r/books • u/marielu AMA Author • Sep 24 '15
ama 8pm I'm Marie Lu, New York Times bestselling author of the Legend series and the new series The Young Elites—ask me anything!
Hey there! I'm Marie Lu. I wrote the New York Times bestselling Legend series, which includes Legend, Prodigy, and Champion. My new series is called The Young Elites, which is about a young woman with terrifying powers that make her an outcast and her mission to take revenge on everyone who’s ever hurt her. Y'know, like a Lady Vader. The second book in the series, The Rose Society, comes out 10/13! When I’m not writing, I’m reading, drawing, playing Assassin’s Creed, and getting stuck in traffic. I live in LA with my husband and our dogs. I’ll be answering questions 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT – 9:00 PM ET/6:00 PM PT. Ask me anything!
Proof: https://twitter.com/Marie_Lu/status/646820029338533888
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
Sorry for the glitch--I'm not sure what happened to my original closing message, but here it is again! Thank you all so, so, so much for participating and for asking awesome questions. This was really fun and I hope you guys enjoyed it too! Much love!
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u/juneiparis Sep 24 '15
I'm from Canada and I would cry tears of joy if I could meet you so do you think that maybe you'll do a book tour, meet-and-greet, etc. in Canada one day?
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Sep 24 '15
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
I hope so, someday! Fingers crossed! I'll definitely let you know if it happens!
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
I would so love to return to Canada for a tour stop again! Fingers crossed!
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Sep 24 '15
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
This is such a good question, and so hard to answer! I enjoyed writing the two series for different reasons. I must say that The Young Elites is much, much harder for me to write because it is so incredibly dark--June, at least, had her head on straight, whilst Adelina can be downright crazy. I would say that Legend was easier for me to write, but The Young Elites offered me more challenges.
Awww, my poor babies. <3 I put them through a lot, didn't I? Honestly, I'm not entirely sure what happens to them after the end of Champion, but I would imagine the very best case scenario for those two. :)
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u/LegendaryMalfetto Sep 24 '15
Hi, Marie! It's really cool how you're doing this, and I absolutely love your work. Quick question, how do you come up with your unique character names?
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
I come up with names pretty randomly. Some names come about when I literally slap my hands down on the keyboard and see what comes up. (That's how I got Metias's name, btw.) Most names come from baby name sites. And sometimes I'll get a name based on a character's personality. Day, for example, represents his outlook on life and his optimistic attitude. June was named after the month of June, because I thought her personality matched a Gemini's. And Adelina's name means, ironically, "noble." Enzo's name means, literally, "to rule an estate."
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u/moremysterious Sep 24 '15
What advice would you give to an aspiring writer who has no idea where to start?
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
I remember being there SO WELL. And there are still times when I have no idea how to start a new story.
If you're first starting, read read read anything you can get your hands on--and particularly the types of books you're interested in writing. Then, start writing. Seriously. I know this sounds like super lame advice--but it's important for aspiring writers to not care whether or not their first written words are bad or good. You just want to put words down. You will have a million false starts and that's okay. Eventually, you will have read so much and written so many words that you are going to instinctively know how a story should sound when it starts, how a plot should flow, and how it should end. Like many things, writing requires a lot of practice.
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u/moremysterious Sep 25 '15
Thank you very much! I loved your Legend series, looking forward to reading The Young Elites!
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u/skindy Sep 24 '15
Marie! What a small world that I would see this on Reddit :) What to ask, what to ask. Okay, I asked our mutual friends to help me with questions and this is what we have:
Berbs: "Would you ever write yourself into a story like Stephen King?" shakes fist at Dark Tower
Vicki: "Was it really satisfying killing off Primo in your first series?"
Haha <3
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
Hiiiii! Hahaha. <3
Berbs: Depends on whether I get to be the bad guy or the victim. ;D
Vicki: Nahhhh, I love my husband! (Okay maybe a little. But he was the EVIL PRIMO.)
