Wednesday, May 29, 2013

All Day Q&A!

It's my first Q&A post-debut! Yay! I guess that means if you've read TRANSPARENT you could, like, ask about it. Whoa. But as you know, you can ask me anything, and I will answer you in comments. Sometimes I will answer you at length if you ask the right question and I get rambling. You've been warned.

All questions asked before I wake up tomorrow (May 30th) will be answered. You may ask multiple questions, follow-up questions, whatever. Q&A day is YOUR day, guys. Take advantage as much as you'd like.

29 comments:

  1. No Question. Just wanted to let you know I enjoyed "Transparent" :D

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  2. I want to second the enjoying of Transparent. It was awesome and so sweet I just want to hug it, except I can't because I bought it as an ebook.

    Are you going to write a sequel about Spud? Please, please, please?

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    1. I've had this asked a lot already, Jennifer! It surprises me, since Spud never actually makes an appearance in the book. But I love her, of course, and I know a lot about her. I don't think I'd ever write a sequel with her as a main character, but if there ever was a sequel I can tell you Spud would play a much bigger role. You'd get to meet her and everything:)

      *IF* there were a sequel, with emphasis. Right now, there isn't.

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  3. I have a (selfish) question! Now that you've had a launch party, what things (food, swag, publicity, etc) would you do again? Is there anything you'd do differently?

    Not that I need to know for like two years, but I figure I can start pre-planning now!

    Thanks!!

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    1. Becky, I'm probably the worst person to ask this question, lol. I didn't really plan anything fancy for my launch party—mostly I just planned what to wear, what to say, and a few small things to give away. I had little Pop Tart charms made for necklaces (which have been super popular but a little expensive), and I've bought cheap sunglasses at Ross (but still not THAT cheap...can you tell I'm a penny pincher yet?). Both of these had to do with the book.

      My mom, the day before my launch, informed me that she just HAD to provide refreshments. So while she was driving home from Washington with my sister who'd graduated with her master's degree the day before, she called a bunch of places to order food and prepped everything at lightning speed. She's kind of a superhero.

      So I kept it pretty simple for myself, and it happened to look not as simple thanks to my mom, heh. As for things I'd do differently, I can't think of too much. I felt like I really rambled while I talked, so maybe I should have made more detailed notes on a speech. I don't know. People said I was funny, though I don't remember it that way.

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    2. The talking part scares me the worst! I sorta feel like I should just hand out cupcakes (which have nothing to do with my book) that should be good!

      Are you doing any local signings this summer? I'll be in SLC for a few weeks and would love to drop by and get my copy of TRANSPARENT signed.

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    3. The talking part scared me the worst, too, Becky! So glad that's over, haha. And I'm glad my mom brought cupcakes to make up for any possible stupidity I might have spouted:)

      I will be at a few group signings this summer! The only one I know solidly right now is on July 9th at the Provo Library—so not that far away, ack. I'll be with the awesome Elana Johnson, J.R. Johansson, Kasie West, and Bree Despain. I will likely be at another group signing sometime end of July/beginning of August, and again possibly somewhere in September, I don't know for sure.

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  4. Your book is out, your dream is coming true ---- how do you feel?? :)

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    1. Ha! Nicki, honestly? Not a lot. That sounds kind of depressing, but it isn't. I've talked to a lot of authors about debut now, and they've said the same thing. When you wait 1-2 years for something to happen, the actual day is...a bit anti-climactic. It's not BAD, but just...quiet.

      Books aren't like movie debuts or TV debuts. It takes awhile to get things going. People have to find the book. Then find the time to READ the book. And then, if you're lucky, reach out and share that they LIKED the book. Then hopefully other people pick it up, and rinse and repeat.

      That's just how it goes—you can't really know if your book will do well or not for quite a long time. And sometimes books find new life long after they were out (like Ally Carter's Gallagher Girl's series, which didn't get a TON of recognition until book three was almost out).

      So I feel...mostly relieved, I guess. I'm happy debuting is behind me, and a lot of the angst I felt before is gone. I'm trying to relax and remember that the rest is completely out of my hands now. The story isn't mine anymore, and that's okay.

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    2. Well I hope you still feel proud, because it's such an amazing accomplishment! Very few people even have the guts to try for their dreams, never mind achieving them. Thanks for the honest answer, I hope I can be in the same strange boat sometime soon! :)

      Congrats on the release and I can't wait to read it!!!

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    3. There is definitely a sense of accomplishment! It's just more of a peaceful, quiet feeling than a big dancing excited one. But maybe that's just me. I've never really been the squealing/daning/ALL CAPS type. I tend to get more reflective when I hit big milestones—that's probably the introvert in me:) Takes time to process it all.

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    4. Nicki pretty much asked the question I would have. Congratulations on the release!

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  5. How did you find your critique partners?

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    1. I put out an ad in Craigslist. This probably wasn't the best idea, because sometimes now my crit partners sit outside my house with cameras...

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    2. Sometimes i wish blog posts had a "like" button, because that, my dear, is hilarious :)

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  6. How do you find time to do it all? Be an awesome mom, a great wife, a crazy-talented writer (of books and blogs)...and sleep, eat and interact with friends?

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    1. Emily, this is easy: I DON'T do it all! I will not ever claim to, either. All I do is what I can do, and sometimes that's not a lot. Sometimes I'm NOT an awesome mom—my kids will live on Pop Tarts and Netflix and I'll be holed up with a deadline and a carton of Code Red. Sometimes I'm NOT an awesome wife—my husband will be saddled with all chores and have to figure out dinner by himself while I write. So yeah, I neglect my family sometimes, and when I finish my deadlines I have to dig my way out of the mess and reconnect only to do it all over again.

