tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131409629757210790.post6474106963385821184..comments2024-02-23T02:45:27.134-08:00Comments on Brodi Ashton: Ask Me Anything Day! Because I'm Tired of being Stumped by Kid CBrodi Ashtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895732483547245372noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131409629757210790.post-46102866511920515042011-05-21T13:21:49.948-07:002011-05-21T13:21:49.948-07:00My friend told me that apparently Charlemagne inve...My friend told me that apparently Charlemagne invented school. One down!Leenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18400631126279812893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131409629757210790.post-47080620234213654662011-05-16T19:21:59.878-07:002011-05-16T19:21:59.878-07:00Kristin-
Questions to ask an agent: Definitely a...Kristin- <br /><br />Questions to ask an agent: Definitely ask about revision ideas. It's so important to make sure you both are on the same page. Also, ask about communication style. I didn't realize how important that was to me until I had an agent who didn't communicate very well. Luckily, Michael's communication is awesome. He's spoiled me for anyone else.<br /><br />Why I decided on Michael- Well, I'd heard such good things about him, but that wasn't necessarily the deciding factor, since I'd also heard great things about the other agents. In the end, I loved our rapport over the phone, and I especially loved his revision ideas, and his vision of the book as a series. I remember him asking, "You've created such a great world. Are you really ready to be done with it after only one book?"<br /><br />I was all, "No. I'm not ready to be done the Everneath!"<br /><br />In the end, his plan involved more work on my end, but I was also the most excited about it. <br /><br />Other Advice for The Call: Make sure you answer the phone, and you aren't blow-drying your hair at the exact moment your potential is calling. (Yeah, I did that with Michael. No one else.) I've also been unreachable for him a few times at some very crucial points in the submission process. Like when we had an offer. <br /><br />So, my main advice for handling "The Call" is to answer "The Phone". <br /><br />Also, realize you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you.Brodi Ashtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13895732483547245372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131409629757210790.post-33447229887214489112011-05-16T16:59:21.901-07:002011-05-16T16:59:21.901-07:00Hi, Brodi. Sorry I am just now getting to my quest...Hi, Brodi. Sorry I am just now getting to my questions. Crazy busy weekend. :)<br /><br />My questions have to do with "The Call."<br /><br />What would you consider the most important questions you asked? <br /><br />Since you had multiple offers, what was the deciding factor/s that led to you going with Michael Bourret?<br /><br />Is there any other advice you would give for handling "The Call"?<br /><br />Thanks!<br /><br />BTW....Can't wait for the EVERNEATH cover reveal! :)Kristin Lynn Thetfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12108909242693115499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131409629757210790.post-40827050791511575312011-05-16T14:14:03.701-07:002011-05-16T14:14:03.701-07:00Great answer. Thank you. I was always just wonderi...Great answer. Thank you. I was always just wondering about it. I think staying true to the character is important and while I don't normally swear, there are occasions when I do, and that's just me. I know there are those that do and that's them and in order for a book to be more true to life, all kinds of characters are going to be present in novels.Jenni Elysehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08403700912436098391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131409629757210790.post-82307580592901136242011-05-14T09:25:08.304-07:002011-05-14T09:25:08.304-07:00Heather- I totally agree. Avatar could kick Sonic ...Heather- I totally agree. Avatar could kick Sonic to the moon.<br /><br />Kristin- Questions are welcome all weekend!Brodi Ashtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13895732483547245372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131409629757210790.post-79997697119067462392011-05-14T09:23:51.547-07:002011-05-14T09:23:51.547-07:00Jenilyn- Everneath took me about six months of wri...Jenilyn- Everneath took me about six months of writing. It went through several rounds of revisions with my crit group, and then I turned it in to my then-agent. When we parted ways, I started querying it the next day. <br /><br />I think I just knew I couldn't take it any further without help.Brodi Ashtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13895732483547245372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131409629757210790.post-15309575030616368672011-05-14T09:21:16.506-07:002011-05-14T09:21:16.506-07:00Lulabell- I like to write in the mornings. Sometim...Lulabell- I like to write in the mornings. Sometimes I need a good Word War (where a bunch of Twitter friends write for an hour straight and then share our word counts.)