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GL Author Exclusives! Be our queen of questions and shout out to Julie Kagawa
Julie Kagawa has bookworms abuzz with her latest novel The Iron Queen, the third book from the Iron Fey series, that has just hit shelves.
Dark princes, a prankster named Puck and fluttering fairies have us enchanted. So we had to have more from the author…but we’re going to let YOU ask the questions!
How does it work? Send us your questions for Julie by posting them just like you would a comment. Then check back here every Friday to see her answers to your questions.
And that’s not all: Julie’s got some fairy dust up her sleeve!
For the gal with the top question, GL will crown her “Queen of Questions” and hook her up with her a stack of Harlequin books, including all three novels from the Iron Fey series.
For even more fab reading, check out Enter The Faery World
Ok ladies, you asked and Julie answered. Round three of the Q&A sesh is here. This Friday we'll be announcing a Queen of Questions - so read up and stay tuned!
Q. I have to say that I just love love LOVE the iron fairy series! My question is who is the girl on the covers of your books?
A. Thank you! Sadly, I have not met the beautiful model on the cover of the books, so I couldn’t tell you anything except her name is Tessa. That is all I know.
Q. If you don't like an idea, do you still finish it to see if other people like it? If you absolutely love a story, but other people say it's not good, what do you do? What would you say to other girls that want to be authors?
Q. How old were you when you wrote your very first novel? Did you always want to be an author? Was it hard getting a book published?
A. I was around sixteen when I finished a book. Not a book that would ever be published, but a story that had a beginning, middle, and end. I didn’t always want to be an author; up until high school I wanted to be a veterinarian. And yes, it was hard getting that first book published. I tried for about ten years before The Iron King was finally picked up.
Q. Have you ever tried to write a book and got bored halfway through, or decided that it was the totally wrong idea? I have tried to write a book before and those happened to me, so I was wondering if it ever happened to real authors. Also, how long did it take you to write the book?
A. Ah yes, the dreaded 50 page slump. In the beginning, when your book idea is shiny and new, it’s easy to feel excited about it. But then, usually around 30-50 pages in, things sag. You get bored, your characters aren’t doing anything interesting, and your plot seems stupid or tired or boring. Then you have this brand new idea that seems so much more interesting then the book you’re currently working on.
Ignore that feeling. It will happen often. Writing a book is hard, and the only way to finish is to keep going. I have a whole file labeled “STORY IDEAS” where I can jot down shiny new concepts for future stories so I don’t forget them. But then I sit down and keep working on my current project.
Keep going. Finish that story. It’s the only way to get a book written.
Q. Also, how do you get your inspiration? I am working on a book and I sometimes need a boost to get me writing again. How do you get such great ideas? I love the series and have been waiting for The Iron Queen to come out.
A. Thanks! I get inspiration from odd places, mostly from anime and video games, but sometimes from movies and books. Really, good stories inspire me. But here’s a secret: don’t wait for inspiration to strike before you write a book. If you want to write, start now. Or you could be waiting forever.
Q. Hi Julie, What advice do you have for a young author who wants to be published? I'm trying to publish a novel, and I've talked to people, but I mostly get the same advice - just keep writing. Do you have anything to add? - futureauthor19
A.. That’s good advice. ☺ Writing is a skill, like painting or playing the guitar, and the only way to get better is to keep practicing. I would also add: find something that inspires you, whether it’s books or movies or whatever. You know that feeling when you’ve just finished a great book and it sits with you for a long time and you can’t stop thinking about it? That’s the type of book that makes me want to get back to writing. Find yours.
A. I believe it varies for different people. For example, I find the beginning of a book is the hardest, while some people can dive right in. But when you’re trying to tie up the story, I find it’s helpful to have the ending already in mind. You might even want to write the ending first, just so you have a goal to work toward.
Q. Dear Julie, How do you keep the ideas flowing? What makes a great book? How do you become an author? -Princess0412
Q. Dear Julie, I am an aspiring author, and sometimes I have really good ideas for the plot of my book. However, I have a hard time connecting the main events! Does this ever happen to you, and what advice do you have?
A. I have two techniques for dealing with difficult scenes, or scenes I’m having trouble connecting. The first: I skip over it for the time, and continue the story past the place where I’m stuck. Sometimes this means skipping whole scenes or even part of a chapter. But your goal when writing the first draft is just to get it done. You can always go back and fix it later, and by then, you might know exactly how it needs to be written.
