Elizabeth Wein (Author of Code Name Verity) Q&A Event--June 9-12th

[Donna]

I am so sorry I have not read your book, waiting for the digital copy to be available at my library. But I do want to ask if you write every day. It must be hard to if you do.

[☆Joycedale☆]

Did you see this article that mentions your book (although not by name) yesterday?
http://m.theatlantic.com/entertainmen...

[Michael]

What is your next book going to be about?

[Harlee]

What is your favorite fantasy creature?

[Elizabeth]

Apologies for not checking in yesterday. Remember I told you my number one time-consuming activity was laundry? My husband and I spent the entire evening dismantling our tumble dryer, replacing the drive belt on it, and putting the whole thing back together. It was an epic performance and SUCCESSFUL and we both decided we are in the wrong line of work.

I’ve been thinking about my response for Hamna since Monday and I’m still not sure what the appropriate answer is! (Not to the first question, “Who is my favourite character.” Apart from the obvious answers of Verity/Maddie, I’m going to go with Anna Engel. I love her for her courage and ambiguity and for taking responsibility for her own actions.) Hamna asks what my response is to some readers' criticism of CNV as having a “dead emotional plot.”

I don’t really think there’s any answer to this other than that everyone’s different and not every reader is going to like every book. Code Name Verity is a very literary book and demands a great deal of investment from its readers. I’m guessing that anyone who doesn’t find the book “emotional” basically hasn’t read very far—AND THAT’S OKAY. Often, when I see someone tweeting or updating their progress to say they are 100 pages into CNV and are bored, I just want to tell them to STOP READING. The book probably isn’t for them.

I actually find it quite baffling when people complain about the so-called “technical details” of CNV. I know there is one paragraph, near the beginning, describing how a Puss Moth’s wings fold up. Other than that I’m not really sure what people are referring to. Possibly the name of an individual aircraft sounds like a “technical detail” if you aren’t aware there are differences between planes? Or maybe when Verity describes early radar operations it sounds a bit like a science lesson? (view spoiler)[The thing is, her description of radar contains foreshadowing of both the thematic green flash and her own eventual death, not to mention that it’s the single section in the book that she is REALLY STRESSED about writing, and Thibaut is beating her up to force her to keep going, so (hide spoiler)] if you’re finding that part too technical you’re not really paying attention to what the narrator is actually telling you.

To the question, “what is my response,” the serious answer is that I try not to respond to it. Reading a book is all down to the reader. If you can’t find the emotional plot in Code Name Verity, you’re definitely reading the wrong book for your personal reading tastes. It’s a book about a pilot. It has planes in it.

I’ve already talked about how little input I had in the cover, but I did sweat over the blurb to go on the jacket flap and back cover. Here was my original suggestion, which was completely rejected (ultimately, the editors are better at writing cover copy than the authors, I think; I can see now that I was being way too subtle and literary with this, but it’s fun to be able to share it):

---------------

SS-Hauptsturmführer Amadeus von Linden
Ormaie Gestapo HQ
JB-S/Observations/November 1943

Last week: the British prisoner withstood considerable pressure under prolonged interrogation, but did eventually cooperate in producing all codes associated with the eleven wireless radios captured at the enemy aircraft crash site.

In her written confession she now pleads ignorance of European invasion plans, location of illicit weapons, contact with subversives, etc. However, she has agreed to detail for us her inside knowledge of services and organisations auxiliary to the Royal Air Force.

Her enlightening report describing the operational career of the female pilot who ferried her into France is so far proving to be surprisingly entertaining. Like Scheherazade, her execution will silence a born storyteller.

She does not have 1001 nights. She has two weeks.

---------------------

OH MY, you can see why they asked for something else! Although I think I have done a good job there of capturing von Linden's probable voice.

Heather, Code Name Verity is definitely my favorite of my own books, but The Sunbird is a close second.

Vivien, if I could have lunch with any author dead or alive I would choose Laura Ingalls Wilder!