<br /><br />I like to have water, Diet Coke, and Tea nearby, as well as the playlist for the book softly playing in the background. I'm one of those writers who needs background noise. :)Brodi Ashtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13895732483547245372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131409629757210790.post-58696413210662907202011-05-13T21:53:47.615-07:002011-05-13T21:53:47.615-07:00Ask you anything day? Very cool. I am compiling a ...Ask you anything day? Very cool. I am compiling a list. Don't worry, it's a short one, and the questions should be easier to answer than Kid C's. <br /><br />I just hope that your "day" does not expire at midnight.... :)Kristin Lynn Thetfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12108909242693115499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131409629757210790.post-27860575498959684162011-05-13T21:38:09.469-07:002011-05-13T21:38:09.469-07:00I might be able to help with kid's question #2...I might be able to help with kid's question #2:<br /><br />Avatar.<br /><br />You're welcome!Heather Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09535376783728835286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131409629757210790.post-58184523279519898252011-05-13T18:34:35.761-07:002011-05-13T18:34:35.761-07:00Those questions sound like the ones from my kids. ...Those questions sound like the ones from my kids. Fortunately, my husband is really, really good at answering questions, so I can usually send them to him and he will actually tell them why the sky is blue and those sorts of things. <br /><br />So, some questions that you can answer: <br /><br />How long did it take you to write EVERNEATH? How did you know it was ready to query?Jenilyn Collingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13166139358513659892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131409629757210790.post-32820404751935879252011-05-13T16:19:02.539-07:002011-05-13T16:19:02.539-07:00I love Kid C's questions. He is practically a ...I love Kid C's questions. He is practically a Zen Master!<br /><br />I'd like to know what you do to get ready to sit and write. Do you have a routine to get you in a groove? Do you prefer silence or background noise? What gets those creative juices flowing?lulabellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05649870862527841322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131409629757210790.post-57673262831241311722011-05-13T15:20:13.795-07:002011-05-13T15:20:13.795-07:00LC- That's a good question.
My first book ne...LC- That's a good question. <br /><br />My first book never sold, and I had to part ways with my first agent. That was definitely a dark moment where I wondered how I'd gotten so close only to end up so far off-track.<br /><br />But I never stopped writing. Thankfully I had another book ready to go, because the only thing I could concentrate on while my first book was being submitted was writing the second book. <br /><br />As far as after the deal, I sort of took a walkabout for three months at the beginning of 2011, only to realize that when you sell three books, they're going to actually want to see book 2. And even book 3. <br /><br />I had to really kickstart my motivation again, and it's only now that I feel like I'm in a groove for book 2 in the Everneath series. <br /><br />I don't know, did that answer your question?Brodi Ashtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13895732483547245372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131409629757210790.post-15147822736249974112011-05-13T14:17:32.873-07:002011-05-13T14:17:32.873-07:00How many times did you realize you'd fallen of...How many times did you realize you'd fallen off the writing horse, chastized yourself and got back on? From when you decided to write a novel to when a publisher picked up everneath.<br />(Did I actually just write 'got'?)LC Piperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12141615222928717833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131409629757210790.post-60566179469937942532011-05-13T13:47:05.225-07:002011-05-13T13:47:05.225-07:00Donna- Am I ever sorry:
Nope. Not yet. I'm fee...Donna- Am I ever sorry:<br />Nope. Not yet. I'm feeling the pressure of a tight deadline for a sequel, but I haven't felt any regret about my road so far. <br /><br />I'm definitely not ready to walk away from it. I feel like I've made it to Base Camp of Everest; a feat, but not exactly the summit. <br /><br />Thanks for asking!Brodi Ashtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13895732483547245372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131409629757210790.post-63647282729003646482011-05-13T13:45:01.093-07:002011-05-13T13:45:01.093-07:00Katie- Yay! I can't wait.
