Ask the Author: K. Ancrum
Answered Questions (10)
K. Ancrum
I'm very sorry but I don't have plans to at this time, no.
I like to think that they met up on the ship and then Alexandria took Ryann back home to earth but that's just because I'm bi and sentimental
I like to think that they met up on the ship and then Alexandria took Ryann back home to earth but that's just because I'm bi and sentimental
K. Ancrum
Honestly, I don’t know. My writing style has shifted a bit since writing TWK and I’m not sure if a sequel would even feel as rugged as the original. Another aspect to this is whether there would ever be a market for that book. Unless TWK somehow gets an unexpected boost of attention, the likelihood that a publisher would invest in a Jack POV is pretty low. :(
K. Ancrum
It is not, unfortunately. However it is a chapter by chapter direct modern adaption (until about the 5th to last chapter where there is a twist).I did get a two book deal though, so my book after DARLING is from that unofficial series and is set in the same town as TWK and TWoTS, with a surprise reappearance of the twins from TWK Peter and Roger!
K. Ancrum
Blake and Tomas are BFFs.
Blake is straight. James is Bisexual. and Tomas is gay.
Tomas courts James, in the background of the book, through providing himself as secondary family support through care and preoccupation with Charlie. (which is I like, bc he's not aggressively romantically approaching someone who is both younger than him and a trauma victim. But instead is showing that he can be a support and waiting for James to notice and choose him)
Blake and Tomas met each other during their combined vulnerability phase -Blake with fighting and Tomas with addiction- and Blake feels very protective of Tomas.
I wanted Blake and Tomas to give off this sort of energy: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gay-be...
Blake is straight. James is Bisexual. and Tomas is gay.
Tomas courts James, in the background of the book, through providing himself as secondary family support through care and preoccupation with Charlie. (which is I like, bc he's not aggressively romantically approaching someone who is both younger than him and a trauma victim. But instead is showing that he can be a support and waiting for James to notice and choose him)
Blake and Tomas met each other during their combined vulnerability phase -Blake with fighting and Tomas with addiction- and Blake feels very protective of Tomas.
I wanted Blake and Tomas to give off this sort of energy: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gay-be...
K. Ancrum
Absolutely definitely. In THE WEIGHT OF THE STARS coming out this March, you get to see Jack/Rina/August's poly family, the MCs are lesbians, and the MC's younger brother is a 16 year old bisexual, single, teen father.
I grew up seeing a lot of alternative relationships and family/romantic life situations and I think that they're validating and realistic--regardless of the fact that they aren't entirely common in YA. In fact, I think irl teens (especially teens growing up in big cities) blur a lot of interesting lines and try a lot of interesting things--simply because they're at a learning period in their lives and the stakes are a bit lower in regards to social risk.
I value being able to write about stuff like this and showcase the tapestry of what existed around me as a teen, as opposed to what is conventional to expect teens to act like. Also, I do read ALL my reviews and I'm happy to report that I think a majority of my teen readers were able to recognize aspects of themselves and their friends in my characters in important ways.
There is this aspect of my work that is super deliberate that people (mostly adults) keep commenting on which is the parts where my teens say really "adult lesson-y" things. The reason why I do that--especially while handling alt-relationships-- is because there is value in teens reading other teens explicitly saying things like "Stop trying and find real help." or "My family is unusual, but my parents are all good parents and I love them."
I believe that there is a choice we are given--when writing inflammatory topics--to either: force the characters to do what we think is ideal rather than realistic in order to show teens how to handle difficult problems. Or to have them do what is realistic based on their circumstances, be punished for it in whatever way, and be taught by those around them how to learn from the experience. THE WICKER KING is the second kind of book.
So, as long as I'll be writing alternative lifestyle stories, I'll also be supplementing it with thoughtful considerate "adulty" analysis that my young readers need in order to process understanding why they exist and how they flourish when given the opportunity to.
I grew up seeing a lot of alternative relationships and family/romantic life situations and I think that they're validating and realistic--regardless of the fact that they aren't entirely common in YA. In fact, I think irl teens (especially teens growing up in big cities) blur a lot of interesting lines and try a lot of interesting things--simply because they're at a learning period in their lives and the stakes are a bit lower in regards to social risk.
I value being able to write about stuff like this and showcase the tapestry of what existed around me as a teen, as opposed to what is conventional to expect teens to act like. Also, I do read ALL my reviews and I'm happy to report that I think a majority of my teen readers were able to recognize aspects of themselves and their friends in my characters in important ways.
