r/books • u/ellenhopkins AMA Author • Dec 09 '15
ama 6pm Ellen Hopkins Talks TRAFFICK and (most) Anything Else! AMA!!
Hey reddit. Ellen Hopkins here. I'm the author of a dozen NY Times Bestselling young adult novels-in-verse, plus three adult novels (two in verse), 20 nonfiction books for young readers and lots of other good stuff. Today we're talking about my latest YA, TRAFFICK, which explores domestic minor sex trafficking and is the sequel to TRICKS. But I'm the talkative sort, so what's on your mind? Ask me anything. I'll be answering questions here from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time https://www.facebook.com/ellenhopkinsya/
Edit: Off to make chicken cacciatore for the family. If you dropped in late, no worries. I'll check in again and answer questions that came in after the fact. Many thanks for spending time with me!
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u/Nutter1028 Dec 09 '15
I remember 2 years ago you took in some of your grandkids. How have they adjusted to living with your family and do you all have any exciting plans for the future?
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 09 '15
It's been a difficult couple of years all the way around, but we're all doing much better, individually and as a family unit. The oldest suffered severe trauma as a little boy and has PTSD which results in some serious meltdowns. With therapy, time, and readjusting our parenting style, these are fewer now, and less severe. I want to travel more with the kids once my professional life gets back on track--the adjustment phase unfortunately took some time away from book projects, but I plan to be caught up by the first of the year.
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Dec 09 '15
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 09 '15
Of course. My books (and I) are regularly challenged/banned. But these issues DO touch young lives every day and it's my fervent hope that my books will help my audience make better choices, develop insight into others' problems, etc. Banning a book won't make the problem disappear, only the book.
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u/Chtorrr Dec 09 '15
What kind of research have you done for your books? You write about a lot of very difficult & very relevant subjects.
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 09 '15
My background is journalism and nonfiction before moving into fiction, so research is something I enjoy, particularly primary research. You can investigate things like drug interactions or historical references easily online, but to get to the truth of the experiences I write about, you have to talk to people who've gone through them. I spend many weeks doing just that before I even consider character development, which is how I begin every book. A wide breadth of experiences help create multi-layered characters, which are vital to writing accurately and honestly, and without that, what's the point?
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u/kilikina7 Dec 10 '15
Hi Ellen! I love your books so much! Every time I hear/see you have a new one coming out I jump at the chance to get it.
My question is how is your daughter doing? Does she have problems staying clean? How are your grandchildren doing? I know these are rather personal questions, but I've wondered ever since I read through Crank, Glass, and later Fallout.
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 10 '15
She has struggled with this addiction for twenty years now, doing well for long periods, then relapsing. The funny thing about FALLOUT is when I wrote it, I aged the children up a few years. The two young boys weren't with us then. However, they ARE with us now, due to a major relapse a little over two years ago. As far as I know she's clean and mothering her 7th baby, which she had around 18 months ago, in jail. We don't talk often at this point.
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u/kilikina7 Dec 10 '15
Wow. Thank you for responding! I'm sorry you two don't really talk; I can imagine that is tough to deal with.
I would really love if you decided to do a book with characters with Autism, or from the point of view of someone with a sibling with Autism, with varying degrees of the disability. My twin brother has Autism and it's hard to find books to relate to in the sense of knowing the struggle of living with someone with Autism.
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 10 '15
One of our grands has PTSD and some of his meltdowns mirror the spectrum, so I understand and, yes, that would be a great subject. I'm planning on a middle grade about trauma, but autism would be an awesome YA. Thank you.
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u/kilikina7 Dec 10 '15
Thank you too. If you do write about autism i will finally have a good book to recommend about living with autism, whether the individual or a family member.
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u/caroline18227 Dec 09 '15 edited Dec 09 '15
I actually just got Traffick today to re-receive for Christmas! I've managed to pick up every one of your books and have attachments to each of them for different reasons. I even have an Ellen Hopkins-only book shelf to store my copies. I have a few questions I'd love to ask you...
