Shugufa
asked
Michael Grant:
Hey Mr. Grant! My friend Tyler and I are major fans of your "Gone" book series! We both had a competition two years ago to finish the books in that series before each other. We have been anxious and hoping that eventually, the series will become a show or a series of movies that we may be able to watch. We really wanted to know where you got the idea to write these novels and how you came up with the characters??
Michael Grant
The possible TV series is still alive and well and supposedly making slow progress. But I honestly don't know anything but what they tell me.
The idea - like most ideas - just sort of popped into my head. It was a combination of the TV show LOST, the Stephen King novel THE STAND, and Disney movies. Why Disney movies? Because what's the thing that unites virtually all Disney movies? Dead parents, that's what.
Disney is notorious for eliminating unwanted parents. Aladdin is an orphan, Jasmine has lost her mother, Mermaid likewise, Nemo ditto. The old dude in Up? Dead wife. Bambi has a mother, so they shoot her. And I thought, hey, why play around? Why not simply eliminate ALL parents in one fell swoop? Take that, Disney!
The idea - like most ideas - just sort of popped into my head. It was a combination of the TV show LOST, the Stephen King novel THE STAND, and Disney movies. Why Disney movies? Because what's the thing that unites virtually all Disney movies? Dead parents, that's what.
Disney is notorious for eliminating unwanted parents. Aladdin is an orphan, Jasmine has lost her mother, Mermaid likewise, Nemo ditto. The old dude in Up? Dead wife. Bambi has a mother, so they shoot her. And I thought, hey, why play around? Why not simply eliminate ALL parents in one fell swoop? Take that, Disney!
More Answered Questions
Kristin
asked
Michael Grant:
What was the most difficult part of the Gone series to write? Specifically, which moment of these adolescents losing the innocence they had? They all started the series as children; sure some where bullies or snobs, but through the series, many went to quite dark places. Was any specific moment more difficult to write than the others?
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