FAQ's With Veronica Roth

FAQs: The Random Edition

Insurgent Questions

When does Insurgent come out?
May, 2012!

How do I get an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of Insurgent?
You can e-mail your request to michael[dot]goldsmith[at]harpercollins.com (In the future I will refer to him in my head as The Keeper of the Books). But keep in mind that there won't be many ARCs to go around, so asking doesn't guarantee you a copy. Sorry about that! I'm impatient for everyone to read it too, believe me.

Wow! The page count online says Insurgent is a LOT shorter than Divergent. What's up with that?
The page counts you see online are not always based on the actual manuscript. Sometimes they're just a number fed into the system as a kind of place holder. (I'm not sure why this happens, just that it does.) By my estimation, Insurgent is about the same length as Divergent.

Character Questions

What's Four's last name?
I have an official response to this question, and it is: you'll find out if you read Insurgent. Although I feel like I should add to that that it's not some huge shocking reveal. It's just that Four is so careful about using his name. He only does it when he has to. So I want you guys to feel the significance of it just like Tris does, even though it's not a shock.

What color is Four's hair?
The first time someone mentioned that I never said what color Four's hair is in Divergent, I refused to believe it. But then I double-checked, and realized that I didn't, actually. So, for the official record, his hair is dark brown.

What's Tris's eye color?
This one I did actually include in Divergent, but it's only there once or twice, so, again for the official record, her eyes are blue.

Who would you cast as Tris/Tobias?
In the past, I've responded to this in a few different ways, depending on my mood. I've said that I don't care who it is, even if they don't look quite right, as long as they're good at acting. (True.) I've said I like "nobodies." (Also true.) And I've said that I think Tris looks like Mia Wasikowska. (Still true.) And that I have no freaking idea who looks like Tobias. (This is the most true.)

Etc.

Can I audition for the movie?
I appreciate the enthusiasm, but not only is the movie-making process not nearly that far along yet, I really don't have anything to do with casting! All I do is write the books. Seriously.

Do you intend to write more books after this series?
Yes. But I'm taking one thing at a time.


How many books are in the series?Some people ask this, I think, because the faction symbols are on the covers, and there are five faction symbols (therefore: five books, right?). But no. There will be three books, that is all.

For more on Veronica Roth, visit her Goodreads page. 

Cover Reveal || BITTERBLUE by Kristin Cashore

FINALLY! The (VERY) long awaited cover of Cashore's Bitterblue has been released! The book was originally scheduled to be released in April 2011, however it was then postponed until September of 2011. The release date has again been delayed until May 1st, 2012. For fans of Kristin Cashore's Graceling, and Fire, Bitterblue will be a companion novel tying the afore mentioned books together. 

Tidbit from Cashore's blog:

"Book 3, tentatively titled Bitterblue and currently in progress, is a companion book to both Graceling and Fire and takes place in the seven kingdoms eight years after Graceling. Bitterblue will tie all three books together in some way. Bitterblue is the sixteen-year-old protagonist, and Katsa, Po, Giddon, Helda, and other characters from Graceling will be part of the fabric of the book. Plenty of fighting still to come!" 

CLOCKWORK PRINCE || Masquerade Ball Book Trailer

Clockwork Prince's December 6th release date is drawing near! In celebration of it all, a new Masquerade Ball Book trailer was released just recently. It's sexy, steamy, and mysterious! I absolutely can't wait to read the next book! (BTW, the guy who portrays Jem in the trailer is an absolute cutie!)

BANNED BOOKS || GIVEAWAY HOP

I honestly really love hosting giveaways :) For a complete list of all those participating, please visit I am a Reader, Not a Writer. I'm SO excited to be giving away a pre-order copy of A Million Suns first of all because it's dystopia, and secondly because it really fits the "BANNED BOOKS" theme!

Becca Fitzpatrick on HUSH,HUSH the GRAPHIC NOVEL || Exclusive Interview

"This October, Sea Lion Books brings one of the most popular Young Adult novels to comics with "Hush, Hush," the first of three graphic novels adapting the New York Times bestselling YA novel by Becca Fitzpatrick.

