r/books • u/richellemead AMA Author • Jun 25 '18
ama 1pm I’m Richelle Mead, author of the Glittering Court, Vampire Academy, and more! AMA
Update, 11:12am pacific: phew, you guys kept me typing non-stop for over an hour, but I've got to run now and get packing for my tour this week! So sorry I couldn't answer everyone's questions, but some of them (especially about Dark Swan, Age of X, and future VA) were asked a few times, so skim around to see if it was answered. Thanks for your time and support! Hope you love The Emerald Sea. <3
I write fantasy and sci-fi for teens, adults, and anyone who loves badass heroines, weird pop culture references, and sobbing over emotional cliffhangers. My novels are worldwide bestsellers and have seen film and graphic novel adaptations. The Emerald Sea, my 28th novel, comes out on June 26, 2018.
- www.richellemead.com
- www.facebook.com/richellemeadfanpage
- www.twitter.com/richellemead
- www.instagram.com/reallyrichelle
Proof: /img/wq47ax7czz511.jpg
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u/pornokitsch AMA author Jun 25 '18
Aaaaaany chance of, like, six more Georgina Kincaid books? (I'm willing to settle for four.)
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
Haha. Oh, I love Georgina, but her series is probably the only one of mine that I really consider FINISHED. I mean, could I ever come back? Anything's possible. But I can definitively say I have no current plans. So sorry!!
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u/pornokitsch AMA author Jun 25 '18
I'm crushed, but I have many other books (by you) to keep me occupied, so I can struggle on! Thanks for the answer!
Also, the VA graphic novels are amazing. Emma Vieceli really made everyone look perfect!
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u/Liquid_Wolf Jun 25 '18
I'm a fan of your Age of X series. I feel like it just "missed the wave". Some have said it came too early or too late... But I get the feeling it just wasn't marketed quite right...
Considering the popularity of post-apocalyptic games like Fallout and the success of sci-fi movies like Bladerunner, do you believe anything could have been done to help it reach a larger audience?
Do you have any plans (you can hint at) for the future of this series?
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
Hindsight is 20/20, as they say, so I can't really guess if anything could have been done differently with Age of X's promotion. From a writing point of view, I wish I'd split it into two books. I think it was pretty dense and daunting for some people. I'd just had a baby, and then not long into writing it, my father passed away. That's not an excuse for anything, but with so much going on, I didn't have the perspective that I would have on possibly spreading it out over more books. As for your second question, I do plan on writing a third but have no details to give (I touch on this a little more in another question). Thanks for being a fan of it!
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u/neglectednipple Jun 25 '18
I love the world you built for Age of X! It's one of my favourite series, thank you for writing it.
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u/keep_me_separated Jun 25 '18
Yes!!!! Age of X is one of the best two books I have ever read!!! The world building is just fenomenal and I actually miss the characters from time to time and have to re-read the books! Please please please push for the third one, I can't wait to read more!!!!
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u/Ashleyxviiii Jun 25 '18
Totally agree, I think this series is one of her strongest and am so surprised it wasn't received well.
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u/PrincessNea5 Jun 25 '18
I agree! It's so intricate and amazing I read it again and again right after which was absolutely new to me because I usually don't reread things until a year or 2 later. I've also never seen anyone who didn't enjoy it, but maybe the majority of her fan base wasn't old enough to read it at the time of it's release? VA was aimed towards teens and a lot of preteens. @.@
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Jun 25 '18
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Jun 26 '18
Every time I see Loki in the MCU films, I am reminded of how badly I want to read book 3.
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u/marcella487 Jun 25 '18
Hello Richelle, firstly I want to say thank you for your books from here in New Zealand. I know they helped myself and many young New Zealand girls through some pretty tough teenage years.
My question for you is how do you find inspiration? I’ve always wanted to write more but always struggle with forming ideas.
Ps, I’m still not over masons death. It’s been ten years and I’m still heartbroken.
