The schedule for this blog tour was a little off, but hey like I say better late than never. So we finally have the post ready for you today. Thanks to SupaGurl Books blog for hosting!
Hi Yara! Thanks for interviewing me! On comparing writing Truth to XVI... The first draft of XVI was done during NaNoWriMo. (link to National Novel Writing Month - http://nanowrimo.org/ ) So, that was fast, 30 days! Of course, it went through several edits over the next few years. But, the original idea came out quickly!
For Truth, I had started it not long after the first major revision of XVI. Then I realized that there might be changes in XVI that would affect the story line of Truth, so I stopped working on it. Then, when XVI was through its final edits, I dug into Truth again. When my editor read it, she wanted major changes - MAJOR! I had only a couple of weeks to dig in and pretty much rewrite the entire book! Truth was much more difficult in solidifying the major idea - but perhaps easier to write because, hopefully I’m getting a little better at writing!
OUaT: This world you have created in these books is a hard idea to swallow that we hope will never become the future, Would you be a fighter like Nina? does Nina possibly take after you in some way?
I hope I would be a fighter like Nina! Ways that we are alike are having a definite sense of right and wrong, wanting to know the truth, and when we find the truth, wanting everyone else to know it, too.
OUaT: When you came up with the ideas of how to categorized the people, did you base that off anything current in our world now?
I did. I thought of how people nowadays think about jobs and the people who hold them. Look at how revered (and ridiculously over-paid) professional athletes are (remember the ‘Letes in XVI, and how much power they had?) And, would most people think that the CEO of a major company is even in the same world as a fast food worker? Or how much more credible being a doctor is than say being a garbage collector?
I think we already categorize people and make judgements on those categories based on how the media portrays them. Which is NOT a good idea - not at all. We are all human beings, all having the same amount of worth for that very reason. There is nothing inherently better about a person because of their background or their education. People are people and deserve to be seen on the same level playing field. That is something I love about post-apocalyptic novels - they bring us all down to the same common denominator - being human.
OUaT: I would love to see a picture of both Julia and Wei's creative tattoos that surround their XVI tattoos, do you have pictures of them to see or has anyone attempted to draw them for you? Can you share the link or site with us?
Oh! I would love that, too! I do not have (other than my own crude, really crude, sketches. So, that will have to wait! Or maybe someone reading this interview is a great artist and will be inspired to draw them & then let me know!
OUaT: You answered in a old interview before what you hoped readers would take from reading XVI, now that Truth will be coming out, what message would you like readers to capture from your sophomore novel?
I’d like readers to question everything and look for the truth. And, once they’ve found it, to make sure that it’s the real truth, not someone’s manipulation of truth. And, once they are sure of the truth, to not keep quiet about it!
OUaT: Do you have a day job as well?
I do. I’m a human resources administrator for a manufacturing company. It keeps me busy!
OUaT: Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?
Yes. Probably the most influential book I’ve read was Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy. It’s all about metaphysics and it’s the textbook for the Christian Science religion (in which I was raised.) It was most definitely influential in forming the way I think about life, the world, and other people.
OUaT: Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?
Most of the situations in Truth are pure imagination - but have their roots in reality. I know that’s kind of vague, but I don’t want to include any spoilers. I did, however, use my feelings about things like first jobs and going places that were scary and/or totally out of my usual realm of living.
OUaT: What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?
Again, no spoilers - but I loved writing the scene by the lake (readers will know it when they get there!) And, I also really, really liked writing the climax!
OUaT: Do you have any advise to give to aspiring writers?
Yes! If you want to be a writer, write - every day, no matter what! And read, read, read - everything!
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Hi Julia,
ReplyDeleteI had the privilege to reading both books and I love both. I think your writing is incredible. And I admire your creative thinking. Great interview.
Thank you, Wanda! :)
ReplyDeleteI just bought the first book in this series. I can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteMy book club read XVI this past fall and I can't wait to read TRUTH.
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