The second technique is just to hammer your way through the scene, writing down whatever awful thing comes to mind. Again, this is a first draft; it has to be fixed up anyway, so just get yourself through the difficult parts and come back to it later. You might be surprised that it wasn’t as bad as you thought.
Q. How were you inspired to start writing? Did you just think "I'm going to write a novel." or is there a reason behind the making of your books? - smiles4ever1112
A. I’ve always enjoyed writing, even when I was young. I would fold stacks of papers into “books” and write out my stories in them, complete with illustrations. I think it was in high school that I decided I wanted to write books for a living. Of course, back then I had no idea how difficult getting published really was. I had this notion that I would write and publish a book before college, and then I could take it easy from there. Ah, naiveté.
A. Thank you! Sadly, I have not met the beautiful model on the cover of the books, so I couldn’t tell you anything except her name is Tessa. That is all I know.
Q. If you don't like an idea, do you still finish it to see if other people like it? If you absolutely love a story, but other people say it's not good, what do you do? What would you say to other girls that want to be authors?
A. Well, that first question is difficult to answer. Do you mean you don’t like a particular idea in the story you’re writing, or that you don’t like the story itself, or that you thought it was a good idea once but now you don’t like it? I personally wouldn’t write anything I didn’t really care for. You have to believe in your own story, you know?
As for the second question, if you love the story but other people say it’s not good, ask them what they didn’t like about it, and see if their suggestions could make the story better. Always be open to suggestions, but remember, in the end, this is your story. You have to decide what’s best for it.
And finally, if you want to be a writer, write. That’s the secret. Don’t give up. Keep trying to get better. If you’re serious about being an author, know that you’re probably going to be rejected a lot; its just part of the journey. The only difference between a published author and a non-published one is that the published one never stopped writing. Q. How old were you when you wrote your very first novel? Did you always want to be an author? Was it hard getting a book published?
A. I was around sixteen when I finished a book. Not a book that would ever be published, but a story that had a beginning, middle, and end. I didn’t always want to be an author; up until high school I wanted to be a veterinarian. And yes, it was hard getting that first book published. I tried for about ten years before The Iron King was finally picked up.
Q. Have you ever tried to write a book and got bored halfway through, or decided that it was the totally wrong idea? I have tried to write a book before and those happened to me, so I was wondering if it ever happened to real authors. Also, how long did it take you to write the book?
A. Ah yes, the dreaded 50 page slump. In the beginning, when your book idea is shiny and new, it’s easy to feel excited about it. But then, usually around 30-50 pages in, things sag. You get bored, your characters aren’t doing anything interesting, and your plot seems stupid or tired or boring. Then you have this brand new idea that seems so much more interesting then the book you’re currently working on.
Ignore that feeling. It will happen often. Writing a book is hard, and the only way to finish is to keep going. I have a whole file labeled “STORY IDEAS” where I can jot down shiny new concepts for future stories so I don’t forget them. But then I sit down and keep working on my current project.
Keep going. Finish that story. It’s the only way to get a book written.
Q. Also, how do you get your inspiration? I am working on a book and I sometimes need a boost to get me writing again. How do you get such great ideas? I love the series and have been waiting for The Iron Queen to come out.
A. Thanks! I get inspiration from odd places, mostly from anime and video games, but sometimes from movies and books. Really, good stories inspire me. But here’s a secret: don’t wait for inspiration to strike before you write a book. If you want to write, start now. Or you could be waiting forever.
Q. Hi Julie, What advice do you have for a young author who wants to be published? I'm trying to publish a novel, and I've talked to people, but I mostly get the same advice - just keep writing. Do you have anything to add? - futureauthor19
A.. That’s good advice. ☺ Writing is a skill, like painting or playing the guitar, and the only way to get better is to keep practicing. I would also add: find something that inspires you, whether it’s books or movies or whatever. You know that feeling when you’ve just finished a great book and it sits with you for a long time and you can’t stop thinking about it? That’s the type of book that makes me want to get back to writing. Find yours.
Q. What is the hardest part of writing a book? Is it trying to tie up the ending? That's what's hard for me to do. - soullover625
A. I believe it varies for different people. For example, I find the beginning of a book is the hardest, while some people can dive right in. But when you’re trying to tie up the story, I find it’s helpful to have the ending already in mind. You might even want to write the ending first, just so you have a goal to work toward.
