David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite! discussion

From March 16-19th, bestselling author Stephanie Diaz (author of the Extraction series) will be coming to our group to answer questions about her books, her life as an author, and about anything else you all can come up with!! So get ready for the fun and start thinking of some questions to ask her!

Stephanie has graciously offered 3 signed bookmarks for a giveaway! So there will be 3 winners! The giveaway will be international. All you have to do to be entered to is to ask her a question!

And if you haven't checked our her books yet, I encourage you to try them!



Questions:

1. Michael--Where did you come up with the idea for the series?

2. Karen--Who inspires you?

3. Karen--What does a typical day look like?

4. Karen--What are you currently working on?

5. Jenny--What's your favorite thing about being a writer?

6. Lauren--How did your studies in film production influence your writing?

7. David--What is your favorite food? And where do you go to get it, or do you make it yourself?

8. Rita--Who are your favorite authors?

9. Kimmy--Is there a particular season you write best in and if so, why?

10. Tatis--What led you to be a writer?

11. Cari--Where do you get your character names from?

12. Cari--Any tips for aspiring authors?

13. Cari--Do you have any habits that you do before/while writing? (ex. listening to music)

14. Daniel--What is the one thing about Extraction that you are most proud of?
If you could pitch your book in 50 words, what would it look like?

15. Raquel--Do you have a favorite character in your books, or one you had a lot of fun writing about? And if so, why do you love them?

16. Raquel--What do you think is an essencial characteristic in a main character?

17. KittyCat--Have you read Ender's Game? If so did you like it? Who was your favourite character? What was your favourite part?

18. Claire--Where is your favourite place to write?

19. Anna--Can you describe your writing style?

20. Anna--Do you plan ahead and create a guideline for your stories?

21. Ben--I read in your bio that you love TV shows. What are your favorite shows? Also, do you like reality shows?

22. Jenny--Besides reading or writing, what is your favorite thing to do?

23. Karen--Which is your favorite Doctor?

These look good! I love sci-fi dystopians! Can't wait to meet Stephanie!! :)

So cool!!! This should be an awesome Q&A :)

Where did you come up with the idea for the series?

Updated with the giveaway info above!

Hi Stephanie!! Welcone to the group and thanks so much for joining us!!

Who inspires you?

What does a typical day look like?

What are you currently working on?

Thanks for coming to our group, Stephanie, we are thrilled to have you!!

What's your favorite thing about being a writer?

Thanks for agreeing to answer our questions, Stephanie!

How did your studies in film production influence your writing?

Hi, everyone! Thanks for letting me stop by. Can't wait to answer all your questions. :)

Michael--Where did you come up with the idea for the series?

It all started with an image of a mega giant moon in the sky that randomly popped into my head while reading a book. I started wondering how life would be different on a planet orbited by a moon that was somehow a threat to the society. So, the world of Kiel came first and the characters came second. It was definitely inspired by my desire to write something Hunger Games-esque but with a Star Wars-y sci-fi vibe.

Karen--Who inspires you?

All sorts of people! Sometimes I go looking for inspiration, but I'm writing scenes I draw a lot from the experiences I've had and the people I've met in real life, whether it be friends or strangers.

Karen--What does a typical day look like?

I'm fortunate enough to be able to mostly write full time, while working as a cashier two days a week at a local cafe. On days devoted to writing, I usually get up and check email/twitter/facebook to answer important queries or make a few posts. I'll eat breakfast. Then I'll get to work, usually aiming to reach a certain word count goal by 5pm or so. I write anywhere from 500 words to 3k a day, depending on where I'm at in a book's process and what other stuff I have going on. On days when I have my cafe job, I don't get home until 4pm or so, so I tend to write a lot less on those days.

Karen--What are you currently working on?

A secret YA project! It's a space western. Think Guardians of the Galaxy meets Legend by Marie Lu.