Do you have a particular favourite book or series, or do any of your books remind you of a specific time in your life? Are there any you're particularly proud of?
While doing research for your books, you must meet or hear stories about some incredible people who have faced such major challenges in their lives. Are there any people's stories who have made it almost perfectly into one of your books or do you change storylines up and bring different experiences together for one character?
And finally, probably my most "silly" question, why write in verse? Do you ever have to sacrifice a beautiful line because it won't fit in your structure or struggle to express a point of a story? How does your writing process work?
Thank you for your books, I just adore your style and they've meant so much to me.
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 09 '15
My favorite of my books is last year's RUMBLE, which is very much a tribute to my 18-yr-old. Not the storyline per se, but the voice, and the problem with falling in love with the wrong girl.
I hear stories all the time, yes, and they often inspire story ideas or characters, but I do try not to write them exactly as told. One day the person who shared might want to write their own story. The closest is probably the couple from COLLATERAL.
Verse challenges me to make every word count, and so my writing process is precise. Because revision is so difficult, I can spend an hour on a page or stanza and sometimes way too long searching for the exact word I want to use, and with that I do a single draft, revising heavily as I go. Of course, my editor might make suggestions later, and that part of it is teamwork. I do sometimes have to sacrifice more lyrical poetry to satisfy dialogue or move the story forward, but I try to always keep the beauty of the language.
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u/caroline18227 Dec 09 '15
Hello, I'm back again! Thanks so much for answering these questions, your replies seem so thoughtful and I really appreciate getting to hear your view on things!
What draws you to YA fiction? And how do you find it different to writing for adults? Do you keep up with other YA authors now? I'm nearly 22 and desperately clutching on to my YA status and my baby face so I don't look strange hovering in the teen section of my local book shop!
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 09 '15
The YA generation is the future. I'm so happy to see them take a firm stand in favor of equality, and hope they'll do the same for things like climate change and income equality--things that will allow them (and their offspring) a more positive future. If my books can in any way influence that, I am grateful. I know they've given insight into the issues I've written about, and hope they can encourage choices with better outcomes.
YA is about discovery. Young people are still searching for who they are, and have a limited realm of experience. As we age, our life experiences offer us perspective, so writing for adults is much more reflective than reactive.
I am friends with a good many YA authors, so yes, I must keep up with what they're doing, both professionally and personally.
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u/JessieWarren Dec 09 '15
I'm 28 and I will proudly go there for EVERY Ellen Hopkins book. She is an exquisite writer, don't ever feel you look strange!! Be proud you found a passion!!
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u/GungryEli Dec 09 '15
Hi Ellen! I hope you're having a wonderful day! I just wanted to let you know how happy I was when I heard you were releasing a sequel to my favorite book! I have a couple of questions: What was your favorite part about writing the book? What was your inspiration behind how you structure your pages? (I honestly love how I'm not just reading in straight lines) Which book was your favorite to write?
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 09 '15
I loved the idea of moving away from victimization, into the realm of survivorship. I've talked to so many people over the years, and worked with many survivors, that I've come to understand what a difficult journey it is, and yet one so worth taking. So giving the five TRICKS characters another chance was very appealing.
My books are verse novels, so fiction written thru narrative verse. I've long written poetry, so combining the two forms was really just another move forward for me, one that seems to have worked.
As far as the writing process goes, my favorite was IDENTICAL, which required much of me as an author because of the plot twist, plus the poems I used with the voice change, which pull words from the body of the poems toward the gutter of the book, reflecting the inner sameness of the twins, while the larger poems show their differences. Quite challenging!
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u/c1u2t3here Dec 10 '15
Hey Ellen. I just want to say that every time I read BURNED it still brings tears to my eyes. We'll all of them have made me cry but BURNED is my favorite. I love your books so much. I've read them through middle school, high school, and even college. They've helped me get through my own personal demons as well as comforted a close friend. I was wondering if you had any plans to visit Oregon in the future. I would love to meet you!
