Ask the Author: Jake Burt
Answered Questions (24)
Jake Burt
Hey there, Camilia! Shoot me an email at jake@jburtbooks.com, and I'll see what I can do to provide a bit more insight into the further adventures of Nicki/Charlotte/Hannah (spoiler alert on that third name, perhaps?)... :)
Jake Burt
Hey there, HG! I'm so glad you enjoyed Cleo's adventure! I do have a few ideas as far as what happens to Cleo down the road; maybe once I'm done with the projects I'm working on now, I'll visit her world again. Good to know there are readers who wouldn't mind taking that journey with me!
All best,
Jake
All best,
Jake
Jake Burt
Hey there, Flynn! Happy to help!
I have two tricks I use to stay motivated through the entire novel-writing process. The first is to completely outline the book prior to writing; that way, I always know where I'm going (plotwise) when I sit down to write. It can be daunting and deflating to stare at your computer screen for five minutes trying to figure out where your story is going to go, so I try to avoid that delay as much as possible.
My second trick is to find people with whom I can talk about my book. Often, I can draw energy from other peoples' enthusiasm. If I describe the plot of a story, and their eyes light up? It makes me want to hurry home and write more. Or if they ask questions that get me thinking about how I've framed something, it can spur me to adjust the novel - another crucial part of the writing process.
Hope those tips help, and best of luck with NaNoWriMo!
I have two tricks I use to stay motivated through the entire novel-writing process. The first is to completely outline the book prior to writing; that way, I always know where I'm going (plotwise) when I sit down to write. It can be daunting and deflating to stare at your computer screen for five minutes trying to figure out where your story is going to go, so I try to avoid that delay as much as possible.
My second trick is to find people with whom I can talk about my book. Often, I can draw energy from other peoples' enthusiasm. If I describe the plot of a story, and their eyes light up? It makes me want to hurry home and write more. Or if they ask questions that get me thinking about how I've framed something, it can spur me to adjust the novel - another crucial part of the writing process.
Hope those tips help, and best of luck with NaNoWriMo!
Jake Burt
Hey there, Peyton!
I know that Nicki's adventure doesn't really address crushes or relationships or love (at least not of the romantic kind), so the exact nature of Nicki and Brit's bond, if it does go beyond friendship, is left entirely and intentionally up to the reader to imagine. That being said...
If you got into an argument with a friend over whether or not it was possible to 'ship Nicki and Brit? You'd win.
Thanks for reading, and for giving Nicki and Brit a life beyond the pages.
All best,
Jake
I know that Nicki's adventure doesn't really address crushes or relationships or love (at least not of the romantic kind), so the exact nature of Nicki and Brit's bond, if it does go beyond friendship, is left entirely and intentionally up to the reader to imagine. That being said...
If you got into an argument with a friend over whether or not it was possible to 'ship Nicki and Brit? You'd win.
Thanks for reading, and for giving Nicki and Brit a life beyond the pages.
All best,
Jake
Jake Burt
Hey there, Ann! Thanks for the question, and for being a reader! I've got a bunch of favorite authors, past and present. Twain, Tolkien, Malory for the classics; Gaiman, Salvatore, Pullman for modern fantasy; but my real heart is with my fellow authors of MG fiction. I love Christina Soontornvat's stuff, and Nic Stone's work, and James Ponti's adventures, and Sheila Turnage's characters, and Catherynne Valente's wordplay...and that's just for starters. Every time I read a colleague's work, I get to be reminded of what it's like to just be a fan, and that's an incredibly valuable experience for an author to have. The day I lose touch with what it's like to be a reader is the day I should probably consign my metaphorical typewriter to the basement. Hope that helps!
Jake Burt
Hello there, Raelynn! Thanks for the question! I don't have any major plans to write a sequel for Greetings at this time, but I do have a few notions as to where Nicki's adventures take her in the future (beyond Arizona...). Regardless of where she is, though, you can probably guess that she's protecting her family, making new friends (but not too many!), and dealing with cantankerous US marshals.
Jake Burt
Hey there, Karmela! I'm so glad you enjoyed GREETINGS! And while I can assure you that Nicki goes on to have many more adventures, I don't have plans to write a sequel at the moment. I do, however, have a new book that just came out (CLEO PORTER AND THE BODY ELECTRIC) and another one coming out next fall (THE GHOUL OF WINDYDOWN VALE). Hopefully one of those can scratch the reading itch?
Jake Burt
Hey there, Ann! Thanks so much for reaching out! It just so happens that I've written several other books since GREETINGS came out - feel free to give them a once-over. The titles are THE RIGHT HOOK OF DEVIN VELMA, THE TORNADO, and CLEO PORTER AND THE BODY ELECTRIC. They're all middle grade fiction, so hopefully you're in the mood for more tweens having adventures ;) Have a great day, and happy reading!
Jake Burt
Thanks, Rabiatou! I'm so glad you enjoyed Nicki's story! While I don't have any immediate plans to write a sequel (my 4th book, CLEO PORTER AND THE BODY ELECTRIC, just came out this week, and I'm editing my 5th book now), I'll never say never...
