 Transcript of live chat (8/10/2005) Host:Robert Capriccioso |
All of Brent Hartinger's young adult books are available for purchase at amazon.com [1].    |
Robert Capriccioso: Welcome to today’s Connect for Kids Book Chat, everyone. We’re happy to connect you with author Brent Hartinger, who is joining us today from his home in Washington state. If the questions that have already been submitted are any indication of both the goodwill and controversy that young adult “outsider fiction” writers can generate, then I think we’re in store for a fascinating conversation. Please don’t be shy in asking questions and submitting comments—Brent says he’s got plenty of opinions to share on young adult books. Let’s get started.
Michael, Seattle, Washington: Hi Brent, I heard you speak once, and you said try hard to make your books "dessert, not broccoli." I loved that quote! But what’s your reasoning? Is it about writing for teens? Second question: I've noticed your books all have strong central metaphors: the Geography Club, the group home called the Last Chance Texaco, and the secret society of The Order of the Poison Oak. I love the images—but is that about writing for teenagers too?
Brent: Hi, Michael. I like to say that, in writing for today's teenagers, my competition is Nintendo and Britney Spears humping a couch. So, yeah, I try really, really, really hard to make my books page-turners, to get to the point, to make everything HAVE a point. But I don't just do it for teenagers. I happen to think that that's just good writing. I LOVE books, and I love, love, love to read. But I get very frustrated by meandering, self-indulgent books. Please don't waste my time. I think most teenagers get frustrated even more quickly than adults, given the faster pace of life these days.
As for the central metaphors, yes, thanks for noticing. This is partly related to my never-ending quest for a strong, driving narrative. But it's also related to my having spent so long writing plays and screenplays. I really internalized the idea the notion of a three-act structure, and the value of metaphor and coherency. Someone once told me that you write a good book by coming up with the most interesting character you can think of, in the most interesting time in his or her life. I really believe this. In my books, there are no characters sitting around sipping tea and remembering the way their grandmother's hair smells! I try to write "event" books, not slice-of-life. A strong central metaphor helps in that respect.
Which isn't to say there isn't room for all kinds of books! Sometimes when I defend the way I write, people take it as a criticism of books they like, or the kinds of books they like to read. There is room for all kinds of books in the world. These are just the books that I like to write (and read). Live and let live!
Jason, NC: My son had to read your book, Geography Club, for an advanced English class he took. At first I was a little worried about the subject matter, but I think you handled it in a very straight forward manner. Do you find that adults are sometimes negative towards your books, until they read them?
Brent: Yes, I find that most of the criticism comes from people who haven't read my books. Which I guess is kind of typical. My book was the choice for a big online book club a few months ago, and the folks reading it were not my typical readers. The comments afterwards were often, "Wow, REALLY didn't think I would like this book, but...I ended up really enjoying it." Those are really my favorite kinds of comments, because it means I won over a reluctant reader. That said, I always say, If you buy a book, you also buy the right to have an opinion about it! So it's okay if not everyone is a fan. (I guess that's also true if you check the book out from the library...)
T. R., Washington, D.C.: Have many parents complained to you or your publisher that gay teen issues are getting more attention, thanks to books like yours?
Brent: I get very few complaints directly. I don't think my publisher gets too many either. But I know that public libraries and schools get complaints about me. It's mostly in the south and rural areas, not surprisingly. I'm continually surprised by how NOT controversial my books are in some areas of the country, and how VERY controversial they are in other areas. It's night and day. How these two worlds can talk to each other, I'm not sure, because their points-of-view are so far apart.
I'm a little torn about this, because I believe it's okay to have an opinion about a book, even a negative one. But what a lot of these folks are saying has nothing whatsoever to do with my book. They're upset by the existence of gay people. Gay teenagers existed long before my books. But with my books (and others like them), maybe they feel a little less alone, a little less freakish, and a little less suicidal.
I've always believed that my books are all about "moral" issues—deciding between right and wrong, about becoming an ethical person. So it's depressing to me when someone says my books are "immoral" just because they deal with gay themes in a way that doesn't condemn, shame, or ridicule gay people. But what can you do? I will continue to write my books, and fight for the idea that folks who like them should have access to them, and should be able to decide for themselves whether or not they want to read them.
