by P. C. Cast
Have you ever ditched any writing that you started because it wasn’t going anywhere or because you got writer’s block and just couldn’t finish it?
—Vicki Rapaglia
P. C.: Rarely. Usually I write books I’m contracted for, which means I submit a formal proposal for a new book or series and then a publisher loves it and buys it—then I write the entire book. So, what I’m going to write is already decided on well before the book is completed. Once in a while, I’ll write myself into a plot corner and have to make some changes, but ditching the whole book isn’t an option when I’m under contract for that project. Usually when I’m having a problem it’s because I’ve tried to force characters to do something they don’t want to do, and I have to step out of the way and get back in touch with them. And I don’t believe in writer’s block. Being a career author is a job, but people like to romanticize it into something mystical and magical, so when they can’t finish a book or a short story or whatever, they scream “writer’s block!” Career authors write through hardships and plot problems. We don’t have time to indulge in writer’s block.
K. C.: P. C. and I operate in the same way in that I too will already have a contract for whatever project it is I’m working on. To ditch it would mean that I’d have to pay back whatever monies I’d already received, (and then how would I make my house payment or buy food or pay for my insurance?! It stresses me out just thinking about it.) I also take a lot of pride in my work and I would never want to let my publisher down like that. If I am having a problem, that’s where a good editor is truly an asset. Your editor is there to help you with these exact types of issues. I am grateful to have several who I not only work with, but who are also my friends.
Did you ever imagine that the fan base HoN has would be as big as it is? Did you think so many different age ranges would read it? I know I started the series in my thirties and instantly was hooked!
—Maureen Gurney
P. C.: Honestly, no! I was teaching high school and simply wanted to write a series wherein I could deal with the challenges I’d watched my students face for years. Basically, I wrote the books for my students and was shocked when so many different people loved them.
K. C.: I was nineteen when we started working on the HoN together. I definitely did it because I just assumed it was going to be a big success. Now I roll my eyes at my younger self for not having any idea what it takes to make it in this business, but I also believe that my “we’re going to be über successful!” attitude only helped us. I’ll always go into my next project thinking the same thing. It’s not worth doing if I don’t. Only now I understand the amount of hard work and discipline it takes to create a book or series that can reach as many people as the HoN has and continues to.
When did you realize that HoN went from a “new series on the shelf” to the huge following it has become now? Once you realized it had a huge following, what was your reaction?
—Amy Copeland
P. C.: I love to tell this story! It was the release week for the third book in the series, Chosen (and my eighteenth book in print). Our editor had been telling us for a while that the first two books kept going back to print, and that the numbers for the new book looked very good—but we never expected what happened! I remember our editor called me Wednesday midmorning and said that we were really high on Bookscan (measures books purchased in the US), and I asked, “Is there any way you think we could make the New York Times bestseller list? Maybe the extended list?” (The published list is the top ten books in each category. The extended list goes to twenty-five.) She said she had no idea, but that she’d call us later that day because the Times lets publishers know on Wednesdays if any of their authors have made the Sunday list. So, Kristin and I decided to walk our Scottie dogs that evening. Our editor called while we were on the trails. She was shouting, “YOU ARE NUMBER TWO ON THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER LIST!” I was in such shock that I could hardly speak. Our editor kept yelling and freaking out, and at the same time Kristin was asking me if we made the list. About then I started to cry. I held up two fingers and Kristin said, “Twenty! We’re number twenty?!” I shook my head and mouthed, number two and she freaked out as well. Then we laughed and cried and called the rest of the family and our close friends. The next day my students and teacher friends snuck into my classroom early and had it completely filled with balloons and decorations. It was life-changing and magickal—as special as you can imagine.
K. C.: This story still makes me cry! I’ll never forget this moment. (I’ll also never forget how freaked out our dogs were. We kept hopping around sobbing and screaming. But I’m sure they’ve since recovered.)
How do you manage day-to-day life when you get close to the deadline for your books?
—Britney Spoto
P. C.: I love this question because I don’t manage this very well! I write at night, usually ending between midnight and 1:00 a.m., unless I’m close to the conclusion of a book (which means it’s deadline time). Then I write for hours and hours and go to bed when the sun comes up, which really messes up my days and nights. The only way I manage is by depending on my fantastic assistant, Sabine. She makes sure my household runs well and there is food in my fridge, even when I’ve totally become a vampyre.
K. C.: I am on the path to better managing this. I am a chronic procrastinator, so I’ll be writing like a crazy person in the weeks leading up to a deadline telling myself the whole time that if I’d just written even a tiny bit more in the months before I wouldn’t be killing myself at the end. Recently I decided that I absolutely hate living my life like that, so I’ve created a new system. I figure out how many words my first draft absolutely must be, and then I do math (eek!) to figure out how many words I need to write in a typical Monday–Friday workweek. Then I vastly overestimate how long that will take me each day, so when I finish early I can either keep writing and get ahead on the next day or it feels like a treat to get off work early.
