Catherine Atkins: WELCOME to the YA Authors Cafe! Tonight's chat will begin shortly. We're waiting for a few more guests to arrive. In the meantime, please grab a cup of coffee and introduce yourself to others. A reminder: This is a multi-age chatroom with tender young and old ears alike. Please moderate your language accordingly.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Hi to all the new people coming on!

Catherine Atkins: I liked Saving Francesca, too. Really finely detailed realistic fiction.

Kathe Koja: I also have the new Helen Frost.

Catherine Atkins: What's that one about, Kathe? I liked Keesha's House.

BrentHartinger: Someday I'll finish Jonathan Strange, etc.

Kathe Koja: It's called Spinning Through the Universe - it's a novel in poems.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: I'm curious about that jonathan strange one

BrentHartinger: It's...okay so far (but needs an editor)

BrentHartinger: Frankly, I think it's filling a "hype" slot

Kathe Koja: It looks quite rockin'. H Potter for grownups, I guess is the spin.

BrentHartinger: literary-fantasy

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: I'm the only person in the universe who hasn't read Harry Potter. Don't tell!

Catherine Atkins: I have a hard time with super-long books these days. Short attention span here.

Kathe Koja: Ditto.

BrentHartinger: short attention span, lots to do

BrentHartinger: Maybe that's why we write YA

Catherine Atkins: I love that short, tight, get-to-the-point style. You don't see it much in adult lit.

Kathe Koja: Custom. I love the intensity of the short novel.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: True. When I read a review of an adult book I always check out the number of pages. Ack.

BrentHartinger: I so agree Catherine

Catherine Atkins: I find too much meandering in adult stuff. Even most mysteries ramble on too much for me.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Somebody needs to smack those adult authors into shape!

BrentHartinger: Take a red pen to their manuscripts!

Lola: Hi! I just read Alt Ed this weekend-loved it! And Geography Club a few weeks ago-loved it too!

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: I'll do it! For a small fee. Heh.

BrentHartinger: Thanks, Lola >blush<

Catherine Atkins: Thanks so much, Lola!

Catherine Atkins: ****ATTENTION**** The chat is now beginning. We ask everyone to quiet down, find a comfy seat, and hold comments and questions until the HOST opens up the floor.

MaryP: Hey, it's a "Kathy" night I guess?

Catherine Atkins: Hello, everyone! Welcome to the YA Author's Cafe! I am Catherine Atkins, guest host for tonight's chat. Before I introduce our guests, I would like to explain our format. I will start by asking our guests a few questions. Before the last question, I will invite the audience to get ready to participate. At that time, if you would like to ask a question, type "?", send, and then type out your question so it is ready to SEND when I call on you. Please do not SEND the actual question until I call on you. Violators will be asked to clean up the room at the end of the night! ; )

Catherine Atkins: I will do my best to call on you in the order that the "?" are posted. I will type: (Your name GA) when it is your turn. GA stands for GO AHEAD. Let's begin!
Catherine Atkins: Our guests tonight are two terrific YA authors--Kathe Koja and Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson. Yes, it's the Kath-ie show. Kathe and Kathleen both write with poetic realism about some very tough subjects. I am a major fan of both and I am thrilled to have them here.

Catherine Atkins: Some info on Kathe and Kathleen:

Catherine Atkins: Kathe Koja is a Detroit-area writer whose YA novels include Straydog,

Catherine Atkins: Buddha Boy, The Blue Mirror and (upcoming in spring 2005) Talk. She loves PETA and Modest Mouse.

Catherine Atkins: Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson has lived in the suburbs of Washington D.C. since

Catherine Atkins: the age of one week. Her YA books are The Parallel Universe of Liars,

Catherine Atkins: Target, and A Fast and Brutal Wing.

Catherine Atkins: Kathleen and Kathe, welcome!

Kathe Koja: Thanks for inviting me.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Glad to be here!

Catherine Atkins: Our topic tonight is Dark Realities: Truth telling in YA Fiction.

Catherine Atkins: Do you have some opening thoughts on our topic, K and K?

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: The topic is scaring me!

Kathe Koja: There is no other reason to write (I think) than to tell the truth: about what you know, what you've seen, and how it feels.

Catherine Atkins: I think of both of your work as fearless. What has the reception been like? Has any of it made you more cautious?

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Maybe for me the real question, first, is how much truth can I share with myself? Maybe I create a story and weave it around my characters to lessen pain—real or imagined—that I otherwise find unbearable. Maybe it’s a way to control uncontrollable situations or emotions. I suspect that teens already know that life has a dark side, and will be attracted to books that help them experience it—or not!—at a level they’re comfortable with.