Bobby, Texas: Where do get your ideas? Are they things that happened to you?
Brent: Oftentimes they ARE things that happened to me. I DID work in a group home, I WAS a gay teen. (But I never went to summer camp.) But part of being a writer is being "open" to the story ideas that are all around all of us. So I hear things at parties, I meet people, I read stories in the newspaper. They all become little nuggets of story ideas, which then, of course, have to be developed! That's the hard part. Most writers I know get frustrated when someone says to them, "I have this great idea for a story! I'll give you the idea, and you write it!" Um, the idea is the EASY part. It's the writing it and turning an "idea" into actual story that is hard....
Oh, I've also turned a lot of my dreams into stories. That may be my number once source of ideas.
Cindy/Los Angeles:
1. How much does your real life influence what you write?
2. Do you ever plan to write either a picture book or a book for grown-ups, or are you going to stick with YA? How come?
Thank you!
Brent: Hmmm, well, I write about things I care about, of course. So the things that happen to me definitely influence what I write and the WAY I write it. Oftentimes I will have an experience and think, "Oh, man, this HAS to go in a book!" Example: When writing THE ORDER OF THE POISON OAK, Web was orginally called Shane. But I met someone named Webster who went by "Web," and I thought, "Oooooooo! I have to change his name! That's too good."
I used to think I was going to use YA as a "springboard" to writing other, "legitimate" books, like books for adults. Ha! I was such a fool. I so love the readers of YA, and the genre itself, that I would be happy writing these books for the rest of my life. That said, I do have some middle grade chapter books coming out next year from Tor.
Las Vegas, NV: Hey Brent, I just read both books in two days. They were great. I wanted to ask you where the idea of the burn survivors came from?
Brent: Thanks for the compliment! The burn survivor thing is actually an interesting story (I hope!). About three years ago, I heard a piece on THIS AMERICAN LIFE, a Public Radio International show, about a teenage burn survivor. I was struck by how much I identified and related to this person, his sense of being an "outsider," of feeling different from his friends, and feeling cut off from and judged by the world around him. It really reminded me of how I personally had felt as a gay teen.
Since the main character of my next book was a gay teen, I thought it might be interesting to have him work with burn survivors, and maybe form some kind of bond. So I started researching the topic. Finally I decided that Russel would go to summer camp as a counselor, and he would work with kids who are burn survivors (and over the course of the session, he would come to identify with them, and even create a "secret society" called The Order of the Poison Oak, about the fact that they're all outsiders).
So the book comes out, and people seem to like it. And I go out on book tour, and I end up at this writing conference a couple of months ago. I happened to be sitting next to another writer, Brent Runyon. I asked him what he had written, and he told me it was a book called THE BURN JOURNALS, which was a non-fiction book about the fact that he set himself on fire at age 14. We kept talking, and he told me he had done a piece on THE AMERICAN LIFE, which became the initial inspiration for the book. I laughed and told him that it had also been the source for MY book!
Interestingly, a couple of people have been annoyed with me that I "dared" to suggest that being gay was anything like being a burn survivor. I guess the idea is that being gay is a "choice," while burn survivor are "innocent victims." This annoys me a little, for a lot of reasons. I'm certainly not comparing anyone's suffering. People are individuals, and everyone's suffering is unique. But my point was to show how certain feelings are universal, not to belittle anyone or be insensitive. It's a tad frustrating that some people get stuck once again in the politics of victimization.
Lisa, California: Brent, I've seen your photo on your blog. Do you often go around screaming like that?
Brent: Lisa, you have NO idea! I scream way, way too much. Ask anyone who knows me. I have a reputation for being, um, kinda energetic. I usually happens whenever I read the newspaper.
Honestly, I need to take a serious chill pill.
David, ND: In my town it would be very risky for a teen to "come out" to his or her friends like Russell does in Geography Club. Do you have suggestions for teens in remote areas on dealing with the issue?