What do you and Kristin like to do after the conclusion of a coauthored book? Do you guys open a bottle of wine to celebrate? Heeheehees
—T. J. Marques
P. C.: (Waving at Thiago!) Kristin and I like to go out for a celebratory meal at a fantastic restaurant. She rarely drinks, so that bottle of wine is for me me me!
K. C.: And if I do drink (bleck), it’s never wine. Am I really the only person who thinks that they all taste the same?
P. C.: Yes, Kristin Frances. Yes, you are.
Do you plan on letting House of Night continue as long as you guys can? I can’t get enough of the House of Night!
—Angel Burbules Finnegan
P. C.: I have two more Other World novels outlined, but whether I publish them or not is totally up to fan demand. I always have ideas for several books and series whirling around in my imagination, so for me to write the next two HoN books instead of a new series fans will have to show me (and our publisher!) that they want more!
What gets you into a writing mood? I know for me it’s a song that just gets my writing juices going. Also, what’s your favorite type of song or genre of music?
—Cynthia Mazur
P. C.: Knowing I have contracts to fulfill and deadlines to meet gets me into a writing mood. For career authors writing is a job, so while it’s nice to have my candles lit and my pot of tea brewed, all that is really necessary is a computer and an idea. The only music I ever listen to while I write, and I know this is going to sound crazy, is a YouTube channel I subscribe to that plays antianxiety music for dogs. My dogs (and cat) are always around me when I write, and they like it—and I just tune it out. As to music genres, I like lots of different types of music—from pop to classic rock (Meatloaf!) to new age to movie soundtracks. And country. I heart me some country music!
K. C.: Same, same—but different. I can write anytime, anywhere if I’m contractually obligated to turn in a book. If I’m at home, I do prefer to light my candles, g
et my jug of water ready, and start burning my incense. It really tells my brain that I’m serious and it’s time to write. Some of my very favorite bands/singers are Ella Vos, Nahko and Medicine for the People, Selena Gomez (she makes me feel all sassy), and Billie Eilish —who I happen to be listening to right now!
When did you fall into the love of writing and what or who was your inspiration?
—Beth Jacobs
P. C.: I wrote my first book in first grade. It didn’t get published. Yet. I don’t know what inspired me then, but I can’t remember a time when I couldn’t read and write. I grew up in a household where my parents read on a daily basis, and still do. I discovered Anne McCaffrey’s Pern books when I was thirteen, and that was the first time I realized a woman could write and star in a fantasy novel, and I was determined to do just that!
K. C.: Shortly after turning in Redeemed, I had to make a choice. Do I go back to college (please, God, no!), or do I try to get a contract and write my own books? I enrolled in a soul-sucking higher learning institution (as you can tell, I do not have a lot of good things to say about college, but totally do it if you want and all that positive stuff I’m supposed to say to get you to pursue mounds of debt—I mean, a degree) and started writing a book. I was saved from going to college by a publishing house I no longer work with and did not have a positive experience with, but I learned a shit ton, so winning. I only fell in love with writing after I actually started doing it alone. And P. C. will always be inspiration. She’s the hardest-working and best woman I know.
When creating a world of fiction how do you decide which parts need the research, and which parts you just have to create? In HoN what made you decide later in the books to start switching points of views?
—Jackie Gardner
P. C.: I research everything. I do extensive research to create workable ecosystems and to be sure my paranormal and/or mutated creations are credible to the world. Even pure fantasy needs a foundation in reality.
I only sold three novels when I began writing HoN. Then the series took off and my wonderful publisher, Matthew Shear, told me that I could do whatever I wanted to do with the world. I realized then that I wanted to broaden and expand the HoN storyline to include many more characters and side plots. None of those extra things could have been done if you only got Zoey’s point of view, which is why I changed the books to third person unless Zoey is the focus of the scene.
K. C.: I hate research. I’m sure it comes from my deep loathing for school … Hmm … But I will never let that stand in the way of creating a believable world. I spent a year researching for the new solo series I’m working on because I want it to be real to my readers. It’s also based in some science-y stuff, which, in my opinion, must be thoroughly researched to be believable.
The Nerd Herd are more than just undead superheroes, they also are icons that embody and champion cultural, religious, racial, and sexual diversity. What are some of your inspirations when incorporating social progress into the series?
—Matthew Madonia
P. C.: In the early HoN books, my high school students inspired the issues I included, and as the series progressed I began to take inspiration from society in general, especially societal issues that affect young people the most. I have often been asked about why I “made” Zoey’s mother and stepfather so horrible, and my answer is that those fictional parents reflect what I witnessed far too many times during my fifteen years of teaching. I also thoroughly enjoy creating conflicts that shake up the Bible Belt.
K. C.: P. C. and I will always include and represent all the different and beautiful types of amazing humans there are on this planet.
What inspired the Other World series?
—Bri’ann Bear
P. C.: You guys did! Kristin and I wanted to write a special surprise book for the HoN’s tenth anniversary, which inspired us to brainstorm the Other World story.
