David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite! discussion
Author Q&A
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Caragh M. O'Brien (author of the Birthmarked Trilogy) Q&A Event--Jan 26-29th
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I've read all of her books ( that's I lie I haven't read Promised, but it's on the TBR) and I love them!!
Dropping in to say hello! *waves* If you have a question for me, I'll do my best to answer. We're expecting a blizzard on the East Coast this week, which makes for good writing weather. Stay warm and safe, everybody. All best,
Caragh
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What is your favorite thing about being a writer?
Hey Caragh!!Do you have anything planned for after The Vault of Dreamers? If so, can you give us a hint?
Hello Caragh!!!!!Where do you get your inspiration for your books?
What is your favorite thing about being a writer?"Hi, Jenny!
My favorite thing about being a writer is the way that exploring my imagination connects me to other people. That may sound contradictory because the writing itself is so isolating, but imagining a novel is a deeply personal process for me, and when I hear back from a reader who fully identifies with a character, I feel like we’ve met in the same place and become friends. We understand each other. That’s my favorite thing.
Do you have anything planned for after The Vault of Dreamers? If so, can you give us a hint? "Hello, Justine!
I'm working on The Rule of Mirrors, the sequel to The Vault of Dreamers, and next I'll write a third part of the trilogy. After that, I'm not sure. I'm always getting ideas, but I'll have to consider carefully which ones to pursue. I'd love to write something funny, but that would be really hard.
Hi Caragh! Who are some of your favorite authors?
Where do you get your inspiration for your books?Hi, Stephanie!
I'm usually inspired by the young people I know or injustice I observe. I tend to confront ideas that challenge me through my novels, and once I'm writing, more ideas come from the project itself. For The Vault of Dreamers, for instance, I was inspired by creative students I knew, and I was concerned about our increasing lack of privacy. It interested me to put art students at a school with a million cameras, and then add evil.
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Hi Caragh,
how long have you been writing?
how long have you been writing?
Hi, Caragh!!!!Where is your favourite place to write?
Hi, Caragh! I was wondering if you have any writing quirks(have to have a certain snack, can only write in a certain place, need to listen to music etc.)?
Do you have a writing ritual? Something that always has to happen when you sit down to write?
Hello Caragh!I was wondering how long you have been writing,and what made you realize that you wanted to be a writer?
How did you decide to become a young adult writer?
Hello Caragh!Is there a particular book that you would recommend to introduce yourself to someone...like me, maybe ;-), who is unfamiliar with your work?
Hi Caragh! Thanks for stopping by to answer our questions! I'm really looking forward to reading The Vault of Dreamers. I read on your website that you were a high school English teacher before you began writing full time. What was your favorite book(s) to teach and why?
I LOVE covers. Beautiful covers for your books. Do you do your own? If not, how much input do you have? Do you have the final say?
Hello!! I am also one who is loving the covers, a cover can sell a book to me quick.My question is: Do you ever get writers block? or Do you have to do anything special to get yourself into writing mode? Music in the background? A specific location to get the writing rolling?
I love the birthmarked series so much, and I recommend them to EVERYONE! And I've already asked you a question about them on your page so I'll just ask a normal one: What is your favorite book that inspires you? Or just a favorite in general?
-Abigail
Jenny wrote: "From January 26-29th, bestselling author Caragh M O'Brien (author of the Birthmarked trilogy) will be coming to our group to answer questions about her books, her life as an author, and about anyth..."Hi Caragh
Are you inspired by friends, family, etc. to build your characters and make them feel so real?
Sophie
Hello Caragh,How do you take criticism?
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Hi, Jenny!
My favorite thing about being a writer is the way that exploring my imagination connects me to other people. That may sound contradict..."
That is really cool! I can only imagine how good that would feel :)
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Hi, Stephanie!
I'm usually inspired by the young people I know or injustice I observe. I tend to confront ideas that challenge me through my novel..."
I'm starting this book today, can't wait!!
4. Harlee--Who are some of your favorite authors? Hi, Harlee! Ooh, I could happily talk about books all day. Most recently, my favorite YA writers are Mary Pearson (Kiss of Deception) and Marie Rutkoski (The Winner’s Curse). I also like Jane Austen (naturally), Jack London, David Hair, Maya Angelou, and poet Billy Collins. These days, I’m reading Fire Country by David Estes. Maybe you’ve heard of him. ☺
5. David--Do you have any pets? If so, do they ever distract you from your work?
Hello, David! Congrats on the release of Burn today! Woot! No, I don’t have any pets, but I take care of my daughter’s dog Waffles sometimes when he’s visiting. Does that count? We used to have turtles, and they were good company until they started dying. We set the last one free.