Brent: Well, my answer may surprise you, but one option is to not come out. At least not until you're in college. I believe that no one should come out until they are financially and emotionally independent. So if the worst happens, and everyone rejects them (including their parents), they'll still have friends who can support them, and they won't be kicked out onto the street.
Before coming out, it's important to gauge your level of "support." Russell had his friends in the Geography Club, so he knew they were watching his back. Coming out is a big deal, and you can't go back in time and "take it back." So proceed cautiously. There's no deadline or time-table.
That said, I also believe that almost every gay person should come out eventually. Life is so much easier when you're not living a lie. It can seem hard at first, but almost everyone who comes out is glad in the end.
Samantha R., age 17, Bowling Green: Do you want your books, like GEOGRAPHY CLUB, to be seen as "gay novels" or novels that happen to have some gay characters? Is that distinction important?
Brent: It's an excellent question, and an excellent distinction. I have a theory that there was a time when "gay novels" were very, very important. Gay characters hadn't been done much in fiction, especially in teen fiction. So the first of these novels really were "gay novels," because they were educating the audience on just what it means to be gay, and to come out, etc.
But I think the world has changed. We've all seen that story now (hopefully), and we all know the basic terms. So to some degree, we are in sort of a "post-gay" world, which I think means that we can kind of take being gay for granted. And that means I think the time has come for writers to move beyond the gay story. I think the next wave will be books where the characters HAPPEN to be gay, and their being gay might influence the greater themes, but the books are really about much more than being gay. You might say the characters are "incidentally" gay. I'd like to think that my books sort of take being gay for granted, and so go off in other directions—bullying and the social geography of a high school in GEOGRAPHY CLUB, and inner beauty and courage in THE ORDER OF THE POISON OAK.
Anyway, I would say my books are novels where the characters happen to be gay, and I think that accounts for their cross-over success (for the record, most of my readers are NOT gay).
Marlene: What are you working on now?
Brent: Actually, I'm working on the third book in the Russel Middlebrook series. It's called ATTACK OF THE SOUL-SUCKING BRAIN ZOMBIES. Min, Gunnar, and Russel get jobs working as extras on a horror film being filmed in their town. But it's really about Russel's coming out to his parents. (Um, they're the real "soul-sucking brain zombies"...but rest assured, Russel eventually sees that they're not the monsters he thinks they are!)
I also have a number of fantasy books that I'm working on for Tor. My life is schizo these days, working on all these different books at the same time! Yeow!
But I am sooooo not complaining. I remember when NO ONE wanted ANYTHING I was writing. :-)
Sara Z., Utah: You are so prolific! How do you organize your writing schedule? Do you struggle with discipline or do you have great habits? I'm a writer in need of displine! :)
Brent: Well, yes, I struggle. A lot. Writing is hard, hard, hard work. I call it Butt In Chair Time. Unfortunately, there's no real easy solution, is there? You just have to...put...your...butt...in...the...chair (and then not spend all afternoon surfing the web!).
I do find that eventually I get "in the zone" and then it becomes easy. But it can be hell getting to that particular zone.
Here's what I do. I set a writing "quota" for myself each day. It's usually eight to ten pages. And then I don't go to bed until I finish. Since I'm a rough task-master with myself, I've trained myself to be disciplined. Otherwise I'm up till four AM! But I think the key is to learn yourself and try to play to your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.
Teresa, Oakland: I'm nineteen and want to be a writer. What advice would you give?
Brent: Nooooo! Run! Flee for the hills! Go now while you've still got time!
Okay, that's a half serious answer. Writing fiction is an INSANELY competitive business. There's so much rejection and frustration and heartache and bitterness.
That said, if you must write, then write. And write and write and write. Do everything you can to learn the craft. Join a writer's group, take classes, read everything you can.
Then try to learn about the BUSINESS of writing. Work in a library or bookstore, or get a job in publishing. The key is to get to know what kinds of books people like to read, and why. Which publisher publishes which books. Read the trades, read the websites, join yahoo groups. I didn't do the legwork to really learn the business of writing, and I think it really hurt me in the long run. So do your homework!
Sue Hagedorn, RN, PhD, Seedworks Productions: Brent, these stories would make great afterschool specials. Are there any plans in the works?
