We’re talking today to Kailin Gow, one of the most prolific young adult authors I’ve seen in a long time. Her latest book is Rise of the Fire Tamer, involving five teens – who are invited to stay at Wordwick Games inventor Henry Word’s mysterious castle and play the newest level of Workwick Games. Little do they know, the castle is the doorway to a wondrous world call Anachronia where words can be used as weapons, power, and commodity.
Q. Thank you for this interview, Kailin. Can we begin by having you tell us why you chose to write young adult fiction?
I’ve always loved reading books in this genre, and they have helped shape who I am today. I grew up reading Judy Blume, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien. And I read all the Sun Fire series and Sweet Valley High series.
There is so much going on in this age group that is rich for writing and also for discovering. Things are new, things are dramatic, things are always a life and death situation. I love that. I can relate to that, but I’m also much older and have a lot more life experience to provide a wider perspective for teens.
On a personal note, I find myself becoming an informal mentor to a lot of teen girls and I’m constantly being asked for advice on relationships, career, whatever. My mom friends also point their teen daughters my way whenever they want them to have a mentor or role model. I’ve been a teen mentor, in this way, and even a college/young adult mentor, for years since I was in college.
Q. Did you outline before you wrote your book or did you just go with the flow?
When I first began writing, I used to go with the flow, but writing books, especially series require a lot of discipline. As I started writing series, outlining the book is the way to go in order to get all your plot points and story arcs into the book and prepare for the next book.
Q. Who was your favorite character in Rise of the Fire Tamer and why?
All the characters in The Wordwick Games Series can be studied in detail for what constitutes leadership qualities and qualities people would look for in friends and romantic relationships.
I have a few favorites, but the obvious pick for me would be Gem because she’s more complex than she looks. She also has backbone, stands up for her convictions, and has clear leadership abilities. She’s an amazing role model for girls and boys. She’s based on the qualities I’ve seen in some amazing CEOs and world leaders I’ve met in life. Yet she’s also a teenager, and she knows her limitations.
I love all five teen characters in The Wordwick Games. They’re all distinct. A reviewer for The Bookshelf said that if she was to cast the characters in The Wordwick Games, they would be:
“Gem: Hilary Duff, Elisha Cuthbert or Anna Sophia Robbs...it’s tough to find one to fit the age too. Sparks: Hayden Christensen would be good in it or Chace Crawford maybe.
Ellen Page would be cool as Kat I think, Anton Yelchin for Jack or Jamie Bell.”
Q. Who was your least favorite character?
I can’t say I have one because even the most minor characters or villains have a redeeming side to them.
In Book 2, though, a very “bad ass” character shows up to shake everything up, and this character is so bad, there doesn’t seem to be any redeeming qualities in this character.
Q. Can you tell us about the setting and why you chose it?
Anachronia is another world. Based on the word, “Anachronism,” it is where everything is out of sync. It is a fantastic world set in a fairy tale setting where there are castles, knights and ladies, dragons, ogres, trolls, werewolves, zombies, and wizards. The world of Anachronia looks familiar to us because of its medieval appearance, yet it is meshed with modern day technology, thanks to The Wordwick Games.
I chose to build a world like Anachronia so it is everything a gamer wants in a fantasy game world—the challenge, the beauty, the quests, the familiarity, and the new. There is much beauty in this land, yet because of the habitants and their powers, it can be dangerous.
Q. What was the hardest part to write?
To me, always the ending. I put a lot of thought into the structure and plotting of the book and the ending has to be one that fits yet promises more. This is where I do listen to the flow, yet I have to think through it.
Q. What was the inspiration behind the story? Where were you when you came up with the idea?
My books are character-driven so I picture characters first and then see them in a situation or world. I’ve started writing more fantasy and paranormal fiction because I read a lot of fairy tales and “spooky” books with my preschool daughter, and I love how these stories build her imagination and creativity.
My four-year-old daughter London inspired me to write a book about gamer teens. She loves video games (and hanging out with her teen and young adult sitters LOL), and I wanted to write a series that would help girls (and boys) develop a sense of good sportsmanship, leadership principles, self-esteem, and teamwork with this series. At the same time, I wanted to break stereotypes (especially among teens) with the characters in this series.
The story came about from my own experience having played video games and even having scripted and produced a video game before. However, this isn’t a video game, but a novel much like The Chronicles of Narnia and other fantasy adventure young adult novels.
The Wordwick Games is also a way of introducing SAT words into everyday vocabulary. Incorporating SAT words into the novel as Ruler Words, their meaning and usage are reinforced over and over again in the story.
Q. Do you plan on writing more young adult novels?
Yes, The Ascension (The Wordwick Games, #2) is in the editing/print process and will be out October 2010. The Return, Book 3 is already outlined and slated for a 2011 release.
Bitter Frost, a heart-wrenching love story between two lovers whose kingdoms are at war with each other, was just released. The Phantom Diaries, a paranormal romance for older teens to young adults, was just released as well. I’m finalizing the second books to these series to be released this Fall/Winter.
The Stoker Sisters, a series about vampire sisters, is set for a late summer, early Fall release as well.
Q. Thank you for this interview, Kailin. We wish you much success!
Thank you so much for having me. You can find me on Facebook. Add me as a friend and join my YA Books page there. or you can find me on my new website.