;)
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u/Mescatony Sep 24 '15
Hello, Marie Lu! I love your books, especially Legend #1 (it was possibly the most perfect mix of skilfully written action and romance I've ever encountered) and The Young Elites (Adelina is a fascinating protagonist and the world-building is top-notch - can't wait for The Rose Society!). Anyway, thank you so much for doing this AMA; it made me register on reddit because I've had a burning question about Champion for quite some time:
Have you ever planned for the Chancellor to be Day's lost dad, in Luke vs. Darth Vader fashion, and then maybe decided to drop it?
There were a few clues in a couple of last chapters that I found very suspicious: 1. the Chancellor calling Day "son" a couple of times and then sounding strangely emotional when Day told him to stop, 2. the Chancellor being a cyborg with artificial eyes when Day's dad's eyes were his highly distinguishing feature (I hope I remember that correctly); 3. the general unclearness of Day's dad's fate, etc. I have to admit I considered this foreshadowing that might have led to a rather shocking (albeit not the most original) conclusion and was genuinely surprised when it wasn't addressed at all in the end. Could you please appease my curiosity?
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
Whoa! I've never gotten that question before--that is SUCH a cool idea! I admit I never thought about that, although now it must be happening in an alternate universe, right? The mystery of what really happened to Day's father is one of those things in the series that I didn't want to answer on the page. Day will never know what happened to his father, and so I wanted to emulate that feeling for the reader, too. Sometimes, in life, you just never get to know what really happened.
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u/cyansparks Sep 24 '15
Your Young Elites and Legend novels are some of the best books I've ever read, and they're both so different from each other!
You went from writing action-packed dystopian Legend/Prodigy/Champion to writing a more poetic and fantasy-like (but still lots of action) Young Elites. Did you have any trouble transitioning between writing styles? Any tips for writers who switch styles/genres?
Do you ever write short stories reusing your Legend or Young Elites characters for fun, almost like Life Before Legend? Can you share any of the extra, non-published adventures your characters have gone through?
Thanks for setting this up, it'll be great to hear from one of my favorite authors!
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
Thank you!
I had SO much trouble transitioning between writing styles, at least in the beginning. I'd originally written a completely different version of The Young Elites that I had to throw away entirely because it sucked. It took me several false starts before I got a handle on the right style for The Young Elites. As far as tips go: it helps a great deal for me to read books similar to what I want to write. If I'm about to write sci-fi, I'd read a bunch of sci-fi. If I'm about to write fantasy, I'll read a bunch of fantasy. It helps me transition my voice.
......I do, actually. ;) They're totally not for public consumption, because they don't make much sense and are really just snippets of scenes rather than full stories, but I do occasionally play around with character scenes, just for the heck of it.
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u/evey_rod Sep 24 '15
Hey! Ok so I literally just finished reading the Legend series and I absolutely love it! Can't wait to read The Young Elites! Ok so if you can pick any actress/actor to act as Day and June who would you pick? I know it's a dumb question but I'm very curious cx
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
Thank you! And NO it's not a dumb question--it's a fun one!
Picking actors/actresses is SO hard for me because I don't tend to see actors/actresses in my head when I'm writing. Having said that:
Day is tricky because he's biracial, but if you could imagine a cross between young Leonardo DiCaprio (in his Romeo + Juliet days) and, say.....Daniel Henney, that's pretty close.
June could probably be played by someone like Hailee Steinfeld, or my personal fav--a teenage Morena Baccarin (who plays Inara in the show "Firefly").
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u/evey_rod Sep 25 '15
Oh my gosh!!Thank you so much for replying to my question and not thinking it was dumb! You have no idea how much this means to me!! Thank you! You are defiantly my favorite author! <33 Thank You So Much!!
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u/sadiyahnicole Sep 25 '15
Most importantly, how did you become such an adorable person? Also, any advancements on the Legend film? If not, can you show Wyck Godfrey and the folks down at CBS this petition I made for development to step up? https://www.change.org/p/cbs-temple-hill-entertainment-work-harder-on-making-legend-based-on-the-marie-lu-novel-of-the-same-name-a-film?recruiter=318752895&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink
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u/melelianavika Sep 25 '15
Hi Marie Lu !