6. Nancy--how long have you been writing?
Hi, Nancy! I started keeping a journal and writing stories in 7th grade, and I began writing full time in 2010 to keep up with deadlines for the Birthmarked trilogy. So, I’ve been writing for decades.
7. Claire--Where is your favourite place to write?
Hi, Claire! My favorite spot is the couch in my library where I can have my feet up and lots of uninterrupted quiet. I’m here now, ready for a blizzard.
8. Melissa--I was wondering if you have any writing quirks(have to have a certain snack, can only write in a certain place, need to listen to music etc.)?
Hi, Melissa! You sound like you might be a writer yourself.
While I’m a naturally quirky person, I'm pretty dull when I write. I can basically write in any situation because as soon as I’m in the fictional world, I no longer notice where I am or require anything particular.
9. Tia--Do you have a writing ritual? Something that always has to happen when you sit down to write?
Hi, Tia! No, I don’t have a particular writing ritual, but I tend to have a routine. I get up in the morning, exercise, have breakfast, and start writing. Sometimes I have to turn off my Internet so I won’t get distracted by the fun out there, but otherwise, I keep working through the day.
What do you enjoy most about writing dystopian fiction? What was the hardest struggle about it?
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Aww Waffles is such a cute name! It definitely counts.
Have you ever used a personal experience for any of your books? twisting it in any way so it would fit the story and still feel like you were there?
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What's your favorite fan moment/story?
I've always wondered how do author chose the names of their characters? Is there a reason for there names or do you chose them randomly?
And if its random you could always use my name :P
Hello Caragh!!! This is brilliant, thanks for answering this groups questions :DWho is YOUR top book boyfriend?
Who would you want to co-write a book about?
Loving this! Such great questions guys! Love reading your answers Caragh! (And yes, I am a writer!) My next question for you is:If you could co-write a book with another author, who would it be and why?
10. Chloe--I was wondering how long you have been writing, and what made you realize that you wanted to be a writer? Hello, Chloe! I’ve been writing since I was a kid, but I didn’t think I was doing anything special with my writing or that I was particularly good at it. Back then, it seemed like everyone kept diaries. Journals were assigned in seventh grade, and before that, we wrote stories and plays for the fun of it. It was only in my last year of college that I thought about being a writer seriously, like for a job. I was taking a creative writing course at Williams College, and that’s when I began writing with purpose. Tinkering with stories intrigued me like nothing else ever had, and I was hooked.
11. Shantella--How did you decide to become a young adult writer?
Hi, Shantella! I love this question. I’m definitely a young adult writer, but I never actually decided to be one. I wrote Birthmarked because I was fascinated by Gaia Stone, a teen midwife living in a dystopian future, and I wrote the best novel I possibly could. I’d been teaching 9th graders and reading books they recommended to me, so I knew what I liked about fast-paced, character-driven novels. Those qualities fit with what I was trying to do, and I was really happy and engrossed with Gaia’s story, so I blundered on and eventually turned into a YA author.
12. Ty--Is there a particular book that you would recommend to introduce yourself to someone...like me, maybe ;-), who is unfamiliar with your work?
Hi, Ty! That’s funny. Without knowing you, it’s hard to guess which novel might interest you most. Birthmarked is in the vein of a dystopian action adventure with midwifery and genetics, while Vault of Dreamers is more of a psychological game with layers of evil at a boarding school/reality TV show. I guess I’d suggest Birthmarked, because it’s a little like Fire Country, and I can assume you're an Estes fan.
13. Lauren--I read on your website that you were a high school English teacher before you began writing full time. What was your favorite book(s) to teach and why?
Hello, Lauren! I loved teaching high school English and I still have dreams about it, five years since I’ve been in the classroom. Mostly good. I liked teaching London’s The Call of the Wild because the ninth graders really embraced the concept of survival of the fittest. We could draw all kinds of parallels to social groups at school and invoke Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. I also really liked teaching Miller’s The Crucible in American Lit (11th grade) because I had capes and props that we used when we acted out the scenes. It was cool to consider the power dynamics in the relationships, especially the male/female ones (Oh, Abigail, *shakes head*), and the ultimate choice between integrity and life. That book is a dystopian story, if you ask me: an ideal society gone wrong.
