Ask Libba Bray - Special One-Day-Only Group discussion
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Ask Libba!
Hey,Let me just say that I love the Gemma Doyle Trilogy. Few of the best books I've read :)
Anyway, I'm working on being an author of a series and just wanted to know how you keep yourself going when writing a book. I always start something and then think it's going no where and quit. What keeps you inspired to keep writing?
Hello, what a crowd!um i did not read other peoples questions i'm sorry if you answered someone else then just copy and paste your answer to here. I have just a few questions first um, in beauty queens (which i must Say was an absolutely fantastical.) in the end of the book the girls all sail away but....then dance party? i felt like it was a little like the story up to then had been so amazing that the end seemed like you didn't know how to end it. What was your intention with the ending? not to sound rude :)
Also were did you come up with the character ladybird hope? and why did Taylor stay on the island?
Hi,I finished the audiobook for Beauty Queens. It was amazing and so hilarious!! You were brilliant!!! One of the best audiobooks ever!
What made you decide to be the narrator/voice actor for Beauty Queens?
Have you done narrating/voice acting on audiobooks before?
Would you do it again for your future books?
Hi Ms Bray,1)How were you able to become a published author? 2)How long did it take you? 3)What did you do to develope your creative writing skills (classes, asking for feedback from friends).
Thank you so much!
Louise wrote: "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!"any updates?
Hi Mrs. Bray,I know more than enough people have already said how awesome your books are, so maybe you do not need me to point that out to you AGAIN. But, please allow me to join the crowd and scream out loud to you: "Your books are awesome, Libba Bray. Please continue to write. I'll forever reserve a spot for your books in my overcrowded reading schedule."
I adore the Gemma Doyle series as, you know, I always love books with a historical British setting. They are so magical, so romantic, so real...and so creepy. Truth be told, I was scared to death whenever Gemma and her friends sneaked out in the dark and ventured to the beautiful yet dangerous realms, and particularly when the poppy warriors invaded the school. I was, practically, turning my head from side to side just to make sure there was no shadow lurking around my room.
Anyway, you really gave us, readers, a wondrous adventure with Gemma, Kartik, Felicity, Ann and Pippa. Even now, I'm still immersed in the thrills of these books.
I haven't yet read your new books: Going Bovine and Beauty Queens. But I'm sure they are just as brilliant and I expect no less from you. They are already in my "soon-to-read" list of books. I promise to read them soon and not to leave them to sit lonely on the shelf. The thing is they are just too enticing to leave my hands off them.
I'm sorry I haven't any questions regarding to Beauty Queens. At least not for now. However, I do have some other questions I hope you would spare some of your precious time to satisfy my curiosity:
1. Do you often travel?
2. Where have you been to?
3. And may I have the pleasure to know wherever that is so fortunate to lodge you at the moment?
4. Do you write when you travel?
5. When you travel, do you go alone, or with friends or family?
6. How long do you stay in one place?
7. A notebook, a laptop, an ipad or a recorder would you choose to be your constant companion?
OMG, I just wanted to ask you one or two questions, but then more and more to come. And it would be a pity to miss them out, given this godsent, precious opportunity.
Mrs. Bray. I'm not an English speaker and your books have not yet been translated in my language. But I love your books very much and I'm glad to have found them.
I'm aiming to become a book translator. Hopefully I could get a job at some book agents and pray that, if god wills, I could, one day, get my hands on any of your books to translate. Let us count on my luck (and, of course, I'm going to give it all my best, too.) Thank you so much for writing for us, Libba.
Hello, Libba! I honestly can't tell you enough how much I enjoyed The Gemma Doyle trilogy. Gemma is now one of my favorite characters in anything. I cracked up laughing, and I cried for an hour straight when I read it. I'm obsessed with Victorian England, so I was incredibly happy to read this period piece that also had such a modern-day feel to it! And the characters were so multi-layered and real that, along with the insanely intriguing storyline, I couldn't put it down. So, my questions are Gemma Doyle Trilogy-related. I don't know how much you can answer or how much you want left up to the readers' imagination (which I definitely understand), but I'll throw it out there anyway. BIG SPOILERS!!:
1. What happens to their bodies when they go into the realms? Are their bodies left behind in the mortal world and their souls just go on to the realms? Or, do they physically go into the realms and are absent from the mortal world? I was wondering this because of Pippa and how she was left behind in the realms, but they brought her body back to Spence and buried her in the mortal world. But, other times, it seemed like they were gone all together when they entered the realms. Like in TSFT, when they had to escape the attack on Spence. And, dying in the realms seemed to be different with Miss McCleethy and Kartik. They were gone both in the realms and the mortal world. I was just confused by that aspect.