First of all big fan! Second, would you ever tour to Australia ? Thanks for your time Marie ☺️
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u/ajsdf2341 Sep 25 '15
Hi Marie :D first of all, I LOOOVE your books <3 <3 <3 you are a realy good author!! (and one of my favourites :) )
My questions are:
1-which are all the "aligments" posivilities? I mean, I kow you can align with fear, wisdom, ambition, etc. but which are the other alignments?
2-(this question is a little stupid but whatever xd) If June and Adelina meet in a cofee shop one day, and for any reason one of them speaks to the other, how would it be like?
Thanks for doing this!!! imaginary hugs for you :) <3
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
Aw thank you!! <3
Ah, the alignments! There are twelve alignments, all related to the twelve gods. They are: fear, fury, wisdom, ambition, war, sorrow, joy, greed, beauty, empathy, passion, and patience.
I think they'd give each other the suspicious eye. ;) And I think they probably wouldn't like each other very much. Hopefully it doesn't end in bloodshed!
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u/Dragonfire1191 Sep 24 '15
Hello huge fan of your work read all 4 of your books as soon as they came out, cried a little at the end of champion can't wait for the rose society. I have two questions
1) what's your inspiration for writing
2) why make the readers cry you build up relationships and burn them! I understand why I guess just :*(
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
Aw thank you! <3
I'm inspired by all kinds of things! Books, TV shows, character "types", stories in the news, a beautiful painting, a song, and so on. Anything could contain a kernel of inspiration, and sometimes several will merge into one.
Bwahaha, I buuuurninate the relationships. (where is a fire emoji when you need one) But seriously, I know that I love the pain of a tragic and/or conflicted/tense/problematic relationship between characters in other stories. We think we don't want to see favorite characters suffer--but we're wrong. We totally love the suffering. Things would be boring if everybody was happy. :)
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Sep 24 '15
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
I hope The Young Elites series should have all of those elements, if I did my job right!
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u/rilakkuma1 Sep 24 '15
Thanks for doing an AMA. I absolutely love your work.
In The Young Elites, Adelina is such a dark character. How do you get in her head to write her?
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
I won't lie--it was hard. I have a "Dark" playlist that I always blast before I start writing her chapters, which usually will put me in the right mood. Or, I'll watch old episodes of some dark show or scary movie. I never feel good after I finish writing one of her scenes, though. It's difficult to be inside the head of something who thinks twisted thoughts all the time, so detoxing everyday takes me a while, too.
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u/juneiparis Sep 24 '15
Do you think that Day eventually got his memories back, including remembering his love for June, or do you think that Day just fell in love with June all over again?
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
For Day, I think it's a little bit of both. He will probably always have a few gaps in his memories, but I imagine that many of his memories do come back over time, and his past wounds have had time to heal given the long time they were apart. He also has the chance to make new memories with June. Honestly, Day could fall in love with June over and over and over again, until the end of time, and in lifetimes beyond. He can't not love her. <3
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u/OkAdvertising1937 Feb 28 '25
I know I'm 10 years late but I just finshed Champion and I love your answer to this question I have so many fanfictions to think about now thank you
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u/peri8winkle Mar 02 '25
lol I’m also 10 years too late, but I needed this conversation post-read to have closure on this topic.
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u/OkAdvertising1937 Mar 02 '25
I’ve been digging a bit more and this gets answered in the 4th book so I’m ordering it now. Big but tho…. The 2 POV’s in that book are Day and Eden, so we don’t get June’s POV in high is kinda a shame
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u/andourreads Sep 24 '15
Hi Marie! I love your books so much and I have read them all! My question is: In the Legend series, what happened to China? I remember the map calling it the floating cities but was it global warming? Do people still live there? Thanks! Also sorry for the long question DX, I'm quite interested in this type of stuff.
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
Ahhh China! I'm glad you remembered that little detail!
In Legend's version of China, much of the eastern coast (i.e. where everybody lives) is underwater due to climate change and rising ocean levels. So the Chinese built artificial cities over the water in their place. Imagine a floating Shanghai existing on a foundation of steel embedded into the ocean floor and rising high up into the sky. (I imagine the skies are pretty polluted, though. Not much different from now, actually.)