14. Sherry--I LOVE covers. Beautiful covers for your books. Do you do your own? If not, how much input do you have? Do you have the final say?
Hello, Sherry! I love covers, too! My Birthmarked Trilogy’s paperback covers were done by Tim Green at Faceout Studio, and the Vault of Dreamers cover was created by Beth Clark, the Associate Art Director at Macmillan/Roaring Brook Press. I do not have the final say, which is fine by me because I completely trust the designers to figure out what will work best. They have tons of experience, and they run covers by Barnes & Nobles and such. I’m grateful for that.
I have one interesting case of input. When Tim was designing the cover for the third book in the Birthmarked trilogy, Promised, I was still working on the novel, and through my editor, we were able to swap ideas about the object that would be featured on the cover. I ended up combining a ribbon and a security anklet into a single bracelet, and then I adjusted the look of the bracelet in the book to go with the cover. So, in this case, the cover artist had input into the novel. I’m lucky to work with a publisher where this sort of collaboration is possible.
15. Kimmy--Do you ever get writers block? or Do you have to do anything special to get yourself into writing mode? Music in the background? A specific location to get the writing rolling?
Hello, Kimmy! I don't know if I’d call my problem writer’s block because I rarely actually stop writing, stymied, but I certainly have days where I write and delete, repetitively, so it appears that I’m making zero progress. I’ve had to accept that my process is messy, ridiculously so, and the only way to get through the backwards days is put the work in and keep trying. Eventually, the better ideas will emerge. Or so I tell myself. We have many voices in our head at this point.
As for special writing needs, you might see my reply to #8 above.
Thanks for the great questions! I'm shoveled out from two feet of snow, and I'll check back in again soon. Stay warm and safe!
Your work is amazing; I read all age groups and most genres. Sadly, not all people do so. Do you have ideas for an adult series in the future? What books are you working on now? Finally, do you use character arcs provided by your publisher, or do you keep track of traits yourself (or both)? Thank you.
When you write, how do you know what you'll write next? How do you keep the plot in your novels moving without getting stuck?
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Hi- I was wondering if your books are separate stories or are they connected by the same characters?Thanks,
Anne Marie
16. Abigail--What is your favorite book that inspires you? Or just a favorite in general? Hello again, Abigail! Thanks for your nice words about Birthmarked. I’m inspired by many different books, and I usually feel like I’m learning from whatever I’m reading. I just read When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds, for instance, and it not only helped me imagine the life of a black teenage guy growing up in Brooklyn, it also reminded me to linger in the scenes that develop character. Another favorite of mine is Levithan’s Every Day, which blew me away and reminded me to take risks with my own work.
17. Sophie--Are you inspired by friends, family, etc. to build your characters and make them feel so real?
Hi, Sophie! I’m glad my characters feel real to you. I’m definitely inspired by people I know, but that doesn’t mean I think of a particular friend or family member and try to build a character around them. It’s more that I recall how brilliant, honest, and courageous my students were, and that gives me the conviction to write about teens who are grappling with intense situations. Or I get my characters talking, and hear when their words sound true. I also know that real people are complex and not always at their best, so I don’t worry about making my characters consistent all the time. They surprise me that way, like real people, and then I want to spend time with them.
18. Opal--How many times have u nearly given up on writing?
Hello, Opal! That sounds like a question from a fellow writer who knows how hard this challenge is. I’ll tell you, I had a particularly bleak time just before my thirtieth birthday, when I hadn’t published anything for seven years and my latest novel had gone through a crushing round of rejections. In the face of that reality, I stuffed my ambition under the couch and realized I would be writing only for myself from then on, with zero expectation of publishing. It was harsh, but ultimately freeing. I had another time when I really did try to stop writing, and that was a decade later when I went back to school to earn my teaching certification. I was excited about my new career and totally strapped for time, but within a few months, I had to start another novel, too, and I worked on it during vacations. Something about writing satisfies me in a way that nothing else can, and I need to do it to feel fully alive. Even if I’m unable to continue publishing in the future and need to get a different job, I won’t give up that part of me. I hope that answers your question, and I hope, if you’re contemplating giving up writing, that you feel all right about your decision, whatever that is. You deserve to be happy, and if you’re writing isn’t making you happy, it’s okay to let it go for now.
