S.G. Browne - Author discussion

The idea for Fated came to me while I was sitting on a bench in a shopping mall, watching all of the shoppers walk past, and I wondered what they would all be doing in twenty years. I don't know why twenty. It was just the number that stuck.

So I pulled out my journal (I always always have my journal with me) and started writing a scene about the possible futures of several people I noticed. But as I started writing, I realized that the narrator, rather than imagining what these people would be doing, knew what their futures held because he was Fate. And he was the one who had assigned their fates upon birth. Only somehow, these people had gone and screwed up their best case scenarios.

I wrote this scene in the summer of 2004, but I didn't do anything with the idea until more than two years later, in December 2006, after I'd finished Breathers and was looking for my next novel to write. I stumbled across the journal entry, thought it looked like something worth pursuing, and started writing.

I had no idea what the story was going to be about. But eventually I ended up giving Fate a human name (Fabio), an antagonist (Destiny), a few friends (Sloth, Gluttony, and Karma among others), a 500-year-old feud with Death (aka Dennis), a boss (God, aka Jerry) and a love interest (a human woman named Sara who is on the Path of Destiny). I also gave him a bunch of rules to follow, which he inevitably ends up breaking.

A little over a year later, the day before the New York Giants ended the perfect season of the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, I finished the first draft of Fated. That scene in the shopping mall ended up being the first couple of pages of the opening chapter.

Stoopid question time: I always wanted to carry my journal with me, but I find it awkward and annoying for the most part. Do you use anything to carry yours in, Scott?

I have an old leather backpack that I've been using for fifteen years. It's not a man purse (murse, for short...though there's nothing wrong with a murse). I take it with me almost everywhere I go, since I know I might have some downtime to jot down some ideas. Plus I can carry a book around with me to read, since I refuse to get a Nook or a Kindle.

Of course, my smart phone has a voice recording app on it that lets me get my thoughts down if I don't have my journal, but my thoughts aren't always something I want to share with the person sitting next to me on the bus.

Thanks, Scott. I hate the idea of a man purse, but I find backpacks too bulky. I hate wearing jackets, especially winter jackets, for the same reason.

I know, I'm strange...lol

I have a 3.5 X 5.5 moleskin (hardback) notebook that I carry with me. It fits nicely in a back pocket, or a shirt pocket . . . It's no bigger than a wallet, and it's more durable than a memo pad. I bought mine after spending the day with a writer/illustrator who would pull his out of his pocket periodically to sketch.

I have several of those, as well. Good idea. I always forget that I have them. But Jason, that might be what you're looking for. Of course, now you need someplace to keep your pen...

I just finished this book for the second time (as it turns out, in less than a year) and I still love it. I think it might be one of my favorite books. I love the premise and the characters, who feel very real. Ok, I'm done gushing now. I was actually kind of surprised to find I loved this book more now than I probably did a year ago. I've been in a reading funk and kept pimping this book out to others, but glad I remembered why it makes me happy.

Rachel wrote: "I just finished this book for the second time (as it turns out, in less than a year) and I still love it. I think it might be one of my favorite books. I love the premise and the characters, who f..."

Rachel, gushing is frequently encouraged and always appreciated. Same goes for pimping. So thank you on all counts. Having someone tell you one of your books might be one of their favorite books is always good for a smile.

I like the story of how this book came about as well. I like people watching and making up stories in my head about them. Not carrying my journal around as much any more because I'm usually carrying around textbooks instead :)