Ask the Author: Zoje Stage
Answered Questions (21)
Zoje Stage
Thank you so much! After Baby Teeth was published the most frequent question I got was "Will there be a sequel??" And now that Dear Hanna has been published the most frequent question is "Will there be a third book??" :-) Hanna is still the child of my heart, and I think I'm just as curious as everyone else as to what her future looks like. I'm not writing a 3rd Hanna book at present (I'm working on something else), but I'm actively thinking about her future. So, I hope there will be a 3rd Hanna story! ;-)
Zoje Stage
I'm currently working on an unrelated novel...but Hanna is at the back of my mind. I'm actively considering what the next chapter of her life might be like.
Zoje Stage
I have not - but it's now on my TBR list! Maybe more inspiration for another chapter in Hanna's life...
Zoje Stage
Thank you! I hope you enjoy DEAR HANNA!
Zoje Stage
Thank you, Caroline! I love the process of naming characters, and many things factor into it: age, where they live, aspects of their personality, etc. For instance, with WONDERLAND I was dealing with artistic, highly individualistic characters so I wanted the members of the family to have unique names - especially Orla & Shaw's children, as the names reflect the creative life they've lived together. In MOTHERED, I was thinking about the no nonsense, working-class neighborhood of Greenfield. For whatever reason, for each character I usually have an initial sense of what letter it starts with, and maybe how many syllables it has, and then I scour my trusty baby name book for ideas.
Zoje Stage
Thank you, Jessica! For years I thought I would never write a sequel to Baby Teeth...but last year I got an idea on an angle to take that was of interest to me - and hopefully will be of interest to readers. So yes, I'm pleased to report there WILL be a follow-up novel to Baby Teeth! I hope to be able to announce more about that soon!
Zoje Stage
Hi Chris! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts! At present, I have not been involved in the adaptation of BABY TEETH - and I didn't initially express interest beyond being "consulted" (writing a book is so much more fulfilling than anything I ever did in film). But as time has gone on, I've started to wonder if I should've tried to be a bigger part of the process - BABY TEETH was, after all, based in part on a screenplay I'd hoped to direct back in the day. Yet, having written literally dozens of screenplays before changing my focus, I know the limitations of the format, and I'm able to write much more complete stories by writing novels. Hmm...I haven't really thought about this recently, but it might be interesting to write a screenplay now, after everything I've learned from writing novels. Maybe I'll consider that...?? :-)
Zoje Stage
Thank you, Sabrina!! 2020 was such a difficult year - I'm honored that Baby Teeth was your reading bright spot of the year!
Zoje Stage
Thank you so much, Camilla! The film rights to Baby Teeth were optioned by Village Roadshow/Valparaiso Pictures and they've been hard at work adapting the novel. So maybe someday we'll get to see a Baby Teeth movie...?
Zoje Stage
Hi Paula,
Thank you for your question! Even though Baby Teeth was published two years ago, I've practically been waiting for this question and the chance to address it. Suzette has very deep fears of needing an ileostomy, and I knew that as I described them it could be very offensive to people already living with a perm ileo. But I considered her fears to be legitimate, and it's probably something that many IBD sufferers worry about - before they understand or experience the alternative. Please rest assured, I am not "Suzette" and she and I do not experience the world the same way - but I had to take the risk and let her fears go to that dark place. Thanks again - I hope you're doing well! - Z
Thank you for your question! Even though Baby Teeth was published two years ago, I've practically been waiting for this question and the chance to address it. Suzette has very deep fears of needing an ileostomy, and I knew that as I described them it could be very offensive to people already living with a perm ileo. But I considered her fears to be legitimate, and it's probably something that many IBD sufferers worry about - before they understand or experience the alternative. Please rest assured, I am not "Suzette" and she and I do not experience the world the same way - but I had to take the risk and let her fears go to that dark place. Thanks again - I hope you're doing well! - Z
Zoje Stage
Thank you so much, Brittney! There is such a special place in my heart for libraries (and not just because I worked at one for six years). My next book, WONDERLAND, is set to be published in June 2020. As soon as I have a rock-solid-certain date I will post it everywhere. I can't wait to share WONDERLAND with the world... 10 more months! :-)
Zoje Stage
Hi Li'l Owl - thank you so much for your comment & question. Many readers ask if there's going to be a sequel, so I really appreciate that you enjoyed the "'open to readers' imagination" conclusion.'" I love that so many readers have ideas about what Hanna does next! I apologize for the long delay in my reply, but I was waiting to have more definitive information about my next book. Unfortunately, I still don't have a totally firm release date yet, but readers can expect WONDERLAND to hit the shelves in summer 2020. I'm very excited about WONDERLAND, so hopefully I'll have more updates soon.