Would you ever write novellas about other characters? I love all the books and would love to have more background on certain characters. Like maybe a novella about my favorite character, Sister Mary Angela, and how she became a nun or her early life, or Grandma Redbird as a young girl? What is the best part about writing these books? Would you ever consider working on something with another person? Maybe a fan?
—Katarina Enna Alexandrovna Dmitrievich-Shcherbatskaya
P. C.: I very much enjoy writing novellas, so absolutely! But whether I write more or not is totally dependent upon our publisher(s). I can’t write what they don’t contract me for—so if you want novellas, tell Blackstone Publishing!
The best part about writing HoN is that the characters feel like family. It is incredibly easy for me to fall into their world(s). It’s like coming home.
About cowriting—first, I don’t cowrite HoN with Kristin. She is my editor and helps me with brainstorming. Kristin and I do coauthor books together, though, which I enjoy very much. And I have partnered with another author, Gena Showalter. We created two anthologies together and have written a duology as well—though those were collaborations and not actual coauthoring. While I enjoy collaborating with other authors, I don’t have any desire to coauthor with anyone but Kristin. She and I fit perfectly together.
When did your interest in Wicca begin?
—Chelsea Hamilton
P. C.: I’ve been Pagan for many years. For the religion of HoN, I merged several different Pagan traditions, including Wicca, to create a unique, matriarchal society.
We know you take inspiration for your novels from things in your life and surroundings. What one thing did you find most inspiring that would be a surprise to most people who know you personally?
—Katelyn Renee Simerson
P. C.: This might sound silly, but I think even people who know me well would be surprised by how much I’m inspired by my pets. Their acceptance, unconditional love, and joy often show up in the pages of my books.
K. C.: None of your friends would be surprised by that, woman. You are totally a crazy dog/cat lady. Tales of a New World was inspired solely by your animals. And the last time someone asked who inspired you, I puffed all up thinking you would say me, AND YOU TOTALLY SAID YOUR GERMAN SHEPHERD! So, no, not surprising.
When I listen to my Spotify playlist, I’m constantly making up music videos in my head, and they often end up morphing into entire book scenes.
Your books touch base on a lot of issues that people don’t like to talk about. Was it a way to break that barrier and bring the injustices to surface and make people really think about how we live and treat each other?
—Nina Gibson
P. C.: When I began writing HoN I was teaching public school in a high school outside Tulsa, Oklahoma, and I was determined to showcase the issues I watched my students wade through and try to deal with every day—usually without an adult in their corner or even one willing to talk frankly with them. And after living in Oklahoma for decades and observing the hypocrisy of the racism, misogyny, and homophobia that is rampant in the Bible Belt, I decided to write a YA series that brought those issues and that hypocrisy to the forefront so they could not be ignored.
K. C.: Yes! Yes! Yes! I (being one of just two children of color who lived in my neighborhood growing up) wasn’t allowed to swim in certain friends’ pools, go inside their house, or spend the night because of “rules” their parents had. And those are just some of the memories I have of growing up in an area so on fire with this passive-aggressive underground racism. (I’ll spare you the details of what people would say to my mom and me when we walked through stores together.) All of these experiences have served to reinforce the importance of speaking out for (or writing out for) what is right. I am blessed to have this platform and will use it to talk about what’s real and what’s right, no matter how uncomfortable.
WHEN ARE YOU COMING TO THE NEW ENGLAND AREA?! Lol. That has been biting at my mind every time y’all go on tour
. It’s never near my state and it makes me a sad panda.
—Aleisha Zintel
P. C.: I’m glad you asked that question! Most people think authors go wherever they choose to go on tour. That’s not true. Publishers set up tours. We go where we’re sent. If you want authors to come to your local bookstore, the best thing you can do is to get vocal with that bookstore and ask them to request publishers put them on their tour list. Good luck!
What made you want to make the symbols on the HoN characters crescent moons on their foreheads that could turn into beautiful tattoos as their powers came to them?
—Kristy Yarbrough
P. C.: That was a respectful nod to the ancient practice of physically marking a priestess who has been accepted into the service of her goddess, and I’m a big fan of tattoos!
How did you come up with the idea of familiars? Was it a relationship with one of your own felines that sparked it?
—Bailey Bergman
P. C.: My pets are often in my books, and HoN is no exception! But the idea was inspired by the fact that wise women, midwives, and healers have long been associated with cats, as they understood early that cats kept down the rodent population, and that helped prevent disease.
Do you think of an ending of a book first? Or do you just go with a flow as you go day by day?
—Michelle Meyers
P. C.: This question made me laugh (semihysterically)! I wish I could just go with a flow when I’m writing, but I don’t think I’d ever finish anything if I did that. I do plot and outline. Even though my work is character driven, which means my characters do things that change my outlines, I know the beginning scene and the ending scene of a book when I start it. The way to the ending scene usually changes as I’m writing, but the ending itself stays the same.
K. C.: I write detailed outlines because I don’t write in order. To be able to do this and not end up with a pile of scenes that have no way of fitting together, I have to have everything planned already. Sometimes I’ll think of the ending first, but most of the time I land somewhere in the middle and that’s the seed of my outline.