Young Adult Book Reading Challenges discussion

Courtney Summers will be stopping by September 15th for a Q&A with the group! She is the author of Cracked Up to Be our September book club read. We will start taking questions now! Please welcome her to the group!

What is the meaning of the ending to This is Not a Test? I have a few blogger friends who are confused about it too, and I just know there's some important hidden meaning to it. Oh, and if this is too spoilery I'll understand if you pass. :)

I am dying to know what your next book project is going to be???

I am curious, which character from all your books do you relate to the most?

In Cracked Up to Be, Parker snaps her fingers which comes off as a strong action. Is this something you do?

Also are you doing any book tours soon?

How was This is Not a Test, a horror novel, different from writing your other novels, which are realistic fiction?
Was one more fun writing than the other?
Was one harder than the other?

I'm also wondering if you knew what Parker's secret was going to be before you wrote the story.

Holy Crap Courtney Summers is going to be here!!!

Ok seriously Courtney I am one of your biggest fans... ever since I read Some Girls Are and stayed up all night to finish it!

Anyway my question:
I loved your contemp books and also This is Not a Test... which genre did you prefer to write in?

Are you ever coming to the US for a tour?

I CAN'T WAIT for All the Rage... it sounds amazing! Thanks for creating such awesome M/Cs that I always feel completely emotionally connected to!!

Are you considering doing sequels to Cracked Up To Be and Some Girls Are? I love the main characters and their attitudes. Plus i have a huge book boy crush on Michael:)

Whenever you write a book, which comes first to you: the characters or the story itself?

What was the most difficult book for you to write?

Do you ever plan on writing a series, or just standalones?

I love your books! <3 : )

How was it writing about Parker? Do you have a love interest you want her to be with?

I just saw on your blog post that you love video games!! Me too... what is your favorite/least favorite? Any inspiration from games that have crossed over into your novels?

You have a way of creating unique characters with intense issues. What sort of tricks do you do in order to get into the mindset to write these girls?

Hello Courtney Summers! :)
What advice would you give to aspiring YA authors?

Looking back on the first book you ever wrote, do you see any parts of it in the rest of your books? Do you ever consider revisiting it?

Hey Courtney Summers!

You are an epicly amazing author, and an inspiration to me as a fellow canadian (Montreal) female writer. I would like to know how you create characters that are real and complex instead of cliche and stereotypical? What are your tricks for getting over writer's block?

Thank you!

Hi Courtney!

I come from the Philippines and as much as I like reading about Canadian culture through your books (and C.K. Kelly Martin's, as per your recommendation! Haha), I would be very excited if you could write a story about basically being in a different country! Which one would you choose and how do you think would you go about it? Thanks, write more!!

Hello Courtney Summers! Thanks for stopping by! :)

Ok, wanted to ask you about the alcoholism in the novel. Yeah, I've indulged in Vodka, but never as a teen. That wasn't even part of my thinking back then.

But I've heard that unfortunately a lot of teens do abuse alcohol.

So how do you prepare to write about this? Do you write teens abusing alcohol just like any alcoholics regardless of age? Or are there any specific differences that you focus on?

And just the general controversy issue. How did you deal with the fact that people don't want YA novels to deal with alcohol abuse despite the fact that it is a real issue?

Thanks. :)

Hello! First, thank you for taking time out to answer questions. That's very sweet of you!

Which of your characters would you befriend? If any, which characters (in retrospect) would you change if you had the opportunity?

Here's a quick question about the writing process (sort of). Whenever I write, I always have candy and juice (usually Snapple) near me to munch on. Do you have similar habits, and if so, what frequently appears near you when you write?

What author (or authors) would be a dream to meet? Have you met any of your idols before?

Hi Courtney, please write books forever.

Anyway, here's my Q: What's your favorite quote from any of YOUR books?

Early in "Cracked Up to Be", Parker muses on this sequence:

Four years, two suicides, one death, one rape, two pregnancies (one abortion), three overdoses and one missing person...

