Ask Libba Bray - Special One-Day-Only Group discussion

This is the thread to ask Libba Bray a question. Please ask your question here, and please do not start any other threads. Libba will answer questions on Tuesday, June 21!

Ask away!

What inspires you? how do you come up with these amazing ideas for novels?

i love your Gemma doyle series! i have never read another sreies where the characters progressed, true, and belivable. I was wondering if you would ever consider writing another novel that incorporated magic but yet isnt as modern and (sorry)girly as some of your other novels. You are my most favorite writer ever and i really look up to you and your writing skills.

Hi. I love Going Bovine and it's one of my favorite books ever. The narration was solid and entertainingly witty. I gotta ask though, will we ever know about Dulcie's past life? She's my favorite character and she intrigues me so much. Anyway, thanks for writing this book. I still can't find Beauty Queens in my favorite local bookstore. I'm dying to read it.

Wow...okay, just so you know-- though I'm sure you've heard this about twenty septillion times, you are AMAZING and my favorite writer :) I own all the Gemma Doyle books, Going Bovine, and Beauty Queens.
So, I was wondering: is a movie based on the Gemma Doyle trilogy going to be made? I've heard rumors, but wasn't sure. Thanks so much! You rock!

Hi Libba! I'm so excited that you're doing this! I've been a huge fan ever since the first Gemma Doyle book and have been following you ever since!

You have some of the most fabulous ideas for books that I've ever encountered and they only become more amazing as you progress: pseudo-possessed garden gnomes? That is a level of awesome that I can't even begin to comprehend.

Here's my question: you've got these great ideas and then, as you write, how do you keep up your momentum?

Hi, Libba. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the Gemma Doyle trilogy and Going Bovine (talk about a hilarious mindscrew).
My question involves working with other writers: you're good friends with Shannon Hale, and I'm trying to build similar networks with fellow writers in school. How do you keep these networks from crumbling (since that seems to be happening) and what should you keep in mind when trying to create larger groups?

Hey Libba. I don't know how many people have told you this but you are awesome. What advice can you give to a wannabe writer on how to improve her awesomeness? Thanks.

PS I love Beauty Queens :)

I love Gemma Doyle books and I wish if your write more Historical Fiction.

I wonder if you and Gamma has things in common?
and how you came up with your character in the Gemma Doyle Trilogy?

Hi Libba Bray! I love your books and especially the series, A Great And Terribble Beauty. I'm fourteen now and I first read your books when I was thirteen. I read all of your three books in one week, I was so addicted. I do have a few questions.
1)why did Gemma end up dying and giving her place to Circe? I mean I know that many readers, myself included, didn't think she was much of a sympathetic antagonist, so why didn't you allow Gemma to make Circe suffer a little even if Gemma is kind?
2)Didn't Gemma notice at all that her so called "friends" were just using her so that they may get to the magic? I mean when she thought it was dangerous to use magic and go to the realm, they were angry and didn't really act like true friends, so why didn't she ever realize it?
3.)I am currently trying to write a novel of my own and was wondering if you had any advice to give me on writing it and how to publish it?
4)I love advanced readers copies of books and my friends always end up getting advanced readers copies, you see, I love to read, in fact, i read over two hundred books last year. How do I get advanced readers copies for books without entering in contests?

Libba, I've been a fan since I read AGATB. I also read the two sequels (love, love) and I adored Going Bovine. I'm excited to read Beauty Queens, too. As an aspiring writer, I was wondering if you had any advice? I also wanted to ask what kind of music do you write to, if you do at all? Also, besides writing, what are your hobbies? What inspires you? Is there any of you in your characters?

Hey Libba Bray! So exciting! When my dearest friend and I met she told me to read A Great and Terrible Beauty and it soon became one of my all-time favourite books. I love it because it reminds me of her. I'd like to know what some of your favourite books are! Did you always know you'd become a writer? Technically, I snuck in two questions... :)

Hi Libba! I would just like to ask how and where do you get your ideas of your book’s plot? Did you dream them? or did something happen that made you think to write about it? :)

Hi Libba :) I just love your books, I always think it will take me a while to read them and I end up devouring them super quickly, since they are amazing and so intriguing. I'm wondering if you'll write a new book series soon, or if your next books will be stand alones... Wish you lots of success and happiness! Keep writing! ;)

Dear Libba Bray,

Please reply even though this is long.

