ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Can you give us an overview ofCarve the Markin your own words?
Where did you come up with this?
Gosh, its so weird, because it came from so many different places.
Credit: Reinaldo Coddou
But essentially, I wrote a crazy, early prototype version when I was like 12 or 13.
Throughout the years, I never quite let that idea go.
I just kept bouncing around, and I finally figured out the way that it works.
Yeah, it really does.
So maybe thats where it comes from.
But it is a very personal story for me.
I also feel like youre really intrigued by this concept of a pre-determined fate.
Why does that fascinate you?
What about it draws you back?
Suspense is not the only tension that can exist in a story there is also dread.
So its not like, Whats going to happen next?
But more like, Oh my God, this is coming.
How is it going to come?
So its more about figuring out the path than the ending.
Its just a different kind of story surprise.
You want readers to be surprised and I do twisty, turny stuff sometimes.
But this is a new experiment.
Thats essentially a world-building question.
Am I going to adhere to the system or not?
I still… well, wait and see.
What is your world-building process like?
Where do you start, and how do you keep it all straight?
I learned a lot from writing theDivergentbooks, like plan ahead, and keep track.
I was definitely a little bit more flying by the seat of my pants with theDivergentbooks.
How do you keep everything straight?
Do you have a wall with index cards and string?
Oh man, that would be cool, but no.
I just have a series of documents, really.
So, you know.
How do you come up with peoples names?
This book has some good ones: Akos, Cyra, Ryz.
They feel like ancient names.
But I just didnt want it to feel like this Anglo-Saxon, Western thing.
I wanted it to feel alien.
So I looked into ConLang, which is constructed languages some people do this for a hobby.
Im not one of those people.
I could never do that.
I felt like a crazy person!
Im sitting there with these huge lists of like, not-words.
Luckily I have a separate office.
Where did you get the idea for the current that runs through all the planets?
Even if you decide you dont believe in anything, thats a decision that people make.
So I wanted there to be a force, an actual, tangible, visible force.
The evidence is right there!
and the more secular person is just like, No, thats just a thing in the sky.
Can you explain Cyras current gift?
It causes her constant pain, so shes in chronic pain.
If she gives you 10, you die.
So if shes giving someone 5, does she only feel 5?
Because shes convinced that shes messed up.
So thats her struggle: What do I do with this power thats destroying my life?
Can you tell me more about the feathergrasses?
They were in very early iterations of this story.
I think I just…
I mean, I wanted some creepy stuff.
I think Im just excited about new characters.
Cyra is not about that.
Cyras looking out for Cyra, and the people that she cares about.
Shes like a Slytherin, you know?
And Ive never written about a character like that.
It almost feels more realistic in a way.
I dont know that all of us are walking around like, What can I do for my people?
The Slytherins deserve their own story!
Because you know what?
Are you nervous about following up such a huge blockbuster series?
Whats going on in your mind?
I think Id have to be a robot not to be nervous!
I just really want the same people who lovedDivergentto love this.
And I think there are some that will.
But I also think Ive reached a place deep peace about it, where its like, Listen.
I created it with pure joy and love and enthusiasm, and thats all I can do.
Its all good, actually.
What did you feel like was the hardest part about writing this book?
Oh, I think it was just the really expansive universe, right at the beginning.
BecauseDivergentexpanded as it went.
It was just huge.
Theres so much going on.
I want to ask a little about the similarities toStar Wars.
I think thats probably part of it.
Because they werent even making a newStar Warsmovie when I was writing this.
Oh, thats so annoying for you.
Actually, you know what?
I think its great.
And I love, loveStar Wars.
Just these really big universes with these complex political systems.
I also felt shades ofThe Giverin here.
That was also one of my young sci-fi reads!
AndA Wrinkle in Time going to these weird worlds.
Im a nerd, I guess.
Well, nerds are becoming more mainstream.