Jake Burt
Hey there, Henry! While there are no immediate plans for Nicki's story to travel to the movie or TV screen, I'll never say never! And I totally agree; I'd be honored and thrilled to see what a production team could do with her journey.
Jake Burt
Thanks for the question, Sahara! The initial inspiration came from standardized tests, of all things. I'm a 5th grade teacher, and I was proctoring our big yearly test...you know, watching students fill in bubbles, wandering around making sure everybody had a sharpened pencil, etc. While I was doing so, I asked myself, "For what kind of kid does a test like this have the highest stakes? Who has the most to lose by not doing well here?" That's when the notion of a kid in witness protection came to me. I built the rest of the story around her.
Jake Burt
Sure, Chloe! The advice I often give to aspiring authors is:
1) Experiment with lots of different ways to write (by hand? on the computer? Dictation?) and lots of schedules (a little every day? Two hours each Saturday? With a cup of tea on rainy afternoons?) to find one that works for you. All authors approach the craft in their own ways.
2) Find people to share your writing with. It can be scary, but getting audience/reader feedback is one of the most important ways we grow.
3) Be patient with yourself, and know the goals you want your writing to achieve. Is it for personal reflection? Publication? For an assignment? If you understand what and who you're writing for, it can help hone the writing and make it more satisfying to complete.
1) Experiment with lots of different ways to write (by hand? on the computer? Dictation?) and lots of schedules (a little every day? Two hours each Saturday? With a cup of tea on rainy afternoons?) to find one that works for you. All authors approach the craft in their own ways.
2) Find people to share your writing with. It can be scary, but getting audience/reader feedback is one of the most important ways we grow.
3) Be patient with yourself, and know the goals you want your writing to achieve. Is it for personal reflection? Publication? For an assignment? If you understand what and who you're writing for, it can help hone the writing and make it more satisfying to complete.
Jake Burt
Hi there, Maxine! I'm so glad you've enjoyed Nicki's story! To answer your questions - yes, I love reading. I adore it so much I teach it! All the little book references in GREETINGS are meant to celebrate the books that inspired me when I was growing up.
As for a sequel to GREETINGS, I don't have one planned right now, but I do have a sci-fi novel coming out in October. It's about a twelve-year-old girl who is every bit as smart, insightful, and fierce as Nicki. I hope you'll enjoy it, too. It's called CLEO PORTER AND THE BODY ELECTRIC. And don't worry - if the sudden inspiration for a sequel to GREETINGS strikes me, I'll get on writing that book posthaste. In the meantime, happy reading!
As for a sequel to GREETINGS, I don't have one planned right now, but I do have a sci-fi novel coming out in October. It's about a twelve-year-old girl who is every bit as smart, insightful, and fierce as Nicki. I hope you'll enjoy it, too. It's called CLEO PORTER AND THE BODY ELECTRIC. And don't worry - if the sudden inspiration for a sequel to GREETINGS strikes me, I'll get on writing that book posthaste. In the meantime, happy reading!
Jake Burt
Good morning, Millie! Thanks so much for your note - I'm honored that you've enjoyed the books! I don't have any set-in-stone plans for sequels right now, though I'm always thinking...and in the meantime, I have two new novels coming out in the next couple of years. I think you'll really enjoy the next one, especially if you like science fiction...
Jake Burt
Hey there, Sofia! First, thanks so much for reading Nicki's adventure! It's great to hear from you! Unfortunately, I don't have any plans to write a sequel at the moment (never say never, though!). I do have a new book coming out next year, though, that I think you'll really enjoy. It's got even more danger, adventure, and twists than GREETINGS, if you can believe it!
Jake Burt
My pleasure, Alyssa! Any time!
Jake Burt
Hey there, Jake! While I've got no plans to write a sequel (yet...), I'm happy to share what inspired the book. I got the idea after seeing how my own students change when starting middle school. A lot of them seem to make efforts to hide who they are in order to fit in, and I asked myself, "For whom is fitting in the most essential?" Based on that, I imagined a kid in the witness protection program, and the rest, as they say, is history!
Jake Burt
Hey there, Soham! It took me a few months to write the book...and then several years to revise it. I wrote it in 2014 (the same year the book is set), and it came out in 2017. I'm so glad the characters seem relatable! That's one of the biggest compliments an author can get. I think my secret is that I'm a teacher - I spend most of my day around upper elementary and middle school kids. I find their voices so valuable in keeping my writing fresh and authentic.
Thanks so much for the questions!
Thanks so much for the questions!
Jake Burt
Thanks for the questions, Brooke, and for reading Greetings! My #1 tip for any writer is to be brave - let other people read and critique your writing. It's the single best way to improve, whether it's the pacing of your story or the grammar that holds it all together. Hope that helps, and happy writing!
Jake Burt
Hello, Millie! My next three books will launch in the fall of 2019, 2020, and 2021 (5 books in 5 years! Woo!). This year's new book is The Tornado. The 2020 book is entitled Cleo Porter and the Body Electric, and the 2021 book? That's a secret for now...
Hope your winter is going well (and full of great adventures!),
Jake
Hope your winter is going well (and full of great adventures!),
Jake
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