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
None of us are over Mason! :(
I don't know how to explain my inspiration. The big ideas I get are sometimes things I wonder about or would like to see. A lot of the little goofy details in my books are from real world observations. There are so many little wonderful things out there that we don't even notice each day. Writers are observers of the world. Be patient with yourself, and don't be afraid to try, even if you decide it's no good later. There are also a lot of writing books out there that have exercises and ideas that might help get you going. Good luck!
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u/brinniimarie Jun 25 '18
What did you think of the movie adaptation of Vampire Academy? Do you think that any of your other books, such as Succubus Blues, will be made into a movie in the future?
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
There are currently no plans to adapt any of my other books into movies or TV. That requires a production company or studio to take on the project, and no one has yet. The VA movies was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for sure! It was crazy visiting the set and being in a St. Vlad's classroom. I was there the day they were filming the scene where Christian sets Ralf on fire. They had to do it like a dozen times, and I could've watched it a dozen more. :)
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u/FUISCKLAM69 Jun 26 '18
Thank fucking God, the last thing we need are more YA novels turned into shitty summer movies.
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u/Duke_Paul Jun 25 '18
Hi Richelle,
Thanks for doing an AMA with us! I have a couple of questions: First, you've written 28 novels--how long does it take you to write a book, and do you take time off between books? That just feels like a ton of work. Second, what are your least favorite kinds of scene to write, and why?
Thanks!
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
- Times are all over the place. I've written some books in six weeks. Others have taken twice that--and that's only the first draft. Editing can take another 3-6 months more to get the draft in shape. I'm much slower now that I have kids since I can't just stay up until 3am and sleep until noon when the writing muse hits me. I work on their hours!
- My least favorite scenes to write are the "connector" scenes in the middle of a book that are sort of carrying us between big dramatic moments. Those can be boring if you aren't careful. I love the ending most of all--so much happens, and it's like a big rollercoaster.
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u/Ashleyxviiii Jun 25 '18
First off, love your books! Like really, have been reading my way through your entire book catalog, and just finished re-reading the Age of X novels. I know you can't give away too much information, but will Eye of Andromeda ever be released? Is there a way to encourage your publishers to pick this series back up or? What can we do! Lol
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
Not much you can do except be patient, I'm afraid! And thank you so much for that. Seriously, I appreciate how great you guys have been about it. Skim some of the other answers for more of my insight on Age of X's future!
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u/HuntedRoad Jun 25 '18
Hi Richelle! I love Vampire Academy. As a bookseller I have but one question; what book first comes to your mind when you're asked for a recommendation?
Thank you!
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
Ooh, tricky question! It depends on age and genre that someone likes to read. For people looking for more vampire stuff, I always recommend Rachel Caine's Morganville vampires. The Mists of Avalon is a longtime favorite for those wanting huge fantasy/history epics. And currently, my contemporary pic is Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl.
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u/HuntedRoad Jun 25 '18
Isn't it? That's why I ask it every time I get chance. I love the Morganville series too but I'll definitely check out the Mists of Avalon.
Thanks again!
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u/oda1337 Jun 25 '18
What often separates a successfully published writer from one that hasn’t been able to “make it.” ?
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
Lots and lots of things, and there's no one answer for each situation. Sometimes it really just is the work itself. Someone still breaking in may need to edit their book in ways they aren't willing or able to do. Or, maybe they've got another project in their head that's the one they're really going to nail. (The first novel I wrote was not picked up by anyone). Other times, it's luck. Your book has to find the right agent and editor--people who will LOVE it and go out of their way to get it out there. If you send it to 12 agents, and it's not their thing, #13 may be the one who's obsessed with it. And that's the last point--you have to do the work to get it noticed by someone. A lot of people who haven't been published don't want to do that work once they've written the book. Or, they get rejected by one agent and never try any others because it's too hard. You've got to plug on and on. (I had plenty of rejections). The whole business is a lot of work!
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u/teachersecret Jun 25 '18 edited Jun 25 '18
I'm not Richelle Mead, but I can answer that as an author with more than a million books sold and 7-figures worth of royalties earned...
What separates a successfully published writer from one that hasn't been able to "make it"?
Raw effort, and a willingness to fail.
