Ask the Author: Jacqueline Pawl
Answered Questions (12)
Jacqueline Pawl
I'm currently working on the first draft of book 2, which I'm hoping to finish by the end of the year. My best guess for the release date would be sometime in early/mid-2023. Overall, I'm planning on this being a 5-book series; books 1-3/4 will cover the events that led up to Riona becoming a prisoner of the Erdurian Emperor, and the remaining book(s) will continue after the hearing.
Jacqueline Pawl
Ah, I'm sorry I didn't see this question until now!
I agree with you about the Divergent movies, and I feel the same way about the books. Divergent and Insurgent were great, in my opinion, but the plot started to unravel in Allegiant. The characters made too many choices that went against their previous character arcs, which was frustrating. I think if I were to reread the series, I'd read books 1 and 2 and stop there. Just my 2 cents.
I agree with you about the Divergent movies, and I feel the same way about the books. Divergent and Insurgent were great, in my opinion, but the plot started to unravel in Allegiant. The characters made too many choices that went against their previous character arcs, which was frustrating. I think if I were to reread the series, I'd read books 1 and 2 and stop there. Just my 2 cents.
Jacqueline Pawl
I didn't--not at first. I actually wrote the story of how I started the book on my website (authorjpawl.wordpress.com), but the short version is that I wrote a little page-and-a-half-long blurb when I spent the summer in France two years ago, which later became the prologue of DEFYING VESUVIUS. It wasn't until almost three months later that I decided to write a whole book out of it, and Pompeii just clicked immediately. I've always been fascinated by the history, and wanted to put my own spin on it.
Jacqueline Pawl
Yes, I'm currently finishing proofs on the first book in a new fantasy series, editing the second, and writing the third!
Jacqueline Pawl
I like to picture each chapter like scenes in a movie--each one, no matter how short or long, has to have some purpose or somehow further the plot. I don't outline a lot of my books ahead of time and instead prefer to 'see where the characters take me', so to speak.
(And it definitely isn't perfect on the first try. Even bestselling authors write multiple drafts of the same books.)
I--and a lot of authors--like to end on really strong lines or have really important scenes span multiple chapters; it's a great way to make the reader not want to put the book down at the end of a chapter.
Also--just my preference--I like to have all my chapters around a similar length, so when a single chapter reaches around 10 pages in Microsoft Word, I know to wrap it up and begin a new chapter. Not everyone does the same, but I think it looks a lot better in the finished product.
(And it definitely isn't perfect on the first try. Even bestselling authors write multiple drafts of the same books.)
I--and a lot of authors--like to end on really strong lines or have really important scenes span multiple chapters; it's a great way to make the reader not want to put the book down at the end of a chapter.
Also--just my preference--I like to have all my chapters around a similar length, so when a single chapter reaches around 10 pages in Microsoft Word, I know to wrap it up and begin a new chapter. Not everyone does the same, but I think it looks a lot better in the finished product.
Jacqueline Pawl
Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh, Now I Rise by Kiersten White, Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin, and Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Jacqueline Pawl
Long story, so I'll just say:
I wrote the prologue while I was on vacation in France, never intending to write a book, simply writing because I felt like it. Fast forward to two months later, sitting at home, and I wanted to add more to the story I'd written. With the themes of fire and ash, I decided to set it in Pompeii in the year of the eruption, and had so much fun creating a character who had a tendency for both blunt honesty and secrecy, almost simultaneously. And thus, Defying Vesuvius was born.
I wrote the prologue while I was on vacation in France, never intending to write a book, simply writing because I felt like it. Fast forward to two months later, sitting at home, and I wanted to add more to the story I'd written. With the themes of fire and ash, I decided to set it in Pompeii in the year of the eruption, and had so much fun creating a character who had a tendency for both blunt honesty and secrecy, almost simultaneously. And thus, Defying Vesuvius was born.
Jacqueline Pawl
I read authors who are better than I, become envious of their mastery of prose and the written word, and vow to one day become one of the author Greats. It's a secret club, I'm convinced. All the NYT bestselling authors meet for coffee and share books (at least, that's how it goes in my head).
Jacqueline Pawl
I'm currently about a third of the way through the sequel to Defying Vesuvius.
Jacqueline Pawl
Never, ever, ever stop writing! Write until your brain hurts and your eyes are crossing and you couldn't read the words in front of your eyes if you tried. Follow up with caffeine (or sleep, perferably), rinse, and repeat.
Jacqueline Pawl
Giving your finished book to other people and being able to say "This is my book. I wrote that. See all those words there? Every single one of those came from MY BRAIN. Enjoy."
Jacqueline Pawl
Read! The best way to get better at writing (other than more writing) is to read what someone else has written. Figure out what you like in their story, and see what you can apply to your own work--just avoid plagiarism. Always, always read authors who are better than you.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more
Aug 22, 2022 06:30AM · flag