Zoje Stage
Thank you so much, Lisa! I apologize to everyone who has sent in questions about my next novel and didn't get a reply, but I can finally reveal... WONDERLAND will be published by Mulholland Books/Little, Brown in spring/summer 2020. Hopefully there will be more detailed info coming soon! Thank you so much for your interest in my work! :-)
Zoje Stage
Thank you for this question! I have really appreciated hearing from readers with Crohn's Disease and other autoimmune diseases who have never seen these kinds of invisible illnesses described in fiction before. Personally, I do not think Suzette seems weak: I think Hanna perceives her that way, because Hanna has a very childlike good/bad perspective on things. Hanna recognizes that this is an area where her mother is vulnerable, and she tries to use it against her. But I think Suzette is quite strong! She has a lot on her plate: a difficult child (who she never gives up on), her health issues (which don't stop her from having personal and career aspirations), and a husband who is often distracted and self-involved. But yes, Suzette is insecure about any number of things - her ability to parent, her own body, her self-worth - but I give her a lot of credit for constantly being "solution" oriented and not giving up.
Zoje Stage
Thank you so much, Richard! It is the rare treat for me to hear from a reader who isn't hoping for a sequel (I do hate disappointing people, and I rather like the ending as it is). I'm currently working on a few things - two semi-official projects and one semi-secret project - though I'm not sure what will come of these yet so I can't speak about them in more detail, but I will when/if I can. Thanks again!
Zoje Stage
Thank you, Lisa! To answer your question: I didn't need to do research on Crohn's Disease, as I've had it for 35 years and much of Suzette's medical history is based on my own experiences.
Zoje Stage
Thank you, Melinda! Yes, absolutely - in fact I'm working on two novels. One of them has already been purchased by St. Martin's Press. It's a bit more in the horror genre, and will be available in late 2019. The other one isn't quite ready yet...
Zoje Stage
Hi Angela!
Thank you so much for your comment & question! It means a lot to me to hear from someone in the mental health field, as I endeavored to approach this family's situation as realistically as possible. The rest of my answer here may be a little bit spoilery, so if others folks haven't read the book yet you may want to stop here...
I continue to receive many requests for a sequel, but I had a specific desire for leaving the ending where I did. I think many (perhaps most) readers, when left to project Hanna into the future, imagine her as troubled as she was during my book. But a few readers - and you may be one of them - imagine the possibility where Hanna's treatment truly helps her, and may ultimately change the dynamic of the entire family. I left both possibilities open because I like that each reader can "create" a different life for Hanna. While it seems to drive some readers a bit nuts, I LOVE that so many people are seeing Hanna beyond the confines of the pages of this book!
I believe that a sequel would provide too definitive of a conclusion, and might prove to be disappointing: some readers will want to see Hanna, a couple years from now, even worse and more dangerous than she was at seven; other readers see her future more optimistically. To allow for both/all possibilities, I felt the best way to end the story was to leave the options open, and each reader can maintain their belief that their interpretation of the story is the "correct" one.
Thank you again for your enthusiasm for my book, and for giving me this chance to discuss the ending! :-)
Thank you so much for your comment & question! It means a lot to me to hear from someone in the mental health field, as I endeavored to approach this family's situation as realistically as possible. The rest of my answer here may be a little bit spoilery, so if others folks haven't read the book yet you may want to stop here...