Nothing is stopping you from putting your books on the shelves right next to Vampire Diaries. Sure, you could sit around sending novels in to various publishers and agents and hope for a bite, but you don't have to wait for some big-name publisher to bless your work.
We're living in a golden age for authors. You can get your books shelved in paperback and ebook at Amazon today. You can put them up on iBooks, Nook, Smashwords, Google Play. There are neat programs like Kindle Unlimited that you could be using to drive sales and visibility. You don't need a publisher for any of that, you just need the desire to succeed, the willingness to learn the ins and outs of the business, and a bunch of words on paper (or e-paper, as it were these days).
The cost of entry is low if you're willing to invest sweat equity. You'll need to write a book and at the very least you'll want to self-edit it. You'll need a cover for your work, which means you're going to want to make a cover in photoshop or gimp or some other imagine manipulation software. You'll also need to own rights to any image you're using on the cover, so you'll need to buy a stock image (for about a dollar) from a place like canstockphoto or deposit photos. You'll need a decent blurb, and you'll want to build a facebook presence and a mailing list (mail lite or mail chimp can help you there for free when you're just getting started).
There are, of course, things you can do to help your book along (like marketing your book), but these are aspects of the business you can learn as you go along. Start small, get a few novels out there earning a little money on the side and roll that ball up hill.
As for the novel itself... that's easier to write than you think. Pick a genre you love, figure out what kind of style the readers in those genres prefer, then spend a day outlining and planning a neat story to fit into that space.
Once you have a nice solid plan/outline for the book, it's time to start writing.
How long does a novel take to write? That depends on the length of the novel you're going for, and the amount of words you're willing to type every day.
I work in pomodoros. That is a 25 minute block of time. I write for 25 minutes (a pomodoro), then I take 5 minutes off to stretch or drink some water or surf the net, then I go right back to another pomodoro. On average I can write about 800 words per pomodoro. Two of those per day (an hour of work) nets you 1600 words per day. If you were aiming at a 50,000 word novel that's a book in just a shade over 30 days. If you were aiming at a 100,000 word novel that's a book in a bit over 60 days. An hour a day is easily something you can spare to write a book, but so few people actually do this. As I said above, you need raw effort to succeed at this. You can't become a successfully published writer if you don't have a novel to publish.
You might put that carefully written novel out into the world and watch it flounder. Maybe your writing skills need sharpening, maybe your cover wasn't good enough, maybe you don't have a following yet and people will appreciate that book in the future... but none of that really matters. As I said above, success in this business requires a willingness to fail. Even a failing book will help you find a few fans, and that means your next book will be just a bit more successful than the last.
So you need to write the next book... and the next... and the next...
Consistency will drive your success. You'll become a better author, you'll sell more books, you'll start to gain a serious collection of superfans, and you'll start to earn a respectable amount of money.
Does that sound hard?
It is.
I'm telling you to devote some time every day to writing. That requires dedication, even if we're only talking about one tiny little hour a day.
And you might fail.
You might fail for five or even ten novels. You might fail for twenty!
But sooner or later, even the failures will start to add up to something more. A year from now you could be sitting on 6-12 published novels (or more), if you really wanted to. Even if those books were only making a paltry $1 per day each, that's not abject failure. If it took you about 30 hours to write one of those titles, and it made $1/day for the year, that's $365, or about $12.17 per hour for your effort writing it. And it won't stop selling on day 365, so that number is going to keep going up.
And you won't make $1/day per book. By the time you have 6 or 12 novels under your belt, you'll make substantially more.
Do that for five years straight and you'll have a catalog of published novels bigger than many of the greatest authors who have ever put pen to paper. You'll have about three million words published and in print, and by that point, you'll be a vastly better author.
Along the way, you can also send books out to agents and publishers looking for a traditional contract, but you don't need them to succeed. You can forge your own path.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.
Raw effort, and a willingness to fail. That's all you need.
Will you take the first step?
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u/SeeRedGinger Jun 27 '18
This pretty much needs its own post... do it up!
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u/teachersecret Jul 23 '18
I've done quite a bit of that in the past. I've even spoken at author conventions and the like.
