Ask the Author: Shaun David Hutchinson
Answered Questions (71)
Shaun David Hutchinson
A Home For Unusual Monsters is approximately 58,600 words. Good luck on getting to a million!
Shaun David Hutchinson
There's an interstitial chapter about the comet with some German dialogue. When I wrote it, I imagined Henry writing it, and that he'd go to Google Translate to get the translation and that the German would be badly translated. So it is. I'd go back and change that so people would stop emailing me and telling me the German is wrong lol.
Other than that, I don't think I'd change a thing.
Other than that, I don't think I'd change a thing.
Shaun David Hutchinson
We Are the Ants is always a great place to start, but I have a very special fondness for A Complicated Love Story Set in Space.
Shaun David Hutchinson
Thank you. I think Ozzie would disagree that he's alone. I think he's surrounded by people who love him, and I think he's learning to love himself.
Shaun David Hutchinson
I think you're already on the right track. What makes *anyone* special? What makes the people you listed more special than Henry? Do you think Henry's assessment of himself might've changed from the beginning of the story to the end?
Shaun David Hutchinson
As of now, I have a book called HOWL planned for the first half of 2022, but nothing beyond that. I am, of course, always working on something, so you never know.
Shaun David Hutchinson
I wish I could give you a definitive answer. I do know where the story will go if I'm allowed to continue it, but it all depends on whether my publisher is interested in a sequel. And that will depend on whether sales are good enough.
Shaun David Hutchinson
I have! There are a lot of interesting places to go with that story. Maybe one day...
Shaun David Hutchinson
I wish I could tell you, but that's a secret I'll carry to my grave ;)
Shaun David Hutchinson
Hi! My next book, The State of Us is out in 2 weeks (June 2nd) :)
Shaun David Hutchinson
The best answer I can give you is depression. I wouldn't point to there being a specific reason because depression is often meaningless. As for why he didn't tell anyone, I think Jesse was one of those people who looked happy on the outside, and he was afraid of telling people he wasn't and disappointing them. Audrey hints at that in the book a bit.
Shaun David Hutchinson
I'm sorry to hear about your father. Sending you many hugs.
The majority of why I wrote Five Stages was my anxiety about losing people. My first book came about because my mom ended up in the hospital and I was afraid I'd lose her without being able to say goodbye, and I've carried that anxiety for a long time since.
The majority of why I wrote Five Stages was my anxiety about losing people. My first book came about because my mom ended up in the hospital and I was afraid I'd lose her without being able to say goodbye, and I've carried that anxiety for a long time since.
Shaun David Hutchinson
Hi!
I really love Lua from At the Edge of the Universe. Lua's just this huge ball of energy and really doesn't seem concerned with other's opinions. Lua is confident and brave in a way I wish I could be.
I really love Lua from At the Edge of the Universe. Lua's just this huge ball of energy and really doesn't seem concerned with other's opinions. Lua is confident and brave in a way I wish I could be.
Shaun David Hutchinson
No. I don’t agree. Good day.
Shaun David Hutchinson
The answer was always open like that. In my heart, I knew that wanting to press it was the more important thing than whether or not he actually did it.
As for the second part, I honestly just kept rewriting it until I got to the version that stuck. But when I started the draft that ultimately became this book, I knew pretty early on that I'd finally found the right version of the story.
As for the second part, I honestly just kept rewriting it until I got to the version that stuck. But when I started the draft that ultimately became this book, I knew pretty early on that I'd finally found the right version of the story.
Shaun David Hutchinson
Elena was for my BFF's daughter and Mendoza because I worked for a business owned by a family of Mendozas.
So funny thing about that is that most people assume I named Sean after myself. But I have a step-brother named Sean. We've been brother's for 30 years, so even though they sound the same, the names Shaun and Sean have always felt like different names to me.
So funny thing about that is that most people assume I named Sean after myself. But I have a step-brother named Sean. We've been brother's for 30 years, so even though they sound the same, the names Shaun and Sean have always felt like different names to me.
Shaun David Hutchinson
Absolutely! I think adaptations are their own thing, and I would love to see how someone else interprets Henry's story.
Thank you! That was just this image I had in my head, but I think it also came from thinking about the Carl Sagan quote about how we're all made of star stuff. You know, the basic building blocks of the universe are all contained within us, and I think that's something Henry needed to learn.
Thank you! That was just this image I had in my head, but I think it also came from thinking about the Carl Sagan quote about how we're all made of star stuff. You know, the basic building blocks of the universe are all contained within us, and I think that's something Henry needed to learn.
Shaun David Hutchinson
I have to leave that open to interpretation. I will say, however, that Henry absolutely believes he's being kidnapped by aliens, and that's what's important to me.
Shaun David Hutchinson
Good catch! It's actually someone's birthday. Most of the numbers I use are birthdays or other numbers special to me. The number 33 often crops up because 33 is my favorite episode of Battlestar Galactica.
Shaun David Hutchinson
I'm not actually sure that I'm allowed. The publisher or editor of the anthology would have the rights to audio recording, and recording even just my part would likely violate my contract :( Sorry!
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