Q. Dear Julie, How do you keep the ideas flowing? What makes a great book? How do you become an author? -Princess0412
A. How to keep the ideas flowing, hmm. Well, again, I’d say find something that inspires you. Of course, when I get stuck, sometimes I just have to slog my way through a difficult scene, knowing I can always come back and fix it later.
For me, a great book is all about characters. If I don’t care about the characters, I probably won’t like the book.
Becoming an author is all about one thing: writing. You have to keep writing, both to hone your skills and to finish a novel. You can be a brilliant writer, but unless you have a completed, polished manuscript, most publishing houses won’t even consider you. And it does take perseverance, hard work, and a little bit of luck to become an author. But consider this: all authors started exactly where you are now. The published ones just never gave up. Q. Dear Julie, I am an aspiring author, and sometimes I have really good ideas for the plot of my book. However, I have a hard time connecting the main events! Does this ever happen to you, and what advice do you have?
A. I have two techniques for dealing with difficult scenes, or scenes I’m having trouble connecting. The first: I skip over it for the time, and continue the story past the place where I’m stuck. Sometimes this means skipping whole scenes or even part of a chapter. But your goal when writing the first draft is just to get it done. You can always go back and fix it later, and by then, you might know exactly how it needs to be written.
The second technique is just to hammer your way through the scene, writing down whatever awful thing comes to mind. Again, this is a first draft; it has to be fixed up anyway, so just get yourself through the difficult parts and come back to it later. You might be surprised that it wasn’t as bad as you thought.
Q. How were you inspired to start writing? Did you just think "I'm going to write a novel." or is there a reason behind the making of your books? - smiles4ever1112
A. I’ve always enjoyed writing, even when I was young. I would fold stacks of papers into “books” and write out my stories in them, complete with illustrations. I think it was in high school that I decided I wanted to write books for a living. Of course, back then I had no idea how difficult getting published really was. I had this notion that I would write and publish a book before college, and then I could take it easy from there. Ah, naiveté.
Q. Who is your favorite author? Who motivates you to keep on writing? What was the best book you ever read?
A. I don’t have an absolute FAVORITE author, but a few writers I love are Neil Gaiman, Maria V. Snyder, Jim Butcher, and Joss Whedon. And again, I don’t have a favorite story, but a few that I love are American Gods, Poison Study, Summer Knight, and anything Joss Whedon writes.
A. I don’t have an absolute FAVORITE author, but a few writers I love are Neil Gaiman, Maria V. Snyder, Jim Butcher, and Joss Whedon. And again, I don’t have a favorite story, but a few that I love are American Gods, Poison Study, Summer Knight, and anything Joss Whedon writes.
Q. Did you ever get help from others while you were coming up with the events in your book?
A. My husband is the greatest help for this. Whenever I get stuck on a scene or plot line, he is always there to help me work it out. He’s much more logical and analytical then I am, so it works out well.
Q. Was there any person in particular that helped inspire you to be an author?
A. When I was growing up, there was a man who was a friend of the family (I won’t name names for privacy) who always took the time to read my crazy stories. And even though I was just a kid, he always encouraged me to keep writing. He even sent off one of my stories to a children’s book publisher, and even though it wasn’t published, the editor there said I had talent, and that was a huge, huge boost towards me wanting to become an author someday.
Q. I was wondering, when you first started writing THE IRON KING, did you plan on writing a series? If so, did you already know how many books you planned to write and how did that number evolve/change?
A. When I first started The Iron King, I did intend it to be more then one book, but I didn’t know if the publisher would want a series or a single title. So I wrote it in a way that it could be a stand-alone if needed. Fortunately, they wanted the series, so it worked out well.
Q. How did you get interested in fantasy? Have you always been interested in fairies and princesses?
A. I’ve been a fantasy buff my whole life. My favorite kid’s book was Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, and that love for monsters, magic, and make-believe places never went away.
Q. What one piece of literature has affected you the most as a writer?
A. There have been many wonderful, touching books, but I remember reading The Druid of Shannara by Terry Brooks when I was a teenager and sobbing over the characters. And I remember thinking: “That’s what I want to do. Write characters that people actually fall in love with and cry over.”