      I'm just lucky *I* have the most awesome husband ever and kids who love me despite my flaws (at least right now, we'll see when they become teens and realize how much I suck).

      And sometimes I'm NOT a crazy-talented writer, either. Okay, most of the time. I make major mistakes in plotting, character, etc. I have to do big revisions and struggle to convince myself that I'm good enough to do this professionally. Sometimes I'm proud of my work and sometimes I despise it all.

      But I try. That's all I can really say. I try to focus on the most important things first. If I have time I squeak in the less important but fun things. Sometimes I even fail at that and procrastinate to no end.

      So yeah, that's not a very helpful answer, but it's the truth. I stopped believing in "balance" a long time ago. I just do what I need to do when I need to do it and hope for the best.

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    2. You mean I don't have to do it all?

      You're my hero.

      :)

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    3. No, you don't have to do it all. Not even close:)

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  7. Reading reviews is a pretty mixed bag from what I hear, but Transparent is racking up the four and five star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads (five star rating in Canada - Go, Natalie, go!). Do you read reviews or do you avoid that particular emotional roller coaster? Also, what's it going to take to get a sequel going? Is it all about numbers or should your fans start up an online petition or something? (jk, I know it's all about the number - still, the temptation is strong!)

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    1. Kimberly, I personally try to avoid reviews at all costs. While I appreciate the good ones, they still aren't entirely "helpful." That might be surprising, but it's all about the expectations. If someone LOVES your book like crazy, then you start worrying the next one will fall short. If the review is mean, then you tend to agree or feel like you'll never write anything better.

      So basically, it's a no win for me. I can't work with all those cooks in the kitchen, so to speak.

      I mean, I'm HAPPY people care enough to leave reviews, but I also don't think they're for me, anyway. I can't change anything about my book at this point—it's entirely permanent and out there! So even if I wanted to apply the constructive criticism I can't. And it doesn't help for the next book because every novel has its own issues.

      And then I'm a pretty emotional and sensitive person to begin with. I don't apologize for this and don't think writers NEED thick skin to be successful. So why open myself up to that? I'm pretty hard on myself without anyone else to help.

      So yeah, no review reading for me!

      As far as getting a sequel, I don't really know in DETAIL, but I do know that spreading the word and purchasing books is always a good way to help:) Word of mouth is HUGE for a debut author, and the first quarter of sales can kind of determine whether or not bookstores continue to stock your novel. The best way to possibly get a sequel is to be a fan and try to convert others, haha.

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    2. That makes a lot of sense. I think I would probably feel much the same way (and then read the reviews anyway because I'm horrifically self-destructive at times).

      I'm not normally the fan-girl type. I'm too lazy to put in the effort to pull it off properly. But I'm spreading the word and buying Christmas presents early because yes, that first quarter is so vital, isn't it?

      Now, you have another book coming out, right? I think I saw you posting pictures of the galleys? (gorgeous by the way) Can you tell us a bit about it?

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    3. I do! HOUSE OF IVY & SORROW comes out late Winter 2014, and...it's pretty different from TRANSPARENT. But I hope people like it just as much, if not more! I don't have official cover copy yet, but this is the summary:

      Josephine Hemlock has spent the last 10 years hiding from the Curse that killed her mother. But when a mysterious man arrives at her ivy-covered, magic-fortified home, it’s clear her mother’s killer has finally come to destroy the rest of the Hemlock bloodline. Before Jo can even think about fighting back, she must figure out who she’s fighting in the first place. The more truth Jo uncovers, the deeper she falls into witchcraft darker than she ever imagined. Trapped and running out of time, she begins to wonder if the very Curse that killed her mother is the only way to save everyone she loves.

      This book is very close to my heart for many reasons, the biggest being that it's largely inspired from the loss of my grandmother and the bonds between sisters/mothers/daughters/etc. Also, the magic "system" is pretty dark and gritty, which I've always wanted to write.

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  8. Can you finally talk about what's next after HOUSE OF IVY & SORROW? If not, I'll ask this: who do you think would be great to cast as Fiona or Seth in the movie version of TRANSPARENT?

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    1. Ha, Lin, I actually don't HAVE anything to talk about after HOUSE OF IVY & SORROW! I haven't sold more books past that, but I'm hoping that will change in the near future. I'm currently prepping a YA contemporary for sub, but who know if it'll sell. I've already had a couple rejections on novels post-Transparent sale.

      So as far as future—right now the only other thing to look forward to from me is my part in the video game Torment: Tides Of Numenera. I'm quite excited to start work on that when the time comes.

      As far as casting people for Fiona and Seth, that's a pretty tall order! I suppose most anyone could play Fiona, seeing as she's invisible and all (this issue is also why no one has even considered movie rights). But then again, what actress wants to play a character that isn't visible?

      And Seth is a strawberry blond-haired guy with freckles who is skinny but still pretty cute—I have yet to find an actor who fits this description. There are quite a few red-headed actresses, but almost no male counterparts who are not meant to play side characters/comic relief.

      This is probably the lamest response to a casting question ever, but there it is, lol.

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    2. Thanks, Natalie, for answering. I think a movie version could work. An actress with a compelling voice could do a voice over and CG would do the rest. I would love to see an anime version of your book though!

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    3. I think I'd actually prefer to see it in anime rather than a movie:) I'm...not much of a movie person. I've never really dreamed of having my books made into films.

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  9. I hope you do a signing the beginning of August! I'll actually in Utah then. Maybe you can convince Kasie to come back.

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