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Authors chirp their creative process on Twitter

Back in March, author Bret Easton Ellis sent many bibliophiles into a tizzy when he started crazily tweeting about ideas for ‘American Psycho 2’. Among the tantalizing tweets about what Patrick Bateman has been getting up to was a pronouncement that he “wants to bang all the Kardashian sisters” and is “hanging out with Scott Disick and Rob Kardashian.” 

Whether or not Ellis’s Twitter marathon was legit or not remains a mystery . . .  regardless, the fandom fury surrounding his juicy tweeted tid-bits was very interesting to map. But Ellis isn’t the only author who has been whipping fans into frenzy via TwitterFeed.

Diana Gabaldon has been tweeting #dailylines of the upcoming eighth book in her popular ‘Outlander’ series. Gabaldon is one author who has long waiting periods between her book instalments – it takes her approximately 4-5 years to release a new book (partly because she researches as she writes her epic historical sagas) and fans have been known to get restless in the interim. Well, impatience has been somewhat assuaged thanks to Gabaldon tweeting small, tantalizing paragraphs from her 2013 novel, ‘Written in my Own Heart’s Blood’. Gabaldon has always been one to share her writing progress with fans; since her first ‘Outlander’ novel was published in 1991, she has posted snippets on CompuServe (an US online service which was big in the 90’s), and used the online network as a sort of reader’s group. But Gabaldon has more reach with her fans on the far more popular Twitter, where her (sometimes spoiler-ridden) snippets are favourited and retweeted in abundance – and a constant assurance to fans that Gabaldon’s series has not ended with seventh book ‘Echo in the Bone’. Some very kind and dedicated fan has even been keeping track of the many Book 8 excerpts Diana has been posting.

Other writers have been using Twitter to whet fan’s appetites. Marie Lu, author of the highly-successful ‘Legend’ series, has been dropping enticing tweets as she writes the second instalment, ‘Patriot’. Fans have been excitedly tracking all of Lu’s writing inspiration breadcrumbs, and counting down to the book’s release. 

Some authors use Twitter as a touchstone for their readers. When Melina Marchetta tweeted that the first draft of ‘Quintana of Charyn’ was completed and submitted, fans were practically salivating with the knowledge that they were just that little bit closer to getting the much-anticipated third Lumatere Chronicles book in their hot little hands.

It’s also interesting when authors tweet about the behind-the-scenes of the editorial process, to let fans appreciate just how much work and time goes into releasing their favourite books. There are revisions and structural-edits, copy-edits and line-edits. Readers are given a privileged glimpse into the ‘making-of’ these anticipated books, and a chance to share in the excitement with authors as they gleefully tackle their editing process and get that little bit closer to release-day.

Twitter has proven to be a great conduit between authors and readers. The little blue bird has been a fantastic messenger for upcoming releases, book deals, writing inspirations and behind-the-scenes details. The close connection fans now have with their authors (and publishers) has sometimes backfired, but for the most part Twitter has proved to be a wonderful source of giddying book news and author/reader connections.

Do you know of other authors who are prolifically chirping about their book-in-process on Twitter? 

Let me know in the comments, or drop me a Tweet! (@danielle_binks)

'Legend' by Marie Lu

Received from the Publisher

From the BLURB:

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

America as we know it is no more; North America is split into two warring factions of East VS. West. The Republic against the Colonies.

The Colonies are a series of slums where soldiers patrol and keep an eye out for plague houses – marking the doomed inhabitants with a final X above their door.

By contrast, the Republic residents are given plague vaccines every year. They live to serve the Elector Primo; their father leader who is determined to beat back the Colony brats and crush their meagre efforts to steal back American land.

Day is a fifteen-year-old boy born in the Colony slums of Los Angeles – he is a wanted criminal and public dissident. His face appears on the Republic jumbo-trons on an hourly basis, but he continues to elude soldiers and enrage officials. He steals from the rich to feed the poor, and has built a slum-reputation for being uncatchable and the biggest thorn in the Republic’s side. In reality, Day is just trying to keep his head down and stay alive for the sake of his family; his brothers and mother who believe him dead, but who benefit the most from Day’s thievery.

By contrast, June is a Republic darling – a child protégé destined for military greatness. She and her brother, Metias, were orphaned when their parents were killed in a car accident years ago. Since then both June and Metias have worked hard to forge ahead in their respective roles – Metias as a Republic soldier, and June as a soldier-in-training at Drake University.

When Day’s youngest brother becomes infected with the plague he decides to risk it all to steal a vaccine from a Republic hospital, with disastrous consequences.