The difficulty I have in writing from one point of view or another doesn’t have anything to do with whether they’re male or female – it is entirely wrapped up in character. I had no trouble at all writing from Medraut’s point of view in The Winter Prince, or Telemakos’s in The Sunbird and The Mark of Solomon books. I had no trouble writing from Verity’s point of view. But Goewin’s point of view in A Coalition of Lions and Maddie’s in Code Name Verity were hard for me – probably because they are more practical characters (and they aren’t themselves readers!). Maddie writes such plain English and is so straightforward that I had to keep reigning myself in when I wanted to use figurative language in her prose!

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Elizabeth, I don't get the criticism either...I think you are probably right, and the book is just not for that particular reader. I read a lot of literary fiction, so this book read fast for me. I was never bored while reading!

Wow, that's pretty impressive with your dryer skills there! Sounds like a promising career (NOT!) I think you should stick with writing :)

Thanks so much for dropping by this week, Elizabeth, its been so much fun to have you here!

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Okay, peeps, today is the LAST DAY to get in your questions for Elizabeth!

[Zoe]

When I see those reviews, I have to wonder if they read the same book. I have zero interest in planes, but I had no complaints with Code Name Verity. But of course, not every book is for everyone.

[Karen’s Library]

This Q&A has been absolutely amazing!! Thank you so much, Elizabeth, for sharing with the group! Loved your original blurb and even your laundry story! ;) I just downloaded CNV from Sync and plan to buy a copy as well as I like to be able to switch back and forth between listening and reading!

What's been your favorite fan moment?

[Harlee]

Thank you Elizabeth for stopping by and answering all our questions! :)

[Elizabeth]

The hardest part of becoming an author – Cindy’s question – is probably all the waiting. It is a very slow-moving process. You write a book – it takes me, on average, a couple of years. You submit the manuscript – at least another couple of months before anyone gets back to you, maybe as long as another couple of years before they agree to buy it (even if you’re already successful). Then another six months to iron out the contracts. Two years to publication. Anxious months waiting for reviews and sales figures to come in. The best thing to do is to move on to the next project and not bite your nails waiting for the next piece of news to roll in!

Holly and Michael, my current project, which I’m just finishing up, is called Black Dove, White Raven , set in Ethiopia in 1935 during the Italian invasion. Megan asked if there would be a character appearing in cameo from my other books in this one, but there isn’t going to be. It’s set a little earlier than the other books and all the other characters would be too young! I love it that you noticed Theo in CNV! (She first appeared in a short story called “Something Worth Doing” in Firebirds Soaring: An Anthology of Original Speculative Fiction, edited by Sharyn November). And yes, Zoe, (view spoiler)[Anna Engel is the same Anna Engel in both books. I think maybe she seems different because we meet her in such different, and unflattering, circumstances in Rose Under Fire.) (hide spoiler)] After Black Dove, I’m going to set a book in Scotland! I’m excited about that.

I love living in Scotland (Lauren’s question) and I’m not sure I’d want to live anywhere else at this point. I always used to say that Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania, was my “Favorite place in the whole world” and I do enjoy being there – it’s where I spent all my summers as a child. I’d like to see the Northern Lights someday - I'm not fussed about where.

Jenny, I don’t usually listen to any particular music as I write, but sometimes I get hung up on a particular theme or album. When I was writing Code Name Verity I had a strong association with Nanci Griffith’s “Flyer.” (Not just that song, but every song on the album.) And also Mendelssohn’s “Hebrides Overture.

I wouldn’t change anything about my books, Tommy, believe it or not. By the time I’ve finished them they are basically the way I want them. I guess if there was one thing I would have liked to do differently would be to have The Mark of Solomon published as a single book. But that wouldn’t have essentially changed the nature of The Lion Hunter or The Empty Kingdom.

Joycedale, thanks for pointing out that awesome article in The Atlantic. That link to CNV put a huge spike in my website traffic!

For my favorite fantasy creature I’m going to go with manticore. It’s not really one I like very much, but definitely the one I find the most fascinating. Manticores turn up in very subtle forms in a lot of my books. Nice question, Harlee.

