Rachel Caine, author of PAPER AND FIRE, on there being no right way

by Jocelyn Rish

PAPER AND FIRE is the next novel in the The Great Library series, and we’re delighted to have Rachel Caine stop by to chat about it.

Rachel, what scene was really hard for you to write and why, and is that the one of which you are most proud? Or is there another scene you particularly love?

There’s a scene toward the end of the book that’s set in the Black Archives, and that was really the one where everything tied together for me … the relentless ruthlessness of the Library, the realization of just how much the world had been changed by it, and the personal horror of the characters at discovering the truth. It was a painful scene, and also it felt really, critically important to understanding the world. Building alternate history can be very tricky, to create a consistent and believable world and yet not overdo it for the reader. For me, the Black Archives scene really accomplished everything I wanted it to do.

How long did you work on PAPER AND FIRE?

The actual writing of it was about three months, but creating this world took more than 10 years of tinkering … I started writing scenes of it, and playing with characters, in about 2006 or 2007. I really loved the ideas I had, but it took quite a while to find the right structure, right point of view, and really understand the world I was trying to create. That was the hard part, I think. So, either three months or 10 years!

What did this book teach you about writing or about yourself?

Good question, because I think every book I write teaches me something, and this one made me think very hard about where and how to start it. I generally know where a story starts (and ends) but this one really ended up a puzzle. I had to be very, very patient with it and try different things until it–excuse the expression–caught fire. So I suppose its main lesson for me was patience and steady progress, which is a little what the characters are learning in the beginning, too.

What do you hope readers will take away from PAPER AND FIRE?

I hope they’ll hug their books (electronic or paper) closer, and realize how easy it is for things they love to just … disappear. Books are an expression of imagination, and experience and history tells us that they can vanish without a trace when extremism and suppression take over.

How long or hard was your road to publication? How many books did you write before this one, and how many never got published?

I’m an anomaly, don’t judge by me! I never wrote a full book until someone bought from a proposal and sample I did in 1991, and I have no “trunk novels” … basically, every book I’ve written has been published, or I didn’t write it. HOWEVER. I spent a good 15 years writing short stories and partials and refining my craft before I ever tried submitting anything for consideration … and I didn’t understand even then that I should have finished the first book before submitting. I’ve made a lot of mistakes, and that was a big one. It worked out, but this is a “don’t do as I did” teaching moment!

Was there an AHA! moment along your road to publication where something suddenly sank in and you felt you had the key to writing a novel? What was it?

I don’t think there ever was, really. There is in every book a moment where everything falls into place, and I understand that novel, but each key, each novel is entirely different. It’s strange but true: I know how to write the book as a single project, with its own unique challenges. I don’t think there’s a single magic formula.

What’s your writing ritual like? Do you listen to music? Work at home or at a coffee shop or the library, etc?

Up until 6 weeks back, I would have told you my ritual was to write on my laptop wherever I was, and listen to music (I create playlists for each book). That I almost never wrote at a desk.

Then I found out that working so hard on a laptop in bad conditions for many years had severely injured the discs in my neck and upper spine, and the first thing I had to do was get rid of my laptop and set up an entirely ergonomic workspace if I wanted to keep writing with a keyboard. I’m also supplementing with Dragon Naturally Speaking to do interviews and messages, and will be tackling my first ever dictated book next month.

So rituals change! They have to.

What advice would you most like to pass along to other writers?

Patience. This is not an exciting game; it’s a long one, and the moves you make take years to manifest in any real way. Don’t set yourself a time limit, and don’t beat yourself up for not being an overnight success. But, by the same token, refine yourself. Learn. Grow. Don’t get resentful and cynical; it only hurts you in the end. Be open to opportunities and happy for your colleagues. And most of all: there is NO RIGHT WAY. There is only your way.

What are you working on now?

I’m finishing up the third Great Library book, ASH AND QUILL, and starting on a new thriller called STILLHOUSE LAKE, which will be out in early 2017! Then I start on a fun new series with Ann Aguirre called THE HONORS, an outer space epic adventure. After that, a new Weather Warden novel, RED HOT RAIN!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Paper and Fire
by Rachel Caine
Hardcover
NAL
Released 7/5/2016

In Ink and Bone, New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine introduced a world where knowledge is power, and power corrupts absolutely. Now, she continues the story of those who dare to defy the Great Library—and rewrite history…

With an iron fist, The Great Library controls the knowledge of the world, ruthlessly stamping out all rebellion, forbidding the personal ownership of books in the name of the greater good.

Jess Brightwell has survived his introduction to the sinister, seductive world of the Library, but serving in its army is nothing like he envisioned. His life and the lives of those he cares for have been altered forever. His best friend is lost, and Morgan, the girl he loves, is locked away in the Iron Tower and doomed to a life apart.

Embarking on a mission to save one of their own, Jess and his band of allies make one wrong move and suddenly find themselves hunted by the Library’s deadly automata and forced to flee Alexandria, all the way to London.

But Jess’s home isn’t safe anymore. The Welsh army is coming, London is burning, and soon, Jess must choose between his friends, his family, or the Library willing to sacrifice anything and anyone in the search for ultimate control…

Purchase Paper and Fire at Amazon
Purchase Paper and Fire at IndieBound
View Paper and Fire on Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rachel Caine is the #1 internationally bestselling author of fifty novels, including the New York Times bestselling Morganville Vampires young adult series. Her novel Prince of Shadows won multiple awards, and was named to the prestigious Spirit of Texas Reading
List. Her Great Library series launched in 2015 with Ink and Bone, an international bestseller and critical success and winner of multiple nominations and awards. Ink and Bone was named to the Lone Star List for 2016 by the Texas Library Association. Paper and Fire, the second in the series, releases July 2016.