2. BIG ONE! lol. Like everyone else, I was heartbroken at what happened to Kartik. But, I completely understand why it happened. Gemma and Kartik couldn't have been together in their world. And, if Kartik hadn't sacrificed himself, it would've been Gemma that died. It made the story THAT much better for me. I was wondering what "the rules" of the Tree of All Souls are. It seems like it's a "soul for a soul" deal. If Kartik's soul is trapped in the tree, that means that he can't cross over until he's freed, right? So, in that case, when Gemma crosses over, she'll never see him again, not even visiting the tree. That's so sad! That she wouldn't even see him in death. But, he was waiting for her in her dreams. It seemed like it could've really been him, since when people usually talk to her in her dreams, they really are talking to her. And they are bonded for eternity. There had to be some message that he was sending her by drawing the circle in her dream. And, she experienced that same bright light in her dream as she saw when she ferried that young girl across the river. Does that mean that his soul is on the other side of the river, too? I guess it goes back to the "does body or soul go into the realms?" question, too. Regardless of anything, I'll choose to believe in a "Titanic" ending. That, after she lives a happy and fulfilling life, they'll be reunited when she dies. <3
Sorry they're go long, but these questions have been plaguing me ever since I closed the book. Any answer would be amazing! :D
I also wanted to say how much I LOVE and greatly appreciate the characters defying their societal pigeonholes in order to live the lives they truly wanted. It was empowering and a wonderful twist on historically-based literature and modern YA fiction.
Sincerely,
Maisah
Hi, I read and absolutely enjoyed, Going Bovine and the Gemma Doyal trilogy. There are so many questions I want to ask about it. One is why Kartik had to die. Another is why Gemma moves to America and what happens to her, will she get married and have kids, or concentrate on a career? Also, what really annoyed and confused me throughout the series were Gemma's friends. They seemed very snooty, and mean, only being friends with Gemma for their own good, and to get into the Realms. Why did you make Gemma have friends like that? Thank you so much. :)
Hello,I was wondering how much background information you had to do to write the Gemma Doyle series. I was wondering if you based those places, the school, the church, the other world, on places that you have lived or been. I was also wondering how you manage to write something like A Far Sweet Thing and then go on and write something like Beauty Queens? I was wondering how you managed to write books that are so different from each other and still have then be amazing.
Natalie wrote: "What inspires you? how do you come up with these amazing ideas for novels?"Well, thanks! Truthfully, just about everything is inspiration. If you put the cereal box in front of me for too long I'll suddenly want to spin off a story about Riboflavin. (My vote for most superhero-sounding nutrient. But I digress, and it's only the first question...) I have many, many interests, especially when it comes to what I like to read, so I tend to say, "Hey, what would be fun to work on for the next X number of months/years? Gothic Victorian boarding school fantasy? Yeah! That sounds fun!" It's like deciding where to go on a road trip. Of course, once I get into the writing, I discover all new things and I realize that under the idea or inspiration is a story I desperately need to tell. But I don't know that until I'm too far in to chicken out. :)
Katie wrote: "i love your Gemma doyle series! i have never read another sreies where the characters progressed, true, and belivable. I was wondering if you would ever consider writing another novel that incorpor..."Hi Katie. Thanks so much. I am, in fact, working on another historical supernatural series right now. It's called THE DIVINERS, and it's set in 1920s New York City. The first book comes out Fall 2012. LOL'ing about the "girly" comment. Really? I'm trying to imagine all my books being packaged in feminine hygiene boxes. There's a crossover just waiting to happen! (I kid, I kid...) Thanks for your question.
Nelvieee wrote: "Hi. I love Going Bovine and it's one of my favorite books ever. The narration was solid and entertainingly witty. I gotta ask though, will we ever know about Dulcie's past life? She's my favorite c..."Thanks so much! I think part of what makes Dulcie Dulcie is the mystery of her. So I think the less said the better. However, there is always fan fiction... (*imagines Dulcie: The Middle School Years* or Dulcie, Reform School Girl: She's No Angel THIS Time!*) See, this is why I shouldn't be encouraged.
Thisby wrote: "Wow...okay, just so you know-- though I'm sure you've heard this about twenty septillion times, you are AMAZING and my favorite writer :) I own all the Gemma Doyle books, Going Bovine, and Beauty Q..."Hey Thisby, thanks so much. That makes my day. Right now, there are no plans to make the Gemma books into movies. There have been options but nothing definite yet. Part of the problem is that it's historical, which, I hear, is expensive to produce. Also, from what I hear, Hollywood seems to have a hard time believing that girls go to movies. Yeah, feel free to bash your head against the same wall I'm using. Maybe there should be a reader campaign: "Estrogen Carriers for A Great and Terrible Movie"? Well, it's a thought. ;-)
Abbey wrote: "Hi Libba! I'm so excited that you're doing this! I've been a huge fan ever since the first Gemma Doyle book and have been following you ever since!You have some of the most fabulous ideas for..."
Hi Abbey! The garden gnomes welcome you. Oh wow. How do you keep up your momentum while writing? I was hoping you would tell me! LOL. I think that's a challenge that every writer faces. I tend to write out of sequence, so I'm constantly jumping around in the narrative. On the plus side, if I'm lagging, I can jump in and write a scene that is more exciting. On the down side, I end up throwing away a LOT of material because it ends up not fitting in to the novel after all. Sometimes, it's a real slog and I just have to grit my teeth and write until I have a breakthrough. Other times, I allow myself to write something else or read or go for a walk or have an ice cream (Ice cream is a time-tested remedy, Abbey...) if it's just not happening. Of course, being on deadline means that at some point, I just have to sit down and do it. I don't know if it helps to know that losing steam at points seems to be part of the process but there it is. Great question--thanks! (Oh, and good luck.)
Jaya wrote: "Hi, Libba. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the Gemma Doyle trilogy and Going Bovine (talk about a hilarious mindscrew). My question involves working with other writers: you're good friends with Shann..."
