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Marita A. Hansen
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Q and A with author Marita A. Hansen
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Hi Marita,I read Behind the Hood a short while back and was really impressed with your writing. You have written a complex multi-character story and managed to keep each character coming across as a unique individual. What did you do to help you keep track of each character as you wrote about them? How did you manage to keep their personalities from blending together?
Paul wrote: "Congratulations on your book, Marita. Can you tell us where the title came from? Beyond the hood; what inspired the title of your book?
"Hi, Paul. I didn't come up with the name straight away. Originally I called it Hear, Speak, See No Evil, as I was setting out to write a fantasy. But it rapidly changed into realism and the name no longer suited the story. In the end the title came with the image that I wanted to use for the cover, which I drew. Because the main protagonist wore a hoodie, which covered the tattoo on his head, I thought that I could use the title to describe both him and his rough neighbourhood.
Denna wrote: "Hi Marita,I read Behind the Hood a short while back and was really impressed with your writing. You have written a complex multi-character story and managed to keep each character coming across a..."
I kept track of them easily because I treated them as unique individuals with their own distinct personality. For example, each of them had a defining characteristic, such as Maia's grinning when she was in trouble, or Tama's use of the word "pig" to describe the police. This is also why the characters didn't blend in together.
Can you tell us about your draft writing process?
Were you able to create some of the more unsavory of your characters from imagination only, or did you perhaps pull from personal experience with the more unpleasant side of New Zealand? Even though I know there can be evil in any area, we almost always hear about the good side of New Zealand. I admit to being somewhat surprised by the comparison to gang-related issues we deal with every day here in the States.
I'm going to separate my questions. I hope you don't mind. Several of the characters involved in Behind the Hood are under the age of 18. I'm curious if you gave any thought to marketing this as a darker YA novel? It might push the envelope a bit, but still could be a good learning experience of where gang life could lead if embraced.
Will we be hearing more about Tama in future novel? I admit to also being curious about where Nike and his wife end up. Her experience with Tama at the end of your novel is bound to cause some emotional stress between them. I know you have the sequel in the works. Could you give a little hint about what this one is going to be about?
Lafemmeroar wrote: "Can you tell us about your draft writing process?"With "Behind the Hood" I wrote the first three chapters then put them on youwriteon.com (writers' website) to get an understanding of whether people would like my story. It did very well (quickly hitting the Bestseller's category), so I expanded it, but unlike the first three chapters the rest wasn't as polished, just a skeleton to start with. Then I went back and fleshed them out, changed things, as well as occassionally cutting a chapter completely out. Then I put my story onto Authonomy.com It did very well there too, hitting number 1. At that website I also got a lot of wonderful reviews that helped me tighten my story even more. Once I'd gotten everything to a point where I was happy (having read it hundreds of times) I got an editor. Over the period of a month and a half I tightened it majorly, cutting out 5,000 words where I was telling rather than showing, as well as altering what was needed in regards to chapter endings and so forth. I believe editors are very important.
Marita wrote: "Lafemmeroar wrote: "Can you tell us about your draft writing process?"With "Behind the Hood" I wrote the first three chapters then put them on youwriteon.com (writers' website) to get an understa..."
Marita wrote: "Lafemmeroar wrote: "Can you tell us about your draft writing process?"
With "Behind the Hood" I wrote the first three chapters then put them on youwriteon.com (writers' website) to get an understa..."
Was your editor a paid editor or from a publishing house?
Denna wrote: "Were you able to create some of the more unsavory of your characters from imagination only, or did you perhaps pull from personal experience with the more unpleasant side of New Zealand? Even thoug..."You'd be surprised at New Zealand's gang problems. As a NZer I hear about it quite often on the news, even more so in certain areas, such as South Auckland,and Wanganui. I remember there was a march over the murder of a liquor store owner in Manurewa (South Auckland). People were so frustrated and upset over the continual and senseless violence in this area that they wanted to be heard, wanted it to stop. The murder was even made into a short film called "Manurewa."
Claydon in my book is based on a suburb called Clendon Park, which is a part of Manurewa. And since I lived in that area I did see the problems more readily. Though, don't think the place is all bad, it isn't. It definitely has good aspects, and like anywhere else in the world, it all depends on the individuals you come across.
In relation to my characters, the inspiration came from people that I have come across in my life, words I hear, actions I see, all mixed into new individuals. I have even put a bit of myself in the story, which is seen in Maia's problematic grinning when she's in trouble.