"Hush, Hush" follows the story of average teenager Nora Grey, a good student and writer for the school paper whose routine life suddenly goes off track when a new student named Patch becomes her lab partner and turns her entire world upside-down. While Nora finds herself inexplicably attracted to Patch's bad-boy image, danger begins following her at every turn. As the story progresses, Nora learns more than she bargained for about her past and her dark connection to fallen angels, becoming embroiled in an ages-old conflict. Along with her best friend Vee, Nora has to sort out who she can really trust between Patch and new arrivals Jules and Eliot.

Becca Fitzpatrick took time out of her busy schedule to break the silence to CBR News about the "Hush, Hush" graphic novel adaptation, the process of designing her characters from prose to illustration, the style of the book, the challenges of adapting her work for comics and the special 18-page story that bridges the gap between "Hush, Hush" and its sequel, "Crescendo."

Becca Fitzpatrick: The first "Hush, Hush" graphic novel will cover one third of the "Hush, Hush" novel. [Publisher] Sea Lion Books are determined to make it as close to the novel as possible. The big surprise with the graphic novel will be the original bonus story. It reveals what happens to Patch and Nora between "Hush, Hush" and the sequel, "Crescendo."

In the early stages, there was quite a bit of back and forth as I provided character and setting descriptions to artist Jennyson Rosero and he, in turn, translated my input into sketches. It was such a fun process, and rewarding too -- with each round, I felt that we were getting closer to nailing the artwork. 

CBR News: Becca, tell us about "Hush, Hush" as a graphic novel. What's in, what's out and what's new?

The first "Hush, Hush" graphic novel adaptation covers one third of the original novel

So much of a novel involves readers imagining setting and how characters look and move. How closely are you working with the creative team of the graphic novel in order to help smooth the transition from text to image?

By the same token, how involved have you been in character design work? How do you feel the character designs reflect your descriptions of Nora, Patch, Vee, Eliot and Jules?

While I understood going into the project that the images in my head couldn't be perfectly replicated on the page, I've been very pleased with the designs. I also think it's important to note that I didn't want to dictate every last detail. Part of what I think will make the graphic novel successful is the blending of my suggestions with Jennyson's creative energy.

How long is the graphic novel and how does it compare to the level of detail provided in "Hush, Hush?"

The first graphic novel will be 120 pages. Sea Lion Books are working hard to capture the essence of the "Hush, Hush" novel. All important events, characters, settings, etc., are included in the graphic novel. The first novel, "Hush, Hush," will be adapted into 3 graphic novels.

While many other young adult novels have been adapted into graphic novels, most of them (notable Twilight) have taken the route of the manga-inspired art. What is the art style like for "Hush, Hush" and how do you feel it reflects the story you're trying to tell?

"Hush, Hush" will be done in an Amerimanga style. Manga definitely appeals to young adult female readers, but I believe by going with the Amerimanga style, the graphic novel will capture both male and female readers.

Why do you think the graphic novel format is a good medium to adapt your story?

 Fitzpatrick hopes the graphic novel's Amerimanga style will capture the attention of male and female readers

"Hush, Hush" is a very pacey and plot-driven story, and I think because of this, it translates well into a more visual medium. Readers often tell me they can see scenes playing out in their minds -- almost like watching a movie. Many of them are anticipating "viewing" the story through the graphic novel.

Sequential narrative is very different than prose. Did you find the art in line with the vision in your head when you're working on the novels?

I've been really impressed by the transition. I feel the pages are following the novel closely. At one point during the process, Sea Lion Books sent me a picture of the farmhouse where Nora lives and it was drawn to be a single story. Since quite a bit of action down the road in "Crescendo" takes place on the second story of the farmhouse, I did ask the artist to redraw the house.

What are you most excited about for the release of the graphic novel?

Fans' reactions! Since announcing the graphic novel, there has been an amazing amount of enthusiasm for the project. I hope my readers feel as though they're experiencing Patch and Nora's story again for the first time."

ARTICLE SOURCE FROM CBR NEWS

Much thanks to Sea Lion Books for sending me this article! I'm really looking forward to Hush, Hush: The Graphic Novel's October 18th release date!