Hi Jaya! I definitely count myself lucky to have great friendships with some truly wonderful writers (and wonderful people). Many of those writers actually live near me--some only blocks away. So proximity doesn't hurt. But I think for most of us, we write together because we enjoy each other's company tremendously.
But I'm hearing you say that some of these connections you're trying to make seem not to be taking hold, and there's a part of me that wonders if maybe it's just not meant to be for some reason, i.e., timing, school pressures, you like the air conditioning set to 72 degrees and the others like it tropical, etc. I'm a big fan of the direct approach myself, so there's always just saying to someone, "Hey, I really enjoy your work and think you're cool and was wondering if you might want to start a writing group together. If that's not something that works for you and you prefer to work alone, that's cool, you can let me know. But if it does, would you like to get together this Friday and write at X place? I'll bring Swedish Fish, the gelatinous-yet-edible treat." Or something like that. I mean, worth a shot, right? Plus, you are offering a treat. Writers tend to like food, I have noticed. Point is, you can always lay it out there. Then, if the other person isn't interested, well, move on and find some writers who ARE interested. And hopefully, they will have good snacks. :)
Ms. BrayKnowing that the Gemma Doyle series was not your normal genre, would you ever consider writing another historical/paranormal fictional work? You were SO good at it and so many people loved this series including myself.
Thank you for taking us to the realms. =)
-Scarlette
Carling wrote: "Hey Libba. I don't know how many people have told you this but you are awesome. What advice can you give to a wannabe writer on how to improve her awesomeness? Thanks. PS I love Beauty Queens :)"
LOL. Um, is now the time to tell you that I put my shirt on inside-out this morning? Yeah, my awesomeness is very, very questionable...but thanks. But yay for writers and writing questions and on that end, my advice is to read. Read, read, read. It's like a master class in book form. I keep trying to learn from everything I read. I know this sounds really basic, but you'd be amazed at how many people don't actually read. So, yeah. Do that reading thing. It really IS the awesome. Rock on, my friend. (And thanks for the BQ love.)
Nevey Berry wrote: "I love Gemma Doyle books and I wish if your write more Historical Fiction.I wonder if you and Gamma has things in common?
and how you came up with your character in the Gemma Doyle Trilogy?"
Hi Nevey, you're in luck--I am writing a new historical series right now! it's called THE DIVINERS and it's set in 1920s New York City. Flappers and creepy things. Two of my favorites. I can see how Gemma and I have some things in common--we're both a bit sardonic in our humor and I think we are both outsiders or rather, feel like outsiders in some way--but there's a lot we don't have in common, too. I think that's one of the great things about writing characters: It's a bit like acting. You're taking on a persona, a false self, in order to discover truths about the world, about the human condition, and, ultimately, about yourself, too. Thanks for your question.
Firstly, I have to say that the Gemma Doyle trilogy are some of the best young adult novels I have ever read. You combined one of my favorite historical eras with the supernatural, and I was absolutely thrilled the day I discovered them. And now, you're going to do it again, with The Diviners! I love the roaring 20s. Are there any special tidbits you can divulge about The Diviners?
Brittany wrote: "Hi Libba Bray! I love your books and especially the series, A Great And Terribble Beauty. I'm fourteen now and I first read your books when I was thirteen. I read all of your three books in one wee..."Wow, Brittany--can you teach me to read that fast? I am impressed! (I am the world's slowest reader, much to my dismay.) Great questions! Let's see if I can give you some answers.
1. I believe that every villain can be a hero and every hero could become a villain. That's why Miss Moore talks about chiaroscuro in AGATB, the idea of light and dark needing each other. We are both. In the end, I was more interested in the concepts of redemption and transcendence than vengeance. Vengeance didn't feel like growth to me. Also, I think Gemma came to reject the whole power structure that had existed before and decided to walk away from it. But that's my interpretation; your mileage may vary.
2. I think people are three-dimensional, not one, and so are friendships, especially during our formative years. It didn't feel realistic to me to have the girls NOT be interested in the magic for their own personal aims even if they cared about Gemma. They all sort of play off each other's vulnerabilities and, ultimately, play to each other's strengths. They all have a lot of figuring out to do in terms of who they are and who they want to be.
3. The best advice I can give is to concentrate on the writing and not the publishing. You want to write the best, most honest story you can. Then you can submit it to an agent (you NEED an agent) and get it out there. But really, really work on the writing and honesty first. (You can also see my answer to the previous question where I say you should read everything. Totally mean that.)
4. Make friends with your librarians and local booksellers! They are made of awesome and often have ARCs to share.
Thanks so much!
Frankie wrote: "Libba, I've been a fan since I read AGATB. I also read the two sequels (love, love) and I adored Going Bovine. I'm excited to read Beauty Queens, too. As an aspiring writer, I was wondering if you ..."Thanks! My advice is always the same: Read everything. And a great piece of advice I got from fellow writer, Jennifer Jacobson, who said she always asks herself when writing, "Is it true yet?" That's better than anything I could come up with for sure.