Catherine Atkins: Great answer, Kathleen. Wow.

Kathe Koja: No need for caution (she says cautiously). No, the reception for the books has been very positive.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: I worked on it. :-)

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: My reception has mostly be OK.

Catherine Atkins: What is the lead voice you listen to in creating your work? Yourself, your readers, editor, the...gasp...critics?

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: My own.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: The other voices come in later.

Kathe Koja: I have to be satisfied with the book before I can ever show it to anyone - it must be the best I can do.

Catherine Atkins: How many drafts before you show anyone, Kathe?

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Well, that too.

Kathe Koja: Two.

Catherine Atkins: Kathleen, you?

Kathe Koja: That sounds kind of pompous on reflection...But I'm not a good reviser.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: I don't do drafts, exactly. I revise constantly as I write. So a first draft has already been rewritten a zillions times

Catherine Atkins: Kathe, is the YA publishing world much different from adult? You are published in both.

Kathe Koja: Yes, YA is better.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: I'm jealous!

Catherine Atkins: How so? If you want to elaborate.

Kathe Koja: More fun. Infinitely more fun. Faster, and more intense writing, and incredibly well-read readers.

Catherine Atkins: For each of you, do you hear much from YA fans? What is their reaction to your work?

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: I just realized that Kathe and I are both maroon.

Kathe Koja: Great minds, etc.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Ahem. Well, I've heard from my two fans at least once. Ack.

Kathe Koja: Honest!

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: I don't have a web site, so don't really get any mail. And my books aren't exactly being read in school.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: I'm unpopular. Sob!

Catherine Atkins: How did each of you break into YA writing? I've heard its more difficult to get a YA novel pubbed than an adult book. Don't know if that's true...

Kathe Koja: Why not, Kathleen? Liars is amazing.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Yes, my two fans thought the same thing.

Kathe Koja: My first book Straydog came out of a short story in Cicada. From there things moved very quickly.

Catherine Atkins: Straydog is amazing--such a capture of a personality you don't see much in print.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: I finally wrote a book that my friend, Annette Curtis Klause thought didn't stink, and she asked her agent (at the time) to read it.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: From that point on--fame and fortune!

Kathe Koja: I like Rachel very very much. She's the girl I wish I had been!

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Though no mail.

Catherine Atkins: Rachel in Straydog is so true to herself--you made me cry very much at that ending, Kathe!

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Staydog is amazing.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Sobbed gallons.

Kathe Koja: Thank you...Yes, she is true, even when it's hard and when she screws up. Again, wish I was that girl.

Catherine Atkins: And Kathleen of course you have Parallel fans--I luvved it and you were a Flying Starts, etc.

Kathe Koja: For the record, I cried, too.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: I love it when authors cry over their own work!

Catherine Atkins: Kathleen, Kathe, did you read much YA growing up? Who were your favorite authors as kids?

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: I'm hoping I don't turn into a Flying End.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: YA didn't exist when I was growing up. I'm a hundred years old, almost.

Kathe Koja: I was a big Jack London girl. Later I found Salinger.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: OK, yes Salinger. Jane Austen. Portrait of the Artist as a Young man. Um um...

Catherine Atkins: Did you dream of being published as a kid? Or did that come later?

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Moby Dick. I was a fun kin.

Kathe Koja: I didn't get to Joyce until I was a grown-up.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: kid

Kathe Koja: Obsessively.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Depressively

Catherine Atkins: Do you both write in other genres or are you focused on YA now?

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: I'm a YA kind of girl

Kathe Koja: YA.

Kathe Koja: It's too fun here to go anywhere else

Catherine Atkins: I read that both of you write(wrote?) poetry. Does that structure play a role in your YA writing?

Kathe Koja: Alas, I am not a poet at all, but being mistaken for one is a kick.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Yes, I write poetry. It's not the structure so much as it's the sound of the words--the way they sing together or don't.

Catherine Atkins: What moves you to write a story? Real-life events, something in your life, something mysterious?

Kathe Koja: That song and rhythm are so very important - it's what I look for first in any book.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: I'm a whiney depressive. Anything is fair game.

Kathe Koja: Pure selfishness - I write what I'm interested in, enraged by, in love with, etc.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Mostly I pick from my own head.

Catherine Atkins: I notice for each of you, art often plays a role in your YAs. What role does art play in your lives as writers?

