of the first executed for violating the whole eye..."

I also would have a huge problem with the eye contact thing. The interesting thing about American Sign Language (which is the only other language I know) is that eye contact is a must. It's considered rude to look away. So the concept is pretty foreign to me which makes it even more interesting.

[Colleen]

Kimberly wrote: "Shara wrote: "I'm a fan on long names that you can shorten and have options open for your whole life. I also like girls that have boy's names, they seem tough and cool. Is that what you were goin..."

I want to know the story of Maximillion and Carlotta from Mexico now.

[Colleen]

Kimberly wrote: "Their class is ranked right up there with the Royals, so even those of the Counsel class would have to follow that rule"

Ah that's interesting and a different answer than I would have guessed. Cool!

[Colleen]

Kimberly wrote: "Mother Tongue being one of the suggestions!)....somehow I just couldn't handle the idea of a book with "tongue" in the title, lol, so thankfully, we landed on The Pledge."

I'm with you there. I wouldn't want tongue in the title either. I love the title of The Essence. It's perfect. But actually the other two fit really well. I was just curious if you had something else in mind when you began.

[Colleen]

Kimberly wrote: "Colleen wrote: "The glowing skin thing...is that a part of the essence (trying to keep it vague) or is that a result of Charlaina's sister's power?"

The essence never glowed BEFORE Charlie. The gl..."

I love the whole idea of it. It's freaky cool to have glowing skin that responds to emotion and touch.

[Colleen]

Kimberly wrote: "Colleen wrote: "Why don't the males get powers too?"

My world, my rules...and I didn't want them to have any ;)

Honestly, I didn't want the women to be physically more powerful/Amazonian necessar..."

Ah but except in the case of Niko. Right? He has royal blood or is he just different?

[Colleen]

Kimberly wrote: "I know it's scary and dangerous, but I LOVE the idea of a world where women hold all the cards. And as long as Sabara's not queen...it can't be all bad, right??? "

I'd have a hard time living without AC. ;) Unless they have it. It seems like a dystopian world though without a lot of technology so I'm assuming they don't. Still, I'd prefer that to serial killers. =)

[Colleen]

Kimberly wrote: "That's when she has to find out where she's been and what happened to her.

Like all of my books, it's a little dark...and there's a little kissing ;) "

Ooh the theories are already spinning. I'm thinking it's either body snatchers or alien abduction.

[Colleen]

Kimberly wrote: "Valerie wrote: "i enjoyed the transformation of Brooklynn's character and her role in the revolution. How she was more than she appeared in the beginning. And also how there wasn't the typical, cli..."

Brooklyn is one of my favorite female characters. Also I love her name.

[Colleen]

Kimberly wrote: "In The Essence I explore a lot more of the world, sending Charlie out to a summit where she meets several of the other queens. I wanted the chance to expand outside the palace--and even the city's--walls. ."

I loved the setting of the Essence. Loved the sheer material and gowns and the northern climate and the ice storms. So do you see this world as a mostly frozen sort of climate or was that unique to the landscape?

[Colleen]

Kimberly wrote: "Angelina stole my heart from the very first time I met her!"

I can see a whole spinoff series for her actually.

[Colleen]

And the winner of the Kimberly Derting prize pack is Heather! I will be reaching out to you on your Goodreads msg board and then send me your address. You win the whole Pledge series. Congrats!

[Colleen]

And again my deepest apologies for missing the chat! I will willingly accept whatever punishment Kimberly can devise-line edits, push ups, cooking her dinner for a week, sitting next to a weird dude at a conference so she doesn't have to, a fruit basket, naming a character after her, babysitting her pets while she tours, whatever she likes. Hope you all had fun despite my lameness!