19. Sana--How do you take criticism?
Hi, Sana! First of all, you need to know that just the thought of criticism sends me howling into a corner to hide. I’m too sensitive to be in a writer’s group, and I almost never ask anyone to read my writing because I’m already intensely critical of it myself, and I crumble when others dislike my stuff. This obviously presents some problems, because I do get criticism, but I get it only from my agent, from my loving sister when I’m ready to send her a draft, and from my editor who is a dream of patience, kindness, and brilliance. I trust these people, so I strive to take their comments graciously and with an open mind. I know some writers are urged to seek out criticism, but some of us thrive when we protect ourselves and explore wildly on our own.
20. Writeon--What do you enjoy most about writing dystopian fiction? What was the hardest struggle about it?
Hello, Writeon! One thing I like about dystopian fiction is the way a societal system becomes the bad guy. The main conflict of the novel is inherently big, with high stakes, and the characters are grappling with justice on a large scale. I like that challenge when I’m writing. As for the hardest struggle, I think that’s the same challenge that I have with any novel, and that’s constructing a tight plot. I have to revise many times before I’m satisfied with the how the conflict plays out, and with a dystopia, the larger conflict has to be reflected in personal, small-scale problems, too, in order for it to resonate.
21. Dalu--Have you ever used a personal experience for any of your books? twisting it in any way so it would fit the story and still feel like you were there?Hello, Dalu! I normally let my characters guide me into the scenes of a novel and use my personal experiences more from an emotional, gut level rather than in a strict parallel from life to fiction, but I did have one scene where I drew very much from a specific personal experience. My father died shortly before I wrote Birthmarked, and I know that experience informed the details and the emotion of the scene of a key death in the novel. It was pretty horrible for me to write, but it also felt true.
22. Karen--What's your favorite fan moment/story?
Hello, Karen! I was delighted to be invited here! I have to say, I have the nicest people in my corner, and when I hear from a reader who is excited about one of my books, I feel like I’ve made a friend. In one case, a young bookseller at Books of Wonder was super excited about Birthmarked, and when I met her in person, she gave me an orange, which is symbolic in the story. We struck up a correspondence. She also knew my editor, and we asked her to read a draft of Prized for us while it was in revision so we could get fresh feedback. Her response was incredibly encouraging at a time when I really needed it, and I was so grateful. Years later, we’re still friends, and I saw her again recently when I was on tour.
23. Watfa--I've always wondered how do author chose the names of their characters? Is there a reason for there names or do you chose them randomly?
Hi, Watfa! I have a mix of reasons why I choose character names. Sometimes, like with Gaia Stone, I pick a name with special significance. Since Gaia in Greek mythology is the earth mother, a powerful figure, that matched my character’s potential and her role as a midwife. Other times, like with Rosie Sinclair, I weigh the possible overtones of a name. Rosie feels like a very down-to-earth, strong name, invoking both Rosie the Riveter and one of my favorite cousins, while Sinclair sounds like an old, classy name to me, with “sin” suggesting both “saint” and “sin” itself, and “clarity” implied in the second syllable. At a certain level, her name reflects that her character is deeply complex. Dare I go on? I have key guys named Leon, Jack, Peter, Will, Linus, Burnham, and Jake, and I find that the characters with more common names take more work to make them individual, but then it’s worth it. A traditional or rare name says something about a character’s parents and conveys an entire upbringing, so it helps to choose names carefully.
24. Natalie--Who is YOUR top book boyfriend?
Hi, Natalie! It’s my pleasure to answer these questions. They’re great! As for my top book boyfriend, I confess I’ve had a special bond with Fitzwilliam Darcy from Pride and Prejudice for quite some time.
25. Natalie--Who would you want to co-write a book about?
I’m not sure. That sounds a little like nonfiction, which isn't my strength. Please see the answer to #26 below.
26. Melissa--If you could co-write a book with another author, who would it be and why?
Hi again, Melissa, fellow writer! Okay, so, I’ve been kind of kicking this around with myself, because I’m really intrigued by the idea of collaborating with someone. I have this friend, Cecil Castellucci, who writes all kinds of books—YA, picture books, graphic novels, adult books, hybrid books, you name it. I think she has an amazing mind, and it would be really cool to work with her. We’ve also shared the same editor in the past, we have the same agent, and we have similar work ethics. The reason I haven’t suggested it to her yet is because I’m committed to my current Vault of Dreamers trilogy for the next couple years and also, I don’t have a good idea. It’ll be really funny if she sees this.