I am a music freak! I actually make a playlist for every book that I write. It's a bit of a ritual choosing the songs. Some I jettison; others I keep. Then I often listen to that playlist while writing, especially when I get stuck. There's something about it that gets me into a groove or a writing trance. For AGATB, I listened to a lot of Tori Amos and Sigur Ros. For Going Bovine, it was The Flaming Lips and some delightfully oddball songs. Beauty Queens is heavy on the female artists: PJ Harvey, Le Tigre, Nancy Sinatra, Jill Sobule. I've been putting together the playlist for DIVINERS, which features a lot of 1920s music as well as some very atmospheric stuff like Timber Timbre. As for hobbies, well, reading, naturally. I play drums and piano (not well) and sing in an all-YA author band called Tiger Beat with Dan Ehrenhaft, Natalie Standiford and Barnabas Miller. And I like hanging out with my 12-year-old son who is very good on drums and occasionally tries to teach me things. Thanks for your questions!
Alana wrote: "Hey Libba Bray! So exciting! When my dearest friend and I met she told me to read A Great and Terrible Beauty and it soon became one of my all-time favourite books. I love it because it reminds me ..."Hey Alana--no worries, we don't get out the thumbscrews for sneaking in two questions. :) Oh gosh, it's always so hard to nail down favorite books, but here are some of them: Charlotte's Web, Goodnight Moon, The Hotel New Hampshire, The Beak of the Finch, How To Say Goodbye in Robot, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, 'Salem's Lot, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice...so many more but I'll stop there.
I had no idea I'd become a writer. My first love was art, then music, then theatre. But when I was eighteen, I had a very bad car accident in which I basically broke my face and lost my left eye. For the next six years, while going to college, I had a lot of reconstructive surgery. But that first year--my freshman year--was really awful. I was broken on the inside as well as the outside and I had no way to talk about the heartbreak and rage. But I had received a little yellow journal as a graduation present and I began to write everything down in there as a way to cope. Eventually, I looked forward to the writing. It was the one place where I found I could be completely honest, and that saved me. I wrote myself into being a writer, I suppose. Thanks for your questions.
Jenna Christy wrote: "Hi Libba! I would just like to ask how and where do you get your ideas of your book’s plot? Did you dream them? or did something happen that made you think to write about it? :)"Hi Jenna. Wow, I WISH I could dream them. It's just good, old-fashioned hard work, my friend. I usually get the seed of an idea--"boy gets mad cow disease and goes on a Don Quixote-type road trip"--and keep adding layers. I loved what the amazing Ray Bradbury once said about plot: "Plot are the footprints left in the snow after your characters have run through." I love that and I think it's true that the better you know your characters, the more you can have them make choices which help determine the plot. Would Character X do this? Would she not do this? I also really try to stay open to my unconscious. Interesting things bubble up all the time and I try to allow myself the room to see where they lead rather than worrying about whether or not it "fits" or will end up in the final version of the novel.
Lara wrote: "Hi Libba :) I just love your books, I always think it will take me a while to read them and I end up devouring them super quickly, since they are amazing and so intriguing. I'm wondering if you'll ..."Hi Lara! Thanks so much for the lovely compliment. :) I am actually working right now (well, not right this second--quite obviously, I am answering your question right now, but you know what I mean...) on a new, four-book series called THE DIVINERS. It's a supernatural, historical series set in 1920s New York City. This story seemed to need a lot of room to tell, hence the four books. It has lots of creepy things and conspiracy and speakeasies and flappers. I'm hoping I can make it all work because, hoo-boy, is it kicking my butt right now...
Hi Libba, I love your books!! I read the first two books in the Gemma Doyle a few years ago but I haven't read the last even though I bought it the day it was released because I don't want the magic to end. I was wondering what made you write a victorian period novel, forgive me if someone's asked this alread and I was wondering what authors inspire you? I can't wait to read your other books you're one of my favourite writers ever! I hope you keep writing for many more years!
I've read (and loved!) both Beauty Queens and the Gemma Doyle Trilogy. What similarities and differences did you notice in writing about girls in the modern day and girls in the Victorian era?
Picture wrote: "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 w..."
Hey Sukanya! Wow, what a great letter. Thanks so much. I will treasure that. So, so lovely. I hope you can score a copy of BQ at the library. And Sukanya's Mom, what up with the no love for fiction? It's a vital part of every human's education! Also, if you decide to eat my writing, I recommend chocolate sauce. Everything is better with chocolate sauce. Well, maybe not pizza. I digress. Back on track, LIbba. Back on track.
Okie dokie. Let's get to your quick-fire question challenge:
1. Little Women or the Count of Monte Cristo? The Count of Monte Cristo Meets the Little Women. I'd love to see Jo March and Edmund Dantes hatching a revenge scheme in France. (We laugh; this will be a book before we know it.)
2. Saying pop or soda? Dr. Pepper.
3. Favorite TV shows? Dr. Who. Monty Python. Kolchak: The Night Stalker (the original). Twilight Zone. House Hunters.
4. Do you consider yourself schizophrenic? No. But the voices in my head think I am.
5. PI or pie? Pie. Unless I can get 3.14 pieces of pie, in which case, PI pie.
6. Zuzu pets or Webkinz? Robots.
7. Punching fat guys in the face or hitting old ladies with your purse? Neither. I try to keep my violence contained to attacking my manuscripts.
8. Which of your characters is most like you and why? I don't think I can answer that. Sorry.
9. The Matrix or Inception? The Matrix.
10. Possible end of the world: Nuclear war or a virus killing off most of the people? Zombie hordes. Go out with a bang and a shuffle, you know?
