Amazon Editors' YA Book Club discussion

Just like last month the author of our July book, Laurie Halse Anderson, has agreed to answer some readers' questions so I'll be gathering them this week.

What would you like to know about the characters, the story, research, her writing, etc.,?

Post your questions here by this Sunday, July 19th and check back for the reader generated Q&A at the end of the month.

How did you research the aspects of PTSD that you describe in this novel? Did you speak with combat veterans and their loved ones?

Is your portrait of high school life from your own past, or do you volunteer or teach in a high school?

Celestine - Much of the emotional content of The Impossible Knife of Memory came from my relationship with my father, a WWII vet who was 18 years old when he got to Dachau, shortly after it was opened. His PTSD and alcoholism was at its worst when I was a high school student.

But the spark for the novel came back from my nephew, after he returned from his tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. In addition, I researched with other vets, their loved ones, and the doctors who work with them.

Susan -

In addition to being the mother of 4 kids, now all in their 20s, I've spoken to more than 500,000 high school students in the past 15 years. Plus, social media makes outreach and interaction with teen readers easy and fun.

My own teen years were fraught with anxiety and depression, due in part to my father's PTSD. I guess I pull from all of these sources when I'm writing about high schools.

What is your writing process like?

Dear Laurie,
This is a great subject. Growing up military, I knew a lot of kids that struggled with the emotions of their father during war time. I'm curious how you handled the need to protect your subjects anonymity with the need to build strong, real characters.

What was your inspiration for writing this book?

Dear Laurie,

What's your best advice to writers about writing complex, emotional, and realistic stories?

Dear Laurie,

Thank you for sharing your personal family experience.

Did you consider other endings for this book?

Laurie,

I have read a lot of your books and have enjoyed them all. I haven't read your latest book yet, but it looks good too. When is your next book going to be released?