Ask the Author: Lisa McMann
Answered Questions (227)
Lisa McMann
Hi! I cried as I wrote the deaths too (well, the deaths of the good characters, anyway). Some were terribly sad. But each one was so important to the story. I knew in my writer-heart and my writer-soul it was the right thing to do, even if it made me sad, because of what the death does to spur the other characters to keep going, and to get stronger. So while I was sad, I don't regret any of the deaths. SPOILERISH HINT: I encourage everyone to finish reading the Quests series.
Lisa McMann
I love them all in different ways! But Cabot and Tenner are the most like me (I like to spy on people and I'm awkward), and Lada is a favorite too because she is modeled after a friend of mine.
Lisa McMann
Hi! Thanks for being a huge fan! You can see all my books on my website, lisamcmann.com. My current series is called The Forgotten Five, about five supernatural kids, raised in isolation, who enter civilization for the first time ever to search for their missing criminal parents and the stash they left behind. It's kind of like The Incredibles, only the parents are supernatural villains, not heroes.
Lisa McMann
Hi Ivy,
Yes, I'm working on a new series call The Forgotten Five. It's about five supernatural kids, raised in isolation on a deserted island, who enter civilization for the first time ever to search for their missing criminal parents and the stash they left behind. It's kind of like The Incredibles, but the parents are villains instead of heroes. The characters are some of the best I've ever written (though Aaron Stowe is probably one the very best).
When I brainstorm characters, I am always thinking about diversity and how they can be different in looks and personality from the other characters, and how they can be unique, interesting, and have different flaws that they will need to work on throughout the series. I want my characters to have depth--deep rooted issues that they've faced in the past that make them the characters they are when the book begins. It helps to jot down a few things about each character, like a bio--something you have for you, not necessarily in the story--that helps you understand how they would make decisions. For instance, if they were bit by a dog as a young child, they might have a fear of dogs now. Or maybe something happened with their parents that has changed everything for them. Many times I don't really know the characters until I've done several rounds of edits on my manuscripts--it takes a lot of editing to really find out who they are.
I hope you enjoy The Forgotten Five! The first three books are available now, and there will be seven in all. Book four comes out Feb 13th.
Yes, I'm working on a new series call The Forgotten Five. It's about five supernatural kids, raised in isolation on a deserted island, who enter civilization for the first time ever to search for their missing criminal parents and the stash they left behind. It's kind of like The Incredibles, but the parents are villains instead of heroes. The characters are some of the best I've ever written (though Aaron Stowe is probably one the very best).
When I brainstorm characters, I am always thinking about diversity and how they can be different in looks and personality from the other characters, and how they can be unique, interesting, and have different flaws that they will need to work on throughout the series. I want my characters to have depth--deep rooted issues that they've faced in the past that make them the characters they are when the book begins. It helps to jot down a few things about each character, like a bio--something you have for you, not necessarily in the story--that helps you understand how they would make decisions. For instance, if they were bit by a dog as a young child, they might have a fear of dogs now. Or maybe something happened with their parents that has changed everything for them. Many times I don't really know the characters until I've done several rounds of edits on my manuscripts--it takes a lot of editing to really find out who they are.
I hope you enjoy The Forgotten Five! The first three books are available now, and there will be seven in all. Book four comes out Feb 13th.
Lisa McMann
I'm not sure how many books will be in The Forgotten Five series, but I love to write a long series, so I hope a lot, like 7 or more! I'm already writing book 4 and the story isn't ending.
Book 2 will be out Nov 8, and book 3 will be out June 6, 2023.
Book 2 will be out Nov 8, and book 3 will be out June 6, 2023.
Lisa McMann
An intriguing villain always has something relatable about them. They might be evil, but they take care of their ailing granny. Or maybe they're rotten to the core except for the fact that they adopt pets with special needs. They could be a horrible person, but then we find out about all the bad things that happened to them in their past that shaped the way they live now. Give them a trait that makes the reader sympathize with them, and that makes them intriguing.
Lisa McMann
Hi! I had thought that could be a really interesting spin off as well for the future, which is why I introduced it--often writers must introduce potential threads to pursue well in advance of knowing whether the publisher wants to continue the series. In this case, the publisher and I decided the story was done at the end of Quests, so unfortunately I had to leave that idea hanging. There are no plans to continue The Unwanteds in any way at this point. I never say never, but it's not looking likely.
Lisa McMann
We have the same dispute in my house! It's whatever you want it to be. I say like Lon-E.
Lisa McMann
There is no movie planned at this time. Hopefully someone in the film industry will want to make an Unwanteds movie someday.
Lisa McMann
So far there is not an Unwanteds movie or TV show planned, but I am open to the idea if people in the film/TV industry want to make one. It can be difficult and expensive to make a movie with fantasy characters (like Simber, for example), but if the right movie-maker comes along, maybe we'll see something on the screen someday.