Pam wrote: "Dear Libba,Just wanted to let you know I am a big fan! I have a few questions:
1. What gave you inspiration for Going Bovine?
2. Was Cameron's adventure in Going Bovine real or a dream?
3. W..."
Hi Pam! Let's see if I can give you some good answers to your questions.
Just wanted to let you know I am a big fan! I have a few questions:
1. What gave you inspiration for Going Bovine? Many years ago, I heard about a man in my hometown who had contracted CJ, the human variant of mad cow disease. He suffered from intense hallucinations, one of which was seeing flames shooting up out of nowhere. This, to me, was both terrifying and fascinating--terrifying because the idea of losing my mind, of not being able to discern what is real and what is not, is a primal fear. And fascinating because the brain does bizarre things; we don't understand the brain entirely, and honestly, who is to say what defines reality? I really wanted to explore that concept. So that was the origin. From there, it took on many, many coats of paint, so to speak.
2. Was Cameron's adventure in Going Bovine real or a dream? That is up to the reader to interpret. :)
3. What was the inspiration for the Gemma Doyle trilogy? I love Victorian novels and ghost stories and I wanted to try my hand at both.
4. What was the inspiration for Kartik's character in the Gemma Doyle trilogy? Kartik sort of evolved as did most of the characters, although I did have a crush on a guy named Kartik back in my waitressing days. In true form, he did not know I was alive.
5.I can't remember. Was the reason Kartik didn't kill Gemma like he was supposed to because he actually liked her? I'm guessing that and the fact that maybe he's a lot more ethical and less of a follower than the powers in charge would've liked.
Thanks!
GerIta_lessthanthree wrote: "Hi Libba!I'm a huge fan of the Gemma Doyle trilogy ans I was wondering where you got your insperation for Pippa, she's my favorite character in the series. Gemma Doyle also got me obsessed with..."
Hi there! I didn't really have an inspiration for Pippa, per se. Characters tend to develop over time in the writing. I knew I wanted her to be a follower, someone who wasn't used to making her own decisions until she makes that very big one at the end of AGATB.
As for the anagrams, oh man, you should have seen the scads of wadded-up paper around my desk as I was trying to come up with anagrams that worked! It was ridiculous. So far, no one is making a movie of AGATB. I guess we'll have to see what happens. Thanks!
Caitlin wrote: "Hi Libba,What drew you to the YA genre? The Gemma Doyle trilogy had some pretty dark elements, have you ever been tempted to try an adult novel?"
Hi Caitlin. I actually started off my writing career as a playwright. Yeaahhh, that went...nowhere. It was my husband who suggested YA. (He worked in children's/YA.) He gave me these wonderful books to read by Laurie Halse Anderson, Francesca Lia Block, David Levithan, Rob Thomas, Angela Johnson--and I was hooked. They spoke to my soul. That's what drew me in. I have been tempted to write an adult book, and I might at some point. I'm also interested in writing another play. But for now, I'm pretty firmly and happily ensconced in the YA world. I think YA rocks. Thanks for your question.
~Yue~ [Down the Rabbit Hole] wrote: "Okay, so before I have this total mental spaz attack and make myself look complete idiot about how much I love your books and KARTIK, I would like to ask you if you are currently working on anythin..."Personally, I love total mental spaz attacks. I indulge in them frequently. Like recently, I was in Chicago, and on the way out of the airport, I saw a sign that read: "Rockford, Illinois" and I shouted, "ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS! THAT'S WHERE CHEAP TRICK IS FROM!" Cheap Trick being a seminal band of my youth. Yeah. Everyone looked at me like I had three heads.
But on to your question. I am indeed working on something. It's a new four-book series called THE DIVINERS. It's set in the 1920s in New York City (Flappers! Jazz! Speakeasies! Ghosts!) and is supernatural. One of my great genre loves is horror, so I'm going for it. Wish me luck! (And I hope you enjoy it--the first book will be out Fall 2012.)
Nicole wrote: "LIBBA BRAY! All your books are flipping awesome. I have three questions...1. What are you writing next? Are the rumours of a trilogy set in 1920s New York true? (Derp I guess that's two questions)..."
Hey Nicole! Sorry I'll miss you at LeakyCon, but I will definitely say hi to the other Shebams as I am very much looking forward to hanging with those cool chicks. As for your questions, let's see:
1. What are you writing next? Are the rumours of a trilogy set in 1920s New York true? (Derp I guess that's two questions) It is 100% true. (See the answer right before yours for more details.) Think "X-Files" with Flappers. I don't know if that's what I'm actually writing or not but it sounds cool. Like Fezzes. Fezzes are cool.
2. Will you ever come on a book tour to England? I wish! Sadly, I think I've sold maybe three copies of my books in England. Maybe you were one? And I'm a complete Anglophile, too. England, I would love to come visit. Just sayin'. *waits for England to share its love*
3. Do you think AGATB would make a good play? I'd love for it to be a musical! Can't you see a number called "I'm the Loneliest Beastie in the Winterlands" or "I Got Them Old Sort-Of-Dead-But-Not-Totally-Dead-Eating-A-Goat's Head Blues (Pippa's Lament)"? No? Just me? *whistles* *looks away*
Thanks, Nicole!
Picture wrote: "Just a note: I hope you come on a book tour to Minneapolis."I'd love to go to Minneapolis. I've never been. And it is the land of Prince and Trip Shakespeare. Minneapolis, I am here for you. *thumps chest* *says "ow" because, hello, thumped chest*
Radha wrote: "Ok, so first thing's first, I absolutely love the Gemma Doyle series. They are probably some of the best books I've read over my small liftime of thirteen years. I was wondering....1.) Why in the..."