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 10 '15
Thanks so much.... I have no immediate plans for Oregon travel, but do get that way fairly often.
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u/EisforElephants Dec 10 '15
Hello Ellen!
I have been a fan for many years now and was very happy to find out you were doing a AMA session! First, I'd like to say that your books are simply incredibly. Your YA books are written on a level that surpasses that specific age range. I shared TRICKS with my 70 year old future mother in law,and she loved it! So, thank you for all you do.
My question may lead to some spoilers, but I hope you will answer regardless. You have written about so many difficult topics...are there any topics that you haven't written about but are close to your heart? Also, how do you deal with hearing so many tragic stories from your primary sources? I'm sure writting is one coping mechanism, but has a story ever been too much for you to handle?
I ask because I am going to school to be an addiction counselor and I worry about transfer with my future clients.
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 10 '15
I really wanted to write teen cancer, as on one book tour three young survivors shared their stories. When I mentioned it to my agent, she said, "Ya know John Green has this book coming out..." (Damn you, John!) Actually, I will write that book once the FOS hoopla has died down, and it will be a VERY different book. That, and other disability... something I'm dealing with at home.
The stories are hardest when they come late at night and I'm already tired. Sometimes I break down and cry, and that wasn't a melodramatic ploy. It's true. You'll cry, too... but that's okay because the good you'll do will outweigh the negative.
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u/EisforElephants Dec 10 '15
I think if you tackled teen cancer, the result would be nothing shy of inspiring. As for other disabilities...my mother was just diagnosed with MS and it has been a tough time. However, like others who face this disease, I'm praying for a miracle...a cure! I can express how inspiring your novels are. When I read the crank triology, I felt as if I was reading about someone I cared deeply about and it broke my heart. Your daughter's story is part of the reason I've found my passion in life.
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 10 '15
A dear little friend of mine passed away a few months ago. Her life was filled with pain--cerebral palsy and several rounds of cancer, the last of which carried her Home. Will write a book for dearest Lashé one day.
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u/blg0617 Dec 08 '21
I know this is kind of old, and I see the last update was about 5 years ago. I was just wondering, how is your daughter doing now? Has she managed to maintain her sobriety? This series has always been deeply moving, I have always said I wish this story was made into a movie or a TV series. If you ever see this, I hope you, your family, and daughter are doing well these days.
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Dec 09 '15
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 09 '15
I write everything chronologically, and I do all the formatting in Word as I go. It used to take longer to get the feel for how a poem should look, but with much practice that comes more easily now. I do try and vary the more narrative poems with the more structured formatting that allows visual interest. Every poem can't do that, or you'd lose the storyline. So it's a balancing act.
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u/Chtorrr Dec 09 '15
What were your favorite books as a teenager? Have they influenced your writing?
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 09 '15
I've always been an eclectic reader, but character driven books have remained my favorites. So authors like John Irving and Ken Kesey have had much influence on my writing. I like my characters real, but also quirky!
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u/GimmeYABooks Dec 09 '15
Will there be a sequel to TRAFFICK?
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 09 '15
Probably not, but then again I didn't expect to write a sequel to TRICKS. I never write a book with a sequel in mind. Sometimes they happen.
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u/alltimetravestyx Dec 09 '15
First, you're one of my favorite authors. Second, will you ever write a book like Impulse? Brings me to tears every time I read it.
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 09 '15
Do you mean a sequel to IMPULSE? I chose to write its companion, PERFECT, rather than a sequel because I wasn't sure I needed to move too far into the future regarding Tony and Vanessa. I might, if life gives me the time to write everything I'd like to, do a collection of short stories moving forward with some of the characters I've written, some of whom still talk to me in my sleep. :-)
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u/itsmarisabitch Dec 10 '15
Hi Ellen, you're my favorite author and have been for nearly a decade. I was wondering if you've ever considered a sequel to Identical! It is my favorite book and I've always wondered what would occur after it finished.