Jenn-
ARC contest...Katie- Yay! I can't wait. <br /><br />Jenn- <br />ARC contests: That's an excellent idea! I'm not sure how many ARCs I'll be getting, but hopefully I'll have a few extras I can use for contests. <br /><br />Crying: I have no idea. But I didn't cry at all. I think I'd convinced myself that every rejection got me closer to my goal, and I really believed it when people told me it's a subjective business. I was really prepared that every writer experiences rejection. Every. Single. One.<br /><br />And then, I ate lots of chocolate.<br /><br />I never gave up, because... well, I just didn't. I think it was Sara Zarr (talking about bad reviews) who said give yourself a day to mourn it, and then move on. I think that's what I did. "That sucks. On to the next one."<br /><br />Favorite book of 2011 so far: I can never pick favorites. But one I'm reading right now (Divergent) is pretty darn awesome. <br /><br />Thanks for the questions!Brodi Ashtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13895732483547245372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131409629757210790.post-63162973502455030272011-05-13T13:37:12.603-07:002011-05-13T13:37:12.603-07:00Don't you love the insight a child's quest...Don't you love the insight a child's questions give to how their thinking process works? They can ask some great questions, though.<br /><br />Brodi, have you ever been sorry you started on this writing journey? Ever ready to just walk away from it?Donna K. Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15763832177263927311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131409629757210790.post-89349649243110832352011-05-13T13:25:15.854-07:002011-05-13T13:25:15.854-07:00I feel extremely lucky - both of my kids are still...I feel extremely lucky - both of my kids are still stuck on "What's this?" as their only question. (Although they do ask it constantly, and about things they can identify on their own. *sigh*) MY questions are: Will you have any contests for ARCs when they become available? How did you keep from crying/consuming large amounts of chocolate/giving up when you got rejections from agents/publishers? And what has been your favorite book so far for 2011?Jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15369907847575573881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131409629757210790.post-55512793460323538082011-05-13T13:08:09.072-07:002011-05-13T13:08:09.072-07:00Funny post! Sounds like my kid "a". :) I...Funny post! Sounds like my kid "a". :) I'll be thinking of a question for ya...Katie Dodgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17554091817717890150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131409629757210790.post-65404360039985380402011-05-13T12:44:14.253-07:002011-05-13T12:44:14.253-07:00I hate to burst your bubble...I heard 'the mos...I hate to burst your bubble...I heard 'the most interesting man in the world' on a radio show and let me say, he was NOT the most interesting man in the world. Sorry for the spoiler!Samhttp://www.samandbrodi.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131409629757210790.post-74483023826029766582011-05-13T12:02:40.942-07:002011-05-13T12:02:40.942-07:00David- Ha ha ha! Stay thirsty my friends. If it ma...David- Ha ha ha! Stay thirsty my friends. If it makes your 5-year-old feel any better, I used to think that commercial was true, and he really WAS the most interesting man in the world. I was all, how do they decide that?Brodi Ashtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13895732483547245372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131409629757210790.post-11190915457253400872011-05-13T11:57:52.746-07:002011-05-13T11:57:52.746-07:00If I could just add my 5-year-old's best quest...If I could just add my 5-year-old's best question ever, which he asked after seeing the Dos Equis commercial with the Most Interesting Man in the World:<br /><br />"Why does he want his friends to stay thirsty?"David Kazziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11753721662077319561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131409629757210790.post-17417973485884431782011-05-13T11:54:40.994-07:002011-05-13T11:54:40.994-07:00Heather- That's awesome on the apartment! Cong...Heather- That's awesome on the apartment! Congratulations!Brodi Ashtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13895732483547245372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131409629757210790.post-43930694901800467032011-05-13T11:53:31.478-07:002011-05-13T11:53:31.478-07:00Oh you know I'll be at the launch party. Dress...Oh you know I'll be at the launch party. Dressed as one of your characters. <br /><br />Yes, we are moving. I put a deposit on a 3 bedroom apartment in Sandy yesterday. Then I was immediately hit with buyer's remorse that is now starting to dissipate. We get the keys next Saturday.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02055917400129001485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131409629757210790.post-65372917018529011082011-05-13T11:50:10.718-07:002011-05-13T11:50:10.718-07:00Sam- I kidnapped him and took him to the Everneath...Sam- I kidnapped him and took him to the Everneath, where he was so out of it he thought he loved me.<br /><br />The Lambada<br /><br />42Brodi Ashtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13895732483547245372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131409629757210790.post-67355842691368591872011-05-13T11:48:44.368-07:002011-05-13T11:48:44.368-07:00Heather- You're moving??!! I didn't know t...Heather- You're moving??!! I didn't know this! But, I would say, you can make the best out of any situation, no matter where you end up, so I'm sure this will be a good move! <br /><br />You should paint your living room Botany Beige. <br /><br />Of course we will see and talk to each other. Come to my launch party in January!<br /><br />ARC's will probably be out in mid to late June. A little over a month. Crazy.Brodi Ashtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13895732483547245372noreply@blogger.com