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Parched
by Georgia Clark
YA Romantic Sci-Fi
Hardcover, 312 Pages
March 14th 2014 by Holiday House
YA Romantic Sci-Fi
Hardcover, 312 Pages
March 14th 2014 by Holiday House
Robots, renewable resources, and romance get tangled together in this thrilling futuristic adventure novel about a utopian city struggling to keep its peace.
"Bold futurist adventure with unusual romance, riveting action and ominous ecological red flags." —Kirkus Reviews
Amazon - Barnes and Noble - Indie Bound
1) Where did you get the idea for Tess?
Tess is a combination of me, some of my friends, and other YA heroines. I love creating spunky female characters who are brave, but flawed, who are active, emotional but not just boy-crazy. Tess is not a girly-girl, and neither am I.
2) How did you come up with this futuristic world?
It’s so fun inventing a futuristic, sci-fi world: I recommend everyone do it, at least once! The world of Parched is a combination of my feelings about my hometown of Sydney, impressions of the first place I ever visited outside of Sydney, which was Mexico, and a hodge-podge of influences: podcasts, magazines, novels, movies, etc. I really wanted to invent something that felt plausible, and real. I think Eden could function pretty well as a small city.
3) Who are some of your favorite authors?
Maggie Stiefvater; She’s a lyrical, adventurous writer, plus she is just a cool lady to boot. Bret Easton Ellis; Glamoroma is my fave book for grown-ups (very grown-up grown-ups) Margaret Atwood is a genius, as is David Mitchell. Lauren Oliver is fantastic, as is Laini Taylor and Rainbow Rowell.
4) When did you start writing?
I was writing short stories about talking foxes from a very young age, I was always really inspired by my teachers A++++ ratings (I respond VERY well to being told I did a good job, even as an adult). There was a lot of bad poetry, weird short stories and self-aggrandizing journalism at university. So the answer is, I’ve been doing it, like, forever, man.
5) What's the best and worst thing about writing?
The best thing is you get to indulge in your imagination, to let it off the leash and encourage it to go crazy! You get to write stories EXACTLY as you want them: you’re bending the world to your will. And you get to work in your pajamas. I’m probably the happiest when I have my coffee by my side, it’s raining, and I’m in bed tip-tapping away on my computer.
Here's an Interview With Georgia Clark!
1) Where did you get the idea for Tess?
Tess is a combination of me, some of my friends, and other YA heroines. I love creating spunky female characters who are brave, but flawed, who are active, emotional but not just boy-crazy. Tess is not a girly-girl, and neither am I.
2) How did you come up with this futuristic world?
It’s so fun inventing a futuristic, sci-fi world: I recommend everyone do it, at least once! The world of Parched is a combination of my feelings about my hometown of Sydney, impressions of the first place I ever visited outside of Sydney, which was Mexico, and a hodge-podge of influences: podcasts, magazines, novels, movies, etc. I really wanted to invent something that felt plausible, and real. I think Eden could function pretty well as a small city.
3) Who are some of your favorite authors?
Maggie Stiefvater; She’s a lyrical, adventurous writer, plus she is just a cool lady to boot. Bret Easton Ellis; Glamoroma is my fave book for grown-ups (very grown-up grown-ups) Margaret Atwood is a genius, as is David Mitchell. Lauren Oliver is fantastic, as is Laini Taylor and Rainbow Rowell.
4) When did you start writing?
I was writing short stories about talking foxes from a very young age, I was always really inspired by my teachers A++++ ratings (I respond VERY well to being told I did a good job, even as an adult). There was a lot of bad poetry, weird short stories and self-aggrandizing journalism at university. So the answer is, I’ve been doing it, like, forever, man.
5) What's the best and worst thing about writing?
The best thing is you get to indulge in your imagination, to let it off the leash and encourage it to go crazy! You get to write stories EXACTLY as you want them: you’re bending the world to your will. And you get to work in your pajamas. I’m probably the happiest when I have my coffee by my side, it’s raining, and I’m in bed tip-tapping away on my computer.
