Crescendo: Questions for Becca Fitzpatrick

[Kristin_Z]

Hi everyone,

We're thrilled to have Becca Fitzpatrick with us this week! Please join me in welcoming her back to the book clubs, and post your questions for her in this thread. 

[pen21]

Becca,

Welcome back. I am so glad you are to discuss Crescendo. I have to say I am anxiously awaiting the next book. I have so many questions which I am sure will have answers in the next book. I have to say I was surprised with the concept of Marcie being related to Nora. I just hope that is not true. My question is how many books do you have planned for this series?

Thanks Luanne

[Morigami]

Hello Becca,

I am so happy that your here to answer our questions about Crescendo. I adored both Hush, Hush and Crescendo and just like many others I am look very forward to the next book. I also was very surprised about Rixon being the one to come after Nora and try to kill her, but I guess that's one of the reasons why the book was so great. I want to applauded you for making such a great idea for these two books, but may I ask what made you think of such a fantastic idea for a book?

~Lexie

[Vermontcozy]

Good Morning Becca,and Welcome Back..After finishing Hush,Hush,and anxiously awaiting 'Crescendo",the characters have evolved and so many questions have been answered.Now I have so many more..It was written so beautifully.When did you realize that this would be a series,because the story for me has evolved and Marcie,Scott and Rixon have become so crucial to the story.Will have a few more questions later,and of course your readers here will have so many to ask you..Much Success with "Crescendo"..and "so looking forward to "Tempest"..Best Susan....The Welcome"From pen21" fits so well here...

[DSaff]

Becca, welcome back. While I wasn't in on the "Hush, Hush" discussion, I was able to get in on, "Crescendo." Both books are wonderfully written, with characters that seem alive and realistic. I don't have a question right now, but wanted to take the time to thank you for your work. I can't wait for the third book to come out! 

[naylorchic]

Hi Becca!

I REALLY enjoyed both books. They were so beautifully written & always kept me guessing. I also would like to know how many books you have planned for this series. Can't wait for the next one!

[Chrissy17104]

Welcome back! I really did enjoy both books. I guess i would like to know if Nora's mother knew or even was suspisious about the whole nephilim/angel thing after she was pregnant and told to marry a man that wasnt the father. I just cant really see how a woman would go along with it without knowing a really big reason to do it. And will it play a part in the next book?

[bookrooted]

Hey Becca!

I also love your series! You truly have writing suspenseful and addictive books under your belt! Which leads me to my questions:

When writing Crescendo, who was the most difficult character to create and write and to mold into the story?

Who was the easiest?

Which scene or chapter was most difficult/ and easiest to write?

If Tempest is your last book-or whenever you end the series-might we see more series or single books from you? (You're a great author that knows how to draw readers in and leave them absorbed in the story until they finish-then wanting more!

Thank you again for having the time to discuss with us and writing out such interesting and addictive books! Congrats on your success as well!

-Madison

[dhaupt]

Becca Welcome back!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love this series and know that with the final novel it will end, my question is will you miss the characters or do you find that it's easy to let them go.

Good luck with this one, not that you'll need it.

[Vermontcozy]

Hi Again Becca.,Will Detective Ecanus Basso play a role in "Tempest"..if my memory serves me right ,: ).Your audience has grown,and I am so glad that "Hush,Hush " was received so well."So many fans waiting for "Crescendo",we  feel really special to read and review it before the actual release date...Best Susan

[Lostnthestax]

Hello Becca Fitzpatrick

Thank you for joining our book club discussion, this has been such a wonderful experience. As my fellow book club attendees know, I adore Patch, he is my absolute favorite character right now. So, of course, my question is about him. I love his dark side and the edge to his character. Is he inspired by someone you know in real life? Also, do you hang out in a lot of pool halls? I am thinking of taking it up!

---

Check out my rave review of Crescendo!

http://projecteen801.blogspot.com/2010/09/crescendo-by-becca-fitzpatrick.html

-LostntheStacks

[Lblaze]

Welcome back Becca!

I truly loved both books, Crescendo left me hanging on every last word. I have so many questions on what will happen next!

- Do you have a favorite part of Hush, Hush or Crescendo?

-Do you have a favorite character in either book?

- What genre of books do you like to read? Do you limit yourself to only the genre that you write yourself?

[thewanderingjew]

Hello and welcome. It is wonderful when the author joins the discussion with us.

1-Did you have a particular reason for using the Jewish month of Cheshram as such a key time for transformations?