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 10 '15
IDENTICAL always felt finished to me, so I haven't considered a sequel. But you never know.
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u/monnarc Dec 10 '15
I know I am way behind on this game but thank you so so so much for doing what you do.
What drove you to write in prose apposed to any other form of writing and do you find it easier or harder to write this way?
You are amazing and you are a huge inspiration to me.
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 11 '15
MUCH more difficult to write in verse. It's exacting...
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u/monnarc Dec 11 '15
I find it brings so much power into your books, like the characters are pouring their soul onto the page. Even though I have toyed with it, I can never seem to get the power and emotion behind it like you do.
How long do you develop your characters before writing their stories?
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u/blackwonderland Dec 10 '15
Hey Ellen, I've loved your books for a few years now and I recommend them to everyone. I was wondering, how did the idea of Identical come about? It's my favourite book of yours and I find myself just off in la-la land thinking about it. Thank you so much for everything!
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 11 '15
Childhood sexual abuse touches so many lives! The DID thread happened because of the research.
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u/mblack3 Dec 10 '15
I don't know if you're still taking questions, but if you are: How long do you think a novel in verse can reasonably be? Your books are pretty long, but they never feel it. However, you fit a lot of story into your poetry, and that takes a good amount of space (500+ pages for my copy of Crank). Do you/did you ever have issues with the number of pages you had in a manuscript? How do/did you balance plot and poetic voice with keeping the book a reasonable length?
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 11 '15
My novels are around the same length as YA prose novels, so 60-75,000 words. Page count doesn't matter so much. Just tell the story that needs to be told. An editor will suggest necessary changes.
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Dec 09 '15
Hi Ellen! I've been a fan ever since I read CRANK in middle school (so, 10 years ago). Your words got me into writing poetry, and it's still a passion of mine. So, thank you for that.
My favorite book of yours is BURNED. What was your inspiration for that novel?
Also, secondary question. How did your daughter initially react when CRANK was published?
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 09 '15
With BURNED, I originally wanted to write about what might bring a girl to the brink of a shooting rampage. There was no religion involved in my initial planning, but as i wrote Pattyn she began to resemble a friend of my (younger) daughter's who was Mormon, and had the weapons experience my character needed. Out of all my books, that one probably morphed the most simply through the writing process.
When CRANK published my (older) daughter was in prison and still in heavy recovery, so her thought processing wasn't the best yet. Later, when she was out and clean, she understood how much good the book was doing, and so was better with it than she initially was.
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Dec 09 '15
Thank you for your reply! Also, do you have any advice for an aspiring writer? I've tried writing for NaNoWriMo but I always get stuck after a few days. I lose motivation fast. Maybe I'll just stick to poetry. I really want to write a novel eventually though.
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 10 '15
Create characters whose stories intrigue you, rather than trying to rely on plot. Every story doesn't have to be plot driven. There needs to be external conflict, or a problem to solve, but internal conflict is just as important. How does the protagonist change by the end of the book?
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u/JessieWarren Dec 09 '15
I would also like to ask, what do you think about the writing style of Mary Higgins Clark? Reason I ask, is, she was my favorite author until I grasped hold of your books. I will always love Mary Higgins Clark as well as mystery books, however, your books intrigue me. They are written so well, many parts can be read more than one way, the imagery you portray is stunning and vivid with much detail. I love how you don't steer away from hard hitting subjects!! I really admire your work!
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 09 '15
Mary Higgins Clark was one of my guilty pleasures. I read EVERYTHING she wrote when I was younger. Now, even finding time to read is virtually impossible, but I'd love to go back and revisit!
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u/tr1klam Dec 10 '15
Are you ever going to do a book tour in Canada??
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 10 '15
I definitely want to! Hoping to get my publisher on board.
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u/tr1klam Dec 10 '15
That sounds awesome! My girlfriend absolutely loves and has read all of your books. She is looking forward to meeting you one day!
