Ask the Author: Joe Siple
Answered Questions (18)
Joe Siple
Hi Carol,
I'm sorry for the (extremely) delayed response. I'm actually just running across this now. Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm so happy you enjoyed the story. My goal as an author is to give readers strong emotional experiences when they read my stories, because I think that's what being human is all about. I'm happy to hear you enjoyed the book.
I don't currently have plans to be in Lexington, but if I'm ever there for a book signing I'll definitely let you know.
Take care,
Joe
I'm sorry for the (extremely) delayed response. I'm actually just running across this now. Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm so happy you enjoyed the story. My goal as an author is to give readers strong emotional experiences when they read my stories, because I think that's what being human is all about. I'm happy to hear you enjoyed the book.
I don't currently have plans to be in Lexington, but if I'm ever there for a book signing I'll definitely let you know.
Take care,
Joe
Joe Siple
Hi Laurie,
Thanks for reaching out! As of now, The First Wish is the last of the Murray McBride series and I don't have any plans to write another. At this point, I'm not sure what the next one would be, and I don't want to force another book if there's not a good story there. That being said, I didn't intend to write more than one Murray McBride book, so nothing is certain.
Thanks so much for reading my books.
Joe
Thanks for reaching out! As of now, The First Wish is the last of the Murray McBride series and I don't have any plans to write another. At this point, I'm not sure what the next one would be, and I don't want to force another book if there's not a good story there. That being said, I didn't intend to write more than one Murray McBride book, so nothing is certain.
Thanks so much for reading my books.
Joe
Joe Siple
Hi Carla,
You could read the prequel first, but I'd recommend reading them in the order they were written, which is The Five Wishes, followed by The Final Wish, and then The First Wish. Thanks for checking them out and I hope you enjoy them!
Joe
You could read the prequel first, but I'd recommend reading them in the order they were written, which is The Five Wishes, followed by The Final Wish, and then The First Wish. Thanks for checking them out and I hope you enjoy them!
Joe
Joe Siple
Hi Lisa,
Sorry I missed your first message. If you're looking for book club questions, here are some ideas to get the conversation going.
Theme:
-Death is not only the main antagonistic force in the story, but also a main theme. My intent was to deal with death seriously and honestly, while still leaving the reader feeling a sense of redemption. Was this accomplished? Why or why not?
-Regret is another major theme, especially for Murray. Is it possible to live a life free of regret? If it is, do we risk missing out on opportunities to learn and grow? Can regret be a good thing?
-"Second chances" is another theme. This is where redemption comes from. Which characters in the book are given a second chance?
Characters:
-Murray is 100 years-old. Obviously, some of the things he does stretch what's possible for a person of that age. Were you able to find "suspension of disbelief" while reading? Would it have been a better story if Murray had been 80, or is there something to being 100 that adds to the story?
-Jason is pretty obnoxious. He's able to get away with more than a normal character because of his illness, but does it ever go too far? Did you ever find yourself not liking him?
-Tiegan is meant to be a "perfect" character, free of the flaws that most characters need in order to be interesting. Does this work for her? Why or why not?
Plot:
-There is no "good guy" and "bad guy" to keep the plot moving in the way of most traditional, commercial fiction. The risk here is that the pacing will slow. Did you feel bored at any point?
The Ending:
-The most powerful, but potentially the most frustrating, part of the story. Did it work for you? The goal was to give the reader a powerful emotional experience without making her feel like her feelings were being manipulated (i.e. trying to make her cry for no particular reason). Did you feel manipulated by the ending? What are the reasons it had to end that way? Is there a different ending you would have preferred?
The "Extras":
-SBK, the baseball card, Tiegan's list, mutual understanding with Chance...what other parts of the book stood out to you?
Thanks again, and I hope you have a great discussion!
Sorry I missed your first message. If you're looking for book club questions, here are some ideas to get the conversation going.
Theme:
-Death is not only the main antagonistic force in the story, but also a main theme. My intent was to deal with death seriously and honestly, while still leaving the reader feeling a sense of redemption. Was this accomplished? Why or why not?
-Regret is another major theme, especially for Murray. Is it possible to live a life free of regret? If it is, do we risk missing out on opportunities to learn and grow? Can regret be a good thing?
-"Second chances" is another theme. This is where redemption comes from. Which characters in the book are given a second chance?
Characters:
-Murray is 100 years-old. Obviously, some of the things he does stretch what's possible for a person of that age. Were you able to find "suspension of disbelief" while reading? Would it have been a better story if Murray had been 80, or is there something to being 100 that adds to the story?
-Jason is pretty obnoxious. He's able to get away with more than a normal character because of his illness, but does it ever go too far? Did you ever find yourself not liking him?
-Tiegan is meant to be a "perfect" character, free of the flaws that most characters need in order to be interesting. Does this work for her? Why or why not?
