Well, Claudia and I had a really good time on New Year’s Eve. We went to visit some pals who live in a place in London called Crystal Palace. They don’t actually live in a crystal palace - the palace the area was named after was destroyed in a huge fire in the 1930s. But the foundations of the Crystal Palace are still there - in a large park on a high hill - and you can walk down sets of stone steps with pillars and stone bannisters and statues on plinths all around, and you can stroll on grassy terraces that stretched out under the original palace. It wasn’t actually made of crystal - it was of glass, like a vast greenhouse! It was on a tall hill, and when it burned down, the flames could be seen all over London, apparently.
Anyway, I digress. We went to visit our friends in Crystal Palace, and drank some champagne at midnight, then we went out into the garden and we set off Chinese balloons. Do you know what they are? Just in case not, they are huge paper balloons, about three and a half foot high and a couple of feet across. They have a hoop of wire at the bottom that has a flammable square attached. You light the square and the paper balloon fills with hot air. Then, when it is fully inflated, you let it go and it soars up into the sky. We had them in yellow and green and blue. Mine had a kind of rocky start, and it almost turned over and I had to chase it across the grass to get it to fly right. But then it whooshed up into the air and flew way over the trees and the rooftops until it was like a star hanging in the sky. And right at that moment it started snowing, so that was pretty magical. The idea is to make a wish as you set your balloon off…but I can’t tell you my wish because that would spoil it. What might you have wished if you were me? Another ten Faerie Path books, perhaps?
Well, speaking of The Faerie Path, I took a look on the Amazon.com site a couple of days ago, and it seems that Faerie Path 5: The Enchanted Quest, will be in the stores on the 26th January! Hooray - at last!
I got a comment from Liz a few days back, really annoyed that Tania turned Edric’s marriage proposal down in The Immortal Realm, and asking why she would do such a thing. This set me to wondering what the rest of you guys think about this.
The thing is, it just seemed really obvious to me that Tania would say no - not just because she’s only sixteen, but also because it hit her as a real shock and kind of took her legs out from under her. Much as she loved Edric at that moment, she had never given any thought to marriage - to him or anyone else. Is she weird to react like she did, do you think? I’ve spoken to some famale pals about the same thing, and none of them think they would have agreed to get married at 16, no matter how much they loved the boy who asked - they all said they had way too many other things they wanted to do first, before settling down like that.
So, it’s over to you - was Tania out of her mind to turn him down like that, or do you think she was sensible to want to wait? After all, she really wanted to be with him, but just not married to him right then. (Oh, and when she turned him down, bear in mind she didn’t know about the whole “love is forever” thing.)
I think that you are an evil evil man that has something good up your sleeve! It’s been a while since i read through the book. (Praxis II exam and senior year is kicking my butt, hence why i have been MIA) However, i remember feeling upset she turned it down, but also feeling a bit distrustful of edric.
i had a dream a bit before christmas of your fairey path series. considering i havent read through it in forever, it was a lil out of sorts. Although you will find this interesting. in the dream i was tania (shocker) and edric went back to his homeland, but it turns out he was next to the throne. Then another all out war ensued, and i was crushed because i loved him. turns out he was a good guy all the time though, because he war he waged wasn’t against tania and her people, but against the evil in fairie.
wish i remembered details.
Quite honestly, I would of done the same thing. Also, everybody is talking about Tania’s side of the Marriage proposal…What about, “Why did he want to marry her?” Wasn’t that moment enough? He knew that the Love in Faerie lasts forever so, why would he do that? Also, does it ever snow in Faerie? I’m just wondering, because I bet it would be beautiful. Life in the middle of Death.
I would never get married (I’m seventeen, but still…) at this age. If only out of paranoid superstitious fear that if I did things would fall apart.
i think she’s crazy! i would never turn him down. but, if you think about it, she new he would always love her.
well when you put it that way i do sound a little mental but here is my theroy. she seemed to me the kind of person who is very patinant about most things she does. when i read the exsert from the 3rd book i though her response would be either she would stand that dumb struk and mabey pull him off into private and start to say exsactly what she did but then edric would say what he did about that he wanted to be with her for the reast of his life and everything and she would say either yes or can i have a little while to think. i also think that mabey (or mabey this is just what i wanted) she would be stuned and exsept a little breathlessly. i just dont see how she could decline exspetialy because she was at her sisters wedding she wasnt but so much younger right??? but on the other hand i am happy that se said no because if she had said yes it would have just been way too sad when edric had to leave. thats just my minds view
I absolutely understood when she turned him down. I agree with you that having grown up in our world, of course she felt too young, and also that she was just completely overwhelmed, especially with the way he proposed! She felt really bad afterwards when he explained about the forever part because she does love him, but she just wasn’t ready then. I look forward to seeing what happens next!
