Today I have the pleasure of having Darby Karchut stop by the blog and talk to us a bit about her road to be published. Thank you so much for taking the time to stop in and chat with us Darby. 1. Tell us about your road to publication of Griffin Rising - what did you find to be the most difficult?
This is going to sound bizarre, but I had never written anything until I wrote Griffin Rising. I never wanted to be a writer – it’s much too hard a career, in my opinion. And the chances of getting published are at the let’s-check-the-weather-channel-and-see-if-hell-has-frozen-over-yet level.
Oh, but I love books. I read all the time; all genres, but mostly fantasy: J.R.R.Tolkien, Lloyd Alexander, Neil Gaiman, C.S. Lewis, Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, Cassandra Clare, Holly Black, Ted Dekker, Rick Riordan, and my current favorites: John Flanagan and James Dashner. And maybe the old saying really is true: you read and you read, and then, one day, you throw up a book.
I guess that’s what happened to me.
I began writing Griffin’s tale mid-July of 2009 and finished it in November. Then I started on the sequel. Along the way, I studied every blog, every magazine article, and every book on the noble craft. And I re-wrote my first book over and over again. Some sections have seen well past thirty revisions. A circuitous route, but it worked for me. Write the book. Then go out and learn HOW to write. And write the book again. Repeat until your nose bleeds.
In February of 2010, I started querying agents and publishers. After 102 queries, I was offered a publishing contract from Twilight Times Books (and I just learned that you really should stop after thirty rejections. Sheesh. NOW they tell me!) Of course, there is no substitute for hard work and tenacity, but I am fully aware of the fact that I just happened to be in the right place at the right time with the right book for my publisher.
The most difficult part was staying true to my vision. Everyone kept telling me that a story about a positive father-and-son type of relationship will never sell, especially in the YA fantasy genre. But I kept going, inspired by Toni Morrison’s statement: write the book you want to read. So I did.
2. How did you come up with the story behind the book?
One day, I was digging around in my favorite used book store and discovered a book about legends from the Middle Ages. Obsessed with all things medieval, I thumbed through it and came across a short description of a lowly caste of guardian angels that were said to control the ancient elements of Earth, Fire, Wind and Water. Not being particularly interested in angels, I put the book back and forgot all about it.
A few days later, while running the trails in the foothills near my home, the idea of writing a story about clandestine warriors-angels, who live among us while training their young apprentices, just roared up behind me and slammed into my head. Like an avalanche, you might say. And thus Griffin, Basil, and all the other Terrae Angeli were born.
I wish I could have told them no. Go away. Stop bothering me. But Griffin simply followed me home. He’s a surprisingly easy houseguest, by the way.
3. Do you use inspirations tools/special places to write?
Since I also teach full time (junior high social studies), I have taught myself to write whenever I have a fifteen minute block of time: during lunch, after school, evenings, weekends and holidays. And I never watch TV. I do, however, run at least four or five miles every day. Best time to work out plot problems! That’s been my life for the last two years: teach, write, run, and try to spend a few minutes a day with my uncomplaining husband.
4. Now that you've been introduced to the book blogging community, what’s your opinion of them?
I am constantly blown away by the passion, honesty, and professionalism of this amazing group of people. I’ve made wonderful friends and colleagues over the last few months. I think bloggers, especially in the YA genre, write some incredibly insightful reviews. Sure, I wince when I get a less than favorable review, but I always learn something to help me become a better writer.
5. What can we expect from you next?
The manuscript for the next book in the series, Griffin’s Fire, is finished and the book will be published April 15, 2012. Right now, I am drafting the third book of a possible four book series.
I’m also in the final editing stages of another urban fantasy set in the same city as my Griffin and Basil series (think Irish warriors, the mythical Tuatha De Danaan, who clandestinely hunt monsters) In fact, one of the characters in this new series makes a brief appearance in Griffin’ Fire.
Thank you, ReaganStar, for spotlighting me and reviewing my debut novel. I had a terrific visit and really enjoyed these questions!