. . . Meanwhile, a tragic event forces June to take responsibility for Day’s vigilantism. She is being moved up the army ranks, and forced to prove herself by bringing Day to justice, whatever it takes;

I will hunt you down. I will scour the streets of Los Angeles for you. Search every street in the Republic if I have to. I will trick you and deceive you, lie, cheat and steal to find you, tempt you out of your hiding place, and chase you until you have nowhere else to run. I make you this promise: your life is mine.

‘Legend’ is the first book in a new YA dystopian trilogy by Marie Lu.

Before this book even hit the shelves, it was destined for great things. Lu’s trilogy has already been optioned for film rights by CBS Films, and is even being produced by dream-team Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey who bought the ‘Twilight’ saga to the big screen. When a book has that much fan-fare surrounding it even before its release date, there’s a small concern that maybe the hype is hollow and won’t meet such lofty expectations . . . Thankfully, ‘Legend’ has been rightfully anticipated as the dystopian du jour.

Lu’s alternate universe is incredible. Most dystopian novels are based in desolate lands – depleted by war or extreme global warming. But Lu’s world is more influenced by the impact of politics – in this alternate North America where things have taken a decidedly tyrannical turn. The Elector Primo has been in office for seven consecutive terms, and the Republic army help him rule with an iron fist. America has also been segregated by social status – the wealth of the Republic and the impoverished Colonies. This is an apartheid of prosperity – even the health care system is rigged by wealth, ensuring that the rich remain vaccinated and healthy, while the poor are left to die in their plague-ridden neighbourhoods.

This alternate America is vividly communicated by the alternating points of view of Day and June. From Day we learn of the plague-ridden Lake District; where an X above one’s door is as good as a death sentence. Nobody has money for plague vaccines, and everyone works dangerous jobs for pittance pay. Day watches from the shadows as soldiers beat on ‘slum brats’ and his own family are left to the mercy of the plague. Though only fifteen, Day is a wonderfully courageous character. He is like a dystopian Robin Hood; a veritable Che Guevera for the fictionalized slum set. The best thing about Day though, is that he thinks for himself. He’s very observant and highly intelligent – he refuses to have the Republic’s jumbo-tron messages shoved down his throat . . . everything that he has become, this slum vigilante and crusader for the Colonies, he has got there by making up his own mind about the world around him.

Meanwhile, June is feeling constricted by her University education. She is desperate to join her brother on the front lines and put her learning to good use . . . and the ultimate prize for her is the wanted Day – the man every soldier wants to catch and every Republic official wants to gag.

But then a terrible event throws June and Day together as disguised enemies, soon to be comrades-in-arms with a torrential romance binding them.

I loved Lu’s ‘Legend’. It’s evident from the get-go that this is a universe of intricate building and infinite back-story. Lu has a game-plan in mind with this trilogy, and she is certainly setting the scene on a grand scale in this first book. June and Day are set-up as our opposing protagonists who offer very different viewpoints. At the same time, we meet the people in politics as June’s success grabs the attention of those at the top, as does Day’s continued subterfuge. And there are a few gut-clenching plot-twists that will keep you guessing and sweating throughout this page-turner.

The real brilliance of ‘Legend’ lies is in the alternate points-of-view offered by Day and June. I’m not often a fan of multiple-narratives, but seeing this new world order through the eyes of the ‘have's’ and the ‘have not's’ makes for fascinating, immersive reading. It means that no character is written in black and white – we see the merit of both worlds, the clever trickery that stops our protagonists seeing what’s right in front of them and Lu’s characterization gray-scale. And it’s doubly wonderful when Day and June do (finally!) cross paths, and we read the ramifications of their affiliation . . .

This is a hard-hitting dystopian book. Lu doesn’t pull any punches in her story, and she rarely holds back. Day and June have both been forced to grow up under duress – June as a weapon-in-training for her country, and Day as a vigilante on-the-run. As a result, both young protagonists are disturbingly hardened by their world – they are violent and single-minded, to a fault. The one chink in their respective armors is their family – Day’s mother and brothers, and June’s older brother. I loved reading a book that at once put so much emphasis on family and loyalty, while also ensuring that the young characters were wizened and toughened.

Marie Lu’s ‘Legend’ has it all – tragedy, romance, political intrigue, action, high-stakes and two unnervingly mature and complex protagonists to take us on this twisted journey. 'Legend' should be appearing on everyone's 'must-read' list, without a doubt! Lu is setting the stage for a grand dystopian tale, and I for one cannot wait to see where she takes us next.

5/5

Australian release date:
November 28th 2011