By the end of the novel, we've learned about (view spoiler)[the suicides (I think - Parker's and Evan's attempts), death, rape, overdoses, and the missing person. We never again hear about the pregnancy or abortion. Why? Was this a story line that was dropped during the editing process? I kept waiting for that hint or clue to be resolved. (hide spoiler)]

Addie R. wrote: "What is the meaning of the ending to This is Not a Test? I have a few blogger friends who are confused about it too, and I just know there's some important hidden meaning to it. Oh, and if this is ..."

Thanks for your question, Addie!

I feel that once a book is out there it's up to the reader to decide what they want to take away from it.

That said...

(view spoiler)[It's my personal feeling Sloane's note doesn't have to be read the same way twice. (hide spoiler)]

I'm sorry I can't be less vague than that! :)

Monica wrote: "I am dying to know what your next book project is going to be???"

Thanks for the question, Monica! My next book is called ALL THE RAGE. It will be released by St. Martin's Press in Fall 2013. It's about a girl who blackmails a rich classmate and wakes up on a dirt road with no memory of the night before. The only clue she has of what happened to her is an incomplete message she clawed into the ground.

Angie wrote: "I am curious, which character from all your books do you relate to the most?

In Cracked Up to Be, Parker snaps her fingers which comes off as a strong action. Is this something you do?

Also are..."

Thanks for your questions, Angie, and for having me here!

I relate to all of my characters a little--I think I have to, to be able to write them--but not any one character over the others. Well... maybe Harrison in This Is Not a Test because he cries a lot and I imagine I would do the same during the zombie apocalypse. :)

I don't snap my fingers like Parker does. Parker snaps her fingers to reflect a desire for control when she's in situations she feels have gotten away from her. I'm less a finger snapper and more of a person who would go "ARGH!" when that happens. Which is uhm, probably a lot less subtle... !

I have no immediate plans for a book tour, but maybe one day. It would be neat!

Ala wrote: "How was This is Not a Test, a horror novel, different from writing your other novels, which are realistic fiction?
Was one more fun writing than the other?
Was one harder than the other?

I'm also ..."

Every book comes with a certain amount of pressure to tell the best story I possibly can. But with This is Not a Test, it was different because I was going zombie. As a big fan of all things zombie myself, I was hyper-aware of a new set of expectations this would place on my work. It would be scrutinized in a different way from new readers and readers that had picked up all my contemporaries. It's usually easier for me to block those thoughts out but I got very tangled up in the idea of not disappointing anyone (which is impossible), moreso than I ever have, which made it an intense experience! Maybe it was a little more intense than my contemporaries where I have been able to put those worries aside more easily. And that is also how it was maybe not more difficult to write, but difficult to write in a different way than my realistic contemporaries.

All of my books have been equally fun and hard to write in their own ways, really. :)

I did know Parker's secret before I wrote Cracked Up to Be, but I wasn't sure about the events surrounding it until I sat down and started making notes.

Thanks for your questions, Ala!

Michelle (Pink Polka Dot Book Blog) wrote: "Holy Crap Courtney Summers is going to be here!!!

Ok seriously Courtney I am one of your biggest fans... ever since I read Some Girls Are and stayed up all night to finish it!

Anyway my questio..."

Thank you so much, Michelle! I'm thrilled you connect to my characters!
I hope you connect to the MC in ATR just as much. :)

I don't know what I'm going to write until I write it. Most of the ideas that have come to me have been contemporary realism but I know I'd also love to write horror, more psychological thrillers (which is what I would classify This is Not a Test and All the Rage as)... maybe revisit zombies again. And also continue on with contemporaries, of course! So I don't really have a preferred genre... I go where the idea goes. :)

I'd LOVE to do an event or tour in the US someday, but right now it's not something that's been planned for me. Maybe in the future!

Thank you for your questions!