Hi Radha. Thanks for your questions. You know, I've been asked Question #1 many times, and when TSFT came out, I ended up writing a blog to answer that one and quite a few others. I'm cutting and pasting the link to my livejournal response here because I think it might have the most comprehensive answer to your question. At least, I hope it does. Here you go: http://libba-bray.livejournal.com/278...
It might also contain answers to your #2 & #3. I don't know if I'd ever write a fourth book in the Gemma series. If I did, I don't know that it would be satisfying. I'd have to feel compelled to tell that story as I did with the first three. I have often thought about writing something new in that world, say, when Gemma, Fee, and Ann are a bit older. But I suppose we'll have to see. I've got quite a few books on my plate, and those will keep me busy for the next, gulp, four or five years.
Just typing that made me feel the need for cake.
Thanks for your questions.
Hey Libba x3I'm so excited that you are going to read this reading this. Maybe one day you can come on a book tour to Escondido...? It would mean the world to me, to finally meet you in person! I love your Gemma Doyle books, they caught my eye when I spotted them on a bookshelf in my school's library. It's a pity that they weren't checked out often. When I read the first book, I just got sucked into the story! I was quite shocked that they were rarely checked out after that, since it was such a good book! So, I recommended them to my friends. Thank you for reading this!
~Cindy =)
Julia wrote: "Hi! I loved the book, BEAUTY QUEENS and it's now being passed around to all my friends! I found Beauty Queens HILARIOUS and now, I want some Maxi Pad pets! Rawr! Ha ha. So, question: Where the HECK..."Hi Julia and hello Canada! Thanks for the BQ love. It was a lot of fun to write, as you may have surmised, and coming up with those ridiculous (but maybe not too far from the real thing) products was a big part of the fun. I actually worked in advertising and marketing for a few years, so it was delightful to turn what I learned writing copy on its head in service of this book. Maybe it's just that I have an absurdist mindset, but I find most commercials/ads pretty hilarious (and infuriating) when you deconstruct them. And the truth is, we are being marketed to ALL THE FREAKING TIME. It's interesting to see how ads play on our aspirations, our vulnerabilities and insecurities, our fears. So being able to magnify that and turn it up to 11, in the words of Spinal Tap, was just a criminal amount of fun. But hopefully, it also makes people stop and think, "Hey wait a minute, why am I supposed to have fun during my period? Why can't I slow down and lay low? Why do I have to be up all the freaking time?" Within each ad/commercial we see on TV or read in a magazine is a carefully coded message. It's good to be aware of those messages, to view them with a critical eye.
For the record, I also want some Maxi-Pad Pets. Really, who doesn't want a special friend in their pants? ;-)
Thanks for your question, Julia!
Tricia wrote: "HI!I recently read Beauty Queens and loved it!
I have 2 questions.
- What do you like to do in your spare time?
- Do you have any plans for an adult novel?
Thanks!"
Hi Tricia. I'm so glad you liked BQ! Spare time? Oh man, I need to get me some spare time. LOL--not a lot of that around here. When I need to decompress, I like to play drums or piano or see my friends. I spend time with my husband and son watching "Dr. Who." And I love to go for walks while listening to my iPod. I'm a big daydreamer, and I need time for that. I have some notes for an adult novel I might get around to writing one day, maybe twenty years from now. There's another adult novel or novella that I've been writing on in dribs and drabs for ten years. I hope to finish it at some point, but right now, my dance card is booked solid. Thanks for your questions.
Willa wrote: "--How do you write - computer, pencil and paper, etc.--How did you find a literary agent?"
Hey Willa. (I love the name Willa; it was the name of my beloved high school English teacher, Willa Mae Burlage. She was awesome.) I write on my laptop, which is a Mac Air. But I also keep tons of spiral notebooks, and I almost always have one with me for jotting things down or trying to figure things out. I've also started using the program Scrivener to write, which is really helpful. I recommend it. As for finding a literary agent, I recommend joining SCBWI (Society for Children's Book Writers & Illustrators). They have amazing conferences all over the U.S. and offer lots of advice on finding an agent, getting published, making your manuscript the best it can be. Thanks!
Reads_ten_each wrote: "This is so exciting! I don't even know what to write! okay okay, I'm calm. Libba Bray, your defiantly one of my favorite authors. I still can't get enough of the Gemma Doyle trilogy, it was amazing..."Hello, aspiring writer! *high fives you on Internet* I love that you started in fan fiction. I wish fan fic had existed when I was a teen. I probably would've been writing alternate "Wuthering Heights" chapters for days on end. Anyway, way cool that you want to write. You asked for advice, so let's see what I can tell you:
1. Read everything. Seriously. Every time I read, I learn something new. Like Stephen King used "spumed." Great verb.
2. Butt in Chair. Simply put, sit and write for a little bit every day, or as many days as you can per week, even if it's 15 minutes. Practice makes perfect and all that. Or, practice makes better. That's a little more doable.
3. Forgive yourself. Nobody is Margo Lanagan from the get-go. Well, maybe Margo Lanagan is, but she's secretly a Robot of Awesome. Right, Margo? Anyhoo, play and make mistakes. Usually, the good stuff comes out of that.