I seriously can eat your writing, and I’d be satisfied for centuries. Your books make me endlessly happy. You should have seen my face when my friend got me the Gemma Doyle Trilogy for my birthday. I was ecstatic and immediately wanted to go off and read them over again even though I’ve read each book three times now. When I read your books, I read every single word, begging for the next one. In the Gemma Doyle Trilogy, I laughed a lot, cried a lot, and smiled so many times. The way you created your characters so beautifully inspired me to write more and more like writers do. I felt your characters were alive. Sometimes I don’t want to suggest your books to anyone because I want to keep them to myself. When I first read your books, I fell in love with each and every character because they all seemed so realistic. Felicity is my favorite for her heart-wrenching complexity. I just want your characters to be real. The Gemma Doyle Trilogy was breath-taking and had me on every page with a stupid grin on my face. And I must mention that I have a hopeless crush on Kartik because who doesn’t have a crush on the amazing Indian boy. This has nothing to do with the fact that I’m Indian also.


I enjoyed Going Bovine as well for making me laugh so so hard. Sometimes, I’d laugh really loud and hard and calm down. After a few pages, I’d find myself giggling about the thing I read a few pages ago. That’s how funny the book was. But it was serious as well with the ways you taught philosophic lessons that everyone must learn from. For a while after reading about the CESSNAB, I was a bit afraid of happiness. Hehe. Right now, I’m wishing that I had been able to read Beauty Queens yet, but my local library does not own it yet. I would buy your book if my mom thought fiction books had much worth than buying some test prep books or something. Anyway, I know I’ll enjoy Beauty Queens because I just know.




So I really have no questions, but I suppose I can add a few quick random questions in the end:

1. Little Women or the Count of Monte Cristo?

2. Saying pop or soda?

3. Favorite TV shows?

4. Do you consider yourself schizophrenic? I do. I hear voices in my head all the time. Uh...my characters' voices.

5. PI or pie?

6. Zuzu pets or Webkinz?

7. Punching fat guys in the face or hitting old ladies with your purse?

8. Which of your characters is most like you and why?
9. The Matrix or Inception?

10. Possible end of the world: Nuclear war or a virus killing off most of the people?

Your crazed fan,
Picture Perfect/ Sukanya(Sue-kon-yah)

PS: You are my absolute favorite author, and I enjoy stalking you online…not in a weird way…maybe…maybe not.

Dear Libba,

Just wanted to let you know I am a big fan! I have a few questions:
1. What gave you inspiration for Going Bovine?
2. Was Cameron's adventure in Going Bovine real or a dream?
3. What was the inspiration for the Gemma Doyle trilogy?
4. What was the inspiration for Kartik's character in the Gemma Doyle trilogy?
5.I can't remember. Was the reason Kartik didn't kill Gemma like he was supposed to because he actually liked her?

Hi Libba!

I'm a huge fan of the Gemma Doyle trilogy ans I was wondering where you got your insperation for Pippa, she's my favorite character in the series. Gemma Doyle also got me obsessed with anagrams and when I joined Goodreads I used an anagram, though I've changed it since then. I was also wondering about the rumours of a Gemma Doyle movie, are they true?

WammyBoysFTW <3

Hi Libba,

What drew you to the YA genre? The Gemma Doyle trilogy had some pretty dark elements, have you ever been tempted to try an adult novel?

Just a note: I hope you come on a book tour to Minneapolis.

Ok, so first thing's first, I absolutely love the Gemma Doyle series. They are probably some of the best books I've read over my small liftime of thirteen years. I was wondering....
1.) Why in the world did you turn Karatik into a tree!?! I loved him... or Gemma does of course.
2.)Are you possibly making a fourth book to the series?
3.)If you are making a fourth book, could you pretty-please-with-a-cherry-on-top make Kartik a human again?!? :)

Hi! I loved the book, BEAUTY QUEENS and it's now being passed around to all my friends! I found Beauty Queens HILARIOUS and now, I want some Maxi Pad pets! Rawr! Ha ha. So, question: Where the HECK did you get the idea for Maxi Pad Pets, Forever Young Jeans, Ladybird Hope, The Republic of ChaCha, the Corporation, and all the other crazy things?! I thought it had something to do with how... being perfect is the goal every girl has set and there are over priced products to help them acheive that! :D Thanks, and come to Canada soon, I NEED MY BOOK SIGNED :D

HI!
I recently read Beauty Queens and loved it!
I have 2 questions.
- What do you like to do in your spare time?
- Do you have any plans for an adult novel?
Thanks!