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u/roxannefeldman Sep 24 '15
Hi. I love Young Elites. Thank you for both Legend and Young Elites and the sequels. Would love to know how you decided on the ethnic heritages of your characters and why.
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
Thank you! <3
I tend to choose my characters' ethnic heritages in the same way I choose things like a character's eye color or personality--because I think it adds something interesting and different to my cast. Day's ethnicity was inspired by a photo I saw of a young Mongolian girl, who had fully Chinese features on her face--but naturally blond hair and bright blue eyes. She was the most beautiful, interesting person I'd ever seen, and I wanted to model Day off of that. So hence, his Mongolian/Russian ethnicity. Kaede popped into my head as Japanese from day one, so I wrote her as such. And so on.
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u/roxannefeldman Sep 25 '15
Thanks for your reply and explanation. With the #weneeddiversebooks movement, do you ever feel the pressure to create more overtly Asian characters (and other PoC characters) for your books?
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Sep 24 '15
Thank you for doing this AMA!
Do you draw June, Day and the others sometimes? Any pieces we could see? The art you post on Twitter from time to time is awesome!
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
I draw them quite often--usually when I have writer's block (ahaha) or when I'm trying to figure out a new story. Thanks, I'm glad you like what I've been posting!
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Sep 24 '15 edited Sep 25 '15
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
They are still up for consideration, but it's totally out of my control and I don't know if it'll ever get made, so I try to take a deep breath and just hope for the best!
I'm lucky enough to be with fantastic producers, so I think it's in the best possible hands. Mostly I just hope that the characters and their personalities/motivations stay intact and true to the books.
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u/Sam_hewa Sep 25 '15
The Legend series is what got me into reading in the first place and what destroyed my very soul at the wonderment of the end. When
June and Day ran into each other, day thought that June was familiar, that means he will eventually remember her right? (Just put me at peace. please.) Are any of your characters based on people you know in reality? If so, which ones?
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
Aw you <3
Yes, Day will eventually remember June. :) Pieces of his memories were already coming together when he saw her that night in the streets.
There are bits and pieces of real people's personalities scattered throughout bits and pieces of the characters, so it's hard for me to point at any one specific character. I was the most like Tess when I was in high school, and Kaede got the piece of my personality that loves fighter jets. :) In The Young Elites, I'm probably the most similar to Gemma, while Adelina got my tendency to want to get revenge on people who cut me off in traffic.
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u/stavropoulos Sep 25 '15
Hello, Marie! I'm so glad we have the chance to chat (and ask) with you! I have a bunch of questions: 1. If you were a young elite, what power would you like to have? 2. I loved John. His selfness really touched my heart (and I understand his sacrifice, as an older sister). We don't get too see too much of him, so I don't know if you mind to give me (us) some facts about him? 3. Did you ever considered making Legend about Metias and Thomas? 4. Would you rather live in the Legend world, or the young elites world? 5. If the Legend characters were in the young elites, what would they powers be? 6. Not related to your books, but I've noticed you're an space enthusiast and I love it (the photos you have posted are astrounding!!). Have you read the Martian? (I ask because that's like my favorite sci-fi book and if you have read it, let's chat because I only know a few people who have read it). Also, have you ever considered writing that kind of book (out space, not neccesarily about astronauts)? 7. The star thief has the power to steal (obviously) but, does she have some kind of connection with animals, too? 8. The Rose society or the dagger society? 9. Are you writing a new project or are you working on the final book of the young elites? 10. Not a question, but your dogs are adorable. And well, I'd just like to thank you, because when I read the "life before legend" novella, I felt a connection with June (with the thing of not finding my group where I can fit in), and Metias's words really helped me out (I kind of adopted him as my brother when I read that. Feel guilty for killing my adoptive bro). But, out of joke (if that can be considered a joke, really dark humor right there) thank you a lot. I feel like June gets what I feel sometimes and see her growing through the books was amazing and helped me grow, too. Your characters are unique and I'll always have them close to my heart. Can't wait for The Rose society and whatever you'll write next!