4. Tell your internal critic to shut up. You know about the internal critic, right? The one that stands behind you and judges EVERY SINGLE WORD as you try to write? Yeah. That one. Mine is named Lola, and she wears leather boots and eats all my M&Ms. She says things like, "Wow, that's SO original." "How many times are you going to start a sentence with a pronoun?" "Saw that coming." "You know who would write this better? Holly Black." Sometimes I have to say to Lola, "Hey, what's that in the closet? Is it cake? Go look...that's right...closer...closer..." Then I shut and lock the door on her and get back to my laptop.
Hope that helps.
Oh, and the 18th century would be the 1700's. The 19th century would be the 1800's in which the Gemma books are set. I swear, this has confused me my entire life. I still have to stop and think about it. :)
Ellie wrote: "Why did you choose to stop the Gemma Doyle trilogy with such an unresolved ending?"Hi Ellie. Good question. I think life is unresolved, and we are leaving Gemma as she is finishing one chapter in her life and starting another, so i wanted to stop there, with some sadness and some hope, and allow the reader to imagine what happens next.
ka wrote: "I read somewhere that you wrote The Sweet Far Thing twice and I would like to know the difference between the one we read and the first draft you made.And I would also like to know if you don't h..."
Hi Ka,
Oh...TSFT horrors. Yuppers, wrote a novel all wrong. Got the battle scars and the facial tic to prove it. Most of the stuff that didn't work involved a sort of weird, half-spider man (not to be confused with Spiderman, which would have been some awesome crossover...) who was a very unreliable character leading Gemma astray. It was like I went to sleep and woke up in a completely different book. Honestly, I don't know what I was thinking.
But you wanted some outtakes. I remembered posting some on my blog a long time ago. I found them. Here's the link: http://libba-bray.livejournal.com/181...
Enjoy!
Natalie wrote: "Hi Cool Aunt Libba! I was wondering what it is that you do to stay so cool and in-touch with young adults. Do you find yourself spending a lot of time building forts, and playing dress up? On th..."
This made my whole life. :) If I'm Cool Aunt Libba, does that mean I always have gum and will take you to the concerts your parents hate? Because I would be 100% up for that job. Thanks for thinking I'm cool, Natalie. Personally, I'm pretty sure I'm a big dork (my son confirms this daily.)
It's an interesting question, and one I sometimes get asked by those "cosmopolitan" adults. I've always wondered why people think teens are some strange subspecies. Or uniform. I just assume we are talking about lots of individuals with varied interests and personalities and concerns and dreams, etc. etc. You know, JUST LIKE ADULTS! ;-) So yeah, my approach boils down to, "Hi. I'm Libba. What's your name? Cool. I'm just sitting here on the stoop eating some Twizzlers. Want a Twizzler? Do you ever wonder what would happen if you got mad cow disease and went on a road trip? Where would you stop first?" It's a conversation, and I'm lucky enough to get to have that conversation for a living. I do think that one of the reasons I'm drawn to writing YA is that I had a particularly intense adolescence, and that that time informed so much of who I went on to be--or am still becoming.
However, I do enjoy both the building of forts with sofa cushions and playing dress-up so I can lip synch to loud music in my basement. Not sure if this qualifies me to write YA or is slightly upsetting and frightening. Your call. Um, Twizzler?
Thanks for the great question!
Torie wrote: "Hi, Libba! I would love to first tell you how much I LOVED your books and you're truly an inspiration to an aspiring writer like me.I was wondering what your writing schedule was like. Do you s..."
Hi Torie. I do have a writing schedule, actually. I write during the day while my son is in school. I'm very much a morning person and am most productive anywhere from about 7 a.m. till about 3:00 p.m. I can even get up at 5:30 or 6:00 to write. But I am pretty useless in the evenings. That's when my drool cup is in place. I don't have any writing rituals, per se, though I do love writing in cafes. I hate writing at home (too distracting). And I make a playlist for every book I write so that I can put on my headphones and get into a groove if I feel distracted or things get tough. Music helps, I find. Thanks!
Hannie wrote: "OMG!!!!! Libba Bray! I can't believe you're gonna read this!!!!!My questions for you:
1. What inspired you to come up with a hot indian male character? I <3 Kartik!
2. Why did you kill Ka..."
Hi Hannie. I am totally reading this. I've read it twice, in fact. Hopefully, my answers will be satisfying! Let's see:
1. What inspired you to come up with a hot indian male character? I <3 Kartik!
I'm glad you heart Kartik. I definitely wanted romance in the series and I wanted also to explore issues of class and race since Gemma and the other girls are mostly privileged white girls and Victorian England was a society with some pretty strict classism and racism.
2. Why did you kill Kartik? Did you want me to have a heart attack?
Sorry for any palpitations. But some people might argue that he's not dead. Just...replanted? ;-) On a more serious note, when TSFT came out, I wrote a blog that answers that question and a few more. Here's the link: http://libba-bray.livejournal.com/278...
3. Who inspires you?
Most of the people I know. And I'm often inspired by small acts of kindness.
4. Is there some kind of novella after the Gemma Doyle Trilogy? Maybe. Right now, I'm busy writing a new historical supernatural series called THE DIVINERS, which comes out Fall 2012. That's going to keep me busy for the next four or five years, I'm pretty sure.
Thanks!