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: My mother painted. 'nuff said

Kathe Koja: My husband is an artist and my son goes to art school.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Cool!

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: I do great doodles.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Art is another way to see a character, I think.

Kathe Koja: I'm also moved and influenced by artists (Lucian Freud, Odd Nerdrum, etc)

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Odd Nerdrum? Great name.

Kathe Koja: He's a contemporary Norwegian artist - a painter. Wonderful work.

Catherine Atkins: Both of you write great realistic high school scenes? Where do you get your info on high school?

Kathe Koja: Memory. Kids I know. My son's friends (but now he is too old!).

Catherine Atkins: (All right, gang, I am going to ask our guests one more question and then it will be time for you to ask your questions. Type your "?" at any time, and then get your questions ready to send and for me to call on you.)

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Memory for me, too. I try to keep my eyes and ears peeled, but once you've been there (hs) it never goes away.

Catherine Atkins: So far my fave characters in each of your works are Rachel from Straydog and Nikki from A Fast and Brutal Wing. Your fave characters from your work? Can you name a few?

Kathe Koja: I'm very taken with Kit, in Talk (comes out in spring) and Maggy in Blue Mirror
Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Wow. Probably Grady from Target. Doug from Fast and Brutal
Wing. Emmet. I like Niki, too, some people don't like her at all.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: You know, the weird ones.

Catherine Atkins: Anyone with questions, please send the question mark and I will do my best to call on you in order.

MaryP: Have you ever shared a "truth" that was perhaps too dark and you were encouraged by your editor to tone it down?

Kathe Koja: No. Frances (Foster at FSG) has been stalwart and subtle at the same time.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Ack. Yes. I had to tone down what happened to Grady--my editor, Deborah Brodie, tells me when enough is enough.

Nancy Werlin: For all three of you: which part of writing a novel is your favorite part? Your least favorite?

MaryP: (thanks)

Catherine Atkins: Nancy--waiting to hear if the draft is acceptable. Acckk.

Kathe Koja: Starting is best! Least favorite is the slog - but in YA the trajectory is s swift there's almost no slog at all.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Meeting and becoming absorbed by my characters--falling in love with them.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: The worst part--when I know the story so well it gets boring.

Catherine Atkins: Favorite--creating real characters that kids tell me they believe in.

Lola: Kathe-Have you experienced 'art' (such as drawing or painting) transform a person in your own life? Like, they were able to work through their problems because of their dedication to their art?

Kathe Koja: Yes indeed. Me, for one.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: We need more than that.

Catherine Atkins: Like what, Kathleen?

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Oh, I meant, do tell, Kathe!

Kathe Koja: Eek. OK, my work has been my anchor in hard times and my play in happier times. It has kept me going as a person.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: I can really relate to that.

Catherine Atkins: Kathe, stalwart and subtle is how you described your editor--I love that. Subtle how, if you want to share it?

Kathe Koja: Kathleen, do you ever see in something you wrote the answer to a question you were living while you wrote it? (if that makes sense)

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. thinking

Kathe Koja: Frances has a very light touch on a ms - she knows where to use the scalpel just so.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: I think I see answers in retrospect--not knowing I was working on them while I was writing

Lola: Kathe-What inspired you to write 'Skin'?

Kathe Koja: An interest in how we inhabit our bodies.

Catherine Atkins: Kathleen, in A Fast and Brutal Wing, you've moved into fantasy. Maybe... What was it like creating those fantastic elements?

Catherine Atkins: (Fabulous book, by the way!)

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: I really enjoyed it. I'm not truly a writer of fantasy (I'll show you the two horrible fantasy novels in my file cabinet some time) but I do enjoy fantasy. This allowed me to have both a fantastical element and a dark psychological element.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Which was delightful

Catherine Atkins: Kathe, do you plan to do a horror and/or fantasy YA?

Kathe Koja: Not in the (very) near future, but I'd never say never.

Nancy Werlin: Can each of you say a bit about the book you're working on now?

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: my work in progress is a whacky romance. I'm having fun writing funny

Kathe Koja: I'm finishing up writing one but must be mum till it's done (superstitious). Ready to go thru another with Frances: that one's called Are You Experienced?

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: A nice change from dark dreary depressing oppressive I can't take it another day stuffs

Nancy Werlin: "Whacky"? People hit each other? :>

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Goofy!

Catherine Atkins: The theme of the introvert is one you both touch on in your YA's. May I ask if you are introverted and how do you handle the public side of being an author?

Catherine Atkins: (Are You Experienced--great title!)