There is this aspect of my work that is super deliberate that people (mostly adults) keep commenting on which is the parts where my teens say really "adult lesson-y" things. The reason why I do that--especially while handling alt-relationships-- is because there is value in teens reading other teens explicitly saying things like "Stop trying and find real help." or "My family is unusual, but my parents are all good parents and I love them."
I believe that there is a choice we are given--when writing inflammatory topics--to either: force the characters to do what we think is ideal rather than realistic in order to show teens how to handle difficult problems. Or to have them do what is realistic based on their circumstances, be punished for it in whatever way, and be taught by those around them how to learn from the experience. THE WICKER KING is the second kind of book.
So, as long as I'll be writing alternative lifestyle stories, I'll also be supplementing it with thoughtful considerate "adulty" analysis that my young readers need in order to process understanding why they exist and how they flourish when given the opportunity to.
K. Ancrum
The fire was the main climax, but there was a second smaller climax which was the final love confession. I really wanted people who were reading the book for the thriller aspect to be satisfied by the drama of the fire, but people who were reading the book for the romance to be satisfied by the conclusion of the eons long romantic tension so I handled both as proper climaxes to the story.
K. Ancrum
Thank you! I believe that their relationship was unhealthy because of the codependency issues, but because the codependency was motivated by outside factors-- not internal factors--once those factors were resolved/mitigated they were able to seize the opportunity to learn to love each other properly.
Actually!! In book 2 of the series THE WEIGHT OF THE STARS, you get to see them in a healthy supportive poly marriage with a kid and there is a lot of discussion about the therapy they all went through post THE WICKER KING.
As for their physical relationship and the multiple issues people had with the roughness with which Jack treated August-- August is Submissive and Jack never does anything to him without checking his consent. He actually asks August 4 separate times whether "this is what he wants" before continuing. In addition, Jack recoils from this aspect of August's personality in confusion at first and /August/ is the one who coerces Jack into participating in a Dominant/Submissive situation with him (which is when Jack begins his consent checks). There is a part where August is bowing before Jack in the kitchen after fighting Jack's dad where Jack finally understands what August needs, and I believe the line used is "Jack looked at him in wonder and fear." which was Jack finally understanding that he holds this incredibly fragile desire of August's in his hands.
I think that people who read THE WICKER KING and are like "jack is bullying August" just don't have a point of reference to understand whats really going on in that regard(D/S). Its is a bit alternative for a YA book and Very Very Complex, so I'd never expect that everyone would be able to get that from it. So its nothing that I've gone out of my way to correct. But there are enough people who DID understand and relate to it that I feel as though I did that aspect of the book justice.
Actually!! In book 2 of the series THE WEIGHT OF THE STARS, you get to see them in a healthy supportive poly marriage with a kid and there is a lot of discussion about the therapy they all went through post THE WICKER KING.
As for their physical relationship and the multiple issues people had with the roughness with which Jack treated August-- August is Submissive and Jack never does anything to him without checking his consent. He actually asks August 4 separate times whether "this is what he wants" before continuing. In addition, Jack recoils from this aspect of August's personality in confusion at first and /August/ is the one who coerces Jack into participating in a Dominant/Submissive situation with him (which is when Jack begins his consent checks). There is a part where August is bowing before Jack in the kitchen after fighting Jack's dad where Jack finally understands what August needs, and I believe the line used is "Jack looked at him in wonder and fear." which was Jack finally understanding that he holds this incredibly fragile desire of August's in his hands.
I think that people who read THE WICKER KING and are like "jack is bullying August" just don't have a point of reference to understand whats really going on in that regard(D/S). Its is a bit alternative for a YA book and Very Very Complex, so I'd never expect that everyone would be able to get that from it. So its nothing that I've gone out of my way to correct. But there are enough people who DID understand and relate to it that I feel as though I did that aspect of the book justice.
K. Ancrum
Kind of! My next book THE WEIGHT OF THE STARS comes out March 2019. August, Jack, and Rina are background characters in it and they're terribly happy. Here's a clip! https://twitter.com/KaylaAncrum/statu...
K. Ancrum
I loved writing the twins and they are indeed super mysterious. They're very briefly mentioned in my next book The Weight of the Stars, but only as an indication that they still live in the town years later. Also, If I ever do an anthology of short stories set in this universe, they'll absolutely be the focus of one of them.
K. Ancrum
This answer contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more