Ah...Mr. Darcy has a special place in my heart too! I have a portrait of the gentleman hanging in my library :) I wondered, do you write chronologically or as ideas come to you and then figure out how they fit together later?
Hi!Will your books be released in Belgium and if they do, when?
Do you prefer cats or dogs or do you think the whole cat/dog-thing is rubbish and everybody should take a goldfish or something like that?
David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite!
Books mentioned in this topic
Captain Blood (other topics)Birthmarked (other topics)
Prized (other topics)
Promised (other topics)
Pride and Prejudice (other topics)
More...
Caragh has very generously donated a signed copy of The Vault of Dreamers, and this will be an international giveaway! To be entered, all you have to do is ask her a question!
And if you haven't checked out her books yet, I encourage you to try them!
Questions:
1. Jenny--What is your favorite thing about being a writer?
2. Justine--Do you have anything planned for after The Vault of Dreamers? If so, can you give us a hint?
3. Stephanie--Where do you get your inspiration for your books?
4. Harlee--Who are some of your favorite authors?
5. David--Do you have any pets? If so, do they ever distract you from your work?
6. Nancy--how long have you been writing?
7. Claire--Where is your favourite place to write?
8. Melissa--I was wondering if you have any writing quirks(have to have a certain snack, can only write in a certain place, need to listen to music etc.)?
9. Tia--Do you have a writing ritual? Something that always has to happen when you sit down to write?
10. Chloe--I was wondering how long you have been writing,and what made you realize that you wanted to be a writer?
11. Shantella--How did you decide to become a young adult writer?
12. Ty--Is there a particular book that you would recommend to introduce yourself to someone...like me, maybe ;-), who is unfamiliar with your work?
13. Lauren--I read on your website that you were a high school English teacher before you began writing full time. What was your favorite book(s) to teach and why?
14. Sherry--I LOVE covers. Beautiful covers for your books. Do you do your own? If not, how much input do you have? Do you have the final say?
15. Kimmy--Do you ever get writers block? or Do you have to do anything special to get yourself into writing mode? Music in the background? A specific location to get the writing rolling?
16. Abigail--What is your favorite book that inspires you? Or just a favorite in general?
17. Sophie--Are you inspired by friends, family, etc. to build your characters and make them feel so real?
18. Opal--How many times have u nearly given up on writing?
19. Sana--How do you take criticism?
20. Writeon--What do you enjoy most about writing dystopian fiction? What was the hardest struggle about it?
21. Dalu--Have you ever used a personal experience for any of your books? twisting it in any way so it would fit the story and still feel like you were there?
22. Karen--What's your favorite fan moment/story?
23. Watfa--I've always wondered how do author chose the names of their characters? Is there a reason for there names or do you chose them randomly?
24. Natalie--Who is YOUR top book boyfriend?
25. Natalie--Who would you want to co-write a book about?
26. Melissa--If you could co-write a book with another author, who would it be and why?
27. Yamile--do you find easier to to tell stories from the point of view of a female narrator? If so, what aspects of writing from the point of view of a boy/man make it harder to find the voice you are looking for?
28. Michelle--Do you have ideas for an adult series in the future?
29. Michelle--Do you use character arcs provided by your publisher, or do you keep track of traits yourself (or both)?
30. Cindy--When you write, how do you know what you'll write next? How do you keep the plot in your novels moving without getting stuck?
31. Jenny-- What are your thoughts on the current trend of YA books-to-movies adaptations?
32. Anne Marie--I was wondering if your books are separate stories or are they connected by the same characters?
33. Melissa--I wondered, do you write chronologically or as ideas come to you and then figure out how they fit together later?
34. Phaedra--Will your books be released in Belgium and if they do, when?
35. Phaedra--Do you prefer cats or dogs or do you think the whole cat/dog-thing is rubbish and everybody should take a goldfish or something like that?
36. Kelly--I really enjoyed the Birthmarked Trilogy, but see you've also brought out a couple of Loveswept romances back in the day. Just curious to which you've found more rewarding, romance or young adult and why.
37. JP--What made you decide to set The Vault of Dreamers (and I guess Birthmarked too) in the future? I just read Vault of Dreamers, and it surprised me when I found out it didn't take place in modern day. Why did you do that?
38. JP--What was your favorite book as a kid or teenager?