Ask Libba Bray - Special One-Day-Only Group discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
Ask Libba!
Hey Libba! I was just curious about the sexual repression that Mary Lou feels in Beauty Queens and where you drew her character from. She really struck a chord in me.
What did your writing process look like for Going Bovine?
And if I were to ACTUALLY cross stitch “I know why you did it. You are an eco-friendly fembot who survives on the tears of teen girls. With the tears I have shed, you will live forever." on a pillow, would you accept it as a present? Because I'm totally thinking about it.
Hi,Libby BrayIm a huge fan of your Gemma Doyle books! i was just wondering if the it true there is going to be a movie based on the books,and if you were going to continue the story line for a the Gemma Doyle books if so what would it talk about and when can we expect it to come out?
Im love your Gemma Doyle books so much but i really want to know why you killed Kartik!? i loved so much and i really would have liked for him to end up with Gemma...after all she went through i thought she deserved to be happy... it broke my heart when he died...i mean i actually cried!!! But over all i really do love your book!!!The Gemma Doyle trilogy was AMAZING!!! it wasn't like your typical book...i think it had some really big twist that were amazing and very creative! i love books that make me feel what the characters are feeling and i think that your Gemma books really did that to me,i cried ,i laughed, smiled,loved,and felt so many emotions while reading these books! i love your work,your a very talented and amazing author!!!
Hello, Ms. Bray! I really enjoyed--no, loved--your Gemma Doyle series, and the only thing keeping me from reading your other books are the people at the library who check them out before I can. I admire your skills as a writer, and wanted to ask you just a few questions:
What drives you to write in the first place?
What do you love most about writing?
Where do you find inspiration?
What is the first thing you do when you've finished working on a new book?
What is the one thing new writers should keep in mind when dealing with rejection/acceptance?
Thank you very much!
Gemma Irene
Hi! I really loved the Gemma Doyle series and I can't help asking why you decided to kill kartik? I mean why not have a happily ever after and what is it that makes so many writers decide to end the rlife of one of their main characters?Thank you for your time!
Hi pally!So I finally finished Beauty Queens and loved it. Like your previous works, this is a highly character driven story...which is fantastic.
My question has to do with with the creation process of these characterss.
Do you have the characters perfectly delineated before you begin to map out the plot or do they sometimes take shape AS you write the story? Also, are these characters purely imaginary or do you base them on people you may know? (I suppose a writer does this to some extent since you can draw on experience to a degree.)
Finally, I had the pleasure of listening to the audio production of Beauty Queens and was tickled by your reading. Outstanding job.
Knowing your love of music, I can only assume you are an auditory sort of gal and so I wondered if your characters had particular voices in your mind. For ex, Felicity Worthington had a husky voice and Duff a raspy one. So I wondered how much of this mental approximation of their voices played in shaping them.....or is it just me? Haha
-Heidithegreat
Hi Libba!Let me just start out by saying, wow, your awesome. I absolutely love your books! Especially Going Bovine! I have two questions:
1) How do you even come up with these characters? Are they based on real life people? All of your characters are so diverse and...great. I mean seriously, I could never, EVER be that creative and come up with characters like that.
2) What is your favorite hotdog topping? This is a VERY serious question! You could lose your whole social life over this question! (Do you even LIKE hotdogs?)
Okay, so maybe that was four questions. Whatever.
Keep on keeping on,
Emma
Dear Ms.Bray. I know three thousand people a day probably tell you this, but I'm madly in love with you and your books. Your writing inspires me as an aspiring writer and is my constant drug as a reader.
My questions which are three are:
1. As I write I keep thinking about my reader, or target audience, and it usually results in me either scarping the writing, or writing something very off, so to speak. The question is How do you stop from thinking about who is going to be reading your material?
2. I read in one of your interviews that you felt the term 'chick lit' was an awfully insulting way to describe your writing, as it has much more depth to it. How do you keep yourself from falling into the chick lit category when your characters and setting are described by the market as chick lit, is there a way out of it?