Kathe Koja: Yes indeedy. I handle it gingerly but try to remember that being in public is about the public, not me!

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: I'm a certified introvert. I basically don't have a public side--except a foray into print like this one. Which I was more outgoing, but alas. . .

Lola: Do either of you have a unique story to share about how you conducted research for a character you were writing about?

Kathe Koja: I had great fun hanging around with drama kids for Talk. Got to watch auditions, rehearsals etc.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Hmm. Nothing unique. I did have to do a lot of reading about male on male rape for Target. Learned a lot of things that surprised me, and maybe surprised some people reading my book. Not everybody liked what I had to say.

Catherine Atkins: Kathleen, can I ask if that's made you more cautious. Or is it, oh well, they'll write what they like? I go back and forth between the two.

Sheila Kelly Welch: Are there some subjects you would never consider putting into a YA book?

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Well, I do feel I sort of stepped in a minefield of sorts, so I do try to be careful about certain subjects. But I try to be honest and real (darn that sounds trite.) I just do the best I can.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Nice evasive answer!

Catherine Atkins: Both of you have had a book a year out for several years in a row. Well received books, too. What is your writing routine like, for each of you?

Kathe Koja: To be honest, no. I would try to bring that same honesty and care to any subject I was truly moved to write about.

Catherine Atkins: (I ask as a slow writer!)

Kathe Koja: I write every day in the mornings, while my brain is still fresh.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: I never have my main character be a smoker.

Catherine Atkins: No, it has to be more complicated--heh. Do you know from the start where you are going in a book?

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: I write every day I can. I work part time, so I arrange my writing life around that.

Kathe Koja: I have about 2/3 of it in my head. The rest is a surprise. Some bigger than others!

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: I'm a little behind on my production schedule, actually

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: I have my main character with me from the start--I have a sense of the overarching reach of the story, but what happens along the way is a surprise

Catherine Atkins: Here's the tried and true question but one I always like to read about--advice for aspiring writers? Either of you?

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Oh, man. Read read read write write write and if you're burning with it don't give up

Kathe Koja: Read, read, read, though if you're a writer you'll be doing that anyway. Follow what you love and it will take you where you have to go.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: I say that as what feels like the oldest living first time author

Catherine Atkins: Great advice. Mary, GA.

MaryP: Kathleen, you said "you do the best you can." That's all any writer can do, but do all of you feel that your books are getting better or are they all special to you--just in different ways?

Kathe Koja: I hope each is better than the last.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Well, they're all fabulous of course. Heh. I don't know, I'm always in love with the one I'm currently working on, and tend to look with dismay at the ones past, like they don't quite measure up. Then I sneak back for a peak and say, "not bad!"

Lola: Have you met anyone that has shared with you that your writing has impacted some aspect of their life? (okay, family members count too)

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: In private, of course

Kathe Koja: Yes, and I'm very grateful when that happens. Once a girl hugged my book (Straydog) in a school hallway and said "OH I love this!" I was so honored.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Yes, I was gratified when I went to ALA that several people told me how much Target had meant to them. One person gave me a personal account of why, and I was quite moved.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Nobody's ever hugged me, though

Kathe Koja: That's one of the greatest things about writing - you are present to people in ways you never dreamed of, and the things you write may help people you never see.

Catherine Atkins: Kathleen and Kathe are just tremendous writers and anyone who hasn't read them yet, please do. My advice for the day.

Kathe Koja: Thank you!

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Yes, indeedy, thanks ma'm

Catherine Atkins: Any final questions for our guests?

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: I think everybody went home

Lola: I'm still here! Just wanted to say thanks and I really enjoyed this!

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Thanks for coming!

Kathe Koja: Ditto!

Catherine Atkins: Our "official" time for tonight is up--some of us need to go--but the rest of you are welcome to stay and chat as long as you like. Thank you to Kathe Koja and Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson!

Sheila Kelly Welch: Thanks for taking the time to "talk" to us!

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: You're so welcome

MaryP: Thanks so much to all of you--you were terrific!

Catherine Atkins: Great show, guys. Thanks so much!

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: Dang we're good

Kathe Koja: Thank you for all the good questions.

MaryP: Great questions and answers!

Catherine Atkins: Don't forget--no YA Chat next week, but the week after, come back for a no-host chat with YA readers and writers--Tuesday, October 26.

MaryP: and not "evasive" at all Kathleen! ; )

Kathe Koja: Thanks again for hosting, Catherine.

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson: No host--oooo, free for all!

Catherine Atkins: I loved all those thoughtful answers from you both.