Plot:
-There is no "good guy" and "bad guy" to keep the plot moving in the way of most traditional, commercial fiction. The risk here is that the pacing will slow. Did you feel bored at any point?
The Ending:
-The most powerful, but potentially the most frustrating, part of the story. Did it work for you? The goal was to give the reader a powerful emotional experience without making her feel like her feelings were being manipulated (i.e. trying to make her cry for no particular reason). Did you feel manipulated by the ending? What are the reasons it had to end that way? Is there a different ending you would have preferred?
The "Extras":
-SBK, the baseball card, Tiegan's list, mutual understanding with Chance...what other parts of the book stood out to you?
Thanks again, and I hope you have a great discussion!
Joe Siple
Thanks so much Rosemary. I really appreciate your kind words. To be honest, my personal favorite book that I've written (with the possible exception of Five Wishes) is one that hasn't sold many copies or received much attention. It's called "Charlie Fightmaster and the Search for Perfect Harmony". Although it is a "baseball book" I think it's much more than that and you don't have to be a baseball fan to enjoy it. Pippin is one of my favorite characters I've written. My wife and I even have matching wedding rings made of a slab of quebracho wood! If you read it, I hope you enjoy it.
Joe Siple
Thanks so much, Annette. I apologize for the delay in responding. I wish I could articulate how much I appreciate your kind words, but that would be impossible.
To answer your question...I certainly hope to continue writing. I currently have a "day job" and two daughters at home, and those things take up most of my time. But I definitely hope to get back to writing more in the future. Thanks again for the message!
To answer your question...I certainly hope to continue writing. I currently have a "day job" and two daughters at home, and those things take up most of my time. But I definitely hope to get back to writing more in the future. Thanks again for the message!
Joe Siple
Thanks so much for the message, Shirley, and I apologize for the (long) delay in responding. I actually haven't known anyone like Murray. It was an interesting experience trying to put myself in the shoes of a 100 year-old man! And I appreciate your kind words about the Final Wish as well. I was worried that it might be considered "too political" or something, but my intent was simply to point out that all people are people, deserving of our love and understanding. Thanks again for the message!
Joe Siple
Hi Larry,
Thanks so much for getting in touch! And I'm glad your book club enjoyed "Five Wishes." I've definitely found that if people don't like the book, it's usually because of the ending. Whether it's "contrived" or "manipulates the reader's emotions" or some other version of that, some people just don't like it. If I had known how to write an ending that everyone loved, I would have done that! But personally, I like it. And that's okay! Everyone has different tastes!
As for switching from journalism to fiction...I wasn't ever a "real journalist." I was a sports reporter/anchor for an NBC affiliate in Minnesota. When my first daughter was born I started staying home with her and writing fiction. I've never really known why I started writing fiction, it's just something I enjoyed and had time for when my daughter was napping. And it has turned out pretty well!
Thanks again for getting in touch. All the best,
Joe
Thanks so much for getting in touch! And I'm glad your book club enjoyed "Five Wishes." I've definitely found that if people don't like the book, it's usually because of the ending. Whether it's "contrived" or "manipulates the reader's emotions" or some other version of that, some people just don't like it. If I had known how to write an ending that everyone loved, I would have done that! But personally, I like it. And that's okay! Everyone has different tastes!
As for switching from journalism to fiction...I wasn't ever a "real journalist." I was a sports reporter/anchor for an NBC affiliate in Minnesota. When my first daughter was born I started staying home with her and writing fiction. I've never really known why I started writing fiction, it's just something I enjoyed and had time for when my daughter was napping. And it has turned out pretty well!
Thanks again for getting in touch. All the best,
Joe
Joe Siple
Hi Barb,
Did I answer this question? I feel like we corresponded through email, but maybe that was someone else. Either way, I'd love to know your final thoughts on the book. Overall, it's been very satisfying to see that ratings have remained strong, but I fully understand that the ending is a risk that some readers don't like. What were your thoughts?
I appreciate your message.
-Joe
Did I answer this question? I feel like we corresponded through email, but maybe that was someone else. Either way, I'd love to know your final thoughts on the book. Overall, it's been very satisfying to see that ratings have remained strong, but I fully understand that the ending is a risk that some readers don't like. What were your thoughts?
I appreciate your message.
-Joe
Joe Siple
Thanks so much, Helen! Most people start with Five Wishes, then if they like it they discover The Town with No Roads. It's great that you found The Town first!
I'm actually working on a sequel for Five Wishes right now, since that book has been much more successful and several people have wondered what those characters are up to now. It has been a lot of fun to write, but it's still missing that certain something that makes a book great. I'm hoping to find it eventually. As for a sequel for The Town with No Roads...I'd never even considered it, to be honest. But now that you put the thought in my head, it's probably inevitable that it will happen someday. If I can just figure out how to finish my current work-in-progress...
Thanks again for getting in touch. I sincerely appreciate hearing from you.
