I am so excited about today interview. Robin's YA debut is one of my all time favorites, not just for this year, but as a whole. Today she's stopped by to answer a few of my questions about her book, Grave Mercy. You can read my 5 star review here.
Hi Robin! How would you describe your debut in 5 words or less?
I’ve always been fascinated (read: obsessed) with the medieval time period and have researched it a lot over the years, just out of personal curiosity and then later for various writing projects. So I had some general knowledge of the time period and the setting, but for Grave Mercy I had to do much more detailed and focused research. Ha. I say had to, but what I really mean is, Igot to, because I adore research, that mini-quest for the perfect detail that will bring a scene alive, or that perfect fact that will connect all the pieces of the plot into a cohesive whole. The thing is, I always find it. The answers I need, even when writing historical fantasy, are always there hiding somewhere in the research.
So I researched what they ate, and the clothes they wore, and the bigger world view issues such as how big a part religion played in their lives (huge! Some people went to church two or three times a day!) what their concerns were, their superstitions.
One of the things I find most fascinating about writing historical fantasy is really trying to understand the worldview of people living in earlier times. What was life like without technology, where there was little understanding of science or the laws of physics and so much of life felt random and out of one’s control? Since Ismae belonged to a convent that served Death, what would her faith look like? How would her devotion be tested? What sorts of rituals would her life entail? Those questions were in the forefront of my mind whenever I sat down to write and helped me get into the head of a 15th century girl—what metaphors and similes would she use? What points of reference would she have?
I also tried to (mostly!) use words that were only in use prior to the 16th century or phrases that felt reminiscent of that era. I definitely fudged sometimes; when the choice came down to readability I went for that over historical accuracy every time, because my overriding goal was that the story and the voice of Ismae be accessible to today’s teen reader
You have a lively cast of characters, and it was fun getting to know each of them. Which character was the easiest for you to write and which one was the hardest?
The first two or three drafts of the story started out being in third person POV, but when I switched to first person, Ismae became more accessible to me, but I still kept running into a jam. Finally, in desperation, I started an Ismae Journal, where I would just journal her thoughts and feelings as if she were keeping a diary. For some reason I started that journal in 1st person present tense and the moment I did that, she became completely accessible to me. But oh the pain of having to rewrite yet again!
Sybella came very easily—she literally just walked into her first scene and practically took over the entire book. That was when I realized Book Two was hers. J Of course, being the contrary thing that she is, that was the only time anything ever came easily with Sybella. I now refer to her book, DARK TRIUMPH, as the Book That Nearly Killed Me.
And then I thought, nah. You can’t write that kind of book for teens. But the idea stayed with me and wouldn’t leave. So just on a lark, I let myself start noodling around, researching the middle ages and different countries and milieus that might make an interesting backdrop for such a story. When I learned about Anne of Brittany, something clicked and I realized that maybe, just maybe, this might work. After all, the middle ages were a very young society—teens held positions of power and were making major life decisions. That might be the exactly right place to set a book with teens front and center.
I also knew I wanted to write the story of a girl who was utterly powerless and put her through all the trials and ordeals that would shape her into an instrument of power—not just physical power, but also the power to stand firmly in her own self and make her own choices and decisions.
Then I stumbled across another fascinating research tidbit and learned that many women in the Middle Ages preferred joining a convent to marriage because convent life gave them more independence and autonomy than they could ever have as married women! That kind of lit my imagination on fire and began to play with what sort of convent would be the best avenue for my heroine’s journey, and I decided on a convent that would give her power over life and death.
Oh what a fascinating idea! I’m torn between Katniss, whom I think Ismae would have a lot in common with, or Dumbledore, who would act as a supportive mentor and would have encouraged her to ask questions a lot sooner.
What's the best piece of writing advice you've been given, that you'd want to pass one to other aspiring writers?
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Thank you Robin for stopping by Mundie Moms today!
About the Author:
About the book:
By: Robin LaFevers
Published by: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Released on: April 3rd, 2012
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
Series: His Fair Assassin series, Book 1
Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?
Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?-quoted from Goodreads
Want to win a copy of Grave Mercy?! Check out my giveaway I have going on for my top 3 favorite YA debuts in 2012, which features Grave Mercy!