I don’t think Tania was out of her mind. I understand why she did it, being a 21st-century girl and all. Also, can it be that she’s a little afraid of that Hand-Fasting ceremony and the mind-meld potion? After all, her last experience with it was hardly pleasant.
Plus, she keeps having these nightmares of Edric turning into Gabriel. Maybe subconsciously, she’s afraid that he might turn on her too - after all, Gabriel seemed perfectly nice at first, and Edric has been using the Dark Arts.
I understand why she said no she’s only 16.But I would have rather liked Tania to say she would think about it.Then flat out say no to Edric.
Would anybody else say, “We’re too young right now, but if you really love me, you can wait a couple of years.” Also, I wonder if Tania knew about the Plague, would she still have turned him down? Plus, I don’t know about any of you, but I’m so tired of seeing happily ever after, after happily ever after. Tania’s dad was right, What really does happen the day after happily ever after? I’ll tell you, Life!
Peace out!
I think they will get married at some point. After all, they have the rest of eternity to sort things out! The one thing i hate about the series is that Zara had to die in the third book! I cried like a baby when i read that! :’(
AFJ. Addie makes a good point - having your wishes fulfilled isn’t the end of things - it’s just the start. There’s a really good musical by Stephen Sondheim called “Into The Woods” that looks at what happens after happy ever after. By the end of Act One, the girl marries the prince and the people all get their wishes. But when Act Two starts everyone is getting a bit bored…until something bad happens, then they all have purpose in their lives again.
The truth is, so far as writing is concerned, “happy ever after” really is DULL. That’s why stories END that way. Tolkien mentioned the same thing in The Hobbit, when Bilbo and the dwarves arrive in Rivendel. He says they all had a really good time there, but points out that although a really good time is great for the people having it, it’s not necessarily very interesting for a reader. Stories need conflict and trouble and anxiety and difficulties to be overcome if they are going to grip a reader. Happiness and contentment do not make for great reads!
On another topic, Rachel mentioned that she hated that Zara had to die. I get a lot of mail from people who were really upset about what happened to Zara. I’ll just say this, cruel as it may sound: the thing any writer is trying to achieve is for readers to feel an emotional bond with the characters in their books - readers have to care what happens to them, or what’s the point? So, from a purely writer’s point of view, the fact that so many people were upset by Zara’s death means the books have worked! If no one cared that she had died, then the book would have failed. That being said, she didn’t get killed just for the sake of upsetting people - I wanted to show that battles and wars are terrible things - that really good and kind and innocent people can and do die in them, even if the good guys win in the end. Even happy ever after has it’s price!
I think that Edric’s reaction to Tania’a refusal was out of hand. He needed to understand that part of Tania was raised in the Mortal World and as such she was raised with different customs and norms. In Faerie, children were probably taught that they would get married at a young age. Tania wasn’t raised this way and Edric should have respected her objection.
I think it is a good thing that Tania said no. As we see later in the Immortal Realm, Edric has a bit of a dark side that Tania had no idea even existed. And when you really think about it, they really don’t know that much about each other, do they?
because a few people have said something about taina turing edric down because he d=might have a dark side i have poped up with a question. out of what the book has said tania isnt really conserned that he might being turning evil but more conserned about what would happen to him as a person like that he could hurt himself. i might be wrong well i prob am wrong because that happenes a lot but anyway does anyone else have the same idea or even something completly different i just was wondering what other people thought
the d= was not suppose to be befor the might
Well just think about it, your life technically ends after marriage, especially in books. Obviously, it starts a new chapter in your life with someone else. When your married and you make choices, your not just controlling or impacting your own life anymore. It will also affect your husband/wife and/or your children. Every decision you make could change something in your life………………………………………………………………………..
