Q&A with Garth Stein discussion

Wherein readers discuss Raven Stole the Moon, ask Garth questions, make comments, and so forth. And Garth replies diligently, cleverly, with much wit and wisdom!

This was a re-release for you, right? Did you change it for the second release? If you did, what did you do?

I liked the fact that you were unafraid to let the story unravel complete with mythic qualities. Were you ever concerned that your readers would think . . . that's just too far fetched?

I heard you speak about Racing at Warwicks in LaJolla this winter and you said that your favorite book (of yours) is the one you're working on at the moment and that if an author doesn't think his current book is the best book (s)he wrote then it won't be a great book. So, with that as the backdrop, how do you feel about re-releasing your first book?

Bethmuse63 wrote: "This was a re-release for you, right? Did you change it for the second release? If you did, what did you do?

I liked the fact that you were unafraid to let the story unravel complete with myth..."

First, I only changed two things for the re-release. I switched the order of the first two chapters back to the way I had originally intended, and I took out about 80% of the curse words.

Second, there's always a concern that the reader won't follow you when you delve into magical realism, but if you make the story compelling enough, people will buy it. I mean, ARR is narrated by a dog. That's a big jump!

Wally wrote: "I heard you speak about Racing at Warwicks in LaJolla this winter and you said that your favorite book (of yours) is the one you're working on at the moment and that if an author doesn't think his ..."

It was my favorite when I finished it. The re-release just makes it available again, as it had gone out of print.

You know, the bookstores in Juneau and Ketchikan sell a lot of Raven. All those cruise passengers love reading about Alaska when they're there.

Hi Garth:

I met you at the Harper table at the GLiBA conference last Oct. (I was there with my husband, Adam Schuitema.) I had read "Racing" before hand. I cried for three days straight after finishing. It was very therapeutic:-) While there, I was lucky enough to get a signed copy of Raven Stole the Moon.

When you finished Raven were you at all concerned about the length?

While writing Raven, for consistency, how did you keep track of the "rules" of the magical world? What the kushtaka were capable of doing, how their power was limited, etc.

You'll probably hate this question, but in your mind, in the end does Jenna stay in Seattle or return to Alaska?

What are you working on now?

I read The Art of Racing in the Rain and we used it for Faculty Book Club and then ordered it for our high school library because it was a book that teens could relate to if they liked animals, car racing and family drama. Is Raven purely adult or will there be a young adult connection also? Thanks!

Congratulations, Garth. I didn't get a chance to read your first book. So I'm thrilled that it's being re-released. Is it as exciting as the first time? :) Looking forward to reading it, and hope all is well with you.
Mahbod

i loved the magical realism in this book -- enjoyed it as an alaskan and an alaskan who has never traveled to SEAK. now i'd really love to! also loved the very end of the phone call!