Mary Rosenblum

Hello all and welcome to our Professional Connection live chat with Simon Rose, ICL graduate and writer of fantasy and SF for the middle grade reader. And a fantastic guest as many of you know!

Simon graduated from university with a degree in history in 1982 and moved to Canada in 1990. A graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature of West Redding, CT and he has been a prolific writer of children's fiction for many years. His first novel for young readers, The Alchemist's Portrait was published in 2003, followed by The Sorcerer's Letterbox in 2004 and The Clone Conspiracy in 2005. The Emerald Curse arrived in 2006 and The Heretic's Tomb in 2007. I now live in Calgary with my two children, dog and cat. I write every day, whenever the idea or inspiration strikes and am always hard at work on my next projects, as well as formulating the plots, characters and ideas for a whole host of other stories.

His website is great and you can find out a lot about him at http://www.simon-rose.com/index.html

So, Simon, welcome back! Seems like only yesterday we were chatting last!

Simon Rose

Thank you Mary. Good evening everyone. Its good to be back.

Mary Rosenblum

So is it the Heretic's Tomb that will be out in March in the US?

Simon Rose

Yes it just came out here and will be out in the US, UK, Australia and lots of other places in March.

Mary Rosenblum

That's great! So, Simon, just how did you get started writing anyway? As a kid, or as an adult?

Simon Rose

I didn't start that young but began writing stories down when I was about thirteen or fourteen, but never did anything with them.

It was only when I had kids of my own that I began to think of writing novels for children.

Mary Rosenblum

So how did you end up in fantasy and SF?

Was that what you read as a kid?

Simon Rose

Yes it was. I grew up reading comic books, particularly Marvel, reading science fiction and with things on TV like Star Trek, The Time Tunnel and other shows like that.

Mary Rosenblum

What authors did you read? I'm curious.

Simon Rose

People like Heinlein, Asimov, Simak and so on. So when I began writing I naturally gravitated to what interested me as a kid of the age I was writing for ...

time travel, other dimensions, superheroes, ancient mysteries, the paranormal etc.

Mary Rosenblum

Cool. So did you start out writing for kids first, or did you write for adults first and then switch over to writing for kids?

Simon Rose

Kids. When I first considered trying to write books, I had picture books in mind since I was reading those with my children, but I am not an artist

so picture books weren't really for me. Then I read Harry Potter around 1998 and thought that it was the age I wanted to write for, although I had no desire to write classic fantasy about wizards, dragons, quests and such

so instead I wrote about what I read as a nine or ten year old, as I mentioned earlier.

Mary Rosenblum

You're writing mostly fantasy right?

Simon Rose

Yes, but not the classic kind such as Tolkien.

aelle

What's the main difference between writing fantasy for YA and for adults?

Simon Rose

Probably in the plots being more complex in adult books, as well as containing adult themes and violence that you simply can't have in children's novels.

charge2charge

What do you love most about writing fantasy?

Simon Rose

The fact that anything you can imagine is possible, although of course it all has to have some grounding in reality.

Mary Rosenblum

I agree with that. :-) That's why I write SF.

dianagram

Do your editors ask for more girl or boy protagonists?

Simon Rose

No, they don't dictate like that at all. My books have had main characters of both genders and are enjoyed equally by both boys and girls.

The latest book has two main female characters and the boy is a minor role really, but it wasn't deliberately planned like that. It just felt right as the story was unfolding and I never considered changing it.

cherokeeoutlaw72

Do you use a plot outline when you write or do you just sit and start writing?

Simon Rose

Always an outline, except with the first one, which taught me a lesson about that. I started writing The Alchemist's Portrait from scratch without a plan, and it went through at least thirty versions as a result, as well as the editing.

Mary Rosenblum

Yeah, knowing where you're going at least, sure does help.

k c morlock

When you set out to write a novel do you begin with a setting, world, already made and plunk in characters with conflicts or do you have characters in mind first and build a world around them?

Simon Rose

I begin with an idea, the crux of the plot really. An amulet that can raise the dead at the time of the Black Death, a painting through which you can travel through time and so on.

The characters, and curiously a lot of their dialogue, tone of voice, mannerisms, are already in my mind and are rarely created or planned out on paper.

charie'

How do you keep track of all the "created world" elements of your novel?

Simon Rose

If you mean like invented flora and fauna, languages, religions, history, myths etc that is more the fantasy realm and my novels are set in the real world.

Mary Rosenblum

So your stories are more contemporary fantasy, right? Real world, but a fantastic element like time travel or magic?

charie'

But you create the "fantasy" rules and the fantastic creatures?

Simon Rose

Yes, and sometimes conspiracies, fantastic experiments, technology gone bad, that kind of thing .

