Colleen Houck Book Club discussion

Welcome to the group! Erica will be answering questions in November in this thread only. In the meantime if you have a question for the author or just want to introduce yourself feel free to do so in this thread.

How do you research your characters, locations, and tidbits of history and things like that?

Where do you like to write, and can you do it on vacations or other places other than your normal spot?

Who is your favorite character? Is it one of yours?

So, I've been dying to ask. Do you play a musical instrument?

Where did the idea of Dissonance come from?

Shara wrote: "How do you research your characters, locations, and tidbits of history and things like that?"

Hi Shara! I tend to do the background research first -- for Dissonance and Resonance, I read a lot of articles on Wikipedia, NPR, io9, and Wired; I also read a lot of music theory. Once I knew the areas that really interested me, I could dive a little deeper and find ideas that would work well in the books. When it comes to locations and history, most of my books are largely set in the Chicago area, which is where I've spent my whole life -- so it's really a question of fact-checking the stories I've heard since I was a kid, or making sure a certain neighborhood is the same as I remember.

Shara wrote: "Where do you like to write, and can you do it on vacations or other places other than your normal spot?"

I typically write one of two places: on my couch if the house is empty or if I am not on a super-tight deadline; in a study room at my local library if my family is home or I am feeling desperate/easily distracted. When I'm on vacation, though, I don't write -- I want to spend time with my family, or reading, or both. (I don't often go on vacation, though. I think my last one was...three years ago?)

There's no specific ritual I have to follow for writing, so I *can* write at a coffee shop or at a friend's house. The only really essential thing is that I can't sit where someone could look over my shoulder. It's impossible for me to concentrate if I think people can see what I'm writing, especially during the first draft.

Tonnie wrote: "Who is your favorite character? Is it one of yours?"

Oooh, that's a good question -- my FAVORITE character is probably Sophie Hatter, from Howl's Moving Castle. She's brave and clever and doesn't put up with any of Howl's nonsense, when most people would easily be swayed by him. She doesn't wallow, and she doesn't sit around waiting to be rescued. I would like to be Sophie when I grow up, now that I think about it.

It's hard to pick a favorite of my own characters, because each of them has qualities I admire and qualities that drive me nuts. I'm probably more like Mo (from Torn) or Addie (from Dissonance) because I'm a rule follower. But I had a tremendous amount of fun writing Del -- it's very freeing to write someone who happily rebels, since it's the closest I'll ever come to doing so.

Colleen wrote: "So, I've been dying to ask. Do you play a musical instrument?"

HAHAHAHAAAAaaaaa. Um. Well.

I have TRIED many musical instruments. I played clarinet in the sixth grade and was STRONGLY encouraged to leave the band when the year was over. I took piano from a friend's mom, but it didn't stick, though I can still play a single song from memory. I also tried violin for a semester in college, but I couldn't stand to hear myself practice.

While I am not the best at creating music, I very much enjoy having it around. Growing up, my family was very musical, and I still enjoy singing; two of my kids are also quite musical. Sometimes I think I'd like to take cello lessons when I have some free time, but...I can't imagine when that will be.

Part of the fun of writing Dissonance and Resonance was diving back into that musical world, without actually having to perform for anyone.

Colleen wrote: "Where did the idea of Dissonance come from?"
Dissonance came from two key ideas: one was the idea of the many-worlds theory, which says that when a choice is made, the universe splits in two. (sound familiar?) I was intrigued by the idea of infinite worlds; if the multiverse was truly infinite, and you could move between those worlds, you could have anything you wanted, in theory. But if you could have LITERALLY anything you wanted...how would you choose between all those possibilities? Because I'm a contrary creature, I knew I'd choose the impossible thing. And I wanted to know how that would play out.

The other impetus was a two-part episode of Doctor Who that dealt with clones. I found it really upsetting, and it made me mull over what makes us individuals. What makes us REAL? Is it our memories? Our personalities? Our choices?

And somewhere in the overlap between those ideas, the world of the Walkers -- and Del herself -- came to life.

How did you decide what you wanted to write about?

Melissa wrote: "How did you decide what you wanted to write about?"

Hi Melissa!

Typically I start with a what-if question, so in Dissonance, it was, "If you could have anything you wanted, how would you choose?" For my first series, Torn, it was, "What if Harry Potter died and Ron Weasley had to stop Voldemort?" That is, what would happen if the "chosen one" died and their sidekick had to stop the big bad?

Most of all, I look for ideas that I can't seem to stop thinking about, that evoke a strong emotion in me. It doesn't have to be a GOOD emotion, but it does need to be intense, because that usually signifies a complicated question that will require a book, or a series, to answer.

What was the inspiration for this series?
How did you decide on the title for your books? (or did you?)
What was the most challenging part of writing "Book 2" as compared to "Book 1"?
What was most enjoyable about writing this "chapter" in the story(line)?

Is there a genre of book that you love to read but would be afraid about writing it yourself?

