Marsh_Kitty wrote:Hi Becca,
I'm Yojana from California. First off, I had to admire the great story that you set in Hush, Hush. Its so real and it easily captured me to the point I could not stop reading until I finished the book. It was great!
My question to you is, how come you didn't let Patch become human, but decided instead to let him become Nora's personal guardian angel? And how does that work? Is he no longer a fallen angel? Oh, and one last question, please tell me this was not the only book you are going to write about Patch and Nora, will there be more?
Congrads on your book! 
I LOVED it from start to finish!
I have the same question as Marsh_Kitty
Will the other book be about Nora and Patch!
And where did you come up with the name "Patch"?
And, if Jules (i'm not sure how to spell his really name.....sorry) and Nora are related is Nora like half Angel or something!?
Hi, Belle!
There are a lot of similarities between Vee and two of my childhood friends. Incidentally, I didn't realize I'd put pieces of these two friends into Vee's character until my family read the book and pointed out all the similarities. I wish I'd had Vee's confidence and sense of humor when I was a teen!
And I agree with you - I love Vee's character. She's probably my favorite. Well, aside from Patch
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Hi, Connie!
Great question! The biggest similarity people have asked me about is the biology classroom setting. I actually wrote the first two chapters of Hush, Hush in 2003, before Twilight was published, and while I've edited them some, they're basically the same today as they were six years ago. On an interesting side note, when I started submitting Hush, Hush to agents six years ago, the title I was using was Eclipse. I think in a tight market like YA, it opens up a lot of possibility for overlap.
During the years between 2003 and 2006 when I was submitting Hush, Hush, I didn't have a single agent point out any similarities between our two books, however I vividly remember the day in 2007 when an agent rejected Hush, Hush, saying the opening scene was too similar to Twilight. She offered to see a rewrite, but said I'd need to have the book take place in Health or Chemistry before the book would sell. Right then and there my stubborn side came out and I decided there was no way I was going to change Hush, Hush to avoid comparisons with another book – any book – so I guess the point of all this is I've probably asked for what I'm getting!
The more I read paranormal romance, the more I notice similarities between most books in the genre. In fact, there was one point during the editing of Hush, Hush when I emailed my editor in a panic, because there's a scene in Hush, Hush involving Nora and a homeless woman that was strikingly similar to a scene I'd just read in an adult paranormal romance. My editor calmly informed me that there are only so many narrative devices authors can use, and there's always going to be overlap. And you know what? The more I read, the more I see how right she is. As authors, we try to do our best to bring new and refreshing stories to readers, but it's impossible to please everyone.
As far as naming the author who's influenced Hush, Hush the most, I would have to say Sandra Brown. In fact, if you enjoyed Hush, Hush, I would highly recommend Chill Factor and Hello, Darkness, both by Ms. Brown.
Becca
Hello, Ponkle!
Glad you're enjoying the book! And please tell your daughter Becca she has an amazing name 
Yes, I did write specifically for the YA audience. Many of my favorite books are YA, and well over half of the books I read fall into this category. You can't go wrong when you stick to what you enjoy, right?
Thanks for the question,
Becca
Hi Becca,
I just started reading your book and I love it. I liked your thought in a recent post about you writing the book for five years and the readers of the book will read it in a day or three. I've thought about that a few times while reading.
So my question for you is what every teen has to ask an author is what advice would you give someone who wants to be an author. I'm 18 and I dream of writing a novel I already have the plot and elements of it but I don't know where to start. My boyfriend suggested I start out by writing short stories before writing a novel. This school year I'll be in a creative writing class to start off but I hope poetry is not a big part of it because I cannot write poems to save my life.
Thanks for the Hush Hush I'm excited to keep reading it and I look forward to your future books. And Congratulations.
sincerely, Mallory
Hi Becca! Glad to see you here. It's McKenzie, the one who occasionally comments on your blog.
Anyways, I know that the ARC has a different ending then the real published book. Will the ending be changed dramatically or will minor lines be changed? Because I thought the ending was absolutely perfect, especially the last line.
debbook wrote:
Hi Becca,
First I just wanted to say that I love that you not only grew up on Nancy Drew but Trixie Belden books. I loved Trixie when I was growing up and still have all the books as well as Nancy Drew.
Also I wanted to say that I loved this book. I'm not big into paranormal, nor do I read much YA, but this was excellent!
Now for my question, was it your idea to change the ending? I like it as it is but will be interested in the change.
Hi, Debbook!
Yay - another Trixie fan! Most people have heard of Nancy Drew, but I'm finding far fewer read Trixie. Their loss!
It was actually my editor's idea to change the ending. At first I was a little sad, because I love, love, LOVE Patch's final lines, but in the end, I saw my editor's point. You'll have to let me know what you think of the new ending!
Becca