In relation to Tama, you'd be surprised at how many guys speak like him. There are even a few of his lines that are real, such as his thoughts about Jess in chapter 10, what he wants to do to her. That was really said to me. Also, the crude comment about Bob in chapter 2 was also said in regards to someone the person knew.
So, I guess what I'm saying is, the book may be a work of fiction, but it has real elements that makes it all the more believable.
Denna wrote: "I'm going to separate my questions. I hope you don't mind. Several of the characters involved in Behind the Hood are under the age of 18. I'm curious if you gave any thought to marketing this as..."I had an editor from Orion recommend that I direct it at the YA audience after she read my first three chapters. This surprised me since chapter 3 starts off with a sex scene. Because of this, as well as the fact that the story gets notably harsher as it goes along, I didn't take up her recommendation. As a parent I wouldn't want my teenager reading it, regardless of the age of the characters.
Denna wrote: "Will we be hearing more about Tama in future novel? I admit to also being curious about where Nike and his wife end up. Her experience with Tama at the end of your novel is bound to cause some emot...""Behind the Tears" isn't about Nike, Jess or Tama, it focuses on the secondary characters from "Behind the Hood." By the last line in the first book I guess a number of people will realise that the sequel is about Ash and Chaz. The Ratas (Ash, Dante, Sledge, and Juliet) as a whole will be focused on, along with the Conners (Corey, Naf, and Beth). Aroha also gets a more important role, and there is a big surprise in relation to her.
I also show a little from Ash, Dante and Chaz's past, before I get into the main story so you can see why the brothers are like they are.
Nike and Jess will return in the third book "Behind the Lies." This will be a continuation of their lives, and how they have coped, or not coped with what has happened. Leila also features, along with Craven's crew. That's all I can tell you about this book. However, I haven't finished the end of the second book, so I may want to rearrange the order of my series. Time will tell.
And in relation to Tama, he does feature again, but I can't say much more than this right now. I have quite a number of books planned out for this series.
Paul wrote: "What is your writing discipline. Do you write per pages per day, per chapter per week, when it suits you, early morning or late at night"I forgot to say thanks before. So, thanks :)
Now, I don't really have much discipline with setting a schedule for writing. I just write when it comes and it can be anytime in the day. I may do nothing one day, then the next I could be writing until 3 in the morning.
Lafemmeroar wrote: "Marita wrote: "Lafemmeroar wrote: "Can you tell us about your draft writing process?"With "Behind the Hood" I wrote the first three chapters then put them on youwriteon.com (writers' website) to ..."
Paid. I first saw my editor, John Hudspith, on youwriteon.com, and while I was on Authonomy.com he reviewed my first chapter. But, I didn't know he was an editor then. So, when I was asking about editors via Facebook a fellow writer from youwriteon.com suggested I talk to him. I sent him my first three chapters and was greatly impressed with his suggestions. I'm looking forward to sending him my next manuscript, as he was fun to work with.
Thank you very much, Marita. I'm looking forward to reading more of your work in the near future.
Denna wrote: "Thank you very much, Marita. I'm looking forward to reading more of your work in the near future."You're welcome, Denna :)
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Paul wrote: "Have you been able to draw any inspiration or ideas from your time in Singapore or is your heart still in NZ"Yes, my heart is still in New Zealand. But, Singapore has allowed me the time to write this book, which I wouldn't have been able to do if I was in New Zealand. Though, I will still continue my books when I return home.
Writing "Behind the Hood" also helped me as I was incredibly homesick for a year and a half, before I started liking being in Singapore.
A.F. wrote: "You mentioned you started writing your book as a fantasy. Would you ever consider venturing into the genre again?"I wrote a YA fantasy before I started writing "Behind the Hood," but didn't publish it. It was called the "Stella Maris" (after a few name changes). I put it down out of frustration as it wasn't getting to the point I was happy with on youwriteon.com. However, I was silly as I didn't understand youwriteon at that point and was taking people's suggestions too seriously. I will probably return to it as my teenage daughter is pestering me to as she and her friends loves the story. "Stella Maris" was also created as the first book in a series and was set in a different part of Auckland to "Behind the Hood," a place that I love.
I've not seen youwriteon.com. Intriguing to read how you've used the internet in creating your book. Thank you.
You're welcome :) youwriteon.com is good for setting up the first few chapters, and authonomy.com helps with the rest of the book. Though, I wouldn't put a whole book on Authonomy, like some people do. I don't use the sites as much now, just once in a while for youwriteon when I want to test out a new idea.
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Her Blog:
http://maritaahansen.blogspot.com/
Her Goodreads Profile:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...