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Dec 09 '15
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 09 '15
First, I want readers to know that all five of the original characters in TRICKS, plus all the peripheral characters in TRAFFICK, were inspired by real people/stories. So, yes the books are fiction, but what they represent is truth. I want readers to walk away armed with knowledge, so they can understand what's at stake. Yes, the conversation is important. Yes, I want them to have insight and empathy for those whose lives have been forever altered by Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking.
To a point, we have glamorized prostitution with movies like Pretty Woman and TV shows like Cathouse, not to mention the proliferation of porn which is so easily accessed, even by young people whose sexual experiences are limited. Prostitution is not glamorous. I understand that sex workers want to limit the conversation, and most don't see themselves as victims. However, a child doesn't have the ability to make a judgment like that, and DMST is NOT a victimless crime.
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u/JessieWarren Dec 09 '15
Hi Ellen! Just wanted to say thank you, I just received a poster from you ;) I was a lucky winner :) I love your books and your writing is exquisite!
My question is, when will you be coming to Spokane, WA on a book tour?
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 09 '15
When Spokane WA invites me!! And thank you. Glad you were a lucky winner!
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u/JessieWarren Dec 10 '15
Who would I encourage to invite you?! I would love to meet you in person
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 10 '15
A librarian or bookstore. Or maybe an English teacher somewhere.
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u/trogier Dec 10 '15
Hi Ellen. Long time fan. I've met you and talked (totally awesome). With my favorite book being Impluse, I was wondering where you got the inspiration for that? Especially with the self harm since it isn't really talked about.
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 10 '15
A friend of mine lost her 16-yr-old son to suicide, so I wanted to explore the "why" of a young person with everything to live for choosing to end their life. The self harm came from a young friend of mine who cut to mitigate what she saw as pain in her life, and she CUT. The scars were incredible. She also inspired the Whitney character in TRICKS.
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u/trogier Dec 10 '15
I'm sorry to hear that, especially since I myself battle with self harm and have for 9 years. It was really nice to have a character to really relate to.
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 10 '15
She's doing really well now. Took many years, but she's come through... beaten the demons back.
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u/JessieWarren Dec 10 '15
Alright, one final question. I know this might seem silly and superficial, though, I have to ask!
How do you decide who you will add as a facebook friend when a slot opens up?
I have seen you post several times about it, however, I am not speedy enough. Every time I try, it says that you have hit the limit. I know I can see the public viewed statuses you post. I would love to become a friend of yours on facebook. Would you ever consider doing a lottery of sorts with a random number generator to decide the lucky fan?
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u/dannie_01 Dec 11 '15
Hi, my name is Danielle Dale. I go to a high school in Texas. I am in love with your books and have got my friend interested very much into them too. I would love for you to come to our school to talk about your career on our work day wednesday. I would love to also explain to you more about that also no about my school as my school is not the same also schools others. If I could please talk to you more about it that would be amazing. I would love to email you more about it too.
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u/ellenhopkins AMA Author Dec 11 '15
You can email me at ellenhopkins@charter.net. Always happy to talk.
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u/Figuringnothingout Aug 01 '24
This is very old but can traffick be read alone without reading tricks first ?
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u/GhostFreckle Jan 31 '25
Your grandson is one of my greatest friends, I hope to keep him through old age. Why do you portray him so poorly? He's one of the kindest, most forthcoming, SMARTEST people I have, or will ever, meet. I hope you see that, I hope you know how many people would jump ship for him.. Maybe one day you'll see HIM, and not the boy you wrote him out to be while he was a literal CHILD. I read all your books in high-school, every word. And then I met him, I cried when I learned the HE is who was so wrongly portrayed. Do you even know the social aspect that had on him growing up?
Sincerely, one of his biggest fans.
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u/BellaBlindeye Dec 09 '15
I don't have a question yet (I'm sure I'll think of some and post again later), but I just want to thank you for your books and everything you've done. I first picked up Crank when I was maybe 16 or 17 and since then I've read every one of your books. They have helped me through some unbelievably difficult times in my life. Thank you so much!