Ashley wrote: "Is there a genre of book that you love to read but would be afraid about writing it yourself?"

Wow that is an excellent question!

Chocolate or caramel?
Pepsi or Coke?
Cake or ice cream?
Writing at home or somewhere else?
Beach or mountains?

Who is your author idol, dead or alive?

Colleen wrote: "Chocolate or caramel?
Pepsi or Coke?
Cake or ice cream?
Writing at home or somewhere else?
Beach or mountains?"

BOTH! Giant sweet tooth here
BOTH
Home
Beach

Colleen wrote: "Who is your author idol, dead or alive?"

JK Rowling
James Patterson
Mary Pearson
Michael Moorcock
Tolkien
Julie Kagawa
And of course, Colleen Houck

Joanna wrote: "What was the inspiration for this series?
How did you decide on the title for your books? (or did you?)
What was the most challenging part of writing "Book 2" as compared to "Book 1"?
What was most..."

Hi Joanna,
The inspiration was twofold: multiverse theory, because I loved the idea of someone having the ability to navigate between infinite realities, and wondering how they might choose among those realities. The other inspiration was an episode of Doctor Who that dealt with clones, because it made me think about what really makes us who we are -- memory, history, genetics, personality? And in the contest of multiverse theory, then, what makes one reality more worthwhile than another?

As for the title of the books, my editors came up with the titles for both Dissonance and Resonance. In fact, when we sold the project, I couldn't come up with anything, so I just called it "The Roadside Marker Book." One of the first things my editor said when we met was, "You know we have to change that title, right?"

The most enjoyable part of writing Resonance, or any of my other projects, is the moment when all the groundwork I've laid starts to come together. It's a little bit like the very top of the rollercoaster, when you've been climbing and climbing and climbing, and all of a sudden, you're over the crest and picking up speed and all the twists and turns are about to start rushing at you. At that point, all I can do is hang on to the story as best I can and let things unfold, and it's just so exhilarating!

Ashley wrote: "Is there a genre of book that you love to read but would be afraid about writing it yourself?"

Oooooh....That IS a great question. I think time travel stories are delightful (I'm a huge Doctor Who fan, as you might have noticed) but I don't think I'm smart enough to take one on. Even thinking about paradoxes gives me a little bit of a headache. That being said, I think it's good to do the thing that scares you, because it forces you to grow. So...one day, I suppose? Just not anytime soon.

Colleen wrote: "Chocolate or caramel?
Pepsi or Coke?
Cake or ice cream?
Writing at home or somewhere else?
Beach or mountains?"

Salted caramels covered in chocolate
Neither Pepsi nor Coke, because I don't really like pop.
Ice cream (preferably Moose Tracks!)
Writing at home, unless my family is around, in which case writing at the library in a study room.
Beach, though not a warm-weather one. A beach in Maine, perhaps, with a cottage and a fireplace and a dog. I would take long walks and skip stones and throw sticks for the dog, who would be allowed to go in the water. (I would NOT go in the water, because I'm scared of fish.)

Colleen wrote: "Who is your author idol, dead or alive?"

Oooh. Well. Hmm.

I'm super-enchanted with Louise Penny right now, because not only are her mysteries genuinely suspenseful, but every character is so wonderfully rendered. Her people feel real -- flawed but decent, conflicted, trying to do their best. There's something really hopeful about her books, despite the body count.

I also love Libba Bray's books. They're all so different, but all of them are brilliant and fierce, and unmistakably her.

Janet wrote: "Colleen wrote: "Who is your author idol, dead or alive?"

JK Rowling
James Patterson
Mary Pearson
Michael Moorcock
Tolkien
Julie Kagawa
And of course, Colleen Houck"

Wowsers! That's quite a group =)

Erica wrote: "Colleen wrote: "Chocolate or caramel?
Pepsi or Coke?
Cake or ice cream?
Writing at home or somewhere else?
Beach or mountains?"

Salted caramels covered in chocolate
Neither Pepsi nor Coke, because..."

I am totally scared of fish touching me too.

So does every pivot create an echo? That is a LOT of echoes. =)

Colleen wrote: "Erica wrote: "Colleen wrote: "Chocolate or caramel?
Pepsi or Coke?
Cake or ice cream?
Writing at home or somewhere else?
Beach or mountains?"

Salted caramels covered in chocolate
Neither Pepsi nor..."

I have FISHUES!!!

Colleen wrote: "So does every pivot create an echo? That is a LOT of echoes. =)"

Yep. Every pivot creates an Echo, though some are so small that they don't sustain themselves. But it is A LOT of Echoes -- nearly infinite, Every time I had to think through the ramifications of a worldbuilding decision - not just how it would affect Del and Simon and the story, but how it would play out on such a large scale -- I would have a tremendous headache by the end. Even so, the worldbuilding was one of my favorite parts of writing the books.

Congrats to our winner Janet and thanks to all especially Erica! Join me next month when my featured author is Dan Wells!