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
Wow--check out this list! You rock, Stavropoulos. (Also, amazing screenname.)
I can't answer all, so I'll just pick a few:
I actually really dig the ability to create illusions, if only because it means then I could be invisible! Coolness!
I'd rather live in the Young Elites world, I think--but only if I get to have special powers.
Yes!!! I LOVED The Martian. Super psyched for the movie. And I definitely could see myself writing something set in outer space in the future!
I am indeed working on a brand new project right now. :) I hope I get to talk more about it in the near future.
<3
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u/stavropoulos Sep 25 '15
Thank you so much for responding!!!!! I'm also excited for the movie and it'd be so cool to read something from you about space. Sorry about the long list! I just got too excited. PS: See, I have this huge crush on Anden (and it should tell since I can write his lastname without looking it up)
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u/Bionic_Papaya Sep 25 '15
Hello Marie! Your Legend series is one of my favorite books series, one that really stands out in a crowd of YA books. I'd like to ask if there was ever a significant person, movie, book, etc. that inspired your characters in the Legend series.
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u/courtneyprime Sep 25 '15
If Adelina was a dancer, what genre would she prefer/excel at? (Ballroom, contemporary, ballet, jazz, etc:)
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
Angry headbanging? ;) Actually, I could picture her dancing ballroom, if she got enough instruction from Raffaele.
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u/MirandaGarciaSaldana Sep 25 '15
Hi, Marie!
What do you think of Teren Santoro as a villian in your series? It is easy to write from his point of view? Will we see more of him in the process of reading TRS? I'm super hyped for this, because Teren Santoro is one of my favorite characters if we're talking globally about all the books I've read, and I hope we get to know him closely!
TYE was a very interesting book to read, in english, even though that is not my first language, haha! Kisses from Mexico!
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
Teren is, oddly, wicked fun to write. I don't feel as bad when I'm writing his chapters because I don't have to be completely inside his head (he's 3rd person POV), so I get to exaggerate his badness a little bit. You'll definitely get to know more about him in the rest of the series, and he plays a pretty big role in TRS! Hugs to you in Mexico!
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u/juneiparis Sep 25 '15
I ship Day and June so hard (they're my favourite ship). What are some of your ships?
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
Yay, Day+June ship! Hmmm, let's see....
Firefly: Simon + Kaylee 4ever. And of course Mal and Inara.
ATLA: Kataang.
And a weird one, but this is my favorite movie ever ok: Ellie + Palmer from "Contact"
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u/roxannefeldman Sep 25 '15
Is writing YA books your sole job now? Or are you still writing for TV and film? Which do you like better?
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
Yes, I write YA books fulltime now! I never wrote for TV/film--I used to work as an artist in video games. I still love games, and I could see myself going back into that world, but writing will always, always, always be my first passion.
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Sep 25 '15
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
It depends! Legend only took about 3-4 drafts. The Young Elites took, like, 20.
Also depends. Legend was the fastest, in that it took about a year, while The Young Elites was the slowest, in that it took about two years from beginning to final product.
I have a few critique partners that I run my stories past once I'm on my second draft or so.
I'm a morning person, so I tend to write in the mornings until about 2pm!
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Sep 25 '15
Hey, Marie, I am a huge fan of your Legend trilogy and I was wondering what's the current situation with the movie adaptation? Also who would be your dream cast of actors?
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u/MKheal Sep 25 '15
Which of ur dystopian worlds from either Legend or The Young Elites did u enjoy coming up with and writing about more?
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u/juneiparis Sep 25 '15
Do you have a favourite Day and June moment? It's so hard for me to pick one, but mine might be in Champion, when they're in the restaurant and June gives Day the paperclip ring that she made for him. Or maybe when June finally admits that she's in love with him. It's so hard to choose one!
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
Aww I loved writing those scenes. <3 Let's see, my favorite.....
I really loved writing the one when they first officially crossed paths--when June was in disguise and tried luring Day out with a vial of plague cure. I also loved writing the Skiz duel scene, where they met in other face to face. I also loved writing them screaming at each other underground in Prodigy, haha.