Brent: Well, Sue, I completely agree! Oops, did I say that out loud? Seriously, the rights to GEOGRAPHY CLUB have been optioned, and a feature film or TV movie is "in the works," as they say. I'm excited about these particular movie producers, because they also have lots of stage-producing experience (producing Tony and Pulitzer-winning plays), and they're also interested in doing the NY or LA premiere of my stage script based on GEOGRAPHY CLUB.
Hey, soon I'll be a multi-media empire!
The rights to THE LAST CHANCE TEXACO have not been optioned yet, but there's been a lot of interest. I happen to think that one is more cinematic than GEOGRAPHY CLUB, so I have high hopes that something will happen. Interestingly, I spent ten years writing and trying unsuccessfully to get my screenplays made into movies, and having my plays produced in crappy little theaters. So I'm very amused by the irony that my writing this little book, GEOGRAPHY CLUB, has also jump-started my script-writing career!
Burt, New York: How come there aren't any adults in yout books?
Brent: Good observation. I deliberately left all adults out of GEOGRAPHY CLUB and THE ORDER OF THE POISON OAK (except for a couple) for a couple of reasons:
In GC, I was writing about the "social geography" of a high school campus. I wanted to isolate it as much as possible, showing the cliques and social groups that make up school. High school, it seemed to me, was about my friends, and that's pretty much all. The greater world did not exist; adults (mostly) did not exist. So I wanted to recreate that feeling in my book.
Also, since I was writing about the moral choices that teenagers make, and since most of those choices are made outside the presence of adults, I wanted to show that too. Some adults have been offended by this, but like it or not, teenagers make their own decisions about these things. Adults can be give advice, but when push comes to shove—when it comes time to stand up for a kid who's being picked on—adults are usually not around.
Rob, CFK: Brent, Do you ever get tired of talking about sexuality when it comes to your books?
Brent: Yes, well, it would be nice to have my books judged as books, not as political statements. I'm also kind of frustrated that people are clearly NOT reading my books before criticizing them, because, frankly, I happen to think my books are all about making moral choices, about being a "good" person. On the plus side, I have heard from a number of Christian conservatives who tell me they don't approve of my "lifestyle," but who still enjoyed my gay books and characters, and who thought they were very entertaining reads.
One of the things I promised myself when I published my first book was that I would be as accessible as possible to readers. I get tired of the negativity and moralism, but I never get tired of talking to people of good faith and open hearts.
Chris, Burlington, VT: Hi Brent - I'm curious to know about other book projects you have coming up (Anything you can share, anyway.)
Brent: Well, in addition to the books I mentioned before, I'm also working on the play version of GEOGRAPHY CLUB (which has already been workshopped) and the screenplay version as well.
Yeah, I'm a busy little bee, ain't I? :-)
K.M., Washington, DC: You've portrayed characters with such interesting and varied life experiences so far—would you mind telling us some of your ideas for future books?
Brent: I have a little slip of paper on my bulletin board will about 20 ideas for future books. But if I told you what they are, I'd have to kill you....
Actually, I have all these ideas, but the books I typically end up writing are ideas that come to me suddenly and that I simply HAVE to write, right then, IMMEDIATELY. So I probably won't use those ideas on that slip of paper.
Emily, Brooklyn: Did you always know you wanted to write for teenagers? Or did you write for adults or for younger children, earlier on? How did you figure out your genre/field/audience, is what I'm asking!
Brent: That is an EXCELLENT question, Emily. I was put in the genre by one of my first agents, because I kept writing books with teenager protagonists. But at first I was offended, because I didn't see this genre as being "legit." (As I said before, I was a bit of a horse's ass when I was younger...)
Anyway, I ended up loving it. So I guess the answer is you have to try different things. It might be the genre that you most enjoy reading. Or it might be some genre that you haven't discovered yet. I ALWAYS wanted to write fantasy (still do), but it took me a while to get a fantasy book deal. I sort of made my mark in the edgy teen thing first. But that was cool.
I'd say be as open as possible to other genres, because you never know where you might get a break. But if you DO get a break in a particular genre, educate yourself FAST. Nothing irritates readers more than when it becomes clear that writers in a genre don't know the genre itself.