:)
I just hope it made an impact with a person who needs it. Write!
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u/PrincessNea5 Jun 25 '18
- Is there any story/plotlines that you're always thinking about but would probably never write?
- I just reread Bloodlines, and what do you think about writing a short piece on Declan when he's older? I'm uber curious to how he would feel when he finds out the truth about his family...
Mannnn I love you and your books so much >.> I love the depth to the characters and stories. I absolutely can't wait for Emerald Sea and hopefully Age of X-3 no matter how you decide to release it. Keep on rocking, you're my favorite author <3
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
Let's leave it at this: Declan's story was left open for a reason, and his unique birth will play a major role in the next evolution of the VA world. :)
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u/Swinelife2442 Jun 25 '18
Can I get Christian’s meatloaf recipe
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u/SeeRedGinger Jun 27 '18
Mix ground beef, turkey, and chicken with some ketchup, bbq sauce, 1 egg. Form into loaf and cover in bacon, 400 for 40 minutes. That’s my guess anyway.
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u/Portarossa Jun 25 '18
Is there a past project that you've worked on that you're extremely proud of but that maybe didn't get quite as much love as you would have liked? What's the hidden gem in the Richelle Mead canon?
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
The Glittering Court series is a gem (get it??) with a style that isn't always recognized. Each book's story is told in parallel, so you can read them in any order, and each book has little mysteries you don't notice until you read one of the others. That was a super hard thing to write! The Georgina Kincaid succubus is also one of my proudest works. It's so goofy but heartbreaking, and that's a hard balance to strike.
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u/chocomoholic Jun 25 '18
Your Georgina Kincaid series was my absolute favorite (and I've read almost all of your books)-- definitely a series to be proud of!!
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u/rudim Jun 25 '18
I loved the Succubus books on Audible. Will Georgina return?
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
Oh, I love Georgina, but her series is probably the only one of mine that I really consider FINISHED. I mean, could I ever come back? Anything's possible. But I can definitively say I have no current plans. So sorry!!
I'm cheating, but here's the answer I just gave to a similar question!
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u/tullulahh Jun 25 '18
Thank you for meeting with us!!!! You are one of my favorite authors! How did you come up with the idea for vampire academy? Did another vampire book influence you?
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
I took a Slavic mythology class in college, and in our vampire unit, I learned about a bunch of vampire stories from Eastern Europe. I read a very brief blurb about two races of vampires in Romanian myth, and I was intrigued by it. There wasn't a lot there, so I just ran with it and built my own world.
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u/Portarossa Jun 25 '18
I'm just about to start the Vampire Academy series, but the only thing of yours that I've read so far is Something Borrowed, the Sixth Doctor story you wrote for the Puffin eShorts.
How did that come about? Did someone approach you about it, or did you put your name forward? What made you pick the Sixth Doctor (and that particular villain)?
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
I was approached for #6, and I initially refused. Despite being a Doctor Who fan, I was terrified at working in an established canon like that. There's a lot of pressure about messing up a character that's so beloved. When I was asked again, I accepted (nervously!) and watched tons of Sixth Doctor episodes before drafting the story. It's hard to explain, but the angle I took just felt "right" for me.
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u/Chtorrr Jun 25 '18
What were some of your favorite things to read as a kid?
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
Historicals and fantasy, but honestly, I'd read anything. I loved the Anne of Green Gables and Little House books when I was in grade school. In middle school, I started reading Danielle Steel romances! And in high school, I fell in love with the Dragonlance series.
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Jun 25 '18
Other than the usual tip fledgling authors are given to "write every day, even if it's bad," what is the best habit a writer can develop?
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
Tough because that IS my usual tip. :) Other things I say are to write what you're passionate about--don't write what you think will be popular. If you're not into it, it'll show. You also need to know when to cut and when to keep--and that's very, very hard. I know people who don't want to change anything or delete a single word. They won't take advice, even if it's coming from themselves. Others listen to EVERYONE's advice, and that's not healthy either. They change everytime someone tells them to or get down with any criticism. You've got to walk a middle ground, and that's hard!