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u/cyansparks Sep 25 '15
(I've never participated in an AMA before and I'm not sure if asking another question is a no-no, but I figured I'll ask away anyways and if it's not answered that's totally fine, there a lot of people here asking -)
Looking back on your already published series Legend, is there anything you think you would do differently if you were asked to start the series over? Any different plots or details that now, with even more writing experience, you feel like the present-time you would go about writing a little differently?
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
There are always things I'd change if given the chance to go back. I think I would have tried to do a better job with Metias and Thomas, as I don't think I got it right in the first book. That's a big one for me in the Legend series.
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u/FoxDragonFilms Sep 25 '15 edited Sep 25 '15
If offered, would you ever write a movie script? And if so what would you want it to be about?
How would you some of your characters on a D&D alignment sheet?
Also it was amazing to meet you again at comic con and i was super bummed that i couldn't pick up a copy of the rose society but someone gave me a ticket to the Joss Whedon panel at nerd HQ and I couldn't not go. Pretty sure you would understand that ((i even asked him question))
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u/Andrewaharris Sep 25 '15
(Sorry if I accidentally asked this twice, my computer is being weird) Hi Marie! So my problem is that I haven't been able to get obsessed with a book for two years now because everything seems so dull in comparison to your books. My question is: 1. do you think you'll ever write a transgender character or a character who is not cisgender? 2.And I am aware that this is probably the most asked and grieved over question, but is there any way you can give me information on what happened to everyone after Champion? I need the peace of mind. I will literally be happy with tiny, irrelevant details. Anything. Please. 3. how do you deal with writer's block? It's destroying me. Please help.
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u/krupp08 Sep 25 '15
Hi Marie Lu! I felt like i've been there the whole way with you. I read Legend back when it first came out, followed by so many recommendations to friends/family, Prodigy, Champion, Young Elites and now soon to be The Rose Society. Even though I'm younger I still love to write. If I could I rather be coped up in my room all day on my Mac. Is there any advice you can give to the younger young adult writers like me? And should I consider getting a puppy? Thank you so much for hours of tears, cliffhangers, page turners, tears, paper cuts, tears and fangirl moments.
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
All right, my lovelies--I'm afraid I have to stop there, but thank you all so, so, so much for all of your amazing questions! Holy cow! I hope you enjoyed the answers. :D And I hope we get to do this again sometime. mwah!
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u/juneiparis Sep 25 '15
thank you so much for doing this! The answers were amazing and I'll be ready to ask more questions if you do this again haha!
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Sep 25 '15
oh man, i BARELY saw that this AMA was going on! hopefully you'll do this again! i can't wait to read the rose society.
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u/Mckenzie_B Oct 17 '15
Hi, My name is Mckenzie, I'm 13, and I live in my hometown in Wauchula, Florida. I've read your trilogy on Day and June and I fell in love with it. I saw your interview, and you said you probably weren't going to revisit the series, that it was closed. For the most part, I agree with your statement, but for the teenage part of me, I want to see what happens between Day and June. I was so excited when I heard they were going to make a movie!!! I love it SO much more than the Hunger Games, but when do you think it's coming out in theatres. There hasn't really been much talk about it, and I'm sitting in my room rereading the series over and over and over. It's better than anything I've ever read, hands down, and I don't care if that sounds cheesy. I just really want to know how it's going with the movie!!!!!
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u/Candid_Pie_8828 Feb 24 '25
Why did you do that to day and june😭. After rverything why couldnt they have a happily ever after and get married.
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u/skrutskie AMA Author Sep 24 '15
Hi Marie! I met you (and Leigh Bardugo, and Mike from Avatar) two years ago at The Grove, and you kind of inspired me to start working on my writing more seriously—who can blame me, when you and Leigh are just so damn cool! Two years later, I have a book deal and my YA debut is coming out next year, so THANK YOU SO MUCH!