Good luck!
Claire: What's the most fun thing you've ever got to do as a result of becoming a published author? And the least fun thing you've *had* to do?
Brent: You'll laugh, but all my life I've wanted someone to send me a fruit basket. I guess I just wanted someone to act like I am in any way special, because when you're an unpublished writer, there is LOT of rejection and humiliation, and you feel very very, very NOT special. But I'm happy to report that I have now received a grand total of three fruit baskets! Yea!
There's lots of other fun stuff I get to do too: seeing my book in unexpected places, or being recognized somewhere. Every now and then, I get to feel like a rock star, which is secretly very fun. The other day, I signed my first body part! (a shoulder)
The least fun? Well, there's plenty of that too, unfortunately. Deadlines, endless revisions, panicky last-minute book problems, bad reviews, really tough audiences that sit there scowling, insane travel schedules. Once I had to travel twelve hours to give a ten minute presentation. It was important, and I'm glad I went, but ten minutes? Sheesh.
Ryan from Baltimore, MD: I've read all of your books and absolutely adore you. You've become my favourite writer over the past two years and I'm so glad that your writing has helped me confront things I wouldn't have the guts to do. Was this your intent?
Brent: Thank you, Ryan. I can't tell you what that means to me.
Was it my intent? Well, maybe in my wildest dreams! ;-)
Honestly, I wanted to write stories I thought were entertaining, about characters I relate to. But I worried that most people wouldn't care. I mean, I have always felt like a freak anyway, so why wouldn't people think my characters were freaks too, you know? So it has been sooooooooo gratifying to find that people all over the world feel like Russel (and I!) do. Ironically, by writing these books about a kid who feels so terribly alone, I've learned that I, Brent Hartinger, am not really alone!
I love it when life works out like that...
Robin Fisher, Blaine: Do you have the whole book in your head when you begin it, or does it kind of grow on its own as you write it? Your books are great!
Brent: Thanks, Robin!
I get an IDEA, which is always kind of rough. Then I outline (I know, I know—a lot of writers hate outlines). Then I get impatient and start writing. So the outline changes A LOT while I'm writing it. It's such an organic, magical process (usually—sometimes it's just an organic pain in the rear end!).
I love discovering my characters, seeing them grow richer as I write, and seeing ways that I can connect the themes and story threads.
Thank God I've written a lot of books now, because when it starts to become horribly difficult, I know if I just stick to it, it will work out in the end.
Wyoming librarian: Was the cover of the Order of the Poison Oak your choice? It's one reason I had a hard time securing the book for my library.
Brent: We writers can have our say, but we don't really have any say about the covers. I have heard from a lot of teenagers that it's a little too "out there" for their communities and their schools. (That said, I do think it's basically tasteful.) The cover for the paperback is different, much more modest. And keep in mind that the cover is removable!
Harry Potter fan: Half joking, half serious. You are't going to pull a J.K. Rowling and kill off a character in the Geography Club series, are you?
Brent: Ha! No, I would never do that. (At least I don't think so....) I have a friend who killed a major character in his books and man...ouch! There is no fury like a reader who sees a beloved character die.
And I get that. When I think about BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (one of my favorite shows), I am still consumed with rage that Joss Wedon (the creator) killed Tara.
So no, you don't have to worry about that with me.
Connie Niemeyer, Findlay, OH: First of all I am a 44-year-old mom who loves your books. What advice can you give to parents on how to deal with the fact that they may suspect their child might be gay but are unsure how to deal with it?
Brent: Hi Connie! I like this question a lot. I guess first I would say don't push it. People come out (or not) on their own schedule, and I wouldn't recommend forcing the issue to satisfy your own curiosity. Oftentimes teenagers themselves will not figure things out until after folks around them do. But the process works on its own time-table, and it's different for every person.