--How do you write - computer, pencil and paper, etc.
--How did you find a literary agent?

This is so exciting! I don't even know what to write! okay okay, I'm calm. Libba Bray, your defiantly one of my favorite authors. I still can't get enough of the Gemma Doyle trilogy, it was amazing! I couldn't put it down. I still believe that that book trilogy could be a BBC TV series or something involving motion pictures. Do you think you'll write more characters from the 18th century? (I hope that was the right period correct me if I'm wrong) Also I am an aspiring writer myself and have been writing since I was about tweleve (I admittedly started out in fanfiction XD) and I hope one day to get publish, what advice can you give me about anything involving writing? I LOVE your work, you've kept me up many nights screaming over Kartik and Gemma; though it took me a while to accept the ending, haha. But its all good now. I'm so excited your on Goodreads now, its great! I hope you have fun here!!

Why did you choose to stop the Gemma Doyle trilogy with such an unresolved ending?

I read somewhere that you wrote The Sweet Far Thing twice and I would like to know the difference between the one we read and the first draft you made.

And I would also like to know if you don't have any 'extras' from the Gemma Doyle Trilogy (like a deleted scene or an actual extra) to post for us.
It would be really nice to read a little more of our favorite series.

Hi Cool Aunt Libba!

I was wondering what it is that you do to stay so cool and in-touch with young adults. Do you find yourself spending a lot of time building forts, and playing dress up? On that note, do you find yourself having to defend your admiration of younger generations to other people your age that are more..."cosmopolitan"? Will Smith said it best, "Parents just don't understand", but Cool Aunt Libba totes does!

<3

Hi, Libba! I would love to first tell you how much I LOVED your books and you're truly an inspiration to an aspiring writer like me.

I was wondering what your writing schedule was like. Do you set a time to write daily? Do you have any writing rituals? I read of some authors who like to wake up in the middle of the night and write in the dark. What do you do?

OMG!!!!! Libba Bray! I can't believe you're gonna read this!!!!!

My questions for you:

1. What inspired you to come up with a hot indian male character? I <3 Kartik!

2. Why did you kill Kartik? Did you want me to have a heart attack?

3. Who inspires you?

4. Is there some kind of novella after the Gemma Doyle Trilogy?

This is all I can come up with at the moment, so till next time, I wish you awsomeness in the future!

Sherihan

Hello Ms. Bray! Thank you for writing such a wonderful Trilogy! I loved Gemma, so was such a strong role model for young women!

How do you switch from writing something like AGATB to your other books? I have not been able to read them, but am looking forward to a great laugh with your new book Beauty Queens. I do not read much comedy, but should because laughing is the best medicine!

What I have always wondered, is how do you develop such strong character voices in your writing? In all your books each character has such a strong narration voice, and all the characters have strong speaking voices, and I am just curious if there is anything special you do to help develop this. Thanks for reading this, and thanks for writing such fantastic novels!!

Hey!! I read your Gemma Doyle series about a year ago and nearly died reading it because it was so good.

I have some questions that kind of blend together.

How do you come up with the scenes that serve as transitions into bigger and more key events in your story without having them be pointless?

Also, what do you find is the best way when writing to transition from one point in time to the next?

How many drafts do you usually take (average?) to write until you send it off?

And lastly, as a writer, how do you get past the feeling that you don't think you're writing is good (or if you never had that feeling) what advice do you have to those writers that do?

Thank you so much and I can't wait till I get my hands on Beauty Queens!!

I absolutely loved your Gemma Doyle triology and often recommend it when doing Readers Advisory at the library where I am employed for those teens looking for historical fiction - splashed with a touch of magic. I've been desperately hoping (for them, as well as me!) that you will write another book or series with a historical setting. Do you have any plans to do so? If not, will you consider it??? Thanks!

I loved your Gemma series so much I'm rereading it again. When you start writing do you know where you are going with the story/characters or do you let it unwind as you begin with a simple idea?


What advice would you give my 5th graders? (I have a few budding writers that beg me for time in class to write. It's so exciting to watch them.)