Meanwhile, I have a new, different book series--I hope you'll check it out. The Forgotten Five: Map of Flames comes out Feb 22, 2022.
Meanwhile, I have a new, different book series--I hope you'll check it out. The Forgotten Five: Map of Flames comes out Feb 22, 2022.
Lisa McMann
Unwanteds fans, the wait is almost over!
The new series has been announced (begins 2.22.22) and you can find info on the first book here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
The Forgotten Five: Map of Flames is fantasy! It's about five supernatural kids, raised on a deserted peninsula with no electricity or technology, who decide to enter civilization for the first time in search of a hidden stash left behind by their missing criminal parents.
You can pre-order and find an excerpt online if you go to the About the Author section on this page: https://smile.amazon.com/Map-Flames-F...
I'm working on books 2 and 3 right now!
The new series has been announced (begins 2.22.22) and you can find info on the first book here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
The Forgotten Five: Map of Flames is fantasy! It's about five supernatural kids, raised on a deserted peninsula with no electricity or technology, who decide to enter civilization for the first time in search of a hidden stash left behind by their missing criminal parents.
You can pre-order and find an excerpt online if you go to the About the Author section on this page: https://smile.amazon.com/Map-Flames-F...
I'm working on books 2 and 3 right now!
Lisa McMann
Mostly I just use my imagination. But sometimes I'm looking for something specific. Like, Warbler is a kind of bird, and lots of the names of people on Warbler are nature related. Also because it's a silent island, Warbler is an ironic name. It's opposite from the truth, if that makes sense. I like to do that. Quill is a place where writing and creativity isn't allowed, but a Quill is something people wrote with many years ago.
I also did a lot of research on mythology and legends for the island of Karkinos (Island of Legends). Look up Karkinos and see what you find.
I also did a lot of research on mythology and legends for the island of Karkinos (Island of Legends). Look up Karkinos and see what you find.
Lisa McMann
My books for 10 year olds are:
The Unwanteds Series (7 books)
The Unwanteds Quests Series (7 books)
Going Wild Trilogy
Infinity Ring: The Trap Door (3rd book in a time travel series)
Coming October 12, 2021: Clarice the Brave, a stand-alone book about sibling mice who get separated onto different ships during a mutiny, and vow to find each other again.
Coming in 2022: A brand new series I can't talk about yet. :)
The Unwanteds Series (7 books)
The Unwanteds Quests Series (7 books)
Going Wild Trilogy
Infinity Ring: The Trap Door (3rd book in a time travel series)
Coming October 12, 2021: Clarice the Brave, a stand-alone book about sibling mice who get separated onto different ships during a mutiny, and vow to find each other again.
Coming in 2022: A brand new series I can't talk about yet. :)
Lisa McMann
Hi there! I'm so glad these books are your favorites. Unfortunately I will not be writing any more Unwanteds books.
I will be writing other things, though! My next book, Clarice the Brave, is about ship mice who are separated onto different ships during a mutiny, and who vow to find each other again. It comes out October 12.
And in 2022, I'll be starting a brand new series, which I can't talk about yet. :D
I hope you will enjoy these books, too.
I will be writing other things, though! My next book, Clarice the Brave, is about ship mice who are separated onto different ships during a mutiny, and who vow to find each other again. It comes out October 12.
And in 2022, I'll be starting a brand new series, which I can't talk about yet. :D
I hope you will enjoy these books, too.
Lisa McMann
Hi! Kitten was originally given 9 lives when she was brought to life. She could use 8 for herself, and she could give one to another feline. She used that one on Lhasa in Island of Legends. She is not able to give any more lives away, and even if she could, they would not work for humans.
I hope you enjoy the rest of the series!
I hope you enjoy the rest of the series!
Lisa McMann
There are no plans for an Unwanteds movie at this time. If any professionals in the film/TV industry are interested and want to talk, I would be interested in that too! I hope someday we can see these stories come to life.
Lisa McMann
Hi! I'm really sorry there is no sequel and there are no plans for one. But you can imagine what happens next any way you want, and that is okay with me. :)
Lisa McMann
There will be seven Unwanteds Quests books in all--the final book comes out January 26, 2021. And there are seven in the original Unwanteds series. And that will be all.
I hope you'll check out my upcoming books! I have a stand-alone novel called Clarice the Brave coming in the fall of 2021, and in a few months I'll be announcing another series that will begin in spring 2022.
I hope you'll check out my upcoming books! I have a stand-alone novel called Clarice the Brave coming in the fall of 2021, and in a few months I'll be announcing another series that will begin in spring 2022.
Lisa McMann
That's so exciting. Congratulations on writing a book!
I'm afraid I don't need any more test readers, but I appreciate your offer! (Very sneaky--I like that). I hope you enjoy the rest of the series.
I'm afraid I don't need any more test readers, but I appreciate your offer! (Very sneaky--I like that). I hope you enjoy the rest of the series.
Lisa McMann
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