What a parent can do in the meantime is make sure his or her household is an open and affirming one. That means anti-gay attitudes are not spoken, and they're not tolerated. When someone on television says something prejudicial, the parent can express disagreement. Believe me, gay kids are often listening for these "signs" in their homes and classrooms. Conversely, when someone says something hateful, and it isn't rebutted, that's a powerful message to the kid that this home or classroom is not a safe place. In short, make it clear that the person in question is loved and accepted regardless of sexual orientation. (I would recommend this attitude for ALL parents, because (a) all kids need to learn tolerance and acceptance, and (b) you literally never know if you have a child who might be gay or bisexual. A lot of gay folks don't display any of the stereotypes.)
When a child does come out, it can be confusing and upsetting. But keep in mind that hardest thing in the world is be rejected by one's parents, even for a while. So it's important to say to the person: I love you, even if I don't understand or agree with this. Don't accuse the child of being hurtful (as if their sexual orientation is all about you!), or being "confused," or making a "choice." These are all buzzwords that can frustrate or anger the gay child. Oftentimes I see sort of a "role-reversal" in families, where the parents become like kids: sullen, petty, insecure, mean. But being gay or bisexual isn't a choice, and the child is really giving you a gift by trusting you enough to share this information with you.
Jamie, Texas: You ever thought about starting a teen writing club?
Brent: It's a fantastic idea! I do speak to a number of teen groups, some writing groups. But lately I'm so busy writing my own books that it would have to be more that I was sort of a guest-lecturer.
Whitney, Seattle: What inspires you the most when you are writing a book? Do you go on a whim with an idea, or is it close to home? Do you go with what you are feeling at the time, or do you try to create a feeling for someone else to feel or , like, trying to make a new feeling within a person?....Did that make sence? O_o
Brent: It's a combination of all of that, Whitney. I can say that I have to feel PASSIONATELY about something before I start writing. I know that I'm going to be writing the darn thing for 3 to 6 months, then editing it for another 2 months, then proof-reading, then talking about it for the rest of my life (!!). So I really really have to care!
I write about things that I care deeply about, but I also want the reader to care deeply. I don't think about making it "universal" when I'm writing it, but I like to think that those reading it will care as deeply as I do. I guess I just assume that other people will care about these things as much as I do! I hope the day never comes when I'm wrong.
Michael, Seattle, Washington: What's your take on the foster kid situation today?
Brent: I don't work in foster care any more, so all I know is what I learned when I worked in a group home (back in the late 1980s), and what I read in the paper or hear from friends. But in Washington state, where I live, we recently had a proposal in the legislature to fully fund various programs for foster kids, who have really suffered over the years. So I open the paper yesterday and some idiot has written in to complain, saying that he was disgusted that the state was just "throwing money" at the foster care system. Yup, that's the problem in foster care these days--we're just "throwing money" at the problem! Geez, it makes you want to scream.
Foster kids and group home kids are truly the underdogs of the world. EVERYTHING is against them. But I absolutely believe that if Americans could see the kids I worked with, and the struggles and challenges they face, they would finally wake up and fully fund the system. It's criminal and immoral what's going on. That's part of the reason why I wrote THE LAST CHANCE TEXACO, because I wanted to call attention to the situation (and also because I hoped it would make a great, dramatic story!).
Alexandria, Virginia: Regarding the coming out issue—where are the parents in your books? If the teens are coming out at school, are they coming out at home?
Brent: Good point, Alexandria, and it's exactly what I'm dealing with right now, in the third book in the series. Interestingly, you'd be surprised by how many kids DO come out at school, but not at home. But yeah, words gets around eventually, even to parents, so I knew I had to deal with it.
On a related note, some adults may not be aware that gay teenagers seem to be coming to an understanding of themselves at younger and younger ages. Probably because of the media, and the internet. But it does make for an interesting challenge for a lot of teens, because they have to decide if they want to come out in high school, where folks my age (which is 40!) often didn't deal with these issues until college. It makes for some really difficult decisions.
Amy, New York: What are you most proud of with what your books have done?
And I have lots of fun reading your blog. If you could say one thing to George Bush, what would it be?
Brent: Hi Amy. Well, I know how hard it is to get attention for books these days, so I'm just proud that somehow I and my publisher managed to get the word out, to break through all the clutter.
I honestly feel that I have the best job in the world, because I get to do what I love, and whenever I'm feeling blue or down, I just open my e-mailbox, and I get to hear from people all over the world about how my books have touched them. It's humbling.