Q. If you could invite 3 people to dinner (living or dead) who would they be and why?
A. Jim Butcher, because he’s a gaming buff like me, Neil Gaiman, because he has a sexy voice and is my author hero, and Shakespeare, to get his true, original thoughts on the faeries of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. And to ask him what he thinks of my version of Puck. ;)
Q. Have you ever had a really good idea for a book but once you started writing it, you couldn't get past the first or second chapter? How do you get over the writer’s block? Or is it just time to scrap the idea and start over?
A. Beginnings are always very difficult, at least in my opinion. And the only way to get past writer’s block (for me), is to just slog right through, or skip to a place where you’re not blocked. But remember, the first draft of anything is going to be bad, that’s what the second and third drafts are for: to fix it up. You can always fix a bad page, but you can’t fix a blank one.
Q. Did you love to read a lot as a child? (I know I definitely read ALL the time) Do you have a favorite book out of the ones you've written? Did you ever get discouraged if a book you were writing didn't turn out the way you wanted?
A. I read all the time as a child, sometimes when I wasn’t supposed to, like in math class. My favorite books out of the ones I’ve written would probably be The Iron Queen. And I do get discouraged sometimes, even now, when the story in my head doesn’t seem as good on paper, but I tell myself that I can always come back and fix it later.
Q. I've read that authors often second-guess their writing. Is this part of the writing process? Do you ever do that? -Sloane
A. I think all authors second-guess their writing sometimes. It’s something I’m guilty of, even now. There are days when I think my writing is a steaming pile of cow dung, and I don’t have an original thought in my head. Thankfully, I’ve learned to trust myself and my writing, and I eventually get over it.
A. I use both methods. I will have days where I have to sit down and plan what happens in the story, but there are times, particularly during NaNoWriMo, where I just let my fingers type without thinking about what comes next.
A. If you’re just starting out, remember that you won’t be a fantastic writer immediately. Writing is a skill that takes time and practice, just like anything else. My advice is to keep writing, keep trying to get better. And eventually, you will.
A. I assume we’re talking about when I finish writing a novel. Mostly, I feel a sense of relief that I got through another book. And yes, there is a little pride, but writing a whole novel is a lot of work, and I’m always glad when I finish. Not that I’m tired of writing it, but that I was able to tell a coherent story and that I can put this one to rest.
Q. Are the personality traits of the characters in your book based off of people you know? - Christi11
A. Not really. Strangely enough, my heroes come from a vast array of anime, manga, video game, and movie characters. Also, there is a tiny part of myself in each of them, but I think that’s true with all authors.
A. I think all authors second-guess their writing sometimes. It’s something I’m guilty of, even now. There are days when I think my writing is a steaming pile of cow dung, and I don’t have an original thought in my head. Thankfully, I’ve learned to trust myself and my writing, and I eventually get over it.
Q. While writing, did you let your pencil guide you and have your thoughts just flow out? Or did you have to stop and think about what comes next?
A. I use both methods. I will have days where I have to sit down and plan what happens in the story, but there are times, particularly during NaNoWriMo, where I just let my fingers type without thinking about what comes next.
Q. If your mind and Meghan Chase's were thrust together, would you think the same and get along?
A. Oh, I don’t think so, lol. We’re very different, and I’m not sixteen anymore. There would be fights, and we are both very stubborn, so I’m not sure how that would work out.
Q. To you, what's important that an aspiring author just starting out should keep in mind when going through the writing process? A. If you’re just starting out, remember that you won’t be a fantastic writer immediately. Writing is a skill that takes time and practice, just like anything else. My advice is to keep writing, keep trying to get better. And eventually, you will.
Q. Is there anything that surprises you every time you finish a novel? Maybe the magic of it all?
A. I assume we’re talking about when I finish writing a novel. Mostly, I feel a sense of relief that I got through another book. And yes, there is a little pride, but writing a whole novel is a lot of work, and I’m always glad when I finish. Not that I’m tired of writing it, but that I was able to tell a coherent story and that I can put this one to rest.
Q. Are the personality traits of the characters in your book based off of people you know? - Christi11
A. Not really. Strangely enough, my heroes come from a vast array of anime, manga, video game, and movie characters. Also, there is a tiny part of myself in each of them, but I think that’s true with all authors.
Thanks Julie!
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