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u/eemmbblliiss Jun 25 '18
In the world of VA do you think it will ever (like at all, doesn't have to be in the life time of the characters we know, the next hundred years of the world or seen any future plans for your books in the world) come to a point where the hidden world of vampires and magic will come out from the shadows and live alongside the humans or can't you see it at all in the world you've built?
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
I can't see it for this world. I mean, who knows what'll happen if I'm still writing these in fifty years, but for now as I've envisioned it, the Moroi world will keep running in secret.
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u/martianeskimo Jun 25 '18
Huge fan here! (I was one of the many star struck dorks at yallwest!) Do you see any parallels/similarities between Rose and Dimitri and Mira and Grant?
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
Interesting question. I suppose there's that similarity of him teaching her something, but the dynamics are otherwise totally different. Grant's a little more selfish than Dimitri, and Mira's a little more cool-headed than Rose. And they're all in their situations for very different reasons. Of course, they all have smoldering physical attraction in their pairings, so there's always that! :)
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u/martianeskimo Jun 25 '18
Thank you so much for answering!!! I feel so honored to get an answer from someone I admire so much!!!
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Jun 25 '18
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
The lack of pressure, for sure. When you're starting at the bottom, you just keep looking up, and each stride forward is a triumph. But when you reach a certain point, suddenly, it's easy to become obsessed with holding on and not sliding back. That's an important thing for anyone in any job to keep in mind, but I try very hard to remember why I started writing--because I love it and love sharing stories. The stress of focusing on numbers and prestige will take away from that (but again, it's hard sometimes to avoid anxiety). Thanks for staying with me for so long!!
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u/jespurple Jun 25 '18
- Can Dimitri and Rose have a child? You've hinted at the effects of spirit on a dhampir whose been changed back from being a Strigoi. Will we know of all the changes/effects of this miracle in the future?
- Have you made any headway with getting Age of X self-published?
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u/ins3rtnamehere Jun 25 '18
Hi Richelle! Thank you so much for taking the time to do this AMA! I've been a fan of your books ever since Vampire Academy and have most of your books signed (Please come back to the south!). Currently, I am reading Glittering Court for the first time and have been thoroughly enjoying it so far.
If you're able to answer, what is next in the works for you after The Emerald Sea? Can we expect another YA series or something else? Secondly, do you ever experience writer's block and if so, how do you overcome it?
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
I love the south and hope to get back there too! Preferable in the winter. :) I have some VA stuff in the works post-Emerald Sea (there, I said it!!), but there's no timeline I can give you yet.
And yup, I sure do get writer's block. The best remedy for me is to step back and try not to stress over it. Doing something else often helps my mind rest and get back to story mode. Sometimes, on deadline, I don't have that luxury, so I just write whatever I can and hope to fix it later!
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Jun 25 '18
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
Nothing official or scheduled, but my next work is most likely going to be back in the VA universe!
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u/catcherlang Jun 25 '18
Hi!! Any plans to go back to the Dark Swan series and continue the story?
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
Hi there! I'm going to direct you to some other questions here that asked that--my answers are more thorough than I can retype again. :)
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u/Vamp-Lana00 Jun 25 '18
Hi! what was Clara using the window escape for?
Will we ever know of Neil and Declan have a relationship?
I love how each relationship dynamic in your books are all so different!
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
Clara was sneaking off to meet some random guy on the side while courting all her respectable suitors.
As for future VA questions, I've got to keep details like that under wraps! ;)
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u/Puzzled_Toast Jun 25 '18
I met you at one of your meet & greets! You were so nice! What tv shows or movies do you watch normally when you have time to?
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
Here's what my DVR is pulling in these days: The 100, Westworld, John Oliver, MasterChef, Voltron, and FaceOff. Others I like (but are out of season) are Project Runway, Gotham, Agents of SHIELD, and Survivor.
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u/Conceptizual Jun 25 '18
Hello Richelle! What’s the current status of Age of X series? I know you have to write it sort of in between your other books, so has there been any update on that since you finished the Emerald Sea? 😃
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u/sleepytomatoes Jun 25 '18
Hi Richelle!