I continue to receive many requests for a sequel, but I had a specific desire for leaving the ending where I did. I think many (perhaps most) readers, when left to project Hanna into the future, imagine her as troubled as she was during my book. But a few readers - and you may be one of them - imagine the possibility where Hanna's treatment truly helps her, and may ultimately change the dynamic of the entire family. I left both possibilities open because I like that each reader can "create" a different life for Hanna. While it seems to drive some readers a bit nuts, I LOVE that so many people are seeing Hanna beyond the confines of the pages of this book!
I believe that a sequel would provide too definitive of a conclusion, and might prove to be disappointing: some readers will want to see Hanna, a couple years from now, even worse and more dangerous than she was at seven; other readers see her future more optimistically. To allow for both/all possibilities, I felt the best way to end the story was to leave the options open, and each reader can maintain their belief that their interpretation of the story is the "correct" one.
Thank you again for your enthusiasm for my book, and for giving me this chance to discuss the ending! :-)
Zoje Stage
Thank you, Selena! Part of what I wanted to do with the ending is leave readers imagining for themselves what might happen next, or in the next couple of years. One concern for writing a sequel is it would probably make the "resolution" too definitive - at least for me, and possibly for some readers as well. But many have asked about a sequel, and I certainly appreciate that people want to spend even more time with these characters and see what happens to them!
Zoje Stage
Thank you so much, Renee! Maybe not surprisingly, it's a bit of a long story. I'll give you the highlights...
Several years ago, while I was still pursuing a career as a filmmaker, I wrote a script that I wanted to direct called "Hands and Knees." It involved a family similar to BABY TEETH's, but the theme was quite different: it was about a woman who was becoming overwhelmed by what she perceived to be the horrors of domesticity. As an intended film, it was geared more toward mood (cool, detached) and a cinematic look.
I had the opportunity to take the script to Independent Film Week in 2012, where I discussed the project with nearly 20 producers. After people read the script I noticed a recurring bit of feedback: people wanted less implied horror and more actual creepy bits, and to know more about what was going on with the little girl. ("Hanna's" character in the script wasn't nearly as developed, nor was the plot involving her battles with her mother.)
I decided later that same year that I wanted to try learning to write novels, and I spent the next few years engaged in that process (I wrote five books before BABY TEETH). The concept of "Hands and Knees" stuck with me, and when I finally felt able to bring my novel-writing skills to the project, I started fleshing out the characters, mindful of the feedback I'd gotten from producers years before.
BABY TEETH as a novel took on a life of its own - wildly different from the screenplay - when I made two key decisions: 1) to give Suzette Crohn's Disease (to increase her vulnerability and give her a weakness that her daughter uses against her); 2) to write the novel in dual POV, making Suzette and Hanna each the protagonist of their own story, and each other's antagonist. With these two developments, the characters and story took on a life of their own, and it became my job to "listen" to what they were trying to tell me.
Several years ago, while I was still pursuing a career as a filmmaker, I wrote a script that I wanted to direct called "Hands and Knees." It involved a family similar to BABY TEETH's, but the theme was quite different: it was about a woman who was becoming overwhelmed by what she perceived to be the horrors of domesticity. As an intended film, it was geared more toward mood (cool, detached) and a cinematic look.
I had the opportunity to take the script to Independent Film Week in 2012, where I discussed the project with nearly 20 producers. After people read the script I noticed a recurring bit of feedback: people wanted less implied horror and more actual creepy bits, and to know more about what was going on with the little girl. ("Hanna's" character in the script wasn't nearly as developed, nor was the plot involving her battles with her mother.)
I decided later that same year that I wanted to try learning to write novels, and I spent the next few years engaged in that process (I wrote five books before BABY TEETH). The concept of "Hands and Knees" stuck with me, and when I finally felt able to bring my novel-writing skills to the project, I started fleshing out the characters, mindful of the feedback I'd gotten from producers years before.
BABY TEETH as a novel took on a life of its own - wildly different from the screenplay - when I made two key decisions: 1) to give Suzette Crohn's Disease (to increase her vulnerability and give her a weakness that her daughter uses against her); 2) to write the novel in dual POV, making Suzette and Hanna each the protagonist of their own story, and each other's antagonist. With these two developments, the characters and story took on a life of their own, and it became my job to "listen" to what they were trying to tell me.
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