Welcome to the group, Stephanie, and awesome responses so far! Ooh, your secret YA project sounds SO COOL! My first question is:

What is your favorite food? And where do you go to get it, or do you make it yourself?

Who are your favorite authors?

Is there a particular season you write best in and if so, why?

What led you to be a writer?

Where do you get your character names from?

Any tips for aspiring authors?

Do you have any habits that you do before/while writing? (ex. listening to music)

Jenny--What's your favorite thing about being a writer?

Getting paid to make things up. :) The most rewarding thing, though, is when people finally read what I've written and tell me my story and characters made them feel something.

Lauren--How did your studies in film production influence your writing?

I've always written in a cinematic way. Every scene I write plays out in my head like a movie. Studying film production gave me the opportunity to practice writing scripts -- which are SO different than books, but helped me get better at writing dialogue and structuring my stories.

Hi Stephanie!
What is the one thing about Extraction that you are most proud of?
If you could pitch your book in 50 words, what would it look like?
Sorry, I can't bold questions on mobile.

Hi Stephanie! I love books like yours, can't wait to try them!

Do you have a favorite character in your books, or one you had a lot of fun writing about? And if so, why do you love them?

What do you think is an essencial characteristic in a main character?

Thank you so much for being here! I'm really enjoying this Q&A so far!

Have you read Ender's Game? If so did you like it? Who was your favourite character? What was your favourite part?

Stephanie wrote: "Jenny--What's your favorite thing about being a writer?

Getting paid to make things up. :) The most rewarding thing, though, is when people finally read what I've written and tell me my story and ..."

LOL loved that answer!

Where is your favourite place to write?

Can you describe your writing style?
Do you plan ahead and create a guideline for your stories?

I read in your bio that you love TV shows. What are your favorite shows? Also, do you like reality shows?

David--What is your favorite food? And where do you go to get it, or do you make it yourself?

Milkshakes. In N Out.

But my favorite slightly healthier food is mac and cheese. I make it myself. :)

Rita--Who are your favorite authors?

J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, John Green, Kirsten Hubbard, and John Scalzi, to name just a few.

Kimmy--Is there a particular season you write best in and if so, why?

I tend to write better in the Fall/Winter, I think because the weather's a little bit colder (for Southern California, at least) and rainy days get me in the mood.

Tatis--What led you to be a writer?

I loved reading at a very young age and had a pretty wild imagination, so writing was something that just came naturally to me. I always knew I wanted to be an author.

Cari--Where do you get your character names from?

Character names are one of the few things that come really easy to me when writing a book. I don't usually have to look very far; they just pop into my head. But for secondary characters, if I don't have a lot of ideas, I'll use baby name websites or sometimes steal names from my friends IRL.

Cari--Any tips for aspiring authors?

Read lots and lots. Write lots and lots. Follow your instincts every step of the way. I've found they're usually right, whether my instincts are telling me to completely change a scene or even set a story aside and start writing a new one.

Ooh I love milkshakes too!

Daniel--What is the one thing about Extraction that you are most proud of?

I'm most proud of the alien race I created. The aliens are mentioned in the first two books, but they don't make a huge appearance until the final book, Evolution. So you'll have to wait until September to see why I'm proud of them. ;)

Daniel--If you could pitch your book in 50 words, what would it look like?

I'll do it in 33! The Extraction series is the story of a girl and boy wrenched apart by the rulers of their government, battling for each other, for freedom, and to save their planet from certain destruction.

Raquel--Do you have a favorite character in your books, or one you had a lot of fun writing about? And if so, why do you love them?

Clementine, the protagonist of my trilogy, is definitely my favorite. I spent a lot of time in her head, so I know her better than any other character. I really admire her strength and bravery. I love that she also has a lot of flaws she struggles with.

Raquel--What do you think is an essential characteristic in a main character?

I think every main character needs to be relatable.

KittyCat--Have you read Ender's Game? If so did you like it? Who was your favourite character? What was your favourite part?