Will you ever write something Paranormal Fanatsy like the Gemma Doyle Trilogy?

Hi, Libba~ I am a big fan of the Gemma Doyle Trilogy! I just really want to ask whether you really wanted to kill Kartik in the end, and why didn't you let Virginia Doyle/Mary Dawd appear again in Rebel Angels and The Sweet far Thing? Thanks~

Just wanted to say I loved Going Bovine. One of the best books I have ever read. my question is can you tell us more about Cameron's family? -especially his sister Jenna.

Thanks!

Hey, Libba. After finishing Going Bovine (mind-altering) and the Gemma Doyle Trilogy (life-changing), I've conjured up one question for you:

What assured you that, being holed up in whatever room you were, you weren't going insane, all by yourself? What about your writing kept you grounded?

Hi Libba, just wanted to say that Beauty Queens is my absolute favourite book of 2011! Now for my question:

I noticed that feminism is a very key theme in Beauty Queens and I wanted to ask what feminism means to you?

Hi Libba. I wanted to compliment you on your Gemma Doyle Trilogy. I loved the story and the characters. Especially,Kartik :). But will you make anymore books like that? Because I love reading books from that time period and everything made the perfect setting. Do you have any other recommendations like the Gemma Doyle trilogy?

Hi Libba,

I enjoyed your Gemma Doyle Trilogy immensely and can't wait to start reading Beauty Queens. What I liked the most about the aforementioned trilogy is how it inspires one to hope against hope and incorporates a lot of messages into the tightly-woven story. If you had a certain message in mind when writing, what was it?

Hello Libba!

First off, thanks ever so much for four (soon to be five, when I get my hands on a copy of Beauty Queens) fantastic reads. A Great and Terrible Beauty has long been a favorite of mine.

Reading through these comments, nearly everyone mentions which of your books they like best. I wondered which book was your favorite to write, and which character you are most fond of?

Libba,

Beauty Queens was brilliant, but then again I expected nothing less from you. I loved the over the top characters and ridiculous beauty products. The commercials were hysterical and I thought they fit the book style perfectly.

So now my questions - Were there any characters that were inspired by real people?(Ladybird Hope felt so familiar) And what are you working on next?

The Gemma Doyle books were definitely among my favorite YA books. I am always giving aGaTB to people at the library that want an introduction to fantasy books.

My question is: Will there be more books like that? Not necessarily Gemma Doyle books (although that would be pretty awesome), but books of the historical-fiction-fantasy type. I know YA Fantasy is booming and everyone seems to be writing about some aspect of Paranormal/Fantasy stuff, but your Gemma Doyle books were different from all the other stuff out there and I would be very excited to see something similar in the near future.

I recently read Going Bovine for a book club I'm in. We all loved the book. We had an interesting discussion and a question came up about Greek Mythology.

Were any of the myths an inspiration for you? We noticed that Going Bovine is a hero's journey, and some members commented on how it reminded them of a Greek myth.

Thank you!

First off i would like to start off by saying that you are an excellent writer and i really enjoyed the Gemma Doyle series. I haven't read your new book Beauty queens but it is definitely on my to-read books. My question is-and im sure a million people have asked you this- do you think you will ever make another book to the Gemma Doyle series? I feel like there is so many different directions Gemmas story can go and I'm so curious about Katrik and where exactly their relationship will go.

Adding some more Going Bovine love (though I thought the Gemma Doyle books were fantastic too):

Can you tell me a little bit more about the timeline of the novel in the "outside" world? For example, when Cameron sees Jenna at the hotel, what was going on in the "real" world? Was Cameron really talking to his family in his hospital bed?

As a twin, I was just really curious about what was going on with Jenna while Cameron was sick, as well as, with the parents.

Hi,
I'm trying to make a connection between YA and classic literature. When you wrote the Gemma Doyle series (the only one I've read so far), did it remind you of any classic literature? Which, if any, of the classics influenced you or made an impression on you? Basically, do you think your books complement any of the classics?

Thanks!

I have never found a YA book I enjoyed more than AGATB. I am an avid reader and have read hundreds of books, but I have to say that AGATB and its trilogy, is my favorite.

My question is, are you ever tempted to re-visit Gemma and add to the series????

Hi Mrs. Bray! I absolutely love the Gemma Doyle series! What made you make the setting of it in England? Did you have to do extensive research to get info about England?