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Have you had a chance to read PAPER AND FIRE yet? Are you writing in an ergonomic workspace to take care of your body? Are you growing and staying open to opportunities? Share your thoughts about the interview in the comments!

Happy reading,

Jocelyn, Shelly, Martina, Anisaa, Sam, Erin, Susan, Michelle, Laura, and Kristin

Jocelyn Rish

Jocelyn Rish is a writer and filmmaker who loves researching weird and wonderful animals and sharing what she learns. Her debut was BATTLE OF THE BUTTS, about ten animals that do weird things with their butts. Her latest book is BATTLE OF THE BRAINS, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection about ten animals with mind-blowing brain abilities. When she’s not writing, she tutors kids to help them discover the magic of reading. Jocelyn has won numerous awards for her short stories, screenplays, films, and novels and lives in South Carolina with her adorable dog. Find out more at www.jocelynrish.com.

Post @ Jocelyn Rish and/or Adventures in YA Publishing. All rights reserved.

Posted: Jul 9, 2016

Category: Imported from AYAP

Tags: YA Author Interviews

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The first slide is an animation of a science/magic room in a castle. A cartoon character of a mad-scientist looking man in in the foreground says: “Hello! Dr. Frankenstein here to say, Well Done on kid lit zombie week! I’m an expert at reviving the dead, and let me assure you, with a little spark, you can bring dead projects to life. Especially if you dig up parts from other dead things. I’ll even let you have a sneak peek at my laboratory’s store room to consider potential parts for your dead project. If you see something with a yellow glow, that means you should click it. Have fun!”

He points to the right side of the screen and a new scene slides in of a castle science/magic storage room. There are various cartoon Frankenstein body parts scattered around. Some of them have a yellow glow. If you click on them, the images below appear (I’ve added alt text to them, so I hope it works).

The Heart of your story is the main character. The protagonist is the beating core that truly brings your story to life. If your MC doesn't make kids (and their grown-ups) care within the first few pages, your story will flatline. </p>
<p>Your main character needs to be:<br />
• Relatable enough for kids to see themselves<br />
• Unique enough to stand out in the slush pile<br />
• Active enough to drive the story<br />
• Memorable enough to survive multiple readings at bedtime</p>
<p>Where do you find this amazing donor heart? It might be the very thing you loved so much about the manuscript you want to revive. It might be the younger sister from your shelved YA novel. Or maybe it’s the hilarious kid you blogged about meeting at a school visit. Find a character beating with potential and place it in the center of your story.<br />

The Brain of your story is the theme or central message. The theme is the big idea that controls everything else. Picture books are more than stories - they're tiny life lessons disguised with humor and heart.</p>
<p>But your theme needs to be:<br />
• Subtle enough not to trigger the dreaded "didactic" rejection<br />
• Clear enough for a four-year-old to grasp<br />
• Universal enough to speak to both kids and adults<br />
• Fresh enough to prevent agents and editors from responding with "Not another sharing/bedtime/first-day story!"</p>
<p>Check your other dead manuscripts to see if there is a recurring theme, something that really seems to be speaking to you. Find the bit of poetry you scribbled on the back of a receipt to see what theme inspired it. Reread the pep talk you texted your critique partner at 1am. Pick the theme that will drive your story, giving it purpose, direction, and deeper meaning.<br />

The Legs of your story is the plot. Not to be confused with a grave plot.🤪 The plot is what keeps everything upright and moving, as well as providing support for all the other elements. You have very few words to use in a picture book, so you need to do a lot with each plot point.</p>
<p>In general, your plot should:<br />
• Hook readers fast<br />
• Build tension that a child can follow<br />
• Create page turns that feel natural<br />
• Wrap up in a way that satisfies</p>
<p>You can borrow a plot twist (a leg) from one manuscript and the opening (the other leg) from a different manuscript. Consider if the subplot of the middle grade novel you trunked would work better as a picture book. Or maybe your Facebook post about a disastrous camping trip could become a story for kids. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other until you have your storyline.

The Arms of your story are the side characters.

The Torso of your story is the setting. Setting helps a story breathe and connects all the elements of the story. It isn't just where your story lives, it's what makes your story ALIVE. It's the difference between "this happened in a park" and "this happened in that park, the one with the twisty slide that burns your legs and the creaky swing that sounds like a baby crying.”</p>
<p>Your setting should:<br />
• Make your character's world feel real<br />
• Contain your story in a way that makes sense to young readers<br />
• Connect different scenes and moments organically<br />
• Give your illustrator enough room to add visual subplots</p>
<p>Half-finished manuscripts are a great place to dig up settings, since you worked out the place details before the plot petered out. Or maybe you had to cut a second fantastic location from your chapter book. You can also revisit the detailed caption from your Instagram carousel documenting your tour of that delish candy shop. Disinter a robust setting that can house all of your story's vital organs.

After you press the Click When Done circle button, the lights flash with the sound of electricity buzzing. Then the screen goes black and lightning zaps across the screen with the sound of thunder.

The screen then lights up to show the storage room, and all the Frankenstein pieces have been assembled into the whole monster. An upbeat song plays in the background. Then a speech bubble pops up with the words, “I’m alive! I’M ALIVE!” Then the screen goes to black.

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