3. I love love LOVE, that in Gemma Doyle's trilogy the setting was historical and yet you still managed to have all the characters relevant. When writing in certain historical settings, is it better to be historically accurate or be relevant to the reader? *as in should one mention that most girls wouldnt have a shot in hell at what Im writing for instance and it really is fiction, or should you write modernized history so to speak and not mention the unrealistic settings your characters are in?*
Thank you for your time. I hope to one day meet you in person, as a writer that makes you proud.
Sincerely and with great admiration
Nusaiba
Hi, Libba! I've read all of the Gemma Doyle Trilogy books and Going Bovine, and I have LOVED them all! You are truly one of the few authors that I am the biggest fan of. Usually I read one book of one author and don't bother to attempt any of their other books. It's safe to say that Beauty Queens is the next in my list.
A question of mine is: How did you manage to get in the mind of a high school boy like Cameron? I've always loved to write, but I find that one of my biggest struggles is trying to see things from the perspective of someone I have little in common with. Certainly at my age, I don't understand boys at all so if I attempted to write someone like Cameron, I most certainly would have failed. So...how did you do it?
Thanks and I look forward to reading many more of your books.
Your constant fan,
Janine :D
Hello Libba,I have read your Going Bovine book and it was amazing. I just wanted to know how you came up with the idea for this book? The book was awesome and I loved how it made me laugh and cry as I was reading it. I'm also planning on reading the Gemma Doyle series over the summer (my local library thankfully has the books) and I can't wait to read it. Also, as a writer myself, I was also wondering how, that is if you get writer's block, you can get over writer's block?
Sincerely,
A big fan
Alyssa
Hi Libba! I am an adult reader who adores your writing style and feminist punk rock attitude! I discovered you with the Gemma Doyle trilogy and am now reading through Beauty Queens (through fits of giggles and appalled feminine outrage). I like your writing so much, I looked up your website and blog and found you are just as interesting as your books.My questions are:
1.)What do you think feminism means in 2011?
and
2.) Are you interested in writing any novels for an adult target audience?
In which time of day do you prefer to write?
What inspired you to write Going Bovine? That book is my absolute favorite and it had me teared up, it actually had me going and wondering about the point of life! Did you go through any emotional journey while writing it? Do tell!
Totally freaking right now! You're a big inspiration to me as a writer. I love your Gemma Doyle series so so much. I have a few questions for you about your writing process.Was there ever a point when you had a vague idea of what you wanted any of your books to be about, but it lacked a cohesive plot? I'm at a place in writing my own novel where I like my two main characters and their interactions that I've written, and I like the vague idea of the world I've created for them, but the plot is seriously lacking. What would you do in a moment like that? How do you make your plot, characters, and world so convincing? Do the events and obstacles you put your characters through come naturally, or did you have to agonize and rewrite/edit multiple times? Also, is there any advice you would give to a first time novelist trying to write a YA novel, or any like to give about my specific situation? Thanks so much for reading, and I am waiting for your answer with bated breath!
Hi Ms Bray!!! just wanted to say THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COME ON GOODREADS- it's particularly awesome for those who don't live in the US...i really hope you do a book tour in the UK sometime. =)
Anyhew so i absolutely LOVE your books...i need to read Going Bovine but i've read the Gemma Doyle Trilogy and Beauty Queens.
Your books are wonderfully hilarious and so captivating- i was terrified of the vivid descriptions in the Gemma Doyle Trilogy and in Beauty Queens i couldn't stop laughing at how awesome the book is and how insanely CLEVER you are for managing to incorporate things and make fun of stuff. BRILLIANT. =D
So i just finished Beauty Queens- WOW...i could not stop laughing and i'm overwhelmed by how AWESOME IT IS. my fave book of 2011 so far (and that is saying something considering i read Meg Cabot's Abandon, Bumped by Megan McCafferty and Red Glove by Holly Black among others!!!)
How long did it take you to come up with ludicrous names for products and WHO OR WHAT inspired you with MAXI-PAD PETS?! that is just insane. but genius. and so damn funny.
you truly are a wonderfully EXCELLENT AUTHOR and i don't care what my english teacher says your books DESERVE LITERARY CREDIT AND MERIT AND EVERYTHING ELSE...it should so get the spotlight like Lord of the Flies and show that GIRLS CAN BE PRETTY BUT TOTALLY KICKASS TOO!!! =D
oh and did Capt Jack Sparrow inspire you at ALL?! hehe
i'm sure you had fun thinking up names for the Boyz Will B Boyz songs and the LYRICS...wow. just...I AM SPEECHLESS DUE TO THE SHEER AWESOMENESS OF THE NOVEL.