Hayley wrote: "Are you considering doing sequels to Cracked Up To Be and Some Girls Are? I love the main characters and their attitudes. Plus i have a huge book boy crush on Michael:)"

Thanks for your question, Hayley! I don't have immediate plans for sequels to Cracked Up to Be and Some Girls Are but I never say never. I know that's kind of a cop-out answer... but I'm honestly not sure if I'll ever revisit those characters so I don't like to give a firm yes or no when asked. If you liked the mc's attitudes in CUTB & SGA, the mc in All the Rage might definitely be up your alley. So glad you dig Michael. :)

Kyle wrote: "Whenever you write a book, which comes first to you: the characters or the story itself?

What was the most difficult book for you to write?

Do you ever plan on writing a series, or just standalon..."

Thanks for your questions, Kyle! I'm so glad you like my work. :)

It depends on the book--for Cracked Up to Be, I would say Parker came first. For Some Girls Are, it might've been the plot with characters closely behind. Fall for Anything, it was Eddie first and This is Not a Test was a combination of both Sloane and zombies. All the Rage, it might've been an equal combination. (All the Rage has been in the works since SGA and had so many incarnations, it's hard to remember!)

All of my books are equally difficult to write in their own ways. :) BUT This is Not a Test was really hard. When I sit down to write contemporary realistic fiction, I have an idea of my audience and their expectations. Writing a zombie novel was intimidating because I knew I'd be reaching new readers with different expectations and also because the readers that have followed my work would also have their own set of expectations... I didn't want to disappoint anyone. I had to let go of those worries to get the book done, but it was hard to do.

I haven't yet had an idea that demanded to be series. But if I do, I'd go for it. I think. :) Usually by the time I'm done a book, I'm done with the characters and they're done with me!

Anthony wrote: "How was it writing about Parker? Do you have a love interest you want her to be with?"

Thanks for your questions, Anthony! I loved writing Parker. I was determined that she have no filter, and just say whatever she wanted no matter how offensive or abrasive it might be and it was a blast. As for love interests I want her to be with... sometimes I think the person Parker is supposed to be with is probably not in the book. :)

Angie wrote: "I just saw on your blog post that you love video games!! Me too... what is your favorite/least favorite? Any inspiration from games that have crossed over into your novels?"

Angie, yay video games!

My favourite is so hard to pick! I have to narrow it down to four, hah! Alan Wake, Half-Life 2, Left 4 Dead 2 and Portal 2. My least favourite... I was disappointed by Deadlight. I was really anticipating it but the story fell short for me and so did some of the gameplay. It was a bit awkward.

As far as inspiration from games crossing over into novels--Left 4 Dead 2 got me through the harder parts of TINAT. Killing zombies reminded me of how much I loved them during those moments writing the book had me ready to tear my hair out. :)

Jen wrote: "You have a way of creating unique characters with intense issues. What sort of tricks do you do in order to get into the mindset to write these girls?"

Jen, thank you and thanks for your question! That's tough to answer because sometimes I just feel like my characters are leading me around. My general rule of thumb is to get out of their way, I guess. A character might cross a line that I definitely wouldn't, for example, so I make sure not to let my own reservations or hesitations find their way into the narrative. The more I keep myself out of it, the more I can be in their mindset. Which really isn't a trick, but! :)

Shaleezah wrote: "Hello Courtney Summers! :)
What advice would you give to aspiring YA authors?"

Hi, Shaleezah! Thanks for your question.

My advice to aspiring YA authors is to get used to rejection, because rejection is inevitable. It is just part of the process. Also to start a new book when submitting another. Sometimes rejections can feel personal (they're not) and it's good to have a new character and story to be emotionally invested in when the responses start rolling in.

And, of course, the best way improve your writing is by writing! And reading, of course!

Meagan wrote: "Looking back on the first book you ever wrote, do you see any parts of it in the rest of your books? Do you ever consider revisiting it?"

Thanks for your questions, Meagan! :)

It's funny, but parts of my second unpublished book turned up in Fall for Anything and parts of my third unpublished book showed up in Some Girls Are. But my FIRST unpublished book has made no appearance in any subsequent novels. I guess it was just that bad. :) I mean, it really was. So as for revisiting it--probably not!

