AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
HALF -A-DOZEN QUESTIONS FOR KELLY ARMSTRONG
Internationally bestselling YA Novelist Kelley Armstrong just released The Gathering, a follow-up to her wildly popular “The Darkest Powers” series. Kelley will be at The I Haven’t Read The Book Club on May 25. Natalie Kertes recently posed half-a-dozen questions to Kelley, about everything from The Gathering to online storytelling.
Natalie Kertes
Kelly, everyone is so excited about the latest book, but before I ask you about The Gathering, can you tell us a little bit about the evolution of the Darkest Powers series?
Kelly Armstrong:
I had an idea inspired by my second adult novel, Stolen, but it was about supernaturals just coming into their powers, which in my world happens at puberty. That wouldn’t work for an adult series so I put the idea aside, but it was in the back of my mind as I began receiving an increasing number of emails from readers I considered too young to be reading my other books! So I decided to give that YA idea a try.
Natalie:
There’s a lot of talk these days about the uneasy relationship between print and e-books. What inspired you to fold online novellas into the series with the novels published in hard copy?
Kelley:
When I launched my website in 2003, I was advised to think of ways to get readers coming back between books. One idea I came up with was the online novella (or e-serial.) It worked better than I ever expected. After 5 years of them, though, I decided I had was enough online material for the adult, but I did love doing them, so when I started the YA, I decided to do the online stories for that series.
Natalie:
You're using a new narrator in The Gathering, Maya. Was jumping from Chloe to Maya's voice in this series a challenge, or did it feel natural? And what has the response from your readers been like?
Kelley:
I’ve always changed narrators in my adult series, so this is natural for me. Right now, readers aren’t thrilled—they really want more of the original characters. I’m hoping that, like my adult readers, they’ll come to realize how much more I can do with the series if I change narrators.
Natalie:
You tell us on your website that you've been writing since you were a little girl, and that since then, your writing has always taken you into the fantasy world of "ghosts and demons and werewolves." What do you think draws you to this genre?
Kelley:
I’ve been fascinated by the paranormal since childhood. No idea why—my parents weren’t “into” that or against it. I suppose I was just intrigued by the possibility of fantasy in our world.
Natalie:
Was there any one thing or one person that encouraged you to write professionally?
Kelley:
There wasn’t one specific person. I had a lot of support and encouragement throughout my life. In my early life, though, no one ever said “you should do this for a living,” and I actually think that was a good thing. Otherwise, I would have grown up thinking that “novelist” was an easily achievable career goal, which it isn’t. Instead, I grew up planning on another career while hoping that someday I’d be able to write part-time.
Natalie:
And what advice do you have for all of our young scribes out there who can't imagine doing anything but writing?
Kelley:
Keep writing. It’s boring advice, but it really is the most important thing. You need to love writing and keep at it, always practicing and creating new work.
Want details about The I Haven’t Read The Book Club salon with Kelley Armstrong at Mabel’s Fables, Toronto, on Wednesday May 25th? Click Here.
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AUTHOR INTERVIEW:
DAVID BRUINS & HILARY LEUNG
Author David Bruins and Illustrator Hilary Leung are the creators of the wildly popular Ninja, Cowboy, Bear (NCB) books. They published and promoted the first NCB book themselves a few years ago. Today they are represented by Kids Can Press and recently inked a television deal. They sat down with Chris Reed to discuss their remarkable journey.
What inspired you to chronicle the adventures of a Ninja, a Cowboy and a Bear?
David Bruins:
Originally, I approached Hilary with the idea of writing stories about the Ninja character, which I had seen as the mascot for his ultimate team. That's when Hilary introduced me to the two other characters. It just seemed to make sense to tell the back story of the game Ninja Cowboy Bear.
Hilary Leung:
In 2003, I organized an ultimate frisbee tournament for three birthday friends. It made sense to create three teams with the birthday people acting as captains. I drew a ninja, a cowboy and a bear for their birthday cards. A couple years later, David approached me about creating a kids book about my ninja character. I suggested an origins story of Ninja Cowboy and Bear. We both liked the message that everyone is special, unique and good at different things.