Happy Writing!!! and CUPCAKE EATING. =D
thanks again for being YOU!!! <3
Hi, I've read the Gemma Doyle series and have a few questions.How did you come up with everything?
What gave you the idea for the book?
Did you do some major changes in the book before you published it?
Do you have some tips for people that want to become authors?
How long did it take for you to write the first book in the Gemma Doyle series?
Are some of the characters in the series based on real people? If yes, then which ones?
Are you planning on writing an adult novel?
Thank you!
OMG your Gemma Doyle's trilogy is amazing!!! i mean i absolutely fell in love with all of the characters :D What inspired you to write the books and come up with the characters?
Hi! How did u come up with the characters for your books? and was it hasrd to put all your thoughts on paper and turn it into such great books?
Where did u get the character Katrik from??? and the name? I love this character!!
Hello! I just want to say that I really love your A Great and Terrible Beauty Trilogy. Ever since I read it, it has been my favorite. :) I just want to know if you're planning on continuing Gemma Doyle's adventure. When the trilogy ended, I DID NOT want to let it go. It would be really nice if you continued her story. Or if you started a new one that has the same genre. :)
Your trilogy is an inspiration to me.
Thank you very much! From a simple fan. :-bd
Hi Libba! I am a huge fan of the Gemma Doyle trilogy and would love to read a fouth book! I was wondering which of the three novels you enjoyed writing the most and why?
Hi Libba- I don't know if anyone else has asked about this, but--THE END OF GOING BOVINE. What the heck was that?! I didn't really understand it at all. One of my friends tried to explain it to me, but I didn't really get what she was saying. Like, "It was basically like there are an infinity amount of dimensions, and whichever one you are in, it's good if you're happy in that one, even if you're dead in another." And I was like "Whaaa?" But yeah. So if you could *try* to explain it to me, that'd be nice! (Also, I love Dulcie--she's pretty much the coolest character ever! Probably on my list of THE MOST KICKASS CHARACTERS, and near the top, too :D
Hey Libba! Thanks for taking time to answer all of our questions. Wow - a lot of great questions on here. I think someone may have asked mine, but here we go.#1 - When I read Beauty Queens, I hated Taylor at the beginning but loved her in the end. Which of the characters from that book was your favorite to create and write?
#2 - As everyone else stated, Gemma Doyle is an amazing trilogy. Looking back, what is one thing you would change about Gemma as a character?
#3 - I see that you network with a lot of other YA novelists. Of those writers, who seems to give you the toughest critique? Who's the cupcake of the group?
#4 - favorite pizza topping?
#5 - Your plan crashes on a deserted island. What are three books you must have with you?
Thanks so much - you ROCK! Can't wait to hear more from you at the Decatur Book Festival.
Crys Hodgens
YA lover
high school English teacher
future librarian
Hello writer that has made me cry because of your Gemma Doyle series,I love your stories and for one thing I am here ask you some questions.
First question: What is the best place to get ideas for books???
Second question: What is the Worst book of all time in your opinion???
Third question: If you had to choose where would you live: In a Tree that only has mangoes forever or a Tree that only has Oranges???
Thank you for cooperation. :)
From your #1 Fan Aden
P.S. If you ever decide on making a series somewhat like the Gemma Doyle one please make it have a happier ending. :D
P.S.S. You are so flippen dolphin awesome!
Hi, I read your Gemma Doyle Series and I know that that book is not your real genre but I was wondering if you were planning to make another Gemma like series?
Thanks :)
I've read all your books. Each time I am about to begin a new one, I think she can't possibly compete with herself and top the last one. But everytime you do! Thanks so much for your varied output! So my question: Do you have a response to Meghan Cox Gurdon's opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal, or to the #YAsaves on twitter?I'm not a kid or teen and haven't been one for a long time, but I am a secondary special education whose students have found many wonderful things in all kinds of books, but especially YA. I could easily see myself teaching Beauty Queens!
