Taking Questions

[Garth]

You can post your questions for Garth Stein here about A Sudden Light, or about writing in general.

[Elizabeth]

What can I hope for with your new book A Sudden Light?

[Helen]

I finished your book last week. I didn't love it but I did enjoy it. Do you mind when people want to compare this book with "The art of racing in the rain"? I read some reviews before getting A Sudden Light and they did not make me want to read the book. I read it anyway. Many reviewers said they expected more from you. More what?

[Jeanette]

Garth - first thing I want to say is thank you for doing what you do! I've enjoyed reading both "A Sudden Light" and "The Art of Racing in the Rain" (as well as the cute little adventure that is "Enzo Races in the Rain.").

As a reader I find that I am in awe of writers who can write about emotionally heavy subjects in such a beautiful and intimate way that I feel you did in both of these books. In particular with "A Sudden Light", there were so many different broken souls and the aftermath of the decisions they made.

The writer in me wants to ask how you cope with spending long amounts of time with these characters and their trauma, without feeling weighed down by it all?

[Garth]

Elizabeth wrote: "What can I hope for with your new book A Sudden Light?"

The answers to all the riddles in the universe! Well, maybe not all. But you can hope for a lively, enjoyable read, fascinating interplay between intriguing characters, a touch of magical realism, a strong story that raises questions about who we are and why we’re here, some laughter and tears along the way, and a wonderful catharsis at the end. That doesn’t sound bad, right?

[Garth]

Helen wrote: "I finished your book last week. I didn't love it but I did enjoy it. Do you mind when people want to compare this book with "The art of racing in the rain"? I read some reviews before getting A S..."

Sorry you didn’t love it. I guess “enjoy” is pretty good.

I think it’s natural to compare books by the same author to see how his or her ideas and style have evolved. If you look at my first two books, Raven Stole the Moon and How Evan Broke His Head and Other Secrets, you’ll see that the ideas behind my books are pretty consistent, but the story and style change. I like to try different things in my writing—variety is good, I think.

As for what other people "expected," I have no idea. Maybe you should ask them in the comment section of their reviews!

[Garth]

Jeanette wrote: "Garth - first thing I want to say is thank you for doing what you do! I've enjoyed reading both "A Sudden Light" and "The Art of Racing in the Rain" (as well as the cute little adventure that is "E..."

Oh, what a wonderful question! I think a number of things are at work.

First, there's my relationship with the character. John Irving says he has to love every character in his books. I don't feel I have to love my characters, but I do have to see that each character is redeemable. I have to believe in my characters, and trust that, if the circumstances are right, they will pull through. (And yet they might fail!)

Second, I think that writing a novel is rather like being a war zone photographer. Have you ever seen those tragic photos taken during war? How could a photographer stand there and take that picture? Well, part of it is the camera. By looking through a camera, the photographer gains a certain detachment. "I've got to do my job," he or she thinks. There's something of that in writing a novel. "I know this is tragic and devastating, but I've got to do my job and tell the story so that others will hear it."

[Jeanette]

Woah - love that war zone photographer analogy! Thanks for your reply.

[Michelle]

I was wondering why you decided to tell the story of A Sudden Light from 38 yr. old Trevor's perspective, rather than just have 14 yr. old Trevor tell us the story as its happening?

Thanks, loved the book! I also have tried coffee with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and its delicious, thank you for that too!

[Jeanette]

Another one - regarding the deeply passionate theme of environmentalism that runs through this story. Does this stem from a personal philosophy of your own, or was this inspired while writing the story? Part of me feels there is a personal base to this. If so, how often do you find things that inspire you in real life weaving their way into your fictional characters' worlds?

[Michelle]

Hi again, Garth. I thought of another question I have. I was wondering why the character of Abraham wasn't more prevalent in the story? I was kind of expecting to learn more about him along the way, even though I enjoyed Benjamin's story tremendously.

[Michelle]

I love how Serena was all bent out of shape at Samuel for not eating his chicken yet she has no problem with him venturing out of the house at all hours of the day and night, or the fact that he has access to a barn full of power tools! That really told me how messed up she was and I got a kick out of that.

[Helen]

You are correct Garth, I should of written a comment to those reviewers. Enjoy is better than pretty good. I did love the characters and I thought her husband was kind of a goober for needing a PI to find his wife.

Oh, I have cousins on Bainbridge Island.

[Jeanette]

Serena was a wonderfully complex character - I kept wavering between feeling amused or occasionally repulsed by her actions. And once I looked at her from the point-of-view of her having some mental health issues... there were some moments of sympathy. There were a few moments when I wanted to rescue Grandpa Samuel from her too.

Not sure about the icecream in the - was it coffee - that she made either!

