Introducing Marie Lu!
I hope you guys have enjoyed getting to know our new members these past few days! Today, we're introducing the last new member for Pub Crawl. Starting tomorrow, we're going to be doing mini-re-introductions of the old Let The Words Flow members. We'll be doing this in groups, so look forward to re-meeting Sarah, Susan, and Vanessa tomorrow!
But back to today's member, the lovely...
Marie Lu!
MARIE LU is the debut author of Legend, now out from Putnam Children's [Penguin Group]. Prior to writing full-time, she was an art director at a video game company, where she worked on Facebook games. She graduated from the University of Southern California in 2006 and lives in Los Angeles, where she spends her time lost on the freeways.
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Legend
What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.
From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias' death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.
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1. When you started writing Legend, which came first for you: the characters or the plot? (Did you have the idea for the story first then think of the characters, or did you write a story about characters you’d already had in mind?) Or neither...?
I almost always have characters come first when I'm thinking of a new story. For Legend, my initial idea was: teen criminal vs. teen detective. From there, I started developing the personalities and backgrounds of these two main characters, and eventually they became Day and June. It wasn't until a few weeks later that I created the world that these two would be duking it out in.
2. Many of the other members of Pub Crawl start their story-building process with characters, as well! But others find that part the most challenging. What was the biggest challenge you faced in writing Legend?
I'd say the biggest challenge by far was writing June's voice from a first person point of view. June, the teen detective girl, is a character who's supposed to be extremely and prodigiously intelligent, as well as analytical to a fault. I don't think I really understood just how difficult it would be to write a protagonist who is smarter than I am. I would stop to do so much random research for her! I swear I must be on the CIA's watchlist after all the weird stuff I googled while writing about June.
3. Haha! Yeah, I'm afraid you wouldn't be the only one ;) Let's talk about something a little less dangerous, then (or maybe more so?!) Which one of your characters would you most want to kiss?
Hmm...probably Day, if I were the same age as him. He's probably the best kisser out of the cast. ;)
4. That's always a good reason! Well, barring any scenes involving kissing, then, if you were transported into your book, which scene would you most want to reenact?
In Legend's world, there are these illegal street duels called Skiz fights. One of the scenes in the middle of the book has a Skiz fight, and I think it'd be pretty fun to be transported into that audience and watch how it all plays out.
5. Wow, that sounds super exciting. (Actually, since I've read the book, I can say that scene WAS super exciting!) Talking about exciting, what's your next writing project?
I've actually started working a little on a new secret idea for a series, one that I'd really plunge into after I finish up the Legend trilogy. I can't say much about it, but it should hopefully be fun!
6. Can't wait to hear more about it! All right, penultimate question: if you could spend a night at the pub with any 3 authors (alive or dead) who would it be and why?
J.K. Rowling. Well, obviously! Harry Potter's only MY CHILDHOOD. :)
Brian Jacques. His Redwall series is one of my favorites of all time, and I'm so sad that I never got to meet him. I've heard he can tell a riproaring story in person. I'm pretty sure he was great pub company.
Suzanne Collins. Because The Hunger Games is freakishly awesome. I'm sure I could talk her ear off about dystopias and dystopian concepts!
7. We'd love to meet with those writers, too! Following the "pub" theme, what sort of outfit would your main character wear to a pub? Or would s/he never be caught dead in one??
Totally steampunk! Steampunk and pubs are joined at the hip. I know Day would saunter into pubs without a doubt, and he'd probably be dressed in a rumpled collar shirt and vest, goggles, and trousers tucked into boots. He'd probably have a newsboy cap on, too, and an assortment of knives hidden at his belt and under his clothes.
Sounds amazing, Marie! Very kickass, haha.
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Marie's book is already out (hooray!) and today, to celebrate, we're giving away a finished copy of it!
That’s right—we're giving away a shiny (literally!) new copy of Legend to one of YOU. All you have to do is fill out the little raffle form below, and we’ll announce the winner NEXT WEEK (on Friday)!
And, be sure to tune in tomorrow, when we start re-introducing our old Let The Words Flow members (and offer more super exciting swag!).