Aleesha wrote: "Hey Courtney Summers!

You are an epicly amazing author, and an inspiration to me as a fellow canadian (Montreal) female writer. I would like to know how you create characters that are real and co..."

Hey, Aleesha! Thanks so much for your kind words (yay fellow Canadians!) and for your questions! :)

I always try to avoid character cliches and stereotypes but I think whether I succeed or fail at that depends on the reader. I'm glad my characters work for you. :) When it comes to writing main characters, I always remember that no person is just ONE thing. People are complex. I like to make sure my protagonists have ugly sides and my antagonists have good ones. When it comes to secondary characters, I try to think of them as having their own stories--so if the focus shifted from my MC to a side-character, that side-character would have a life of their own.

As for writer's block--when I have writer's block it usually means: 1) something I've written isn't working or 2) I need a break. In the first case, I stop what I'm doing and re-read to see if I can pinpoint the problem/where I took the wrong turn. Sometimes it's obvious, sometimes it takes outside help and I discuss it with my critique partners, agent and editor. In the second case, I'm burnt out and I need to spend some time away from the Word doc. So I think if you're experiencing writer's block, it's worth revisiting the text you've already written to see if there's a problem holding you back and if that's not the case, pausing to give your head a rest.

kb wrote: "Hi Courtney!

I come from the Philippines and as much as I like reading about Canadian culture through your books (and C.K. Kelly Martin's, as per your recommendation! Haha), I would be very excite..."

Hi, kb! Thank you for your question! I am so glad you've picked up CK's books. I'm such a fan of hers.

I'm not sure which country I'd choose to write about... maybe Italy! With a focus on Vesuvius because I love volcanoes and Vesuvius is my favourite. Ideally, if I were to write a book set in another country I would travel to that country as well as do LOTS of research to make sure I was capturing it correctly and respectfully. If I was unable to travel to that country--research, research, research! Lots of reading, googling, talking to people in the know...

Oscar wrote: "Hello Courtney Summers! Thanks for stopping by! :)

Ok, wanted to ask you about the alcoholism in the novel. Yeah, I've indulged in Vodka, but never as a teen. That wasn't even part of my thinking ..."

Hi, Oscar! Thanks for your questions!

For me, the character determines how I go about exploring any topic--in this case, Parker is about control and perfection and she orchestrates her own downfall. She chooses alcohol because it represents the ultimate lack of control for her. (And she believes that choosing how to be out of control keeps her in control.) What/how/why/when she drank all had to make sense for her as a character. If I approach alcohol abuse in another story, how I do it would also be determined by the character.

As far as the controversy issue--I just try to keep in mind that it's impossible to please everyone. The most important thing for me is to be true to my story and my characters, whether or not it upsets certain readers. I never want to censor or soften my work to make people comfortable. If I did, it would be at the expense of the story and if I'm not being honest in my writing, there's no point in my doing it.

Allison wrote: "Hello! First, thank you for taking time out to answer questions. That's very sweet of you!

Which of your characters would you befriend? If any, which characters (in retrospect) would you change if..."

Allison, thanks for your questions!

I'm not sure I would befriend any of my characters. They don't tend to be the most likeable lot. :) Maybe Cary from This Is Not a Test, because in the event of a zombie apocalypse he has a good grasp on survival. Of course his survival might be at the expense of mine... !

I don't think I'd change any of my characters, though. Each new book I write is an opportunity to do things differently, so I try not to get too hung up on what's already out there.

I always have to have coffee or water near me when I write. But I think I would like to start incorporating candy!

Authors I would dream of meeting--I would love to meet JK Rowling! (Who wouldn't?) Stephen King, Gillian Flynn, Ryū Murakami... when I was nominated for the White Pine award, I had the opportunity to meet some Canadian authors that I greatly admire, like Tim Wynne-Jones and Susan Juby. It was an amazing experience.

Melannie :) wrote: "Hi Courtney, please write books forever.

Anyway, here's my Q: What's your favorite quote from any of YOUR books?"