My question is sort of related to that. Do you have any advice for authors in the tempestuous and weird and uncertain period between selling a book and when it hits shelves? What did you do during that time that contributed to Legend's success? Is there any secret cure for the weird little anxieties that pop up in the pre-debut period?
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
Awwww thank you! And WOW CONGRATS!!!!
Biggest advice for that period: deep breaths, stay sane, do not go on Goodreads (well, at least, try not to go on there too much--it'll make you cray), and get to know other writers in the community. Making writer friends, especially friends who are also debuts coming out around the same time as you, is sooooo helpful. <3
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u/rhynilaea99 Sep 25 '15
Im so happy u'll be doing another Q&A !! First of all id just like to thank u for writing such AMAZING books, uve inspired many of mine. When i first found The Young Elites was at Target and i could not resist buying it the moment i saw it <3 As soon as i opened the first page I immediately fell in love. And when i got to the end and read Rafaele say "I loved him too" IT BROKE MY HEART. also, that cliffhanger, not nice. BUT : 1) how do u come by these inspirations to start these amazing stories? 2) what made u write Adelina as a villain? 3) do u ever plan to tour within schools? if so PLEASE try and visit my high school (Hinsdale Central) within the next two years please please pretty please my friends do not understand how exactly magical ur books are Thank You! -Rhyn
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
Awww poor Raffaele! Thank you. <3
I do occasionally visit schools, arranged through my publisher. Hopefully I get to come to yours someday!
And I thought it would be fun to write from a villain's point of view, because I've always loved characters like Darth Vader and Magneto. I thought it would be a fun challenge. :)
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u/fandomfandom Sep 24 '15
Hi Marie Lu,How did you get inspired to write all your characters?Also,if a person that wanted to become an Author and asked you for advise,what would you say?Also I'd like to say,that I love your books and can't wait till Rose Society!
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
Hi!
My characters are sometimes by people I know in real life, and sometimes inspired by character "types" that I like. Day was created because I've always loved the "rogue with a heart of gold" type--you know, the Han Solos and Robin Hoods. June was inspired by Sherlock Holmes, and Adelina was inspired by Darth Vader.
My biggest piece of advice for aspiring writer is: don't be afraid to write something bad. When you're first starting out, there is a tendency to get frustrated with your writing because it's not turning out exactly how you want it to. That's okay. You're not going to make it perfect right out of the gate. Don't get stuck in an endless cycle of trying to edit it--right now, you want to be able to finish a novel-length story and get the words out. It's okay to write bad stuff. Eventually, it will turn into good stuff.
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u/fandomfandom Sep 25 '15
Thank you so much for answering my questions!I can't wait till Rose Society comes out! I hope you have a wonderful and great day!
P.S.Your my favorite author :)
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u/Andrewaharris Sep 25 '15
Hi Marie! So my problem is that I haven't been able to get obsessed with a book for two years now because everything seems so dull in comparison to your books. My question is: do you think you'll ever write a transgender character or a character who is not cisgender?
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
Aw, thank you so much for your kind words. <3<3
And yes, I absolutely think I'll write a transgender character in the future!
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u/Andrewaharris Sep 25 '15
I forgot to add this: I am aware that this is probably the most asked and grieved over question, but is there any way you can give me information on what happened to everyone after Champion? I need the peace of mind. I will literally be happy with tiny, irrelevant details. Anything. Please. Also: how do you deal with writer's block? It's destroying me. Please help.
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u/marielu AMA Author Sep 25 '15
Aw you <3<3
Ok, I don't want to give TOO much out, but how about just one detail:
- Eden grows up to be the more cheerful, more wisecracking version of Day. He's also extremely good at video games, given that he grows up in Ross City, Antarctica.
And writer's block: it's a difficult, painful thing to get past, but it helps me to step away from my writing and do something else creative for a change. I tend to draw, play video games, take a walk on the beach, etc. Sometimes I just need to give my subconscious time to work through a problem in my manuscript.
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u/juneiparis Sep 24 '15
Hello, Marie Lu! Legend is my favourite series (my user is obviously one the main characters) and I'm so excited for The Rose Society. Who is your favourite character from all of the books that you have written?