And that’s why I got an A in Family and Consumer Science.
Here’s a thought- Tania isn’t allowed to cross worlds from Faerie to the mortal world rigt? Well what if she goes back under the ocean where the Dream Weaver spoke to her and try to get to the mortal world from there? It’s not in the realm of Faerie! Oberon could’t have closed that portal.
True That Rachael!
He Did Technically close off the portal from Faerie into the mortal world, but can’t she ONLY walk from the mortal world into faerie?
AFJ. Interesting thought, Rachael! And good question, Addie. If you are prepared to wait for the 26th of January, you will be able to learn the answer by reading The Enchanted Quest.
wait i thought it came out in febuary???????
AFJ. So did I, Liz - but Amazon.com have it down as available from 26th January. And I’m told that my copies are on their way - but we’re really snow-bound in the UK right now, so it might be a week or so before I see them. Can’t wait!
wow it seems like EVERYWHERE there is snow EXSEPT for where i live
How can you not know when yuor book is being released? Not to be rude but just wondering. Love your books by the way!!
AFJ. That’s a very reasonable question, Sabrina. I did know more or less when the book was due out - first I get told “Winter 2010″ - then I get told “February 2010″ - then I got told “1st Feb 2010″. But books are always sent out to the stores before that date - and I guess Amazon organized to have them for sale a week early.
But the good news for me is that my copies have now arrived! That means the signed copy can go out to Arya soon (as soon as the snow lets up!).
well if amazon wants to do that then personally im great with it! just less time to wait
Omg! I love these books so so much. I read each one in two days. AMAZING! Anyways, yes I was disappointed when she turned him down of course. I understand why she didn’t say yes, but I hope so much that he asks again! Anyways, I just wanted to say that these books literally changed my look on life, and I hope that you can write more than six. Oh just a question, is there going to be a contest or anything to get a signed book, of any of the six? Just curious
Thank you so much for writing the books!!
Oh btw, i didnt mean to put Shalom as my name(its still me) But I decided to use my other fake name lol.
So I was wondering, if we could see a picture of what YOU think Edric looks like, because I am having a hard time picturing him. I mean I can picture all the sisters, and other characters, but I just cant seem to have an idea of what he looks like.
Maybe because the book needs to be shipped.
AFJ. Shalom: I think Marisa is planning an other competition, with one of the original Princess sketches as a prize. I do plan on doing drawings of other characters when I get the chance. Maybe later in January.
Addie - yes, that would explain it, of course!
Awesome! Im just picked up the warrior princess today, but they didnt have it at Barnes and Noble, so I went across the street to Books-a-Million, haha. So, I have something to read, for a little bit in the waiting of the 5th faerie path book =P Oh I got on amazon too, and I think I’m going to pre-order it because it takes our bookstores forever to get a book in. O.O Oh well.
Btw Liz, it doesnt snow here either, but where I used to live, it snowed in July. Crazy as it seems…I dont like snow.
oh wow i love it!!!!!! and if Marisa does a compitition again and the pic being the priz what would we have to do or should i ask Marisa on her wevsite???? and good thoughts Addie! thats prob the answer
AFJ. I know Marisa has been thinking this over - but I’m not quite sure if she’s made a decision yet - perhaps ask her on her site?
Allan, do you have any tips for young authors? I always start a book, but I can never finish it. lol.
I just got on authortracker.com and found out that you have the same exact favorite movies as me!! Lol! Me and my friends actually had a Lord of The Rings Sleep over marathon, but we didnt even finish the second one lol. Too long.
haha that happenes to me a lot too
Mr. Jones- i commend you on your excellent novels yet i’m curious about something- it’s not often that a male author writes from a female’s perspective. What inspired you to write these books from Tania’s eyes?
I have the same problem Amy. Just most of the time, I have a GREAT beginning and I keep writing and the middle part is better and the beginning looks suckish to me and I can’t keep writing. It’s really weird.