-Joe
I'm actually working on a sequel for Five Wishes right now, since that book has been much more successful and several people have wondered what those characters are up to now. It has been a lot of fun to write, but it's still missing that certain something that makes a book great. I'm hoping to find it eventually. As for a sequel for The Town with No Roads...I'd never even considered it, to be honest. But now that you put the thought in my head, it's probably inevitable that it will happen someday. If I can just figure out how to finish my current work-in-progress...
Thanks again for getting in touch. I sincerely appreciate hearing from you.
-Joe
Joe Siple
Hi Deanie,
Thanks so much for the message! I'd love for The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride to be made into a movie, but there's nothing in the works as of now. We've put it up on a few websites that supposedly scout for that kind of thing, but no luck yet. If you happen to have any connections from your time in the business, I'd love for you to tell them about it. The film rights are available! Either way, I'm glad you enjoyed the story. And thanks for getting in touch.
-Joe
Thanks so much for the message! I'd love for The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride to be made into a movie, but there's nothing in the works as of now. We've put it up on a few websites that supposedly scout for that kind of thing, but no luck yet. If you happen to have any connections from your time in the business, I'd love for you to tell them about it. The film rights are available! Either way, I'm glad you enjoyed the story. And thanks for getting in touch.
-Joe
Joe Siple
Hi Ariadne,
Sorry for the delay, and thanks so much for your question! It's such an interesting one: Where to characters come from? I know a lot of writers take from people they know (or have met) and build on that. I guess in a way, all writers are doing that to a certain extent, even if it's subconscious. After all, characters come from our minds, and our minds are shaped by our experiences. But I try to create them from scratch as much as possible. I don't think of any of my characters as being based on anyone I know...but I have been a mentor to a boy (now a 5th grader) for the last few years, and I did have three grandparents live into their 90's, so I'm sure those experiences impacted my characters on some level. But to me, one of the best parts of writing is creating characters and getting to know them well enough along the way that they take over the writing process. For me, it doesn't happen often or easily, but when it does, it's very satisfying.
Thanks again for the question, and I'm so glad you enjoyed the story!
-Joe
Sorry for the delay, and thanks so much for your question! It's such an interesting one: Where to characters come from? I know a lot of writers take from people they know (or have met) and build on that. I guess in a way, all writers are doing that to a certain extent, even if it's subconscious. After all, characters come from our minds, and our minds are shaped by our experiences. But I try to create them from scratch as much as possible. I don't think of any of my characters as being based on anyone I know...but I have been a mentor to a boy (now a 5th grader) for the last few years, and I did have three grandparents live into their 90's, so I'm sure those experiences impacted my characters on some level. But to me, one of the best parts of writing is creating characters and getting to know them well enough along the way that they take over the writing process. For me, it doesn't happen often or easily, but when it does, it's very satisfying.
Thanks again for the question, and I'm so glad you enjoyed the story!
-Joe
Joe Siple
Hi Barb. Thanks so much for taking the time to contact me! Yes, I was born and raised in Rochester, MN and much of my family is still in the area. So I was a huge Twins fan growing up. But thanks to WGN, Cubs games were always on TV during the summer. I grew up in the Ryne Sandberg-Andre Dawson-Mark Grace days, but never made it to Wrigley until my girlfriend (now wife of 17 years) went to Northwestern in the late 90's. We went as often as we could when I visited. It was such fun to set a scene of Five Wishes there! Thanks again for getting in touch, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the book.
Joe Siple
Mostly by reading. I read all these amazing stories and just can't help but write my own stories. There are very few things in this world better than a good story.
Joe Siple
I'm excited about my latest project. It's a follow-up to the first Five Wishes book. This one is called "The Final Wish of Mr. Murray McBride" and follows Jason from the moment the curtain closes after the ending of the last book. Instead of feeling content and happy, he feels empty. Until he meets a little girl in need of five wishes...
I also have my first middle grade book coming out on January 30. You can find "The Last Dogs" here:
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Dogs-Joe-...
I also have my first middle grade book coming out on January 30. You can find "The Last Dogs" here:
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Dogs-Joe-...
Joe Siple
Write from your heart and don't give up. They sound basic, but if you follow those two rules, success will eventually come.
Joe Siple
I used to think it would be not having a boss or an office to go to, and making my own hours. But those things have actually proven to be challenges. The best parts are those moments when I write something and get tingles down my spine because I just know it works--it's exactly what I was trying to do. Unfortunately, like a good golf shot or a well-timed Black Jack, those moments are few and far between. But they keep me coming back!
Joe Siple
I don't have one consistent way of dealing with it. Sometimes I force myself to write anyway, even if I know the writing's no good. Sometimes I allow myself some time away, and start a new project. For me, writer's block is usually the result of a lack of confidence in my writing, so reading something that inspires me to create helps.
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