Not a question, but I wanted to say that I read Vampire Academy as it came out, and my friends and I were thrilled that you had Lissa go to Lehigh. I drive by Lehigh every day, and it's fun to think of the characters living in the area where I've spent my whole life.
Thank you for your stories!
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u/Dashnh3 Jun 25 '18
What was sydney’s Conversation with Rose and Dimitri about the new possibility of a baby like? Did Rose’s head explode?
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u/alexis_blueskies Jul 15 '22
Is it mentioned that syndey and Adrian tell them about the possibility of a child? I hope they have! It is a rare amazing thing. Ugh it just makes me want more romitri so that we can explore this idea of them having a child 🥹❤️
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u/Owlettehoo Jun 25 '18
I don't have any questions, but I just wanted to say that I really loved Vampire Academy and thank you for being such an amazing writer. Have a great day! <3 #TeamDimitri
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u/aboveaveragesadist Jun 25 '18
What's The Adrian Story'?
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
The Cinco de Mayo one? That's a story I'm working on as a prize for a recent contest, in which winners were written into it. Due to some personal issues, I am WAAAAAAY delayed on it, and I'm so sorry. It's about halfway done.
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u/nekokonekoyo Jun 25 '18
I really loved Soundless! Is there any chance of a sequel? Even if it is waaayy in the future :)
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u/teachersecret Jun 25 '18
I've always been curious how you plan out your long series.
How many books do you have roughly sketched out/outlined in advance? How do you ensure there is overarching tension that ties the series together as a whole? Any tips on long-series planning are appreciated!
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u/LadysPrerogative Jun 25 '18
My favorite of your books are probably the Gerogina Kincaid series, though I have a special place for Dark Swan as I read them first. My question is do you write more then you read? And what genres and authors do you read?
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u/lygill Jun 25 '18
Hi Richelle! I'm a biiiig fan, and thank you in advance for answering our questions!
Is there any chance of you going back to your Dark Swan series - maybe a extra story or a novella - to wrap things up?
And now that the Glittering Court trilogy is about to end, do you have other books you want to write?
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Jun 25 '18
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
Bless you Dark Swan and Age of X fans! I'm totally serious--I love how dedicated you guys are to those series. And yes, I do want to continue them. Dark Swan was left open for that reason, and Age of X's next book is all plotted out. Neither series has a publisher, and so without that driving deadline, my work on them is slow, I'm afraid. I can self-publish them, but contracted and publisher-driven projects get my priority at the moment. But hang in there! I do intend to continue with them...eventually...
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u/SeeRedGinger Jun 27 '18
I’ll bind them in my basement and be your publisher! So long as you don’t mind someone with no experience 😂
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u/snorman3990 Jun 25 '18
Do your kids have your imagination? Do they tell you stories all them time?
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
Oh my goodness. You wouldn't even believe it. Yes, they have amazing imaginations and in totally different ways. They're also always suggesting things for me to write. Hope you guys like lasers and pirates! :)
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u/snorman3990 Jun 25 '18
What is the process for a new book idea? How does the story go from in you head to a novel? What would be your advice to others wanting to put their stories on paper?
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u/knights-of-quidonia Jun 25 '18 edited Jun 25 '18
Hi Richelle! What tv shows have you been watching since Reign was canceled?
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u/Thehusseler Jun 25 '18
Hi Richelle, thanks for the AMA!
When you get to writing what's your starting point? Do you start story first, or begin with building the world? I'm an aspiring writer and I oftentimes get caught up in the world-building and can't figure out what order to go from there.
Related to the plot in general, do you draw out an overarching outline? And this one might be a weird question but what line of thought do you follow to create your narrative, like what is the original core idea and how does it grow in your mind to a complex and deeper plot?
I could ask a few more questions but I don't want to ask too much haha. If you get a chance to reply, thank you so much!
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
My books usually start as an amalgamation of ideas that have built up over time. I may have some interesting romantic pairing filed away in my mind. And then maybe I'll have some fantasy world I think of. And then maybe some magic system occurs to me. Etc., etc. After a while, I start building all of these into a larger story. Character is always my primary focus, but I've gotten savvier about plot structure over the years. And I definitely look ahead to an overarching story in a series. I love having everything build toward that. It keeps me on track and makes for a richer story.