In researching Cheshram, I found it represents a time of planting, a time of hard work to bring about renewal for the coming seasons and a time to discover our simplest selves in order to find our roots and grow, a time when G-d's presence is close to us, no longer in the sanctuary.

2-Did you mean to indicate G-d was vulnerable at that time to the evil around us?

2-Are the fallen angels, therefore, basically evil at their core with no hope for redemption?

3-Did you intend for the series to ultimately be a battle between Satan and G-d, good and evil?

[A_Readers_Reco…]

Welcome back Becca! 

I must say I love what you did with the story- you were able to throw in many loops that I honestly never saw coming.  From Nora's mother, to Marcie, Nora's father situation, and the wham-bam-cliff-hanger ending (Really?! You expect me to wait how long for the next book!?)  I love how Vee was the glue needed to keep Nora grounded and how she really stepped it up.  She definitely flourished since the last book.

I do want to ask you about Scott if you have anything you can divulge to us.  Have we truly saw the end of him or is he destined to cross paths with Nora again?  I know, I know, I just can't help it.  While you tied up their ending real well I can't help but feel there was still a possibility that he could make another appeareance.  I mean, as we have seen time and time again, in Nora's world anything that can go wrong will go wrong so who knows if he might be of assistance to her later. 

Thanks stopping by!!!

[maxcat]

Hi, Becca, this was such a great book! When I signed up for the discussion, my friends warned me to read Hush, Hush first and I'm glad I did as Crescendo made a lot of sense and I knew who the characters were. I can't wait until Tempest comes out. I know someone asked if this was going to be an ongoing series and I hope it is. I was surprised about Rixon. But did he really go to the fiery depths? I just have a feeling he will return. You left us with quite a cliffhanger but instinct tells me Patch and Nora will return in Tempest. How do you get your ideas to write such a series?

[Becca_Fitzpatr…]

Hey everyone!  Thanks for the welcome back - I'm excited to be here today! It's a little chaotic at my house right now with two kids who've come down with the flu, so if I'm not on the boards regularly today, I promise I'll be stopping by throughout the rest of the week to make sure I get your questions answered. Thanks for being patient with me!

[Becca_Fitzpatr…]

Hi Luanne!

I know what you mean - I really did open a huge can of worms at the end of Crescendo, didn't I?  I debated adding that very last scene several times, and my editor and I went back and forth on it, but in the end, we went with it.  I'm one of those people who loves cliffhangers at the end of a book, because it gives me time to speculate what will happen next (something I love to do.)  But I know there are lots of people out there who don't share my same view

Now for your question.  I'm honestly not sure how many books will be in the series.  I just started writing TEMPEST (the third book) 2 months ago, and while I think I know how the book will end, it's always bound to change.  Because of that, I'm reluctant to say where the series will end.  I always envy authors like J.K. Rowling and Sara Shepard who have their entire series planned out ahead of time.  I'm not that organized!  But if I ever write another series, I'm going to give pre-planning a serious and earnest attempt. 

-Becca

[Becca_Fitzpatr…]

Hi Lexie! Thanks for being here today

I'll let you in on a little secret.  In the first draft of Crescendo, Rixon wasn't the villain.  Scott Parnell was.  When I turned the first draft into my editor, we made some rather large edits, including rewriting the mystery thread and changing the villain to Rixon.  I was a little sad to have to say good-bye to Rixon, as I rather liked him!

To answer your question, I get a lot of ideas from my own high school experience.  That's not to say the books are autobiographical by any means, but I do use old memories to inspire scenes.  Then I twist and change those memories into something fictional.  But many of my ideas have roots in my teen years.  This is why I always recommend that aspiring authors keep a journal and write in it daily - you never know when your own life experiences will inspire a story.

-Becca

[Becca_Fitzpatr…]

Hi Susan!  It's so nice to chat with you again!

When I wrote Hush, Hush, I intended for it to be a stand-alone novel, but when my agent sold the book to my publisher, she sold it with a sequel attached.  I was a little surprised to find I'd be writing a sequel, but it has been a great learning experience for me.  It has also given me the chance to explore new characters, particularly Marcie.  I really dislike Marcie, as she reminds me of girls I grew up with who had a penchant for bullying, but at the same time, I sympathize with her.  I just wish she'd choose a different way to act out her anger...

Becca

[Becca_Fitzpatr…]

Thank you so much, DSaff! I appreciate it!