The worst thing is, when you’re rejected (not ‘if’, when) it’s for you, your ideas, your talent. It’s personal. There’s also the terrible gap between your taste (very good) and your talent (getting there). I read writers like David Mitchell or Maggie Stiefvater and think ‘How did they do it?!’. But you do get better with practice, thankfully, so you just have to keep at it, and keep reading writers better than you.
6) What is your advice to novice writers?
1. Be a kind manager of you.
As a writer, you are both the talent and the manager. Be the best manager you can be. A good manager has realistic expectations of the talent. They reward hard work, but aren't afraid to impose penalties for negligence. A great manager is always on your side.
2. Create a routine that plays to your strengths.
If you want to write a novel, you must establish a routine. Very few professional writers write when 'inspiration strikes', they write at a regular time. The more you can make writing part of your weekly routine, the easier it becomes. Find out when and where you write best and commit to being there. Consider using apps like Freedom or Anti-Social to block out the internet. Treat it like a real job if you want real results.
3. Realistic word counts (or hours at the desk) and deadlines
I have a weekly deadline of words, and if I don't make it by Friday, I work on the weekend. I commit to a deadline with my agent – enormously helpful. If you don't have an agent, commit to a deadline with another writer or a supportive friend/partner.
Also, sign up for writing classes! Also, I’m teaching a short, online course this month (January) through a site called Lit Reactor. It’s about creating a compelling sci-fi premise for a short story or novel. If you’ve always wanted to write a sci-fi, or you’re just looking for something to kickstart your imagination, sign up!
Thank you Georgia for the interview! I agree with you about the best and worst things about writing. I am an aspiring writer myself and I think the same things about the many great published authors who I admire. Thanks for taking the time to give some great advice.
Georgia Clark is an Australian writer and performer based in Brooklyn. She is the author of the young adult novels SHE’S WITH THE BAND (Allen & Unwin) and sci-fi/romance PARCHED (Holiday House). Widely published online and in print. Won some awards/grants/residencies. Has a play on at the NY Fringe festival. Pretty keen on cheese plates.
6) What is your advice to novice writers?
1. Be a kind manager of you.
As a writer, you are both the talent and the manager. Be the best manager you can be. A good manager has realistic expectations of the talent. They reward hard work, but aren't afraid to impose penalties for negligence. A great manager is always on your side.
2. Create a routine that plays to your strengths.
If you want to write a novel, you must establish a routine. Very few professional writers write when 'inspiration strikes', they write at a regular time. The more you can make writing part of your weekly routine, the easier it becomes. Find out when and where you write best and commit to being there. Consider using apps like Freedom or Anti-Social to block out the internet. Treat it like a real job if you want real results.
3. Realistic word counts (or hours at the desk) and deadlines
I have a weekly deadline of words, and if I don't make it by Friday, I work on the weekend. I commit to a deadline with my agent – enormously helpful. If you don't have an agent, commit to a deadline with another writer or a supportive friend/partner.
Also, sign up for writing classes! Also, I’m teaching a short, online course this month (January) through a site called Lit Reactor. It’s about creating a compelling sci-fi premise for a short story or novel. If you’ve always wanted to write a sci-fi, or you’re just looking for something to kickstart your imagination, sign up!
Thank you Georgia for the interview! I agree with you about the best and worst things about writing. I am an aspiring writer myself and I think the same things about the many great published authors who I admire. Thanks for taking the time to give some great advice.
All the things! (in order of preference if you don’t want to include them all)
Twitter: @georgialouclark
Official website: http://georgiaclark.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3344476.Georgia_Clark
Tumblr: http://georgialouiseclark.tumblr.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/georgialouclark
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Georgia Clark is an Australian writer and performer based in Brooklyn. She is the author of the young adult novels SHE’S WITH THE BAND (Allen & Unwin) and sci-fi/romance PARCHED (Holiday House). Widely published online and in print. Won some awards/grants/residencies. Has a play on at the NY Fringe festival. Pretty keen on cheese plates. Georgia is gearing up to teach a short, online writing class about writing sci-fi through a Lit Reactor course. Want to go check it out and join? Go HERE! Begins January 14th.
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Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteSo fun to hear abotu character inspirations
ReplyDelete