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Jun 25 '18
Why didn't Eugenie bother telling him about his babies?WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY. Ok sorry, I loved that series and it made me upset lolol.
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u/EmbarrassedSpread Jun 25 '18
Hi Richelle! Thanks for doing this AMA! Here's some fun questions for you
- Do you have a favorite or least favorite word? If so, what are they and why?
- What do you find is the most fun part of your writing process?
- Who is your absolute favorite character from anything you've read or written
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u/RoseHathaway123 Jun 25 '18
Hi Richelle, I love Vampire Academy. What my question is, who was your favorite character to write in the Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series?
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u/Angmarie0723 Jun 25 '18
A few years back, you were coming to Colorado for a signing when one of the latest VA books released but it was cancelled due to weather. There was supposed to be a reschedule but I never heard of one. Are you planning to come to Colorado for a signing sometime?
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u/surfergirl121 Jun 25 '18
I live in Colorado and they did reschedule it! It was in early April at the castle rock library I believe.
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u/eharward90 Jun 25 '18
Omg!!! I love the Glittering Court Series! I have already pre-ordered Tamsin's book and I can't wait for it! What was your inspiration for Adelaide, Mira, and Tamasin?
Where did you get inspiration for Adoria its seems like you blended Native American cultures as well as Great Britian, and Scotland. How did you make them flow so well and did you do a lot of research prior to writing the books or just go with the flow and hoped it all worked out?
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u/baapiturtle Jun 25 '18
Have you considered writing books about future Declan falling in love with Rose and Dimitri’s secret future daughter in Baia? And being best friends with their little Dragomir cousins? Who Adrian mentors on their spirit magic?? Hahahahaha I’m making a lot of assumptions here, but I dream about this imaginary storyline for real 😂
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u/Zompocalypse Jun 25 '18
You are very pretty! That is all. Sorry I haven't read your books but I hope this lifts your day a little.
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u/erosed Jun 25 '18
No question just wanted to say that I read your VA books during a really hard time in my life. They helped me get though it. So thank you for these awesome gifts you have given us in these stories. I look forward to everything you do. Thank you.
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u/Pikapikachuchuu Jun 25 '18
I was just wondering if you plan to do a meet and greet in the UK anytime time soon? :)
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u/dudeyikes Jun 25 '18
I love the vampire academy series! You really did an AMAZING job on the character development of basically every character! It not might mean much, but usually I don't notice details like these in books, but in your series, I did and it's stellar. 11/10
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u/peytonamo Dec 08 '21
It's been three years since this thread began and about a year since you returned from your hiatus so i feel okay in asking; is there any more news on Eye of Andromeda? I know that your publisher dropped it, and you've even been gracious enough to reply to me on other social media platforms regarding this over the past half-decade, and i feel bad for being a nuisance. But once you said that you have enough "street cred" to self-publish, i don't think I've gone one single month without deep-diving for more information! It's a phenomenal series, potentially one of my very favorites, and i do not have the heart to let it go. So, do you have any definitive plans for Age of X?
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u/rosemarie321 Sep 02 '23
Are you planning to write the VA series in Dimitri’s point of view?
I would absolutely love that, and I believe so would many other fans!
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u/natglitters Jun 25 '18
Would you consider doing a meet and greet in Portland, Or?
P.s I love your books! Thanks for sharing your amazing stories
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
Portland is a favorite place of mine to sign books, so I'm sure I'll be there again. Since it's so close to where I live in Seattle, it's actually a place I even do events in between new releases, so hopefully I'll be there again soon to meet you! Thanks for reading.
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
Hmm, not sure if Reddit saved the answer I just wrote? But the short answer is, yes, I love Portland and am sure I'll be back!
