New Adult Book Club discussion

Hey everyone! We have a fantastic Q&A over the next two weeks with USA Today and NY Times bestselling author Wendy Higgins! Wendy is the author of the Sweet series, the Eurona duology, and more. To check out the rest of her books, click HERE. Leave Wendy your questions below. :)

How did you come up with the idea and how did you create the characters? Thank you!!

Mujde Ozcaner wrote: "How did you come up with the idea and how did you create the characters? Thank you!!"

Hi Mujde! Are you asking about a certain book in particular? :)

My question is kind of a 2-parter....What was your favorite part of writing Unknown? Is there something you wish you had included (or not included)? Thank you!! :)

Wendy wrote: "Mujde Ozcaner wrote: "How did you come up with the idea and how did you create the characters? Thank you!!"

Hi Mujde! Are you asking about a certain book in particular? :)"

Hi, Wendy!

No, I mean in general. :) <3

Now that you are branching out of fantasy/paranormal/YA and into dystopian/NA, which direction or genre do you think you will branch out to next?

First off, your Sweet Trilogy is one of my favorites! I've re-read it multiple times. Kai is the absolute best!!

Out of all your books, who's your favorite character to write?

Hi Wendy!

Does music play an important role in your writing process? Do you create playlists for each book you write?

P. S. I love the Sweet Evil series and The Great Hunt is on my October TBR!

Holly wrote: "My question is kind of a 2-parter....What was your favorite part of writing Unknown? Is there something you wish you had included (or not included)? Thank you!! :)"

I think my favorite part of writing Unknown is that the plot itself was literally unknown to me until I began to write. I did not outline (though I had an overall image of the timeline events/world decline) but the relational details between the characters...I had no idea what was going to happen there.

Holly wrote: "My question is kind of a 2-parter....What was your favorite part of writing Unknown? Is there something you wish you had included (or not included)? Thank you!! :)"

Oh, and the 2nd part! Um...at this point there's nothing I wish I included or didn't, but as I write the sequel that's usually when I start to wish certain things were different. Sometimes I write myself against the wall with details and have to find a way out of, or around, the story rules I've set up in book 1.

Mujde Ozcaner wrote: "Wendy wrote: "Mujde Ozcaner wrote: "How did you come up with the idea and how did you create the characters? Thank you!!"

Hi Mujde! Are you asking about a certain book in particular? :)"

Hi, Wend..."

Ah, well, each book has been a different journey. Everything comes from my crazy imagination, of course. I usually start with a kernel of an idea, and I play with it until it pops into a second kernel, and another. I spend a lot of time daydreaming about the main character, their life, their upbringing, their family, and I don't start writing until I feel I have a solid foundation for the plot and characters.

Michelle wrote: "Now that you are branching out of fantasy/paranormal/YA and into dystopian/NA, which direction or genre do you think you will branch out to next?"

I honestly have NO idea, but I'm open to anything! I'm sort of a slave to my ideas as they hit me, and I never know what will happen next. I'm not one of those authors who can say, "I'm going to write a contemporary story," and then come up with an idea. It either hits me out of the blue, or it doesn't.

Casey wrote: "First off, your Sweet Trilogy is one of my favorites! I've re-read it multiple times. Kai is the absolute best!! "

Thank you so much, Casey!! <3

Heather wrote: "Out of all your books, who's your favorite character to write?"

Kaidan Rowe has been my favorite character to write. He had a depth and complexity that really made me stretch myself as a writer.
As for my female main characters, I have loved each of them and felt bonded to them, heavily invested in their stories, so it's hard to choose.

Brittany wrote: "Hi Wendy!

Does music play an important role in your writing process? Do you create playlists for each book you write?

P. S. I love the Sweet Evil series and The Great Hunt is on my October TBR!"

Hi Brittany! I actually don't listen to music as I'm writing. I know a lot of authors do, and I wish I could, but I need complete quiet. I did make a playlist for Sweet Evil and Sweet Temptation, a compilation of music that made me think about my characters and the story, but it was hard for me! lol

Wendy wrote: "Mujde Ozcaner wrote: "Wendy wrote: "Mujde Ozcaner wrote: "How did you come up with the idea and how did you create the characters? Thank you!!"

Hi Mujde! Are you asking about a certain book in par..."

Thank you so much, Wendy!!!

Do you have any plans to write a Rulen POV book after the Unknown series is complete? I must know what he was thinking!! :)

Salome wrote: "Do you have any plans to write a Rulen POV book after the Unknown series is complete? I must know what he was thinking!! :)"

Nope, I have no plans to ever again do a book from the love interest's pov, lol. Some guys' minds must remain the mystery that they are. :)

Who does your book covers? They are so pretty!

Tanja wrote: "Who does your book covers? They are so pretty!"

Thank you! The publisher's art team at HarperTeen did all of the Sweet covers and The Great Hunt duology ones. But I've used Jennifer Munswami and Kalen O'Donnell for my self-published covers. :)

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Nicole wrote: "Who are some of your favorite authors?"

Hi Nicole! Some of my favorites are Jennifer L. Armentrout, Kresley Cole, J.K. Rowling, and Karen Marie Moning.

Hi Wendy,

If you could be any character in a book, who would you be?

Kira wrote: "Hi Wendy,

If you could be any character in a book, who would you be?"

Mrs. Weasley from HP - I want a magic wand that cleans my house, bawhahahaha.

What do you like to do beside writing?

J. wrote: "What do you like to do beside writing?"

I like to go to "painting parties." I'm not great, but it's fun and relaxing. I like to watch movies with my family. I like to hang out with friends, surrounding counters of food. Lots of food. :)

Whats your favourite ever female and male character you've created?:)

Victoria wrote: "Whats your favourite ever female and male character you've created?:)"

This is SUCH a hard question because I feel invested and bonded to all of my main characters as I'm writing their stories. But if I had to choose I'd go with Anna and Kaidan from the Sweet books. Mainly because I had 4 books with them, and they were my firsts. <3 But ask me again in a couple years after I have more books with Amber and Rylen from Unknown. ;)

What is the most difficult part of your artistic process? Thank you.

Irma wrote: "What is the most difficult part of your artistic process? Thank you."

Hi Irma! I get writer's block a lot - or moments where I just can't figure out what should happen next. It can be really disheartening sitting around waiting for inspiration and ideas to strike. I'll often take days off from writing to just daydream and think. It feels like such wasted time, but that's always how my process has been. Then it comes to me, and I'll write like crazy until the next block hits. Whew!

Hi Wendy. Who is your favourite fictional villain?

Christina wrote: "Hi Wendy. Who is your favourite fictional villain?"

Voldemort!

What is your favorite ice cream flavor? And I absolutely love The Sweet Trilogy!!! <3 Kai!! <3

Ruth wrote: "What is your favorite ice cream flavor? And I absolutely love The Sweet Trilogy!!! <3 Kai!! <3"

Thank you! :)
My favorite is pistachio! And chocolate peanut butter from Turkey Hill. OMG. Yum.