Becca Fitzpatrick

<Christie Wilson> How was Patch inspired? : )

<Becca Fitzpatrick> Patch was based on a guy I knew in high school. He was the ultimate bad boy. And that's all I'm going to say about that, ha!

<meowww> Is the Hush Hush saga going to be made in a movie ?? It would be really great to see Nora and Patch and the books come to life

<Becca Fitzpatrick> I agree that it would be great to see them on the big screen. I've had a few offers from movie studios, but at this time I've decided not to sell the film rights.

<FaerysTale> Can it become a daunting task when you know you have to write such a big story?

<Becca Fitzpatrick> We are all laughing over here at The Reading Room as I try to make my answer sound good, haha!

<Becca Fitzpatrick> The truth is, YES, it can be very daunting. It's easy to write the first draft, but when it comes to editing such a long book, it can feel very overwhelming. Have I tied up all loose ends? Does each character serve a purpose? Do all the facts add up? It can be scary. I keep swearing I'm going to write shorter books...and it never quite turns out that way.

If I ever write another series, I am SO going to make sure I have the entire series plotted out before I start writing. You can hold me to that!

<WriterDork> Hi Becca, cannot wait to meet you tomorrow at the black hand ball. I have read that you wanted Patch to be the ultimate bad boy, so where did the inspiration come from to make him into a fallen angel?

<Becca Fitzpatrick> I knew from the start that Patch was going to be the ultimate bad boy. But I wanted him to be a little different. I wanted him to have been a really good, upstanding and moral person at one point. As I kept pondering his "fall from grace," it became something very literal - he had literally fallen from heaven. It was an exciting moment. That's when I knew I could take the story anywhere.

<Tayskii> Hey, Becca! It's so awesome that you're doing this : ) I'm over in Arizona, and have been waiting up for this all day! One question I wanted to ask is whether or not you ever had a writing moment where your own characters and writing made you giggle to yourself, because you thought that your joke were so funny? I mean, come on. Patch has to have had a line in there somewhere that made you

<Becca Fitzpatrick> Oh, wow! It must be late in Arizona! Thanks for staying up : )

So...yes. Yes, I laugh. A LOT when it comes to Patch's lines. Some of them are so cheesy. And hilarious. I love writing Patch's lines. But I'll let you in on a secret.

Sometimes it takes DAYS to come up with the perfect line for him. I'll go out for a run, and think think think. "What would Patch say?!"

<alannah.s96> will patch ever show Nora when they REALLY first met?

<Becca Fitzpatrick> I am guessing from your question that you've read the bonus content from Patch's POV? I don't know if Patch will tell Nora. He should open up and be honest with her. Maybe I'll write that into the fourth book. If I do, you'll know I have you to thank : )

<meowww> Can you give us any goss or info on the next book I cant wait until it comes out !!!

<Becca Fitzpatrick> I can say a few non-spoilery things : )

<Becca Fitzpatrick> As you might have guessed from the end of SILENCE, war is brewing. In book 4, fallen angels and Nephilim go to war. Also, the book takes place during Cheshvan, so you'll get to see what the world of immortals is like during that period. Finally, an old enemy of Patch's hunts him down...with the intent to destroy him. Patch is in quite a bit of danger during this book!

<WriterDork> Is writing something that you always wanted to do? And did you always plan on torturing us with your cliff hangers? : )

<Becca Fitzpatrick> When I was eight, I watched the movie Romancing the Stone for the first time. When I finished, I told my mom I was going to grow up and be a romance writer. Like the romance writer in the movie, I thought all romance writers fly to Colombia to rescue their sister from bad guys, hunt for treasure, and fall in love with a hot stranger!

<Mirabelle> It's going to make me sad to read this book. Patch reminds me of my ex-boyfriend, who was still my best friend for 6 years, until last week when he started chasing another girl, and now I can't talk to him.

<Becca Fitzpatrick> By the time I was in college (university) I'd forgotten this dream and I wanted to be a...

<Becca Fitzpatrick> SPY!!

<Mirabelle> And because it's the end!

<Becca Fitzpatrick> I applied to the C.I.A. twice. They never called. Boo.

<Becca Fitzpatrick> I didn't think about writing again until my 24th birthday, when my husband surprised me by enrolling me in a writing class. I started writing HUSH, HUSH in that class. Five years later, and after 100 rejection letters, my agent sold the book. YAY!

<Becca Fitzpatrick> Mirabell: That's hard. And, yes, reading the end of a story is almost always sad. It's hard to say good-bye to characters when you love them. If it's any consolation, I won't end the book by killing off all the characters : )

<FaerysTale> Yay the Black Hand Ball! I have literally been counting down the days since...October? And I never imagined time would go fast enough but now, it's this Friday! Anyways, (I tend to ramble on) Do you ever base an event in you story on real life?

<ashleigh.berrigan> how did u start writing?

<Becca Fitzpatrick> Heee! Yes. Confession: I often re-read the journals I kept in junior high and high school, and stick small things from my life into my books. There is a scene in Crescendo where Nora narrowly escapes Scott's bedroom by asking him to a school dance with a hot dog. WELL...

<Mirabelle> Glad to hear that!! And thank you : )

<Becca Fitzpatrick> When I was in high school, I asked a guy named BO to a school dance by giving him a hot dog with a sign that read, "Bo, don't be a weiner. Go to the dance with me."

<Stark888> Whats your favorite book ever?

<Becca Fitzpatrick> Oh, wow. Favorite book! That's so hard. I have so many.

<Becca Fitzpatrick> But I do love OUTLANDER by Diana Gabaldon. I could read that book a hundred times!

<alannah.s96> is there more Scott in the next book?