Thank you kindly.
your gemma doyle series was amazing, im so excited to read beauty queens and i also enjoyed going bovine: it made me laugh. i was wondering what you picture to be the final stage of the relationship gemma and kartik had. did you intend to imply that kartik eventually is no longer the tree and he and gemma reunite? did you intend to imply the opposite? or did you purposely leave it the way you did so we can interpret it on our own..what would you want to happen with them? reunite or stay apart?
What was your hardest obstacle/struggle that you had to overcome to pursue your career as an author?
Good evening,I'd like to start by saying that I thoroughly loved the Gemma Doyle trilogy. I love reading novels where there is a female protagonist leading the whole story. It isn't very often you see strong female lead characters in a sort of fantasy/magic series. I especially loved how you provided great twists throughout the series that gave a new, complete view of a character that we didn't get in the previous novel. I'm an aspiring writer and my question is: how do you as a writer get your writing out into the world for others to read? Like how do you even go about to start the process of publishing a novel?
Hi Libba Bray,I don't really have any questions, but I just want you to know how deeply infatuated I am with you and your books. You're such an inspiration to me, your words move me breathless. You're one of my favorite writers and I really admire you. I hope to have the chance to meet you someday, but for now I will admire from afar.
Thank you for writing the Gemma Doyle trilogy, and Going Bovine. You're such a fantastic person and I will love you forever okay goodbye.
Hey there Libba, I absolutely LOVE you and your books! You are my favorite author of all time. I really enjoy how kooky and witty you are and how you don't let anything get in the way of your writing. I definetly look up to you as an aspiring author.So now to the questions. First of all, I'd like to ask what inspires you to write? Do you write because you love creating new stories or is it just the desire to see written words pour out of your brain and onto paper? Or is it because if you did anything else your unusualness would be akward? Or, is it because there is someone who threatens your life and the life of your loved ones if you don't write a spectacular book(like in Stephen King's Misery)?
Secondly, I want to ask if you ever have or will consider writing a sci-fi novel and if so what would it be about? Would there be aliens? Would they be blue or green, or even pink? What would the technology be like? What wacky situation would your main character be in? Alien porno or robotisex?(You don't have to answer that last one)
I hope you're having a wonderful day and thank you for being an amazing author, and overall person, that fans can look up too. I know I do.
Love from the mountainous state of Utah, Casey.
Hi Libba. I really like your books.I just have two questions:
What inspires you to write?
Any advice for aspiring writers?
Hey! I just wanted to say how much I love your books! i mean the Gemma Doyle series is one of the best series I have ever read! It had everything you could possibly want in a book, I just want to ask why Katrik had to die? I mean it really showed his love of course and the context of it etc made sense but I just kept hoping by some magical way that he would come back and I still wish he had. Not saying anything bad about the book, I mean like I said the books are AMAZING and I couldn't even if I wanted to but I was just always curious about that. But thats probably becuase where love is concerned I always want a happy ending.
Thank you so much for coming on goodreads and again I think you are a wonderful writer I really cannot get enough of you books!
Thank you so much!
Libba! I love you and your craziness so insanely much :) I just found the videos on youtube with Maureen Johnson and nearly died, thank you very much. Anyways, I just finished Beauty Queens (and then noticed that the Miss USA competition was actually being broadcasted on TV... I ended up watching Miss Congeniality instead). Loved it so much. But I want to know exactly what inspired you for it-- Beauty Queens in particular. I saw a clip of a video where you said that you wanted to write a Victorian Age Buffy the Vampire slayer for Gemma Doyle... what was it with Beauty Queens? And how in the world can you write something so insanely hilarious and full of satire, and have it talk about such deep topics-- Going Bovine, too... so random, so insane, yet so deep... how do you pull it off? I can't figure it out! Please please please keep writing--- I can't wait to see what you come up with next. -Holly
I thought of more questions. Sorry.1. Can you TELL US what you're planning next?
2. Have you ever seen the play Once On This Island? (I ask because I was finishing The Sweet Far Thing while on the plane to a theatre camp where we were putting on the show... The girl turns into a tree at the end. SFT: Katrik turns into the tree. I threw the book across the room and into the wall. The hotel manager came and told me I was causing people to complain. I couldn't stand the parallel between the two. So ironic.)