Yes, in The Emerald Curse the villain creates hybrid monsters which needed to be kept track of as to what their abilities were as did the superhero characters.

The hero of the story also travels to another dimension, based on comic books, but one which I had to draw maps of to make sure I was sure about the geography in a certain scene, for example.

dianagram

How good is the current market for non-high fantasy?

Simon Rose

Not sure, but publishers are all looking for another phenomenon like JK Rowling which was not high fantasy and neither is Pullman.

Personally I am constantly amazed at how much high fantasy is published, but it must be selling otherwise publishers wouldn’t be putting it out.

I was on the jury for Canada's top literary award last year and reviewed over 200 books. A lot were fantasy and very similar in their plots.

People continue to be drawn to writing high fantasy, but its tough to be original, I think

writingwolfaert

How do you keep "in touch" with kids your target age group?

Simon Rose

I visit over sixty schools a year, meet children at book signings and other events, research what is popular with children, plus I have kids of my own.

Mary Rosenblum

Do they read your books and comment on them for you?

Simon Rose

Yes, they do

Mary Rosenblum

Very cool. So do they feel that the books are partly 'theirs' too?

Simon Rose

I think so, especially the more recent ones that they have watched come to fruition, then seen a box of the printed books arrive in a truck at the house.

Mary Rosenblum

That's great, Simon. Good for you.

dianagram

What was similar about the fantasy book plots you judged?

Simon Rose

That's an interesting question, but there were a lot of quests for long lost objects, forbidden love affairs, stereotypical characters, especially the villains, and I guess an overall feeling that it had all been done before.

Mary Rosenblum

I have to agree with you, Simon. That type of fantasy is a bit on the formulaic side.

k_imagination

Is your writing process through thinking in pictures? As in you see your story evolving in your minds eye

Simon Rose

It keeps getting published though Mary ...

Mary Rosenblum

. o O ( Yeah, no kidding )

Simon Rose

Yes, I think it does evolve that way, sometimes at very inconvenient times, like driving, out with the dog, usually with no way to write anything down.

dianagram

Do you use any writers' organizational software?

Simon Rose

Such as?

Mary Rosenblum

Any names, Diana?

I know some companies offer 'novel writing software' that offers to organize this or that. It's nothing I've ever tried.

I take it you haven't either.

Simon Rose

Oh, I see. No I don't use that stuff

charie'

Do you use a chart? index cards?

Mary Rosenblum

For organizing plot, characters?

Simon Rose

No index cards. Not a chart but I do plan plots, scenes, characters etc on paper during the process.

rae

I draw pictures of my characters and put then near my computer. Do you do similar thing to keep you characters fresh in your mind?

Simon Rose

They seem to always be in my mind, even the ones from the earlier novels so I don't need reminders. However, I have based some characters' physical appearance on photographs I have found which were a perfect fit for the faces I had in mind and I have those, sometimes showing them to kids at schools .

The ones that spring to mind were the villains in The Alchemist's Portrait and The Clone Conspiracy for sure

cherokeeoutlaw72

What type of outline format do you use?

Mary Rosenblum

Is it formal, or more a loose summary of the plot?

Simon Rose

I create an outline that is at least one paragraph long, sometimes more, for every chapter of the book. for a 40000 word novel this can be around 8000 words.

It is a synopsis, with the plot worked out in detail, I guess, which is then expanded, filled with dialogue etc to create the novel itself.

Mary Rosenblum

That's very thorough. Do you find that you put more creative energy into that synopsis or into writing the actual novel?

Simon Rose

Possibly Mary, yes I do

aelle

Do you put more humor and 'attitude' in YA books?

Simon Rose

Not usually .

'Attitude' is more suited to books for older readers than mine which are for eight to twelve’s

Mary Rosenblum

So here's a question for you, Simon. What is it, do you think, that drives the book for this age group? Discovery? Adventure?

Simon Rose

Just with regards to the last question, some people think humor would be a good addition to the story, but I think it takes away from the adventure myself. For this age group my books have become popular because they are good, fast paced, page turning adventures, which is what the readers seem to want .

It's a real challenge to get kids reading these days, especially boys due to the myriad of electronic distractions they have in their lives. If a book isn't exciting right at the beginning and then keeps them hooked all the way through, they are going to put it down very quickly.

aelle

How long, as a rule, are YA books?

Simon Rose

My books are around 30000 words, YA are usually longer. My latest one is around 170 pages, the others around 125.

gravitink

Do kids prefer familiar aspects or the stranger the better?

Simon Rose

It depends on the reader. Some girls love to read a story about horses, while some boys love a story about basketball, for example. In terms of science fiction, I think the stranger the better.