AFJ. I do get quite a lot of aspiring authors asking for my advice - especially about stories that start well but then kind of hit a brick wall. This usually happens because the writer doesn’t really know where the story is going. By far the best way to deal with this is to plot out at least half of the story in advance. This will help in two ways. First, it will help you to find out if your potential story has “legs” (that it will keep going beyond scene one), and secondly, it will reveal to you whether you find the characters and set-up you have created really as intersting as you hoped. If you find the idea of pre-plotting a real turn-off, then maybe you need to reconsider the whole basis of your story. A story, like any journey, has to have a purpose and an aim. How do you want the story to end? That is the really vital question. Once you have the beginning and the end, you can more or less fill the middle in as you go along.
So, my advice is to decide how the story should end before you start writing it. Of course, this need not be carved in stone - you can change your mind if you have a better idea as you go along - but you need at all times to have a road-map along which the story can run - even if you change direction half way through.
So, do any of you guys have advice for your fellow aspiring writers? How do you do it? How do you stop stories from running out of steam?
AFJ. Rachael - Why did I, as a male writer, make a female my main character? For me, the answer to this is really straightforward: I find female characters more interesting than male ones. I think the width of emotions in female characters can be far greater than in male ones. Female characters, I find, can go from psychotic homicidal rage to a blubbering, hopless heap - and readers just go along with them, where they might not like it so much in a male character. I could well be wrong about this, but that’s what I think. Also, most of my best friends are female - and when I’m in mixed company, I prefer to hang out with the women simply because I find them more interesting to talk to.
Yeah I never really plan out the end. Mainly because I just have some random idea and start the beginning, but then I don’t know what to do once I get half way into it. So, for the story im writing now, I should go ahead and think of my ending
Oh I was wondering, is Edric in the fifth book at all? Because, its seems like he wont be in that one as much as the others. Cuz they are doing that quest and stuff. I cant wait!!!
I love your books so much I’m still reading the immortal realm because I couldn’t find it at my library but I did get to the part where Edric proposes. I agree that Tania said no but I do think Edric overreacted.
I also agree that it was a good idea to have Zara killed(even though she was my fav character). I like to write stories and movies too. I usually have an important character die because I think it makes a story more interesting. I write movies and then I film them with my friends as the actresses. I was wondering if you had any advice for someone who was trying to make there own website but was computer challenged. I was also wondering if you ever thought of any of your books as movies because when I write or read a story I always think of is at as movie and I act it out in my head. When I do that I always add in a charecter that represents me and I add in music that I think would go along with the story. By the way after I read the first three books I was kind of obsessed with the series and I wrote my own little short story to go along with(I added in a character that represented me. I love the story and I wish I had Tania’s life(except for the part where she has to pick between her parents). I don’t know about anyone else but I think it would be cool if her mortal parents moved into the immortal realm of Faerie and Oberon made them immortal. I don’t know if that actually happens because I didn’t finish the book yet but it was just a suggestion.
AFJ. Yes, Amy, Edric is in book five.
AFJ. Mary - I’m sorry, but I’m also a total dummy with computer stuff - I had this site put together by a very smart pal of mine - and I still have to ask her how to do stuff every now and then. And when anything goes wrong with my computer, I just ask my wife Claudia to help me out.
Your movies sound really great - I guess I do kind of visualise the action as I write it - except that I don’t generally imagine any of those Lord of the Rings swooping aerial shots! I’d be more up close and personal with a hand-held camera, I think.
Hey Mary, go to http://www. webs.com they tell you what to do and its pretty simple I think
oops http://www.webs.com
Thanks Amy I’ll have to try it
No problem
I used to have tons of them.
Mr. Jones, Ive been wondering what became of Cordelia’s managerie. In the one part when Tania and Eden are rats they see some of her animals(I wont mention where)
and Cordelia in the beginning says the menagerie is deserted so
did atleast most animals get away like she thought?
Could you describe the menagerie too? I kinda picture it like a zoo with no fences.
and why couldnt Eden read Rathinas mind when they were rats? I dont think her mind was blank like the knights?
Sorry for so many questions!!:)
AFJ. Okay, guys, as usual with questions like this, I’ll turn it over to you for a little while, to see if you have the answers about Cordelia’s menagerie. As for the mind reading thing, I’ll have to check up on that and get back to you.
I kind of pictured it like a zoo as well, but a very beautiful zoo, I suppose.
everything just so alive! Thats how i picture it.