Collaboration can be a tricky business. Tell us about how you work together.
David:
Just like our characters, we're very different from each other. But because we bring different skills we can cover most of the gaps that we might have if we were working alone. The key is to keep an open mind and to listen to each other.
Hilary:
David and I are very fortunate - we're good friends and work really well together. We talk and bounce ideas off of each all the time. Whether it is the story or the artwork, we're completely open and honest with each other. We love weaving the text and illustrations together and strive for that perfect balance. Also it helps that we both share the same design sensibilities, high standards and most importantly sense of humour.
Your books lend themselves to performance. Is this something you think about when you create them?
David:
No, not really. We just make every attempt after the story is done to figure out how to make our readings interactive and something that kids can get involved with.
Hilary:
As brilliant as that is, we didn't really consider that. Though we've heard some excellent Ninja Cowboy and Bear sound effects when people play the game.
Do you have a favourite character?
David:
I'd hate to have to choose just one, but if I was forced to, I would have to say the Bear. Not sure why – maybe because he's naked.
Hilary:
No favourites - I love them all equally. I really like the ninja because he was the first, but I also have a really soft spot for bear. We spent the most time creating Cowboy, so he's a labour of love.
Who are some of your kid-lit heroes or influences?
David:
My picture book hero has to be James Marshall and his George and Martha series. The way he blends his dead pan text with the hilarious illustrations to tell complex stories of friendship is awe inspiring.
Hilary:
My favourite kid-lit author illustrators are local talents - Barbara Reid, Jeremy Tankard, Patricia Storms and Vince Chui!
My favourite kid-lit heroes are Chris Reed and Maria Martella! They were our biggest Ninja Cowboy Bear supporters right from the very beginning.
What’s next for the Ninja Cowboy Bear books?
David:
We've a new book coming in Fall 2011 called “The Call of the Cowboy”. I've also started working on a story focused on the Bear, which would hopefully be published Fall 2012.
Hilary:
We've just completed our third book "Ninja Cowboy Bear presents The Call of the Cowboy" and it will be released Fall 2011. David and I are already planning for our forth book starring Bear which will hopefully be released Fall 2012.
You’ve created NCB buttons, balloons and, most recently, paper cut-outs. If money were no object, what NCB product would we see?
David:
I'd love to have a set of Ninja Cowboy Bear pose-able action toys.
Hilary:
Ha ha, two words - Theme Park. Ninja Cowboy Bear iPhone game is a close second.
What books are currently on your bedside table?
David:
Literary Lapses by Stephen Leacock. First published 100 years ago and it still makes me laugh out loud.
Breakdown by Lydia Davis. She says so much with so few words – incredible.
I've also recently finished Juliet Naked by Nick Hornby and Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis.
Hilary:
Blankets by Craig Thompson,
Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers
Papercraft - Design and Art with Paper by Gestalten
Congratulations on Ninja, Cowboy, Bear being optioned for a television series! Do you expect that working in a new medium will take the stories in a new direction?
David:
I don't expect that the core of the stories will change, but certainly the way the stories are told will need to change for television. I'm confident that the group we're working with 'gets it' – so I'm excited and open to the new possibilities.
Hilary:
Thank you! Being optioned has been super exciting! Adding sound and motion will totally enrich all our stories. However David and I still plan to maintain the true spirit of Ninja Cowboy Bear and tell meaningful stories about three best friends that are different. Fortunately our producers are very mindful and supportive of that.
What songs would you put on a playlist for a Ninja, Cowboy, Bear party?
David:
Turning Japanese, The Vapors
Ring of Fire, Johnny Cash
I Never Go to Work, They Might be Giants
Hilary:
"Pulse" - the Fires of
"Apache" - Incredible Bongo Band
"Don't Stop Believing" – Journey
- Toronto, April, 2011