Ask the Author: Katharine Corr
Answered Questions (12)
Katharine Corr
Hi Ruqayyah, thanks for getting in touch! We always start out by planning quite carefully - we often end up changing the plan, but it gives us a starting point. In theory we write different chapters each. In practice it is more chaotic! Yes, we do 'debate' over things and it can sometimes get heated. If we really can't agree we ask our editor to cast the deciding vote. So far we've each won one argument this way. :-)
Katharine Corr
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Katharine Corr
Hi there!
It has been hard writing in lockdown, particularly at the beginning. Stress and anxiety don't help creativity. Neither (if you're not used to it) does having to home-school children! But we got through it and met all our A Crown Of Talons deadlines. :)
As to how long each book takes, it depends a lot on the book and on what else is going on, but a rough estimate would be 6 months, give or take, for a completed first draft that's in a good enough state to send to our editor.
All best,
Kate & Liz
It has been hard writing in lockdown, particularly at the beginning. Stress and anxiety don't help creativity. Neither (if you're not used to it) does having to home-school children! But we got through it and met all our A Crown Of Talons deadlines. :)
As to how long each book takes, it depends a lot on the book and on what else is going on, but a rough estimate would be 6 months, give or take, for a completed first draft that's in a good enough state to send to our editor.
All best,
Kate & Liz
Katharine Corr
Thanks for your question!
We've both always loved ballet and one of our children suggested that it would be fun to write something based on Swan Lake. Once we started thinking about it, we decided that, rather than someone cursed to turn into a swan, it would be fun to create an entire world where lots of people had the ability to turn into swans and other birds. We also thought the character of Odile (Aderyn's original name in our first draft) was potentially interesting - she's a villan in the ballet, but could she be a hero instead?
We've both always loved ballet and one of our children suggested that it would be fun to write something based on Swan Lake. Once we started thinking about it, we decided that, rather than someone cursed to turn into a swan, it would be fun to create an entire world where lots of people had the ability to turn into swans and other birds. We also thought the character of Odile (Aderyn's original name in our first draft) was potentially interesting - she's a villan in the ballet, but could she be a hero instead?
Katharine Corr
Hi Lara,
Yes, it's a duology. The second book, A Crown Of Talons, will be published on 7th January and is available for pre-order.
Kate & Liz :)
Yes, it's a duology. The second book, A Crown Of Talons, will be published on 7th January and is available for pre-order.
Kate & Liz :)
Katharine Corr
Hi Alex! Thanks for getting in touch - so glad you're enjoying the books! Carys is the eldest, Nia the middle sister and Meredith the youngest. However, because Nia has a sort of second sight she sometimes seems less practical and less aware of her surroundings, potential risks and so on. So Meredith in particular ends up taking care of her and at some points she feels as if she's older than Nia. If it says anywhere that Nia is actually younger than that's an error that slipped through the proof-reading! Hope this helps, and happy reading!
Katharine Corr
Hi Tali! Thanks for your question. The last book in the trilogy - The Witch's Blood - will be published by HarperCollins next March, so you'll be able to find out then what happens to Merry and Leo. So glad you enjoyed the book!
Katharine x
Katharine x
Katharine Corr
Hi Kirsty, thanks for your question. Our publishers have the final say, but we are expecting that there will be three books altogether.
Katharine Corr
Hi Rebecca, thanks for the question! We were inspired by a couple of different things. We'd been thinking a lot about fairy tales and how they could be retold; we both really enjoy Once Upon A Time, for example. That led to us wanting to write a gender reversed Sleeping Beauty, where a prince is cursed by a wizard and is recused by a girl (though a witch rather than a princess in our case). We'd also been discussing relationships in YA, and how often prominence is given to romantic love at the expense of other sorts of love. We've both always wanted an elder brother so we decided that our hero, Merry, should have an elder brother; her relationship with Leo is at least as important to her as her love for Jack.
Katharine Corr
Making stuff up and having other people enjoy reading about the world you've created. That and being able to work in your PJs!
Katharine Corr
Liz and I are currently working on the sequel to The Witch's Kiss: The Witch's Tears! We can promise more drama and magic with Merry and Leo. First draft is done and with our editor...
Katharine Corr
Whatever you're writing, finish it. Don't stop halfway and start editing. You have to have a finished first draft to work with, because if you don't get to the end you can never send it out on submission.
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