I have read Ender's Game! Though it's been awhile, so my memory is a bit fuzzy and I can't remember one specific favorite part. I really loved Ender and Petra, though. Bean too.

The answers to Daniel questions make me want to read your books!!

Besides reading or writing, what is your favorite thing to do?

Claire--Where is your favourite place to write?

My bedroom or the library. Sometimes I'll hit up a Starbucks to change things up. Campgrounds are also pretty rad places for inspiration, though I don't get the chance to write in those too much.

Anna--Can you describe your writing style?

I tend to write pretty fast-paced novels with lots of action. When I start a new project, I always know where it ends and have a basic understanding of what happens along the way, but the process of writing usually changes things quite a bit. I'm pretty slow-going when it comes to drafting, as it's really hard for me to move on from a chapter until I feel like it's strong. (If you've ever heard the advice to write a book all the way to the end without looking back, I do not follow it.)

Anna--Do you plan ahead and create a guideline for your stories?

I've never been that great at plotting--in the past I've just had the basic plot points planned out using a beat sheet, and the rest of the story comes together as I go. But I've realized I need to practice plotting more, so that's what I've been trying to do for my recent projects.

Ben--I read in your bio that you love TV shows. What are your favorite shows? Also, do you like reality shows?

Parks & Rec (I'm so sad it's over!), The 100, Battlestar Galactica, Firefly, Supernatural, and Doctor Who, to name a few. Not really a fan of reality shows.

Jenny--Besides reading or writing, what is your favorite thing to do?

I love hiking and also songwriting. I play guitar and sing. :)

WOW, Stephanie I'm uber impressed now!! Songwriting! Awesome :) I also love to hike.

Okay everyone, today is the last day to get your questions in!!

Thank you SO MUCH, Stephanie, for coming to our group and hanging out with us all week! This Q&A has been amazing, and your answers are AWESOME!!

The 100, Battlestar Galactica, Firefly, Supernatural, and Doctor Who, to name a few.

OH YEAH, Stephanie!! You named 4 of my favorite shows!

Which is your favorite Doctor?

AWESOME responses, Stephanie, thank you!!

Thank you guys so much for having me! It's been fun! :)

Karen--Which is your favorite Doctor?

I think I'll have to pick the Tenth, but I also have a place in my heart for the Eleventh.

Stephanie wrote: "Thank you guys so much for having me! It's been fun! :)

Karen--Which is your favorite Doctor?

I think I'll have to pick the Tenth, but I also have a place in my heart for the Eleventh."

Ahh David Tennant, fabulous dr he was and definitely my favourite. Though as you say Matt Smith was brilliant too. But definitely David Tennant had the right quirky air about him.

Stephanie wrote: "Thank you guys so much for having me! It's been fun! :)

Karen--Which is your favorite Doctor?

I think I'll have to pick the Tenth, but I also have a place in my heart for the Eleventh."

Agree 100%!! ;)

Thank you so much for this amazing Q&A, Stephanie!! :)

This was AWESOME!! Thank you for your time and fun answers, Stephanie! Can't wait to see who wins the giveaway :)

CONGRATULATIONS to our winners: Claire, Tatis, and Lauren!

You'll all won a signed bookmark from Stephanie! Look for a message from me in your inbox :)

Jenny wrote: "CONGRATULATIONS to our winners: Claire, Tatis, and Lauren!

You'll all won a signed bookmark from Stephanie! Look for a message from me in your inbox :)"

YAY!!!! I won didn't expect that. Great Q & A thank you, Stephanie, Jenny and David for hosting this.

Woot woot!! Congrats Claire, Tatis and Lauren!! :) Love me some signed swag!!

Jenny wrote: "CONGRATULATIONS to our winners: Claire, Tatis, and Lauren!

You'll all won a signed bookmark from Stephanie! Look for a message from me in your inbox :)"

Yay! Thanks so much!

Congrats to the WINNERS!! Enjoy your prize!