Aw, I'll try! :)

My favourite quote from one of my books... I have never been asked that before! Hmmm. I am proud of Sloane's thoughts on survival in THIS IS NOT A TEST:

The thing no one tells you about surviving, about the mere act of holding out, is how many hours are nothing because nothing happens. They also don’t tell you about how you can share your deepest secrets with someone, kiss them, and the next hour it’s like there’s nothing between you because not everything can mean something all the time or you’d be crushed under the weight of it.

It was one of the rare times the thought/feeling I was trying to express came out exactly how I wanted it to on paper. :)

Thanks for your question, Melannie!

Grace wrote: "Early in "Cracked Up to Be", Parker muses on this sequence:
Four years, two suicides, one death, one rape, two pregnancies (one abortion), three overdoses and one missing person... By the end of th..."

Grace wrote: "Early in "Cracked Up to Be", Parker muses on this sequence:
Four years, two suicides, one death, one rape, two pregnancies (one abortion), three overdoses and one missing person... By the end of th..."

Hi Grace! Thanks so much for your question.

(view spoiler)[Parker's opening statement is a sneaky combination of things that have happened to her and things that she has observed over course of her time in high school. I love that you picked up that she was talking about some of her own experiences. The pregnancy line and the suicides (Parker and Evan attemped suicide but were both reached in time) are things she's observed. It was never intended to be a subplot in CUTB. (hide spoiler)]

Angie wrote: "Courtney Summers will be stopping by September 15th for a Q&A with the group! She is the author of Cracked Up to Be our September book club read. We will start taking questions now! Please welcome ..."

I just wanted to say before I head back to revisions, I'm so thrilled Cracked Up to Be made the September book club read and that I was able to participate in this Q&A. Angie, thank you for putting this together and thanks everyone for your fantastic questions! I really appreciate your time and the thought behind them. You gave my brain a good workout today. :)

Thanks again!

Courtney wrote: "Grace wrote: "Early in "Cracked Up to Be", Parker muses on this sequence:
Four years, two suicides, one death, one rape, two pregnancies (one abortion), three overdoses and one missing person... By..."

Thanks for marking this as a spoiler! Grace you may want to mark your question as a spoiler as well.

Courtney wrote: "

I am so glad you stopped by the group. I really appreciate it when authors stop by and join in our discussions. I honestly believe it makes a big difference to the enjoyment of reading and helps readers get to know authors on a more personal level!!!

Courtney wrote: "Melannie :) wrote: "Hi Courtney, please write books forever.

Anyway, here's my Q: What's your favorite quote from any of YOUR books?"

Aw, I'll try! :)

My favourite quote from one of my books......"

Thank you for answering, Courtney! That's one of my favorites from TINAT! Your prose it's gorgeous!<3

BTW. I just read all Qs&As, very informative and overall awesome <3

Angie wrote: "Grace you may want to mark your question as a spoiler as well. "

Oops...sorry. I've added the spoiler tag for the benefit of latecomers to the thread.

Courtney wrote: "Shaleezah wrote: "Hello Courtney Summers! :)
What advice would you give to aspiring YA authors?"

Hi, Shaleezah! Thanks for your question.

My advice to aspiring YA authors is to get used to rejec..."

Thank you so much for answering, Courtney. :)

Courtney wrote: "Addie R. wrote: "What is the meaning of the ending to This is Not a Test? I have a few blogger friends who are confused about it too, and I just know there's some important hidden meaning to it. Oh..."

Thanks for answering Courtney!

I think I may understand now. :)

Grace wrote: "Angie wrote: "Grace you may want to mark your question as a spoiler as well. "

Oops...sorry. I've added the spoiler tag for the benefit of latecomers to the thread."

Thanks!!

Courtney wrote: "kb wrote: "Hi Courtney!

I come from the Philippines and as much as I like reading about Canadian culture through your books (and C.K. Kelly Martin's, as per your recommendation! Haha), I would be ..."

Thanks, Courtney! I would love to see where you're going to head off to... More power and keep on writing!