If I could say one thing to George Bush (and make him really listen!), I would try to make him understand the real-world consequences of using gay people as political footballs. Sure, it got him elected, but plenty of people had to suffer because of it. Twenty years from now, he and his ilk will apologize, I'm sure, just like Strom Thurman and all the other white racists did. But I'm not sure I'll accept Bush's apology. I'm just that disgusted.
Sarah, Washington State: I appreciate so much that your characters are occupied with becoming okay with who they are—not just whether they're gay or straight, but who they are as a friend, as a worker, just as a person. It seems like these are tasks for adults too, don't you think?
Brent: Sarah, I think the reason why so many adults read "teen" books is because they relate to the themes. I know I do! I love the teen years because I think they capture ideas and obstacles that we struggle against our whole lives. Sure, some things change. But what adult hasn't occasionally felt that he or she is a fraud? What adult hasn't felt like an outsider, or all alone in the world? What adult hasn't struggled with knowing he or she SHOULD make a certain choice, but wanting to make the easy choice....
It never ends. But it's definitely what makes life interesting.
Janet, NYC: How did you convince a publisher to take on your ideas? I wouldn't think gay, foster care and burn issues would be the most popular of publisher choices.
Brent: Well, Janet, there is truth to what you say! Fortunately, I have a wonderfully supportive published (HarperCollins) that has really given me a lot of freedom. I give them TONS of credit because GEOGRAPHY CLUB was rejected by plenty of other publishers first, not because they didn't like the book (they did!), but because they thought it wouldn't sell because it was "gay."
But my editors, Steve Fraser and Barbara Lalicki, and all the other folks at my publishing house are really my champions. I exist because of them.
Trace, San Antonio I get bored reading a lot of books, but yours really move fast most of the time. Do you do that on purpose or does that just happen?
Brent Well, thank you very much! No, I try really, really hard to make them move. I think it helps that I outline ahead of time, and that I did work as a screenwriter.
I'm really ruthless. If it doesn't move the story forward, it has to go, no matter how much I may like the sentence or the metaphor.
Kay, Seattle: You mention having written screen-plays. Do you see your books being made into film? Is there any one in particular that you really want to see in film?
Brent: Right now I'm focusing on getting GEOGRAPHY CLUB on-screen. But I feel in my bones that THE LAST CHANCE TEXACO will be a movie one day too.
It's not that I think movies "legitimize" books or anything. I'd just like my books to get the attention that a movie would give them.
Okay, I admit it, I also want to go to the Academy Awards! ;-)
Bonnie Corsine, CA: Do you stay in touch with the foster kids you worked with? Did they help with writing Last Chance Texaco?
Brent: I WISH I had stayed in touch, but I worked in a group home before email. I did run into one kid, and I had a long conversation with him (and it helped in writing the book!). But no, I've lost touch with them, which makes me sad. I keep expecting someone to contact me, or at least one of the counselors. But no, not yet. Which is funny, because I think I've heard from everyone else I've ever met! lol
Boston: You said you've heard that some teens think Poison Oak's cover is "out there." I wonder if it might have made the novel seem more "gay" and if a kid didn't want others to know he was interested in that kind of subject...he wouldn;t read it for fear of ridicule.
Brent: That might be happening, I don't know. I'd like to think that maybe people could take the cover off, or hide it somehow.
I think most people who want these books are so eager for them that a little thing like a cover is not going to stop them.
But trust me, I'm aware how hard it can be for a closeted gay teen, and I'm sympathize.
Brent: Wow, good questions! My wrists are sore, but it was worth it!
Thanks all for coming, reading, and asking. And thanks especially to Rob, Susan, Jeremy, and everyone at Connectforkids.org! They're a great organization, and they did an amazingly efficient job (I'd probably say this even if it wasn't true, but in their case, it WAS true!)
Thanks everyone! And if you have more questions, feel free to stop by my website [2].
I'm an open...well, you know!
Rob: Thanks for joining in this lively discussion, everyone—Brent, we had lots of fun. CFK readers, be sure to check out the new Book Corner [3] section of our Web site.