But even if the story is et in a strange dimension, another planet or another time period, it still has to have some grounding in reality. Kids relate well to a story that they can identify with. the hero has annoying siblings, a pet dog, trouble with homework or whatever, just like them, but then comes home and travels to another world or meets an alien monster.

aelle

How many sub-plots do you use?

Simon Rose

Very few. I try and keep it simple this age group, but never talk down to them

Mary Rosenblum

I got a question from K Imagination that was a bit unclear, but I think she is asking whether your characters determine the story or whether your plot comes first and the characters

have to live with it.

Simon Rose

The plot comes first for me

charie'

Do you edit out a lot of background to fit the plot into fewer words?

Simon Rose

Not really. As much background is included as is necessary to explain things to the reader. I'm not trying to fit anything into fewer words, the book is simply as long as it is. You can't have too much detailed description without slowing things down too much. I have read many books with beautifully written passages of description which are also very dull and make me lose interest in the story. You have to keep it moving.

sss1208

Is there a market for adventures on sea?

Mary Rosenblum

Any idea, Simon?

Simon Rose

There seems to be, yes, but I can only go on what I have seen in bookstores or read last year. I don't know what is currently being accepted by publishers.

aelle

Could you give me the name of your newest book again, please? And do you have a favorite of your own books?

Mary Rosenblum

And Simon, since it's not out yet in the US, can people down here buy it through you? Or do we have to wait?

Simon Rose

My latest one is The Heretic's Tomb. And of course autographed books are always available directly from me. Just send me an e mail ...

A favorite? I quite like the new one, but will always like the first one as well, since it was The Alchemist's Portrait that started it all

k c morlock

As a graduate of ICL what would you say is the most important thing you learned as a student?

Simon Rose

Tough question, but perhaps learning to accept constructive criticism and not take things too personally, since it always improved the writing. In addition I also learned to edit revise, edit, revise and edit again and again, an invaluable lesson

k c morlock

I homeschool and until he said he was too old, 13, I read to my son, every night, now that it is his turn to read, he says the books out there are lame. Why do 'lame' books get published? I appreciate that you know your audience, is it possible other writers are out of touch? We push for excellent education why not push for excellent books?

Mary Rosenblum

And a GREAT way to push for them is to ask your local library to get Simon's books if they don't have them already. Be sure to have the publisher and ISBN number as well as titles when you do so.

Simon Rose

Ah, the eternal question …

As I said earlier I read over 200 books last year and wondered how some ever got published. Its a mystery to me, and there are so many books that all sound the same, especially for teens, but I guess it must be market driven .

If something has sold in the past, repeat it, even if it is lame, as in all the Harry Potter rip offs we have seen in the last decade.

Mary Rosenblum

Simon, before we end here, why don't you tell us a bit about Heretic's Tomb?

Simon Rose

Its a historical fiction tale set in 1349 at the height of the Black Death, when Lady Isabella discovers a mysterious amulet purportedly with the power to conquer death itself ...

She wishes to use it to heal the sick, but the evil Sir Roger de Walsingham wishes to use the amulet's power to revive an army of dead soldiers to seize the kingdom. Its a rollercoaster thrill ride filled with sorcery, treachery, treason and the ghastly horrors of the Black Death

Mary Rosenblum

Wow, cool! I learned more history as a kid from reading historical fiction than I ever did in class.

Remember, folk, you can buy a signed copy from Simon directly. J  And now I have an excellent question with which to end our very nice chat.

Simon Rose

There are links to all the history behind this book and the others at www.simon-rose.com

zave

What is the one thing you want to tell aspiring writers?

Simon Rose

Be determined and don't give up. Some of the most famous books in the world received multiple rejections before they got a break. Don't be discouraged and hang in there

Mary Rosenblum

Simon was your first published book rejected before it sold?

Simon Rose

No, I was very fortunate

Mary Rosenblum

But then Rowling was rejected many many times. So it's good advice, that's for sure. Simon, thank you SO much for coming back tonight.

I will certainly ask you back another time.

Simon Rose

Anytime Mary

Mary Rosenblum

Thank you all for coming, tonight!

charie'

Thanks, Simon.

Mary Rosenblum

Yes, thank you VERY much, Simon. You're a great guest.

Simon Rose

Thanks everyone for all your questions. Feel free to stay in touch by e mail anytime at all

Mary Rosenblum

Good luck with this book, Simon. I’m going to buy a copy. :-)

Good night all, and I'll see you Sunday.

Simon Rose

Good night everyone. You can reach me through my website or Mary has my direct e mail as well

Mary Rosenblum

Thanks for coming, Simon, and good night.

Simon Rose

Good night