[Elizabeth]

Stephanie, it’s always rewarding to know that I’ve managed to spread the word about the Rabbits. You asked if anything I learned in my research was surprising, and I think what really blew me away was the story of their rebellion in Ravensbrück. I had meant to set Rose Under Fire there but I hadn’t known about the Rabbits until I started reading about the camp. When I discovered their rebellion I knew that this was going to become the focus of the Ravensbrück plotline. I was also fascinated by the rebellion at Auschwitz, which Rose mentions as helping to inspire the Rabbits’ own resistance.

I’ve had numerous wonderful fan moments, Karen… there was the time an online friend came up to me in a signing and handed me a Hershey’s chocolate bar (a Rose reference that made me shriek!). I also have a huge soft spot in my heart for the woman who drove ten hours up to Virginia and back to attend a bookstore event dressed as Maddie!

[Teal]

Julie says that her 'fatal flaw' is always playing the game. She can't stop pretending. Do you think that this a problem that writers often have? (yourself included) Do you get stuck in character's heads even when you aren't writing?
I also noticed the both Julie and Telemakos are called by lots of different names. Is this to show how different people see them, or how they are trying to be seen?
Thanks!

[Elizabeth]

I do get stuck in my characters' heads! I know so much of their back story. There is a lot more going on in Julie's world than I have actually written (and for that matter, in the worlds of all my characters). It's almost as though I'm constantly working on my own fanfic in my head.

Julie & Telemakos do go by many different names. And for a number of reasons. In addition to the ones you mention, there's also the simple fact that they are both undercover agents who actually do have different identities or disguises. But there's something different going on for each of them - Julie thinks of her different names as representing different roles she plays... Telemakos tends to be given names that he doesn't really feel are fitting. It's an interesting thing to think about.

I do tend to mess around with my characters' names in general. Lleu, in the short story "Fire," gets his name taken away from him, and then he's given a different name. Rose, too, has her name "taken" from her when she becomes a prisoner, and Maddie has to pretend to be Kathe Habicht. I guess identity is something that I am subconsciously obsessed with.

[Teal]

Teal wrote: "Julie says that her 'fatal flaw' is always playing the game. She can't stop pretending. Do you think that this a problem that writers often have? (yourself included) Do you get stuck in character's..."
Thats all really interesting. Speaking of identity, with a name like Elizabeth there are a LOT of potential nicknames. Are there any you go by or have good/bad associations with?
And if you write anything else in Julie's world I'll be willing to read it, wireless code included.

[Holly]

Elizabeth wrote: "The hardest part of becoming an author – Cindy’s question – is probably all the waiting. It is a very slow-moving process. You write a book – it takes me, on average, a couple of years. You submit ..."

Just checked out the blurb for your book, and it sounds amazing! I can't wait to read it! :)

[Elizabeth]

And if you write anything else in Julie's world I'll be willing to read it, wireless code included.

*scurries off cackling to write code*

Interesting question re my own name! I slavishly call myself and introduce myself as "Elizabeth" but all my acquaintances call me Liz anyway. My family and very intimate friends call me Lizzie. There is one close set of old friends in the same family who call me Libby. I used to get called "Beth" by a couple of music teachers and I really hated it.

My best friends, many people in the writerly world and all my bell ringing buddies call me E. Wein. And that is what I call myself. It's how I sign myself and how I address myself.

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

Thanks so much for stopping by and spending so much of your time with us, Elizabeth! I think you've given us some of the most detailed answers we've received from any author, which made the Q&A so interesting!

And I can't wait to see who wins the prizes!

[Elizabeth]

my pleasure. Thanks for having me!

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

You are MOST welcome back anytime!

[Mkittysamom]

Oops I missed this 12 hours ago... My stupid internet keeps going out on me..went to hotel last weekend hoping to get some reviewing done...the power went out and they were full..told me only 80 ppl could use the wifi @ one time...sigh. I'm so behind I haven't even gotten a chance to read A Code Named Verity. I hope it was fun!! Thanks I will make it to the next one!

