Q&A with Judith Graves discussion

Got any questions about Under My Skin (Leap Books, 2010), Second Skin (Leap Books, 2011) or Skin of My Teeth (Leap Books, 2012)? Fire away.

How did you come up with the idea for this series? How long did it take from the time you first thought of it until you had finished writing it?

I have an idea for a book that has been haunting me for months. I mean haunting, I think about it all the time and I keep making little notes here and there but I have never written before. I just dont know where to start.

Sounds like you've got the writing bug, Anne - or curse, I should say. ;) That's pretty much how UMS started. I was reading a lot of folklore / mythology texts....I started to wonder, "What if?", and began scrawling away on paper.

I recommend investing in a few coil note books. One for plot ideas: jot down the main plotline, add some twists. Write in point form and see where the story logically flows. Get another notebook for cool dialogue or phrases / words you might use someday. And you're on your way...

I keep wishing I had a lot of wall space to post ideas on 4 by 6 cards so I can see all my ideas for a story.

BTW Judith...loved the humor in your book. That alone will keep me coming back for more...well that and the hot guys.

lol....thanks Aly. ;) More is on the way...well, as soon as the YAedge 1k-a-day challenge starts. (That's a cool writing contest/motivator if anyone is interested: http://yaedge.blogspot.com/2010/06/al...)

Hmmm....what if you write super small and fill up a bulletin board with stickie notes? Then you can shuffle them around and see what order of events will have the most impact. Just don't spread them out over the floor - I've done this - and then my 2 labs tore through the room - plot line chaos!

Just to give you an idea of how crazy this writing "BUG" is.... I drove two hours to meet Alyson Noel in Chicago last night so On my drive home I had a lot of time to sit and think (I bet if you unscrewed by skull there would have been actual cranks and gears turning lol).

I can't exactly write down notes while on the highway so...I pulled out my digital camera and flipped it to video and recording my ideas that way. I felt a little silly talking to myself (I also got some funny looks). but at least I wont lose those thoughts right?? hahaha

That's a very smart idea. I'm a singer/songwriter as well as fiction author - I do something similar - I have one of those old mini-cassette recorder thingies and I keep it in my purse. I'm often humming melodies into it. I also leave myself voice mail messages so I don't forget tunes...lol...you gotta use what works.

Judith wrote: "That's a very smart idea. I'm a singer/songwriter as well as fiction author - I do something similar - I have one of those old mini-cassette recorder thingies and I keep it in my purse. I'm often h..."

hahaha. I have totally done the voice mail thing before too. Which is really funny to listen to. I alway end it with a "You ROCK Anne" or "Have a Bitch'n Day!" I figure future Anne may need a pick me up. lol

Thats how I know I am a strange one :)

Judith - When you started UNDER MY SKIN did you have an idea where the three books were going? Or did you know the first book and had a general idea for the next two? Also did your publisher pick up all 3 books at once or just the first one with a possible option for the next 3?

Anne - I never thought of adding a pick me up - will have to remember that for next time. ;)

Aly - I had Eryn's story arc pretty much set from the early plotting days and decided to break it up into three books. Kind of following the Star Wars / 3 act play method...lol...1st book, introduces characters / conflict - 2nd book, character(s) go dark side - 3rd book, big decisions must be made and consequences faced. However UMS had a slow start and my editor requested some of the things from bk 2 to be brought into UMS for more kick. So bk 2 and 3 have changed a bit more than I expected. The publisher was interested in all three, with an option to see anything else I write before I send it elsewhere.

Thanks Judith. It is always interesting to see how someone comes up with his/her idea and then develops it. And it is interesting to see how people will respond to it once the story is revealed.