How it Ends (33 page)
Authors: Laura Wiess
I’m bad at pinpointing favorites—they shift along with my moods—but at Hanna’s age I liked funny, heartwarming family stories like
Cheaper by the Dozen
(the original book by Frank Gilbreth and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, not the movie), thrillers, Gothic mysteries, horror (Stephen King), drama, love stories, and nonfiction back-to-the-land books. Animal stories, too. Stories with characters that made me invest everything I had in their happiness, fret over them, and get really depressed when the book was over and I could no longer walk with them.
Hmm, come to think of it, these are still pretty much the books I reach for. Give me a character to love and I’ll follow her or him anywhere.
- 9. There are some pretty devastating scenes in this book, particularly as we near the end. Were any of these scenes painful for you to write? Do you get emotionally attached to your
characters?
Yes, the scenes you refer to were very hurtful to write. Being trapped with absolutely no escape, being inside the minds’ of Helen and Lon, feeling the pain, desperation, and helplessness they felt, running panicked and terrified with Hanna…none of it was good. I cried a lot, because yes, I do get emotionally attached to my characters.
- 10. Even though this book is categorized as a young adult novel it is also appropriate for older readers. Do you consider yourself a YA writer? Do you write with any particular audience in mind?
Based on the reader e-mail I’ve received so far,
Such a Pretty Girl
and
Leftovers
both have a pretty wide audience, ranging from about fourteen years old to readers in their seventies. Those books are
about
teens but maybe not necessarily only
for
teens. But yes, I do consider myself a YA writer.
- 11. Was there a message for young people you were trying to convey? Does writing for a YA audience lend itself to lessons?
No, I hope no messages but rather questions asked, and for these characters, hopefully answered. How does love begin? Is any love good love? What do you bring to the partnership? What do you allow in the name of love, behavior-wise, and what do you reject? Is there sacrifice, and if so, why? How does love end? What about perfect, fairy-tale love? If we believe in that, are we doomed to disappointment or can it possibly survive reality? What if no one is
ever
really who you think they are? What then?
I love questions, and I love them best when I can find some answers.
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- Hanna and Mrs. Schoenmaker bond over their love of animals. In one poignant scene they discuss the migration patterns of monarch butterflies after Mrs. Schoenmaker gives Hanna a book on the subject. Find out more about monarch butterflies at
http://www.monarchwatch.org/
. - Give some of your time to someone who needs companionship. Sign up to help out at a nursing home or hospital or make cookies and have tea with a favorite neighbor.
- Arrange a volunteer outing at an animal shelter or find out how you can help animals in need at
http://www.charity-guide.org/volunteer/animal-protection.htm
or
http://www.hsus.org/pets/animal_shelters/how_to_volunteer_at_your_ local_animal_shelter.html
,
http://www.aspca.org/
. - Learn more about the author at
www.laurawiess.com
and
www.myspace.com/gypsyrobin
.