[Garth]

Michelle wrote: "I was wondering why you decided to tell the story of A Sudden Light from 38 yr. old Trevor's perspective, rather than just have 14 yr. old Trevor tell us the story as its happening?

Thanks, loved..."

Ah, two reasons. First, if it had been told my 14 y.o. Trevor, everything would have been in discovery. In other words, he would have had no ability to step outside of the narrative and describe the history of the Riddell family, as older Trevor can do.

Second, by putting this lens on the narrative (old Trevor telling his family about what happened when he was a kid), I was able to set the bulk of the narrative in 1990, which is a pre-digital, innocent time. I wanted Trevor to feel totally isolated when he got to The North Estate.

Third (did I say two?), 14 years old is young in many respects, so I wanted the more mature perspective of some of the relationships within the family as well.

Thanks for the question!

[Garth]

Jeanette wrote: "Another one - regarding the deeply passionate theme of environmentalism that runs through this story. Does this stem from a personal philosophy of your own, or was this inspired while writing the s..."

I think people who grow up in the NW have a special connection with nature because it's such a part of our lives. The more research I did about the history of the NW, the more I discovered about the conflicted nature of developing this area. Yes, the trees were in abundance and were easy pickings. But it was a time that the nation and world was undergoing a major change in thinking about our relationship with nature. Thus the ideas of transcendentalism and conservation. Teddy Roosevelt was a major force behind all of this. I recommend you check out Tim Egan's fantastic book, The Big Burn, if you're interested in knowing more about the era...

[Garth]

Michelle wrote: "Hi again, Garth. I thought of another question I have. I was wondering why the character of Abraham wasn't more prevalent in the story? I was kind of expecting to learn more about him along the way..."

Ha! I have a ton of stuff on Abraham and Samuel, but it got cut. Unfortunately, the book could only be so long!

[Jeanette]

Which element of - or character from - "A Sudden Light" first appeared to you? I'm curious as to how the story began and how it evolved into the many-layered tale in the final draft.

Also - were there any particular characters that were more or less vocal than the others when it came to them telling you their story?

[Garth]

Jeanette wrote: "Serena was a wonderfully complex character - I kept wavering between feeling amused or occasionally repulsed by her actions. And once I looked at her from the point-of-view of her having some menta..."

Serena was a joy to write. She's really a very damaged person. Think about what happened to her when she was 11 years old, and then she was essentially left to raise herself. She never left Riddell House and educated herself with old movies and old books. And in her mind, always, was this dream that her brother would return to her. Imagine how that dream could become twisted over the years...

As for ice cream in coffee, have you ever tried it? My aunt, Margaret, used to give it to me and my sister when we were little. (Is that legal?) But you don't need my aunt or Trevor's aunt to enjoy it. In Italian it's called affogato! http://whatscookingamerica.net/Bevera...

[Michelle]

Thank-you for answering my questions! Very interesting to know. I imagine it would be VERY difficult to decide what elements to leave out of the story, especially with such dynamic characters. My book club are currently reading A Sudden Light, so I'm happy to be able to share your answers when we have our discussion. I will read anything you write - you are among my favorite authors of all time. Thanks Again. Best regards to you and yours, Michelle.

[Garth]

Jeanette wrote: "Which element of - or character from - "A Sudden Light" first appeared to you? I'm curious as to how the story began and how it evolved into the many-layered tale in the final draft.

Also - were ..."

Believe it or not, the house first appeared. I wrote the story as a play first, and I thought of a house being a character that communicates with the inhabitants. Then Jones and his mother. Samuel and Serena filled in. Trevor was not in the play, but carries the narrative weight in the novel...

As for the second question, Serena was pretty vociferous, as you can imagine. Ben and Harry were very strong. Samuel started more angry and disjointed, and then I realized the love between he and Trevor was quite a salve for his broken soul....

[Garth]

Georgia wrote: "Hi Garth! As an author, what do you think about Hollywood making a movie out of your book? Would you like to see someone give it a shot, or just leave it alone as the great book it is? Personall..."

They're not making Enzo talk, but apparently they're moving ahead with the film of ARR. My jury is still out....

I'd love to see A Sudden Light made. If someone were interested, I think I'd write the screenplay with my wife. She's pretty awesome like that.

I still think Evan would make a good film. And NBC optioned but never made Raven. For a while, Demi Moore was interested, apparently, but someone told her she couldn't play an Indian. "Jenna is a quarter Tlingit," I would have told her. "Demi can play a quarter Tlingit!" But, oh well....

[Haylee]

Hi, I'm 13 and I loved Racing in the Rain. I want to be an author when I grow up and I was wondering if you have any advice for writers like me. I am writing two books right now.

[Jeanette]

When writing a novel, what is your 'writing routine' like - do you write for a specific length of time at a favoured time of day? Do you prefer using a desktop/laptop, or write by hand... or a combination of these?