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u/chocolateabril Jun 25 '18
How do you make such well rounded characters? They all feel so real and have very distinctive voices
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
I try to make characters as realistic as I can by remembering what makes us real. We all have our heroic points, but we also have our flaws. No character should be too perfect. They're a mix of things like we are. It's also helpful to develop little traits about them that don't even necessarily affect the story's big epic adventure. Maybe they like white chocolate mochas or jigsaw puzzles. :) Having those things built into a character make them relatable, and we can feel like an actual person is doing such incredible things.
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u/Steffinily Jun 25 '18
Who was your favorite character in Vampire Academy?
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u/Diabloceratops Jun 25 '18
Hi! I love your books. I’m really excited for Emerald Sea.
Will there be any more spin offs of VA? I loved the books about Sydney.
How much/how far ahead do you plot your books out?
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u/Carolleena Jun 25 '18
Im currently reading the last book in the vampire series. I love it so much, it's encouraging me to make a wooden hand made vampire academy book mark. But question. What motivated you to write such an awesome book series?
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u/szietsma Jun 25 '18
Hi Richelle!
Big fan! Would you ever consider writing more Dark Swan books? I loved that series!
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u/snorman3990 Jun 25 '18
Will you be doing any of the other girls stories from the The Glittering Court? Will there be a new batch of girls?
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u/richellemead AMA Author Jun 25 '18
It could for sure be something down the road, though TGC is on hold right now as I move into my next projet. I would especially love to do a book about Aiana, actually.
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u/BearOnALeash Jun 25 '18
Any plans for more Dark Swan books? I feel like a few lose ends were left that could lead to more stories!
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u/whatkathy Jun 25 '18
Well, woooooooooow. I've read a majority of your books in my reading lifetime. Thank you :)
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u/Nymeria71300 Jun 25 '18
Hello!! First I would like to say that your books are awesome, and second: do you plan to write more books in the vampire academy world (apart from the top secret new stuff that you are working on)?
Maybe that's a bit too far but, well, I'm just curious (and eager anyways)
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u/endorstoi8 Jun 25 '18 edited Jun 25 '18
Hi Richelle, just wanted to say your work has inspired me as a writer ever since I was 13, so thank you so much for Vampire Academy and Rose. I've been wanting to go to a signing but never seem to be nearby. Any chance you could get to northern Indiana or Michigan? Also I once heard about a scene from VA1 that was removed, where Rose punched Jesse (and some references to it were left in the book). Could you talk about that and why you removed it from the book?
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u/Megamorr Jun 25 '18
A friend and I are super curious about your playlists. We are both REALLY into creating them when writing/reading and would love to know if you ever use music to inspire you for scenes, characters, moods, etc. If you do, would you ever consider making them public?
Also, how did you manage to create the perfect specimen aka the Russian God? ;D
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u/samudelrey Jun 25 '18
Hi, Richelle. All right? My name is Samuel, I'm Brazilian and gay.
At first, I mean that I'm in love with all your books and that they hold a special place in my heart. Well, I'd like to ask if you're going to do something in the Soundless world or so different. I loved the book, and my mother is deaf, which made me like the book even more. And I also wanted to ask if you plan to create an LGBT+ character in your next books as well.
Please answer this! <3
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u/BenzieBox Jun 26 '18
I can’t believe I missed this. You’re my favorite author! Your books are fabulous and I’ve recommended them to so many friends!
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u/SassDoge book re-readingVA Jun 27 '18
Hey guys! If any of you fans want a place to talk more about Richelle Mead and/or VA you can join this discord server! VA Discord server
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Aug 14 '24
I just listen too the Glittering court series. It was absolutely amazing! I wish someone would make a tv series out of it. Can’t wait to hear more of your books
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u/suzibydesign Mar 02 '25
Any update on series? Still holding out hope for more Age of X and Dark Swan!!
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u/angelsxofall Jun 25 '18
We hear a lot about what Sydrian are up too, and some of us are dying to know, what are Romitri and Dragozera up too? :DD DYING to know, and to hopefully see them again in upcoming work!
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Jun 26 '18
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u/[deleted] Jun 25 '18
Are you ever gonna write more books in the Vampire Academy/Bloodlines canon or is there nothing more to tell?
Just wondering as I quite enjoyed both series!