3. I want to know the workings of your friendship/editing group? with all the big name authors I know--- Scott Westerfield, Cassandra Clare, Holly Black, Maureen Johnson... how did that work? So jealous.
4. Have you ever done any writing based on a really weird dream you've had?
5. Quick-- the weirdest thing you've ever done in an airport?
6. Were you into writing when you were a kid or young adult? Or did the real passion for it come about in your adult life?
7. A book you absolutely hate?
8. If you were an animal, what would it be?
9. Does Miss New Mexico ever get the tray out of her forehead?
10. ... And does Taylor Rene Krystal Hawkins get that bullet wound fixed up? Because it'd be real easy for that to get infected, and therefore die of on the island. And, honestly, that'd be a pretty pathetic ending to one of my favorite nutters.
11. Would you ever consider letting your fans read/posting on your livejournal early versions of your books or deleted scenes? I think many of us would really enjoy it. Really, really enjoy it.
12. Do people recognized you on the street?
13. If you weren't a writer, and you could be anything else in the world, what would you like to be?
14. Am I going to get in trouble for asking so many questions? Sorry. I'm just curious. You are, in fact, one of my favorite authors, and a frequent topic of my blog :)
Thank you Libba!!!!! May all your ponies be Sparkle Ponies :)
What do you feel an author owes--if anything--a reader in a book?
Hellooo, Your Awesome Fabulousness!I actually have a couple of questions for you if you don't mind.
I've always been curious about the reading group questions found at the end of so many novels, including your Gemma Doyle trilogy. Who the heck writes those things? Do you ever feel that there is something not asked that should be, or that any of the questions miss the point entirely?
I would also really love to know, if a movie (or movies) was ever going to be made, and casting was entirely up to you, who would you choose to play Gemma, Felicity, Pippa, and Ann? How about some of the other characters. I'm especially curious about Pippa, becuase I think I kind of know her in real life and I'm curious how much your vision of her matches up to my friend. (ok, maybe she wouldn't end up quite the way Pippa did, but given the same circumstances, who knows, people surprise you.)
Finally, is there any question that you never get asked that you would love to answer?
Thanks!
<3 <3 <3
Mia
Is it called cheating to post my comment again? I hope not. I just really want you to reply.Dear Libba Bray,
Please reply even though this is long.
I seriously can eat your writing, and I’d be satisfied for centuries. Your books make me endlessly happy. You should have seen my face when my friend got me the Gemma Doyle Trilogy for my birthday. I was ecstatic and immediately wanted to go off and read them over again even though I’ve read each book three times now. When I read your books, I read every single word, begging for the next one. In the Gemma Doyle Trilogy, I laughed a lot, cried a lot, and smiled so many times. The way you created your characters so beautifully inspired me to write more and more like writers do. I felt your characters were alive. Sometimes I don’t want to suggest your books to anyone because I want to keep them to myself. When I first read your books, I fell in love with each and every character because they all seemed so realistic. Felicity is my favorite for her heart-wrenching complexity. I just want your characters to be real. The Gemma Doyle Trilogy was breath-taking and had me on every page with a stupid grin on my face. And I must mention that I have a hopeless crush on Kartik because who doesn’t have a crush on the amazing Indian boy. This has nothing to do with the fact that I’m Indian also.
I enjoyed Going Bovine as well for making me laugh so so hard. Sometimes, I’d laugh really loud and hard and calm down. After a few pages, I’d find myself giggling about the thing I read a few pages ago. That’s how funny the book was. But it was serious as well with the ways you taught philosophic lessons that everyone must learn from. For a while after reading about the CESSNAB, I was a bit afraid of happiness. Hehe. Right now, I’m wishing that I had been able to read Beauty Queens yet, but my local library does not own it yet. I would buy your book if my mom thought fiction books had much worth than buying some test prep books or something. Anyway, I know I’ll enjoy Beauty Queens because I just know.