Elliot wrote: "Hello Ms. Bray! Thank you for writing such a wonderful Trilogy! I loved Gemma, so was such a strong role model for young women!How do you switch from writing something like AGATB to your other ..."
Hi Elliot! Great question. I always use the food analogy: I love Chana Masala. But I don't want to eat it every day of my life. Sometimes I want ice cream. Or sushi. Or pancakes. (You get the picture.) I love so many different genres that I don't want to write just one thing. And truthfully, the story usually dictates the form it takes. Going Bovine was a surreal, sort of jazz-inspired riff on Don Quixote. Beauty Queens is a romp of a satire. The Gemma Doyle trilogy was a Victorian ghost story. Now, I'm working on a sort of dark, creepy supernatural series set in 1920s NYC. I love to write, and I love to write lots of different things. Thanks!
Liz wrote: "What I have always wondered, is how do you develop such strong character voices in your writing? In all your books each character has such a strong narration voice, and all the characters have stro..."Hi Liz. Thank you so much for that lovely compliment. Working on character is perhaps my favorite aspect of writing. I am fascinated by the human condition, by all the things that stop us or keep us going or help us move on and connect or keep us from connecting. I find that a side effect of writing is that it often helps me understand myself a little better. I think most writers are observers at heart. We watch the world. We take notes. We ponder, "Now, why did that person do that? It would seem against self-interest..." It's like being an armchair psychologist! I'm just endlessly fascinated by human beings and what makes them tick. So getting to know the characters in each book is something I look forward to each time. I know they will take me places and show me things--sometimes wondrous things and sometimes hard truths. Anyway, it comes about by writing and thinking and listening and asking myself lots and lots of questions. I often jot down notes in a spiral notebook, things like, "What would happen if Gemma did X or Y?" "Why is Cameron so checked out of life? What happened?"
The other thing, though, is what I call "The Personal Is Also Universal." By that I mean, that you have to put a little marrow on the page; you have to be willing to dredge up some of your own idiosyncrasies, insecurities, big questions, fears, etc. You have to be willing to go there. At any rate, you should try to make those characters as real as you possibly can and fill in all the holes and not worry about whether they are "likeable" so much as whether they are believable.
Also--and I don't know if this is helpful or not--I came from a theatre background, so I still think in terms of character arc and character analyses. That stuff is etched into my brain matter. Or at least that's what I tell myself to justify getting a degree in drama.
Thanks!
Krissy wrote: "Hey!! I read your Gemma Doyle series about a year ago and nearly died reading it because it was so good. I have some questions that kind of blend together.
How do you come up with the scenes th..."
Oh, Krissy. I wish I knew! The transition bits are such a chore sometimes. I always have the feeling that I am trying to distract the audience while I figure out how to pull the rabbit out of the hat. Honestly--and I know this is an unsatisfying answer--so much of that problem stuff gets smoothed out after the endless revisions. Other times, I remember the beautiful simplicity of a sentence like, "The next day..." or "It wasn't until ten o'clock the next morning, well after breakfast, that Patrick remembered the monster under the bed." That's what I have to remember: Simple is best. (Most of the time. Sometimes, crazy 'splodey over-the-top action is best.)
I think, too, it depends on your writing process. Some writers write in a linear fashion. I write all over the place and out of sequence, so when I'm stitching things together in Franken-novel fashion, it can feel really awkward until I've worked it and worked it into something more seamless. (Or at least I hope it becomes seamless.)
I usually write three "big" drafts but within those drafts are countless revisions. I revise every day. There's no part of the story that doesn't get reworked in some way. Even the punctuation is suspect. ;-)
Every day, I struggle with the feeling that what I'm writing is total crap. Honestly. I don't know many writers who don't feel that way. That's why it's good to have friends who can take it away from you, read it, and say, "You are crazy. This is coming along just fine. Now have a cookie and get back to work."
Thanks for your questions. And good luck with your writing!
Margy wrote: "I absolutely loved your Gemma Doyle triology and often recommend it when doing Readers Advisory at the library where I am employed for those teens looking for historical fiction - splashed with a t..."Hey Margy, awesome librarian. Thanks so much for recommending my books. I really appreciate that. Good news--I am working on a new historical series right now. It's called THE DIVINERS, and it's set in 1920s New York City. I'd been wanting to write something set in the 1920s for some time, and I'd been wanting to write another creepy, dark, supernatural series. So I combined the two. The first book will be out Fall 2012. Hope you enjoy it, and thanks for your question.
Robin wrote: "I loved your Gemma series so much I'm rereading it again. When you start writing do you know where you are going with the story/characters or do you let it unwind as you begin with a simple idea?..."
Hey Robin. I rarely know where I'm going when I start a book. To me, a large part of the fun is taking the trip and seeing where I come out at the end. Then there are times where I *think* I know where I'm going and I'm almost always wrong. LOL. So there's that. It's funny, because right now, I'm working on a new series, and I *do* know the end point. But I don't know how we get to the end point. I guess I'll have to see if I stay true to that ending or not.
Fifth graders are awesome. The best advice I can give to them is to read, read, read. You learn with every book you read. Also, to write what they love to read. People say "write what you know" but I think it's interesting to get to write what you *don't* know. But if you write what you love, you'll stay interested in it. Give them my best, and thanks for your questions.
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Also, did the experience of recording the audio version change the book for you in any way--make you more of a participant in it than its creator, in a way?