[Karen’s Library]

This was such a fun and amazing Q&A! Thank you so much, Elizabeth! I'm loving the audiobook, by the way! :)

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

Meghan wrote: "Oops I missed this 12 hours ago... My stupid internet keeps going out on me..went to hotel last weekend hoping to get some reviewing done...the power went out and they were full..told me only 80 pp..."

Aww sorry Megan, we missed you!! See you at the next one :)

[Elizabeth]

So pleased to hear people are checking out the audiobook! Enjoy!

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

I got the audiobook too, Elizabeth, can't wait, I've heard it's spectacular!

[Mkittysamom]

David wrote: "Meghan wrote: "Oops I missed this 12 hours ago... My stupid internet keeps going out on me..went to hotel last weekend hoping to get some reviewing done...the power went out and they were full..tol..."

Thanks!

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Okay, guys you'll have to bear with me a little for this giveaway as its a bit tricky!

So far, for winners I have:

Zoe won a Hardback signed copy of Code Name Verity!
Holly won a Hardback signed copy of Rose Under Fire!
Katie.g won a Paperback signed copy of Code Name Verity!

I also picked Hamna as a winner, but I need to verify which country she is from, so her prize is pending on that! And then I'll know which country to pick the final winner for! So stay tuned :)

All 4 of you, I have sent you a message, so check your inboxes! And CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

[Holly]

Jenny wrote: "Okay, guys you'll have to bear with me a little for this giveaway as its a bit tricky!

So far, for winners I have:

Zoe won a Hardback signed copy of Code Name Verity!
Holly won a Hardback signed ..."

Thank you so much!! :)

[Harlee]

Congrats winners!! :)

[☆Joycedale☆]

Congrats guys!

[Mkittysamom]

☆Joycedale☆ wrote: "Congrats guys!"

Congrats! I really want to read this book now ;) great job with the questions!

[Karen’s Library]

Congrats to the winners!! WOOT WOOT!! :D

[Zoe]

Jenny wrote: "Okay, guys you'll have to bear with me a little for this giveaway as its a bit tricky!

So far, for winners I have:

Zoe won a Hardback signed copy of Code Name Verity!
Holly won a Hardback signed ..."

Hooray! I'm so excited :D Thank you!!

[Katie.g]

Me too Zoe. Thank you. I can't wait :)

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

Amazing! COngrats to all you awesome winners!! And a HUGE thanks to Elizabeth for such AMAZING prizes :)

[Sherrie]

Congrats Winners!

[Elizabeth]

congrats from me too :D

[Lauren]

Congrats you guys!

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Okay, I've verified Hamna as a winner of a signed Paperback copy of Rose Under Fire!

Our last winner is....Kritika! Kritika wona signed paperback copy of Code Name Verity! Congratulations!

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

Wow!! Congrats Hamna and Kritika!!

[Hamna]

Thanks you so much!! I'm so happy and lucky :D

[Elizabeth]

They're all signed and packed and ready to go in the mail!

[Kritika]

Thank you so much, Elizabeth! Also thanks to Jenny for organizing the Q&A!

[Karen’s Library]

Elizabeth, I'm a little over half way through the audio of CNV. My mouth is seriously hanging open. Not only is the book exceptional, the narrator is incredible!!! Well done!

[Karen’s Library]

And congrats to Hamna and Kritika!! How exciting for you guys! Eeepp!!! ;-D

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

Karen wrote: "Elizabeth, I'm a little over half way through the audio of CNV. My mouth is seriously hanging open. Not only is the book exceptional, the narrator is incredible!!! Well done!"

I'm at the exact same place and couldn't agree more!

[Elizabeth]

thanks, guys! So pleased you were inspired to pick up the book.

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Kritika wrote: "Thank you so much, Elizabeth! Also thanks to Jenny for organizing the Q&A!"

You're more than welcome :)

[Zoe]

I got my signed copy yesterday! It now has a place of honor on my bookshelf. :) Thank you!

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Yay, Zoe!!