So I really have no questions, but I suppose I can add a few quick random questions in the end:
1. Little Women or the Count of Monte Cristo?
2. Saying pop or soda?
3. Favorite TV shows?
4. Do you consider yourself schizophrenic? I do. I hear voices in my head all the time. Uh...my characters' voices.
5. PI or pie?
6. Zuzu pets or Webkinz?
7. Punching fat guys in the face or hitting old ladies with your purse?
8. Which of your characters is most like you and why?
9. The Matrix or Inception?
10. Possible end of the world: Nuclear war or a virus killing off most of the people?
Your crazed fan,
Picture Perfect/ Sukanya(Sue-kon-yah)
PS: You are my absolute favorite author, and I enjoy stalking you online…not in a weird way…maybe…maybe not.
Libba, I loved Going Bovine, and laughed so hard -- I was wondering, did the humor just come to you? Or did you have to sit and think it out?
Coming up with just one question is extremely hard. There are so many things I would like to ask about, mainly pertaining to the upcoming Diviners books - which I am really excited for. A fantasy type story in the the roaring 20s, what could be better?I think that for my question I will focus on my favorite aspect of all of your stories - the characters. Primarily Gemma. I loved her so much, and really related with her. She was very believable and dynamic. Though I also really like Adina in Beauty Queens. Her motive for joining the Miss Teen Dream was amusing, but at the same time I could relate, as I think that would be the ONLY reason I would ever enter a pageant.
As for the actual question, I wanted to know where you find the inspiration for your characters, and how you develop them. Do you determine the characters you need to fit the story, or does the story develop around the characters?
Thank you so much for your time, and for your books. They are entertaining and enjoyable, and the Gemma Doyle trilogy has become so familiar for me that it ca be used a comfort read, to settle when I am stressed or upset. They are a great inspiration for me as ann aspiring writer as well.
I love the Gemma Doyle series and am in love with all things supernatural and London/Victorian Age. Do you have any book suggestions? Thanks!
What would be your top 20 book recommendations for people who liked The Gemma Doyle Trilogy?
First off, you are one of my favorite authors. I devoured your Gemma Doyle series last year way past the age of a "young adult". I love that your books can speak to a wide age group!How do you begin the writing process once you have an idea for a novel in mind? Do you outline your story at the beginning or let it develop as you write? I personally always have strong ideas for the beginning of a story, but have trouble maintaining its power. Is planning how you overcome this issue? If not, what do you do? Thanks!
I absolutely adored Beauty Queens. It was so original and hilarious! I felt that this novel is a feminist anthem, it was empowering just reading it. What inspired this story, and what are you hoping your readers will take from the novel?
Hello, Thank you for writing such amazing books! Here are a couple questions I had 1).Where do you find the inspiration for your stories? (You make your characters face some big issues that are not always easily accepted by society) 2). Do you see yourself writing about the realms again, and in what century? Thank you!
Cheers,
Alondra
what inspired you in the making of the poppy warriors? whats your favourite book and your favourite book you have wrote yourself? how did you get into writing?any more book plans in the near future?
Hi readers, Libba is having some technical difficulties and can't answer questions until we figure this out, but please be patient. You have not been forgotten!
Hi Libba,I'm sure you have been asked this several times already, but my sister and I want to know if you plan on writing another historical fantasy series or more historical pieces.
Thanks! Megan
Hi,I'm a big fan and was super excited to hear that Going Bovine is a summer reading book choice @ my HS, but what i'm gonna ask is when is your next book going to come out, and do you know what it's going to be about?
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Ask Libba Bray - Special One-Day-Only Group
Books mentioned in this topic
Beauty Queens (other topics)Beauty Queens (other topics)
Beauty Queens (other topics)
Beauty Queens (other topics)
So I finally finished Beauty Queens and loved it. Like your previous works, this is a highly character driven story...which is fantastic.
My question has to do with with the creation process of these characterss.
Do you have the characters perfectly delineated before you begin to map out the plot or do they sometimes take shape AS you write the story? Also, are these characters purely imaginary or do you base them on people you may know? (I suppose a writer does this to some extent since you can draw on experience to a degree.)
Finally, I had the pleasure of listening to the audio production of Beauty Queens and was tickled by your reading. Outstanding job.
Knowing your love of music, I can only assume you are an auditory sort of gal and so I wondered if your characters had particular voices in your mind. For ex, Felicity Worthington had a husky voice and Duff a raspy one. So I wondered how much of this mental approximation of their voices played in shaping them.....or is it just me? Haha
-Heidithegreat