You mentioned John Irving before - what other authors' work do you admire (whether from books you read as an adult or those you read when you were younger)?

[Michael]

Hi Garth,

I haven't read "A Sudden Light," yet but I plan to. I just recently read "The Art of Racing in the Rain," and loved it. I'm doing my senior research on the book, so I was wondering if you could answer a question I had about it.

I thought Enzo’s mantra “that which you manifest is before you” was a beautifully written summary of one of the book’s main themes: the idea that we create our own destiny. I was wondering if you could expand a bit on what you think this means, or what it was that led you to this idea.

Thanks!
-Michael

[Russ]

Hey Garth--
I read somewhere that Elizabeth Gilbert had a difficult time writing her next book after EAT PRAY LOVE, due to its enormous success. Did you have any problems getting back to work or managing expectations after your runaway blockbuster, The Art of Racing in the Rain? Surely, the pressure for a follow-up from the dog book community must have been intense!

Keep up the great work. Looking forward to A Sudden Light!

[Garth]

Haylee wrote: "Hi, I'm 13 and I loved Racing in the Rain. I want to be an author when I grow up and I was wondering if you have any advice for writers like me. I am writing two books right now."
It's good to practice your craft, Haylee, so I'm glad you're writing. But you really have to read a lot, too. And really read carefully and study what the writer is doing. Remember, there are no accidents in fiction. There are plenty of mistakes, but not accidents.

Keep it up!

[Garth]

Jeanette wrote: "When writing a novel, what is your 'writing routine' like - do you write for a specific length of time at a favoured time of day? Do you prefer using a desktop/laptop, or write by hand... or a comb..."

I'm a little scattered in this regard, Jeanette. My mornings are usually about business, exercise, and meditation. I write in the afternoons mostly, when I'm tired. (Yes, fatigue helps me write! When I'm tired I don't think so much!) Right now I'm working on something I'm pretty excited about, so after dinner with my family and hang out time with my littlest one (my teenagers don't want to hang out with me anymore), I go back into my office and write again from about 9:00 to 11:00.

Have you checked out the books of Carlos Ruiz Zafon? He's pretty awesome....

[Garth]

Russ wrote: "Hey Garth--
I read somewhere that Elizabeth Gilbert had a difficult time writing her next book after EAT PRAY LOVE, due to its enormous success. Did you have any problems getting bac..."

Here's the thing Russ, I write books about people going through dramatic and traumatic events, and how these characters find their way through the difficult times. One of my books happened to have a dog in it. It's not like I'm a dog specialist. So while I know some fans of ARR might be disappointed that Enzo isn't in A Sudden Light, I have to write what I have to write and hope that my readers will join me on the journey.

Thanks for the question!

[Arlene]

Garth, After my second read of both A Sudden Light & How Evan Broke his Head, and Other Secrets, I juxtaposed them for comparison. You probably received this question before: What is the significance of 14 year old male protagonists, as they appear in both aforementioned books? Does 14 hold a magic spell? I am hoping for something deep, rather than pure coincidence. Your reply is well appreciated. As always, forever follower, Arlene

[Arlene]

ps -- bye the way, Ice Cream in Coffee also appeared in both these books. Is that a significant recurring theme, and if so, why? still Arlene

[Jeanette]

I have heard of Carlos Ruiz Zafon - but haven't read any of his work... yet. Thanks for the tip, and also for answering my numerous questions! I'm looking forward to reading more of your work one day.

[Garth]

Arlene wrote: "Garth, After my second read of both A Sudden Light & How Evan Broke his Head, and Other Secrets, I juxtaposed them for comparison. You probably received this question before: What is the significa..."

I don't think it's coincidence, Arlene. I think the transition from child to adult is a very dramatic time in a person's life, I guess. Sort of still able to look at things innocently, but having had a peek at mortality. Something like that. I promise not to have a 14 y.o. in my next book. How's that sound?

[Garth]

Arlene wrote: "ps -- bye the way, Ice Cream in Coffee also appeared in both these books. Is that a significant recurring theme, and if so, why? still Arlene"

I totally forgot about that one, actually. That was a drink I remember from my childhood, so I guess I'm guilty of a little nostalgia every now and then...

See you!

[Arlene]

Appreciate explanation. Three is a charm, so why not have one more 14 y.o. in your next book.....unless it is a sequel, in which case that would be a stretch. Happy tales! Arlene BTW, Root Beer float was my beverage of choice:)

[Arlene]

Arlene wrote: "Appreciate explanation. Three is a charm, so why not have one more 14 y.o. in your next book.....unless it is a sequel, in which case that would be a stretch. Happy tales! Arlene, BTW, Root Be..."