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

Kimberli’s comments from the Ask Kimberli Bindschatel group.

You're invited to continue the discussion at my new forum at: http://www.thefallenshadowstrilogy.co...

I love to answer questions about the book, but also to engage in meaningful conversation inspired by the story. Please join me.

You're invited to continue the discussion at my new forum at: http://www.thefallenshadowstrilogy.co...

I love to answer questions about the book, but also to engage in meaningful conversation inspired by the story. Please join me.

Linda wrote: "Another question, do you write differently when you are expecting a young adult audience than when you are aiming at adults or does the story end up dictating the audience?"

Good question. I think a story dictates the audience, specifically the content (as in restrictions more than not) But certainly I didn't lessen or downgrade the story in any way. I respect teens. They're not children. I didn't sugarcoat anything. I have wondered if some parents would put restrictions on the book, but I didn't hold back.

Linda wrote: "I was wondering if you could elaborate on the different real world tribes that you used to help you create the dynamic tribes of your story."

HI Linda, thanks for the question. For the Kotari, I studied cult behavior and that of cult leaders, mostly from the research of Margaret Thaler Singer, but also Jim Jones and David Koresh.

For the Lendhi, most people assumed they were Native American, but I was interested in the nomadic tribes of Africa who move across the savannah in search of game. There are several. Manu-amatu's staff and the hallucinogenic powder came from the Amazon.

The songlines are known across Australia and the spiritual history is fascinating. I'd like to learn more, but I was instantly drawn to the idea of music and song being tied directly to a connection to Earth as well as the spiritual beings.

The Weikaito was completely fabricated by my desire to create a community at one with nature that was in a habitat that could sustain vegetarianism. The weaving of the branches to form the bridges though came from seeing images from northeast India. Check it out: http://www.humanplanetblog.com/?p=1933

Aubrie wrote: "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..."

Hm... interesting. As the author, I have to admit, this is so fun, hearing all the different views and interpretations.

Aubrie wrote: "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 a..."

That's a great point. Yes, why did Yoda talk with odd sentence structure?

I think I know part of the answer. Some things in life we need to experience and find for ourselves. We can't just be told. Mentors are usually good a guiding their students down a path, but allowing the student to walk his own way. Something like that.

Aubrie wrote: "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 t..."

I'm glad that's what you saw in the quest. Yes, I hoped to offer dramatically different cultures and the environments in which those cultures grew. I believe we are a part of our environment, socially and biologically.

Yes, I have read about so many different cultures, past and present, and took ideas and made my own with all the parts. Some of that is described in the Author's Note at the end if you are interested.

April wrote: "I still wonder to this day. I really try to stay open minded especially growing up Baptist, but occasionally we still get some sort of crazy flyer under the wind shield wiper. They mostly put them ..."

I certainly think so!

I wonder, what did they think they were going to accomplish telling you you'd burn in hell if you didn't see their way?

Aubrie wrote: "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 ..."

Hi Aubrie,

That's a great question. I admit, I don't have a scholarly answer. But I do know that when writing the book, I thought of them as real people. In my head, they felt and seemed alive. In fact, there were several times when I had an idea about how a scene would play out and the character wouldn't "act" the way I wanted him to. He just wouldn't be that wimpy or weak or something like that. So funny how the mind works that way. At first it was difficult, but I lived with these kids in my head for three years.

I know many writing teachers recommend making sure your characters have flaws. This makes them feel real, human, relatable, however you want to describe it. I think they also need to be consistent. My writer's group members caught me on that a few times, especially with Roh. They'd read an excerpt and come back to me saying, nope, Roh wouldn't do that. The biggest thing is knowing what motivates them. Some people just want to be liked by others, some seek fame, some want to be left alone. Usually their behavior reflects their desires.

April wrote: "In my opinion, he couldn't jump in the begining because he did not have faith in himself as a person. In the end, he learned the truth about the Elder that jumped from Roh and saw that there was wa..."

Interesting. I'm wondering if anyone interpreted it differently. That's the fun of it, right?

Amanda wrote: "I guess I think they will believe him to be the 7th Elder because he was able to fulfill what they had been so eager to believe as what what necessary to be the 7th. Sort of circular reasoning, but..."

Why do you think he jumped at the end, but was unable to at the beginning? What had changed?

(What do you mean about him disappearing?)

And thanks for the glowing compliment!

These are excellent and fun questions. How do you think the Torans will react? If they believe he is the Seventh Elder, will they think his book is the Truth? Or will they reject it and him, because it doesn't fit their idea of what that means? Interesting...

Amanda wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I have thought a lot about the journey each of the characters took in this story. It seems like to tried to include an archetype of the main sorts of groups that many men and women f..."

Amanda,
I absolutely agree. I think as readers, we bring so much with us that every reading is a personal interpretation. I don't even think the author's intention is as important as what the reader takes away. I didn't want to preach a message, I wanted to create a scenario that encouraged critical thinking, promoted curiosity, and most of all, tolerance. I hope I was successful at that.

RE: the 2-D characters. I didn't take it as a criticism. No problem. I just meant to clarify how, even with real people, we tend to put them in categories or these archetypes, don't we? It is interesting to ponder. Sometimes people surprise us, then we think we must have been wrong about the category we had put them into.

Interesting you bring up Kail because of all the characters I did the most research creating her. Books on cults, cult behavior, and most important, the attributes of those who are most vulnerable to cults. So, yes, I designed her character around those attributes.

Amanda wrote: "Also, are young adults/teens your target audience? I feel this book has a far greater audience."

Thanks for the comment about the greater audience. I've been told that 80% of "young adult" book readers are adults. We all love this kind of story. I think there is a label because teens tend to not be as interested in adult books. But the guideline I was told is 12 to adult.

Amanda wrote: "I have thought a lot about the journey each of the characters took in this story. It seems like to tried to include an archetype of the main sorts of groups that many men and women fall into (of co..."

HI Amanda, thanks for the question. I tried not to have my characters be two dimensional and only representatives of certain archetypes, but I suppose no matter how well developed a character is, we define them with certain attributes. (Bhau certainly wasn't a well developed character. So I killed him. ;)

I wouldn't characterize the situations as traps, per se. Who is to say that marrying The Guardian wasn't the right thing for Kail? I'm not suggesting you should think it was. I'm saying that our beliefs guide our behavior, not only in our own "right" and "wrong" behavior, but in how we view others whose behavior doesn't fit our belief system. Would you agree?

Amanda wrote: "Also, are young adults/teens your target audience? I feel this book has a far greater audience."

Thanks for the comment about the greater audience. I've been told that 80% of "young adult" book readers are adults. We all love this kind of story. I think there is a label because teens tend to not be as interested in adult books. But the guideline I was told is 12 to adult.

Amanda wrote: "Ah, I think I posted my questions in the wrong place!"

It's OK. I had a spot for pre questions too. But either place will work.

I'm here all day, available to discuss The Path to the Sun