Aubrie’s Comments (group member since Aug 05, 2013)

Aubrie’s comments from the Ask Kimberli Bindschatel group.

I also wanted to give my interpretation of why I thought Kiran jumped in the end and not before...

I think Artus explained it perfectly when he said "Never let anyone else tell you what to believe." In the beginning it was Deke goading Kiran to jump, telling him it was the only way to show he was worthy, to show he believed, and could follow The Way. The belief was not his own, but was being pressed upon him and that's not something Kiran would readily accept because he doesn't just obey or trust everything he is told.

In the end, through his experience, he learns more about himself, finds what he believes. He knows he can jump from the cliff and return unscathed. Better yet, I believe no one has actually jumped the cliff before. I think Kiran thought this in the end too. Therefore, if he jumped and returned, according to the village and the elders, Kiran would prove more than anyone else that his beliefs were the strongest. That could give him immense power and influence in the village. I truly believe it is the one and only time in the entire book that Kiran saw a way to manipulate the system and went for it.

Here's a question that cracks me up every time I think of it...Why are mentors so cryptic? Aldwyn is the universally lovable older mentor that I think everyone wishes they had in their lives, but at the same time you want to punch them in the face for always preparing the young hero/ heroine in the most sly way.

Case and point: Wax on? Wax off? There wasn't a more direct approach!?

My question is why leave Kiran so in the dark, forcing him to struggle even more on this journey? Did Aldwyn simply know that Kiran's curiosity would save him more often than solid knowledge? Was Aldwyn ashamed to share the village's true history? Obviously it doesn't make for as interesting of a plot, but there must be more. Curious to know more of what was going through Aldwyn's head.

One of my favorite things about the plot of the book is this odyssey like journey the characters take. It's not just a simple journey from one place to the next. sometimes it feels like they have traveled to a different world because the people and landscape are so different. The more I thought about it, the more I started thinking this had to be intentional, because coming from Kiran's perspective, that it what it would feel like for an isolated adolescent setting out on his own for the first time. Would you agree?

And then to ask a question that can't be answered with yes or no, how did you design these foreign lands/people? Did you pull inspiration from real life cultures?

Hi Kim!! As you know, I am not only any avid reader, but also an avid writer. You mentioned waning your characters to be more three dimensional which I believe you did beautifully! My questions is how did you do it? :) What do you think is important to do when creating a more dimensional character?