<Becca Fitzpatrick> Yes, Scott y the Hottie returns. He's so much fun. He reminds me of my brother. Cocky and annoying...and yet so loveable.

<aelser> I love how well developed all your characters are. Is there any secret to how you create such unique characters?

<Becca Fitzpatrick> I'm so glad you enjoy the characters . I probably shouldn't admit this, but almost all of the characters are based on people I've known. It makes it easier to recreate them in my mind when I can picture a real person.

<WriterDork> What made you believe that writing Young Adult Paranormal Romance was for you?

<Becca Fitzpatrick> When I started writing HUSH, HUSH, I had no idea I was writing a young adult novel. I was simply writing about memories from my own high school years. As for adding a paranormal element, it just seemed what the story needed.

<meowww> What gave you the idea to write the books ?

<Becca Fitzpatrick> Remember the scene in HUSH, HUSH when Coach asks Nora to name characteristics she'd want in a mate (boyfriend)? Well, MY bio teacher asked me that! It was the first scene I wrote. After I finished, I kept going. I like to think I was inspired by my own high school years. They were definitely humiliating and strange! Good material for a story, ha!

<Samantha Paulson> Will the next book give a little more details on some of the "rules" or "dos" and "don'ts" of heaven?

<Becca Fitzpatrick> Yes. In book 4 we meet an archangel! He plays an important role in the story and gives readers a glimpse into the true nature of what is going on in heaven...

<meowww> Do you think Patch will ever become human ? Why does he want to be human so bad ?

<Becca Fitzpatrick> Patch wants the human experience. He wants what you and I have. He wants to be able to feel. As for whether or not he becomes human...you'll just have to wait and see!

<Christie Wilson> What is the most rewarding aspect of being an author?

<Becca Fitzpatrick> Again, it's so hard to choose on thing! I'd have to say, though, that were it not for these books, I wouldn't have met a fraction of the people (like you guys!) that I have. I probably never would have travelled to places like Australia, England, France, Italy, etc. It's been so rewarding. And it has made me see life from new perspectives.

<Mirabelle> But would that make him not immortal anymore?

<Becca Fitzpatrick> Yes, if Patch were to become human, he'd be mortal. He would grow old and die. Yikes!

<Becca Fitzpatrick> (Yikes because Nora is no longer human!)

<Becca Fitzpatrick> (Not because it's bad to be human, heh.)

<VanillaRooh> did you have to research a lot about mythology regarding fallen angels,nephilim,etc,and if so, have you always been interested in this type of mythology?

<Becca Fitzpatrick> Well, I will tell you a secret. I based my mythology on all those years I spent attending Sunday School!!!

<Becca Fitzpatrick> I don't know if any of you have read the Old Testament, but there are some wild, crazy stories in there.

<Becca Fitzpatrick> Lots of good material for a fantasy writer

<Tayskii> For aspiring writers, what's the biggest piece of advice you have, especially when it comes to editing? I've got a 115,000 word story just sitting here, but when I look at my screen and see that scary little Word icon, I get the shivers. Any advice when it comes to editing?

<Becca Fitzpatrick> Okay. So here is what I do.

<Becca Fitzpatrick> When I'm editing, I allow myself 3 or 4 storylines, and I write them down.

<Becca Fitzpatrick> And then I read over the story and make sure EVERY scene helps move along at least one of those storylines. If it doesn't, it gets cut.

<Becca Fitzpatrick> That really helps me. I hope it helps you too.

<Becca Fitzpatrick> You don't want too much going on. Try to simplify : )

<WriterDork> I'm sorry but I must ask, Why was Scott wearing a pink Hawaiian hat in Crescendo?

<Becca Fitzpatrick> HAHAHA!

<Becca Fitzpatrick> Remember how I said Scott reminds me of my brother?

<Becca Fitzpatrick> Well, my brother is great, but he is a dork too. He likes to go to thrift stores and buy junk to wear. A few summers ago, he bought this HIDEOUS pink hat. It was so ugly.

<Becca Fitzpatrick> He wore it everywhere, and I decided to stick it in my book. It seemed like something Scott would wear, thinking he was funny.

<Becca Fitzpatrick> Anyway, when my brother read CRESCENDO, he totally noticed the pink hat and said, "That's me!"

<Becca Fitzpatrick> Dorky brothers. Gotta love them : )

<FaerysTale> Are you going to write a side/extension book to the Hush Hush series? It saddens me that the series will come to an end : (

<Becca Fitzpatrick> I think the series will end with the fourth book. I have a new story idea that I really want to write! Something new and sexy and dangerous...with lots of romance.

<Becca Fitzpatrick> Oh, wait. That sounds like HUSH, HUSH!

<Becca Fitzpatrick> But I DO love writing dangerous/sexy/scary books : )

<Stark888> Do you think you will continue to write in the same kind of genre after you finish the hush hush series??

<Becca Fitzpatrick> The next book I want to write is a thriller set in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It has a very terrifying premise. But there is nothing paranormal in the book. I think my brain needs a break from creating new worlds.

<Stark888> Is there a word or a phrase you always say?

<Becca Fitzpatrick> The things in life that are the most rewarding, require the most work. That is something I tell myself daily.

<Becca Fitzpatrick> Basically, you reap what you sow!

<Becca Fitzpatrick> Thanks so much to the Reading Room for hosting this great chat! And THANK YOU to those of you who came and asked such great questions.

<Becca Fitzpatrick> I'm sorry if I wasn't able to answer all of your questions - we'll have to do another chat like this in the future!

<Becca Fitzpatrick> I'm so glad you guys are excited for the Black Hand Ball! Don't forget to come introduce yourself!

<Becca Fitzpatrick> And thanks again for the great hour chatting. : )